Swim Fishes Swim

I was super lucky this weekend to have a huge chunk of time to sew and goodness it was so much fun!!!  Remember that Chuckles quilt that I got in my Sew Sampler Box and cut out to make for my Sister-in-law for her new little guy that is slated to arrive in December??  Well I started piecing with the idea that I would just do all of the chain stitching I could.  But then I started pressing, and then there was some more piecing followed by pressing . . .

And you get the idea right :)  Before I knew it, I had 10 little fishes ready to swim away.  Aren't they just so cute!!!  I just love these colors and prints :)    And at this point, I figured I might has well sew them into their own little sea to swim in right ;)  

And now I have this adorable Chuckles Quilt top all finished and ready to be quilted!!!  I pieced a back and pressend the binding so all I have to do is decide on a quilt design.     I was thinking about doing simple little "waves" in a grey that will blend into the background.   What do you think??

I am so excited to finish this one up!!!  But then I have to wait clear till December for the sweet little guy to arrive.  However, I just found out yesterday that my other Sister in Law is also expecting a boy, so I guess I can just keep myself busy making another baby boy quilt ;)   Isn't it just great that there is always something to be Happy Quilting!!! 

Cards on the Lake Quilt

I am super excited this morning to share my newest quilt finish!!!!   When the Fat Quarter Shop asked me if I wanted to make the classic Lady of the Lake Block for their Classic and Vintage series I was all over it, but then I added my own spin on the quilt by laying it out in the Card Trick Block  hence . . .  Cards on the Lake!!!     And I just love it!!!

I never cease to be amazed at how different a block can look just by changing the layout.   I just love the added bonus of the pinwheel in the center, I think it really sets the quilt off nice.   I used 12 Lady of the Lake blocks and then some setting triangles to square it up, and some borders to finish it off.    So fun!!!

And of course, I used a favorite classic color combo in my fabrics.  I can't get enough Red, White, and Black quilts!!!   This time I used Studio E Essentials that I had found at my local quilt shop on a great deal :)   I just love the way the three colors play off each other, those little black triangles just pop!!!

 And because I was only making 12 Lade of the Lake quilt blocks, this quilt went together so super fast!!! I think it sat around waiting to be bound longer than it took me to make the entire quilt top :)  And with the added borders it measures 72" square so it is just perfect for a large lap quilt or just to take out and read under a tree!!  But mine will be donated to my Alma Mater, SUU.  I know I say it everytime, but I am sure glad my school colors are such awesome ones!!!

When it came time to quilt it, I went with an all over echoed paisley design.   I created a video tutorial a while back on how to do this design on your home machine, just in case you are interested :)   I decided on red thread as I wanted it to blend in those big setting triangles and I just love the way it pops in the white centers.   So great!!! 

And I just love how these dense all over designs create so much wonderful texture!!!  It is still soft enough to snuggle up on, but you also want to just sit and run your hand along the quilt top to feel all of that great quilty goodness.   And that just makes me smile ;)

And I just have to say, I still get a thrill out of adding my custom labels into the binding of each quilt.  I wish I would have ordered these ages ago as I just absolutely love how simple and easy it is to add them to the quilt back, and it means I am finally adding my name (on the back of the label) to my quilts!!!  

And that is my Cards on the Lake Quilt!!!!   You can see lots more Lady of the Lake Quilty Goodness over at Fat Quarter Shop today and find the free block pattern here along with the You Tube Video Tutorial for it and the quilt pattern here.  Thanks again Fat Quarter Shop for having me as part of this fun Quilt Along!!!  I am just loving how it turned out and am excited to say I just made two Classic Quilts into one :) 

Thanks so much for popping in today and each and every day!!!

I hope you have a very Happy Quilting Weekend!!!

Linking up this finish to Amanda's, Sarah's, and Myra's :)

Starting some new WIP

You know, you can never have to many Works in Progress right!!!  So yesterday seemed like a great day to cut out some new project starts :)   First off, I cut out my Petal Pop quilt for National Sew a Jelly Roll Day coming next Saturday!!!   I am making a baby version using Lella Botique's gorgeous Farmer's Daughter Jelly Roll.   I only needed 16 strips (I am making the baby size)  from the jelly roll, so come Saturday, I wouldn't be surprised if this project morphs into 2, but at least I am all set to get started :)

And then remember the fun Reef Fat Eighth Bundle and Pattern that I got in my Sew Sampler, well it's all cut out and ready to start the Chuckles quilt for my SIL.   I can't wait to get to the piecing on this one!!!  Those little fish are going to be so much fun to sew up!!!  And ya, I totally need another set of Alphabitties, those little post-it's just keep flying away :) 

And last but not least, since I am just adding the binding on to my previous Red, White, and Black quilt (I will share the finish on Friday) it is time to start another one right!!!!   I am working on a fun Fat Quarter Shop Shortcut Quilt Along and this time I am using the super fun Modern Backgrounds Luster by Zen Chic and some Solid Red for the background.   I just love the metallic additions in this awesome line, they are just so much fun!!!

And since there really wasn't a whole lot of cutting for this particular quilt, and I was ready for some serious piecing after all of that cutting, I sat down and chain pieced for a little while.   And before you knew it, I had quite the stack of classic red, white and black.   Now it all needs to be pressed but that will wait for tonight to go along with a good movie ;)

And speaking of things waiting, as much as I want to get stitching on all three of these projects today, I have my Bella Solids Challenge quilt that has to be finished by the 12th.  But I am happy to say it is ready to go on the long arm so that is where I will be today and maybe tomorrow too ;)   Happy Quilting!!! 

Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Day!!!

It's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Day so let's have some fun :)

But first, we need to announce the winner from last weeks Terrific Tuesday Giveaway!!  

The winner of the Self-Binding Receiving Blanket Kit of your choice from  Shabby Fabrics  is . . .   Number # 4. . . Congrats annemarie!!!   I have emailed you :)        

  

  

And on to today's

Today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway is being sponsored by Happy Quilting!!!  Yup, little ole me today ;)  No need to tell you about any specials here, so let's get right to the giveaway ;)  One lucky winner will be receiving their choice of 3 Happy Quilting PDF Patterns.    

You have two entry chances, the second being optional, and please leave a separate comment for each.  All Entries are welcome, including International Entries.  Please just be sure to leave an email address if you are a no-reply blogger ;)  

ENTRY 1 - Simply leave a comment telling me if you are thinking about joining in the Roundabout Quilt Along that has just started ;)  

 ENTRY 2 - Show your Happy Quilting love. You can follow Happy Quilting on Bloglovin, Email Updates, or RSS to get daily updates.  Or you can like Happy Quilting on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter or Flickr.   Any one way will do . . . Just be sure to leave a comment of how you showed your Happy Quilting Love!!!

And that's it ;)  The giveaway will be open until next Tuesday, September 12th when I will announce a winner at the beginning of next weeks Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Post :)

Good Luck and Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!

Bella Skill Builder - Starburst

I can't believe it is already September.   The Bella Skill Builder crept up on me this month without me even realizing it!!  I am having such a blast with this awesome quilt along hosted by the Fat Quarter Shop and Sherri McConnell and this month was no exception as we got to play with the Starburst ruler and I had some fun changing it up to create a new look to the Starburst Block!!! 

For this month's tone on tone blocks, I must have been thinking Christmas is coming, because I ended up choosing lovely reds and greens in warm Christmas tones.    For the "small" version of the block I used Bella Christmas Red and Bard Door .  And for the large version of the block I used Bella Christmas Green and Dill.  See what I mean by the Christmas blocks this month ;)     

So this month making a "smaller" version wasn't going to work all that great as the Starburst ruler is set for a certain size.  So I thought about it for a while and  decided I could piece the strip before cutting out my kite shapes.   And I just have to say,  thanks Sew Sampler for the awesome GE Designs Ruler Stickers that came in this month's box.  It made it so much quicker to see where to line up my ruler each time ;)   And before you knew it, I was ready to sew up my blocks.   

You just sew up the kite shapes into sections of 3, and then sew the quarters into halves, and then the halves together.   And that is important, because I tried first to just sew the kites into sets of 2, and then sets of 4, and then when I went to sew the three sections together I ended up with a mess as the center overlaps to much and you have nothing to line it up with.  Silly me.  So learn from my mistake and just follow the way it says to piece it and then you won't find yourself needing your seam ripper ;)  

It's just a quick trim up with your 12 1/2" square ruler and then you end up with this cool Starbust block.   I just love how it really looks like it is bursting from the center.   And I was pretty happy with how this center came together ;)

This center needed a little work, but like I said, I didn't follow the directions and then with all the unpicking to try and selvage it, it didn't quite line up as well.   But all in all, I am still pretty excited with it, and I just love the look the pieced pieces created.   It's making me want to try it now with more pieced stripes, how crazy is that ;) 

And that is the Starburst block, the eighth set of blocks in the Bella Skill Builder!!!!  Be sure to download  the free pattern and watch youtube video.  And also pop on over to the  Fat Quarter Shop's blog, Jolly Jabber  for lots more Starburst Block details and wonderful Block eye candy from lots more blogger friends ;)  I hope you are enjoying the  Bella Skill Builder fun as much as I am!!! 

Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!