NTT- The Road to Normalcy

Happy Needle and Thread Thursday, friends!  Well, the boot's still on, so no change there, but I did get my second vaccine dose on Monday, so I'm feeling great about taking that step toward getting life back to normal.  My son is almost 17, so he got his first dose this week as well.  Hubby works for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, so he's been vaccinated since January.  We're alllllmost there.  Hooray for science!

Since I don't have anything new to share (again, the boot), take a look at some of my favorites from last week's party.  Janis at Canyon Rim Quilting shared this sweet string quilt-

This stunning quilt is by Frederique at Quilting Patchwork Applique

I love the crazy scrappiness of this quilt by Tubakk at Den syende himmel-

Take a look at this cute star quilt by Cheree at The Morning Latte-

This vibrant beauty is by Michelle at My Bijou Life-

And this soothing piece by Jayne at Twiggy and Opal makes me long for the beach!

Wow!  Y'all really brought the eye candy last week.  So, without further ado, 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 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!  :)

NTT- Taking the Good With the Boot

Welcome to Needle and Thread Thursday, friends!  This week has been one of highs and one big low.  As I mentioned in my last post, we did a closet overhaul in our bedroom and as promised, here are a couple of pictures of the finish.

I am in LOVE with the way it turned out, and it makes me so happy to see how beautifully organized everything is.  Just for reference, my closet is 7.5 feet wide, by 8 feet deep.

Unfortunately, my excitement was tempered by the fact that while walking in my neighborhood, I tripped on a fairly innocuous crack in the sidewalk and rolled my ankle, breaking my fibula and partially tearing the ligament in the process.  Womp, womp.

Silver linings are tough in this circumstance, but miraculously there are a few.  First, even though part of my fibula was sheared off completely and pulled away from the bone by the ligament, it has settled back into place and doesn't require surgery.  

Also, the walking boot is a marvelous thing.  Once you injure your ligaments/tendons/joints a few times, they are permanently weakened and are much easier to injure in the future, and this is where I am.  If you can believe it, this is my sixth (!!!) break in my ankles and feet (fourth on this foot), so I've had my share of casts and boots.  In fact, I even brought my boot to the doctor with me with the hope that they wouldn't cast me.  I joked that it was BYOB day at the ortho practice, ha!  A boot isn't exactly comfy, but it does make things like showering a lot easier.  So, yay for no cast.

And finally, you might have noticed that thankfully, this is my left foot and not my driving foot!  By driving, I mean my car AND my sewing machine.  I'll still be down for a while because I'm pretty swollen and bruised, so elevating and icing is happening as much as possible, but I really think I'll be back at it in a couple of weeks, even if it's just in small spurts.

Since I don't have any quilty news to share from my studio, take a look at some of the projects y'all shared last week.  You know how much I love green, and these blocks from Anorina at Samelia's Mum are so awesomely springy!

Anja Quilts linked up this cute quilt-

I love, love, love this quilt by Julie's Quilts and Costumes.  

And this triangle quilt by Sew Preeti Quilts is just fantastic (and don't miss the other quilt she shared in her post)!

Okie dokie, friends!  It's time to get our party started.  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 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!  :)

Needle and Thread Thursday!

Hey there, friends!  I don't know about you, but springtime is when I love to take on the serious organizing and "freshening up" in my house (and outside for that matter).  This is the time of year when we do a ton of planting outside, clean out closets, etc.   Since moving into my house in fall 2019, we've been planning to do a closet overhaul in our main bedroom.  The closet is actually a pretty good size, but because my home was built in the 70's before closet systems were a thing, it only had a single bar running along each side of it.  There was so much wasted space!  All of that is changing this week and I am SO excited.  

The closet has been stripped bare and is being painted today, and yesterday a freight truck delivered a huge pallet with all of my closet pieces.  The next several days will be all about putting the components together and getting them mounted in the right spots.  I'll be sure to include a photo of the finish when everything is all done.  All of that is to say that I haven't spent a single second at my machine since finishing the secret project I teased last week.  You know me- I'm a one project at a time girl... in all things, and the closet is it this week.  ;)

So, take a look at some of the amazing projects linked up last week.  Kris at Sew Sunshine showed off this fun quilt (you know I love some scrappy improv!)-

Sally at Crafts, Cavies, and Cooking shared her progress on this colorful quilt-

This creative denim quilt is by Tubakk at den syende himmel (her blog is written in English too!)

I am in LOVE with this quilt by Sandra at mmm quilts. That quilting!!!

This low volume lovely is by Linda at kokaquilts-

And finally, Jayne at Twiggy and Opal showed off this unique, modern quilt.  That quilting adds so much to the interesting piecing!

Well there you have it, y'all.  You're sure keeping me inspired when I can't make it to my machine!  Let's see what you've got this week.

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 Secret Little Project and NTT

Welcome to Needle and Thread Thursday, friends!  This week, I've been working on something that has to be kept under wraps, and the way I've quilted it means that I can't even give you a sneak peek without giving it away.  You'll just have to wait and see when the time is right.  :)  Don't worry though, with the amazing highlights from last week, there's still lots of pretties to ogle. 

I love this heart quilt by Michelle at From Bolt to Beauty-

Joyce at heARTs Creations linked up this colorful quilt-

This sweet little creation is by Frederique at Quilting Patchwork Applique-

And finally, this lovely low volume quilt is by Nancy at Grace and Peace Quilting-

Alright!  It's time to link up the latest happenings in your studio.  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 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!  :)

Mid-Mod Diamonds and NTT

Welcome to Needle and Thread Thursday, and happy March y'all!  Mid-Mod Diamonds is all finished and I'm so happy I get to show it off today.

This quilt uses the Cider collection by Basic Grey, and the more I worked with these softer, earthy colors, the more I appreciated them.  

Even though I could have used fewer, I chose twenty-five prints from the collection for the top, which means that I had plenty of leftovers.  They look great paired with this Khaki grunge on the back though!

A basic stipple adds plenty of texture and still allows the jewels to take center stage.  I considered quilting lines to accentuate the shape of the blocks, but since this is destined to be a couch snuggle quilt, I wanted to keep it simple and soft.

I even had enough leftovers for a scrappy binding.  I always love the way a scrappy binding stands out on a quilt with white or cream in the background.

I had so much fun designing this pattern.  The way the diamonds fit together with the rounded negative space around them is so interesting, and it really is the perfect place to show off a bundle of prints.

The Mid-Mod Diamonds pattern is currently in the works, but I couldn't help but give you a peek at the cover.  Be on the lookout for it within the next couple of weeks!

Now, before we start the party, check out the highlights from last week.  Check out this lovely quilt by The Joyful Quilter.  She was inspired by my scrappy improv Riptide quilt, and it always makes me happy to see how I've inspired other quilters!

Sew Preeti Quilts shared two quilts this week.  Both are the same pattern, but two different color ways, and of course, both gorgeous!  This one was quilted by Rebecca Grace Quilting.

 Take a look at this fresh table runner by Institches with Bonnie.  It just feels like spring!

And finally, this striking beauty is by Shannon at The Fleming's Nine.  I never seem to run out of little scraps, so this is such a great pattern for using them up!

Okie dokie, friends, it's time to party.  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 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 Mid-Mod Quilt and NTT

Welcome to Needle and Thread Thursday, friends!  I've been busy turning that pile of chain piecing into a fun new quilt top this week, and I think the jewel/star shape has a retro, mid-mod feel.

This quilt uses the Cider collection with Ivory Bella Solids in the background, and I'm really enjoying the muted palette.  It's just so soft and pretty.  I got the backing put together and basted this quilt yesterday, so it's all ready to be quilted.  

Last week's party was just amazing.  It was wonderful to browse through the links while sitting at home under all of the ice and snow.  Thankfully, we're closer to 70 degrees and sunny this week, and the snow has been reduced to tiny piles here and there.  Here are a few projects that caught my eye! 

Kathy's Quilting Blog shared this colorful, scrappy quilt-

This fun quilt top was linked up by DonnaleeQ.  I spy a lot of Amy Butler goodness in there!

Look at this rainbow beauty by Sandra at mmm quilts-

Cynthia at Quilting is More Fun Than Housework showed off this pretty quilt (apparently I'm feeling the rainbows this week!)-

And I simply cannot allow this stunning purple quilt by Jayne at Twiggy and Opal to go unnoticed-

Okay, y'all!  If you got snow and ice dumped on you last week, I hope you're digging out in some warmer temps by now.  And if not, I hope you're snuggled up in your warm house with something hot to drink, working on a quilt.  Either way- 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!  :)

Snowmageddon and NTT

Hey there, all you northern peeps!  I am sorry to say that your weather is lost and stuck down here in the South where we are absolutely unprepared for it.  When you reach temps in the upper 90's in the summertime, I'll gladly come grab those if you'll please come and take your weather back where it belongs right this very second.  Deal?  Thanks.

This is the view from my sewing studio (there is a street under there somewhere), and though it is lovely, I'm over it.  Here in west Tennessee we haven't been above freezing since last Wednesday, and our low temp the other night was ONE.  That's just stupid cold.  We had almost a quarter inch of ice last Thursday, about six inches of snow on Monday, and it's snowing...again.  We're expecting another 3-5 inches of snow plus a nice glaze of ice tonight and tomorrow.  Ugh.  Southerners really are not built for this.  

On the bright side, we have power and plenty of food, so we're all hunkered down at home.  My family in Texas is not so lucky.  They are currently without power AND water, so even though I'm grumbling a little, I'm definitely counting my blessings.  Prayers to all of you Southern people going through this (and all of you Northerners who are getting more winter weather than you want).  I truly hope you're faring well.

I have been able to accomplish quite a bit over the past week though.  I finished reviewing my book pages and got those submitted to my publisher (y'all are going to love this book.  I just know it!).  Then I got busy on my latest quilt.  I've been chain piecing a ton today, and I'm almost to the point where my blocks are ready to go together.  I'm hoping to have a finished quilt top sometime this weekend.  This is the Cider collection by Basic Grey, and though it's a little more earthy than my usual palette, I really love it.  I can't wait for you to see more.

Before we link up, take a look at some of the eye-candy from last week.  This beauty is by Sandra at mmm quilts-

Nancy at Grace and Peace Quilting shared this colorful quilt-

This simple but fun quilt was shared by Better'n Dog Biscuits-

I love this quilt by Anja Quilts-

And Jayne at Twiggy and Opal shared a mini quilt using the Pantone Colors of the Year-

Before we party, I also owe you two winners from last week's sponsor post.  Each of these winners will receive a gift certificate to Fort Worth Fabric Studio.  That'll brighten any winter day!  The two winners are Diane (comment #17) and The Joyful Quilter (comment #51).  Congrats, ladies!  I'll be emailing you shortly!

                           

Okay, friends!  Let's get this 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 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!  :)