Another Week, Another Peek and NTT

Hey there, friends!  Welcome back to our regularly-scheduled Wednesday evening NTT!  This week has been another whirlwind of crazy hours of sewing that I can't really share yet, but here's another sneak peek for you.  These little birds are so sweet, and I'm loving the texture of the dense swirls.

There were so many amazing projects linked up last week!  This cute little quilt is by Zenia Rene at A Quilted Passion (btw, her photo of the back side shows so much awesome quilting!)-

I'm feeling the fall vibes from this pretty quilt by Nancy at Grace and Peace Quilting-

Love these birds by DonnaleeQ-

Tubakk at Den syende himmel linked up this soothing beauty-

And this unique neutral quilt is by Kris at Sew Sunshine-

Okay, y'all!  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 within your 

    post.  

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 Peek and NTT

Happy Needle and Thread Thursday, y'all!  I've had another week of secret sewing at lightning speed, and though I can't give you a full shot of the quilt, here's a little sneak peek.  I told you that my third book is completely different from my first two, and it definitely is, but what can I say?  Scrappy improv just makes me happy!

Suffice it to say that when I finally get to reveal everything I've been working on, you're going to love it!  Until then, I'll just give as many peeks as I can.

Last week's party was amazing with so many great projects linked up.  This Highland Cow quilt top by Anne-Marie at Stories from the Sewing Room is super cute!

This happy quit top is from Julie's Quilts and Crafts-

Quilting Gail linked up this sweet quilt-

And take a look at this huge king-sized quilt from Something Rosemade.  She put her own twist on my Unruly pattern, and it looks amazing!

Y'all just bring the inspiration week after week!  I can't wait to see what you're working on, but first I want to remind you that the blog tour for the release of my book, Scrappy Improv Quilting, wrapped up yesterday, so NTT will be returning to its regular Wednesday evening time next week.  In case you missed any of the posts, the whole list of the blog hop participants/links can be found HERE!  And you can see all of my quilts from the book HERE!

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 within your 

    post.  

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!  :)

Bonus Pattern, Finishing, and Wrap-Up!

Alright y'all.  We've been together through more than six weeks on the Scrappy Improv Quilting blog tour, and today it's time to wrap it up, but before I do, the book has a few more tricks that I need to tell you about!  

But first, let's recap.  Throughout the blog hop, so far- 

    *I've given lots of different ways that mini quilts can be used.

    *You've seen how the book helps even novice quilters get started with quilting tools and piecing tips.

    *I've shown how the book has step-by-step instructions for piecing scraps into improv chunks to create texture and depth in your quilt.

    *AND you've seen my 22 (!!!) mini quilts included in the book, and the beautiful versions of those patterns made by 22 different quilters along the way.  

At the risk of sounding like an infomercial- But wait!  There's more! (just couldn't resist, haha!)  I mentioned that this book is written so that even a beginning quilter can finish the projects.  There's no "baste, quilt, and bind as desired" here!   

The Finishing Your Quilt section of the book has all of the guidance you'll need to transform your scrappy improv masterpiece into a completely finished quilt.  This chapter has so much great info, I decided to put it into bullet points for you!  The Finishing Your Quilt section contains-

    *Guidance for making your backing, choosing batting, and full basting instructions (with graphics!)

    *Quilting options- free-motion vs. walking foot quilting, choosing a motif to accentuate the design, and how to square-up the quilt after quilting

    *Full binding instructions for machine binding or hand-finished binding, including how to measure properly for a scrappy binding

    *Display options- how to turn your mini quilt into a pillow and how to add a hanging sleeve

    *Laundering tips to keep your mini quilt looking its best

    *Sizing Up- how to turn these mini quilts into larger projects if you want a full sized quilt, and how to apply the scrappy improv technique in a variety of ways!

It really is a comprehensive book!  Even if you've been quilting awhile, you're sure to find a helpful hint or two.  As if that wasn't enough, don't forget that I've also created the exclusive Sweet Bee digital pattern as a little thank-you gift with the book purchase.

Thanks so much for following along with the blog tour, and I truly hope you'll add Scrappy Improv Quilting to your quilt book library!

Signed copies are available in my Etsy shop HERE, or ask about it at your local quilt shop.  It is also available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other major booksellers.  

And shop owners, you can get it from any of the major distributors- Checker, Brewer, United Notions, and EE Schenck.  I hope you'll consider adding it to your library or carrying it in your shop!  You know you want to start having fun with your scraps, and I promise, it's super easy and FUN!  :) 

In case you missed any of the blog tour stops, here is the full list for you.  There is a ton of quilty eye-candy in these links!

Scrappy Improv Quilting Blog Tour Schedule-

8/31- Intro, Single Block Beauties, and Simple Shapes

9/7- Seasonal Sensations, Standards With a Twist 

9/13- Summer Blossom- Lori @ Crossquilt
           Up, Up, and Away- Sandra @ mmm quilts

9/15- Flutter- Rose @ Something Rosemade
           Botanics- Diann @ Little Penguin Quilts

9/20- Face the Sun- Laura @ Slice of Pi Quilts
           Full Spectrum- Jayne @ Twiggy and Opal

9/22- Prismatic- Anja @ Anja Quilts
           Downpour- Nancy @ Grace and Peace Quilting

9/27- Funkytown- Vasudha @ Storied Quilts
           Cherub Wings- Michelle @ From Bolt to Beauty

9/29- Chapel Window- Kris @ Sew Sunshine
           Winter Frost- Leanne @ Devoted Quilter

10/4- Heartstruck- Rebecca Grace @ Rebecca Grace Quilting
           Star Spangled- Christine @ Triangles & Squares

10/6- Birds of a Feather- Preeti @ Sew Preeti Quilts
           Fall Foliage- Susan @ Quilt Fabrication

10/11- Ornamental- Gail @ Quilting Gail
            Churn, Churn, Churn- Cynthia @ Quilting Is More Fun Than Housework

10/13- Sunset Crossing- Kate @ Katie Mae Quilts
             Positivity- Sarah @ Sarah Goer Quilts

10/18- All Dressed Up- Linda @ Flourishing Palms
             Shockwave- Anne-Marie @ Stories From the Sewing Room

10/20- Sweet Bee (a bonus thank-you pattern), Finishing, and Wrap-Up (right here!) 

October Sponsor News!

Hey there, friends!  Am I the only one who has a tough time staying in the autumn spirit?  I know it's only October, and I absolutely love all of the warm fall colors, but around this time of year, my autumn decor has been out for a few weeks and my mind starts jumping right to Christmas.  I want to enjoy all of the orange, brown, and gold colors; all of the leaves and pumpkins and scarecrows, but deep down, I'm just itching to start putting up my Christmas stuff.  I can't help it!  

So with that in mind, today I'm highlighting all of the awesome stuff going on at my favorite fabric shops around the web, and I'm here to satisfy those of you who are like me- torn between a love of two seasons.

Let's kick off with Lady Belle Fabric, where this Lilliput bundle by Sharon Holland for Art Gallery fabrics definitely fits the bill for warm and cozy. 

The woodsy feel of these fabrics is soft and earthy, and the palette is unique.  They're perfect for an autumn quilt.

            

If you're already in a Christmas frame of mind, take a look at this stunning Holiday Classics collection by Rifle Paper Co.  These fabrics have traditional Christmas motifs and colors, but I think the addition of black makes it a little dressier.  So pretty!

Over at LouLou's Fabric Shop, I always love browsing through the huge selection of quilt kits.  There are SO many to choose from, and they have kits that aren't found in many other places.  Check out this Through the Woods quilt kit.  What a cool quilt!

If you're looking for a more traditional Halloween quilt with pumpkins and bats, I am in love with this Spooky Sampler!

Or, if you've already moved onto Christmas projects, LouLou's has you covered there too!  There are tons of Christmas fabrics available right now, and this Homegrown Holidays bundle is even on sale!

LouLou's is also offering a special sale to my readers. Right now, take $10 off any layer cake with the coupon code "Layer Cakes"  Awesome!

                      

And finally, I always love shopping at Fort Worth Fabric Studio.  They have a weekly bundle that is always perfect for the season, and if you're wanting a special touch for your Thanksgiving holiday table, take a look at this Amazing Autumn bundle.  These colors are quintessentially fall!

By the way, if you haven't shopped Fort Worth Fabric Studio's Monthly Bargain section, you are missing out!  There are kits, bundles, precuts, remnants, and sale yardage listed here, and once they're gone, they're gone!  Trust me.  You don't want to miss out!

 

     

If you're already looking ahead to Christmas, and if you're a lover of batik fabrics, then you'll definitely want to visit Fort Worth Fabric Studio to get some of the Felicity Batik Christmas collection by Kate Spain.  These fabrics are absolutely gorgeous!  There is even a beautiful quilt kit available.

Okay friends, whether you're soaking up all of the pumpkins, bats, and scarecrows you can handle, or you're already thinking of evergreen trees, stockings, and ornaments, I know we're all busy planning our holiday sewing.  I know these fantastic shops can help you out!  Each of them has a beautiful selection of fabrics with their own unique flair, but best of all, they ALL offer impeccable customer service with great prices. So head over and show them some love!

 

All Dressed Up and Shockwave

Hey there, friends!  This is the last week of the Scrappy Improv Quilting blog tour- can you believe it?  And we're going out with a bang!  The last two quilts included in the book are a couple of my favorites.  First up today is All Dressed Up, and this is a fresh take on a traditional bowtie block.

All Dressed Up is all about the blues!  This quilt uses color gradient and the arrangement of the light, medium, and dark blues give the blocks some real pizzazz;  but the addition of the negative space really makes it unique.

The blocks look like they're spinning out from the center, and I wanted to choose a quilting motif that would accentuate that.  A giant spiral that creates a vortex in the center does the job well, and I opted for a light blue thread that gives just a little contrast to the Kona Silver background.

This geometric floral print had been sitting in my stash for awhile, and I widened it out with a piece of Kona Royal Blue.  I love how it shows the tight spiral so well on the back of this quilt.  The binding is a perfect shade of light blue- Kona Stratosphere.   

Linda at Flourishing Palms made the All Dressed Up quilt for the blog hop, so head over there and take a look at her gorgeous version of the pattern!

The final mini quilt in the book is Shockwave, and I love this one so much.  It was actually a contender for the cover!  This quilt is kind of a mix between two traditional blocks- the pineapple block and flying geese.

The Shockwave quilt uses the warm, fiery side of the color wheel, and sets all of that scrappy improv goodness against a Kona Nightfall background. I have thought about making a cool color version several times, and I know it would look just as amazing.

The quilting on this one is all linear with coordinating thread, following the shape of each section of the quilt.  There is so much fantastic texture!

Remember my Gossip Queen quilt?  Well, I had a chunk of this orchid fabric leftover from that backing, and because the colors are similar in this mini quilt, I knew it would be perfect.  And this yellow diagonal stripe binding continues the color movement right to the edge of the quilt.

Anne-Marie at Stories From the Sewing Room made the Shockwave quilt for the blog tour, and you definitely need to check it out!

On Wednesday, I'll be wrapping up the blog tour with the bonus thank-you pattern, and a little recap of all of the awesomeness the book has to offer.  So, don't miss the finale!

Signed copies of Scrappy Improv Quilting are available in my Etsy shop HERE, or ask about it at your local quilt shop.  It is also available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other major booksellers.  
And shop owners, you can get it from any of the major distributors- Checker, Brewer, United Notions, and EE Schenck.  I hope you'll consider adding it to your library or carrying it in your shop!  :) 

Scrappy Improv Quilting Blog Tour Schedule-

8/31- Intro, Single Block Beauties, and Simple Shapes

9/7- Seasonal Sensations, Standards With a Twist 

9/13- Summer Blossom- Lori @ Crossquilt
           Up, Up, and Away- Sandra @ mmm quilts

9/15- Flutter- Rose @ Something Rosemade
           Botanics- Diann @ Little Penguin Quilts

9/20- Face the Sun- Laura @ Slice of Pi Quilts
           Full Spectrum- Jayne @ Twiggy and Opal

9/22- Prismatic- Anja @ Anja Quilts
           Downpour- Nancy @ Grace and Peace Quilting

9/27- Funkytown- Vasudha @ Storied Quilts
           Cherub Wings- Michelle @ From Bolt to Beauty

9/29- Chapel Window- Kris @ Sew Sunshine
           Winter Frost- Leanne @ Devoted Quilter

10/4- Heartstruck- Rebecca Grace @ Rebecca Grace Quilting
           Star Spangled- Christine @ Triangles & Squares

10/6- Birds of a Feather- Preeti @ Sew Preeti Quilts
           Fall Foliage- Susan @ Quilt Fabrication

10/11- Ornamental- Gail @ Quilting Gail
            Churn, Churn, Churn- Cynthia @ Quilting Is More Fun Than Housework

10/13- Sunset Crossing- Kate @ Katie Mae Quilts
             Positivity- Sarah @ Sarah Goer Quilts

10/18- All Dressed Up- Linda @ Flourishing Palms
             Shockwave- Anne-Marie @ Stories From the Sewing Room

10/20- Sweet Bee (a bonus thank-you pattern), Finishing, and Wrap-Up (here!) 

Happy NTT!

Welcome to Needle and Thread Thursday, y'all!  This week has been Fall Break for my son and we have been out of town visiting family for the last several days, so no sewing for me, but I have a full day in my studio planned for today.  Before we left town last week, I did take some time to update my blog header, and I am really loving it!

Have you been keeping up with the Scrappy Improv Quilting blog hop?  This week's posts featured four more quilts, and you can see them HERE and HERE.  I can't believe it, but we are almost to the end of the tour.  Just two more posts!

Last week's party had lots of amazing link-ups, like this beauty by Sew Preeti Quilts-

Linda at kokaquilts linked up this pretty quilt.  Love those hexies!

This lovely quilt is by Quilting Gail-

And take a look at this simple, fun quilt shared by Nancy at Grace and Peace Quilting-

And finally, Jan at The Colorful Fabriholic shared this striking quilt-

Okay friends!  I always love seeing your gorgeous creations, and it's time to link them up!

And of course, remember- for just ONE more week, NTT will be posted on Thursday mornings instead of Wednesday evenings!

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 within your 

    post.  

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!  :)

Sunset Crossing and Positivity

It's time to showcase another two quilts from my new book, Scrappy Improv Quilting.  I can't believe we're almost to the end of the blog tour!  Today features two more quilts from the Standards With a Twist section, starting with Sunset Crossing.

Sunset Crossing uses scraps in a summery palette to add pop to the crossroads quilt blocks.  I love how the blue and aqua scraps play so well with the Kona Peach and Kona Melon solids.

I let the blocks be my guide for quilting this one.  Each crossroads block is quilted with coordinating thread with lines that follow the X shape with tiny crosshatch quilting in the center.  Stippling in the background adds lots of texture to the Kona White background.

This small blue and aqua floral print came right out of my stash and looks great on the back, and I finished it off with a Kona Melon binding.  By the way, I really love that with mini quilts, I usually don't have to go shopping!  Most of the time I can pull everything right from my stash- including the backing and binding!

Kate at Katie Mae Quilts made Sunset Crossing for the blog tour today, and I hope you will head over to see her lovely mini quilt!

Positivity is the second quilt being featured today, and this one is absolutely, positively, SO very easy to put together!  The scrappy purple and gray palette give this quilt some depth, but I think my favorite part of this pattern is how the plusses don't extend all the way to the edges.  That negative space makes it a little bit different.

With all of these squares, I knew that Positivity needed grid quilting to set it off.  The half-inch grid echoes the plus shapes and gives a nice, clean look to the quilt.  

I used this simple gray and white print on the back, and finished it off with a Kona Purple binding.

The Positivity stop for the blog hop is over at Sarah Goer Quilts.  Be sure to check out her version of this fun little quilt!

I'll be sharing the final two quilts next Monday, so come on back to see them.  And check out the full blog tour schedule below!

Signed copies of Scrappy Improv Quilting are available in my Etsy shop HERE, or ask about it at your local quilt shop.  It is also available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other major booksellers.  
And shop owners, you can get it from any of the major distributors- Checker, Brewer, United Notions, and EE Schenck.  I hope you'll consider adding it to your library or carrying it in your shop!  :) 

Scrappy Improv Quilting Blog Tour Schedule-

8/31- Intro, Single Block Beauties, and Simple Shapes

9/7- Seasonal Sensations, Standards With a Twist 

9/13- Summer Blossom- Lori @ Crossquilt
           Up, Up, and Away- Sandra @ mmm quilts

9/15- Flutter- Rose @ Something Rosemade
           Botanics- Diann @ Little Penguin Quilts

9/20- Face the Sun- Laura @ Slice of Pi Quilts
           Full Spectrum- Jayne @ Twiggy and Opal

9/22- Prismatic- Anja @ Anja Quilts
           Downpour- Nancy @ Grace and Peace Quilting

9/27- Funkytown- Vasudha @ Storied Quilts
           Cherub Wings- Michelle @ From Bolt to Beauty

9/29- Chapel Window- Kris @ Sew Sunshine
           Winter Frost- Leanne @ Devoted Quilter

10/4- Heartstruck- Rebecca Grace @ Rebecca Grace Quilting
           Star Spangled- Christine @ Triangles & Squares

10/6- Birds of a Feather- Preeti @ Sew Preeti Quilts
           Fall Foliage- Susan @ Quilt Fabrication

10/11- Ornamental- Gail @ Quilting Gail
            Churn, Churn, Churn- Cynthia @ Quilting Is More Fun Than Housework

10/13- Sunset Crossing- Kate @ Katie Mae Quilts
             Positivity- Sarah @ Sarah Goer Quilts

10/18- All Dressed Up- Linda @ Flourishing Palms
             Shockwave- Anne-Marie @ Stories From the Sewing Room

10/20- Sweet Bee (a bonus thank-you pattern), Finishing, and Wrap-Up (here!)