Last NTT of 2017!

Happy NTT, friends!  I am just a little embarrassed to say that I haven't sewn a single stitch since finishing my Merry Go Round quilt, but the Christmas season has so many other things filling up my time.  So, instead, let's kick off this week's NTT with a little extra eye candy.

Look at this beautiful abstract map of Prague by Jess at Quilty Habit.

This adorable quilt, called Slinky's Friends is from Quilting is in my Blood.

Something Rosemade shared her awesome finished Smitten quilt.

This pretty Splendid Sampler is from Tiina at Kasityolainen-unelmissaan (ps-her post also includes English).

This fun mini is by Lori at Crossquilt.  Love it!

and finally, this amazing mini is by Jayne at Twiggy and Opal.  You know how much I love a rainbow!

PS- have you liked my Facebook page yet?  You can do that HERE, and I would appreciate it very much.  :)

**Before we party-  NTT will be taking a Christmas vacation next week, so our next link up will be on 1/4.  Thanks for partying with me throughout 2017.  I hope you all enjoy the holidays with your family and friends, and I'll see you in the new year!

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!  :)

Merry Go Round and NTT

Welcome to Needle and Thread Thursday!  There are times when photographs are inadequate to capture the true spirit of a quilt.  Sometimes you just need to see it in person to get the true effect.  Such is the case with my latest finished quilt.  Check out the bundle of fabric for my latest quilt.

Gorgeous colors, right?  Well, when I went to take photos of the quilt, I tried several different settings to try to show off these happy colors best- outdoors in the sun, shade, dappled sun, etc. I think part of the problem might be that since it is winter, everything outside is dull and brown.  This quilt really needs lush green grass or flowers to show it off.  Oddly enough, the best color representation came with indoor photos.

Even still, this quilt, which is so pretty in person, is just okay in the photos.  The biggest problem is that the apple green fabrics, against the more vibrant red and aqua are getting washed out and looking more yellow than they really are.  Oh well.  I guess this is better than a quilt that is gorgeous in photos, but lackluster in person.

I used up all of the leftovers on the back and used solid Kona Navy for the binding.  I decided to name this quilt Merry Go Round.  I think the name fits the happy colors as well as the design of the blocks.

Before we get to the features from last week's party, I have a little bit of news to share.  Until now, I have never had a Facebook page that was dedicated solely to quilting.  I have just stuck to blogging and Instagram, and only posted minimal quilting related things on my personal Facebook page.  With the upcoming release of my book, I decided that needed to change.  I needed another quick way to post and connect with my readers.  I would love if you would take a second and like my Facebook page (My Quilt Infatuation) HERE.

If you have made a quilt from one of my patterns or tutorials and would like to tag the page in a Facebook post, I would love to share it (remember to make the post public on your page so I can share).  Don't worry!  I still plan to keep blogging, and we'll keep partying every week.  I'll just use Facebook posts to share short little snippets of news and photos along the way.  By creating a Facebook page, I am hopeful that sharing quilts and connecting with me will be easier!

Okay then!  Let's check out some of the highlights from last week's amazing party.  Look at this amazing little quilt from Accroquilt.

This quilt, by Laura at Slice of Pi Quilts is just perfect for the season!

and WOW!  The quilting on this quilt by Liz at Savor Every Stitch is just stunning!

Okay, friends, let's party!  **(before you link up, don't forget to like my new Facebook page HERE)

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!  :)

Cover Reveal and NTT

Happy Needle and Thread Thursday, friends!  I am currently working on a new quilt, but today, I have something much more exciting to share with you- the cover and concept of my upcoming book, Stash Statement!

The book contains twelve quilts that combine the comfort of using a pattern with the fun of improvisation, creating amazing texture within the designs, and busting through some serious scraps in the process!  Stash Statement will be released in April 2018, and I'll be sharing plenty more sneak peeks as that date draws near.

Last week's party was awesome, as usual!  The Lilac Cat linked up this cheery bowtie quilt.

Lisa Marie made this lovely falling leaves quilt.

Michelle at From Bolt to Beauty shared this fun, boyish quilt.

and Jess at Quilty Habit shared this modern maple leaf quilt, called Pumpkin Pie.

Y'all are just amazing, week after week!  Alright friends;  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!  :)

Treasure Hunt

Since last week, it feels like I have been sewing nonstop around here.  This quilt using Bespoke Blooms fabric is the very last quilt that I had to finish before Christmas, and now that it's done and delivered, I can take it easy and just sew for fun.  I always try to have my Christmas to-do list finished with a couple of weeks to spare, because December is just so full!

The soft colors and prints in the fabrics create such a pretty wash of light and dark over the quilt, and you might notice that there are a few different pieces mixed in.  This quilt is a special gift for its recipient, containing small pieces of clothing from all four of her grandparents, both parents, her husband, and all three daughters.  Seeking out all of the snippets of clothing will be a special treasure hunt for her, so that's what I decided to name this quilt.

On the back I used all of the leftovers, rounded it out with strips of Kona Tarragon, and quilted with a gentle stipple.  Some of the clothing pieces contained cute embroidery, and I didn't want to quilt through those too much.  And of course, less dense quilting keeps the quilt nice and soft as well.  I decided to use Kona Silver for the binding.  I wanted to be sure that the quilt felt grown up, even with the softer colors, and the soft gray does the trick.

The back also contains a special dedication, with the recipient's name and date, as well as a quote from a favorite piece of literature.  It is placed at the top of the quilt, so that when she is covered up with the quilt and it is folded down, she will be able to read it.

This finished quilt measures 70" x 90" and though the soft colors are outside of the norm for me, they really work to give the quilt a timeless feel.  This quilt is sure to be treasured by her family for years, and I'm so glad I got to create such a personal keepsake for them.