Stash Busting and NTT

Hey there, my friends!  Welcome to Needle and Thread Thursday!  This week, I've been working on my Twinkling Stars pattern and considering what I want to sew next.  I've been working diligently for a few years to reduce my stash, making as many quilts as possible without adding to it, and it just hit me this week how successful that effort has been.

Obviously, I've purchased some fabric during that time, but a few years ago, this cabinet was absolutely jam-packed with fabric; all four shelves, with no room to spare.  Here's the thing though, as my stash dwindles, I get a huge sense of accomplishment but it gets harder and harder for me to get inspiration from it.  I still have a good bit of fabric, but some colors are pretty sparse, and I think I'm getting to the point where I need to start purchasing some fabric and using my stash to supplement, rather than trying to sew a complete quilt from stash.  I'm still thinking about whether or not I can some up with something without buying, but I'm not sure it's going to happen.

Last week's party was once again filled with really amazing links, like this stunning quilt shared by Rebecca Grace Quilting-

Rita at Quiltpiecer shared this fun quilt-

And check out this awesome quilt from Nancy at Grace and Peace Quilting-

Okay friends!  Are y'all ready to get our party going?  Let's get to it!

With that, it's time to show what you've been working on this week.  Let's do it!

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!  :)

Twinkling Stars Finish and NTT

Welcome to Needle and Thread Thursday, my friends!  I am delighted to share my finished Twinkling Stars quilt with you today!

The more I worked with this color palette, the more I loved it.  I feel like it is just perfect for this time of year.  With the addition of aqua and navy, the colors are definitely summery, but the orange, teal, and purples allow the quilt to lean into autumn just enough.  Our high temp here yesterday was only 76 degrees, so I feel like this quilt is a great representation of art reflecting nature.

I quilted this one with an allover swirl motif, and it adds just enough movement and texture to the stars.  

I think I'm most excited to share the back with you.  I used 25 total prints in this quilt, which is way more than I really needed, but y'all know I love a scrappy look, AND a pieced quilt back.  I had a mix of fat quarters, long quarters, third-yard cuts, and half-yard cuts, which means that my leftovers were a variety of sizes.  I chose to make the Chunky quilt back from my book, Perfectly Pieced Quilt Backs, because it works well with a pile of mixed-size scraps.  

I didn't have to go purchase a large quantity of a single backing fabric, and using all my leftovers means that the back is a perfect compliment for the front of the quilt.  Best of all, this back is a little surprise when the quilt is turned over!  

After being released in late June, Perfectly Pieced Quilt Backs is already in its second printing!  If you've been on the fence about it, now is the time to get your copy.  I promise you'll love all the fresh ideas for adding a little wow factor to the backs of your quilts.  It will help you use up those scraps and leftovers so they don't get tossed into your scrap bin!  

You can get it everywhere you usually buy books, or get a signed copy from my Etsy shop HERE.

For the binding, my initial plan was to use Kona Berry.  It's one of the fabrics in the blocks, and as the darkest fabric in the quilt, I thought it would frame everything nicely...except when I went to cut my binding strips, I found that I didn't have quite enough.  In the name of stash busting, I went through my solid stash to find something else that would work, and came across this Kona Cerise.  It's not quite as deep as the Berry, but it definitely picks up plenty of the magenta-purples in the quilt, and I had juuuust enough of it.  

I've named this one Twinkling Stars, because the larger four-point star in the secondary pattern creates the fun twinkling effect.  I'm currently working on the pattern for this one, so stay tuned!

Y'all shared so many great projects at last week's party!  This beauty is from Rita at Quiltpiecer-

And check out this lovely finish from Linda at kokaquilts-

Gretchen's Little Corner did it again with another pretty holiday quilt.

I love this one by Sew Preeti Quilts-

Deb at A Scrappy Quilter shared this scrappy finish-

And finally, this striking quilt is from Yvonne at Quilting Jetgirl-

Can you tell I had a really tough time choosing highlights this week?  There was so much inspiration!

With that, it's time to show what you've been working on this week.  Let's do it!

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!  :)

September Sponsor News!

Happy mid-September, y'all.  Is it starting to feel like fall where you are?  We're starting to get little hints of it here and there, and I am so ready for some cool, crisp air, sweaters and boots, and nights by the fire pit.  This time of year also means that holiday sewing and gift planning season is upon us, unless of course you've already started, in which case, hooray for you!  If you're looking for a spark on inspiration, I have lots of great things rounded up from my sponsoring shops.

LouLou's Fabric Shop is feeling the autumn vibes with their latest LouLou Bundles.  These two are so lovely!

LouLou's curates a brand new LouLou Bundle every week, and they usually follow seasonal trends.  So, if you're in need of a quick little jolt of fabric inspiration for a project, they've got you covered!

Each of these weekly bundles contains eight fat quarters, perfectly curated from a variety of fabric collections.  They're great for smaller projects, or a great starting point for a larger quilt.  Or of course, you can just use them for stash building! 

Of course, if you want an entire collection for a larger quilt, there are plenty of bundles as well- even in their amazing sale section!  This Awesome Autumn collection by Sandy Gervais for Riley Blake is so warm and cozy.

              

Lady Belle Fabric always has lots going on, and fall is in the air there as well.  This Road to Round Top bundle by Elizabeth Chappell for Art Gallery Fabrics is more muted, but still has an autumn feel.  It's brand new in the shop.

And this collection might be called Summer in the Costwolds, but the colors feel more suited for autumn to me.  It's in the Last Chance section of the shop, so don't miss out!

                  

Okay, friends!  It's time to head off and check out all the awesomeness that these shops have to offer.  I promise you'll find what you need, and you'll be given the very best customer service, too!

Happy shopping!

Making Good Progress and NTT

Welcome to Needle and Thread Thursday!  I'm making good progress on my star quilt.  I've finished the top and made an awesome pieced back that I can't wait to show you, and it's all basted and ready to quilt. I'm looking forward to adding some great texture to these stars!

Per usual, last week's party was filled with fantastic projects.  Rita at Quiltpiecer linked up this lovely quilt-

This fun quilt is from Margo at MY Quilts and Crafts-

Love this scrappy string quilt from Deb at A Scrappy Quilter-

And finally, this quilt from Gretchen's Little Corner has me ready for the holiday season!

Are y'all ready to get our party on?  Let's do it!

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!  :)

Lots of Stars and NTT

Welcome to Needle and Thread Thursday, y'all!  After spending so much brain power on getting my son off to college, it feels odd to have so much extra space for other thoughts.  This week, I put that extra time to good use in my studio.

I'm really happy with the way these blocks look together.  I can already see the secondary pattern that I wanted emerging, and once I get them sewn up into a finished quilt top, it is really going to take shape (and then of course, I can get a better photo, too).

On another note- are you a Make Modern magazine reader?  If not, you should take a look.  It's filled with modern quilty goodness.  I'm happy to report that I'll be featured in Issue 54 (coming next week)!

I also had another bit of wonderful news from my publisher today.  After being released only two months ago, Perfectly Pieced Quilt Backs is being reprinted!  I wrote this book to be THE definitive resource on pieced quilt backs, and I'm so happy it's been so well received.  

If you've been on the fence, now is the perfect time to add it to your library. You can get a signed copy from my Etsy shop by clicking the book cover on my top left sidebar, or pick it up from Amazon, Connecting Threads, or anywhere else you usually buy books.  I promise you'll love it!

My goodness, last week's party was just amazing.  Y'all really know how to bring the inspiration!  These Christmas starts from Gretchen's Little Corner have me wishing for the cooler weather of the holidays!

Take a look at this gorgeous custom quilting from Anne-Marie at Stories From the Sewing Room-

Sew Preeti Quilts linked up this gorgeous quilt.  Look at that beautiful quilt reflection!

And finally, I am delighted to share this absolutely stunning quilt from Rebecca Grace Quilting-

Just, WOW!  I'm always so very impressed by the creativity of my quilty friends.  Y'all are awesome.  So, let's do it again!

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!  :)

From Full to Empty and NTT

Welcome to Needle and Thread Thursday, friends.  It's been a monumental week around here.  We spent the last week doing all manner of fun family things with our son- a baseball game, go kart racing, laser tag, movie night, and all of his favorite dinners and desserts.  We crammed all of that in before moving him into the dorm on Monday.  We only have one child, so our house went from full to empty in one fell swoop.  I know he's ready, and I know that growing up and moving out is the normal course of life,  but right now it just feels weird.  I did manage to hold back my tears until our car ride home, so that's a small win.

I am happy to report that the quilt I made for his dorm, along with the National Park posters, really came together nicely.  The room is organized, and everything has a spot to make it easy to keep neat, and best of all, my son likes it too.

In case you missed this finish in May, here's a photo of the full quilt, called Southwest Scenery.  The five  National Park posters commemorate our favorite places visited during a month-long family vacation in the summer of 2021, and the colors in the quilt were specifically chosen to coordinate with them.  You can check out more pics of this quilt in my original post HERE.

I'm getting ready to start cutting my fabrics for my newest design, and I think getting my mind onto something else is just what I need right now.  

Last week's party had so much amazingness.  Take a look at the awesome colors in this quilt shared by Rebecca Grace Quilting-

This gorgeous quilt top is from Jan at The Colorful Fabriholic-

This sweet strawberry quilt is from Anne-Marie at Stories From the Sewing Room-

And this lovely quilt was linked up by JanineMarie at Quilts From the Little House-

Okay y'all, let's get our party started!

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!  :)

Fast and Furious and NTT

Welcome to Needle and Thread Thursday, friends!  Life has been running pretty fast and furious around here as we finish up all of the final preparations for moving our son into his dorm on Monday.  Organizing and decorating are my jam, and I'm really having to rein it in (he is a boy after all, and there's only so much decorating allowed).  As much as I am sad to see him move out, and believe me, I'm sure I'll be blubbering when we leave him, I'm also ready to see all of this prep work come to fruition.

With all of this going on, there's still no sewing happening in my studio, but after all my sketching I did land on a design I like, so once everything settles down a little bit, I'm planning to get started.  So instead, check out the highlights from last week-

This quilt top from Rebecca Grace Quilting is a stunner!

Nancy at Grace and Peace Quilting shared a roundup of nine different quilts!

This bright beauty is from Something Rosemade-

And finally, this little mini by Carolyn at Flickensalat is so cute and full of texture!

Alrighty y'all!  Are you ready to get our party on?  Let's do it!

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!  :)

August Sponsor News!

It's the middle August, y'all, and that means that it's time to round up some of my favorite things from my very favorite shops.  Let's kick things off with LouLou's Fabric Shop!  

Take a look at this gorgeous, summery LouLou Bundle available right now.  The colors are so crisp and fresh.  Did you know that LouLou's curates a brand new bundle every single week?  These bundles are perfect for starting a new project, or even for stash building.

BUT, if you're always on the hunt for a deal, trust me when I say that you could get lost in LouLou's sale section!  

Halloween will be here before you know it.  If you're already looking ahead to cooler weather, this Bad to the Bone fat quarter bundle is on sale for those spooky projects.

                 

At Lady Belle Fabric, there's always some awesomeness going on.  This sweet Bungalow fat quarter bundle is in their sale section (among several other great collections).

And this Charlotte bundle by Bari J is brand new in the shop.  I love this rich color palette!

             

Okay y'all, it's time to head off to show these shops some love.  They have stunning fabrics with amazing prices, and their customer service just can't be beat. Happy shopping!