Ocean Waves - FQS Quilt Along

I have always loved the Ocean Waves quilt pattern.  It is such a fun way to use fabric to make the quilt look like it has movement.

The Fat Quarter Shop has an Ocean Waves Sew Along as part of the Classic and Vintage Series.  I used V and Co. Ombre New Colors for my block,

I just love how the fabric works with the pattern to make it look like it is moving. 

The best part is the pattern uses Triangles on a roll, which means the half square triangles go together quickly.

You can find the pattern here.  I have a lot of half square triangles finished and ready to sew into blocks.  Here's hoping my Ocean Waves quilt is finished soon!  Happy Stitching!!  --Kristen

FQS Blog Remix - Sewing Machine Accessory Bag

I am so excited to be able to share with you another Fat Quarter Shop Blog Remix.  This time it is the Sewing Machine Accessory Bag.  It is a quick and easy stitch and such a useful sized bag at 8-1/2 x 9 inches finished.

Penguins In the Summer

I think this photo pretty much sums up my life this past year.  I'm headed in so many directions and many times I do not know which end is up.  I honestly can't even tell you where we were when I found these signs.  We pulled off the road in Michigan because we needed to get out and stretch, and when I saw them I made my husband turn around and amazingly I got them get them both in the same photo.  I am thinking they were painted when the weather was -100 (it looks like snow to me).  With both parents being diagnosed with cancer, my husband and I both turning 50, and our son graduating in the last few months, life has been more than unpredictable at times, and yet it all works out.

It is kind of ironic that on a very warm day this past weekend I finished this penguin quilt.  I used Vintage Holiday by Bonnie and Camille and the Penguin Party pattern by Elizabeth Hartman.  What a fun quilt this was to make.  Yes there were a lot of pieces, but every one was worth it.

I had huge goals for this year, and I haven't met most of them, but I have tried some new things.  I took a few photography classes and have yet to master my camera.  I have also taken some painting classes which have been surprisingly fun (I NEVER thought I would enjoy painting, but I do).  My new goal is to finish a project a week, no matter how big or small throughout the rest of the year.  It may be a quilt block or a Christmas ornament, but to just finish something would be rewarding.  I am also hoping to get back to blogging more.  I used to really enjoy it, I miss it, and I think I'm at a point in my life where it would be a good thing, if for no one else but me. I am also contemplating an Etsy shop, but we will have to see on that one. ;)

So, here I am again. I definitely will be back in the next few weeks with projects I have completed for the Fat Quarter Shop (actually as soon as Monday).  Happy Stitching!!!  --Kristen

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