Need a Quilting Marathon!!!

 So in this last week I was tidying up the sewing room and realized that I had 6 sets of finished blocks all in different piles waiting to be sewn into quilt tops.   I don't know what hit me, but I decided that was just not gonna fly anymore.  So I got busy!!!  I sewed all 6 sets of blocks into quilt tops and made quilt backs for them all as well.  Then I was on such a Finishing tare, I decided I need to also finish the quilt tops and backs for the three new WIP I had just started.  So, I added 9 to the "To Be Quilted" and was blown away to find there were already 10 waiting!!!!   So ya, 19 Projects that have the quilt top, backing, and binding made and are just waiting to be quilted :)

Yup, I need to have a Quilting Marathon!!!  If only that were an Olympic Sport, tee hee hee.

I am hoping to start working through this soon, the kids go back to school in 2 weeks so I think I can really start making some progress then.

Can't wait to share more soon . . . and speaking of share, I have a secret sewing project that I will be sharing on Monday, so be sure to pop back in next week!!

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

P.S.  Just in case you are worried, I have also cut out 5 new quilts in the last week, so never fear, I don't think I will ever run out of Works in Progress :)   

Texas Monthly - Month 8

It's a new month and with that means a new block in the Texas Monthly Block of the Month program!   This BOM is hosted by Stitchin' Heaven  and is so much fun!!!    And we are moving on to Month 8 today :)   

So let's get going and there are 2 blocks this month and this is probably the easiest month we have had so far :)  So this is a great month to pull out some older blocks as well if you need to do a little catch up ;)   So let's get piecing!!!  

Cutting

I like to start out by pressing all of my fabrics.  Then it is time for cutting!!!  I like to cut all of my pieces for all of my blocks at the start.  Just be sure to keep them in piles separate for each block.  

And with all your pieces cut . . . you are ready to move on to the first block.

The Churn Dash Blocks

Churn Dash blocks are super classic and super fun and fast to make, especially with a little strip piecing.   Which is where we will start.   Gather your White and Purple 2" x WOF strips.  Place them with right sides together.  

Stitch a 1/4" seam along the long edge.   When strip piecing, I like to use a smaller stitch length so my stitches don't unravel when the pieces are subcut.   It's totally okay if your strips do not match perfectly at the ends.   Just fold the WOF Strip set in half, and cut a straight edge along the two edges.  

Now press your strip set towards the Purple strip.   Take care when pressing a strip set that you don't stretch the material.  I like to press from the front and run my finger along the edge of the seam just in front of my iron.  This keeps bubbles out of the seam and ensures no stretching.    

Once you have pressed the strip set, fold it in half again and lay it on your cutting mat so the top is aligned with a horizontal line on your mat.   Measure in 3 1/2" from your straight edge and cut a side unit.  

Continue measuring in 3 1/2" and cutting sub-cutting side units until you have a total of 8 Side Units measuring 3 1/2" x 3 1/2".   The remainder of the strip can be scrapped.  

And now we are moving on to Half Square Triangle Units.  (Note, the cutting instructions are for no trimming HST's, but if you prefer to cut your HST squares to 4" and then trim down after sewing, you can see this tutorial for details :)    Gather your 3 7/8" White and Blue squares.  Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of your 4 White squares.   

Place a marked square onto the Blue Square with Right Sides Together.     Stitch a 1/4" seam on either side of the drawn line.  I like to chain stitch all 4 squares on the right side of the line, and then chain stitch all 4 squares on the left side of the line.    Cut directly on the drawn line to make 2 triangles.  Press towards the  seams towards the Blue Triangle and then trim the dog ears to make 8 Half Square Triangle Units total all measuring 3 1/2" x 3 1/2". 

And now, the units are made and we are ready to piece the block.  Layout the 4 Half Square Triangle Units, 4 Side Units, and 1 White 3 1/2" squares as shown.   Layout 2 blocks to look just like this. We will chain stitch the next few steps so we make both blocks at the same time.  

Place the center column pieces onto the left hand pieces with right sides together.   Align and pin if desired.   Stitch a 1/4" seam along the edge of all the units of both blocks. 

Then, place the left hand column pieces onto the center pieces with right sides together.   Align and pin if desired.   Stitch a 1/4" seam along the edge of all the units of both blocks. 

Press the top and bottom row open.   Press the center row outwards towards the Purple rectangles. 

Place the top row onto the center row with right sides together.   Align and pin the seams.   Stitch a 1/4" seam along the pinned edge of of both blocks. 

And now, place the bottom row onto the center row with right sides together.   Align and pin the seams.   Stitch a 1/4" seam along the pinned edge of of both blocks. 

And just like that, you have two classic Churn Dash Blocks that should measure 9 1/2" x 9 1/2" unfinished.  

So now you are ready to move onto to making the . . . 

Blue Truck and Alamo Pieced Panels

And these are super easy and quick.   Gather your Blue Truck Panel, the Alamo Panel, and your 2 White 3" x 9 1/2" rectangles.   We are basically just going to trim the panels and then add the White strip to the bottom.  

So let's start with the Blue Truck Panel.  We will be trimming this to 7" x 9 1/2".  So I find it easiest to use a 9 1/2" Square ruler.   Center the ruler on the panel by measuring 5/8" to the top of the roosters head at the top of the panel and 5/8" from the 7" line to the bottom of the grass on the bottom of the panel.  That centers it horizontally.  To center it vertically measure 1" in on either side to the edge of the grass hedge.  Now that you are all aligned, trim along the 3 sides of the panel.  

And then just flip the panel 180 degrees, align the ruler with the raw edge on the sides and with the 7" mark on the ruler with the "top" of the panel.   Trim the bottom of the panel along the edge of the ruler.  

Onto the Alamo Panel.  Again, we will be trimming this to 7" x 9 1/2".  Center the 9 1/2" square ruler on the panel by measuring 3/4" to the top of the blue sky at the top of the panel and 3/4" from the 7" line to the bottom of the building on the bottom of panel.  That centers it horizontally.  To center it vertically measure 1" in on either side to the edge, the right hand the building sticks out a bit, and the left hand align with the side of the tree.  Now that you are all aligned, trim along the 3 sides of the panel.  

Once again, flip the panel 180 degrees, align the ruler with the raw edge on the sides and with the 7" mark on the ruler with the "top" of the panel.   Trim the bottom of the panel along the edge of the ruler.  

Now take your trimmed panels and place the 3" x 9 1/2" White rectangle along the bottom of the panel with right sides together.  Stitch a 1/4" seam along the edge on both panels and then press towards the White rectangle.  

See, super fun and fast!!!  Now you have two Pieced Panel blocks that should measure 9 1/2" x 9 1/2" unfinished.  

And that is it for  Texas Monthly Month 8!!!   It's always nice to have a fast block every once and a while :)

If you have any questions on this tutorial, please don't hesitate to email me at happyquiltingmelissa@gmail.com or leave a comment.  

Hope y'all enjoy making this month's blocks! 

 Looking forward to Next Month!

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 Dwell in the Possibility Layer Cake from Kimberly's Fabric Stash is . . .   Number #100 . . . Congrats rainequilts !  I have messaged you :)  

           

And on to today's

Today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway is being sponsored by  Thousands of Bolts .   Thousands of Bolts has incredible prices that will have you super excited!!!  There are thousands of bolts to choose from and all at amazing prices, staring as low as $5.39 a yard!!!   And they have just introduced dozens and dozens of new fabrics to the inventory!!  Be sure to check it out :)

And for Today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway,  Thousands of Bolts is giving one lucky winner at $25.00 Gift Certificate!!!  You can get just what you always wanted :)   And good luck picking because there are literally thousands of bolts to choose from!!!!    And after you have shopped, they would sure love it if you could post a review on Google ;)  

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 if you worked at a circus, What job would you choose??

 ENTRY 2 - Lets show Thousands of Bolts some Love!!!!   You can follow them on   Facebook or Instagram.  Or you can visit The Shop and then share a favorite item ;)   Just be sure to leave a comment of how you showed your Thousand of Bolts Love!!!

And that's it ;)  The giveaway will be open until next Tuesday, August 10th 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!!!

Serendipity Quilt Along - Finish!!

 The Serendipity Quilt Alonghosted by the Fat Quarter Shop has just come to an end and I am thrilled to be sharing my finished quilt!!!!  This has been such a fun quilt to make and I am so excited with how much was raised for Make a Wish Foundation, as in $120,000!!!!  Isn't that just amazing!!!    I just love participating in Fat Quarter Shop's annual charity QAL as not only do I finish with a beautiful quilt, but it also benefits so many wonderful children and their families!!!

I did not do the Pieced Backing on my quilt, just a basic one so I didn't bother to take a picture of it.  But if you want to do the original backing (it is a super cute flower ), you can find the Backing Pattern Here.    It is a super cute way to finish up the quilt, but I was just happy to get the quilt finished up with all of the craziness that is July :)  

And when it came time to quilt mine, I decided on an all over echoed paisley.  I haven't quilted this in a little while, and it is still a favorite all over design.  In fact, there is a video tutorial of how I do it right over here ;)   I just love all of the beautiful texture it adds to the quilt!!!

I can't even begin to say how much I have enjoyed this QAL!!!  This is my 7th year participating in the annual Charity Quilt Along (2015 Snapshots, 2016 Crossroads, 2017 Patchwork,  2018 Clementine, 2019 Threadology, 2020 Bloomtopia and of course, this year with Serendipity) .   And I have loved it every bit as much as the previous years and now I get to look forward to next year's !!!!

Be sure to share all of your Serendipity finishes on social media with #serendipityquiltalong!!!    I can't wait to see all of your finished quilts!!!!   What an amazing QAL this has been for such a wonderful cause :)  And here is to looking forward to 2022's Charity QAL!!!! 

Thanks for popping in today ;)  I hope you have a very Happy Quilting Day!!

Upcoming Teaching (In person!!)

 I am so excited that I get to be teaching in person this year!!!!   What a blessing to be able to start gathering again :)   I have previously shared a few teaching engagements lined up, but there were some updates and a new retreat added so I wanted to share that for the rest of the year.   Hopefully I will get to see you in a class or two :)

Quilt Fest

Date - Sept 14-18, 2021

Place - Layton, Utah 

This September I will be teaching at two retreats in 1 week, should be fun!!!  First up,  I will be teaching 3 classes at Quilt Fest held by the Utah Quilt Guild.   I will be teaching a class of my Nordic Nights pattern (and this class is full but there is a waiting list available)  on Thursday morning,  a class of my Wishes Pattern on Wednesday afternoon, and  a class of my Desert Rose pattern on Wednesday Morning.   The registration for this retreat is open and you can sign up for classes now ;)  

 

Garden of Quilts

Date - Sept 15-18, 2021

Place - Lehi, Utah 

And then I will head down the I-15 to teach at the beautiful Ashton Gardens in Thanksgiving Point to teach 3 classes and do a Charming Baby Quilts Trunk Show at the Garden of Quilts!!!   I will be sharing my Charming Baby Quilts Trunk Show on Friday at Noon.  And I am super excited to say that the classes sizes were recently expanded, so now all of my full classes have a little more room in them!!!   I will be teaching a class of my Nordic Nights pattern on Friday Afternoon.    I will teach a class of my Desert Rose pattern on Saturday Morning and finally, I will be teaching a class of my Decades Past pattern on Saturday afternoon.   This retreat is going to be a real treat and I am so looking forward to it!!! 

Lake Powell Quilt Retreat

Date - Nov 10 - 13, 2021

Place - Paige, Arizona

And when things get cold here in Cedar come November, I am super excited to head down to Paige Arizona to teach at the Lake Powell Quilt Retreat!!!  This is my first time teaching at this particular retreat and I am super excited!!!  I will be teaching 2 classes and even taking a class as well.   I will be teaching a class of my Nordic Nights pattern (and this class is full but there is a waiting list available)  on Friday afternoon and a class of my Scraptastic Stars Pattern on Saturday Morning and there are still spots in that class.   And we are going to do a fun scrap square exchange and you know I have a big ol box of 2 1/2" squares to share with everyone in class, so fun!!!

  

And that is it for 2021 teaching.  But 2022 Teaching is starting to fill up as well, so exciting!!!  Just check back on my Teaching Page to see where I will be next!!!  And if you are interested in having me come to teach at a retreat in your area or at your guild, just send me an email at happyquiltingmelissa@gmail.com.  I would love to come and visit and share my love of quilting!!!  

I hope I get to see some of you in class!!!!   Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!!