Missing My Deck and NTT

So, my current projects are the very first in my new home, and that means that since things are laid out a little differently, I'm figuring some things out along the way.  Now that I have one of the quilt tops finished from the blocks I've been working on, I realize that one big thing I'm missing isn't in my sewing studio at all.  It's my deck in my old backyard.  It was so easy to run outside and snap a quick photo of a quilt top or finished quilt with beautiful natural light.  The deck had enough space to lay even a queen size quilt out flat, and had a bench all around it that I could stand on to get a pretty good shot from above.  And, I really took it for granted.  Obviously I knew that I would have to figure something else out, but I just haven't done it yet.  So until I do, you get an indoor photo of my current quilt top, and I promise I'll find a pretty outside location for the finish.

I've finished laying out both quilts, and actually finished one top.  This is the smaller of the two quilts  I'm making from that ginormous stack of blocks, measuring 60" x 72".   The giant 96" x 108" quilt top is still in progress.  The colors are so cheerful, and I really love the simplicity of the Greek crosses.  This is one of those quilts that is really prettier in person, where you can really appreciate all of the fun prints.  In the photo, many of the fabrics look solid, but aren't.  I'm planning to get the backing for this one put together as soon as I finish the bigger quilt top, and I'll be finishing this one myself, while the larger quilt is heading to the longarmer. (yay for no basting!).  I'll keep you posted!

Before we get to last week's highlights, I owe you three winners from this month's sponsored giveaways.  First, the winner of the $25 gift card from Lady Belle Fabric is Ann, comment number 38!  And the two winners of the mystery Ruby Star charm packs are comments 46 and 51, Beth and Lisa Marie!  Congratulations to all of you.  I'll be contacting you soon so you can get your prizes!

Okie dokie!  It's time to check out a few of the projects from last week's Needle and Thread Thursday that really caught my eye.  This stunner is by Cheryl at Meadow Mist Designs.

Look at this amazingness by Liz at Savor Every Stitch-

And this unique quilt is by Leanne at Devoted Quilter.  She is releasing the pattern for this one, so head over to check it out.

Y'all are just amazing!  I know you've got more fantastic stuff happening in your studio this week, so let's see it.  Time to link up!

1. You can link finished projects or WIP's , but just keep it about quilting and sewing!

2. Link to your specific post (not to your home page!) to make it easier for others.

3. Please remember to spread the word and post my button or a text link.  

4. Spread the comment love far and wide!

5. Following me is not a requirement to link, but is so very appreciated!

*If you're new to the party, here's a helpful tip for linking up- select "Auto Crop"  when selecting your thumbnail photo.  For some reason, trying to crop your own image results in the dreaded "white question mark box," and we definitely want to see your awesome work!  :)

A Cautionary Tale and NTT

Hey there quilty peeps!  Welcome to Needle and Thread Thursday.  Sooo...no matter how practiced you think you might be, apparently quilt math is best done when one is not distracted in any way.  And with that advice in mind, let me tell you my cautionary tale.

That's a whole stack of gorgeous blocks; enough for a queen size quilt, in fact.  And yet, I still have many, many more blocks to piece.  How is that possible?  Well, when I was planning this quilt, somehow I figured out the block layout for 8" blocks (which would be a really weird size for a Greek Cross block anyway, but again, distractions).  A 10x12 layout  of 8" blocks would yield 120 blocks for a nice 80" x 96" quilt.  Awesome.  I remember thinking while I was pulling and cutting fabric that this queen size quilt seemed to be taking a ton of fabric, but since I was determined to get back into my groove, I just kept plowing through.

And again yesterday, as I had been piecing for two days, I kept thinking it was taking longer than usual.  And then it dawned on me.  These were not 8" blocks at all, but instead were 12" ones! (facepalm)  Y'all, a 10 x 12 layout of 12 inch blocks would make a 120" x 144" quilt, which is just comically enormous, and way too big to fold at the end of the queen size bed in my guest room.  just to put it all in perspective, that's enough blocks for a larger queen size quilt measuring 96" x 108" (72 blocks), which is what I'm doing, PLUS ANOTHER 72" x 96" twin size quilt (48 blocks).  No wonder this quilt is taking forever.  I'm actually making two large quilts in tandem.

Lesson learned.  Even if I can cut and sew easy blocks on autopilot, during the actual planning stage, my mind needs to be 100% focused on the task at hand.  Needless to say, I still have more of these blocks left to piece (about 40), and then I'll be putting together TWO quilt tops from them.

So, let's get to the highlights from last week's party, shall we?  Linda at Flourishing Palms shared her finished 2019 temperature quilt.  I just love these.  I am mesmerized by the color gradient through the year, and I always think about making one, but just haven't yet.

I love this cute mini from Jayne at Twiggy and Opal-

This pretty floral quilt by Sew Preeti Quilts is just a perfect pick-me-up for all of the rainy weather we've had lately-

Sophie at Luna Lovequilts shared this super cool, modern quilt-

And Michelle at From Bolt to Beauty linked up this gorgeous, graphic heart quilt-

I just have one more thing to mention before we party.  It's not related to quilting, but it's been a pretty big thing around here.  Y'all know I'm a Louisiana girl, Baton Rouge born and raised, and an LSU grad, and I just have to give a shout out to my team.  It was a magical season for us, and we're all pretty excited in the Young household.  Geaux Tigers!  :)

Okay, friends!  It's time to party.  Y'all keep bringing the awesomeness, and I'll be over here ogling your work (and piecing, and piecing...)   ;)

1. You can link finished projects or WIP's , but just keep it about quilting and sewing!

2. Link to your specific post (not to your home page!) to make it easier for others.

3. Please remember to spread the word and post my button or a text link.  

4. Spread the comment love far and wide!

5. Following me is not a requirement to link, but is so very appreciated!

*If you're new to the party, here's a helpful tip for linking up- select "Auto Crop"  when selecting your thumbnail photo.  For some reason, trying to crop your own image results in the dreaded "white question mark box," and we definitely want to see your awesome work!  :)

January Fabric Deals and Two Giveaways!

Wow!  We're already into the middle of January (I really can't believe it).  That means it's time for me to share the best fabric sales and specials from my very favorite shops across the web.  This post contains TWO giveaways, so even if you have resolved to buy less fabric in 2020, you still have a shot at some new fabric, and still stay on the resolution wagon.

First up is Lady Belle Fabric.  Y'all, through this weekend, Lady Belle is having an amazing sale.  Everything is 20% off!  You don't need a coupon code to take advantage of this sale, and the discount will be automatically applied at checkout.  Take a look at this Zuma bundle by Tula Pink.  This bundle is a steal right now.

I'm also loving the rich colors in this bundle that just arrived in the shop.  It is the Meadow collection by Rifle Paper Co. Lady Belle Fabric is sponsoring our first giveaway for the day.  They are providing a $25 gift certificate to one lucky winner, and believe me.  You won't have any trouble figuring out how to use it.

Over at Shabby Fabrics, they know how to do seasonal sewing right.  Even though I'm not really a lover of winter, this super cute table runner might make me reconsider.  Whether you're sewing for a season or a holiday like Valentine's Day, they've got you covered.  And they even post video tutorials for many of them.  You're sure to find one you love.

As I mentioned, basically once Christmas is over, I'm ready for plenty of warmth and sunshine, so I love seeing all of the new spring fabrics hitting the shops right now.  This Bouquet collection is so fresh and lovely!            

I always love browsing LouLou's Fabric Shop.  They have a HUGE section of sale yardage, and many are as low as $6.00 per yard.  This is a great spot to stock up on quilt backings or even build up certain colors in your stash that are looking sparse.

Let's face it, do we really need a reason to take advantage of such a great deal?

Another spot I always visit in LouLou's shop is their section of fat quarter bundles.  These beautifully curated bundles always have the prettiest fabrics in beautiful, unique color palettes.  They're perfect for getting a jump start on a project.  I especially love these when I want to sew a small seasonal project.  It's enough to sew something substantial, but just enough fabric that I don't feel overwhelmed.

Finally, let's chat about Fort Worth Fabric Studio.  I love so many things about their shop, but one of the things I love best is that there are ALWAYS new things being added to the monthly bargains section.  Think of it like a never ending series of flash sales.  Great items at great prices, and once they're gone, they're gone.  It's so much fun to see what's new each day!                       

For example, right now these gorgeous Butterfly Jewel Berry 10" square packs are an amazing price right now! Fort Worth Fabric Studio is also sponsoring the second giveaway of the day.  Two US winners will each receive a mystery Ruby Star Society charm pack.  Fun! Okay friends, I know I've given you lots to check out, but before you head off to patronize these fabulous shops, take just a minute to enter both giveaways.  Just leave single comment to enter both giveaways!
Since one of today's giveaways is only open to US residents, please be sure to let me know if you're international.  Don't forget to leave an email address if you're a no-reply blogger, and only one entry per person please!  Unfortunately, replies to your own comment counts as an entry (the system numbers those, too), so remember to put your email address in your comment if necessary.
Additional replies/comments/entries are always deleted.  I'll announce the winners at next week's NTT (January 22nd).  Happy shopping and good luck!  :)
This giveaway has ended.  Thanks to all who entered!  See you in February for another amazing chance.  :)

A Fresh Start

Happy New Year to all!  You know, with everything happening over the past few months (new puppy, moving to a new home/contractors working, holidays), it occurred to me that I haven't sewn anything since...wait for it...September.  Yikes.  Even before September, there were a few pretty significant family happenings over the summer that curtailed my creativity, the biggest being the passing of my mother-in-law.  All of those are legitimate reasons to put my quilting on hold, but even when I had a little time to sew here and there, I found myself feeling too overwhelmed to start anything new.  I just had too many things going on to allocate brain cells to thinking about one more thing.  I even forgot to enter my Gossip Queen quilt into QuiltCon, which was always my plan for it, and I was so disappointed in myself when I realized I had missed the deadline.

Over time though, what I discovered won't come as a shock to many of you, I'm sure.  I really missed being creative, even if I still didn't really know what I wanted to make.  I finally decided on a simple Greek Cross quilt for our guest bedroom and started cutting and sorting my blocks.  I loved the fabric pull, but even as I began, it was more out of obligation than inspiration.

But you know what?  After a little while, it felt so good to get back into things. That my friends, is three stacks of progress.  I've been missing a sense of normalcy for literally months, and beginning a new quilt is a step in the right direction on restoring order to my life.  Don't get me wrong, I was pretty rusty on the planning part of things.  I made a miscalculation and had to go back into my stash for more fabric, and it took me three days to get everything pressed, cut, and sorted but still, normal.  Now that everything is ready to sew, these blocks should go together pretty quickly.

Thanks to all of you who have stuck by and continued reading/commenting while life was complicated and I couldn't share quite as much.  I am truly looking forward to 2020 being a wonderful year with lots of pretties to show off. (would uneventful be too much to ask?).

Our last party feels like forever ago, but there were some amazing projects linked up, as usual.  Linda at Flourishing Palms showed off this beauty.  I love the optical illusion it creates-

Nancy at Grace and Peace Quilting shared her (third!) Meadowland quilt.  So pretty!

And JanineMarie at Quilts From the Little House linked up this fantastic Chicago skyline quilt.  It's amazing!

Okay, y'all!  It's the first NTT of 2020, so let's make it a good one.  It's time to link up!

1. You can link finished projects or WIP's , but just keep it about quilting and sewing!

2. Link to your specific post (not to your home page!) to make it easier for others.

3. Please remember to spread the word and post my button or a text link.  

4. Spread the comment love far and wide!

5. Following me is not a requirement to link, but is so very appreciated!

*If you're new to the party, here's a helpful tip for linking up- select "Auto Crop"  when selecting your thumbnail photo.  For some reason, trying to crop your own image results in the dreaded "white question mark box," and we definitely want to see your awesome work!  :)

Spinning Plates

Happy Needle and Thread Thursday, friends!  Right now I have several things happening in my house- painting, electrical work, new doors going in... and I am not too proud to admit that I might have bitten off a little more than I can chew.  My goal was to get certain things finished in the house before family comes to visit for Christmas and it looks like it is going to actually happen, but it just might make me crazy first.  And, though I have a plan, I haven't purchased or wrapped a single gift yet, and I'm usually finished with everything before December 1st.  I did manage to get my Christmas tree put up so at least there's that, and I've (mostly) kept the puppy from eating it, so...winning there too. (just ignore the fact that I took the photo before the tree skirt was on, ha!)

Last week's party was so great.  I just love browsing through all of your amazingness, especially when I'm missing my own sewing machine so much.  This awesome quilt is by Jayne at Twiggy and Opal-

This modern masterpiece is by Sophie at Luna Lovequilts-

This fantastic quilt is by Sew Preeti Quilts-

And I love this one by heARTS Creations-

Okay friends!  Let's link up!

*Next week, December 18th is my wedding anniversary, and then the following two weeks are Christmas Day, and New Years Day, so NTT will be taking a break.  I'll see you all in 2020!

1. You can link finished projects or WIP's , but just keep it about quilting and sewing!

2. Link to your specific post (not to your home page!) to make it easier for others.

3. Please remember to spread the word and post my button or a text link.  

4. Spread the comment love far and wide!

5. Following me is not a requirement to link, but is so very appreciated!

*If you're new to the party, here's a helpful tip for linking up- select "Auto Crop"  when selecting your thumbnail photo.  For some reason, trying to crop your own image results in the dreaded "white question mark box," and we definitely want to see your awesome work!  :)

Happy NTT!

Welcome to Needle and Thread Thursday, friends!  I hope that all of you in the US had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday last week, and I hope you snagged some great deals on Black Friday (if that's your thing).  I do have my new sewing and cutting table, but it still needs to be put together, so still no sewing from me (and I haven't even put up my Christmas tree, which is unheard of on December 4th around here). By the looks of things though, y'all have definitely been busy creating!  One day soon I'll make it back to my machine...

This stunning Arboretum quilt is by Anne at Springleaf Studios-

I love this fun, modern quilt by Liz at Savor Every Stitch-

This soft, pretty quilt is by Nancy at Grace and Peace Quilting-

And I sure do appreciate a scrappy quilt, especially when it's a riot of color, like this one from Sew Preeti Quilts-

Okay friends!  Let's get our party going!

1. You can link finished projects or WIP's , but just keep it about quilting and sewing!

2. Link to your specific post (not to your home page!) to make it easier for others.

3. Please remember to spread the word and post my button or a text link.  

4. Spread the comment love far and wide!

5. Following me is not a requirement to link, but is so very appreciated!

*If you're new to the party, here's a helpful tip for linking up- select "Auto Crop"  when selecting your thumbnail photo.  For some reason, trying to crop your own image results in the dreaded "white question mark box," and we definitely want to see your awesome work!  :)

Black Friday Deals!

Hey there, friends!  I hope you've all gotten your fill of turkey, dressing, and plenty of dessert, and are enjoying your holiday weekend with lots of family time.  Now that turkey day is over, it's time to get busy finding perfect gifts for everyone on your list, and for those special people who love sewing (that includes you!), Black Friday is the time to get gorgeous fabrics at amazing prices.

Lots of shops keep their specific Black Friday sales close to the vest before the actual day, and since this post was written a few days ahead of time (so I could have a work-free Thanksgiving myself), I'm just going to give you a little tease.  Be sure to head over to these shops to see all of the goodies they have this weekend!

At Shabby Fabrics, they are having a HUGE blowout sale, with 75% off of tons of products.  Lots of kits, fabrics, patterns, and books, and even extra markdowns on their sale and clearance sections!

At LouLou's Fabric Shop, they are having a massive clearance sale on almost everything in the shop, including bolt ends, precuts, and lots of yardage.  LouLou's also has a cute little gift section, with perfect inexpensive items for your quilty BFF.

Lady Belle Fabrics is always one of my favorite places to shop, but one of the things that sets them apart is their longarm quilting service.  Brooke at Lady Belle does beautiful work, and sometimes the best gift you can give is the gift of time.  What quilter wouldn't want to be able to have a quilt top sent away and come back magically quilted?

Lady Belle also has a gorgeous section of Christmas fabrics, just in case you need the perfect print to finish up a last minute holiday project.  Be sure to check it out!

And finally, Fort Worth Fabric Studio has lots of special deals, like this awesome Dream Big tree skirt, as well as lots of precuts, bundles, kits, and patterns.

Okay friends, be sure to visit these shops for ALL of the specific Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals happening right now.  I know you don't want to miss out!   Happy (belated) Thanksgiving and happy shopping!