Fall Vibes : :

I love to match my quilt-making with the seasons! Pastel quilts in the Spring inspired by the lengthening sunsets, the rebirth of each bloom, and the freshness of the leaves. Colorful, happy quilts in the Summer to remind me of the golden sunshine and the beautiful flowers that the garden gives that time of year. And now, as Autumn is setting in once again, I have to confess that it's my most favorite! All year long I look forward to the family of pumpkins and containers of mums that will take over our front porch. The warm yellow, orange-red palette is calling me to make a quilt, and so...

















Eighty-one Plus quilt blocks later, after a weekend spent cutting and chain-piecing here and there, I am already in the final stages of making my first quilt top for this new season that is just beginning! This one really came together so much faster and easier than I thought it would. A simple quilt with lots and lots of color!

I'll be back soon with a finished quilt top to share!

XX Maureen

A Chevron Angle Quilt Top : :

I'm so excited to share my second Observer fabrics quilt top today! I had previously blogged that I was planning another Diamond Weave quilt with the large HSTs I had leftover from making my first Observer quilt top, Diamond Trails. The make eight at a time half square triangle method yielded a hefty stack of extras that I couldn't let go to waist!



To help me calculate just how much and of which prints I would need to turn these HSTs into a new Diamond Weave I started to make a quick mockup of the pattern. As I was playing I stumbled upon a new design idea that I loved just as much, but all that was needed were just 8" square patches to pair with the already made HSTs. Easy & fast!

Here you can see both the grid I made of the fabric placement layout and the digital quilt pattern.



Following the diagram, I cut my squares and sewed my quilt top together in just a couple of hours and I love how it turned out!





These prints blend together so seamlessly you can barely see the quilt block seams!





Both of the Observer quilt tops I made measure 62" x 74." Here's a reminder of the first one incase you missed it!



Now I've successfully utilized every last 8" HST I initially made, using the last four in a pillow I hope to finish this afternoon to share next week, hooray!

♡ Maureen  

Drawstring Backpacks : :

In between all the quilt top making, and the birthday crown making, and the just generally sitting around admiring all the beautiful fabrics that keep arriving from Art Gallery Fabrics, I've been sewing up a few new Quick Quilt As You Go drawstring backpacks. I can't tell you how much I love my own drawstring backpack, I take it everywhere! They're such fun to make, and have the potential to be a great stash-buster! I keep thinking I'll use up as much of the stash as possible whenever I decide to make more, but these new collections just pull me right in! And, then at least I don't have to refold and refuss with trying to stack and keep my stash all color-coded and pretty, right!?



This first one features prints from both my Nightfall and Fleet & Flourish collections, with a few added coordinating AGF prints, denim, and vintage lace embellishments. I've been using these sweet colors so much lately, in both my recent Reverie and Nightland quilt tops. This color combination will always be one of my favorites!







Then yesterday I made this Observer fabrics & denim drawstring backpack and I completely fell in love! It's so prefect for Fall! These prints and colors work so well for this style of bag.









I'll have to make another for sure! But first, I had started a second Observer fabric quilt immediately after finishing my first one, but shelved it when it was feeling a bit too much like the one I had just made. The excitement over this backpack, with a few weeks break, and a new quilt pattern plan has me ready to finish it up. It should hopefully come together quick, be back soon!

♡ Maureen  

A Nightland Quilt Top : :

I had every intention of making four more Nightfall & Heartland fabric star blocks before finishing up this Nightland quilt top. I was sure I'd need additional yellow-heavy blocks to create a balanced, harmonious quilt design. When compared with the sweeter, peachy-pink, aqua, and blue star blocks, the bright yellows really popped, overshadowing the softer colors that seemed to fade away. For a minute I even questioned if the blocks I had already finished could even work together. Before deciding what might bring it altogether and which new color to pair with the yellows, I placed the dozen finished stars I had onto the floor to begin playing with layout options. The large 18.5" unfinished blocks quickly filled up the entire working floor space of my sewing room, the familiar signal to me that this work in progress is plenty big enough - time to stop!









After moving blocks around for a bit, I decided a sashing was the perfect remedy to unify the mixture of blocks, keeping the flashy yellows at the four corners, while opting for a new twist on a traditional cornerstone -- friendship stars!



This idea was so perfect in keeping with the star theme of this quilt design!



With the added 2.5 sashing and friendship stars, combined with the dozen large star blocks, this pieced together quilt top measures 60" x 80", a wonderful throw size! For picture taking sake alone, I'm perfectly pleased with deciding to modify my original plan for this quilt. I'm sure my husband/quilt holder thanks me, as well!



This September moody morning, with the rising fog was the perfect, dreamy setting for this star filled quilt design! The best Monday morning I've had in a while!

Wishing you all a wonderful start to the week! ♡ Maureen  

A Fabric GIVEAWAY : :

It's Fabric Giveaway Friday!  



- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

My sponsor the Knotted Thread is run by Jenn, a fabric lover with a passion for sewing! In her shop you'll find both bundles and single cuts of Fat Quarters, Half Yards, Yards, and Yardage, as well as some of Jenn's very own handmade items up or sale!! Designer fabrics include many of our favorites -- Free Spirit, Moda, and Riley Blake Designs just to name a few! 

Be sure visit the Knotted Thread blog to sign up for the new monthly Newsletter, HERE!
  
SHOP  *  BLOG  *  FACEBOOK  *  INSTAGRAM 
 

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

We hope you enjoy visiting the Knotted Thread sites!! 

For this week's Fabric Giveaway Friday, the Knotted Thread is offering a generous complete Fat Quarter bundle of the Observer fabric collection by April Rhodes for AGF to one lucky MCH reader!

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

Enter to win!

Here's how,

 
1. Simply leave a comment here in this post! (one entry)2. Visit The Knotted Thread HERE and sign up to receive their new monthly Newsletter OR follow them on Instagram HERE! Just let me know that you did by making a separate comment here to record that entry. (optional extra entry)3. My followers get a third entry! Just let me know that you do by making a separate comment here to record that entry. (optional extra entry)
4. Help spread the word!! I know that many of you already do, so I thought it would be nice to add that as another way to enter! Whether by Instagram, tweet, facebook, pin, blog, etc... (optional extra entry) 

That’s 4 possible entries! Enter now through Monday, September 19th!! Winner will be picked at random and I will announce their name at the bottom of this post, here on the blog!

* Note * This giveaway is open to EVERYONE! If you're a "no reply" or anonymous commenter, please remember to include your email address in your comment!

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

A BIG thanks to all who enter our Giveaway! For a second chance at winning a FQ bundle of Observer, be sure to visit my Instagram today!

Have a wonderful Friday & weekend!!  ♡ Maureen 

Fall Stars : :

This week it's finally starting to feel like Fall, I've been busy cooking all our Fall favorites and stitching up a pile of star blocks combining my Nightfall fabrics with Pat's new Heartland collection. These scrappy stars are so addictive! What a pleasure it is to sew with my own fabrics and my dear friend's beautiful designs, I'm really enjoying this project!

This quilt, which I've already named my Nightland quilt, uses a selection of fabrics divided into two color grouping at a time, made into HSTs to create four large 18.5" unfinished blocks. I shared my pretty, peachy-pink stars on Tuesday, and today I wanted to pop in to share how those yellow & blue stars turned out, along with what colors I'm working with now!



Once I sent this photo to my friend Sharon, I noticed my mistake. The center diamond that forms should be the blue prints, rather than the yellow. As well as the four corners, oops! I was playing around with color placement so much before I stitched my block units together that I must have flipped those around without noticing. I've decided I'm okay with it, and will just have to make it part of the design. It happens, right?



I continued on, finishing up the four stars in Yellow & Blue, using the same HST placement for each, and now I've moved onto two new colors -- Peach & Aqua!



For this new block I was careful to copy my first star block layout, but if I decide I need to make four more I'll follow the yellow & blue stars to make an even amount of both block patterns. I think these new stars are my favorites so far, such sweet color & print combinations!



I'm still unsure of how I want my quilt top to look, it's going to be fun coming up with a final layout! I hope to be back Monday with it all finished and photographed to share!

Be sure to stop back tomorrow for a new Fabric Giveaway!!  ♡ Maureen