HST Quilt Along Update

The NHMQG is doing a HST Quilt along. This past weekend while at retreat I was able to get more of the blocks done. There are 6 more trimmed but I have yet found time to assemble them. 

When I first purchased this FQ pack of Amy Butler's Gypsy Caravan, I was very unsure what I would do. These are not  my typical colors so it was out of my "normal" although I love how they look with the Kona Snow and am excited to see how they all come together. 

This last block is my favorite so far of the bunch. As of now 9 done, 6 trimmed, and 15 more to go! Hopefully, another update soon when I get those other blocks together. 

-Patch & Chels 

Sunday Stash

Last week while at quilt retreat, we made two stops to this discount store called Marden's in Maine. The guild gals said I HAD to go check it out, all fabric was $4.99 max, and they carry high quality manufactures and designers. Well, Michelle @ From Bolt to Beauty and I stopped on our way up to retreat. I picked up two backings, and some fun fabrics. Total purchase of 17 yards. All in all, I was very reasonable and made some smart purchases even if everything was so cheap. Michelle also made some smart purchases, she kept reminding us all weekend :) 

The Sunday of retreat Marden's called one of our board members to let her know there would be a shipment of modern fabric arriving late morning. All sensibility left each and everyone of us as we raced to pack our sewing machines and head to the store. There were fresh bolts of Birch, Moda, Art Gallery and more. All just beautiful, waiting to be purchased. So I added another 17 yards to my haul, for a total of 34 yards of fabric in one weekend. This was probably the most fabric I purchased at and one given point in time. Bolts where flying all over the place while we scrambled to build our stashes.  It was like Black Friday chaos! 

Here are the backings I picked up. The top will be the back to my Sugar Block of the Month I finished last year, and the green fabric at the bottom is the back to my Farmer's Wife quilt. The chickens were a perfect fit!  

Tomorrow I am headed off to New Orleans for some much needed R & R over our vacation week. My best friend from high school and I both turn 30 this year so we decided to celebrate with a vacation just for us. It's the called the Fabulous and Thirty Trip. Over the week, my intentions are to keep up with the blog stuff, but if you don't hear from me I am probably trying to eat my way through the city! 

 -Patch & Chels

Round Trip 5.0

Back to the no time to blog thing!  Oops, this went out weeks ago but forgot to upload the pictures. More like happily found them on my camera, yay me, lucky you. Here is my contribution to Heather @ QA Creations quilt. She sent along a group of words she picked out for her daughter for us to add to in replacement for a center. I must say at first I was hesitant about not having a quilt to work from, but am LOVING how it's coming out (no pun here). 

Clearly, I picked the word love and paired with some hearts, tutorial @ Cluck Cluck Sew. She was looking for jewel tones, but not too girly. She's hoping to avoid the pretty princess stage ... lol.  She would like the quilt to finish at a twin size, and it's going to look great all put together. I tossed the the leftovers that didn't get used in the block, hopefully she can find a home for them too. 

Here is how everything looks together so far! Stunning, right!?

-Patch & Chels 

First Retreat + Updates

Ok, things have been happening around here but I haven't had time to blog! Let's start with last week I got last minute tickets to a Miranda Lambert Concert. Yep, pit pass, no zoom. We were that close!  Great time with my two best friends. Miranda puts on one good show. Then I got sick, so not much sewing has happened, until ... 

This weekend was my first quilting retreat. It was nothing like I expected, these girls know how to have fun. No joke! Amongst all the excitement, nonsense, and shenanigans, I was able to get a couple things done. One is this flimsy finish of a churn dash quilt made from Fresh Cut designed by Basic Grey for Moda. It used one layer cake, one charm pack, two fat quarters, and one night. I just love this line of fabric. This one is going to stay with me! 

So, the story that goes with this quilt top, was the Friday we arrive to retreat Michelle @ From Bolt to Beauty and I drive up together. We set up our sewing areas, sew for a bit then head out for dinner to come back and get some some more sewing done. At this point I did finish my Aunt's back, but  I needed to feel more productive. After all, it was the first night and I only had one thing done. Most people go to bed, and I stay up. The next morning, everyone wakes up and this quilt is on the design wall done. Second finish of day, done. Let's just say the rest of the weekend wasn't as productive, but hey, it started off strong!

The block above is my favorite from the bunch and conveniently that gray is the same fabric I bought for binding. Now I just need to decide on a back. I also got my Aunt's backing done, and started my Patchwork City quilt. Then was introduced to a fabulous place called Mardens. They got a delivery from a modern quilt shop that went out of business, let's say at $4.99 for a (generous) yard for fabric made me go a little crazy. More on all that later, right now I just need to recover. 

-Patch & Chels 

Sunday Stash

So much for being good! Well, last week someone posted that Lotta Jansdotter released a line for Joann Fabrics. As much as that place makes me hate life, I went for the occasion. Lets say the line doesn't disappoint.  The top mustard color, the navy wheat pattern, the slate blue flowers, and the slate blue color are all from her line. Yum.

My grandmother also knows how much I love Cloud 9 fabrics.  She doesn't have an aversion to Joanns, and likes using her 50% off coupons. Winning for me!  So she hooks me up some with sweet fabrics. The best part is they go PERFECTLY with the Lotta fabrics. 

THANKS AGAIN GRAM!

Conveniently Amy Garro's book Paper Pieced Modern just arrived in the mail. Thinking maybe these  fabrics might play nice with one of her patters?

-Patch & Chels

Thimble Blossoms Update

Taking a little blogging break got me hand-stitching ambitious! Right, I was supposed to take a break.   Either way it kinda happened. One night I basted this quilt and sat on the couch for the remainder of the night hand stitching. It felt good doing nothing, but still productive. My kind of nothing. 

This quilt is made from a variety of Thimble Blossom blocks all smushed into one quilt. Here is the whole thing finished from this summer. Yeah, I've been sitting on this one for a while. If you are interested in learning about "chunky" style hand stitching here is the tutorial. It's my favorite kind of hand quilting. It just makes everything pop. 

You can see I have A LOT more to go. Looks like I will be spending more hours sitting in front of the TV! Anyone recommend a good show?

-Patch & Chels

Good to be Queen

March was my turn to be the queen bee for my Stash Bee!  Whoot Whoot! I chose the Rocky Mountain Puzzle block with a range of colors. It was so much fun to see all the blocks come in and see what people chose for fabrics and colors. Here is a little sample of the awesomeness that has arrived so far! 

Don't they all just scream spring! They are are so fun and light, the whole lot just makes me smile. I cannot wait to see them all together and get them sewn up. Now I just have to think what I am going to do with another quilt. You can never have too many, right?!

I hope everyone else is enjoying the spring. It has finally decided to show up here in New England. I am sitting on the deck with a martini just typing away :).  Hello warmth, I am happy to see you!

-Patch & Chels