Friday Fun and QuiltCon Block Reveal!

TGIF---It's Friday and Labor Day weekend!  WooHoo!

 

It's been a very busy, but great week so far!  I had one of my QuiltCon Challenge Blocks featured on Monday of this week, on the Modern Quilt Guild Blog for the QuiltCon Block Challenge.  It has been so nice to see all of the great blocks this week!  What great inspiration! 

Well, I got an email saying that another of my three blocks was going to be featured today! 
Today, the feature is about Stars and Points and I did a Wonky Star for my block!  Wow, two blocks in one week...I am truly humbled and I am very glad I did this block challenge.  No matter what happens with the 20 blocks that get selected for the QuiltCon Quilt Raffle, I know that these blocks are going to go into some amazing quilts that will go to the Austin Children's Shelter. 
That's is why I did this challenge in the first place!

Here is my block!

 

Check out the QuiltCon Block Challenge Post Day 5!

Let me know me what you think!

 

Have a great, Fantastic Friday!

Thankful Thursday

It's Thankful Thursday!

I hope you day is going well!

 

Today, I am thankful for The Modern Quilt Guild!  Why?  If the Modern Quilt Guild had never been started, our local chapter would not have been started and I probably would not be sewing and quilting right now and would not have some of the wonderful friends I have now. 

 

I am also thankful for the upcoming QuiltCon.  It is a Modern Quilt Convention happening in Austin, TX in February and registration starts today!  WooHoo!  I cannot wait!

 

The Modern Quilt Guild Blog

Modern Quilt Guild FB page(new)

 

QuiltCon

QuiltCon FB page

 

There are many things going on in the modern quilting world and I am so thankful to

Alissa Haight Carlton for starting the Modern Quilt Guild!  This is such an exciting time to be part of such a great hobby and movement!  Go check it out!  There is so much inspiration!

 

Hem your blessings with thankfulness so they don't unravel. 

~Author Unknown

Have a very Thankful Thursday!

 

Working Wednesday

Happy Wednesday!

I hope your day has started out to be a great one!  Today is Working Wednesday and this is what I'll be working on the rest of the week!  This is a card order I have that is for my sister's friend.  She owns a spa and wanted some handmade cards to send out to her clients.  I am very thankful for this order, because it is giving me a chance to be creative and do one of the other things I love, which is card making.  So, I will be busy wrapping up this order before I sew again!

 

Hope you have a wonderful day!

 

Don't forget to Stop by The Modern Quilt Guild Blog for Day 3 of the QuiltCon Challenge Blocks!

QuiltCon Block Challenge Day 3: Pick Up Sticks

Tuesday Talk

It's Tuesday!

 

I hope everyone is having a wonderful day!  My day is a busy one, as I am working on a big card order, so there will not be any sewing, unless I do a little tonight to relax. 

 

I wanted to share a quilt that I quilted for a friend this past weekend.  She put together the quilt top and decided she wanted me to quilt and bind it.  Now, I just did some simple straight lines and in the ditch quilting, but it turned out really great!  You can't see the quilting very well in the picture, but it is simple straight line diagonal criss-sross from corner to corner in the middle heart section.

I love the heart shape design and I love these colors!

 

Close up of basting

 

Quilting in the ditch around borders

Pinning the binding

Finished quilt

 

Yesterday, one of my blocks was featured on The Modern Quilt Guild Blog for the QuiltCon Block Challenge.  There were some wonderful blocks in that post that were similar.  Today, they are featuring Scrappy blocks!  Go check it out and get some inspiration! 

 

Quiltcon Block Challenge

 

Thanks for stopping by my blog!

Have a Terrific Tuesday!

 

Big Hugs,

Stephanie

Monday Mayhem!!!

It's Monday and I am so excited!

 

I received an email late last night from Elizabeth Hartman of Oh, Fransson!, to let me know that one of my QuiltCon Blocks was going to be featured today, along with others, on The Modern Quilt Guild Blog!  I was so excited!  I was even more excited when I woke up this morning and saw the post.  They are posting the blocks in groups that look similar.  There are two groups today called Pods and Pixels.  My block is Block A in the Pixel group!  Wow!  There are some beautiful blocks in the these two groups!  Go Check out the link:

 

http://themodernquiltguild.com/2012/08/27/quiltcon-block-challenge-pods-and-pixels-2/

 

Here is my block being featured today, which is one of three I sent in!

 

They will be featuring all the blocks over the next few weeks to showcase all the beautiful blocks they received.  I believe there were close to 345 blocks.  Twenty blocks will be selected and announced on September 24, to be used in the QuiltCon Quilt that will hang at QuiltCon and be raffled.  The other blocks will be put together by Modern Guilds all over the country before QuiltCon and will be donated to the Austin Children’s Shelter, in Austin, TX, where the convention will be held!  What a great way for the Modern Quilt Guild to give back to the community!  I am so humbled and proud to be part of this wonderful guild and charity!  I can't wait to see all the quilts put together!  They will be amazing, just from seeing these few blocks today!

 

Have a great Monday!

Fun Friday Reveal!

TGIF!  It's Friday!

 

Whew!  It has been a busy week and I am still going strong.  Got lots to do today!

 

I wanted to finally reveal the tote bag that I made and sent to my partner for the Sew SwapIt Tote Swap!  She like bright, bold colors and loves floral prints!  This was a great project for me, as I love to work with bright colors and I have not made a tote in a while! 

 

She received it yesterday and loved it!  Here is the final project!

Front

Back

Inside Pocket(fabric was wrinkled in pic..really isn't bunched like that!)

Close-up of quilting

 

This was such a fun tote to make and it turned out pretty big.  I think it ended up being about 18" wide and 20" high.  It' is definitely bold and bright.  I used the floral print and match Kona solids to it.  I really did not want to send this one away!

 

Well, I am off to work on projects today.  I am almost finished quilting a quilt and then I am working on cards.  I have a busy weekend ahead, but I plan to have some relaxing time in there also!

 

Have a Fantastic Friday!

Thankful Thursday!

It's Thursday!  Time to be Thankful!!!

 

Today, I am thankful for beautiful weather and beautiful views.  We are having some wonderful weather here in East TN right now.  It is unusual to have low to mid 80's weather for August.  I love it!  It is great weather to sew by.  I took this picture back in April at our Quilt Guild Retreat in the mountains.  We had some beautiful sunsets then and we have had several recently, but I have not had my camera in hand to catch them.  I am going to try harder to have it with me more often. 

 

 

"The world has enough beautiful mountains and meadows, spectacular skies and serene lakes. It has enough lush forests, flowered fields and sandy beaches. It has plenty of stars and the promise of a new sunrise and sunset every day. What the world needs more of is people to appreciate and enjoy it." ~Michael Josephson, whatwillmatter.com

 

I am working on several projects right now.  I have my card order in the works and I took some time to work on the quilt that I am quilting.  Today has been a busy day so far, so I am now back to it!

 

Have a great Thursday!

Working Wednesday!

Happy Wednesday!!

 

I hope your Wednesday has started well!  I have been to the gym and back and now I am getting ready to tear into this busy day!  It has been a busy week so far.  I have worked on several projects and here is the update.

 

The tote bag I made for the Sew SwapIt swap has flown the coop.  I sent it yesterday and I can't wait for my partner to get it!  It is bold, big and bright!  I wanted to keep it, but sadly I had to send it off!  Oh well!  I sure hope Jackie likes it!  I will reveal pictures of it on Friday.  She wanted to be surprised, so I will hold off on posting.  :)

 

I also got one order of cards done and out the door.  They were for my sister and there were 44 birthday cards in the order.  On to the next thing!

 

I am quilting a quilt for a friend and I got it pinned last night and the binding strips cut out.  I will be working to quilt it today I think, in between working on cards for a big order I have.  I think this will be a good mix of projects that I can go back and forth on.  At least I think I can do work on both today!  We will see!  Here is a pic of the quilt I am quilting.  This is such a pretty quilt and I can't wait to see it finished!

 

Got to run and get busy!  Have a great Wednesday!

Monday Mayhem!

Welcome to Monday!

Just a quick post today!

It's been a busy day already and I am only getting started.  I have a bunch to do, but it's all good.  I love to be busy, at least to an extent.  I am working on several different projects, so I will be back tomorrow with an update!

Until then, have a Marvelous Monday!

Friday Fun and Quiltcon Block Reveal!

TGIF!  It is Friday!

Wow!  Where has this week gone?  It has been a busy one.  My son is getting ready to go back to college next week.  Well, college is only 15 minutes from home, but there was some moving involved and lots of running around and picking up lots of stuff for him. 

I have also been working on a few projects, such as QuiltCon blocks, card samples and I am trying to finish my tote bag that I am a little behind.  I think I can get it finished today. 

Anyway, it has been busy week. 

I wanted to reveal my Quiltcon Blocks I submitted this week!  I love these blocks and may go end up making a quilt or two or three using blocks like this.  All blocks are 12 1/2 " high with various widths.  I did incorporate all the Quiltcon colors in each block that were put together in fat quarter bundles by Marmalade Fabrics.  If you haven't visited the website, please do and order from them.  They are a main sponsor for QuiltCon and have excellent customer service. 

I will be ordering from them again! 

While these blocks may not be picked to go into the main QuiltCon Quilt that will be put together for display at Quiltcon and then raffled, these blocks will end up in a some wonderful quilts that will be given to kids in Austin Children's Shelters.  This was a fun challenge and I can't wait to see all the blocks put together for all the quilts!  I was very happy to do this challenge!

12 1/2" x 20"

12 1/2" x 12 1/2"

12 1/2" x 10 1/2"

Let me know what you think of my blocks!

Have a Fantastic Friday!

Thankful Thursday!

It's Thursday! 

Time for some thankfulness!

Today, I am thankful for hobbies such as sewing and card making.  I love doing both!  Sometimes hobbies are just for fun and sometimes they turn in to a career.  I love that I can make some beautiful things when I sit down, think things out and get creative!  Hobbies really are therapy from everyday life.  They allow you to get into your own world and forget the bad in the real world, even if just for a few minutes. 

Below is an example of getting creative.  This is one of the blocks I designed for the Quiltcon Block Challenge.  I will reveal my blocks tomorrow for you to see!

Today, I am also thankful for my son, who just turn 19 years old.  It's hard to believe that he is 19 and starting his second year in college next week.  Wow....where did that 19 years go?  I remember just yesterday of him being that sweet little baby that I held in my arms.  This morning, I was thinking about high school football, which starts tomorrow night here in East TN.  He was the kicker on his football team all four years.  Although, he has been out of high school for a year, it is just hard to believe that once again, I will not be watching him play tomorrow night.  A little sad, but I am very grateful for all the memories I have up to now.  We have had some great ones! 

Here's to many more in the future!

Develop an attitude of gratitude, and give thanks for everything that happens to you,
knowing that every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger
and better than your current situation.
-- Brian Tracy
Have a very Thankful Thursday!

Work Wednesday!

Hey all!  Happy Wednesday!

I started the morning early and haven't stopped since.  It has been a wacky day.  Had errands to run and had to meet my college boy to get some new shoes and stuff.  We did get to eat lunch together....at first he said no, because he had too much to get back to campus and do, but I enticed him with some Japanese stir fry.  He cannot pass up Japanese or Chinese food!  LOL  :)

Now, I am home home, starting laundry and getting ready to start working on some more card samples.  Later...it will be sewing time.  I had to run to Joann's after I ran out of the color of thread I was using last night.  UGH...unfortunately, it was a special color I was quilting with and I didn't have any more.  Of course, I was almost finished quilting when I ran our!  Murphy's Law, I guess!  LOL

Well, back to it!  Have a great day!!!!

Fabric Mayhem

Happy Tuesday to all!

I hope your day has started out to be a great one!  It is kind of gloomy here today in East TN.  We had some rain earlier and with a possibility of more to come.  So it looks like a great day to get some things done....like sewing.  I have already been to the gym and I am back with some candles lit and ready to begin a productive day!

Here is some fabric I picked up at our local fabric store that will be closing soon, unfortunately.  I really hate that she is closing, as she has not been around very long.  She is so sweet and had some great prices.  I picked up several orange prints and a solid, for my Vol projects!  I got a couple of cute boyish kid prints, since I now have a nephew.  I figure these can be some future projects for him.  I picked up some more lovely Lark by Amy Butler, a batik, a print that looks like batik, but is regular cotton, some Michael Miller fabric and a lovely pink print.  Not sure what I will do with all of this yet, but some of these go with things I already have.  They will go into my stash for now and I will pull them out one day for a rainy day!

Hope you have a terrific Tuesday!



Monday Mayhem!

Welcome to Monday!

It's going to be an extremely busy week!  I have way too many things to get done, but I am determined.  Last week did not quite go as I had planned and I did not get everything done. 

That's OK though....things are coming along at a good pace right now. 

I just don't have much time to slow down.  :)

Here's a little sneak peak at the progress of my QuiltCon blocks.  I have all three done and will reveal them later this week.  They are going in the mail today!  I am so excited!

I will be working to finish my tote this afternoon.  I will reveal it later this week after it goes in the mail.  I want my partner to be surprised when she receives it!

Hope you have a Marvelous Monday!

Fun Friday!

Happy Friday!

Hey there everyone!  It's Friday and it's going to be busy!  This has been a very busy week, but I have not gotten as much done as I had hope!  Going to be working on my tote today!  Yes, I have not made a lot of progress this week, due to some other things coming up.  I have to get it done asap and move on to some other projects, so that is my focus today!  I will be taking some progress pictures along the way today to show you all this weekend.  I only have a couple of pieces put together at the moment, so I haven't taken any pics yet.

I also have Quiltcon blocks to get done and some card samples.  Going to be a busy weekend!

I thought I would share another photo I took at the beach.  This was on the first full day we were there.  This huge sand castle complex was made by a family that was right next to us.  They must have worked on it the whole day and it was quite impressive.  Our nieces and nephews dug and built various sand castle creations all week and had so much fun!  Wish I was back there!

Hope you all have a Fabulous Friday and a great weekend!

Thankful Thursday!

It's Thursday and it's time to be thankful!

Today, I am very thankful for vacations! 

Yes, vacations!  It had been three years since we had been to the beach or even on vacation, for that matter.  Due to schedule conflicts with my sons' sports while he was in high school and other timing conflicts with our family that came up last year, we had not been back to the beach.  I love the beach and this year was so nice and relaxing!  I love just listening to the waves crash on shore, knowing I don't have to be anywhere at that moment!

Here is a picture of the beautiful clouds in the sunset across the intercoastal waterway marsh behind the house we stayed in!  This was the very first night we were on vacation after the terrible storms we drove through earlier to get there.

This week, I am just thankful to God, that we have such beautiful views when we go on vacation!

Much needed and very relaxing!

“The cure for anything is salt water - sweat, tears, or the sea.”

--Isak Dinesen

If you are checking progress on my tote. I will post some pics tomorrow.  I finally decided

Have a very thankful day!

Working Wednesday

It's Wednesday!

Hope you are having a great day! 

Well, yesterday I did not get much done!  I think I was in a kind of fog.  I looked at patterns for my tote, did some research and then just zoned out late yesterday.  Not sure why, but maybe I was a little overwhelmed.  Today has started out better and I am on a good path to get some stuff done!

Here is a picture I took while I was on vacation last week.  This is the Cherry Grove Pier in North Myrtle Beach.  We usually always go to the pier and walk out to the end and we just never made it there this year.  Wish I was still at the beach!  It was so relaxing!

Time to get back to creating!  I will update you tomorrow!

Have a great day!

Tuesdays

Happy Tuesday!

Just a quick post before I run out the door! 

I hope you are having a wonderful and terrific Tuesday!  Today is going to be a busy one! 

Designed my QuiltCon Blocks last night, so I will be starting on those and on my tote later today!

I will update you on the progress of both tomorrow!

Have a great day!

Monday Mayhem!

It's Monday, time for Mayhem!

I am back from a little break, a much needed vacation break to the beach! 
I love the beach because it is so calm and soothing to hear the waves crash upon the sand. 
It makes me feel relaxed and rejuvenated. 

Now, time for mayhem!
I have a lot to do this week. I have a tote bag to make for my SewSwapIt Group.  My partner likes bold and bright colors like me, so I picked out this fabric earlier.  Hope she likes it!

I have three QuiltCon Blocks to make in the next few days.  I just could not get to them before I left for vacation, so now it is time to kick it into high gear and get those done over the next few days. 
I am so excited about QuiltCon and I can't wait til February!

I also have some handmade card prototypes to make for a potential order and other cards to start on for two other different orders.  Looks like August just might be a very busy month!  :)

Have a great Monday!