Friday, March 29, 2019

Winding Winter Ways Quilt and Tutorial!!!!

I am so thrilled to be sharing my newest quilt finish today and to also be sharing a new AccuQuilt Tutorial for it as well!!!   It's called Winding Winter Ways and I just love it!!!!  I love curved piecing, and I think it can easily be shied away from on the assumption that it is difficult.   But I hope as you check out the tutorial, you will see just how fun curved piecing is, especially when the cutting is taken care of with the amazing curved AccuQuilt Dies!!!


Although you can use prints, I really like the look of a solids in this quilt as it makes the design shine and creates so much incredible movement.  By simply changing the placement of the Light and Dark Blue fabrics in your block, you get incredible secondary designs that truly pop!!!  The white accents reminded me of snow crystals, and combined with the deep blues, and the Winding Ways die, it just seemed fitting to call this one Winding Winter Ways ;)     I choose blue because this quilt is for my sweet new nephew, Joshua, isn't he just so cute!!!


And the quilt tutorial even has you make a few "practice" blocks, which work out perfectly for the backing!!!  (Really, it is just the way you cut things out automatically makes a few extra pieces, but isn't that to cute!!!) 



When it came time to quilt it, I went for an all over swirl design, fast and fun!!!  I used my favorite 402 So Fine Pearl which blended perfectly with both the navy and the blue.   I love the wonderful texture it creates!!!  And the black binding just finishes things off nicely ;)  

  

The quilt is made up of 25 blocks that finish at 8" square, so the quilt is a perfect baby size of 40" x 40".   I was fortunate enough to get to visit my sister last week and deliver Joshua's new quilt to him.  I think he likes it ;)


So if you want to make your own Winding Winter Ways Quilt  just pop on over for the free step by step tutorial!!!   I also shared some Sewing with Curves Basics  in the tutorial which you might like.  It shows just how fun and easy curved sewing can be ;)    And when you are done, I would love to see it!!!  You can email me a picture at happyquiltingmelissa@gmail.com, post it to social media with #happyquiltingwithmc  and #AccuQuilt or add it to my flickr group here ;)  I can't wait to see your Winding Winter Ways quilts!!!


Thanks for joining me today and sharing this new tutorial with me ;)  Between this Quilt, and this other  Curved Snowball Quilt , and my latest Quilt Alongs, I really am on a goal to show just how enjoyable curved sewing can be!!!   And I have to say, it is even more fun when the cutting is perfect and quick with the AccuQuilt Curved Dies!!!  I am thinking I might have to try a classic Double Wedding Ring next??  What do you think???? 

I hope you all have a very Happy Quilting (and maybe even some curved sewing) Day!!!  

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Thursday, March 28, 2019

March Sew Sampler Box!!!

I am so excited that we are rounding out March.  It has been a crazy month, but I am so happy that I think Spring is finally peeking through here in Utah.  (And now that I say that, it will probably snow again, ah well ;)    But it has been so nice to have warmer temps and everything is starting to bloom!!!  And with the end of the month, also comes a new Sew Sampler box !!!      And March's box had me all smiles for this Paris French Market themed box!!!



I was thrilled to find a new Chantilly Jolly Bar by Fig Tree Quilts!!!!  I just love Joanna's gorgeous fabrics and this line is so cute with those fun little strawberries!!!  Now I just have to decide if I want to use my Jolly Bar to make the super cute Sprouts Quilt Pattern that came with this month's box, or the bonus Brookside  Quilt Pattern that came with the Jolly Bar, or if I should just add it to the collection of fabrics I am using to make my all Fig Tree Dessert Sampler????   Decisions, Decisions???  But hey,  it's always fun to have these happy fabric decisions, much better than deciding if I want to clean the bathrooms or do the laundry ;)


 And the notions that  Fat Quarter Shop sent along this month are so great!!!!  My daughter squealed when she saw these Tim Holt's scissors and claimed them as "hers".  She is left handed and likes the big grips that work for righties and lefties ;)  And this new Sew Hot Iron Rest from It's Sew Emma is just to cool!!!  What a life saver on your wrists.  And you know, I can never have enough Spool Huggers.   I love how neat and tidy they keep my thread bin ;)   Seriously, just awesome notions!!!  


And of course, there is a new Barn Block!!!  And this is the last barn block of the year!!!   Can you believe it, it has already been a year of making Barn Blocks.  And I just love how this one turned out ;)   And the crazy thing is, my grey and black scrap drawers still look the same as when I started these blocks.   Ah well, scraps just have a way of multiplying like that.



I just love the finishing pattern that was sent with this month's box as well!!!  It has adorable little Star Cornerstones, and I have already pulled out all my solid black scraps to make them up ;)  This is going to be some fun tiny piecing!!!    I am working on so many quilts right now, but I really want to get this on finished, so I will add it to the mix and hopefully share a finish before to long :)


And that's my March Sew Sampler Box!!!  And I can't wait to see what April's box will bring, because its a brand new year for Sew Sampler, it's turning 4!!!!   And that means a new Sampler Quilt as well and I am so excited to see the new designs!!!! 

And  just a quick note on the  Sew Sampler Box.  It's current membership is full.   There is a wait list you can get on and when more spots open up, you can jump in the Sew Sampler Box fun.   Until then, most everything I share is available at  Fat Quarter Shop, just not a few exclusive items.  Sorry about that.   I know there is talk of adding more membership but these boxes are planned 6 months in advance, so it will take a bit to have those advance orders come around ;)   Just wanted to let you know for those that have asked why they can't get signed up.


I hope you all have a very Happy Quilting Day!!!
I'll be back tomorrow with another quilt finish :) 

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Wednesday, March 27, 2019

Loving Spelling and Stringing Along :)

So you might know, Moda is currently having three very laid back Quilt Alongs.  I shared my Moda Love quilt tops I finished last Friday and I had so much fun with them!!!  And it had me thinking of the Quilt Alongs and how I had done the Strings and Love, but not the Spelling.   (Well, not recently, I made this ABC quilt and tutorial and this ABC quilt a while back)  So I had to laugh when I Cynthia asked us to make Spell It blocks for our Bees Knees  group this month ;)    I got J and K. 


J went together super fast, but of course, K has a few more seams.  And to complicate things just slightly, there was a piece of fabric missing in my little mail package.   It happens, and I knew Cynthia mentioned she cut these out a while back so I was worried she wouldn't have any more of the background fabric.


So I got super creative sewing together all of the leftover scraps from my stitch and flip corners and managed to just barely piece together 8 mini triangles to come up with a 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" piece.   I am glad it is a super busy background so all of that tiny piecing just blends in.   Yippee!!


And I was so thrilled to have my Spelling blocks done, and my Moda Love Quilt top done, it just felt like I should do some Strings as well ;)  So I pulled out a bunch of Orange Selvages and away I went.   I made a tutorial of Sewing with Selvages back here, and then a second tutorial on how I make these Stars with the Selvage squares right here ;)  This is one of those long term projects, so I am sure I will be sharing more Selvage Stars over the next few months.   But I have to say, I sure like the orange one!!!! 


So in the last week I have done Moda Strings, Moda Love, and Spell it with Moda ;)  It's been a fun week for sure!!!!     Are you doing any of these Moda Quilt Alongs???
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Tuesday, March 26, 2019

Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Day!!!

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

First, we need to announce the winner from last weeks Terrific Tuesday Giveaway :)

The winner of the Fresh Solids Fat Quarter Bundle from Fat Quarter Shop is . . .  Number #223 . . .   Congrats Joyful Quilter !!!   I have emailed you :)     

  

        
And on to today's



Today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway is being sponsored by Shabby Fabrics!!   Shabby Fabrics has an amazing selection of Fabrics and  so many cute BOM's and Clubs!!!  And don't forget, Shabby Fabrics  also has an amazing  Clearance Section, you are sure to find some amazing deals, and have also just added a whole bunch of Quilt Kits on sale as well!!  Super fun!!!   
  

And for the Terrific Tuesday Giveaway  Shabby Fabrics is giving one lucky winner a $30.00 Gift Certificate!!!!!   Now the winner can get just what they have been wishing for, and maybe a little something to help welcome Spring ;)


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 that tells me your favorite thing about Spring?? (It is finally starting to be sunny around here, and I am so happy!!!) 

 ENTRY 2 - Show your Shabby Fabrics love. You can follow them on FacebookTwitterYou TubePinterest, or Instagram.  You can Sign up for the Shabby Fabrics Newsletter (top right hand corner) or Follow their Blog,  or you can Visit the Shop and then share a favorite item ;)   Just be sure to leave a comment of how you showed your Shabby Fabric Love!!!

And that's it ;)  The giveaway will be open until next Tuesday, April 2nd when I will announce a winner at the beginning of next weeks Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Post :)

Good Luck and Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!

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Friday, March 22, 2019

In Love with Moda Love!!!

So I shared a couple weeks back how I decided to jump in and sew along with the Moda Love Sew Along!!!   I knew I really didn't need a new project at the time, but I have always wanted to make this Moda Love Pattern  ever since it was first released, and the Sew Along was the perfect excuse to join in.  And I have to say, I am so, so, so glad I did!!!!   This quilt is so much fun to make.   I think it will quickly become one of those "go to" patterns when you need a quilt fast.   And don't let this picture trick you, this was made with Layer Cake pieces, and finishes at 72" square.   Perfect for those quick wedding or graduation gifts ;)


And my original plan was not to make 2 quilts.   But I knew I wanted to make the first one in classic Red/White/and Black.   So I grabbed my stashed layer cake of  Shades of Black by Me and My Sister Designs from 2013 (yes, It had been stashed for a little bit :)  and started with the blacks and whites.  But I didn't want to include the grey squares and needed just a few more black/white prints.   So then I remembered I had a half a Layer Cake left over from another project of Authentic Ect. by Sweetwater .  Perfect!!!   But then I had a few Green Squares, Solid White Squares,  and the aforementioned Grey Squares left.   And I didn't want them all to end up in the scrap buckets (those are already overflowing) and so ya, a Second Moda Love quilt came to be.   And I just love it!!!!


Again, I didn't mind piecing two at all, because these are really, really fun to make.  I think it was just what my little creative heart needed in the midst of a little craziness.  Just something fun and fast that I didn't need to think to much about and could just enjoy the process of stitching away.   Now, it's time to make some backs and get these two quilted up.  They will be ready for gifting in no time ;)


And if you want to try out the Moda Love Pattern and join in the Sew Along, you can download it for free right here.    The Pattern has 3 sets of instructions.   So you can make a big 72" square one like me using Layer Cakes, or make a 32" quilt using Charm Packs, or even a cute little mini finishing at 12" using Mini Charm Packs.   Whatever you decide to make, you are sure to have lots of fun!!!

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

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