NTT, and a Star Kick

Happy Needle and Thread Thursday, friends!  In case you're wondering, my trip to my sister's baby shower was fantastic.  It was great to see everyone, and I even got a sneak peek of the 4D ultrasound pictures.  He's a cutie, and I can't wait to meet him!  Since getting back, I've been working on a brand new quilt.  It seems that I'm on a little bit of a star kick lately.

I took this photo yesterday afternoon, and this one has already been basted and quilting has begun.  Maybe I'll actually have a Friday finish this week!

Oh my goodness, I have been looking forward to putting together the highlights for this post since last weekend.  Last week's party was so, SO fabulous!  This Glass Half-Full quilt by Veni Vidi Vicky is so awesome that I can't even stand it!  You know those colors are right up my alley.

and check out this Crosscut quilt top by Kathy at Sparkles, Sprinkles, and Everyday Crap (I chuckled at that name for sure!).  So cool!

Finally, I am gaga over this scrappy rectangle masterpiece by Katy Quilts.  Scrappy quilts really are my favorites!

and because I just can't help myself, I am including an extra this week.  This gorgeous quilt by Jess at Quilty Habit is so unique.

There is so much eye candy from last week's party, I could have included several more!  I know this week's is going to be just as amazing.  Let's 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!  :)

Just Under the Wire

Right now, there is all kinds of quilty goodness going on at the Blogger's Quilt Festival, hosted by Amy's Creative Side, and with everything going on this week, I can't believe that I almost let it slip by without entering!  I've decided on only one entry into this fall's festival, in the Original Design category.

My Carrelage quilt was designed to look like antique encaustic cement tiles, and that is actually how it got its name.  My research led me to discover that the French term for these tiles is "carrelage encaustique."  

Though I have released several patterns this year, I decided to enter this one because it creates such a great illusion.  I'm especially proud of the fact that the illusion is created without a single snowball corner, HST, or partial/Y seam.  I love designing patterns that look much more complicated than they really are, and this one definitely fits that bill. (ps-it is available in my Craftsy and Etsy shops)

Quilt Name- Carrelage

Finished Size- 60" x 60"

Category- Original Design

Pieced and quilted by me!  :)

Be sure to hop on over to the Blogger's Quilt Festival HERE, and peruse all of the quilty eye candy!  You won't be sorry!

Winners, NTT, and a Gift

Happy NTT!  I feel like this week is really just a lull between two ultra-hectic weekends for me.  I had the distinct pleasure of presenting a trunk show and teaching two classes to the lovely ladies and gentlemen of the White County Quilt Guild this weekend, and I am sad to say that I committed a cardinal sin of quilt teaching.  I completely forgot to get photos, but suffice it to say that a great time was had by all, and there was lots of amazing sewing going on (I'm hoping for some emailed photos later).

This weekend, I am flying down to the Houston area for my sister's baby shower.  You may remember  that a couple of months ago I made my Sun Dappled Sea quilt to match the nursery's nautical theme.   Since I knew she was anxious to get the nursery finished, I gave the quilt to her over the summer, but I wanted to sew a little lagniappe for the shower (lagniappe means "a little something extra" for all of you non-Louisiana natives).

Every baby needs plenty of burp cloths, so I made a little set in the same soothing shades as the quilt.  I used my One-Hour Baby Gift tutorial to whip these up, and if you've never tried these, they make an adorably easy, personal handmade gift!

So, even though both weekend trips are packed with fun, the week in-between has been one long checklist of unpacking and last minute details before leaving again.  Amidst everything, I have actually cut all of the fabric for a brand new quilt, but right now it's just in pieces, so nothing interesting to see there.  So without further ado, let's just move onto the winners from last weeks giveaway post.  There are six winners this month!

First off, the winner of the gorgeous Handmade fat quarter bundle in the coral color way, provided by Shabby Fabrics, is Sarah Goer, comment number 65!






Next up are the five winners of the Jolly Bar books, provided by the Fat Quarter Shop.  Congratulations to-

Joan- comment number 17 

Lori Smanski- comment number 73

Kristine- comment number 36

rosemaryschild-comment number 61

Emily C. -comment number 126

I'll be contacting you all by email very soon to get your shipping address so you can get your prizes!

Okay!  Before we get to the party, let's check out a few highlights from last week's awesome NTT.  Take a look at this gorgeous quilt top from Patch the Giraffe (and there's a block tutorial)!

and the rich colors in this beauty by Quilting is More Fun Than Housework-

and this scrappy Christmas Trip Around the World by Maryse Makes Things is so awesome!  You know busy and scrappy are just my style!

Alright!  Time to link up the latest from your sewing space!

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!  :)

Autumn Sunset and NTT

Short weeks really throw me for a loop sometimes.  The kids here are out of school on Friday, and though in theory that shouldn't affect my schedule, everything is just off.  So, please forgive the slightly late party post!  I finished my latest quilt, and though I still won't say that it's one of my favorites, I do like it better now that it is completely finished.

A couple of things gave me a different perspective on the quilt.  First, one person commented that the quilt was more of an autumn quilt, rather than the summery Pop Star quilt that I made previously with these colors.  I completely agree with that assessment, and it has allowed me to embrace the bolder colors a little more.  Secondly, I decided to try out a new free motion quilting motif on this quilt- and though it is far from perfect, I do love the quilting, so I'm counting that as a win!

I decided to use the autumn feel of this quilt as inspiration for the name.  The colors kind of remind me of dusk, where the sun is almost completely gone, and the shades of the day and night are mixed beautifully in the sky.

I used all of the scraps on the back, and I love how the quilting shows up on the darker colors (even though it definitely throws some of the imperfections into greater relief.  By the way, there were some great suggestions for "salvaging" this quilt by adding more blocks with white, borders, etc.  One thing I know about myself though, is that it was better for me to just finish it and move on.  Someone will love it as-is!

Okie dokie!  Let's check out a few features from last week, shall we?  This mini mini from Jennifer at Little Black Cat Quilting is ahhh-mazing!!  Y'all it is super tiny.  This whole thing is only about 6 inches square!

This fun chevron is from Mary at Addicted to Fabric.  Love the cool varying strip widths!

and Deb at Frugal Little Bungalow shared three current projects, and they are all awesome!

Alright, y'all!  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!  :)

Sometimes, It Just Doesn't Work

I know this has happened to everyone before.  You have a vision of a quilt in your mind with specific colors and design, and when you sew it together, it just doesn't come out the way you envisioned it.  I'm feeling that way about the quilt I'm working on right now.

I wanted a color palette that I don't use very often, and wanted to make a quilt that was simple and fun to sew.  I used purple, orange, and teal in my Pop Star quilt and loved that combo so much!  I thought that the fun, funky colors needed a fun, funky pattern, and decided on a quartered log cabin.   Sadly, what was fun and happy in my Pop Star quilt, just feels a little too overwhelming in this one.  These rich, bold colors apparently need lots of white to keep them fresh and light.

I am going to go ahead and finish this quilt, and I hope it will grow on me.  The great thing about quilting though, is that even if it isn't my cup of tea, someone else is sure to love it.  And, what have I really lost by playing around?  Nothing.  Sometimes design ideas work and sometimes they don't, and that's okay.

Needle and Thread Thursday!

Happy NTT, friends!  Since last week's party, I have actually started and finished a quilt, but I can't share it just yet, so let's kick off this week's party with some features from last week!

There's no resisting a rainbow for me.  I love them!  This eye-catching rainbow pixel quilt is from Shannon at The Flemings Nine-

These happy circles are from Smiles From Kate!

and because I'm a shameless Hamilton junkie, I can't help but share this awesome mini by Jess at Quilty Habit- LOVE!!  Even if you don't love Hamilton (or just aren't familiar with it), the quote and mad quilting skills are totally share worthy.

I do have one thing to share, and that is a photo of a finished Stems and Stones quilt top from someone in my June class with the Courthouse Quilters in White Bluff, TN.  Nancy made a twin sized quilt with a black background, and just sent me a pic of the finished top.  I think it looks so striking with the dark background!  I can't seem to get the photo any bigger without becoming blurry, but I'm so glad she shared it with me!

Okay then, friends!  It's time to party.  Let's 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!  :)