A Quilt From My Friends : :

This past Sunday my family and I adventured out for a quilt photo shoot. It's been more than two months since we last went out, can you believe it? And, this isn't even a quilt finish of my own, no, it's much more special!

Back in early October a surprise box arrived at my door, in the midst of dealing with frustrating, endless health struggles, grieving the loss of my Dad, all while preparing for my first fabric collection release & Quilt Market. Inside was the most beautiful quilt made by Nicke, Holly, Jacey, Ara Jane, Jeni, Jessica, and Amanda, along with a note expressing their hope that this quilt would bring joy to my life and peace to my heart. This amazing gift has given me that and so much more!



It's made up of twenty colorful, scrappy quilt blocks using the free Amsterdam Quilt Pattern, a collaboration quilt Holly created with Michelle Engel Bencsko for Cloud9 Fabrics, combined with my favorite, quilt as you go. Each block is signed by it's creator. ♡





While this worn-out, broken barn so perfectly represents how I've felt so many days these past few months, this amazing gift embodies the beautiful and tangible connection that only a handmade quilt can give. How quilts are such a wonderful source of comfort. My friends who made it hoped that I'd feel peace and love when I snuggle myself under it, but it also showed me how much they care, which is so helpful and healing in sad and lonely times. I truly can't thank them enough. 

 



To Nicke, Holly, Jacey, Ara Jane, Jeni, Jessica, and Amanda -- from the bottom of my heart I thank you, I'm forever grateful. 

♡  Maureen

Sewing Together : :

Last week my friend Cynthia and I spent one glorious day sewing together! We've been talking about doing this for so long, as in years, about three in fact, which is exactly how long it's been since I finished my very first quilt. I can honestly say I'm glad we waited. I didn't know what I was doing for about a year and most of our sewing plans came from hoping we'd do much better if we did it together. Today, I've grown into a confident quilter who can easily explain and share with my friend how to make a beautiful quilt fast, which made the making easy and the process so much fun!



As for the fabric, Cynthia chose Bonnie's beautiful Winged collection for Art Gallery Fabrics!





For the pattern, she's using my Herringbone QAYG tutorial!



For our day of sewing, we tried out the new Janome Skyline S5 accompanied by my Janome MC 15000 at the dining room table.



We took turns using both Janome models. What a blessing to have such amazing machines to sew on! Janome recently sent me this new Skyline S5 to use and review. So while teaching Cynthia, I was also learning and comparing the Skyline features to my current MC 15000 and the other machines I've sewn on. I plan to continue using it this week, but can already share that this machine really has every convenience I use & need for my daily sewing projects, from birthday crowns to quilt tops! I especially love how compact it is!



We spent the day sewing away, drinking coffee, and laughing constantly. What an amazing opportunity to see my friend learn this process I love so much, to watch her instantly fall in love with the prettiness of her work, which resulted in the beginnings of such a beautiful quilt!



Ah, to be wrapped up in the colors of Spring this Winter, how perfect! We plan to meet one more time after this busy Thanksgiving week to finish it up, stay tuned!

♡  Maureen

A Fabric GIVEAWAY : :

It's Fabric Giveaway Friday!

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My sponsor Fabric Spark is a Canadian online fabric shop on a mission to help others make, to offer inspiration, and to help you find your sewing spark! At Fabric Spark you'll find beautiful designer fabric, designer bundles and unique bundles for patchwork projects and quilts. They offer lots of sewing patterns from quilt patterns to Kwik Sew garments for adults and children, and offer sewing kits containing all of the notions you'll need to make it easy! They're always on the lookout for new fabrics, so stop back often to see what they've found!

"Happy sewing, and remember to do something creative every day!"

SHOP  *  FACEBOOK  *  INSTAGRAM

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 We hope you enjoy visiting the Fabric Spark sites!!

For this week's giveaway Fabric Spark is offering a Doe fat quarter bundle, including eleven beautiful fabrics from Carolyn Friedlander's beautiful, brand new Doe fabric collection! You can find this bundle available as a fat quarter bundle here and a half yard bundle here in the Fabric Spark shop, as well as they're new Doe collection offerings right here!

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Enter to Win!

Here's how,
 
1. Simply leave a comment here in this post! We'd love to know what you'd create with this bundle? (one entry)
2. Follow Fabric Spark on Facebook or Instagram! Just let me know you do by making a separate comment here to record that entry. (optional extra entry)
3. My followers get a third entry, as well! Just let me know 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've added that as another way to enter! Whether by facebook, instagram, tweet, pin, blog, etc... (optional extra entry) 

That’s 4 possible entries! Enter now through Monday, November 24th. The winner will be chosen 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 so that I can contact you should you win!

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Thank you to all who entered the Giveaway!! From 845 entries, Mr. Random says the lucky winner is...

Comment #402 --   * Lucy @ Charm About You *  Congratulations, I'll be in touch shortly!   

Just For You Book & GIVEAWAY : :

Long ago I was invited to contribute a project for the new book Just for You: Selfish Sewing Projects from Your Favorite Sew Can She Bloggers: 24 Simply Stylish Projects by authors Sarah Markos and Caroline Fairbanks-Critchfield of SewCanShe. Over the years the SewCanShe blog has so kindly featured many of my own tutorials and I was thrilled to have been asked. To celebrate it's release there's a fun blog hop happening all month long, featuring all the book contributors, including a sneak peek of each project, with lots of chances to win your very own copy of Just for You! This is my very first book contribution, so it's all very exciting!



The book is a collection of "selfish sewing" projects from bags & totes to skirts & tops to scarves & aprons and more, all designed by many of your favorite bloggers! The projects are arranged into twelve chapters, one chapter for each month, so you can sew along with the book throughout the year. In October, you'll find my project for a Pretty Pocket Apron!



This apron is made using just five fat quarters of fabric, a denim linen, my favorite English Garden Serene print by Bari J, Art Gallery Fabrics Flumes in Citron and PE solid Nocturnal, with several scrappy bits for the colorful pocket applique!



Today, Stash Books is offering a copy of Just For You to one of my readers!

Enter to win!  

Here's how,  

1. Simply leave a comment here under this post! (one entry)
2. My followers get a second entry whether you follow here, on Instagram or Facebook! Just let me know by making a separate comment here to record that entry. (optional extra entry)
3. Help spread the word!! I know that many of you already do so, I've added sharing as another way to enter! Whether by instagram, tweet, facebook, pin, blog, etc... (optional extra entry) 

That’s 3 possible entries! Enter now through Monday, November 24th! The 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. U.S. winner will receive a hard cover book, International winner will receive the eBook version! 

In addition to this chance to win, Caroline is also giving away Just For You plus fabric for four projects! Enter HERE and be sure to click through the blog hop to see the other project previews from the book!

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Thank you to all who entered the Giveaway!! From 339 entries, Mr. Random says the lucky winner is...

Comment #159 --   * Linda Nelson *  Congratulations, I'll be in touch shortly!   

Making Plans : :

With the completion of those eight simple & sweet pillows for my sister last week, and being just one binding session away from finishing the last of my neglected quilt makings, I feel safe to do a little quilt project planning. I'm thinking of maybe making a Christmas tree quilt, but something nontraditional since I recently destashed all of my holiday novelty fabrics and now my stash is majorly lacking in both reds & Christmas green.

The fabrics are mostly a mix of Art Gallery Fabric collections - light citron, fern, emerald, jade, and several other variations of green, coral, cerise, fuchsia, crimson, and a little brown. Not a single print even slightly holiday-ish but still, I think these will work for what I have in mind.

I plan to combine the "reds" with low volume prints to make HST's!





For the "greens" I'll cut a variety of  wide strips, in various lengths, to build a stacked scrappy fabric tree!

For me, beginning a new quilt is one of my most favorite things! The only thing better is seeing them in action, giving them to the ones I love, knowing they'll keep warm under a quilt made just for them. Today, I'm helping my best friend make her very first quilt for her family. I have a feeling that she's going to be hooked and that this opportunity to help her make her first quilt will join the top of my favorite things list!

I'll be sure to share more soon!  ♡  Maureen

A Fabric GIVEAWAY : :

It's Fabric Giveaway Friday!  

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My sponsor The Intrepid Thread is a family owned and run business. In their shop you'll find Fat Quarters, Half Yards, Yards, and Yardage, as well as patterns and embellishments. Their designer fabrics include many of our favorites -- Art Gallery Fabrics, Moda, Free Spirit, and Riley Blake Designs just to name a few! The owners work extremely hard everyday to bring their customers the best fabrics,at the best prices, with high quality customer service!
  
SHOP  *  BLOG  *  FACEBOOK
 

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We hope you enjoy visiting The Intrepid Thread's sites!! 

For this week's Fabric Giveaway, Julie at The Intrepid Thread is offering a very cheery fat quarter bundle of the colorful Art Gallery Fabrics collection by Frances Newcombe, Utopia!

This week's winner will receive this happy bundle including the TEN prints in fat quarter cuts that make up this fun Fantasy City Fervor colorway from the Utopia collection!

You can find each colorful print in the Utopia collection available individually and as pre-cut bundles in quilting cotton, knits, & voile right HERE in The Intrepid Thread Shop!!

Enter to win! 

Here's how,

 
1. Simply leave a comment here under this post! (one entry)
2. Follow The Intrepid Thread on Facebook, their blog, or sign up to receive their Newsletter. 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! If you follow here, on Instagram, or on Facebook just let me know 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, November 17th! The 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!

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

Thank you to all who entered the Giveaway!! From 1,129 entries, Mr. Random says the lucky winner is...

Comment #243 --   * Michelle Holloway *  Congratulations, I'll be in touch shortly!   

Simple & Sweet : :

I can't thank you enough for all the kind words and advice so many of you left me yesterday. I read every comment and felt, more than anything, lifted up by your support and encouragement. I had originally decided that I wasn't going to share what's currently happening with my health, especially after having such an amazing Quilt Market experience. I didn't want to spoil the news and excitement of it all. I came back feeling SO good. Then immediately to have what feels like my whole system just crash on me, has really got me down, which is what brought on yesterday's post. I've been dealing with some pretty severe Autoimmune issues for as long as I've had this blog. That's not a coincidence. I've turned to being creative and sharing my passion for it to get me through it all, without ever dreaming what it would turn into. I don't feel a pressure to continue on the days I'm struggling from my readers, my sponsors, or any contract I've signed. The pressure comes from ME. Each day that passes that I don't spend being productive, creative, and happy is one I feel I've wasted. There's being tired and needing rest, which I think I have no problem conceding to and feel I get plenty of. Then there's what I'm dealing with now, which is an exhaustion and fogginess that leaves me feeling defeated before the day begins. I don't want to be overcome by my grief and illness, I want to succeed more than ever despite of it. I do need to learn to give myself a break on the days I don't. Yesterday, you all reminded me of that and I can't thank you enough. I feel much better today, like a weight has been lifted. Today I'm going to continue working on my sisters pillows at my new pace, without worry or guilt for how behind I feel I am. I'm going to continue counting down the days to when my fabric collection arrives at my door with excitement, which with perfect timing should be right when I can take my medication again.  I'm going to do some of that "selfish sewing" that so many of you mentioned in the comments yesterday. I definitely don't do enough of that! I'll continue to update you all on what's going on, without feeling embarrassed and shy, because pretending it all away just isn't working anymore. But first I want to share a few photos of what I made yesterday. Just a sweet & simple set of whole cloth pillows, quilted with Aurifil, bound in a solid navy.









Such an easy project, but still I managed to create something rewarding that is beautiful and special for my sister. A good reminder that sometimes the grand plans, long to-do lists, and big goals can be forgotten for awhile. That sometimes simple is exactly what's needed to bring the joy and magic of making back to our days and hearts.

Thank you all again!  ♡  Maureen

Sometimes : :

So I've reached a point with this blog where I'm so behind on sharing things, I don't know where to begin each day. There's new quilts and fabrics and dresses and bags and more that are way too good not to share, but they require time from me to write about each of them and then more time in the busy daylight hours for me to photograph each, as well. I blame having to turn the clock backwards and losing that extra hour of sunlight for part of my missing posts here, but honestly I'm moving in slow motion these days. I feel so tired all. the. time. The long Quilt Market trip, combined with all the emotions that came with having my Dad's Memorial right after, along with some health issues I'm currently dealing with have completely drained me of energy these past two weeks. Feeling this sluggish plus guilty from not returning from my amazing trip hitting the ground running & ready to work needs to end, so I'm coming clean today. I'm tired. While I don't want to go into too much detail, I want to share that I recently had to stop taking my Thyroid medication to prepare for a Nuclear Scan I have to have later this month. If you look up the symptoms of Hypothyroidism you'll see what I'm dealing with. It's not fun. And I think knowing that no matter how this test turns out that I still have to have surgery is getting to me more than I thought it would. This has been an incredible year. So full of amazing blessings, personal and family achievements, so many dreams come true, and I'm so grateful for each of them. But with all the good, there's been a whole lotta bad. Most days I feel the comfort of knowing you can't have one without the other. I know life is most always bittersweet. But sometimes I get overwhelmed by the hardships, and I think this is just one of those times.

I know that sharing this little bit here will make me feel so much better. And so will indulging myself to a day of sewing up simple & sweet pillows for my sister. Off to do that now.  ♡  Maureen

For Pillow Making : :

Thank you all so very much for the kind words wishing my family and I a great weekend together as we remembered and celebrated my Dad's life. It was such a wonderful and comforting weekend!

My sister and her family will be here visiting for another week and have some sewing work for me! We looked through my fabric stash last night, picking fabrics together for a set of six 11"x18" and two 16" square pillows for their built-in breakfast nook and I'm excited to get started today!



Like me, my sister loves color, and was immediately drawn to the Anna Maria Horner prints I showed her. Since we don't have time to shop, my pretty large AMH stash will be just perfect for this project.





I can use a number of quilting cottons for the pillow fronts, adding in some of the Drawing Room collection I've been hording as my backing. The sateen home decor weight will give each pillow an extra sturdiness, while tying them all together by using one united fabric print for each of my pillow backs.



I hope that working with these fun, colorful fabrics will give me the boost in energy I so need to get back on track here. Wish me luck!

And how about you, have you started anything new lately?  

♡  Maureen

A Fabric GIVEAWAY : :

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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! 

She's just getting started and invites you all to stop by today to look around!! Thanks Jenn!
  
SHOP  *  BLOG  *  FACEBOOK  *  INSTAGRAM 
 

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We hope you enjoy visiting The Knotted Thread sites!! 

For this week's Fabric Giveaway Friday, The Knotted Thread is offering the winner a beautiful Fat Quarter bundle of Katy Jone's new Limited Edition fabric collection for Art Gallery Fabrics, Priory Square!! This bundle will include a fat quarter cut of each of the eight quilting cotton prints that make up this colorful, new collection!

You can find Priory Square available in The Knotted Thread's shop as a Fat Eighth Bundle, a Fat Quarter Bundle, half yard bundle, and full yard bundle HERE!!

Here's a gorgeous example of Priory Square in action from Katy's recent booth at Quilt Market last month. It was all so beautiful and so full of inspiration for sewing with this lovely new collection!!

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Enter to win! 

Here's how,

 
1. Simply leave a comment here in this post! (one entry)
2. Follow The Knotted Thread on Facebook or on Instagram Just let me know that you do 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, November 10th!! 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!

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

Thank you to all who entered the Giveaway!! From 967 entries, Mr. Random says the lucky winner is...

Comment #73 --   * Crafty Ashley B *  Congratulations, I'll be in touch shortly!   

Getting Ready : :

This past week I haven't had much time to sew. I've been plenty busy playing catch up with the kids and housework since returning from Quilt Market. Although the trip flew by, it was such a long time for me to be away from home! Now this weekend is the memorial for my Dad who passed away in June, so we've all been preparing for that as well, gathering up all our family pictures and getting the house ready for guests. While we all miss him so much, it's been extra difficult to have to wait to have this memorial. I'm sure this weekend will be filled with far more joys than sorrow, as we celebrate his life together.



There's family & friends landing each day this week! Today my sister and family are arriving all the way from Hawaii. Her daughter Sylvia is my God daughter and now I have a new baby nephew to meet. I can't wait to see them all! I have a pile of handmade goodness to gift to them, including my recent Autumn Sun Quilt finish for Sebastian. I pieced it during the hours my sister was in labor and delivering him, so it had to be. Plus it matches the Sunset quilt I gave to Sylvia so perfectly!





Accompanying Sebastian's quilt are the set of quilted pillows I made in Sweet as Honey fabric with my favorite pillow pattern found in issue 8 of Love Patchwork & Quilting. The bright orange Gentle Breeze print binding really ties both quilts together, and I think these matching pillows will be perfect for them to share. I plan to harass my sister for a cute photo once they're back home!



I was lucky to catch a quick sale Bonnie had on Instagram a few weeks back for this sweet, super soft, organic knit Doe Pillow to add to the pile, as well. I think Sylvia's going to love it!

If there's time for sewing, I plan to break in the new Janome Skyline I just unboxed yesterday, photo above at the top. My friends at Janome were so kind to sent it to me to review and create a tutorial project with in the next week or two. As much as I'm looking forward to sewing again, I feel so inspired since Quilt Market, this weekend I'm hoping to find comfort in my family and friends most of all, sharing lots of tears and laughter as we share and listen to stories of how my Dad's presence influenced the lives of all who knew him.

♡  Maureen