Sister's Quilt

My sister's quilt did get finished on time, I was sewing on the binding just as Santa was arriving. It was that close. I under estimated the time it would take to finish this twin sized quilt. Much different than a quick baby quilt! Either way it's done and sister has already been enjoying it's warmth. 

The top is FMQ with a loopy flower all over pattern. This was the fist time FMQ on my new machine so I wanted a forgiving pattern. It's one of those don't look to close finishes. After a quarter way through the quilting I found my rhythm then things started to improve. The backing is flannel, so this one was an extra heavy, twin sized struggle to get through the machine. Super warm, and a big workout! Pretty sure it negated all those sweets I have been enjoying.

Quilt Stats: 

• Finished Size: 66 inches x 80 inches 
• Pattern: Sugar Block of the Month - January 
• Fabric: Hello Petal by Moda, Kona white background, and Essex Linen
• Batting: Warm & Natural - white
• Thread: Connecting Threads - Parchment

Mom also was pretty happy, she got this quilt ladder that Dad and I put together. She was playing with the arrangement of her quilts, here is the final layout. You can see on the second rung is the Looking Glass quilt, I pattern tested. She also got her hands on that quilt too! Still trying to pick my father's brain to make a tutorial for the ladder, it was really 80% him, 20% me. 

Hope everyone enjoyed their holiday. 

-Patch & Chels

Goodbye 2014

Hello out there! Yes, I am alive. This past week has been super stressful, whew it's over. Good thing I am on vacation so I can get caught up on my blog reading and see all the wonderful things my friends have been working on this last week. Here is a little recap of the last year, so many projects, good friendships, and wonderful blogging events happened this year. 

Some of my favorite blogging events of the past year include; the New Bloggers Blog Hop at Clover & Violet, Quilt Challenge with my Grandmother, Round Robin Quilt Bee, and the Low Volume Charm Swap with Michelle. January 1st will mark my blogging anniversary, one year under my belt. It's amazing that when I started blogging I had very small goals, 50 followers and have at least a few people comment on my posts (that are not related). This community is so welcoming and has the best positive energy, thank you to all my new blogging friends. You have all made this experience one of the very best decisions I have ever made :) 

I cannot wait to see what 2015 brings for this whole community! 

-Patch & Chels

Color Wheel Mini

The New Hampshire Modern Quilt Guild has challenged members to make a rainbow quilt. Over the past couple meetings the guild has hosted rainbow fabric swaps, to help us build our color palettes. I think this is part of a national deal? But, not quite sure. 

Any-who, I didn't need a huge rainbow quilt, I needed a color wheel to hang by my stash. Having a color wheel handy is great when pulling fabrics. Once again, I used a pattern from Simply Retro by Camille Roskelley called Adorn. 

The background is all scraps that were pieced together in long strips then cut into the triangles. I am trying to make a dent in my scrap bin, so this helped :)

Then finished it off by hand-stitching around each triangle and putting on a striped binding.

The backing is the same as my grandmother's quilt challenge, she gave me the leftover cute foxy fabric! It was almost big enough, but goes well with my leftovers from the same challenge :).

I am excited to get this mini hung up and put into use! 

-Patch & Chels

Be ... Still

The lucky winner is commenter #110.

Sarah@123quiltDecember 12, 2014 at 3:43 AM

Your Patriotic Stars quilt is my favorite. I've been wanting to make one very similar to it. Thanks again!

Congrats Sarah, I sent you an e-mail with your new patterns :) 

This month Stitchery Dickory Dock inspired us to be still. LOL, yeah that's not me. The last thing I am able to do is nothing. Don't get me wrong I have no problem watching a movie marathon, but there will be hand-quilting or knitting needles in my hands. Something will be getting done. My mind cannot be still. If I need to unwind, it usually means reading a book. I find it's the only way for my mind to stop reflecting, perfecting, and creating.

The December block is awesome. I actually made four to complete my Sugar Blocks. That's right, all months are done and all 30 blocks are finished. Now, I need to start adding the sashing and getting this top done! That part I am ok with starting next year, when the snow is flying and holiday sewing is done.

What is everyone else doing to keep there sanity in this month of insanity?

-Patch & Chels

Friendship Bags

My guild hosted a yankee swap at our meeting last night and I needed something cute, quick, and easy to whip up as a gift. This little pattern from ps. i quilt, was everything I was looking for! Added with a charm pack of white fabric, it was good to go. Even through I only needed one, they were just too cute not to make a couple! 

All the fabric was pulled from my scrap bin, very good way to use up scraps!! Except the bottom fabric, that got pulled from my stash. Isn't it awesome!  When I picked it out, I thought more would show.  I guess not. There was a bunch left over so it's going to become part of another Christmas gift. Secret holiday sewing is well under way :) 

-Patch & Chels

Giveaway Day

WELCOME! Today's giveaway is from Meadow Mist Designs. This is my first time being apart of the giveaway day and having a sponsor. Double excitement for me! I am giving away my three of my favorite Meadow Mist patterns.  Hopefully you will agree on how great they are!

1. Looking Glass 2. Paper Pieced Numbers 3. Scrappy Tiles

Looking Glass - I was part of the testing for this pattern, and fell in love. It's a great pattern, with well written directions and is good for beginners that want more pizzaz. The quilt has multiple sizes and is layer cake and charm pack friendly.

Paper Pieced Numbers - how awesome is a pi quilt!  Ok, maybe my math teacher geeky side is coming out but really, it's great. The pattern has 3", 5", 7" sizes for numbers 0 - 9. An added bonus is directions to make the pi quilt shown.

Scrappy Tiles - is another layer cake friendly pattern. Right now I have a pile of pieces cut and ready to get sewn, but my holiday sewing is getting in the way! The pattern is also well written and a great way to use up some of your scraps.

'Tis the season and I am feeing generous, so you have two chances to win! One, name your favorite Meadow Mist Pattern.  Two, what was your favorite quilt from Patch the Giraffe this year? Leave each answer in a separate comment below.  Drawing will close December 12th, that's Friday :)

- Patch & Chels

Sunday Stash

This Sunday Stash is from the Fat Quarter Shop! Who else capitalized on their 25% off Black Friday sale? The layer cake is for a little project the shop asked me to be apart of in January.  Just love Lauren + Jessi Jung! More on that later. 

For now, I am going to just look at the blue fabric and admire it's beauty :)

I also used the sale to pick up next years Quilt Challenge fabric. Gram and I have added some more family members. We are up to four! After a family debate between my Mom and Aunt to see who got my Looking Glass quilt, fabric by Fig Tree. I settled on a jolly bar of Somerset. Also by Fig Tree, it has similar color tones, so Auntie will be happy. (My Mom got the Looking Glass quilt) I also picked up some backing and filler fabric while it was reduced in price. This will be our third year doing the challenge. 

Who has some ideas on what to do with a jolly bar?  They are new and exclusive from Fat Quarter Shop so there is limited inspiration out there! 

-Patch & Chels

Heading over to Molli Sparkles to like up!

Feeling Dapper

DRUMROLL .......
The winner of the Looking Glass giveaway goes to,

pamspretties57November 25, 2014 at 11:57 AM

Hiya!!! I'm following along on the hop, and just love this quilt. I follow you by email and enjoy all the posts. Thanks for having the giveaway. Blessed be, hugs!!! Pam

Pam I just sent an email with the PDF attached!  Thanks for being a loyal follower :)

Now for the meat and potatoes, anyone feeling dapper today?

dapper |ˈdapər|adjective(typically of a man) neat and trim in dress, appearance, or bearing.

This little quilt is feeling very dapper ...

I used the quilt pattern from the book Simply Retro by Camille Roskelley. After looking through my quilt stack, I realized there was a lack of baby boy quilts in the pile. Ok, there was none. That needed a remedy and quick.

Solution, I pulled a stack boy colors, and got to work.

This quilt was a quick finish, the top took an afternoon. The quilting is a basic stipple and the back is flannel. This is my first time using flannel to back a quilt. There was no difference in quilting, which I was surprised to find out. I expected the worst and a huge headache. The whole thing went together without a problem. It has won me over! Plus, the additional snuggle factor is a bonus.

Quilt Stats: 

• Finished Size: 42 inches x 47 inches 
• Pattern: Dapper
• Fabric: Assorted fat quarters from my stash, Kona white background
• Batting: Warm & Natural - white
• Thread: Connecting Threads - Parchment

-Patch & Chels

Be ... a Listener

Whew! Snuck these in just at the last minute.

Listening I will admit is a weakness. To hear and process information is actually quite difficult for me. I do my best when I have a chance to visualize and interact with information. For example, when attending a lecture, I am able to better understand what is being said when I doodle or take notes. The physical act of moving my hand some how allows me to keep my focus on the speaker. In school my class notes were all in sketchbooks for this exact reason, even back to high school.

Now for the exact opposite example, I hear everything in my classroom and know when students are off task even when I am not directly watching them. The whole eyes in the back of the teachers head is clearly a lie, it's our hearing that gets student's in trouble! This is also different because I don't have to process anything.

So this month, I tried to be a better listener. Maybe it's my overactive creativity, or my in ability to sit still. Either way, listening is a skill I haven't mastered, and probably never will. At this point, I am relaying on the tricks I have picked up in life to help me deal with this deficit. If you're wondering, no this month didn't make me a better listener, but at least I am trying.

I am that classic case of in one year and out the other ... 

- Patch & Chels

Mosaic Me

Hopefully everyone enjoyed family, friends, and serious carb over load yesterday. But, more importantly I hope everyone saved room for desert. I took a break from quilting, to enjoy everything Thanksgiving has to offer and reflect on all the reasons I have to be thankful. Which are in fact, many.  This also got me thinking to all the things in my life which make me happy ... 

As a little mind relaxation, I thought it might be fun to create a "things I currently love" mosaic. This journey started by going through my pins on Pinerest to find some happy things. Clearly I love giraffes, that one is a no-brainer. Somethings you might not know about me is my huge sweet tooth, hello cake. Also, I love to grow things. Succulents are a new obsession, along with my old obsession, stargazer lilies. I love farmhouse/americana decor, love the color teal, and currently in love with low volume fabric. The shoes are just adorable, no explanation necessary! 

1. Churn Dash Quilt  2. Felt Flowers  3. Polka Dot Cake  4. Toy Giraffe 
5. Giraffes  6. Country Cottage  7. Lace Oxfords  8. Succulents
9. Strawberry Bunting  10. Giraffe Print  11. Farmer's Wife Quilt  12. Stargazer Lilies 
13. Heart Giraffe Spot  14. Teal Pumpkin Truck  15. American Flag  16. Low Volume Quilt 

You may notice my Farmer's Wife Quilt up in this mosaic of happiness, and remember my disappointment with all my lost points. I am glad to say that the whole project is growing on me and now I am not so discouraged, but seeing it with all those other happy things gives a new life :) 

My challenge to you all ... create a "things you love" mosaic and share what currently makes you happy. 

-Patch & Chels

Looking Glass Giveaway

It's finally my turn! This week a group of us have been blog hopping to celebrate the release of Meadow Mist Designs new pattern Looking Glass. If you're interested in a quick, easy, beginner pattern with no fuss, but still has the pizzaz of a more complex pattern. This is for you. 

*If you want a chance to win your own copy of the PDF pattern, comment how you follow this blog! The giveaway closes in one week, the winner will be announced December 3rd.

Quilt Stats: 

• Finished Size: 54 inches x 64 inches 
• Pattern: Looking Glass
• Fabric: Honeysweet by Fig Tree
• Batting: 100% Cotton - Natural 
• Thread: Connecting Threads - Cream

Here are some things I loved about this pattern ... 

• Quick and easy to assemble,

• The whole top was constructed in one afternoon,

• The directions are for both charm squares and layer cakes,

• Directions for a variety of sizes (baby, lap, twin, and queen), 

• Super easy to chain piece, 

• You do not have to stop and iron frequently,

• Great way to use up pre-cuts with no plans. 

Check out the others participating in the blog hop and for other chances to win the pattern! 

Friday Cheryl @ Meadow Mist Designs

Saturday Lin @ Lin's Quilts

Sunday Beth @ Cooking Up Quilts

Monday Michelle @ From Bolt to Beauty, Anna @ Fresh Dew Drops

Tuesday Chelsea @ Patch the Giraffe

Wednesday Shauna @ Shauna's World
Friday Shelley @ The Carpenter's Daughter Who Quilts

- Patch & Chels

Round Trip Quilts ... Border 2

This month was a stumbling block for me. A writer's block for sewers. Is there a name for that? Sewer's block? Either way this month I felt a depletion of my sewing creativity with this border. Don't get me wrong, I love what is going on here, I just didn't know how to add to this one. The block sat on my coffee table for two weeks as I waited for some stoke of creative genius. That never happened.

Leanne requested stars, but other than that gave us the creative liberty to go crazy. When I am given the rights to go bonanza, I love to take advantage of the situation. That was my exact, downfall. I also was stumped on the yellow background. It's not my thing, but I really liked how it was working out. I wanted to be me, but still adhere to the original intent of the quilt. This left me perusing through Pinterst looking for inspiration, my handy 500 Quilt Blocks book, even the new Moda Modern Blocks patterns. Nothing was drawing my attention.

Eventually I settled on the idea of a shooting star, but how?! I really needed a great block to start from, and eventually settled on the Farmer's Wife block #23 - Country Life. I dug out the templates and got tracing. Then design also has flying geese radiating outwards. 

It. finally. just. worked. 

Hopefully, Leanne will like the newest border.

Another PSA: I am involved with the blog hop going around at Meadow Mist Designs. Click on any of the links in the schedule below to check out who also pattern tested Looking Glass for Cheryl. My post will be this Tuesday.

Friday Cheryl @ Meadow Mist Designs

Saturday Lin @ Lin's Quilts

Sunday Beth @ Cooking Up Quilts

Monday Michelle @ From Bolt to Beauty

Tuesday Chelsea @ Patch the Giraffe

Wednesday Shauna @ Shauna's World

-Patch & Chels

Swell

The time change is killing me, the lack of daylight is making it difficult to take pictures of quilts. This quilt has actually been finished for some time, but I haven't had good weather to take pictures. Blah. I finally found a sliver of sun to get some pictures, before it dived behind a cloud.

Swell comes from the book Simply Retro by Camille Roskelley. Instead of using the 2.5 inch square in the pattern, I changed it to use 5 inch squares. It was great to use up some scraps. I made a quilt following the real Swell pattern too and liked it ... a lot. 

Quilt Stats: 

• Finished Size: 57 inches x 57 inches 
• Pattern: Swell
• Fabric: Assorted prints pulled from scrap bucket
• Batting: 100% Cotton
• Thread: Connecting Threads - Parchment

My very picky friend actually like ALL these colors in this quilt, so she finally gets one! Now off to conquer the rest of my WIP list. 

-Patch & Chels