My 57 Splendid Sampler blocks

Are you sewing along with the Splendid Sampler?  That pile of quilt blocks above just makes me so (sew?) happy.  Two blocks are released each week - some are traditionally pieced, many are not.  The variety keeps it interesting.

Given the two block a week pace, it wasn't really a surprise I fell a tad behind once family travel pulled me away from my sewing space.    I sent myself a goal in August to get myself caught up.

Block 57 was released Sunday and was (thankfully) an easy one.  As a result - for this instant in time anyway - I am caught up!

Blocks 1 through 20

Blocks 21 through 40

Blocks 41 through 57

Getting caught up with my Splendid Sampler blocks was my OMG goal for August.  I'll be linking up here at Red Letter Quilts.

I'll be linking my blocksl with Sew Cute Tuesdays, , Freemotion by the River,   WIP Wednesday's,  Let's Bee Social, Midweek Makers.  Fabric Frenzy Friday, Finish it Up Friday and Finished or Not Friday.

 




Have a wonderful day! Patty

Playing with Color and Scale

I had some fun building some square in square blocks in support of a charity quilt with my local MQG.

We started with this bundle of fabric and told to use it all up!

I've made some good progress and really enjoyed free wheeling the blocks together.  Absolutely no rules on sizes to be made.  (A very brave person is going to assemble this all together!)

Haven't used much of the yellow, pink or white yet so time to mix those up!

Have a wonderful day! Patty

Bag It Sneak Peak - Drawstring Backpack

Summer is (sadly) drawing to an end and I'm going to miss the opportunity for my daily morning laps at the pool.

Earlier this summer I made myself a simple drawstring backpack for carrying my goggles, sweatshirt and hat to the pool each morning.  A simple backpack with a twist.

The twist is the hidden pocket that you can see at the bottom of the photo above.  I tuck my phone in that pocket and keeps it nice and safe.

Here's a view of the hidden pocket during construction.

A tutorial for the drawstring backpack will be featured during the Elm Street Quilts Bag It event - complete with grommet installation!

What is Elm Street Quilts Bag It?

This blog event will kick off Monday September 12 with a week long introduction to all the fabulous sponsors.

Then, the tutorial begin - weeks and weeks of new tutorials of all different kind of bags.

The best part?

Making a bag during the event - from my tutorial, some else's tutorial or from a pattern etc - earns you participant entries towards the giveaways.

If you needed incentive to get some handmade holiday gifts made, this is it!

You can read more about the overall event on the information page.

I'd love your help in building a listing of great bag tutorials.

Link up your bag tutorial from your blog - doesn't matter when the blog post went live as long as it contains a link to this tutorial page so people can find other bag tutorials.

New tutorials shared in a blog post September 1 through November 15 which contain a reference to Elm Street Quilts Bag It linky party, will earn you an entry into the overall entry bucket.

And I'll be searching for featured bloggers during Bag It from all those who enter a tutorial into the linky.

Link up your bag tutorial

Sign up for notifications on news about Bag It!

I love my new bag and can't wait to share the tutorial for this bag and a whole bunch more!!

I'll be linking my finish with Fabric Frenzy Friday, Finish it Up Friday, Finished or Not Friday, Sew Cute Tuesdays, , Freemotion by the River,   WIP Wednesday's,  Let's Bee Social,  and Midweek Makers.   


Have a wonderful day! Patty

Left behind a quilt and a piece of my heart

Freshman move in day was Friday.  The university made the whole process quite easy.  There were people waiting to help you carry things up several flights of stairs.

Roommates to meet.

Beds to be made.  (See a full picture of the dorm quilt here.)

Before I knew it, she was ready for us to leave.

I've known that moment was coming for a long time.   Every stitch I put in the quilt was one step closer to that moment.

I was proud she was ready.  Me?  Not so ready.

But leave we did.  I cried a few tears in the car and promptly made chocolate chip cookies when I got home.

She isn't so far away so I know I'll see her again soon, if not just to deliver something she forgot to pack.  And technology will make keeping in touch quite simple.

Now the house has a different kind of quiet.   I've closed the door to her room so I can just pretend she is sleeping late.

I think I'll go quilt.  Those white cinder block dorm walls need a quilt to brighten things up.


Have a wonderful day! Patty

Happy Birthday Green Fairy Quilts!

I am a collector of precuts - especially the mini-charm pack!

Green Fairy Quilts has always been my go-to place for precuts.  I love to collect the mini-charms as well as the big charm packs.  It is so fun to have a little piece of a product line - helps me figure out which fabric I might want to order yardage!

Just popping in to make sure you knew they are celebrating their 8th year birthday.  Big savings available to celebrate - check it out!   Photo above was from a purchase early this summer.  (I'm busy working on my shopping cart right now!

Have a wonderful day! Patty

Snowflakes in August

I love QALs!

I had great fun creating my blocks for Yvonne @ Quilting Jetgirl new QAL called Snowflake Shimmer. 

This quilt takes 3 fabrics.  I choose a light gray, dark gray and then fussy cut the centers from this fun FQ I had in my stash. 

 I downsized the blocks to 2 1/2 '' (unfinished) and paper pieced them.  They went together quickly!

Looking forward to the assembly of the quilt.    

I'll be linking up my blocks here.

Giveaway ends today for the TO QUILT OR NOT TO QUILT tee shirt - make sure you enter here!


Have a wonderful day! Patty

Leftover bits & bites

After making the wedding quilt, I had lots and lots of leftover cut off triangles in really fun colors.

So I sewed a bunch together and made two minis - I call them Leftover Bits (7 x 7'') and Leftover Bites (7 x 7 1/2 '').

I brought Leftover Bits to my local MQG meeting on Sunday for a mini exchange.

Look what I got back in the exchange!  This was made by Pat Cummins.  Love the bold blue/green/black colors.

Have you entered my giveaway for a TO QUILT or NOT TO QUILT tee shirt?  Ends Friday so enter today!

I'll be linking my finished mini's with Finish it Up Friday, Finished or Not Friday, Sew Cute Tuesdays, , Freemotion by the River,   WIP Wednesday's,  Let's Bee Social,  and Midweek Makers.   

Have a wonderful day! Patty

The Mountains are Calling - AMB Mystery block 4

Any day that I can play with my AMB solids is a good day.  Here is block 4 of the AMB mystery QAL.

I went with lighter color palette.  I am also resizing the blocks down to be 6'' finished.

Don't all my blocks look nice together?  I'm curiously awaiting block 5.

You can find the pattern for block 4 and links to the other blocks here.

Come join the fun!   I won a random drawing with block 3 and got this awesome set of prizes!

Love having this color card!!

And don't forget to enter my giveaway for a TO QUILT OR NOT TO QUILT shirt!

Have a wonderful day! Patty

To Quilt or Not to Quilt - Quilter's Tee Shirt Giveaway!

5amily is an on-line store offering a collection of themed shirts, bags and mugs.  They offer customized goods for passionate people.  Whether it is a hobby, sport, profession, pet or any other passion, there is something for everyone.  They print and ship all their customer products from within the United States.

And lucky for us, one of the passions they make products for is QUILTING!!  Check out all the different quilting tee shirt options!

5amily has generously provided a To Quilt or Not To Quilt tee shirt to be randomly awarded to a Elm Street Quilts reader. Wouldn't this be a fun shirt to wear about town?

Giveaway guidelines -

• Giveway closes at midnight EST, Friday, August 19th.   

• Giveaway is open to anyone with a US mailing address.

• Winner will chosen randomly from all valid entries.  

• Winner will be notified by email and will have 72 hours to claim prize.  If prize is not claimed, a new winner will be chosen.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Good luck!  It is very exciting to offer this giveaway.

Thanks 5amily !!


Have a wonderful day! Patty

Bag It - Coming this September!

I've been busy making a whole new series of bags in support of the Elm Street Quilts Bag It event which starts in about a month!


I'm calling this bag a market basket and think it would be perfect to take with you to go fabric shopping.  (Or really any kind of shopping but fabric shopping is the best kind of shopping!)

What is Elm Street Quilts Bag It?

This blog event will kick off Monday September 12 with a week long introduction to all the fabulous sponsors.

Then, the tutorial begin - weeks and weeks of new tutorials of all different kind of bags.

The best part?

Making a bag during the event - from my tutorial, your own tutorial or from a pattern - earns you participant entries towards the giveaways.

If you needed incentive to get some handmade holiday gifts made, this is it!

You can read more about the overall event on the information page.


I'd love your help in building a listing of great bag tutorials.

Link up your bag tutorial from your blog - doesn't matter when the blog post went live as long as it contains a link to this tutorial page so people can find other bag tutorials.

New tutorials shared in a blog post September 1 through November 15 which contain a reference to Elm Street Quilts Bag It linky party, will earn you an entry into the overall entry bucket.

And I'll be searching for featured bloggers during Bag It from all those who enter a tutorial into the linky.

Link up your bag tutorial

Sign up for notifications on news about Bag It!

I love my new bag and can't wait to share the tutorial for this bag and a whole bunch more!!

I'll be linking up with Finish it Up Friday, Sew Cute Tuesdays, , Freemotion by the River,   WIP Wednesday's,  Let's Bee Social,  and Midweek Makers.   

Grab the button for your blog!

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Have a wonderful day! Patty

Happy Birthday dear daughter

18.

You graduated from high school and are now off to college next week.

I am so very proud of you.

My letter to you on the day of your high school graduation says it all.

Now you are an adult.  Yet I still so vividly remember the day you were born and the day we brought you home from the hospital.  So tiny and so ready to be part of our family.

As you move out of the house and into the dorm, I'm happy that your quilt will keep you warm and help you remember how much you are loved.

The geese that surround your favorite quote represent the opportunities in front of you - so many to choose from as you plot your path forward.

Happy Birthday my delightful daughter.  I love you.

Have a wonderful day! Patty

Congratulations to the repeat QAL winners!

Wow!

It was so thrilling to see all the finished quilt tops pop up on Facebook, Instagram and the linky.

Here are just some of them - you can see more here -

Row 1: Marsha, Kathy, Jennifer, Needled Mom;  Row 2: Anne, Darlene, Karen, Carol
Row 3: Brenda, Brenda, Kris, Muddy Spring;  Row 4: Frances, Daisy and Jack, Nancy

Our sponsors provided wonderful prizes.  Points were awarded for sharing a final quilt top in the linky as well as progress photos on Facebook and Instagram.

Prizes were randomly awarded - all winners have been contacted by email.

Congratulations to:

Karen R -  Aurifil thread pack

Laraine B -   American Made Brand Charm Pack 

Kathy T - $25 Gift Certificate to Fat Quarter Shop

Liz, Jenny & Frances - each won a pdf pattern from Busy Hands Quilts

The repeat linky will stay open indefinitely so please come back and link up or send me an email when you finish your quilts.

Want more letters?  (They are kind of addictive!)

Visit my Craftsy store and get your very own copy of the Chunky Alphabet!  Assemble the letters you want into the words and names that are important to you!

Thank you sponsors!!!!

American Made Brand    

(Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram)

Fat Quarter Shop 

 (Website  \  Facebook  \  Instagram)

Aurifil   

(Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram)

Busy Hands Quilts   

(Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram)

Have a wonderful day! Patty

Last chance to enter your repeat QAL quilt tops!

Linky party for the repeat QAL will remain open forever but today is the last day to enter your quilt tops!

Find the linky party here!!

Prize winners will be randomly selected tomorrow!


Have a wonderful day! Patty

A View from my Part of the World - August

For a week in July, my family and I spent a week at the beach.  We rent a house on the shore of the beautiful beaches of the outer banks in North Carolina (OBX).

Here are pictures of a day from dawn to dusk.

Clouds on the horizon

Morning 

Silence

See any sea glass?

Protecting the dunes

Dune Grass

Beach sewing

Momma and baby in our 'back yard'

Sunset

I'll be joining the linky part at Whims and Fancies here.  

Have a wonderful day! Patty

August QAL goals

Are you sewing along with the Splendid Sampler?

I've had an incredibly fun time with this QAL using Christmas themed fabric.  The blocks and the fabric are so very different than any of the others projects I'm working on so they offer a great diversion to my sewing week.

New blocks come out every Thursday and Sunday.  I was staying right on track until these last three weeks which have been filled with family vacation time!

Here are the first 40 blocks -

Splendid Sampler block 1 through 20

Splendid Sampler block 21 through 40

At this point, I am seven blocks behind!  My OMG goal for August is to get caught up and get these blocks done plus the August blocks.  I'll be linking up with OMG here at Red Letter Quilts. 

If you are looking for the repeat linky party, check it our here!


Also linking up with Sew Cute Tuesdays, , Freemotion by the River,  Fabric Tuesday's,  WIP Wednesday's,  Let's Bee Social,  and Midweek Makers.

Have a wonderful day! Patty