Moving Into the Cool Scraps and NTT

Welcome to Needle and Thread Thursday, friends!  I had a fantastic time with the Gwinnett Quilters Guild in the Atlanta area last week!  Meeting and visiting with quilters is one of my favorite parts of my job, and the Gwinnett Quilters were so friendly and welcoming!  I still have a little availability in 2023, and I'd love to visit your guild.  Send me an email and we'll talk!

I have also continued plugging away at my scrap jars, and I'm pleased to say that I've finished the warm colors, and have now moved into my cool scraps. The aqua/teal jar is up next, and it's pretty full.  In fact, I think most of my cool color jars are packed a little tighter than the warm jars, so it'll be interesting to see how many improv panels I can get from each one.

It feels like it's been too long since our last party, even though it was only a couple of weeks ago!  But it had lots of amazing projects linked up!  This pretty quilt top is from Rita at Quiltpiecer-

I love this sweet quilt top by Anne-Marie at Stories From the Sewing Room.  I'm a sucker for birds!

This beauty is by Melva Loves Scraps.  What a gorgeous photo!

I love, love, LOVE this scrappy churn dash quilt by Cynthia at Quilting is More Fun Than Housework-

Gretchen's Little Corner shared this stunner-

And finally, Linda at kokaquilts linked up this lovely finish!

I simply couldn't narrow down the highlights any further this week!  Y'all really know how to bring the inspiration!  So 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 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!  :)

Scrappy Improv Progress and NTT

Happy Needle and Thread Thursday, friends!  I'm steadily working through my scrap jars, and I've made some good progress.  Each of these panels is actually pretty large, measuring about 15" x 25".

I won't fib and tell you that my pink, red, and orange jars are completely empty, but they are pretty close.  When I have a big chunk of a single fabric in my jar, it's hard to use all of it in a single-color panel without throwing off the balance of the improv, so inevitably some of those larger pieces get left behind for another day.  As you might have guessed, yellow is up next!

My plan is to sew up everything in my jars, and then see what I have to work with.  I do have a rough plan, but I don't mind changing it to maximize my scraps.  As you can see, the amount in each jar is a surprise!  Pink was (by far) my sparsest scrap jar, and if I had to guess, I would say that green and purple are the most full.  But, I won't really know until I dump them out and start sewing.

Before we get to our party, let's take a look at some of the amazing projects linked up last week!  This pretty quilt is by Sandra at mmm quilts-

Something Rosemade shared this oh, so gorgeous Amy Butler throw.  I LOVE Amy Butler prints and used to collect them pretty extensively, particularly her earlier collections.  In this throw, I'm spotting fabrics from the Soul Blossoms, Love, Belle, Midwest Modern, and Cameo collections.  Love it!

And finally, Kathy's Quilting showed off this scrappy stunner-

NTT will be taking a little break next week, because I'm flying to Atlanta to visit a guild there.  I'll be gone for a few days, and I'll be busy presenting and teaching!  I'll be back the following week, on 5/25!

Ready friends?   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!  :)

Finally Sewing and NTT

Hey there, y'all!  Welcome to Needle and Thread Thursday.  I've finally been getting some sewing done this week!  I like to do a big scrap purge in the the summer where I use up every single scrap in my jars. My last purge was two years ago with my Strata Squared quilt. I'm not sure this quilt will completely empty my scrap jars, but I know it will put a big dent in them.

Scrap quilts also happen to be my go-to when I need a little inspiration, and since I haven't sewn in awhile, diving into my scraps was a perfect way to get my sewjo going again.  It took me a little while to come up with a plan, but now I'm ready to move full-speed ahead.  Here's a little peek at what's happening-

Well, of course it's scrappy improv!  You know that's my favorite way to use up scraps.  I've written two books on it, for goodness sake.  haha!  I'm excited about what these improv panels will become, and you'll just have to wait to find out what it is.

Last week's party was filled with fantastic creativity, like this scrappy beauty by Sally at Crafts, Cavies, and Cooking-

This quilt by Anne-Marie at Stories From the Sewing Room is a stunner!

This cute and colorful quilt is from time4stitchn-

And finally, Nancy at Grace and Peace Quilting shared this lovely quilt-

Ready to party, friends?  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!  :)

Happy Needle and Thread Thursday!

Hey there, my friends!  I am sprinting to the finish line on my manuscript.  I can't believe it's getting SO close to being all done.  This week was all about the outdoor "beauty shots" for the book.   It was so much fun to brainstorm locations with the photographer and make these happen.  

The hardest part of the photos (both inside and out) was making sure the quilts were free of folding creases.  For the indoor shots, that meant ironing and steaming each quilt just before it was laid out for the shot, but since I can't drive around with a hot iron and steamer, the beauty shots were trickier.  Instead, I meticulously pressed and steamed each quilt at home, then used pool noodles to keep them rolled up in the car.  It worked like a charm.  I've stored quilts on pool noodles before, but I've never had to use so many!

Since I'm waiting for the photos to finish up my manuscript, I'm actually planning to get some sewing done this week (gasp!).  It's been awhile, and I can't wait to get back to it!  I'm planning on something easy to ease back into the groove.

Last week's party was filled with awesomeness, as usual.  Just take a look at this beauty by Sew Preeti Quilts-

Sandra at mmm quilts linked up this sweet quilt-

This fun quilt top is by Linda at Flourishing Palms-

Jocelyn at Canadian Needle Nana shared this lovely fan quilt-

And finally, Rita at Quiltpiecer showed off this pretty sampler quilt-

Okay, 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 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!  :)

Welcome to NTT

Hello, friends!  It's time for another Needle and Thread Thursday!  I'm getting closer and closer to getting back to my machine, but my brain is just otherwise engaged at the moment.  So, let's jump right into the lovely eye-candy from last week's party!

Take a look at this beautiful quilt by Anne-Marie at Stories From the Sewing Room (y'all know how much I love green!)-

This quilt, shared by Rita at Quiltpiecer, is so striking!

Something Rosemade linked up this gorgeous finish-

And finally, Brenda at Songird Designs showed off this lovely quilt-

Okay friends!  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!  :)

Another Crazy One! and NTT

Welcome to Needle and Thread Thursday, y'all!  It's been another week of insanity around here filled with everything but sewing. We went on our final college visit (for awhile anyway), and I had the indoor photo shoot for my upcoming book.  Many of the photos in the book will be flat shots of each quilt and I don't have the proper space or lighting for this in my studio, so I packed up ALL of the quilts, along with my steamer and iron, and spent a day with a photographer getting those done.  The outdoor "beauty" shots are coming up in a couple of weeks when everything really greens up for spring.  For my last two books, I actually shipped the quilts to my publisher for photography.  When I'm finally able to share the topic of this book, you'll see why that wasn't an option this time.

So, let's go ahead and check out some of the lovely eye-candy that was linked up last week!  Yvonne at Quilting Jetgirl shared this fiery beauty.

Look at this fun, scrappy quilt by Deb at A Scrappy Quilter-

This pretty finish is by Kat at Scrapbox Quilts-

And I love this one by Quilting Gail-

Are you ready to party?  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!  :)

NTT- What a Week!

Welcome to NTT, y'all!  It has been quite the week around here.  From Friday to Monday, we crammed in ALL the things; National Honors Society induction for our son Friday morning, he took the ACT Saturday morning, attended Prom Saturday night, and we all went on a day trip for a college visit on Monday.  Oh, and don't forget that I went on an overnight teaching trip on Friday/Saturday too (I made it back in town with 15 minutes to spare before he left for Prom). It was insane, and honestly I'm a little surprised that it all went off as scheduled, but WHEW!  I have been in a bit of recovery mode for the past couple of days.

With all of that going on, my teaching trip was really a nice creative break.  Sharing my quilts, teaching my improv technique, and visiting with other quilters makes me so happy, and even though I don't sew a ton during my classes (just for demonstration and guidance), just being around all of the creative energy was good for the soul.  I'm looking forward to the day when I can really get back to my machine.

Until then, I'm delighted to share some of the amazing projects linked up last week!  This quilt by Something Rosemade is a beauty!

Check out these fun blocks!  Sandra at mmm quilts is making one hot air balloon block each month using the pattern from my book, Scrappy Improv Quilting.  I love how they look together!

This pretty teal and red baby quilt was shared by Kathleen McMusing-

And finally, this fresh hourglass quilt was linked up by Quilting Gail-

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!  :)