Renovation - Week 2!!

Well, a lot has happened since Week 1 of Renovation and things are moving right along.   Which of course, I am so incredibly grateful for!!!  Our Contractor is Dennis Gray with Precision Development and he has been absolutely fantastic to work with!!!  So let's see what got done in Week 2 :)

MONDAY -   We were up the mountain for the school holiday, and I was thrilled when I came home to find that the new siding had been put up!!!!   This is where all the windows used to be :)    I just love the way this siding turned out, and  they did it all on a break, so nice of them!!!!

TUESDAY - Began the muddying and taping ;)  And our kitchen and other areas were pretty much looking like swiss cheese with all of the holes, so there was a lot of muddying and taping to do ;)   And of course, the weather turned cold which made it take a while to dry between coats, what ya gonna do ;)   

But it was nice that other jobs were still getting done while the 4 days of muddying and taping were going on.   On Tuesday the tile folks came and installed the tile for the new fireplace in the living room.   I so love this tile, it is just so soft and sophisticated ;)  

WEDNESDAY - And then on Wednesday, the builder came and created this new fireplace mantle from scratch.  It was so neat to watch him build each piece and see it all come together.   Isn't it just beautiful!!!   I can't wait for it to be painted now ;)   

My Kitchen to Dining Room doorway was also widened on Wednesday.   We added about another foot and a half to the opening which just really increases the flow and makes it so much more open.  But I still have two different rooms, which I really wanted to keep.   So fantastic!!!    And this was widened just as the folks were getting to muddying and taping in this section.  Talk about great timing!!! 

THRUSDAY - We continued with muddying and taping, such a big job!!!   And we also had a builder come and start putting the molding around the doors.   Isn't that just so pretty.  I love the new solid look of molding!!!

FRIDAY - And by Friday, the muddying and taping just needed to be finished and sanded.   It is hard to see in this picture, but there is a beautiful stomp pattern on the ceiling and a nice whitewash on the walls.   It is really great, and again, I can't wait to see it all painted!!!

So that is Week 2!!!   It is so neat to think that everything is set for the painter's to come in on Monday and start painting ;)   And were hoping to get the cabinets in before the end of the week, I can't wait to share that!!!    Be back next weekend with another report :)   

Magic Trick - A Secret Quilt!!!

Today I am excited to share a secret finish that I made last spring and it has been so hard to keep it a secret because I think it is just so fun!!   I love making optical illusion quilts because they just keep your eyes dancing, and this one certainly does just that.  It's called Magic Trick and I just love it!!!

Magic Trick was originally going to be published in the Pre-Cut Patchwork Magazine, but then ownership of that magazine changed right at the publishing date and that particular magazine was discontinued.   But I am happy to say, that this quilt didn't fall away, the folks at Peak Media Properties created an e-book full of wonderfully fun Illusion Blocks and that is where you can find the pattern for Magic Trick!!!!  You can find the book available for download here and more about all of the quilts in this ebook here ;)

Magic trick finishes at 72" x 84" so it is a great size to snuggle up with a good book or use as a rally quilt at your games :)    I know it looks crazy difficult, but it is actually very easy when broken down!!   And no, it is not pieced on point ;)     You are going to love making this and watching it all come together!!!     

Magic Trick is  Charm Pack and Jelly Roll Friendly which makes the cutting go super fast :)  And there are so many Basic Charm Packs and Jelly Rolls, you can easily pick your teams favorite colors and have this super fun quilt put together in no time!!!    

When it came time to quilt mine, I decided on all over echoed paisleys.  (I have a video tutorial on this free motion quilting design here :)     I just love how it adds all of that curvy goodness to all of the straight piecing and kind of swirls the optical illusion ;)   And of course, I used my 402 Pearl because it is just a great go to color.  It blends perfectly with the white and pops on the red and black!!!    

And I am just thrilled to finally get to share this quilt!!!   It really is a fun one to make, and I always love getting to work with classic solids.  And you know this quilt will be heading to my Alma Mater :)   Can I just say how glad I am that Southern Utah University's colors are red, white, and black!!!  I never get tired of making quilts in this classic color combo!!!! 

And that is my Dashing Duos Quilt!!! Don't you just love this styled shot above ;)  I always love seeing how magazines take pics of my quilts!!!   I hope you like my new Magic Trick Quilt and if you make your own, I would love to see it!!!   You can email me a picture at happyquiltingmelissa@gmail.com or add it to my flickr group here or post it to social media with  #happyquiltingwithmc ;)  I can't wait to see your Magic Trick Quilts!!!

 I hope that you have a very Happy Quilting Weekend :)

Tutorial Throwback Thursday - Flying in Squars Quilt!!!

Well it's Thursday, and I have a fun Throwback for you today!!!!  It's coming a little late as I was at my local Quilt Guild this morning helping make swag bags for our big Cedar Chest Quilters Retreat next week!!!   And that got me thinking about the very first time I taught at the Cedar Chest Quilters Retreat 8 years ago.   It was also my very first time teaching a quilting class!!!  ( I can't even count how many I have taught since :)   And you guessed it, my first class is today's Throwback Thursday!!!!   I taught my Flying in Squares quilt and it was oh so much fun!!!!

Flying in Squares was my design that would allow me to share my love of No Waste Flying Geese!!!  I could make a gaggle of geese any day, I just enjoy the process so much!!!   And I loved taking them and making them all "fly" in a square.   It made for a fun alternating block design.   It is super easy and goes together really quick.   It finishes at 45" x 60", so it makes a great lap size quilt.  

And Flying in Squares just uses a Layer Cake, so you can just choose a favorite from your stash, grab some Background Fabric, and you are good to go!!!!  I used Kate Spain's Terrain fabric, and you know I just love all of that wonderful purple.  All of those wonderful cool colors in this line arejust fantastic, and this fabric really started my love of Kate Spain's gorgeous prints!!!    

And we threw back so far, that the quilting is done on my home machine!!!  Yup, this Flying in Squares quilt is pre-longarm quilting days ;)   And I have to say, those swirls are not half bad.  I still enjoy quilting on my home machine for small projects, it's always good to keep up the skill and it really is fun to mix it up every once and a while and move the fabric instead of the needle ;)  

And that is my Flying in Squares quilt.  I hope you have enjoyed today's Tutorial Throwback Thursday!!!    To make your own Flying in Squares,  just click on any of the quilt name links for the free step by step tutorial.    And when you are done, I would love to see your quilt!!  You can email me a picture at happyquiltingmelissa@gmail.com, post it to social media with #happyquiltingwithmc  or or add it to my flickr group here ;)  I can't wait to see your Flying in Squares Quilts!!!!

Thanks for popping in today and each day.   I hope you all have a very Happy Quilting Day!!!  

Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Day!!!

It's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Day!! Let's have some fun :)

First, we need to announce the winner from last Terrific Tuesday Giveaway!!  

The winner of the Clover Meadow Fat Eighth Bundle from Green Fairy Quilts is . . .   Number #278 . . . Congrats  jottquilt!!!   I have messaged you :)       

   

  

And on to today's

Today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway is being sponsored by  Lou Lou's Fabric Shop .    Did you know that Jamie makes a new Lou Lou Bundle every Tuesday . . . a Lou Lou Bundle is 8 fat quarters curated by Jamie and they are always gorgeous!  Along with hosting the giveaway, Jamie is also offering all Happy Quilting readers has a special discount of an additional 10% off  all sale fabric  with the code happyquilting good until Friday!!!  And there are a lot of great sales to be shopped!!! 

Today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway is for some shopping goodness!!  Lou Lou's Fabric Shop is offering one lucky reader a $25.00 Gift Certificate perfect to use on anything in the store, including the awesome Lou Lou Bundle pictured above!!  Just perfect!!!!

You have two entry chances here on the blog, 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 what is the best thing you have ever eaten???  

 ENTRY 2 - Lets show Lou Lou's Fabric Shop some Love!!!!   You can follow them on   Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Instagram.  Or you can follow their blog or  visit The Shop and then share a favorite item ;)   Just be sure to leave a comment of how you showed your Lou Lou's Fabric Shop Love!!!

And that's it ;)  The giveaway will be open until next Tuesday, January 28th  when I will announce a winner at the beginning of next weeks Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Post :)

You can also pop over to my Instagram and/or Facebook to enter there as well :)  

Good Luck and Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!

Renovation - Week 1

Well, we are one week into the Renovation and I am just so happy so much was done ;)  It's kind of funny, I had prepared for the mess, and chaos, and craziness, but somehow I forgot about preparing for the noise.   And let me tell you, it was a loud week!!!   But nothing that a few Tylenol and a nap couldn't fix, tee hee hee.   So here is the weekly rundown ;)

DAY 1 -   Was a complete demolition day.  There were so many people working, and they did such a great job and go so much done in one day!!!    Everything came out of the kitchen, and I mean everything.   It was just a big open space by the end of the day. 

The Sun room also got redone, with all the windows being taken out and new framing.   And I could already tell it was warmer.  So nice!!

And last but not least, on Day 1 the front room fireplace was taken apart.   And then they even had the new gas fireplace insert to put in it's place, so we could get an idea of what it is going to look like.     Talk about a great first day ;)

DAY 2 - And this was the day when the noise really got crazy.  Taking tile out is a very loud, and very mess job.  

 The wonderful tile workers managed to get all of the kitchen tile out on Day 2. 

DAY 3 - The tile workers moved to the Dining room and Hallways.   And again, another loud day, but just wow, what a change with the tile gone.

And while the tile was being taken out of the dining room, the sun room was getting instillation and HVAC was installing a gas line for the fireplace and moving some air returns.  Much easier with access to the floor boards ;)

DAY 4 - Was electrical.  These guys were amazing.  They arrived at 7:30 and worked until 7:30 that night doing so much electrical.   All of the lights had to be moved, new outlets, new lines for additional lighting, and a redo of the electrical panel in order to support it all.   They were just so great!!!   And they got everything done so that  . . .

DAY 5 - Could start off with a passed electrical inspection.  Yippee!!!    Which meant the Dry Waller's could come that afternoon.    The sun room was framed with the electricians day, and by the end of yesterday I could actually see my new pantry.   How fun is that!!!  

So that is Week 1!!!   So productive and so very exciting ;)   But I will admit, I am enjoying the peace and quiet today.    It's so all going to be worth it when it's all done though, and the temporary kitchen is working out great.  So I think we are all going to manage just fine ;)   Be back next weekend with another report.   I can't wait to see what all is done!!!