Elephants on Parade quilt top

We finally had a break from all this gloom and doom weather-and snow!- to get outside and snap a few pics of a quilt top I recently put together.  I found this adorable elephant print at Joann's the other day while browsing, and after spying Vanessa's Reverse Hopscotch baby quilt on Instagram, I knew this was the perfect pattern for those adorable elephants.

I have no recipient in mind for this little guy, but its always nice to have a few premade quilt tops on hand for when the need for a baby quilt arises.



I used the same process to make the stars in this quilt as when I made my Sparkle Punch Mini Quilt, which is described in Gwen Marston's Liberated Quiltmaking II.  Each finished square measures 3", so this quilt top comes in at a nice 45" x 45", and in my opinion, just the perfect size for a baby quilt.



  On a more somber and personal note, we had some sad news this week, with my grandmother passing away.  She was a lovely lady that led a very full and loving life, to the age of 95.  While we knew her health was declining, its still sad to see her go.  We'll be celebrating her memory this weekend and cherishing time with family and loved ones.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter weekend, and enjoys time spent with family and friends :-)

Welcome Fat Quarter Shop-A new sponsor!

I'd like to give a big welcome today to the Fat Quarter Shop, my newest blog sponsor!  Back in my beginning days of quilting, when I discovered the difference between big box store quality quilting fabric, and designer quality quilting fabric, The Fat Quarter Shop was one of the very first online shops I frequented often to build up my stash.   Not only do they stock tons and tons of modern fabric, but their customer service is top notch.  I'm still a frequent buyer and and always amazed at how quickly packages arrive at my doorstep.  

The Fat Quarter Shop was founded in 2003 by Kimberly Jolly, an avid quilter.  She began her shop as a side business, working on evenings and weekends to fill orders, while continuing to work full time at her job in the corporate world.  From the very beginning, she was committed to delivering top-notch service for every single order and customer.  As the Fat Quarter Shop's reputation grew, Kimberly decided to make it a full time operation.  Her husband Kevin joined her, and later, as the shop grew, a few more staff members as well.  The Fat Quarter Shop continues to branch out with the best new fabrics, exclusive kits, quilt clubs, Block of the Month's (BOMs) and more.  

Right now, The Fat Quarter Shop is getting ready to host its annual Designer Mystery Block of the Month.  The 2013 Designer Mystery BOM is a stunning row quilt featuring blocks by 12 amazing Moda designers.  The BOM will run from June 2013-May 2014.  Participants will receive instructions and fabric monthly to quilt along with.  This year, they are using the upcoming Avalon collection by Joanna Figueroa of Fig Tree Quilts.  You can find out more about the Designer Mystery BOM and sign up here.  Don't miss out, spots are filling up fast!    

You can keep up with the latest Fat Quarter Shop shop news via your favorite social media platform:

Blog: www.fatquartershop.blogspot.com
YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/fatquartershop
Facebook: www.facebook.com/fatquartershop
Twitter: www.twitter.com/fatquartershop
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/fatquartershop.com

Charm Madness Blog Hop: Patchwork Placemat Tutorial

Hello and welcome to my stop on the Charm Madness Blog Hop hosted by the lovely ladies of Sew Lux Fabrics!  Today I have an easy peasy placemat tutorial that you can quickly transform a few charms into.  Today's project will use a total of 15 charms, which can be from a charm pack, or like I did, fabrics that are simply cut into 5 inch squares.  I'm using up a couple charms I've received as part of a few charm swaps in the past.  Without further ado, lets get stitching!

For today's tutorial here's what you'll need:
(15) assorted 5" charm squares (4) 4.5" x 12.5" background fabric (I used linen) (2) 14.5" x 20.5" (for placemat backing) (4) 2.5" x 42" (WOF) (for binding) (2) 14.5" x 20.5" batting

Instructions:
use 1/4" seam allowance, unless otherwise noted
1.  Take each of your (15) charm squares and cut each into (4) 2.5" squares.  You will have (60) 2.5" squares.

2.  Of the (60) 2.5" squares, choose (30) per placemat.  Arrange one set of (30) 2.5" squares into a grid of 6 rows and 5 columns.  This will make the center patchwork portion of our placemat.

3.  Sew together each row of 2.5" squares.  Press rows 1, 3, 5 seam to the right.  Press rows 2, 4, 6 seam to the left.  This will allow the seams to nest nicely when sewing the rows together.

4.  Sew all 6 rows together, nesting the seams together for a nice crisp seam intersection.  Press row seams open to reduce bulk.

5.  Next, take (2) of your 4.5" x 12.5" background fabrics and sew along the 12.5" edges to the center patchwork portion.  Press seams toward the background fabric.

6.  Repeat steps 1-6 with your remaining materials to make the second placemat.
7.  Baste, quilt and bind as desired.  You will need (2) 2.5" x WOF binding strips for each placemat.

Be sure to check in here for details about the Linky party, giveaways and prizes!  Be sure to check out the rest of the stops on the blog hop for lots of charm inspiration!

Tuesday 3/19 - Jennie at Clover & Violet

Wednesday, 3/20 - Jess at Sew Crafty Jess

Thursday, 3/21 - Rhonda at Quilter in the Gap

Friday, 3/22 - Jenelle at Echinops &Aster

Sunday, 3/24 - Week 1 Giveaway Post

Tuesday, 3/26 - Lori at Lori H Designs

Wednesday, 3/27 - Kelsey at Kelsey Sews

Thursday, 3/28 - Lindsay at CraftBuds/LindsaySews

Friday - 3/29 - Jennifer at That Girl, ThatQuilt

Saturday, 3/30 - Stacey at The Tilted Quilt

Sunday, 3/31 - Week 2 Giveaway Post

Monday, 4/1 - Alyce at Blossom Heart Quilts 

Tuesday, 4/2 - Wendi at prsd4tim2

Wednesday, 4/3 - Elizabeth at Don't Call Me Betsy

Thursday, 4/4 - Ginny at Fish Creek Studio

Saturday, 4/6 - Leona at Leona's Quilting Adventure
Sunday, 4/7 - Week 3 Giveaway Post

Three Ways to Win Prizes

• Enter the three weekly giveaway drawings on Sundays during the blog hop over at the Sew Lux blog.
• Link up your own charm project -  Linky post will be open for entries between 3/23 – 4/6.
• Enter the Grand Prize Winner Giveaway by counting the total number of charms used in all the blog hop tutorials.  Complete the entry form on 4/7 or 4/8.

All entry posts for prizes will be on the Sew Lux blog.

Welcome I Don't Do Dishes- A new sponsor!

I'm super excited to welcome I Don't Do Dishes as a new sponsor!  I Don't Do Dishes is owned and operated by Caitlin, and offers a wide array of bright fresh and modern fabrics.  Caitlin's shop has been feeding my stash for some time now, and she's always a dream to work with!  

Right now, I'm currently drooling over this Textures bundle which I Don't Do Dishes has in stock.  Those soft greys, yellows and vibrant teals are right up my alley, and are calling my name.  Not to mention, the softer colors are right on with the low volume trend, which I'm trying to bulk up my stash with.  While you're at it, you can also pick up this Oval Elements bundle, that coordinates just perfectly!  Caitlin has yardage of each print in stock also.

I Don't Do Dishes also carries Comma bundles, as well as yardage!  I've been on a black/white and grey kick, and those texty prints and asterisks need to come live with me.

Another fabric line I can't get enough of is Simply Color.  Caitlin has fat quarter bundles of the leafy stripe prints as well as the Ikat diamonds.  As you may remember, my Moda Bakeshop Simply Woven tutorial was made using Simply Color, and I am constantly picking up yardage of those prints any time I can, as they are just so bright and bold.

  

In case I haven't enticed you enough to take a peek around I Don't Do Dishes, Caitlin is offering 15% off your total order now through March 31st using  the coupon code MARCH13, as this month is Caitlin's birthday month!  Be sure to check out I Don't Do Dishes, and wish Caitlin a happy birthday while you're shopping!

Charm Madness kicks off tomorrow!

Tomorrow is the start of the Charm Madness blog hop hosted by the fine ladies of Sew Lux Fabric and Gifts!  3 weeks of tutorials, a linky and of course giveaways and prizes.  Once the blog hop kicks off, you can find updated links to all the posts as the hop progresses over the next three weeks here.  Don't miss out on the charm madness fun!  Sew Lux is offering 10% off all charm packs and mini charm packs now through March 22 at sewluxfabric.com.  Check out below for the full blog hop schedule:

The Charm Madness Blog Hop Participants & Schedule

Tuesday 3/19 - Jennie at Clover & Violet

Wednesday, 3/20 - Jess at Sew Crafty Jess

Thursday, 3/21 - Rhonda at Quilter in the Gap

Friday, 3/22 - Jenelle at Echinops &Aster

Sunday, 3/24 - Week 1 Giveaway Post

Tuesday, 3/26 - Lori at Lori H Designs

Wednesday, 3/27 - Kelsey at Kelsey Sews

Thursday, 3/28 - Lindsay at CraftBuds/LindsaySews

Friday - 3/29 - Jennifer at That Girl, ThatQuilt

Saturday, 3/30 - Stacey at The Tilted Quilt

Sunday, 3/31 - Week 2 Giveaway Post

Monday, 4/1 - Alyce at Blossom Heart Quilts 

Tuesday, 4/2 - Wendi at prsd4tim2

Wednesday, 4/3 - Elizabeth at Don't Call Me Betsy

Thursday, 4/4 - Ginny at Fish Creek Studio

Saturday, 4/6 - Leona at Leona's Quilting Adventure
Sunday, 4/7 - Week 3 Giveaway Post

simple and sweet

We're off to visit friends who just had a sweet baby girl, so of course a last minute quilt needed to be made.  Luckily, I found this quilt top that I put together eons ago with Kate Spain's Central Park fabric line, so a little basting, a little straight line quilting, some binding and a tumble through the washer and dryer to make it nice and fluffy and baby approved, and this quilt was ready to go.

We're off to get lots of baby snuggles, have a great St. Patty's day!

easy peasy baby quilt

Last weekend, while I was #notgoingtoquiltcon I pulled fabrics and started working on a baby quilt for a dear friend who's about to have a baby very very soon.  

I shopped my stash and came up with this stack of fabrics to make a pretty baby boy quilt.  I was sharing these pics on instagram last weekend and someone pointed out that these are QuiltCon colors!  I guess even my subconscious was wishing we were in Austin at QuiltCon.



The quilt top came together in just a few hours (cutting included!) using the Strip and Flip quilt tutorial from Cluck Cluck Sew.  I just love the soft sherbert-y colors, but that its not too pretty to be for a baby boy, hopefully mom likes it too!



If feels so satisfying that this quilt came completely from my stash!  Granted it hardly made a dent in the mountains of fabric I have amassed, but still I'll take it :-)



For the back, I used this super cute bike print by Jay Cyn for Birch Fabrics which I've been hanging onto for a while now and pieced it with a strip of Kona Bahama Blue.  Mom and Dad are quite active, so I think they'll appreciate the bikes!



I quilted this using an allover sort of boxy stipple, the same that I quilted my Scrappy Rainbow quilt.  I love the sort of boxy robot feel this quilting gives, again just perfect for a boy.

Quilt Stats:

Quilt Name:  Sherbert Strip and Flip

Quilt Pattern:  Strip and Flip quilt tutorial by Cluck Cluck Sew

Quilt Size: 41" x 41"

Fabrics Used:  Assorted prints from my stash

Binding Fabric:  Zoofari by Doodlebug Designs for Riley Blake

Backing Fabric: Avalon His Cruiser by Jay Cyn for Birch Fabrics, Kona Bahama Blue 

Quilting:  Allover boxy stipple done by me on my home machine