Up to Something New

 Not too long ago, the Fat Quarter Shop asked me if I was interested in participating in the release of another one of their shortcut quilt patterns.  Of course I said yes!  I love these easy quick patterns that use various precuts.

I was able to pick my fabric collection and I decided to go with Deb Strain's Bee Grateful by Moda.  As a gardener, I love my honeybees and other pollinators.

So even though I already have so many projects going on right now, I have gleefully started another one.  This shortcut quilt is called Mini Cake Mints and is available for free.

This one should be a quick make so I hope to share the finished quilt soon!

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Daysail Dizzying Diamonds Quilt

In February, I was excited to have won a copy of the Dizzying Diamonds pattern by Sew Bittersweet Designs for meeting my January ALYoF goal.  I shopped around for just the right layercake and decided that Bonnie & Camille's Daysail collection would be perfect.  I was super excited to find it available on sale through Craftsy.  A chunk of Navy Kona and I was in business.

I love almost every print in this collection.  I did leave the striped prints out of this quilt - I thought they would be distracting and thankfully you do not need the entire cake to make this pattern.

Here is my finished quilt...Isn't it pretty!  This is the second quilt I have made using a Bonnie & Camille collection and I have loved them both.  I think they are one of my favorite fabric designers.

(Here is a link to the first quilt)

For the quilting, I went with a freehand floral design in a navy thread.  I love the texture it adds to the quilt.  For the back, I had this fun navy chevron in my stash - another bargain purchase I knew would come in handy someday!

 

There were lots of HSTs in this quilt - in fact, 4 of each print.  A trick I use to disperse prints throughout a quilt top is to sort 4 identical stacks.  Use one stack for each quadrant of the quilt.  Now you won't have all of one print in one area of your quilt top.  Pretty clever, huh!

I did get stalled out on this project more than once waiting for an empty design wall.  I was beginning to think I would never finish it!

Thanks goodness for Finish-Alongs!  I was determined to get this one done before the end of June!

 
I have done really poorly meeting my second quarter goals for the 2015 Finish Along with On the Windy Side.  While I had set 4 goals, this quilt will be my only finish. (Insert sad face). 

 But the third quarter will soon be here so I can set some new goals.  These finish-alongs really do help me keep focused on the finishes!

Linking Up:

Confessions of a Fabric Addict

TGIFF

Fabric Frenzy Friday

Richard and Tanya Quilts

Crazy Mom Quilts
WIPS be Gone
Sew can she
On the Windy Side
Pat Sloan (UFO Busting)

This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I may make a small commission, which I appreciate so much!

Layers of Charm

I am so excited because today I finally get to show off this beautiful quilt I made using the Fat Quarter Shop's free Layers of Charm Pattern.

 When the Fat Quarter Shop contacted me to see if I wanted to participate in this blog hop, I instantly agreed and immediately knew which fabrics I wanted to use - the Mimosa collection Layercake by Windham Fabrics and a Kona charm pack in Coal.  They work so beautifully together!

Not only does the Fat Quarter Shop put together a lovely free pattern - you can also watch this video where Kimberly gives you all the quick and easy instructions.  This pattern makes a quilt that is 57.5" square and it is so very easy to assemble.  (The pattern also includes instructions for sizes ranging from baby, to table runner, all the way to king!)

As I was making this quilt, I realized I have not shared a great way to mark your solid fabrics.  I use a Hera marker (mine is by Clover) to make a crease in the fabric versus drawing a line with a pen.  You can also see I made a second crease 1/2" over from the first.  This is a second trick I want to share.

You can stack about 3 to 5 layers and mark them all at once.  Above you can see how the line shows through the layers.  This makes marking squares so much faster!  And charm packs are so wonderfully lined up, it took me no time at all to have all the marking done.

Then you just follow the crease to sew.  You can see how easy it is to see.  This was actually the bottom square on a stack of five I marked at once.

For the second trick, you are going to sew on both lines.  (Note that the second marked line is away from the fabrics you are sewing together.)

Once you have sewn on both lines, you trim in between the sewing and the pieces you would normally discard are now sewn together.

When these pieces are all pressed open, you have a stack of HSTs that can be used to embellish the back of your quilt or used in a second project.

I turned mine into these nine fun pinwheel blocks!

But I digress - back to the lovely Layers of Charm quilt!

I quilted it with a wonderfully textured echoed floral design and used a stencil to quilt a Fleur-d-lis in the gray space.  The wonderful fruity colors in this line really bring summer to those wintry gray days.

This lap quilt was fun and easy to make and the pattern is a great way to use a layercake. And if you don't have one in your stash, there are many  available at the Fat Quarter Shop.  They really have a wonderful selection.

A huge thanks to the Fat Quarter Shop for including me in this blog hop and for this new free short cut quilt pattern.  You guys are awesome!

 

Not only am I excited about this finish, I am also excited to be able to give one lucky reader a $25 gift certificate to do a little shopping at the Fat Quarter Shop - Yep, I'm having a giveaway!

To enter, just leave me a comment letting me know if you have ever used one of the Fat Quarter Shops' shortcut quilt patterns.  If so, which ones have you tried. (One entry per person.)

Please make sure you’re not a no-reply blogger (or leave an email address in your comment if you’re not sure). I may not be able to reply to all comments left during the giveaway as it gets a bit overwhelming!  But I certainly will try.

The giveaway is open until Friday February 13th, 5pm PST. Good luck everyone!

Sorry - This giveaway is closed! 

The winner is #70 Trisch who is pretty excited.

If you are interested in more ways to follow me, you can find me on Craftsy, Facebook, Pinterest, Bloglovin', Feedly, Instagram, Google +, or get my blog sent right to your email inbox by entering your email address on the right sidebar!

Linking up:

Patchwork Times

Freemotion by the River

Blossom Heart Quilts
Sew Fresh Quilts
My Quilt Infatuation

Quilt Story

Freshly Pieced

Sunday Stash Addition

Even though I have placed myself on a fabric diet, fabric still seems to be arriving on my doorstep.  Here are the pretties that came this week.

The Simply Style layer cake I won in a giveaway at She Can Quilt from the Fat Quarter Shop. Yep...I won again!  It was part of their Layer Cake Lemonade quilt pattern promotion.  They included a copy of the free pattern so I might have to give it a try.  The yardage I bought from their sale section.  It is always amazing how many great pieces make their way into the deep discount bin.  I always try and snatch them up when I see them!  These 4 yard pieces will come in handy in the future.

Off to get some projects done so I can start something new!!

Linking up with Sunday Stash at Finding Fifth Molli Sparkles, Fresh Sewing Day at Lily's Quilt and Anything Goes Monday at Stitch by Stitch.