Summer Solstice Quilt Along - Cutting Complete

I was so productive this last weekend! 
I was able to make a final decision on fabrics and finish all the cutting on my Summer Solstice quilt.

The turquoise and teal will be the background.  

The upper right squares are for the flying geese, which I am assuming are the outside points. 

The last design board will be all of the stars, HSTs and drunkards path blocks.

I am excited to get started!

This quilt along is being hosted by Melissa at Happy Quilting and there is still time to get on board.  Even if you don't join in, you can still see all the lovely quilts being made.  This week everyone is linking up their fabrics.  I love to see all the variations in colors and styles.

Linking Up:

Freemotion by the River (Linky Tuesday)

Blossom Heart Quilts (Sew Cute Tuesday)

QuiltStory (Fabric Tuesday)

Sew Fresh Quilts (Bee Social)

My Quilt Infatuation (Needle & Thread)

Oh Scrap! : Scrap-A-Palooza Quilt #20 Part Two

What a week of scrap busting!  For my "one block" Scrap-A-Palooza quilt, I decided to go with the tumbler shape (I was also considering the triangle or the diamond).  My AccuQuilt tumbler die is 3.5" so I dug through my blue, green and purple scrap bins and cut one or two tumbler shapes from any scrap that was large enough.  Thanks to my die cutter, in no time at all pretty stacks of tumbler blocks were lining my cutting table.

Once all the blocks are cut, it is time to decide how to lay them out.

The first choice is to go scrappy and just sew them up in a random placement.  I have done this occasionally in the past but I do love to play with color so I tend to group colors together in some sort of combination.

***Sorry, these little blocks are tiny so my sample layouts are not going to be that big.****

I could also lay out the quilt with my greens on the top third and gradate through blue and then finish with purple on the bottom third.  I was planning on 20 rows so each color would get about 7 rows.

 Another option is to get really fancy and create different shapes within the quilt using the scrap colors.

















With the tumbler shape, just flip the block and you can get a very different look.  With a little work, I bet you could get a very cool Navajo looking pattern.

 All interesting, but my regular readers know how I roll.  I like to REALLY play with color.

 Soon 400 plus tumbler blocks became this.  I have been wanting to play with depth in my scrap quilting and I have to say I really like this one.  There are scraps of fruit, batiks, solids, modern, kaffe, 1800 and 1930 reproductions....pretty much anything.  But they all play happily together.

It went together surprisingly quickly.

If you are curious how I did it, I started with two white tumblers in the center of my wall.  I decided to have a quadrant of turquoise/teal, blue, purple and green.  Then I started just slapping the tumblers on the wall in their appropriate quadrant.  The lighter the shade, the closer to the center they were placed.  And just like on a color wheel, the blender colors were placed in those between areas.  Then starting at the white, I just started placing them.  There were a few challenging areas but I just kept moving tumblers until I liked how they looked.

I admit, once I had them up on the wall, I was not looking forward to sewing up all these tiny pieces.  But the great thing about a fabric cutter is each block is perfect and they have all those helpful alignment cuts that make piecing a breeze.

 Yep...it is now a quilt top!

************************************ 

Now it is time to share your scrap projects, here are the details for linking up:

• This linky party is for any scrappy project - It can be in-process or a finished piece.
• You can link up your blog post (not your homepage please) or Instagram photo from the past week that features your use of scraps.
• If you are linking to a blog post, I ask that you link back to my blog somewhere in your post. So if you are writing about scraps, just get into the habit of including a link as there will be a linky party available every week!
• If you are using Instagram, please use the hashtag #ohscrap.
• This is a party so remember to socialize and comment on the posts of others.
• Following my blog is not necessary but it sure would be great if you do! 

<a href="http://quiltingismorefunthanhousework.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg54Z8EyMCoCg0j1sBoz_APBotiRQveh32vQoL2dCSO4nQFAi8du60IuUCQp3Hb18vGD8IrM0W6_vmuufImGcr4Pf2Ve2dNIWd5LbQJfyDTRjtcekT6coT7c2nSCOG_9dvjiKGVAnuTN70/s1600/Oh+Scrap+Button.jpg" alt="Quilting is more fun than Housework" width="125" height="125" /></a>

So if you love scrappy projects, feel free to grab my button for your sidebar or posts and get ready to share all your wonderful projects from scraps.  And if you have a great idea for using scraps and would like to be featured, feel free to contact me!

An InLinkz Link-up

Linking Up:

Love Laugh Quilt (Monday Making)
Patchwork Times (Design Wall Monday)
Cooking Up Quilts (Main Crush Mondays)
Em's ScrapBag (Moving it Forward)
Freemotion by the River (Linky Tuesday)
Blossom Heart Quilts (Sew Cute Tuesday)

QuiltStory (Fabric Tuesday)

This post contains affiliate links.  If you click through and make a purchase.  I may make a commission on your sale.  This is at no additional cost to you and greatly appreciated by me.

Spreading a Little Joy

With all the new Christmas and holiday fabrics hitting the store this time of year, I thought it would be a great time to release my newest pattern.  This one is called Rejoice!

The finished piece measures 16" x 42" and is perfect for those leftover jellyroll strips.  

The pattern has detailed instructions and easy to read graphics that make putting this together a breeze.  Whether you make one for yourself or for family and friends, now is the time to start planning those holiday projects.

I really like how it looks with a dark background fabric. I plan on doing a bit of shopping and making a few more with this Moda Grunge fabric.

My wonderful pattern tester has plans for making a few more before the holidays too.  Her daughter saw this one her mother made and put in an order for her own.

I think it makes a great wallhanging too.  Who doesn't want to spread a bit of Joy around?

If you would like to purchase the pattern, you can find it in both my Etsy shop and Payhip Store.  You can also find some of my other patterns there too.

And because I want to spread a little more Joy around, I am also hosting a pattern giveaway.  I will be giving away a .pdf copy of the pattern to three winners.  If you want to be in the draw, simply leave me a comment.  For an additional entry, simply share some Joy on your social media or pinterest boards and let me know that you did in another comment.  

I will be drawing the winners on Monday June 27th.


***This giveaway is closed.  Thanks to all who entered.  Winners have been notified by email***

And if you go ahead and buy the pattern and your name is drawn as a winner, don't worry, I will gladly refund your money!

Thanks for your support!
 

Linking Up:

My Quilt Infatuation (Needle & Thread)
Confessions of a Fabric Addict (Can I get a Whoop! Whoop!)

TGIFF (Thank Goodness it is Friday Finish)

Fabric Frenzy Friday

Crazy Mom Quilts (Finish it up Friday)

Summer Solstice Quilt Along

I have been hoping for a good quilt along to participate in this summer.  There have been a few I have considered but they were just not quite what I was yearning for.

Well my wish was answered and in a couple days, the Summer Solstice Quilt Along with Melissa over at Happy Quilting is starting!  If you have not participated in one of Melissa's quilt alongs you have been missing out.

This one will be my fourth time sewing along.  You can see my previous finishes here, here, and here.

Here is a picture from Melissa's site of the pattern.  Isn't it wonderful!  I am going to make mine the picnic size with nine 24" blocks.

 I have decided to try and use two shades of teal for the background.  I haven't quite decided what will go where - it will depend a bit on how the instructions are written.

For the stars, I pulled some reds, oranges and yellows from my stash.  

I don't think I will need to do any shopping for this quilt! 

There is still time for you to join in the fun.  The cutting instructions come out on Thursday of this week.  You can read more about it and find the schedule and fabric requirements here.  

Anyone else in on this one?

Linking Up:

Freemotion by the River (Linky Tuesday)

Blossom Heart Quilts (Sew Cute Tuesday)

QuiltStory (Fabric Tuesday)

Sew Fresh Quilts (Bee Social)

My Quilt Infatuation (Needle & Thread)
Happy Quilting

Oh Scrap! : RSC16 Column Sampler Blocks

Hello all you scrappy quilters!  I think Sunday is my favorite day of the week.  There is always so much scrappy goodness to oooh and aaah over.

 Over the last week, I did finish up my pinwheel block for my Rainbow Scrap Column along quilt.  My teal scraps were either really dark or very turquoise so it was a challenge to get the graduated shades I wanted.  It is definitely time to add a few light shades of teal to my stash. 

 This fall, when I start to put together the top, I may kick a few of these blocks out and remake them in softer colors. 

But for now, I am just going to tuck them away with all of the other finished blocks.  It is awfully tempting to get these out and play with them!

************************************ 

Now it is time to share your scrap projects, here are the details for linking up:

• This linky party is for any scrappy project - It can be in-process or a finished piece.
• You can link up your blog post (not your homepage please) or Instagram photo from the past week that features your use of scraps.
• If you are linking to a blog post, I ask that you link back to my blog somewhere in your post. So if you are writing about scraps, just get into the habit of including a link as there will be a linky party available every week!
• If you are using Instagram, please use the hashtag #ohscrap.
• This is a party so remember to socialize and comment on the posts of others.
• Following my blog is not necessary but it sure would be great if you do! 

<a href="http://quiltingismorefunthanhousework.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg54Z8EyMCoCg0j1sBoz_APBotiRQveh32vQoL2dCSO4nQFAi8du60IuUCQp3Hb18vGD8IrM0W6_vmuufImGcr4Pf2Ve2dNIWd5LbQJfyDTRjtcekT6coT7c2nSCOG_9dvjiKGVAnuTN70/s1600/Oh+Scrap+Button.jpg" alt="Quilting is more fun than Housework" width="125" height="125" /></a>

So if you love scrappy projects, feel free to grab my button for your sidebar or posts and get ready to share all your wonderful projects from scraps.  And if you have a great idea for using scraps and would like to be featured, feel free to contact me!

An InLinkz Link-up

Linking Up:

Love Laugh Quilt (Monday Making)
Patchwork Times (Design Wall Monday)
Cooking Up Quilts (Main Crush Mondays)
Em's ScrapBag (Moving it Forward)
Freemotion by the River (Linky Tuesday)
Blossom Heart Quilts (Sew Cute Tuesday)

QuiltStory (Fabric Tuesday)
So Scrappy (Rainbow Scrap Challenge)

 

New Quilt Bloggers Blog Hop - Blog Calendar

A couple of years ago, I participated in the New Quilt Bloggers Blog Hop and I have to say it was a great experience.  I learned a ton and I definitely saw my blog grow after the experience.

Now a new group of bloggers are participating in 2016 and they are being led by 3 great bloggers.    

Yvonne at QuiltingJetgirl 

Cheryl at Meadow Mist Designs

 Stephanie at Late Night Quilter

 

To show my appreciation for all those who shared with me, I thought I would pay it forward by sharing how I keep organized and on top of my game when it comes to my blog.  It is quite simple - I have a blog calendar and I use it religiously to ensure I am on track.

One of the most important things to do when you want to grow your readers is to get it out in front of a lot of people.  That means linking up with other bloggers. There is a pattern to link ups, which I have tried to illustrate above.  Sundays you can share your new stash, Mondays are for design walls, mid-week provides lots of opportunity for work in process posts and Fridays are for finishes.  Places to link up your scrappy projects bookend the week quite nicely.  There are even places to link up tutorials and tips on Tuesday and you can share your free motion quilting skills on Thursday.  Why do you want to know all this?  Because you want to plan your posts to coincide with all these great parties.

I plan my blog posts about a month ahead of time.  I organize my finishes for Friday and my Scraps for Sunday and then try to post at least one more time mid week.  I use a simple calendar I can print off on my printer and then manually write what I plan to accomplish (in pencil so I can stay flexible).  I then use this schedule to make sure I have projects completed and photos taken before I sit down to write the post.

In the past, I was always rushing to get a post written, the last to link up just before it closed and probably writing some not very good content.  Sadly, I was missing exposure to a large audience before I got in the habit of using my calendar to my advantage.

I now have a plan that helps me stay on top of things.  I even have a coding system that helps me know which posts still need work.  If I have everything together and photographed for a post, it gets a pink check.  I can also write in those monthly links I don't want to forget about and any other notes I want to remember.  By the end of the month, my calendars are pretty messy.

So there you have it...this calendar is one of my secrets to getting so much done.  

It may not be for everyone but it has sure helped me.

To visit all the new quilt bloggers participating in this years blog hop, simply visit the three hop hosts (found at the top of the post) and they each have a list of the bloggers they are leading.  During the event, there will be guest bloggers sharing tips and a few giveaways for even more excitement.  It is a great place to find new friends and learn some new tricks.

You can find many of the great blogs I regularly link to on my right hand column.  (By the way....Don't forget to share your scrap projects here on Sunday!)  If you know of a great place that isn't listed, feel free to mention them in a comment.