Charm Pack Tree Skirt

Hello everyone!  Wow, this year is slipping away, and in fact, my son's high school graduation is tomorrow!  June is just around the corner, and I know it seems like it is too early to be thinking Christmas, but it isn't.  The Fat Quarter Shop has another sewalong, and it is for a Christmas tree skirt.  This one is fun and fast to make, and with all the really cute holiday fabrics arriving in shops now, it is the perfect time to sew this one up and be ready when you are too busy come November/December. ;)

This pattern requires a few charm squares, a background, and a cute binding.  I chose to use Christmas Figs by Fig Tree.  Don't worry if you think the binding is going to be difficult, Kimberly has a video on how to do that too on her YouTube channel.  Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year, so even though I'm looking forward to some warm weather and summer, Christmas will be here before we know it again, and I'm ready!

You can get the pattern here and watch a video tutorial for the tree skirt here. If you make this, I'd love to hear what fabrics you used and see a photo.  Happy Stitching!!  --Kristen

Union Square Sew Along

Hi Everyone!  It has been a long time in between posts, and I will have a lot to share soon.  Today is another Fat Quarter Shop Sew Along, and this time it is the Union Square block. 

There is a little more involved with making this block, and if you take your time it is well worth making sure the points match.  This is such a nice picture with sunshine in it (we have had a very long winter, and I can't wait to see the sun again!).

I decided to make mine into a mini quilt.  I was able to try a few new ways of quilting, and with the smaller size, it was easier to maneuver while free motion quilting. 

The link to the free block pattern is here.  And you can check out the FQS video here.  There is also a pattern available for a quilt made with these blocks here.  Have fun sewing this up, and I'd love to see what you do with this block.  Happy stitching!!!  --Kristen

Penguin Party

The last 10 days have been very eventful, from a freezer dying (NOT fun), some medical issues with family members and friends, to a niece being born last Sunday.  I got called at 5 a.m. to stay with the other little ones while the baby was born which was exciting, and it also means I need to get a baby quilt made and quick.  

When I started this quilt I had the intention of only making 9 penguins, but the more I made the more I loved them, and I couldn't stop at just 9.  So I thought I'd make 12 and ended up with 20.  :)  We had a beautiful snowfall this weekend and woke up to snow that sparkled as well as really cold temperatures which made the perfect setting for these artic guys.

There are three sizes of the penguins in the pattern which makes them so cute.  Of course after I laid them all out I realized I had forgotten to put the half square triangles on the bottom of a few of them, so I did a little unsewing, added them, and was ready to make a top.  I've ordered my backing and binding which should be here this week and I'll be ready to quilt them up.  I'd love to say they will be ready to use by the end of the month, BUT I'm not going to say that just yet.

Next up I'm going to choose a pattern, do some cutting, and get that baby quilt going.  I'm trying to decide if it will be flannel or cotton...I'm leaning towards flannel.  ;) Happy Stitching!!!  --Kristen

Happy New Year!!

The new year is here, and how in the world is it 2019?  I have thought about this year for over a decade, probably even two decades, and to be honest more than that.  This is the year I turn the big 50!  Not only do I turn 50, my husband also does, our son graduates from high school, AND it is our 25th wedding anniversary.  So to say 2019 is going to be a FUN year is probably an understatement.  As a matter of fact, I feel kind of bad for 2020.  haha!  All of these events happen throughout the year, which means every few months we will be celebrating another milestone, and what is better than to celebrate with quilts?!?!

I've always wanted to have different quilts to hang each month, not just each season, so I've started working on some new wall hangings.  The first is Penguin Party by Elizabeth Hartman.

I've got all the blocks made, they just need to be sewn together and quilted.  I love each one of them.  I used Vintage Holiday by Bonnie and Camille and it is making such a fun quilt.  The metallic spotted background to me looks like falling snow. 

My son chose this Full Spectrum kit as the quilt he would like for his graduation.  This is going to be a challenge, and I'm hoping to have it finished by the time graduation rolls around in May.  He said it is okay if it is a little late, but honestly, we are counting down the days, and I have over 100 days to try for a finish.  We will see if that happens or not.

I have lots of plans for this year, lots of events to look forward to, and lots of quilts that I really want to complete.  My goal for our wedding anniversary is to quilt the double wedding ring quilt I started before we were married.  I still love it, I was just a little too young to complete it.  Hopefully I can do it justice.  I am also planning on participating in sew alongs as well, because those are always a lot of fun.

My goal is to remember this year and to blog once a week, keeping up to date on what I'm working on and tracking what has happened each month of this year. It is already January 10th, so here's hoping for 50 blogs posts this year, and for an eventful (and quilty), 2019!  Happy Stitching!!!  --Kristen

Mini Scrap Patch Bag

Good morning everyone!  We are almost to the end of 2018 and the Fat Quarter Shop is doing another blog remix with the Mini Scrap Patch Bag.  They have a video with all the instructions on how to make the bag which is very easy to follow, and makes creating your bag simple!

I made two this time because doesn't everyone love the new "Valentines" fabrics that are out?  I used Little Sweetheart by Edytar Sitar for the bottom one, and RED-diculously Red by Me and My Sister Designs for the other.  I had charm packs that I cut to size, and only needed 11 charms to make each bag.  That means there is plenty of fabric left to make more!  I also bought a 30" By Annie zipper so I could make four bags out of one (I just need to get a few extra zipper pulls).

I love using fun fabrics for linings, and a fat quarter is more than enough for this bag.

Anyone who knows me, knows I LOVE bags.  It is so fun to actually make one that I can use!

If you'd like to make your own scrap patch bag, you can find the video here.  Let me know if you do make one, I'd love to see it!  I'm planning on being back before the year ends, I've got big plans for the new year. :)  Happy Stitching!!!  --Kristen

Fat Eighth Fruitcake Quilt

Hi everyone!  I'm so excited to be sharing this quilt at long last.  It has been a few months in the making, but the day is finally here, and I have to say this is one of my new favorite quilts.

I used Summer Blush by Riley Blake and the Fat Eighth Fruitcake Quilt pattern from the Fat Quarter Shop.  There was only a fat quarter pack available to use, so I made two blocks with each fabric and it turned out wonderful.

I chose to use the same fabric for all the middle squares, but by using different fabrics it would just make the quilt a bit more scrappy.  The fabric requirements are right on as I did not have a lot of fabric left over (which is kind of a shame because I really love this fabric line).  ;)

Finally, I used the serpentine stitch and my walking foot to quilt it, and was finished in no time.  This would be a quick quilt to make for a Christmas gift, and I'm sure anyone would love to receive it!  You can find the pattern here and also see the quilts my fellow quilters have made.  Thanks for stopping by, I'll be back soon as I have another quilt top almost finished and ready to share.  Happy Stitching!!!  --Kristen

Mini Scrap Patch Bag

I am so far behind, and it seems time is flying faster than ever.  I can hardly believe we are half way through November!  I have a senior in high school and to say that this year is fun filled and action packed is an understatement.  The Mini Scrap Patch Bag is a quick sew, and would make a perfect project for Christmas gifts that requires a small time commitment. 

Calling it mini is kind of deceiving, because you really can fit much more in it than you would think.  The pattern calls for Mini Charm packs...so that may be the reason for the use of "mini."  ;)

I used Christmas Figs Mini Charm pack, a 24-inch Chartreuse zipper from ByAnnie, and the Quiltsmart 2-1/2" grid panel to make it.  The complete pattern can be found here.  I have another quilt to share that is finished and ready to go...November 28 is the date for that.  Happy Stitching!!  --Kristen

Happy Labor Day

I don't know where the time has gone since my last post.  It seems the older our children get, the faster time slips away.  My son celebrated his 18th birthday this past month and started his senior year in high school.  Suddenly we are looking at colleges, scheduling ACT tests, and ordering his cap and gown and graduation announcements (yes that was the first week of school).  I just realized my son is the age I was when I started quilting, and what a long and wonderful journey it has been!

I finished my Village quilt and I love it.  This quilt justifies my saving, collecting, (hoarding) of fabrics.  Each house is a different Me and My Sister fabric, and to be honest, I could probably make another smaller one with all different fabrics from their lines too.  I love how they all "go together" and it reminds me of where I was when I purchased the fabrics or what was going on during that time.  I loved using this background fabric too.  What a fun quilt it was to make and a great sew along to be a part of!

The Village quilt photo was taken earlier this summer, and this photo is from this morning.  We had a heavy downpour right before I got outside and everything is still a bit wet, but is a reminder of things to come (hopefully some not so humid weather).  It's a long holiday weekend for us, and a great time to get in the sewing room again.  I made these pincushions for Memorial Day, and obviously 4th of July has snuck by, and now Labor Day, but it is a good reminder that even though the summer months fly, all these fun patriotic things are appropriate for the whole summer.

I will be cutting into these fabrics within minutes for a new sew along with the Fat Quarter Shop. The fabrics are Summer Blush by Sedef Imer and they are wonderful!

It is fun to look back at things accomplished and look forward to things to come.  At some point I want to make my son a graduation quilt.  I have a few ideas for that, but no definite plan yet.  It will be a bit bittersweet, but it seems the best quilts are the ones that commemorate a special occasion (and sometimes have a few tears sewn in).  ;)  Of course all is in anticipation of great things to come!  Happy Stitching!! --Kristen

AGF Stitched Quilt Along

AGF (otherwise known as Art Gallery Fabrics) is having a quilt along with The Fat Quarter Shop using the Odori Quilt Pattern beginning today.

I chose these AGF fabrics from the Fiesta Fun line by Dana Willard.  They are all so bright and completely different than any I've used before. I need to find more of that background fabric!

After cutting strips and sewing them together, the fabrics were cut into triangles using the Creative Grids Spider Web ruler.  This really was so quick and easy to do.

Here is my completed Odori quilt which used nine blocks total, and the corners of each block made additional rings. All seams were pressed open which really made those points come together.  To top it off, I had some beautiful sun light for about a half hour when it was time to take photos. Make sure to check out the Fat Quarter Shop's free pattern, video on how to make this colorful quilt, and wide selection of AGF fabric.  Happy Stitching!!  --Kristen

Village

The last few weeks have been a blur.  I've been sewing a lot, but also applying for jobs and prepping for interviews and going to meetings. This is so out of the norm for me and so difficult, but kind of exciting.  It seems there are a lot of my friends in the same position right now, their jobs are being eliminated and they are not old enough to retire.  But, I'm not giving up, and I'm praying that the best job ever comes my way.  In the meantime I sew.

I joined the Sewing A Village sew along with Stitch Supply Co. and I am having a blast.  I have been collecting (aka hoarding) Me and My Sister fabrics for a long time...This pattern has 132 houses in it, and each of my houses is using a different fabric.  It KINDA sounds worse than it is because a charm  pack, jelly roll, or layer cake can have a lot of different fabrics in it.  ;)  ANYWAY...

Here is my village so far, in no specific order.  The background is a fabric from their new line Confetti that I found here.  I think this might be one of the happiest and brightest quilts I have ever made.  We are only four weeks in so we have a long way to go yet.  I have been sewing mine on Sundays which gives me something to look forward to each week.  We have another winter storm headed our way, and that means I will be spending more time sewing something (hibernating/hiding) the next few days.  Please Spring, get here soon.  Happy Stitching!!   --Kristen

Hunter Star Block/Quilt

Ever since I can remember I have wanted to make a hunter star quilt.  I love the stars, but was not excited about putting those points together.  When the Fat Quarter Shop asked if I wanted to make a block, I was all in.  I knew they would find an easier way to make these stars, and did they ever.

When I made the first block I was not seeing it.  I had more Diving Board fabric by Alison Glass and continued sewing.

Four more blocks and I'm seeing where this is going, and I'm getting really excited.  I kept thinking, it seriously cannot be this easy.

But it was, and now I have a great quilt to snuggle under.  I also tried sewing my binding on by machine and that was great, so I can check this block and new to me way of binding off the list of things to try.  You can find the pattern and an instructional video here.  I will be back tomorrow with progress on my Village and City Tile sew along quilts.  Happy Stitching!!  --Kristen

Finishes and Goals

I think a great thing to do is set a goal to finish something each month.  I half reluctantly decided last month that I would try to see if I could actually post a goal and accomplish it.  I soon realized that I may have set my goals a bit high for the month, but in the end it was worth it.

After hanging "Have Yourself A Quilty Little Christmas" and photographing it, I soon realized I couldn't see the quilting I had spent so much time on...

With a little experimenting we can see it! :)  It is only -20F windchill  today...and as my husband was helping me he said "Wow, this really is a pretty quilt."  I'm sure it will be used and loved for many years to come at Christmas.

My This Way and That Way Quilt (pattern by Me & My Sister, fabric is Fig Tree Coney Island) is finished and I'm so happy about that too. 

Now on to my February goals.  I decided that I wanted to make a goal of quilting a quilt that is in my HUGE "piecing is finished, but it needs to be quilted pile."  It should serve two goals, working on my machine quilting, and actually getting something off that pile.  ;) 

This is from the Take Wing pattern by lillyella stitchery.  I still need borders, and I had always thought about adding some smaller butterflies...I may still have to do that.  I guess we will see where this month leads.  I am linking up with Elmstreet Quilts with my one monthly goal.  If you are interesting in the Coney Island fabric, Stitchin' It Up Quilt Shop is the place to look.  I will be back again soon with something else I've been working on.  Happy Stitching!!!  --Kristen

Happy New Year!!

Well, it seems all the end of the year holidays have passed us by, and it has almost been two months since I have posted.  A few days after my last posting I began a job search which has been less than exciting, frustrating, exhausting, and was taking everything I had just to participate in.  It always comes when you least expect it, and there are days I don't know what to do because I'd love to believe that perfect job will just land in my lap.  Haha!  So I've stayed away from my sewing room, and I decided its a new year, and time to get back to what I love most...creating.

It is my hope to finish the started projects that have been pushed aside to make room for some fun new ones.  As you can see we have snow, and it is was -6 F when I was out trying to photograph this.  It is almost all quilted, needs binding, and then it will be ready for Christmas next year.  This pattern is Have Yourself a Quilty Little Christmas by Lori Holt.  I used Nancy Halvorsen Christmas fabrics which are bright and fun.

This quilt is This Way and That Way from the book 12-Pack Quilts by Me and My Sister Designs.  I used Fig Tree Coney Island fabrics and love how it is turning out.  It needs borders and to be quilted and bound.  It is my goal to finish both of these in the month of January while participating in the One Monthly Goal Link Up.  Hopefully I can motivate myself to actually finish something big each month (and take my mind off of looking for a job).  I am wishing you a happy, healthy New Year, and that you are surrounded by those you love!  Happy Stitching!!  --Kristen

Pretty Handmades

I shared a while back that I had done some pattern testing for Lauren Wright's (Molly and Mama) new book Pretty Handmades.  At that time I did not have a copy of the book, and Lauren had a blog parade for her book launch which I did not want to take away from.  The book has been released, and I do have a copy now, so I would love to share a few of the things I was fortunate to make.

Mini Charm Chocolates Sew Along with Fat Quarter Shop

I am so excited to finally be able to share this quilt with you.  It has been a long time coming, but well worth the wait!   (And yes, we did put one Christmas tree up already)!

I Goofed...

All week last week I was sure that the Mini Charm Chocolates Quilt Along was this Friday...well, it was not.  It is November 3.  SO, that being said I wanted to share a few things I've finished so at least there was something to show.  To be honest I have a lot of huge decisions to make in the near future, and I think I am trying so hard not to dwell on them I'm throwing myself into other things that make me happy.  On a good note, I won't be frantically sewing the days before the deadline, because my quilt is finished. ;)

Mini Charm Chocolate Quilt Sew Along

Twice in a week...and I will be back again on Friday.  Just wanted to share with you that I've been sewing for the Fat Quarter Shop Mini Charm Chocolate sew along, and have actually finished another quilt.

There are lots of 2-1/2" squares in this one.  And it is quick to piece!  It would make a great gift if you are thinking Christmas at all.  (I'm always thinking Christmas).  ;)

 It is quilted, bound, and ready to share (on Friday).  

I'm starting another quilt along with Thelma of Cupcakes N' Daisies, although I am well behind.  It is a fall quilt, so I haven't completely forgotten about falling leaves and pumpkins.  Happy Stitching!!  --Kristen

FQS Cobblestone Sew Along

Today marks the beginning of the Fat Quarter Shop's Cobblestone Sew Along.  This is such a fun quilt to make and really does not take a lot of time to piece.

I used Sweetwater's Hometown Christmas Edition fabrics, which has a Christmas/holiday theme, but really doesn't read that.

A New Pattern

For my newest project I've been working on an upcoming Fat Quarter Shop pattern.

.

I chose Hometown Christmas Edition fabric by Sweetwater (which I absolutely love).

Pincushions Galore!

The beginning of August I found a neat "sew along" on Instagram that was 31 pincushions in 31 days.  I quickly jumped in because of course I love pincushions, and how hard could that be?  Well, it proved to be quite an adventure.  It forced to me to do things I had put off before like paper piecing, learning how to use EQ7, and finishing something everyday.

These were made from left over scraps and using my GO!  It seems saving scraps came in very handy, as the two in the back were made from strip sets from the Cracked Pots quilt I finished a couple of months ago.

I learned how to make a cathedral window (the one in the middle).  I think a pincushion is the best way to make your first cathedral window.  It is one and done.  Tiny hexagons also worked well, as did the left over corner half square triangles from the Rush Hour quilt.

Paper piecing small items can prove to be difficult.  I had a couple that just didn't make the cut, but I'm not giving up yet.  It was also fun to make some really small blocks and to fussy cut.  I think I see some mini quilts in my future.

I found a lot of patterns (or made my own) for fruit pincushions.  I just realized I never made a tomato.  Next time.  :)

These five were all made with Thimbleblossoms patterns and Bonnie and Camille fabrics.  Easy to make and just the right size.

I had tested the hexagon block for Geta Gamma a long time back, but had never used it for anything.  I figured out how to put sides on it, and it makes a great sized pincushion!  The long one fits perfectly on my Adirondack chair which is nice to use when I'm on the patio.

These two were made from the Sew Perfectly book, and they were so much fun to make.  I made the red and white one first and then realized I had put the pocket on the wrong way so I made a second.  The red and white pocket is just the right size for a longer scissors, so I guess I needed one with the pocket on the wrong way.  I've seen a lot of these made and now I know why, they are wonderful to use!

Last but not least was this 5" pincushion made using wool for the flower petals.  (I'm trying to remember the name of the pattern).  

Whew, that is a lot of pincushions.  They were all enjoyable to make, but maybe I won't do as many in such a short time period next time, or maybe I will, as this forced me to expand my horizons and see just what I can accomplish.  Now to figure out what to do with them all.  :)  Happy Stitching!!  --Kristen