Scrap Confetti and NTT

 Welcome to Needle and Thread Thursday, y'all!  I'm so excited to share my finished Scrap Confetti quilt with you today!  

I just love a scrappy quilt.  And I really love being able to clean out my scrap jars to create something so pretty and fun!  This quilt used ALL of the scraps from my multicolored jar, but you can also see that I've added the few leftover bits from each of my color jars as well.  

When I was piecing my color panels for my Rainbow Galaxy quilt, I had a few pieces left over of each color that I couldn't use, usually because I had too much of a single print.  Well, those bits of solids and single-color scraps work perfectly to break up the busier multicolor prints.  They give the eye a place to rest in the quilt, with the added bonus of completing the full clean-out of my scrap jars.

This quilt has enough going on with the busy piecing, so it didn't need any "extra" with the quilting.  I also wanted it to be an easy-peasy finish, so a nice, easy stipple fit the bill.

I had just enough scrap blocks to add a little pop to the back, and this black and white crosshatch fabric plays so well with the bright scrappy improv. A solid Kona Black binding creates a great frame for all that scrappiness, and gives it a crisp finish. I've decided to name this one Scrap Confetti!

 

If you've ever looked at a quilt like this and thought, "I could never do that," I'm here to tell you you can.  My book, Scrappy Improv Quilting walks you through the technique, step-by-step, and includes 22 mini quilt patterns to help you get started.  Minis are a quick, low-stress way to dip your toe into scrappy improv piecing, and the technique is so versatile, when you feel comfortable, you can move onto bigger projects if you like.  Best of all, scrappy improv piecing is the perfect way to use what you have and really make a dent in those scrap bins!  The book link at the top left of the page will give you more information.  I hope you'll check it out!

Before we party this week, check out a few of my faves from last week's party.  I love the simplicity of this quilt by Margo at MY Quilts and Crafts-

This striking quilt top is by Anne-Marie at Stories From the Sewing Room-

And Rita at Quiltpiecer linked up this beauty.  Love all the green!

Okay, friends!  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!  :)

Switching Gears and NTT

Welcome to Needle and Thread Thursday, y'all!  Well, I still haven't even started the backing for my Rainbow Galaxy quilt yet, but to be fair, I have done a ton of sewing this week.  I planned to include all of my multicolored scraps, along with the few leftovers from each of my color jars, on the back of the Rainbow Galaxy quilt, but when I started sewing, I realized my multicolored scrap jar was FULL.  There were enough scraps to make another good-sized quilt.  So, that's what I did with them-

I still have some leftover pieces of single-color improv that I'm going to use on the back of the Rainbow Galaxy quilt, and now that the multicolor scraps aren't being included there, I need to come up with a new plan for how I'm going to use them.  So for now, I'm going to go ahead and finish this quilt before I get back to that.

Last week's party was filled with awesomeness (as usual).  This fun scrap quilt is from Maggie at Making a Lather-

This quilt from Nancy at Grace and Peace Quilting is giving me fall vibes!

Look at this beauty by Sew Preeti Quilts-

This fresh green quilt finish is by Julie's Quilts and Costumes-

And I love this barn quilt by Quilting Gail-

Okay friends!  You know what to do!

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!  :)

Backing Progress, or Lack Thereof and NTT

Welcome to Needle and Thread Thursday, y'all.  Do you ever have those weeks where you aren't exactly sure what has sucked up all your time?  In theory, there should have been time to sew, but for some reason, there just wasn't?  Well, I would love to tell you that the backing for my rainbow galaxy quilt is coming together, but that would be untrue.  In truth, other than pulling out and sorting some scraps, not much progress has been made.  Instead, I was consumed with the first week of school, plans with several friends who were waiting for their younger kids to go back to school to schedule social things, and even a trip to the theater (To Kill a Mockingbird is ahhh-mazing, btw). There's always next week though!

So, let's jump right to the highlights from last week's party.  Sandra from mmm quilts linked up this soothing quilt with tons of texture-

This fun quilt is by Something Rosemade-

And finally, Liz at Savor Every Stitch finished this beautiful quilt.  Such gorgeous free motion detail!

Okay friends!  I hope you're ready to 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!  :)

Fun With the Minnesota Quilters! and NTT

Welcome to Needle and Thread Thursday, friends!  As I previously mentioned, I spent several days with the Minnesota Quilters this week, presenting two trunk shows and two classes, and my first trip to Minnesota was really a fantastic time!  Check out a few photos from my trip (and btw, two weeks ago, I cut about ten inches off my hair, so I look a bit different from the photo on the right sidebar!) -

At my trunk show on Thursday night, I also got to meet Nancy from Grace and Peace Quilting.  Nancy and I have emailed back and forth through our blogs for years, and she even helped me with the release of Scrappy Improv Quilting by making a quilt for the blog tour.  It was wonderful to get to finally meet her in person!  I just love when that happens!

If your guild is looking for a fun program, I would LOVE to come visit you.  I only have a couple of openings left for 2023, but I am booking 2024 now.  Send me an email using the Email Me button on my right sidebar and we'll talk!

With everything going on, I didn't remember to post NTT until much later than usual last week so the party was a little small, but it still had some great projects linked up.  I love these scrappy blocks by Nancy at Grace and Peace Quilting-

Sally at Crafts, Cavies, and Cooking shared this super fun hexie quilt-

And finally, this beauty is by Anne Marie at Stories From the Sewing Room-

Okay friends!  Now that I'm unpacked, this week I'll be over here plugging away on the backing for my Rainbow Galaxy quilt by dealing with the last of my scrap jars- the multi-colored jar.

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!  :)

The Payoff and NTT

Welcome to Needle and Thread Thursday, y'all!  I cannot tell you how excited I am to share this finished quilt top with you today.  After all these weeks of scrappy improv sewing, it feels so good to finally see my vision turned into a reality.

Other than getting this quilt top finished, I've been prepping to teach the Minnesota Quilters (leaving bright and early tomorrow morning!).  I've never been to Minnesota, and I can't wait to visit!  

We've also been gearing up for my son's SENIOR year of high school!  I don't know how we got here so fast, but I'm going to treasure every single moment and all the "lasts." I know this year is going to fly by.

While I'm waiting in airports and hanging in my hotel over the next few days, you know I'm going to love seeing all of the pretty things linked up!  Before we party, check out some of my favorites from last week. Sew Preeti Quilts shared this gorgeous quilt-

This unique piece is by LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color-

And this cute quilt is by Quilting Gail-

Okay friends!  I can't wait to see what you've been working on this week!  It's time to 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!  :)

Time to Cut Them Up! and NTT

Hey y'all!  Welcome to Needle and Thread Thursday.  This week, I sewed, and sewed, and sewed some more, and finally finished up all of my neutral scraps.  With the full rainbow and neutrals finished, it's time to cut up these panels and work on making my vision for them come to life.

Take a look at a few highlights from last week.  Love this one by Sew Preeti Quilts-

This simple and sweet quilt is by Nancy at Grace and Peace Quilting-

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

Before we party, I want to let you know that I'll be flying to visit the Minnesota Quilters next week- yay!!!  I'll be presenting two trunk shows (one at each of their meetings), as well as a full day class next Friday, and a half-day Intro to Improvisation class next Saturday.  There are a few spots left, so if you're in the area, check it out!  You can check out all of the details, including information on how to sign up HERE!

Okay, friends!  Without further ado, 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!  :)

A Screeching Halt and NTT

Welcome to Needle and Thread Thursday, y'all.  I'm so sorry I missed last week without so much as a quick post letting you know why the party wasn't up.  The reason can be summed up in a single word- Covid.  Despite vaccinations, boosters, and our family's ability to evade the virus for more than two years, last Tuesday evening it hit all three of us- me the hardest, and our lives came to a screeching halt.  I'm grateful for my "mild" case, though it still came with a high fever, chills, body aches, overwhelming fatigue, loss of taste, and of course, cough and congestion.  It took several days for the worst of the symptoms to start getting better, and a full week to feel almost back to normal.  Thankfully, we're all pretty good now.  My husband and son went back to work today, and I finally got back into my studio yesterday.

These neutral scraps have been sitting on my table waiting to be pieced for so long, and though these three panels have made a good dent in the pile, I'm nowhere near finished with them.  So, I'll just keep sewing a little bit here and there until they're all done.

In the meantime, let's take a look at a few of the amazing projects linked up at our last party.  This happy quilt is by Something Rosemade-

Look at this festive quilt shared by Rebecca Grace Quilting.  I do love Christmas in July!

I love this scrappy beauty by Gretchen's Little Corner-

These placemats, by Yvonne at Quilting Jetgirl, are a great way to use up leftover fabric strips!

And finally, I can't resist showing this mini by Diann at Little Penguin Quilts.  She made the cover quilt from my latest book!  It makes me SO happy to see quilters enjoy making quilts from my books and patterns.  :)

Okay friends!  I know your last week MUST have been more fun than mine (or at least I hope it was!).  Time to show what you've been working 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!  :)