Tandem Quilting

Happy NTT, friends!  Right now, I am working on two quilts in tandem.  There are two upcoming weddings in my family, and like any self-respecting Louisiana natives, my cousins are huge LSU fans.  We bleed purple and gold, and these two quilts will be a fun addition to their new homes during sports seasons.

I'm making both of these quilts with the Stacked Squares pattern.  It is fun and modern, and not too girly, making it my favorite go-to pattern for sports quilts.  I was hoping to have at least one quilt top put together to show, but that just didn't happen.

Before we check out last week's highlights, I want to remind you that today is the last day of January, and the link party for the first two blocks of the Classic Meets Modern QAL will close at midnight tonight, so get those blocks linked up!  Remember, you can link to an Instagram or Flickr page as well.

Okie dokie!  Time to take a look at some of the quilty eye-candy from last week.  Nancy at Grace and Peace quilting linked up this amazing mini quilt, and I love the extra texture created with the dense quilting.

This curvy improv masterpiece by Jayne at Twiggy and Opal is called Wisp, and it is just stunning!

and this adorable Strawberry Social quilt is from Tanya Quilts in CO.

Alright!  Let's link up, friends!

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.  

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!  :)

Pink Champagne

Well, my little pink and gold baby quilt is finished, and let me tell you, it is so darn cute!  I'm not a pink-loving girl at all, but the addition of just a little glitz made this one fun.

The oval snowball blocks in this quilt measure 3" x 6" finished, and the corner squares were cut at 1.5".  The soft, floaty effect of the pink, gold, and white moving across the quilt, combined with the color combo reminded me of bubbly pink champagne, and that's what I've decided to call this quilt.

In the sunshine, the sprinkles of gold make the entire quilt glow, and it's such a neat effect.  I used up lots of the leftovers on the back, and even had enough to make a scrappy binding.

This little quilt measures 48" square, and is going to perfectly match the nursery for which it was made.  Best of all, I think the addition of the gold gives a little flair to this palette, and that will really help this quilt grow with its recipient.

Preorder!!! and NTT

Happy Needle and Thread Thursday, y'all!  Today, I am delighted to share that you can now preorder my book, Stash Statement, through my Etsy shop and it will be shipped out to you as soon as it is officially released April 16th.

Whether your scraps are strictly modern, traditional, or a mix of both, Stash Statement is a book that will help you find a home for every cherished bit.  Structured improvisation blends the fun of improv piecing, but gives you a pattern to follow, helping you create twelve unique quilts.  If you're new to improv, don't worry!  Stash Statement includes three easy, step-by-step methods for improv piecing.  I promise- it's doable for anyone!

If you choose to purchase Stash Statement directly from me, there are a couple of fun perks!  First, your copy of the book will be signed for you before it ships out.  I am also offering an exclusive bonus digital pattern called Take Flight.  This digital pattern will only be available with the book, and will not be sold as a separate pattern.

 I began planning this book almost two years ago, and it feels like I've had to keep it a secret forever.  Even though the official release is still a couple of months away, I can't tell you how happy I am that I can finally share the quilts with you.  So, hop over to my Etsy shop HERE to see more quilts from the book and reserve your copy!

Okay friends, time to check out last week's amazing party highlights!  Tanya Quilts in CO shared this pretty quilt-

This beautiful, green Wayward Transparency quilt is by Anja Quilts (LOVE all of that green!)-

and this stunning Purple Majesty quilt is by Jess at Quilty Habit-

Thanks again for supporting me, friends!  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.  

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!  :)

Blush and Gold Baby

If you've followed me for awhile, you know that pastels and metallics aren't usually my thing.  I love working with bright, saturated color, even when the pattern I've chosen is more traditional.  There is something to be said for branching out though, and if you're going to do it, a little baby quilt is the perfect place.

This quilt was made specifically to match a nursery decorated in soft pink, white, and gold, and measures 48 inches square. Each oval snowball block finishes at 3" x 6" and the pattern really shows off the whisper-soft palette.  Considering that this is out of the norm for me, I'm feeling like I nailed the colors and design on this one, and I love it much more than I expected!

Sparkle Pop!

Over the weekend, it finally warmed up, and the sun peeked out just enough for me to get some photos of my latest quilt finish, and now that it's done, I love it even more.  I'm calling this quilt Sparkle Pop!

I used the past two years' Pantone Colors of the Year, Ultra Violet (2017) and Greenery (2016) as a starting point for this quilt, and the addition of royal blue and ice blue gives it some great dimension.  As of now, I am still undecided on whether I'm planning to write this pattern or not.  The block is 18" which is always fun, but the spade block is a little bit fussy, and I'm just not sure it would make a good pattern.

I used up all of my leftovers on the back, and then added some Kona Chartreuse to widen it out.  I quilted with a nice, wide stipple just to get it done, and used Kona Royal on the binding.

All of the ice and snow days happened as I worked on this quilt, and that meant that my family was at home.  I loved having them home, but that meant more family time, and less quilting time.  As my wild thing gets older, I am keenly aware of how short these days really are, and I'm okay with that trade.

Bitter Cold and NTT

Happy Needle and Thread Thursday, friends!  I have actually finished the quilt I shared last week, but I don't have photos to share just yet.  We have been gripped with bitterly cold temperatures and a couple of rounds of ice and snow lately.  I do love a quilt against a snowy backdrop, but by the time I actually finished the quilt, the snow in my backyard had already been tromped though and gathered into snowballs.  Fun for my wild thing and his friends, but doesn't make for a very pretty picture.

Instead, we'll get right to the highlights from last week's party.  This snowflake quilt by Laura at Slice of Pi Quilts is just perfect for this blustery weather, and she even has notes on her method for making it.

Alison at Little Bunny Quilts shared this beautiful Twinkle quilt.

Susan at Quilt Fabrication shared this fantastic quilt called Winter Feed (ps-it's available as a pattern!)

and finally, Sarah at Quilt Moderne shared this crisp, modern flying geese quilt.  I love the way she used a range of neutrals in this quilt.

Okay, y'all!  I know that much of the US is dealing with winter weather right now, and I hope you're all staying warm and getting tons of sewing time.  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.  

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!  :)

CMM January Blocks

It's time to link up your January blocks for the Classic Meets Modern BOM Quilt Along!  When I was deciding on the block order for this quilt along, I made the choice to go ahead and put one of the most time consuming blocks at the very beginning.  The piecing is basic, but any 24 inch block is bound to take a little more time to put together.  That being said, the Star of Bethlehem block has real wow factor.

Because this block uses some larger pieces, I thought it was perfect for the largest print in my bundle, and I love how well it shows off the pretty blooms.

After piecing the Star of Bethlehem block, I thought we could all use an easy peasy second block this month.  Even though its construction is simple, there's something about the Antique Tile block that is classically appealing.

Before sewing my January blocks, I took a few minutes to plan the color distribution for my quilt.  I was able to color mine digitally (and I wish I could share that capability with you), but a blank planning sheet has been added to the pattern for you, and a few colored pencils will work just as well.  Once I had my planning sheet filled in, I taped it to one of the blank pages in the back of my Quilter's Planner.  I'm going to be referring to it all year long, so I wanted it in an easily accessible place.

  

Now that I see all of the colors planned out, I am even more excited about this quilt along, and I didn't think that was possible!  If you're thinking of participating with us, you still have time!  With just two blocks per month, it will be easy to catch up.  If you're just joining in, you can check out the kickoff post HERE for all of the information you'll need (including links to the pattern in my Etsy and Craftsy shops).

A few notes about the link party before we get to it, since several people have emailed me and asked-

*You do NOT need a blog to participate in this quilt along.  You can link your blocks to an Instagram page, or even a Flickr or Photobucket account.  When you add your link, just use the web address to the specific post.  If you have trouble, just shoot me an email, and I'll walk you through it as best I can.

*Remember, the party for each month will post on the 15th of the month, but you don't have your blocks finished by then, don't stress!  The link party will remain open through the last day of the month.  And, even if you have a crazy busy month and can't sew your blocks, just catch up later on.  There's no quilt police here!  As long as you have a finished quilt top by our final link party at the end of the quilt along, you'll be eligible for the prizes.

*Finally, don't forget to grab a button for your sidebar, and add a link to your post so others can join in the fun, and use the hashtag #classicmeetsmodernbomqal on Instagram!

<a href=" http://www.myquiltinfatuation.com/2018/01/classic-meets-modern-kickoff.html" target="_blank"><img src=" http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y450/kellydyoung/CMM%20button-2_zpsd8gude1q.jpg " border="0" alt="Classic Meets Modern QAL" /> </a>

Okay, friends!  I can't wait to see your Star of Bethlehem and Antique Tile blocks.  Time to link them up!