Bella Skill Builder: Block 5

Hey y'all! So, I'm a bit of a dolt - I made my blocks for the Bella Skill Builder two weeks ago and then completely forgot to post. Forgive me, it's been a long couple of weeks and I had friends over on the weekend for crafty time!

This block uses another new to me technique - making half square triangles with Triangles on a Roll!

Triangles on a Roll are fun and super-easy! It takes a little patience to get the paper pinned down in such a way that it is flat and not bunchy, but once it's all down, it makes the process much faster. I neglected to shorten my stitch length (again, I am a dolt) so I had a little bit more trouble ripping the paper off but still easy-easy!

For these blocks I used Moda Bella Solids in Off White, Spearmint, and Clementine. At the end of each post for this Quilt Along, I'll be posting links to my previous posts, so check them out if you so decide:

Introductory Post

Blocks 1A & 1B

Blocks 2A & 2B

Blocks 3A & 3B
Block 4

We are at the halfway point now! Woot woot!

Bella Skill Builder: Block 4

Hey y'all! It's that time again - more blocks for the Bella Skill Builder quilt along. Woot!

The blocks for this month were three easy and quick sets of flying geese! After last month's very time consuming pineapple blocks, this was a nice change of pace (especially since I had a bunch of other quilting I wanted to get done).

The method used for constructing these geese was new to me. I generally utilize the no-waste method, but these were made using the Small Flying Geese Ruler from Quilt in a Day. Right now it's a bit of a toss up as to which method I like more - using the method for this ruler was much faster, but it generates more waste then the other (i.e. some versus none). The waste amount really wasn't a lot, so...

For these blocks I used Moda Bella Solids in Off White and Flamingo (which I've realized going back through pictures is a really hard colour to get a decent shot of - the tone always seems different). At the end of each post for this Quilt Along, I'll be posting links to my previous posts, so check them out if you so decide:

Introductory Post

Blocks 1A & 1B

Blocks 2A & 2B

Blocks 3A & 3B

Next month, we'll be at the halfway point in the quilt along, so I'm going to try and get a picture of the blocks I have so far all laid out together. I'm excited to see how it's all coming together!

Bella Skill Builder: Blocks 3A & 3B

Hey y'all! It's time again for another round of blocks from the Bella Skill Builder hosted by Fat Quarter Shop.

This month's blocks (7 individual blocks in all) were pineapples and it was my first time making them. I love the look and how the colours seem to overlap, but wow (!!) so time-consuming! I'm also not enamoured with the amount of fabric waste these blocks generate; it's a good thing they look so neat!

I used the super-fancy Creative Grids Pineapple Trim Tool which made the process relatively easy and pain-free. For these blocks I used Moda Bella Solids in Turquoise, Clementine, and Flamingo. At the end of each post for this Quilt Along, I'll be posting links to my previous posts, so check them out if you so decide:

Introductory Post

Blocks 1A & 1B

Blocks 2A & 2B

Bella Skill Builder: Blocks 2A & 2B

Hey y'all! So, it's the beginning of a new month and that means some new blocks for the Bella Skill Builder!

This month's blocks feature Orange Peels - which is something I have never attempted before! So, since I've never tussled with these blocks, I decided to test out two different methods. Why not, right?

The first set I did utilizing the larger of the Orange Peel templates. For these ones, I decided to use the fusible interfacing method outlined in this tutorial. While I liked the turned under edges you get with this method, I found that I had a hard time getting nice sharp points. It was also a bit more time consuming because there are more steps involved. This method also gives a slightly puffier look because the fabric itself isn't fused to the background.

For both blocks that utilized the smaller Orange Peel templates, I used fusible adhesive. I don't have any tutorials to point to since I love fusible for sketchy applique and have used it a bunch! This method is definitely faster and everything is nice and sharp because the peels are simply cut out and fused. A lot of people don't like the look of this type of fused applique because they think it looks "unfinished" but I adore it actually!

As I mentioned before, I'm switching up the colours for this quilt. So for these three blocks I used Moda Bella Solids in Boysenberry, Marigold, and Clementine. At the end of each post for this Quilt Along, I'll be posting links to my previous posts, so check them out if you so decide:

Introductory Post

Blocks 1A & 1B

Patchwork Tulip Block

Hey y'all! I'm back with another fun little block to share! Remember, a couple of posts ago, I shared a picture of how I was keeping my Bella colours organized using my Scrappy Project Planner? Well, here's another fun thing about this planner - it includes scrappy quilt projects too! FQS has decided to tackle each of these scrappy blocks and asked if I'd like to sew along too and, of course, I said yes! My block is the Patchwork Tulip.

For fun, I went a little crazy with my colour choices! For the tulip head, I selected various shades of dark purple and raspberry, and two grades of orange for the stem. The Tula Pink fabric I used for the leaves, actually contains some of the same dark purple and raspberry shades so I thought it was a fun pairing. I chose three different white-on-white neutrals for the background fabrics.

This block came together very quickly without a lot of fuss. I loved being able to dive into my scrap bin to select some much loved scraps for this one.

You can find the Scrappy Project Journal on the Fat Quarter Shop website. I've never been very good at keeping track of my projects and planning things out ahead of time, but I've enjoyed using this so far for the Bella Skill Builder.

Bella Skill Builder: Blocks 1A & 1B

Hey y'all! Welcome back for the first blocks for the Bella Skill Builder. In case you missed the introductory post, this quilt along runs from February to September this year and will feature new blocks at the beginning of each month.

The first set of blocks are kaleidoscope blocks that can be made using either a spiderweb ruler or the template included in the free pattern. I totally messed up the trimming on the B block (the one featuring four kaleidoscopes) which is why it looks a bit wonky, but oh well, I'm okay with it! The Bella Solids used this time around include Turquoise, Marigold, and Off White.

You can find the main Bella Skill Builder page on the FQS blog. This page will be updated each month with the new block patterns and video tutorials, you can also find links for all of the other bloggers hosting posts for the quilt along. I'm really excited to see how this one tuns out since I switched up all of the colours - it will be like a little surprise every month!

Bella Skill Builder: Introduction

Hey y'all! So, this week kicks off the Bella Skill Builder Quilt Along hosted by Fat Quarter Shop. I've been asked to quilt along with everyone and I'm pretty excited! There are nine block sets, and each block set will be released as a free pattern through FQS on the first of the month for the next nine months; you can also buy a kit to make yourself a quilt in the original colours.

Because it's how I roll I decided to change up the colours I'm using...

Ohhhh, pretty! In order to keep my colour swap outs clear, I used my Lori Holt Scrappy Project Planner to keep some swatches handy.

All of the colours I've selected are Bella solids from Moda, and they include Boysenberry, Marigold, Clementine, Flamingo, Turquoise, Spearmint, Bluebell and Off White.

I'll be posting my first set of blocks this weekend, so come on back then to see them! I haven't participated in a quilt along in a very long time and I'm happy to get in on this one - I love learning new skills and using new tools.

Welded + a Giveaway!

Hey y'all! How's everyone doing? Have you guys heard about the great collaboration between Art Gallery Fabrics and Fat Quarter Shop called AGF Stitched with Kimberly? This awesome little collaboration showcases fresh quilt designs from the AGF team and presented (for free) by FQS. Each pattern is also available as a video tutorial on the FQS YouTube. That's pretty cool in my book!

The third in this series is Welded. This quilt is on point! *chuckle*

Unfortunately my fabric did not arrive in time for me to actually begin work on my quilt top, but at least I can share the fun fabrics I picked out!

All of these fabrics were generously supplied by Art Gallery and I can't wait to use them! It's really hard to see in the pics, but the top splatter-y looking fabric is actually metallic... be still my fabric-loving heart! The fabrics come from a few of their newer collections including Imprint and Succulence, among others (and, in case you're wondering, the awesome metallic is from Succulence). I chose the text print (from Happy Home) for the backing and I just love it so much! It reminds me of everyone's favourite Ikea text print, but soooo much better!

Both a quilt kit and a backing set using fabrics from the Artisan are available from FQS to go along with the Welded pattern. The free PDF pattern is available right here and the tutorial is available on FQS' YouTube! Go forth and make all the quilts!!

Now, to make up for my inability to review the pattern and my lack of a finished quilt to share, I thought we'd do a giveaway. Because, you know, everyone loves a good giveaway!

Because I'm really feeling this right now, I am giving away a fat quarter bundle in the laguna night colourway from Katarina Roccella's Imprint collection for AGF. Isn't is lovely?!

You have two chances but please be sure to leave separate comments for each entry. Here's what you've got to do:

1. Leave a comment letting me know what your favourite 

AGF fat quarter bundle is from FQS.

2. Leave another comment if you are a follower of my blog.

That's it! Two easy-peasy ways to enter! I will close the comments in a week (October 1st) and announce the winner here on the blog. International entries are, as always, welcome! Also, please remember that I have comment moderation enabled so if you don't see your comment right away it just means that I haven't had the chance to approve it yet (duplicate comments will be deleted).

If you would like to check out the other super-cool bloggers participating in the Welded hop, take a gander at the list below and visit on my dear friends. You know, after you enter the giveaway, and stuff...

Cara of That Crafty Cara

My homeboy John of Quilt Dad

Kitty of Night Quilter

Dana of Old Red Barn and Co.

Michele-Renee of Quilt Matters

Corey of Little Miss Shabby

Christina of Sometimes Crafter

Sinta of Pink Pin Cushion

Jess of The Elven Garden

Erica of Kitchen Table Quilting

Svetlana of Sotak Handmade

Jemima of Tied with a Ribbon

Katarina of Like Flowers and Butterflies

Caroline of Sew Caroline

Riane of Vessel Quilts

Megan of Quilt Story

Kaye of Miss Print - You are here, hah!

Natalia of Piece N Quilt

*the giveaway is now closed*

Giveaway Time - a little April Rhodes!

Hey y'all! How's everyone doing? I thought it was about time we had another little fabric giveaway and the lovely folks over at Fat Quarter Shop agreed! Now this little bundle of loveliness may already be sitting in my cart waiting for me at FQS, and I hope you like it just as much as I do.

This beauty of a fat quarter bundle contains the Air colourway from April Rhodes' most recent collection Wanderer. Isn't it gorgeous?! I had the pleasure of meeting April at spring Quilt Market last year and she is truly a generous and sweet lady.

Now, as I said, this little bundle is already sitting in my cart waiting for me, but I was also thinking about purchasing a small amount of yardage to have stashed, but I can't decide which print I like more. Maybe you can help?

This is Gust of Leaves Silver...

And this is Temple of Asiaq. So hard to choose!

So, well, enough about my inability to make a decision,  I bet you want to know how to enter right?

You have two chances but please be sure to leave separate comments for each entry. Here's what you've got to do:

1. Leave a comment letting me know what your favourite 

collection from FQS' Pre-Order Section is.

2. Leave another comment if you are a follower of my blog.

That's it! Two easy-peasy ways to enter! I will close the comments in a week (April 22nd) and announce the winner here on the blog. International entries are, as always, welcome! Also, please remember that I have comment moderation enabled so if you don't see your comment right away it just means that I haven't had the chance to approve it yet (duplicate comments will be deleted).

Good luck everyone!!

*the giveaway is now closed*

Single Wedding Ring with FQS

Hey y'all! How's it going? Today I want to share a new free block pattern with you. It's courtesy of the lovely people at Fat Quarter Shop and is called the Single Wedding Ring.

For my test version of this block I decided to stick with solids for both fabrics, which isn't something I normally do. I'm usually all about the bold colour and prints! I thought using just solids would work really well for this block though and I think I was right.

I actually had quite a lot of fun putting this block together! I don't know what it is about me and HSTs but I'm pretty wild for them... you know, except that trimming part! I find myself using HSTs in a good 75% of the quilts I design, and I always think I must be a little bit crazy.

The free pattern for the Single Wedding Ring block can be found here, however if you'd like a full pattern with more setting options you can purchase it from FQS or even purchase a kit if that's your jam.

This block is part of the FQS' Classic and Vintage series. If you've been following along with this one, you'll know that there are also video tutorials for each block and that this is the fourth so far. If you're a visual learner or a newer quilter who needs a bit of help with the steps, then these videos are perfect for you. The Single Wedding Ring video can be found here but be sure to check out the rest of FQS' great videos!

Cotton + Steel Giveaway Winner!

Hey y'all! Just popping in to let you know the winner of the Cotton + Steel Pony Express bundle. Without further ado, the winner is...

Congratulations Jeifner (Jennifer)!! Please contact me with your mailing address and Fat Quarter Shop will send your bundle out to you!

National Sewing and Quilting Month with FQS

Hey y'all! Did you know that it's National Sewing and Quilting month? Well, it is, and Fat Quarter Shop is hosting a little blog hop to celebrate (and they've also got a free little heart pattern up)! Today is my day and Daniar sent me a few questions to answer...

How did you start quilting/sewing?
 I first began sewing when I was about five years old and my grandmother taught me to use her sewing machine to make clothes for my Barbies and dolls. I've always been super crafty, and used to spend a lot of time sewing teeny items for my miniature dollhouse. I made my first "quilts" for that dollhouse too, using fabric pieces from sample books and using de-wadded cotton balls for stuffing.

When was the first time you knew that you were a quilter/sewer?
Hmmm, now that's a hard one! As I said, I've always been crafty and I've been sewing for most of my life. I guess, quilting would be the best topic for this answer. I made my first "real" quilt when a friend from high school was getting married. I randomly decided that a quilt seemed like a good idea. At the time I didn't really realize that there was such a thing as a quilt pattern, so I just made up my own (it was almost entirely hand sewn too since my machine gave out partway through). After that, I just kept making more and more quilts. Through the magic of the Internet I realized that there were other people just like me, and they were calling themselves quilters, so I decided that that's what I was too.

Do you have any sewing/quilting horror stories or faux pas?
I think I've actually been pretty lucky in this regard! I occasionally stab myself with needles while hand sewing and I have sewn through my finger once with the sewing machine (ohh, and there was that time my sewing machine needle broke, flew up in the air, and cut my lip open), but really nothing too serious at all! I make mistakes just like everyone and my seam ripper and I are pretty good friends, but I also have a pretty healthy respect for sharp objects (did I ever tell you about the time my mum cut her finger off when I was a kid...yep).

What advice would you give to someone who’s just starting out in sewing/quilting?
Try everything without fear! If you want to make a quilt - give it a try! If you want to make a purse - give it a try! Sure, you might end up wasting a bit of fabric in the beginning, but the hours you spent trying out new techniques are not wasted. They show you what you like, what you don't like, and where your strengths lie. There are tons of classes available, and if you can't afford them (or if you're like me and just like to teach yourself), there are tons of tutorials online that will show you everything you need to know. I still get discouraged if something doesn't work out quite the way I want, but it's all good, I just keep going.

I have only one other piece of advice - treat others as you'd like to be treated. Most designers, bloggers, and sewy-type people are very receptive to questions. We like to lend a hand whenever possible (if you don't understand something in a tutorial or pattern, a lot of designers are willing to give a little email advice), but don't be that person. You know the one I'm talking about - the accuser, the nagger, the egotist, the gimme-gimmer, etc. If you are trying a new technique, it's really okay to reach out for help and advice, but don't demand that someone help you or demand that they sent you a free pattern just because, etc, etc. It's all about kindness people. In the immortal words of our favourite little sketchy man, don't be a dick.

Now, the second part of all of this was to try something new, but unfortunately I have no pictures to share. I did do some new stuff, but since it's for publication, I can't talk about it *sigh*. I sewed with leather for the first time (good thing I got that new sewing machine that will sew through anything), and this weekend I'll be teaching an EPP class where the majority of students will have never sewn before (eeeekkkk!), scary.

And just because it's funny (and I'm totally wearing this to teach my class), do you want to know the real reason I quilt?

Tee Shirt can be found at Patchwork Threads

Yep, that's it.

Giveaway Time - a little Cotton + Steel!

Hey y'all! I thought it was about time we had another giveaway, so I took to browsing Fat Quarter Shop's website, and what do you think I saw? Cotton + Steel! Ohhh yes, I thought, people will most definitely like that.

Sooo, up for grabs we have a Pony Express Remix bundle! This bundle includes 15 fat quarters that have been chosen from each of the five C+S' designers debut collections, as well as a couple of prints from their basics collection.

As I mentioned before in one of my Quilt Market posts, this mix-able quality is one of my most favourite things about the C+S collections. Ohhh, look at those mustangs, and arrows, and crosses, etc, etc, etc...

So, I bet you want to know how to enter right?

You have two chances but please be sure to leave separate comments for each entry. Here's what you've got to do:

1. Leave a comment letting me know what your favourite 

collection from FQS' Coming Soon section is.

2. Leave another comment if you are a follower of my blog.

That's it! Two easy-peasy ways to enter! I will close the comments in a week (September 18th) and announce the winner here on the blog. International entries are, as always, welcome! Also, please remember that I have comment moderation enabled so if you don't see your comment right away it just means that I haven't had the chance to approve it yet (duplicate comments will be deleted).

Good luck everyone!!

*the giveaway is now closed*

Giveaway Time - a Moon Shine Aurifil Box!

Hey y'all! How's it going? It's been a little while since we've done a giveaway and I thought, since Fat Quarter Shop is celebrating their 11th anniversary, that now seemed like the perfect time!

This time around I'm giving away something a little different and I really hope you like it...

Ohhhh, what could this be?! Why, it's one of the brand-spanking new Aurifil thread boxes designed to coordinate with Tula Pink's not-yet-released Moon Shine collection.  This particular box is the Dandelion colourway but threads to coordinate with Moon Shine are also available in the Meadow and Strawberry colourways. I was lucky enough to receive a few fat quarters of this new collection while I was at Quilt Market, and let me tell you, it is gorgeous!

This awesome little box contains 10 spools (220 yards each) of Aurifil 50wt. cotton thread - isn't it pretty? If I had any disposable income right now, I would be buying one of each of these little boxes for myself - totally jealous! And just in case you wanted to see a little more about the thread (and other Tula awesomeness), FQS shot this little video with Tula at Quilt Market.

To celebrate their anniversary, FQS is offering a shipping sale, so if there's anything over there that you want, I say hop to it now!

Now I bet you want to know how to enter the giveaway right? Well, here ya go!

You have two chances but please be sure to leave separate comments for each entry. Here's what you've got to do:

1. Leave a comment letting me know what your favourite 

collection from FQS' Coming Soon section is.

2. Leave another comment if you are a follower of my blog.

That's it! Two easy-peasy ways to enter! I will close the comments in a week (June 25th) and announce the winner here on the blog. International entries are, as always, welcome! Also, please remember that I have comment moderation enabled so if you don't see your comment right away it just means that I haven't had the chance to approve it yet (duplicate comments will be deleted).

Good luck everyone!!

*the giveaway is now closed*

Giveaway Time: Botanics by Carolyn Friedlander

Hey y'all! How's everyone doing? Since it's Hanukkah (and I just like giving things away), I thought it was high-time that we had another little giveaway! I think everyone is going to pretty excited about this one...

Eeek! Botanics by Carolyn Friedlander!! Guys, I totally want to win this for myself - Botanics just makes my heart sing.

My good pals over at Fat Quarter Shop are letting me giveaway two roll-ups to two separate winners - woot! That's a whole lotta love.

Yum! While I haven't had the pleasure of meeting Carolyn in person (no Quilt Market for me the last couple of years), she seems like a pretty neat lady - you can read an interview with her over here on the Fat Quarter Shop blog.

So I bet you'd like to know how to win, right?

You have two chances but please be sure to leave separate comments for each entry. Here's what you've got to do:

1. Leave a comment letting me know what your favourite 

collection from FQS' Coming Soon section is.

2. Leave another comment if you are a follower of my blog.

That's it! Two easy-peasy ways to enter! I will close the comments in a week (December 10th) and announce the two winners here on the blog. International entries are, as always, welcome! Also, please remember that I have comment moderation enabled so if you don't see your comment right away it just means that I haven't had the chance to approve it yet (duplicate comments will be deleted).

*the giveaway is now closed*

Jelly Roll Jam + a Giveaway!!

Hey y'all! How's everyone doing? I've got something fun to share with you guys! The folks over at Fat Quarter Shop are sharing their first "shortcut quilt" with a free pattern and video tutorial. Not only is this quick little pattern free but the video tutorial is free to view on YouTube too - how neat is that?

Fat Quarter Shop was kind enough to send me a Jelly Roll of BasicGrey's PB&J test the pattern out - so cute! This top came together so quick and easy! Unfortunately, with preparing for Sewing Summit and all ('I'm up to my armpits in alligators' as my mum would say), I wasn't able to get this little guy quilted up but I will!

This pattern uses half of a Jelly Roll for a 36x36" top - that means that you can make two sweet little baby quilts from one Jelly Roll - awesome!

This pattern is very beginner friendly and would be quite easy to quilt on a home machine- just good things all around! I cannot say enough about how simple this was to do - really, you should give it a try!

So I bet you want to know about the giveaway, huh? Well, to celebrate the release of the Jelly Roll Jam pattern, Fat Quarter Shop and I are offering one lucky reader the chance to win this...

A Lush Uptown Jelly Roll by Erin Michael for Moda- woot! Now I bet you want to know how to enter, right?

You have two chances but please be sure to leave separate comments for each entry. Here's what you've got to do:

1. Leave a comment letting me know what your favourite Jelly Roll at FQS is.

(oh, and just a little FYI, all Jelly Rolls are 20% off this week to celebrate the release of Jelly Roll Jam)

2. Leave another comment if you are a follower of my blog.

That's it! Two easy-peasy ways to enter! I will close the comments in a week (September 23rd) and announce the winner here on the blog. International entries are, as always, welcome! Also, please remember that I have comment moderation enabled so if you don't see your comment right away it just means that I haven't had the chance to approve it yet (duplicate comments will be deleted).

*the giveaway is now closed*

Another Vox Case + the Giveaway Winner!

Hey y'all! Some of you may remember the Kobo Vox case I made my mum two Christmases ago, well, I made another one.

This one is for my mum's friend D. She not-so-subtly hinted that maybe I should make a case for her Vox too seeing as she does my taxes every year (for free *cough*). For those of you who don't know, a Kobo Vox is a tablet e-reader similar in many ways to the 7" Kindle Fire.

If you saw the post with my mum's case, you'll notice that I used the same fabric but in a different colourway. It's pretty hard to say no to fabric with books on it for this purpose and D's favourite colour is pink. Plus, knowing my mum and D, they will probably think it's a hoot that they have matching cases to go with their matching readers. Girls.

The exterior fabric is from the Grand Tour by Victoria and Albert for David's Textiles and the interior solids is one of the newer Kona colours which I believe is called Iron. Once again, I resized Amber's iPad cover tutorial to fit the Vox (which is a really great tutorial!), which was a feat in and of itself let me tell you! I didn't have any measurements written down from my mum's case (I probably did at the time) so I had to figure out the adjustments all over again; I'm really hoping the Vox fits well since I didn't have one in front of me this time either to test out as I went. I hope she likes it.

So, I bet you want to know who won the giveaway?! Well, without further ado, the winner of the Winter's Lane fat quarter bundle is...

Congratulations Amy! Please send me an email with your mailing address and the good folks over at Fat Quarter Shop will get your bundle out to you!

It's Giveaway Time - Winter's Lane!

Hey y'all! So, it's giveaway time again - woot! Once again, the lovely folks at Fat Quarter Shop and I have teamed up to bring you some pretty awesome swag.

This time around we're giving away a fat quarter bundle of Winter's Lane from Kate & Birdie Paper Co. for Moda. This is a really great winter-themed collection, but one of the things I really like about it is that many of the prints could easily be incorporated into sewing year-round. The greys are my absolute favourite! It's been awhile since I've seen a winter-themed collection that doesn't scream "CHRISTMAS!", so this is just great.

Yep, super-pretty. I think I definitely need reams that print that looks a bit like pine branches, especially in the grey (and the ice-blue).

Okay, so I guess you want to know how to enter, right? You have two chances but please be sure to leave separate comments for each entry. Here's what you've got to do:

1. Leave a comment letting my know which item (fabric, pattern, bundle, etc)

is your favourite from FQS' Coming Soon page.

2. Leave another comment if you are a follower of my blog.

That's it! Two easy-peasy ways to enter! I will close the comments in a week (on May 28th) and announce the winner here on the blog. International entries are, as always, welcome! Also, please remember that I have comment moderation enabled so if you don't see your comment right away it just means that I haven't had the chance to approve it yet (duplicate comments will be deleted).

*the giveaway is now closed*