Sewing School Success

Happy Needle and Thread Thursday, y'all!  This weekend we visited family, and without a doubt, one of the highlights was teaching my niece to sew.  Not only did I gather up all of the tools she will need to sew things on her own, I also loaned a sewing machine to her, as well as two gallon bags full of scraps.  I wanted her first sewing experience to be successful and stress-free, so I did a little research ahead of time to find some fast and easy projects for us to put together.

This little pocket tissue holder is SO cute, and though it looks like the "piping" trim might be difficult, it is super easy.  I found the tutorial for it at Two Brown Birds, and the whole project took less than 30 minutes.  The main fabric is from Joel Dewberry's Heirloom collection (my very last scrap of it!)

She also made this great little key fob (tutorial from Woodberry Way).  I wasn't able to find 1.25" hardware locally as the tutorial suggests, so I had to adjust the fabric strip width to 2" to use one inch hardware instead.  I love the Bari J print with the pop of purple on the inside.

The final project that she made was this fun coaster for her bedroom.  This is my own tutorial HERE, and you just can't go wrong with an Anna Maria Horner floral.  Aside from getting comfortable with the actual act of sewing, I wanted to be sure to teach her how to use the machine itself.  So, she learned how to thread, wind and load the bobbin, change the needle and feet, change stitch speed/length/width, and even how to clean it.  After all of that was done, she had lots of fun playing with the decorative stitches, and even made another coaster (without my supervision), utilizing her favorite leaf stitch to put it together (I didn't get a photo of this one).

I love that she was confident enough to sew a project completely on her own, and that she really enjoyed digging through her "brand new" bags of scraps.  Everyone is back home, but my sister let me know that she has already taken my niece to purchase some fabric for a whole matching set of coasters, and she has made some plans to make some little gifts for friends.  My niece is incredibly artistic and creative, and I had a feeling she would enjoy sewing.  I am so glad I was right!

Before we get to the highlights from last week's party, I get to announce four winners from last week's sponsored giveaways!

The winner of the $25 gift certificate to LouLou's Fabric Shop is Laura, comment #38.

The winner of the $30 gift certificate to Shabby Fabrics is Lisa Marie, comment #12

The winners of the two charm packs (one pack each) from Fort Worth Fabric Studio are comments #70 and 54, Joni and KMSC.

Congratulations to all of you!  I'll be contacting you ASAP so you can receive your prizes!

Now that we've taken care of business, let's check out some of my very favorite projects from last week's NTT!  This quilt by Sew Preeti Quilts is called Oasis.  Love the soothing colors!

This beauty is by Sophie at Luna Lovequilts-

And this scrappy quilt by Something Rosemade is lots of fun!

Okay then 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!  :)

Scrap Report and NTT

Happy Needle and Thread Thursday, friends!  Between my trip to visit the Fort Worth Modern Quilt Guild last weekend (which was awesome, by the way), and the craziness of the end of school, my Gossip Queen quilt is still in progress.  I can't wait to show it to you, but I want to really do it justice by waiting until it is completely finished.  Instead, I am happy to report that my scraps are officially GONE (with a couple of caveats).  Whoop!

See all of those jars?  Completely empty!  At the beginning of the year, they were each full to the brim, and if you're a regular reader, you know that I have been methodically emptying them, quilt by quilt.  In the interest of full disclosure, I do still have some Christmas fabric scraps, as well as a few white scraps (in the two black baskets) that I'll hold onto for small holiday projects in the future.

In case you missed any, here's a list of how each jar was emptied-

Woodwork- green and gray
Riptide- blue and aqua/teal
Princess Sugar Pie- pink and purple
Gossip Queen- red, orange, yellow

Plus, my color gradient mini quilts used a little bit of each color for a huge, happy studio wall display.  For each of these quilts, I used the improv piecing technique detailed in my book Stash Statement.  If you have a mountain of scraps (and what quilter doesn't?), check out my book for a fun way to bust through them, all while creating beautiful, unique quilts with some serious wow factor.  You can get your very own signed copy in my Etsy shop HERE, or you can find it on Amazon, Connecting Threads, or ask about it at your local quilt shop.  It's much easier than it looks and you CAN do this, I promise!

If you're counting, I listed nine color jars, but I actually have ten on my shelves.  Well, the tenth jar was filled with multicolored fabrics, and though I do love working with those, I have a different plan for them altogether.

This weekend, we're traveling to visit family, and while we're there, I'm going to teach my niece (age 15) to sew.  I have a sewing machine that was passed to me by a great aunt, and though it is a really lovely machine (an Elna Quilter's Dream, Eleanor Burns Edition), since it's not my primary machine I don't use it often.  This Elna is Swiss-made, and my great aunt was an avid quilter, but sadly, she didn't get to use this machine very much before she passed away (many years ago), so it has very low hours.  I had it serviced when I got it, and she really is like new.  A machine this nice really deserves to be used, so I'm going to let my niece use it for awhile to see if she enjoys sewing.

I gathered up all of of the extra tools and notions I could think of- ruler, rotary cutter, seam ripper, sewing machine needles, pins, thread snips, scissors, and thread.  I'm also including a big chunk of batting and... you guessed it!  Two gallon bags full of scrap fabric, containing the contents of my multicolor jar, plus some black and white scraps.

I found a few very simple projects to make with her, and then I'm sending her home with all of the things she will need to just play and have fun!  Did I forget anything?

The last few bits of scraps I have are in this pretty stack.  All of these fabrics are Anna Maria Horner, and I inherited them from a friend who was cleaning out.  There is a good amount of fabric in this stack, and I love AMH so much that I couldn't bear to mix them in with the others.  So, these scraps got put aside and I'll make something with them separately when we get back from our trip.  Stay tuned!

Okay friends!  Now that I've given you the rundown of everything going on here, it's time to share some of my favorite projects shared at last week's party.  Look at this stunner by Michelle at From Bolt to Beauty!

I love the unexpected pink background on this Elephant Parade quilt by Tanya Quilts in CO-

This soothing quilt is by Jan at The Colorful Fabriholic-

And the movement in this quilt, called Seafarer, by Susan at Quilt Fabrication is really amazing!

Wow friends! Y'all are amazing and I can't wait to see what you're working on this week.  Before you link up, be sure to visit my post from yesterday to enter the THREE amazing giveaways going on right now.  Okie dokie.  Let's do this!

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!  :)

May Sponsor News and THREE Giveaways!

Hey there, friends!  Lately I've been doing the crazy dance of May, consumed with all things baseball and end of school related.  Though this post is a tiny bit later in the month than usual, rest assured that I have rounded up all of the best deals and giveaways from my very fave shops, just in time to kick off summer with some Memorial Day fabric splurging.

Let's kick off this post with the first of three giveaways.  At LouLou's Fabric Shop, they're having a HUGE moving sale!  You can use the code moving at checkout to get 25% off of your entire order through May 22nd.  

After that, LouLou's has extended a special 20% off coupon to my readers through May 28th!  Just use the code memorial at checkout to take advantage of that fantastic offer.

This month, LouLou's is also generously offering a $25 gift certificate to spend in the shop for one lucky winner.  Keep reading to find out how to enter!

Next up is Lady Belle Fabric, where Maureen Cracknell's newest collection, Mystical Land is in the shop and ready for you.  What gorgeous colors and prints!

One of my new favorite places to browse in Lady Belle is their last chance section.  There are so many treasures to be found there, including plenty of out of print collections, like this Tula Pink Eden bundle.

I also want to take a minute to remind you that Lady Belle also offers quilting services as a new(ish) extension of their business.  You can check out all of the details HERE.







Something big is coming to Shabby Fabrics!  They are hosting their very first sew along with this fantastic North Pole Sampler, using Moda's Snow Day fabrics!  I know it seems early to start thinking about next Christmas, but the folks at Shabby Fabrics will help you make sure this adorable quilt is ready in plenty of time for snuggling when the time is right.

Starting in September, each week, join Jen as she teaches you how to sew a different block.  This is a great skill builder pattern, and perfect even for beginners!  You can find all of the details and instructions for getting ready for this sew along HERE, including reserving your quilt kit (or choose your own fabrics)!
Shabby Fabrics is kindly sponsoring the second giveaway this month.  One winner will receive a $30 gift certificate to the shop.  Woohoo!

Last, but certainly not least is Fort Worth Fabric Studio, where they have a special May Bash clearance section right now.   The items in this section are a whopping 35% off through May 28th with the code MAYBASH35.

Fort Worth Fabric Studio is also generously offering our final giveaway.  TWO US winners will each receive a charm pack of the super cute All Weather Friend collection.  Aren't these fabrics perfect for summer?                 





To enter all three giveaways, leave a single comment on this post, and then head over to these amazing shops to take advantage of the amazing things happening right now.
If you are not in the US, please let me know!  Remember 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 (May 29th).  Happy shopping and good luck!  :)

Gossip Queen and NTT

Happy Needle and Thread Thursday, friends!  I am thrilled to share that my grandfather is out of ICU.  He is still in the hospital, but we are hoping that he will be moved to a skilled nursing facility within the next few days to finish his recovery.  Thanks so much to all of you who shared your well wishes.  We were very worried for awhile there.  Even though his recovery and rehab still has many weeks to go, hopefully the worst is behind us.

I am also delighted to share the quilt top from all of my warm color scraps with you today.  I'm calling this quilt Gossip Queen, and I love it SO much.

One of my favorite summer flowers is the Gossip Queen hibiscus, and the color palette for this quilt is inspired by the vibrant colors in the blossoms.  They have a rich, reddish magenta center, which blends into soft peachy yellow petals.  Hibiscus are tropical, and here in Tennessee, they are considered an annual plant.  I buy one every single year for a large pot on my patio.  When I lived in the Houston area though, the climate was so mild that hibiscus could be planted in the ground, and they survived the winter with ease.  At my home there, my Gossip Queen was over seven feet tall, and we had to prune it yearly so it didn't outgrow the space!  When we moved, I was sad to leave it behind.

(image from flores-reinecke.de)

I'm traveling to the Dallas/Fort Worth area this weekend to present a trunk show and workshop for the Fort Worth Modern Quilt Guild, and I'm hoping to make some good progress on the quilting before I fly out on Friday.

Before we party, check out a few of the amazing projects shared at last week's party.  This Hydra quilt by Laura at Slice of Pi Quilts is so amazing!

Tanya Quilts in CO linked up her finished Farm Girl Vintage quilt.  Love it!

I love this soft, scrappy quilt by Katie Mae Quilts.

Afton at Quilting Mod shared this fun Perfect Treats quilt, perfectly FUN for summer!

And this improv beauty is by Sophie at Luna Lovequilts.

I'll be spending some time in the airport this weekend, and you know that means that I'll need some eye candy to help me pass the time.  So let's party, y'all!

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!  :)

Mindless Scrap Sewing

Happy Needle and Thread Thursday friends.  This week has been a trying one for our family.  My grandfather was in a horrific car accident last Thursday night and has been in ICU ever since.  We are worried but hopeful for a full recovery, even though it will be an extremely long, hard road ahead.  We took a trip to my hometown over the weekend and since getting back, I have been working on sewing more scraps together.  This kind of sewing occupies my mind but doesn't require a ton of thinking, not to mention zero precision, and that's just perfect right now.

This, my friends is a stack of over 30 (!!!) improv scrap panels, using all of my warm colors.  I have a fantastic plan for these, and I am looking forward to pressing them and getting them all cut up.  I really hope this project turns out as awesome as I see it in my own head.

Y'all shared some awesome stuff at last week's party.  Check out this awesome quilt by Melva Loves Scraps.  I love the quilt AND the scenery!

Sandra at mmm! quilts showed off this sweet finish.  What a lovely color palette!

And check out the yummy quilting texture on this gorgeous quilt by Liz at Savor Every Stitch.  So amazing!

Fantastic!  I can't wait to see what you're working on this week.  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!  :)

Fruit Punch Scraps and NTT

Happy Needle and Thread Thursday, friends!  Between a couple of doctor's appointments, baseball, and general procrastination, I actually haven't sewn a single stitch since last week's party.  It's not that I haven't wanted to, it's just that I have really had a tough time deciding what to do with my next three scrap jars.

I had a vision in my head for these colors and even held out a few berry scraps from my last quilt to make it happen, but I couldn't seem to get it quite right when I sketched it out.  Until I'm sure that I'm heading in a direction I like, I just can't get started.  So, I've changed my plan a little bit and finally got them all sorted and ready to go.  Tomorrow, I'll start sewing them up!

Instead, enjoy a few extra highlights from last week's party!  Vasudha from Storied Quilts shared this stunner.

Laura at Slice of Pi Quilts linked up this super cute pineapple quilt.  Check out those prairie points!

This fresh table runner is by Vicki's Crafts and Quilting.

This pretty quilt in shades of purple is by Micki at 2 Dogs Studio.

Check out the gorgeous quilting on this quilt by Anja Quilts.

And finally, I am completely in awe of this bridge block designed and shared by Jayne at Twiggy and Opal.

Okay 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!  :)