What the Wild Thing Wants (and NTT)

Happy Needle and Thread Thursday, friends.  Right now, the weather here can only be described as Satan's front porch, and every time I step outside I feel more like a rotisserie chicken than an actual human.  The struggle is real.  Even so, my wild thing had the audacity to tell me that he gets cold (!!!) at night sleeping under the store-bought quilt on his bed, and asked if I would make one for him.

I know that you're probably surprised to find out that the main quilt on his bed is store bought, but to be fair, it is solid gray, and he does have a few different throw quilts that I have made that stay folded at the foot of the bed.  He got under the Epic AMH quilt on our bed this weekend though, and was very quick to remark at the difference in the weight between my quilts and the purchased one (yes baby, there is a difference).

Anyway, when a teenage boy asks for a gift from Mom that doesn't involve a screen or a plug it's a rarity, which means it's time to drop everything and get busy.  Wild Thing chose the color palette and pattern, and though I picked out the fabrics, I did let him take a look at the pull to make sure all of the prints were manliness-approved.

Between prepping for my trip to Houston to teach this weekend and a minor outpatient procedure yesterday (I'm fine), I've only gotten as far as cutting and sorting the fabrics, but I'm really excited to see it come together when I can finally get to my machine.

I do have one more bit of information to share before we get to last week's party highlights.  As I mentioned, I will be traveling to teach in Houston this weekend, but I will be extending my trip to visit family afterward, so NTT will be taking a break next week!

Okay then, let's check out some of my favorite links from last week.  Just look at this quilt by Nancy at Grace and Peace Quilting.  It's so beautiful!

Lynn at My Purple Patch shared up this scrappy beauty.

Susan at Quilt Fabrication linked up this fun table runner.  It's perfect for the season!

And finally, check out this stunner by Kris at Sew Sunshine.

Alright, friends!  I'll be back in two weeks, but I can't wait to browse through all of your awesome projects while I'm away from home.  :)

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!  :)

August Sponsor News and a Giveaway!

Happy August, friends...and welcome to the dog days of summer.  I don't know if it's like this where you live, but here in west Tennessee just stepping outside feels oppressive.  With temps consistently around 100 degrees and crazy high humidity, our heat index has been hovering around 110.  Blech.

That kind of heat saps my energy for anything outdoors, but thankfully, I'm perfectly happy keeping myself busy inside with my sewing machine.  Of course, another great way to beat the heat is to browse the web, looking for the coolest summer fabric deals to fuel my creativity.  I've rounded up the best ones of the month, so read on!

At LouLou's Fabric Shop, they're having a BIG inventory reduction sale.  This sale is only good for this week (through 8/17), so head over there and use the code sale to get 20% off of your entire order.

I just love LouLou's selection of precuts and bundles, particularly their specially curated LouLou bundles.  They're perfectly coordinated, and great for when you just want to grab and start sewing without searching for the perfect prints!

The Last Chance section at Lady Belle Fabrics is still going strong.  Have you checked in out yet?  As the shop gets organized and reduces inventory, they've found some real gems.  There's some Bonnie and Camille, Tula Pink, Bari J, Fig Tree, and tons more.   Many of the fabrics in this section are out of print and difficult to find, and when it's gone, it's gone.  Be sure to take a look HERE and snag a treasure for yourself!

Over at Shabby Fabrics, they're gearing up for something huge.  Their North Pole sew along starts next month!  This pattern is SO cute, and completing it as part of a monthly sew along keeps it from being too difficult. If you stay on track, you'll be snuggling under your quilt well before the Christmas season. You can order the whole kit to use these fabrics, or just the pattern to use your own stash.  And, if you need just a little extra incentive, there are prizes to be won!   You can find everything you need to know right HERE, including links to the pattern and kit.  The holidays will be here before you know it, so go ahead and get signed up.  You know you want to!                  

At Fort Worth Fabric Studio, they're having a sale on this pretty, summery Sweet Pea and Lily collection.  Use the code SWEETP30 to get 30% off through August 20th (or while supplies last)!




            

Fort Worth Fabric Studio is also sponsoring the our giveaway today!  Check out these fun Bone Appetit cloth napkins, perfect if you're having a spooky soiree, or even for just a casual family dinner with a ghastly twist.

One lucky US winner will get a set of these, which includes all six designs!  Awesome!





To enter the giveaway, just leave a single comment on this post, and then hop over to these fantastic shops to score some pretties for yourself.
Remember, this giveaway is only open to US residents (sorry, international folks!).  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 (August 22nd).  Happy shopping and good luck!  :)

Fractured Horizon and NTT

Happy Needle and Thread Thursday, y'all.  This week has been all about getting ready for the new school year (which starts Monday)-  picking up the school-issued laptop, getting his class schedule, and figuring out a new school campus.  My wild thing starts high school this year and though he is very chill about the whole thing, my mind is officially blown that we are at this stage.  I've finished up my latest baby quilt, and as I worked on it with this milestone approaching fast, I have found myself reminiscing about his babyhood a lot.

I'm calling this quilt Fractured Horizon.  When I look at it, I imagine the bluest sky meeting lush, green grass, and then shattering the line between them.  Because the pattern is so busy (perfect for the heavy use of a baby quilt), and also because I just needed a relaxing finish, I opted to quilt this one with a smooth, easy stipple.

I pieced the backing with leftover strips, and added my remaining yardage of a couple of prints to widen it out.  My favorite print in the whole quilt is this adorable fabric with blueprints of cars.  After cutting the strips for the quilt, I had an extra 25 inches, and I didn't waste a single bit.  The print gets a little lost amongst all of the strings on the front, so I definitely wanted it to take center stage on the back.  It's SO perfect for a baby boy!

I had just enough Kona Chartreuse for the binding, and I think it frames the quilt nicely.  The lighter, brighter shade of green adds a little extra sparkle to the quilt.

Since a few of you asked after my last post, here are the details of my block construction and sizing for this quilt.  The string block finishes at 12.5", and it's very easy to put together.  It's a perfect pattern if you need a quick quilt with plenty of pizzazz.

Before we party, check out some of my favorite projects shared at last week's NTT.  Sew Preeti Quilts shared her gorgeous Trinkets quilt.

This unique, modern beauty is by Jayne at Twiggy and Opal.

Jen's Crafts and Quilts Scrapbook showed off this finished Swoon Sixteen.

I love this triangle baby quilt by Tanya Quilts in CO.

And this stunner is from Lorinda at Laurel, Poppy, and Pine.  You know I have alllll the heart eyes for a scrappy rainbow!

Oh my goodness!  It really was tough to pick highlights this week.  Y'all rock, my friends!  Okay, let's get our party on!

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!  :)

Baby Boy Strings and NTT

Happy Needle and Thread Thursday, y'all.  School starts in less than two weeks and around here, we've been soaking up the final days of summer before the hustle and bustle of the new year takes hold.  This week, I pulled out some of my favorite greens, blues, and grays and put together this baby quilt for my cousin who is expecting a boy in September.  These string blocks are nice and relaxing to sew, but create a really neat pattern.

These are the colors in the nursery, and I had lots of fun with this fabric pull.  I chose light, medium, and dark shades of all three colors, so the quilt has a sparkly effect.   I also chose fabrics that aren't necessarily babyish, so the quilt can be used for many years.

With baby quilts, I usually prefer patterns that don't use a background fabric.  The resulting quilts are a little busier, but that's perfect if the quilt is going to be used heavily, and especially if the recipient is a boy.  As a boy mom, I can say that boys can be especially hard on quilts!  I hope my cousin loves it as much as I do.

Before we party, let's check out some of my favorite links from last week.  Kris at Sew Sunshine shared this really awesome piece.  What a cool illusion!

I love the different color palette in this Good Fortune quilt by Alison at Little Bunny Quilts-

Look at this super cute mini by Anja Quilts!

The churn dash block is one of my favorite traditional quilt blocks, so I love this quilt by Katie Mae Quilts-

This modern LOVE quilt by Sophie at Luna Lovequilts is so unique!

And finally, this quilt by Anne at Springleaf Studios is SO gorgeous.  The way the colors play together and move across the quilt is just fantastic!

Y'all really brought the eye candy!  I can't wait to see what's happening in your sewing space this week.  Let's party, friends.

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!  :)

Something Easy Peasy

Sometimes it is just hard to get back into the groove of a normal routine, and when that happens to me, my sewjo is bound to suffer.  A quick, easy project usually works wonders for getting me back in the swing of things, and after everything happening lately, this little preemie quilt was just perfect.

When I make a quilt and end up with lots of scraps of a uniform size, rather than add all of them to my scrap jars, I like to turn them into a preemie quilt to donate to our local children's hospital.  It's something my guild does every summer, and having been a preemie mom myself (Wild Thing weighed just over 3 lbs. at his smallest), it makes me so happy to provide a quilt snuggle to someone who needs it.  These scraps were from my Rock Candy quilt, and these Amy Butler prints work so well with such a simple pattern.

For the back, I pulled this gray burlap print tonal fabric from my stash, and added a fun strip of Daisy Chain fabric.  Daisy Chain has been out of print for several years, and I couldn't believe my luck!  I found this piece of fabric in a remnant bin at a tiny quilt shop while traveling (it has since closed, or I would tell you its name).

A scrappy binding finished this one off nicely, and it's all ready to be delivered to the hospital.  This little quilt is only 35" x 38", so it went together lightning fast!

Last week's party was just a little late, but nevertheless, such great projects were linked up!  Frederique at Quilting Patchwork Applique is celebrating Christmas in July with this super cute Christmas quilt.  LOVE it!

Katie Mae Quilts showed off this Christmas Double Four Patch quilt, with lots of scrappy awesomeness!

Julie at Idaho Quilter's Adventure linked up this pretty star quilt.  What a gorgeous photo!

And finally, I would be remiss if I didn't share this finished Good Fortune quilt by Tanya Quilts in CO.

Wow!  Way to bring the inspiration this week, friends.  Let's party!

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!  :)

NTT, a Little Late

Happy Needle and Thread Thursday.  Please forgive the lateness of this week's post.  Sadly, my mother-in-law passed away after a battle with cancer, and we were traveling for her funeral.  Needless to say, priorities have been very different this week and sewing has taken a back seat to more important things.

Browsing through the amazing projects from last week's party has been a welcome distraction whenever I have had some down time.  Look at this stunner from Jen at deJong Dream House-

This quilt top by Tanya Quilts in CO is so charming!

Nancy at Grace and Peace Quilting shared this fun, modern quilt.

Anja Quilts linked up this lovely quilt.  The stars pack quite a punch!

And I'm in love with this mini quilt by Jayne at Twiggy and Opal.

Okay y'all!  It's time to show me what you're working on this week.  Let's party!

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!  :)

Rock Candy Finish

Happy Needle and Thread Thursday, friends.  Today, I'm super happy to show you my Rock Candy quilt finish.

Can I just say that even though I know it isn't glamorous, I love putting a nice, easy stipple on a quilt. Sometimes I discourage myself from all-over stippling, because I know there are other things that may look better, but there are times (as in the case of this quilt), that I'm just ready to get it done.  In fact, though I sometimes know exactly what kind of quilting a quilt "wants," trying to come up with the "perfect" quilting for some of my quilts really stymies me, and I end up just starting at it for a few days.  Since the actual quilting part is not really my favorite, those days are mostly spent arguing with myself, reconciling which quilt motif will look best on said quilt, and deciding whether the amount of work involved is just too much.

When this happens to me, it's good for me to remember why I quilt in the first place- for creative expression, and especially for pure enjoyment.  Stippling on quilts brings me joy, as does the faster finishes stippling allows.

On the back of this quilt, I used up my leftovers, and I might love the back just as much as the front.  Let's talk pieced backings.  I love using as many prints as possible in my quilts, which means that if I didn't use them on the back, I would have to add ALL of that fabric to my scrap jars, or make a whole separate project with them.  Piecing my backing also means that I don't have to search for yardage of a single print that I like, and that my backing always coordinates perfectly.  Plus, who wouldn't want a fun surprise on the flip side?  Yes, it's true that piecing the backing takes just a little more time, but really, we're talking a few minutes here.

Before cutting my backing pieces, I also made sure I cut some strips for a scrappy binding.  I gives a nice contrast to the white background on the front, and just disappears into the backing.  I'm still finishing up the pattern for this quilt, but when it's all ready, you'll be the first to know!

Before we get to the highlights from last week's party, I owe you a giveaway winner.  Shirley C. is the lucky winner of the Splendid charm pack sponsored by Fort Worth Fabric Studio.  Shirley, be sure to check your email!





Last week's party was amazing!  I'm positively drooling over this scrappy pineapple quilt top, shared by Tanya Quilts in CO-

Check out this beauty by Jen at deJong Dream House-

And I love this fun, scrappy quilt by Cynthia at Quilting is More Fun Than Housework-

Okay then, friends!  It's time to party.  Show me what you've got going on!

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!  :)