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