Seasonals and Standards

Hey there, friends!  I am so happy that today I get to give you a little overview of the final sections of my new book, Scrappy Improv Quilting.  The third section of the book is titled Seasonal Sensations and contains six adorable little seasonal quilts.

Every year, I go all out decorating for Christmas (I put up four trees!), but I don't have that same stamina when it comes to the other holidays and seasons.  Even though I don't decorate my entire house during the rest of the year, it is nice to have a little holiday touch here and there, and these mini quilts are perfect for that!  They're easy to turn into pillows, use in a fun table scape, or even hang on the wall, and you'll always feel like your home is ready for the season!

The fourth section of quilts in the book is called Standards With a Twist, and as the name suggests, each of these projects is built around a traditional quilt block, but with a little extra pizzazz to make the quilt fun and fresh.  It just goes to show you that this technique is not a one-trick pony.  It can really be used with any of your favorite quilt blocks.  

Remember when I said that this book was written so that even a novice quilter would be successful?  Well, once you peruse the 22 mini quilt projects contained in Scrappy Improv Quilting, you're not left alone to "quilt and bind as desired."  Sure, if you're experienced, you may not need the guidance for turning your quilt top into a finished mini quilt, but if you need it, it's there for you in the final section of the book. In Finishing Your Quilt, you'll find full instructions for choosing batting, basting, quilting options, and binding.  There are even detailed steps for turning your mini quilt into a pillow, and for sewing a hanging sleeve!

Well, there you have it, friends!  For the past couple of weeks, I've given you a quick overview of everything Scrappy Improv Quilting has to offer, so I hope you're ready to start seeing the individual projects NEXT WEEK!  I've been getting sneak peeks from these amazing quilters, and I promise you're in for lots of eye-candy.  

Beginning next Monday (9/13), the blog tour will feature four projects each week- two on Monday, and two on Wednesday.  

And beginning this week, and for the duration of the blog tour, NTT will be posted on Thursday mornings, rather than the usual Wednesday evening, just to make sure that the posts don't get crowded. 

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!) 

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!  :) 

Before we go, I owe you a giveaway winner!  Comment number 3, grammajudyb is the winner of a signed copy of Scrappy Improv Quilting.  Congrats!  I'll be sending you an email to get your shipping address very soon.

CMM July Blocks

We're officially halfway through the month of July friends, and that means it's time to link up your Classic Meets Modern blocks.  The two blocks for this month are ones that are extremely well known, and versions of them have been used over and over again for decades.

The first is the Bowtie block, and it is one of my favorites.  If you look at my quilt designs, you'll notice that I love quilts and blocks that have a curvy look without actually sewing curves, and the Bowtie block accomplishes this beautifully.  When the blocks are all put together in a quilt, they create a gorgeous, rounded lattice pattern.  I chose a gray background for my block, and the softer colors in the prints really stand out against it.

The second block for this month is the Weathervane.  I love the shape of this block, and they make a beautiful secondary pattern when put together as well.  I decided to use one of the larger prints in the Acreage collection for the larger pieces in the block.  I didn't fussy cut because I needed the green to be the predominant color in the block, but I like that the large blooms in the print are peeking out just enough.

By the way, if you have fallen behind and catch up on your blocks in a single month, just add those blocks to your current post so we can see them.  It's okay if your July post includes blocks from previous months.  There's no QAL police here.  Let's link up!

1.  If you're a little late to the party, it's okay!  You can still join in anytime.  This is a Block of the Month Quilt Along, so we will only be completing two blocks each month.  The pace is leisurely and it will be easy to catch up.  You can get the Classic Meets Modern pattern in my Etsy or Craftsy shops (links on my right sidebar).  As long as you have a finished quilt top at the end of the year, you'll be eligible for the prizes.

2.  Remember, the link party opens on the 15th of each month, and will close at midnight CST on the last day of the month.  You can certainly link to the weekly NTT post if you like, but be sure to link your quilt along blocks to this party, so everyone is sure to see your progress.

3.  You don't have to have a blog to join in!  You can link to an Instagram post, or even a Flickr account.  Use the hashtag #classicmeetsmodernbomqal on Instagram!  If you do have a blog, grab a button to let everyone know you're participating!  You can get the button on my right sidebar.

Take Flight and a Giveaway!

Well my friends, what began in April is now coming to a close in July.  Though this is the thirteenth week of the Stash Statement blog hop, it feels like the time has slipped by so quickly.  Today's feature quilt is the Take Flight FREE bonus pattern.

I have actually made three different versions of this quilt, but the only one I've kept for myself is the one pictured above (actually the last version I made).  The other two have gone to friends who have lost loved ones.  Since each of these quilts has already had its own post, rather than recap the stories and photos of each quilt, you can visit the original posts to see the quilting, backing, and binding details.  I am including helpful links for you though!  To see the details of the quilt I kept for myself, check out the post HERE.

I love this blue, green, and teal version of the quilt.  It was made for a friend who lost her son as a toddler, and is a precious keepsake in his memory.  This was the second version of this pattern, and you can see the additional pictures for the Will's Wings quilt HERE.

My first version of the quilt is actually the one that graces the pattern cover, and it now belongs to a friend who lost her sister to cancer.  This quilt was actually debuted waaay back in January (see the snow on the foot bridge?), when Stash Statement first became available for preorder!

Though this pattern is not included in the book, when I made it, I knew I had to somehow make it available to my readers.  This pattern is exclusively available as a free bonus with the purchase of Stash Statement.  Since the pattern is written with improv terms from the book, it is intended as a supplement only, and will not ever be available as a stand-alone pattern.

If you purchase a signed copy of the book from my Etsy shop HERE, the pattern will be automatically emailed to you when the book ships.  Unfortunately, I don't have a way of knowing who has purchased books from somewhere else (Amazon, Connecting Threads, quilt shops, etc.) so things become a little trickier.

If you've purchased Stash Statement from another vendor and would like the bonus pattern, when you get it home, just snap a quick photo of yourself with your book and send it to me using the Email Me button on my right sidebar, letting me know where you purchased it.  Then, I'll happily send the pattern to you!

This hop is going out with a bang!  To finish off the blog hop, I am giving away TWO copies of Stash Statement, including the bonus pattern.  One US reader will win a hard copy, and an international reader will win a digital copy of the book.  To enter the giveaway, leave a single comment on this post to let me know your favorite quilt from the book (duplicate entries will be deleted).  Be sure to let me know if you're from the US or an international reader, and remember to leave your email address if you're a no-reply blogger!  I'll announce the winners at NTT on 7/25!

This week, Kelli Fannin at Seriously... I think it needs stitches and Paula at The Sassy Quilter are sharing their own versions of the Take Flight quilt, and each of them put a delightful twist on the pattern with wing and color placement.  You definitely don't want to miss them!

Also, Hilary at by Hilary Jordan has her College Prep project all ready.  You might remember that last week, we had a scheduling mix-up, but she is all ready to go now!

Just in case you missed any of the amazing projects from the hop, here's the full lineup, all in one place.  Debuting my book has been so much fun.  Thanks for all of the book release love, friends!

4/16- Grand Bazaar    Shelley @ Cora's Quilts

                                      Connie @ Freemotion by the River

4/23- Louvered  Lindsey @ Primrose Cottage Quilts 

                            Diann @ Little Penguin Quilts

4/30- Precarious  Jess @ Quilty Habit                       

                              Myra @ Busy Hands Quilts

                                                            

5/7- Beach Retreat  Sarah @ Sarah Goer Quilts                               

                                  Liz @ Savor Every Stitch 

                                                           

5/14- Fire Pit   Alison @ Little Bunny Quilts                                          

                         Preeti @ Sew Preeti Quilts

                                                            

5/21- Detour    Laura @ Slice of Pi Quilts                         

                         Shelley @ The Carpenter's Daughter Who Quilts

                                                            

5/28- Murrina    Yvonne @ Quilting Jetgirl             

                            Leanne @ Devoted Quilter

                                                            

6/4- Scattered    Jayne @ Twiggy and Opal                      

                           Christine @ Triangles and Squares 

                                                            

6/11- Bloom Chicka Boom   Chris @ made by ChrissieD            

                                               Michelle @ From Bolt to Beauty

                                                            

6/18- Regatta   Susan @ Quilt Fabrication                             

                          Debbie @ A Quilter's Table    

                                                            

6/25- Catch a Falling Star  Cynthia @ Quilting is More Fun Than Housework        

                                              Anja @ Anja Quilts

                                                            

7/2- College Prep   Hilary @ by Hilary Jordan                 

                                Lori @ Crossquilt

                                                            

7/9- Take Flight (free bonus pattern)  Kelli @ Seriously, I Think It Needs Stitches 

                                                             Paula @ The Sassy Quilter

 

Old Glory and NTT

Happy 4th of July to all of my friends in the USA!  I hope your day is filled with family, fun, and maybe even a few fireworks.  I showed a peek at my latest quilt on IG back in March, but for a handful of reasons, I never actually revealed the full finished quilt.  Well, I figured that Independence Day would be the perfect time to share it, and you can see why!

ps- with today's holiday, I'm posting NTT early, so I don't forget!

I had lots of fun digging into my red and dark blue scraps for this quilt, and I even borrowed some from a friend to make sure I had enough variety.  I love the variation in tones;  it adds so much depth to the quilt.

I also got a little more creative with the quilting on this one.  It was a bit more tedious than an allover design, but definitely worth it.  I quilted the stars with a very dense crosshatch, stippled the blue background, and then quilted organic waves in the stripes of the flag to give it rippling movement, as if waving in the breeze.  I used 50 wt. Aurifil #2024, #2260, and $2783 (White, Wine, and Medium Delft Blue) corresponding to each color, and the effect is so neat.

These denim blue and red prints are just perfect on the back.  They're not quite solid, but almost, which is a nice contrast to the scrappiness on the front of the quilt.  They allow the quilting to really show up.

I continued the thread colors onto the back, so that when the quilt is turned over, you can still see a shadow of the colors on the front (it is definitely more pronounced in person).

If you're a regular around here, you know that the technique of sewing scraps in this way is from my book, Stash Statement.  Just to be perfectly clear- though the book does give three methods for improv piecing, as well as twelve full quilt patterns in this style, this quilt isn't included in the book.  You can see all of the quilts included in Stash Statement HERE.

Included in the book or not, when I have an idea, sometimes I can't stop thinking about it until I make it a reality.  Creativity is like that sometimes.

Anyway, before we link up, take a look at some of the projects from last week that really caught my eye!  I'm loving this modern batik scrappy squares quilt by Sarah Goer Quilts-

I love this scrappy quilt by Something Rosemade.  Scraps with a black and white background and a green binding- how could I not love it?

These double wedding ring blocks by Patty at Elm Street Quilts are looking amazing!

Melanie at A Bit of Scrap Stuff shared this awesome Flamingo Fever quilt finish-

 And finally, you know I can't resist the color wash goodness of this Postcard From Sweden finish by Tanya Quilts in CO-

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!  :)

**Also, after you link up, be sure to visit my post HERE to check out the awesome 4th of July sales going on and enter the giveaway!

College Prep

Happy Monday, friends!  I hope you're ready to kick off another awesome week.  Today's quilt on the Stash Statement blog hop is College Prep, and it's the perfect quilt to use up all of your neutral scraps.

The shades of gray, taupe, and cream combine to create such amazing texture, and it allows the giant argyle blocks to really stand out.  I quilted with a dense stipple using 50 wt. Aurifil White, and I love the added crinkle.

When I designed the quilts for the book, I wanted to show that this technique can utilize modern or more traditional scraps, and the quilts can be made with a more masculine color palette just as easily as a feminine one.  In the College Prep quilt, I chose a classic color combo with Kona Basil and Navy for the argyle blocks that anyone would love, but this quilt would be so much fun to personalize with the colors of a favorite sports team or alma mater.

On the back, I used a large cut of this green and navy Denyse Schmidt fabric that I had been saving (hoarding), along with a stripe of Kona Basil.  I love this DS print, and I'm so happy I finally found a use worthy of it.  I used Kona Navy for the binding to tie in the X's in the argyles and I love the result!

If you think you might not have enough scraps for an improv background, or that you might not want to tackle quite so much improv, you can always flip the design!  I made this little mini awhile ago where the improv and solid sections are reversed, and with the argyles showing off the improv, the result is just as cute.  Versatility is the name of the game!

Lori at Crossquilt is sharing her College Prep project today, so head right over to see i.  Hilary at by Hilary Jordan and I had scheduling mix-up, so she will be posting hers later this week, so be on the lookout.  As soon as she posts, I'll update my blog hop list as well!

**Edited- Hilary's project is all finished, and I've updated the links for you!

Get your very own copy of Stash Statement and start turning your scraps into spectacular quilts! Signed copies of Stash Statement are available from my Etsy shop HERE, or you can get it from Amazon, Connecting Threads, Shop Martingale, or ask about it at your local quilt shop.  Thanks, friends!

The blog hop is winding down, with just ONE more week, but don't worry!  If you missed any of the posts, you can always go back and check them out.  I have updated the links in the lineup each week (even in the previous weeks' posts), so you'll always be directed to the right place.  Check them out!

4/16- Grand Bazaar    Shelley @ Cora's Quilts

                                      Connie @ Freemotion by the River

4/23- Louvered  Lindsey @ Primrose Cottage Quilts 

                            Diann @ Little Penguin Quilts

4/30- Precarious  Jess @ Quilty Habit                       

                              Myra @ Busy Hands Quilts

                                                            

5/7- Beach Retreat  Sarah @ Sarah Goer Quilts                               

                                  Liz @ Savor Every Stitch 

                                                           

5/14- Fire Pit   Alison @ Little Bunny Quilts                                          

                         Preeti @ Sew Preeti Quilts

                                                            

5/21- Detour    Laura @ Slice of Pi Quilts                         

                         Shelley @ The Carpenter's Daughter Who Quilts

                                                            

5/28- Murrina    Yvonne @ Quilting Jetgirl             

                            Leanne @ Devoted Quilter

                                                            

6/4- Scattered    Jayne @ Twiggy and Opal                      

                           Christine @ Triangles and Squares 

                                                            

6/11- Bloom Chicka Boom   Chris @ made by ChrissieD            

                                               Michelle @ From Bolt to Beauty

                                                            

6/18- Regatta   Susan @ Quilt Fabrication                             

                          Debbie @ A Quilter's Table    

                                                            

6/25- Catch a Falling Star  Cynthia @ Quilting is More Fun Than Housework        

                                              Anja @ Anja Quilts

                                                            

7/2- College Prep   Hilary @ by Hilary Jordan                 

                                Lori @ Crossquilt

                                                            

7/9- Take Flight (free bonus pattern)  Kelli @ Seriously, I Think It Needs Stitches 

                                                             Paula @ The Sassy Quilter

 

Churn Baby, Churn (and NTT)

Happy Needle and Thread Thursday!  My latest quilt, appropriately named Churn Baby, Churn is all finished, and I am in LOVE with it!

The colors in this collection are so rich and vibrant, and are perfect for the fun layout in the quilt.  When I went to quilt it though, I was stumped on the design since there is so much going on.  I feel like any allover quilting motif would have taken a back seat to the piecing and fabrics, so I just went with my good ole standby stipple.

When I asked for thread input in my last post, the aqua won out by far, and I'm so glad.  Sometimes I worry that I default to aqua too often, but my heart really wanted to quilt this with aqua thread.  So, it was good to have plenty who agreed with me.  I quilted with 50 wt. Aurifil # 5006, Light Turquoise,  my favorite shade of aqua thread.

You might also remember that I planned to use an entirely different main fabric for the back.  Well, sometimes the very best plans get foiled, and when I went to my local shop to get the fabric, only 1.5 yards were left on the bolt.  So, instead, I picked up this orange print from Art Gallery's Bound collection.  I mixed this print into the front as well, so it's all good.  I also threw in a stripe of Kona Pool for good measure.

With such an explosion of color and print on the front, this solid Kona Navy binding creates a perfect frame to contain all of it.

Several have asked if I am planning to write a pattern for this quilt, and after giving it lots of thought, I have decided that I am not.  The trouble with a quilt like this is that it is difficult to write concise cutting instructions for so many different sized pieces.  It can be done, but I just don't have the time right now.  Instead, I have created a layout diagram with (finished) sizing for you!

Each color corresponds to a different size, and the finished sizes are listed for you on one of each color block.  The black lines show how I sewed the quilt together in sections, giving it a random look (with no partial seams!)  This layout could really work for any block you like.  As long as your finished blocks are 15", 9", and 6", you can just plug them into the spaces for an awesome, modern quilt.  If you use this layout, be sure to send me a photo!

Okie dokie!  Let's get to the features from last week's party, shall we?  Denise from For the Love of Geese shared this pretty Granny Square quilt.  I love these colors!

Michelle at From Bolt to Beauty linked up this jelly roll log cabin quilt.  I love how making rectangular log cabin blocks give the quilt a fresh look!

Look at this awesome Sawtooth Star QOV by Katie Mae Quilts-

And finally, this awesome quilt is by Tiina from Kasityolainen- unelmissaan.  Her blog is written in
English as well, so definitely check it out!

Wow!  Just WOW!  Y'all bring such amazing inspiration each and every week.  I am just amazed.  Without further ado, 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!  :)