A Modern Sampler Quilt : :

It was just a few days before last Valentine's Day that I cut into my Tsuru fat quarter bundle, the beautiful collection by Rashida Coleman-Hale for Cloud9 Fabrics. I can remember how excited I was to turn these into a new quilt top. I added to the Tsuru prints lots of coordinating AGF Pure Element solids -- in Snow, Linen White, Mirage Blue, Light Grey, Coral Reef, Nocturnal, Crystal Pink, and Empire Yellow. These colors are some of my most favorites!



Just look how much snow we had back then! Oh, it will be here soon!!



Once I finished my quilt top, I took lots of pictures as usual, including this one of Kevin that I L♥VE!


 
After that I had folded it up neatly and tucked it away while I waited for my backing and binding fabrics to arrive. Fast forward seven months, yikes, and my Tsuru Modern Sample Quilt is finally complete!





I decided to send it off to Melissa, of Sew Shabby Quilting, and had my Of a Feather binding ready for it's return.



Yesterday, I finally found the time to finish it up and last night we had ourselves another photo shoot, just a little up the road from where I live and where those wintry, quilt top photos were taken!



It's backed in one large, beautiful piece of Blossom Festival, my favorite Tsuru print, with a narrow strip of Simpatico in Golden Straws along each long side to build it out.



This is my very favorite photo from yesterday! I love how clear it shows the modern, layered triangle quilting, and I really love the Indigo Cranes block in relation to the water backdrop! Sooo pretty!



It's such a wonderful coincidence that the quilt top photo above of Kevin is what began all these Potter County backdrop quilt photos I've shared here since, and has become something really special for us! Especially this week after learning my blog is up for a Craftsy Award for Best Photography in Quilting!!

You can vote right HERE down a little on the page, for me or for any of the other finalists in our category, by clicking the vote button below each name and simply entering your email!

You can find Tsuru still available in the shop of my sponsors The Intrepid Thread, Stash Fabrics, Contemporary Cloth, Moona Fabrics, and a few prints still at Pink Castle Fabrics! And, Art Gallery Fabric Pure Element solids are always available at Fat Quarter Shop, Moona Fabrics, The Intrepid Thread, Pink Castle Fabrics, and Stash Fabrics!

Happy sewing!! ♥  Maureen 

Next Up : :

Well, sewing together that Sunset quilt back and the two others I need to piece together yet, Tsuru & Rock 'n Romance, never happened yesterday. Instead I listened to music, cleaned the kitchen, cooked an Italian feast to take to my parents house for dinner, and then cleaned my kitchen again. I didn't sew a single stitch!
I suppose all the late night sewing hours I've been putting in finally caught up with me and I needed the break. So for today's plan, besides etsy orders, I'll be making quilt backs and maybe some binding, too.







After I finish those, sticking with my pattern of alternating quilt tops with quilt-as-you-go quilts, I'm going to begin a new qayg with a herringbone pattern in mind. This idea came to mind while making my R 'n R quilt and I think it's going to be another quick one!

How about you? What's happening in your sewing room this week?

A Thank You GIVEAWAY : :

I can't even begin to write on how wonderful reading yesterday's comments were! Once I began stitching on each of the free flying butterflies I had started to second guess myself a little. When I shared my sketch and the photo of my pieced quilt top in the window, I had left off the appliqued butterflies as the unexpected surprise for when I shared the finished quilt. Throughout those few days I had it hanging in the window, that corner of negative space had really grown on me and I almost changed my mind. After reading through all your sweet comment, I'm really glad I didn't! To have so many of you appreciating my creativity is really something, thank you so much!



Today I'm working on etsy orders -- pillows, crowns, and packaging of felt bundles. Then I'm hoping to start a new quilt or two.. I have a niece Josie who's requested that her quilt be a "Princess Quilt," I'll be working from my stash with many prints from the Once Upon A Time fabric collection for this one, with a castle quilt pattern in mind, hmn? The second is for my niece Sylvia who's two, lives in Hawaii, and loves Koi fish. Her mama and I agreed on the beautiful, new Koi collection by Rashida for Cloud9 Fabrics for Sylvia! I love this fabric collection so much!!





Keeping with the rainbow of color I shared in my new quilt yesterday, inspired by the sight of an order I received for one of each of the felt colors I carry all bundled up, and to offer something different than my usual weekly Fabric Giveaway -- I thought today I'd have my very own for a rainbow bundle of felt!

All Fifty-Two colors of the high quality wool blend felt I sell in my etsy shop, all packaged up for one of you! You can see all the colors I have available right HERE!



I'm also continuing my 20% OFF Felt Sale using coupon code : FELT20OFF along with your choice of either a designer fabric scrap or felt scrap stack included in each order, throughout the duration of this Giveaway!

Enter to win! 

Here's how,

1. Simply add a comment to this post! If you'd like, you can share with me what you'd stitch up with all this wool blend felt? (one entry) 
2. Followers of Maureen Cracknell Handmade get an additional entry, too! Just let me know that you do by making a separate comment here to record that entry. (one optional entry) 

3. 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... (one optional entry)

Please enter now thru Monday, September 9th. Mr. Random will pick the winner 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 an anonymous commenter, remember to include your email address in your comment so that I can contact you, should you win! Please check to make sure you can be contacted!

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Thank you to all who entered the Giveaway!!

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From 1,180 entries, Mr. Random says the lucky winner is...

    Comment #592 --   * Darcy *   

Congratulations!!! I will be in touch shortly!  

Promised Quilts : :

I have nine quilts left to make for gift giving this coming Christmas. Yes, nine! I think by now you all know how successful I am at sticking to my plans without getting distracted, so... you know they'll be others too! I'm excited and have decided to begin with the two quilts I have planned for my nephews, Owen & Ben.

An "ant farm" themed quilt for Owen! Using several Backyard Baby prints, some Riley Blake Cotton Dots, and Pure Element Solids.



A nautical themed quilt for Ben! Using some Michael Miller Ahoy Matey ocean themed prints, lots of Pure Elements, some newly stashed orange fabrics from Form & Fabric, along with some older stashed fabrics.



I'm really excited about this large Making Waves panel print I ordered just for the quilt backing!



And as my bonus, totally selfish quilt project -- a gorgeous Koi quilt must be made as soon as possible, as well! Just like with Tsuru, I fell completely in love with Rashida's new collection for Cloud9 at first peek!!



I never mentioned this here before, but back in January things got pretty tough for me. I had been having complications with my Autoimmune skin disease since last July and just when I thought things were getting better, a bad bronchial infection along with a high fever seemed to trigger a really bad flareup. It was extremely painful, especially emotionally, and I'm glad those days are behind me. Of course I understand that Autoimmune disease can be a very mysterious thing, with no rhyme or reason as to why these things do happen to so many, but accepting that doesn't just make the desire to know what the cause of these problems is just go away. So during those difficult days at a visit with one of my doctors, we were going over everything that he knew might possibly trigger such a long lasting widespread issue. Blood work revealed nothing that's usually associated with my skin problems, allergy tests showed no link, reaction to all the medications I had tried throughout the last couple of years -- ruled out. Then he asked, "You say you sew? Do you do that often?" Me, "Oh, yes!" Then, for the first time he seriously discussed with me that although it's rare, there has been reported links to the skin disease I have as a sensitive reaction to dyes, possibly dyes used in fabric. Can you imagine how hearing that felt? I can't even begin to try to share in words what that did to me. I will share that I took that notion serious, it felt very possible, and I even began to believe that it was the reason for awhile. He decided to refer me to a new Autoimmune Dermatologists to get her opinion, as well. My appointment was scheduled and I had about three months to think about all of this. What would I do if I couldn't sew anymore? I thought about that for about a day and then I thought, well I can still sew now! If you look back at my blog from late January on, you'll see that I made a pretty big sewing shift to focus on quilt work at that time. Along with that shift came a promise to make each of my favorite kids, mine and my nieces and nephews all a special quilt. They all responded with some really fun ideas, from princess to peace signs to ant farm themed quilts. Thankfully, I can report that at my last appointment it was decided that dye wasn't the culprit, and although unfortunately we still don't know what is, I now have these special quilts to focus on finishing by Christmas time this year. I have three finished, the Stitched Typography quilt for my Jacob, the ABC quilt for a new niece or nephew due in September, my most recent Zig Zag quilt for Haila, and just nine more to go! That's all, no big deal, ahem. So that's the very summed up story of why I finally decided to and completely fell in love with making quilts this year. An unexpected push, from this strange and crazy ordeal, gave me the confidence I was missing to finally cut into these fabrics I love so much with quilt plans in mind, and I'm grateful. I learned a lot about myself during those several months, a made some quilts that I'm really proud of, and most importantly I remembered to trust that no matter how things turn out, they will always turn out exactly as they should.

♥ Maureen 

A Tsuru Quilt Top { and GIVEAWAY! } : :

Oh how I love Tsuru!! It's the new collection by Rashida Coleman-Hale for Cloud9 Fabrics. When these arrived, I knew they had to become a quilt top asap!



I originally decided to turn my FQ bundle into a quilt full of framed centered and off-centered squares. I was able to get two blocks finished right away after settling on that idea. I was so excited to see it all come together, but ran out of time. It was a few days later before I got back to it, and after taking a second look, I decided to play with some improv.

And, I'm SO glad I did!!



Improv is so much fun for me! Once I started, I just couldn't stop, and ended up staying up half the night until my Tsuru quilt top was completely finished! I've been really inspired by Aztec patterns in prints, home decor, and fashion lately, so that definitely worked it's way into the design of this quilt top!



I used lots of coordinating Art Gallery Fabric Pure Element solids in the quilt, as well. In order from left to right I used -- Snow, Linen White, Mirage Blue, Light Grey, Coral Reef, Nocturnal, Crystal Pink, and Empire Yellow. Goodness, I've already wiped out half of my solids stash this year!



Our white fence and all the snow we had this past weekend made such a pretty backdrop for this quilt top.  The colors that make up this collection are just so amazing together!



Of course, I do have my personal favorite photos! This one, the little peek I shared of my Tsuru quilt top on Monday.



That night I brought my quilt along as we went to the park to feed the ducks. I thought I might get some pretty shots, but it was too windy in one direction and so glaringly bright in the other. This photo was such a happy accident,  I L♥VE it!


 
You can find the Art Gallery Fabric Pure Elements available at Hawthorne Threads, Fat Quarter Shop, Moona Fabrics, The Intrepid Thread, Pink Castle Fabrics, Stash Fabrics, and Contemporary Cloth!

And, beautiful Tsuru is scheduled to hit stores this week!! You can find it available in the shop of my sponsors Hawthorne Threads, The Intrepid Thread, Stash Fabrics, Project Anthologies, and Pink Castle Fabrics!

If you're headed to QuiltCon next weekend, Rashida will be there! She was invited by the QuiltCon team to join them as a judge for the quilt competition, is doing a meet & greet Demo for CLoud9, will be presenting her newest collection Koi for the first time! Eek!! And, a Zakka Style book signing! Oh, I wish I were going!

Today, I have an extra FQ bundle of Tsuru to Giveaway to one of you, courtesy of Cloud9 Fabrics!!



To enter, just simply leave a comment here in this post! If you'd like to share a story, pattern, or link to your favorite quilt, that would be wonderful! It could be something you've made, received, or just one you've even seen somewhere? I plan to focus on quilt work this year, so I'm excited to see!! I'll add the winner to the bottom of this post on Monday!

I also want to give a shout-out to Shirley and wish her a very Happy One Year Blog-iversary! She's having a fun Giveaway of her own to celebrate HERE. Congrats Shirley!! 

Thank you and have a wonderful Valentine's Day!!   ♥,  Maureen  

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From 499 entries, Mr. Random says the lucky winner is...

Comment #217 --  kristin, who said...

Such a fantastic quilt and fabric line, too! Love Tsuru, thanks for the giveaway! 

Congratulations  Kristin!!! I will be in touch shortly!

New & Finished : :

I had a really productive sewing weekend, and I'm excited to share it all throughout this new week! Of course, I have no clue where to begin. Gosh, I took so many pictures over the weekend! Before I do share any of them, I want to start by quickly saying thank you for being so generous and sweet with your comments lately. It's the greatest feeling and motivator to know that all this making I do, and that all the time it takes to share it all here, might mean something to more than just me. It's wonderful and I thank you!

On Thursday I found a new piece for my sewing room that I really, really like. I plan to use it as an inspiration board eventually. For now I'm using it to encourage some long overdue finishes! Which is working!!





After finishing up some crown orders on Saturday I finally turned my "Stitch Sketch" girl into a finished quilt top! I hope to share all the details tomorrow, but here's a peek!







In the sunlight I could easily see the imperfection of my stitch sketching, and I actually think my mistakes are beautiful. Hoping the recipient of this quilt agrees.

I finished up my Tsuru & Pure Element Quilt top, as well! I stayed up late Saturday night until it was done! I'll be sharing it with a special Tsuru Giveaway on Valentine's Day!!







Besides lots of crown making, I have plans to finish a few more wips this week. First in line is already hanging on my new inspiration board! And, I've already begun work on yet another quilt. This time, Chicopee was on my cutting table, and the laborious task of turning this gorgeous collection into a high stack of triangles is already complete!





Today, I've got Ray...



and some crown-making to do!

Happy Monday, friends!! ♥,  Maureen 

p.s. I just tried to "Pin" some of my photos and it won't work?? Does anyone know how to fix that?? Thanks!  Problem fixed! Pin if you're interested!!