Found : :

Yesterday while rummaging through my collection of scrap holding vessels in search of more yellows to add to my new Autumn Sun quilt work in progress, I uncovered this long forgotten baby quilt project that I started more than a year ago! Discovered again at the most perfect timing, as my sister Catherine who lives far away in Hawaii just delivered a healthy baby boy during the night while all of us on the East Coast were fast asleep!



I referred to this baby quilt planning blog post to refresh my memory on where this one was headed, but already I'm considering a completely different direction, hmn? I do know that my love for this Reminisce inspired Pure Element solids bundle and the super cute & cozy FanFare flannel by Rae Hoekstra for Cloud9 Fabrics combination is definitely still there! Look how pretty!



After etsy order duties, turning these into a finished woodland celebration quilt for my new, baby nephew is priority number one!

Happy sewing!
♥  Maureen

Fox Pillow Morning : :

This morning I had four fox pillow orders to make to ship out later today. I really do love making these and someday hope to make a whole mess of them to offer ready-made in my little etsy shop!



These pale aqua and orange fox pillows are by far the most requested, so I love it when a customer requests a different color combo or a little extra added embellishment like this King fox!





After finishing up each appliqued pillow front I auditioned fabric backings and settled on the colorful Cloud9 Fabrics organic, quilter's weight Enchanted collection By Michelle Engel Bencsko!



I pulled out two of my favorite prints and love the way these turned out!





My busy week of sewing is off to a great start! How about you, what are you working on this week?

♥ Maureen

Project Beginnings : :

Thank you all for your kindness and understanding this past week, as well as over the past several weeks that have come after the loss of my Dad.  I'm so grateful to have such wonderful, positive, and encouraging family, friends, sponsors, and readers. From your words we've received so much love and wisdom, from those of you who have and are still grieving the loss of a parent, and now from those of you who have suffered or have had a loved one suffer a similar heart event as my husband just did. Your shared stories have been a powerful and extremely helpful resource for us as we understand what happened, how to prevent a recurrence, and now as we begin to heal after going through so much these past several weeks. We are all on the mend. As for me, at any moment a thought will come to mind and will bring me to tears. It's been a very tough, extremely emotional Summer to say the least. I've shared before that for me creating is medicine, and I trust that many of you who read this blog will understand that. Just as running is so helpful and healing for my husband, this hobby of mine nourishes my soul and spirit, it makes me feel good, as does any great love. Today I'm sharing the first sewing I've done in two weeks, other than a few etsy orders that had to be done quickly. Yesterday I was so grateful to wake up to a rainy day, and as soon as I made it to my sewing machine I felt the calm and soothing of a long exhale, as I began to stitch.

When issue ten of Love Patchwork & Quilting arrived I immediately fell in love with the Hourglass Twist quilt Karen Lewis created on the cover. I even had a fat quarter bundle of the gorgeous Cloud9 Fabrics Grey Abbey collection she used just waiting to become something. Since I had so much fun making my recently finished scrappy hourglass quilt top, loved that this pattern had a twist, and wanted to begin my return to sewing with a project that was repetitive, effortless, and pretty. This was perfect!









The quick work of this pattern, a little chain piecing, and since I decided to make my blocks just a little bit larger, easily used up all of my Grey Abbey fat quarters. After laying out each hourglass block and cut piece I only had enough to create a large crib size quilt. Which would be adorable and would give me the quick quilt fix I need, but still I decided to go bigger!





I'll be adding in my Simpatico stash which I think will blend in nicely, and possibly a few coordinating solids. What do you think?



After snapping a few shots this morning I've tucked these pretty project beginnings away for another day!

Gosh does it feel good to be back in this space! I'd love to hear what you're working on these days?

♥ Maureen

Arcadia { A Fabric GIVEAWAY } : :

As I work my way to turning my beautiful fat quarter bundle of Cloud9 Fabric's Arcadia collection into a new quilt top, I thought it would be fun to have a special midweek giveaway for the second bundle today!



There are so many wonderful prints in this collection, including many great low volume prints, if you're on the look out! I especially love the whimsical forest theme -- toadstools, wildflowers, bees, & butterflies, such a perfect collection for these Summer days! Be sure to click right HERE to get a better look at lovely Arcadia!!



Enter to win a bundle today!

 -- Simply leave a comment here in this post! I'd love to know what you'd make with your FQ bundle of Arcadia?
-- You can follow the Cloud9 Facebook page, Blog, or Instagram as an optional extra entry! Just let me know that you do by making a separate comment here to record that entry.
-- My followers get an extra entry, too!
-- Help spread the word! I know that many of you already do, so I've added that as another way to enter. Whether by Instagram, tweet, facebook, pin, blog, etc...   

I'll be sure to add the winner to the bottom of this post!

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Thank you to all who entered the Giveaway!!

From 1,590 entries, Mr. Random says the lucky winner is... 

Comment #281 --   *  Little Ella Lu * Congratulations! I will be in touch shortly!  ♥ Maureen

Arcadia Geese : :

I really appreciate those of you who cast your fabric vote the other day, your enthusiasm is contagious and was the gentle jolt I needed to get sewing again. thank you.







Unsure of a good first step, I reflected on other times when I really wanted to start a new quilt without having a solid design plan and decided those that began best were those set out with an open making rows style of quilt in mind. I've made two now. Kaiden's Making Rows quilt, a favorite from last year's quilt making. And more recently, a Rapture Making Rows quilt using Pat Bravo's beautiful collection. This unhindered design as I go process is the best kind of instinctual work. It lends itself so well to the times I want to sew, but am preoccupied with other thinking or even just daydreaming. These days I'm both relying on and finding a comfort in what my hands have learned to do when my head and heart are elsewhere. It might not be much yet, but it feels satisfying, and so I am grateful.



I'd love to know what you're all working on. I don't have much time to reply like I usually try to do, but I read each and every comment left here and always find them so helpful!

So, what are you stitching up these days?   ♥ Maureen

Happy Mail : :

I've been pretty spoiled these past couple of weeks with some amazing mail deliveries! I don't always get the chance to share what I'm stashing, but on this rainy, dark morning the new piles of bright, happy fabrics & threads sitting on the desk beside me are inspiring!

First up, Pat Bravo's new collection NouvElle, a gorgeous assortment in half yard cuts of classic Pat Bravo prints blending all that I love about modern fabric design with femininity so perfectly as she always does!



These NouvElle colors of indigo, blush & bright pinks, slate, and airy blues are so pretty! At the foundation of each Pat Bravo collection there's always a sweet floral print that, to me, ties in all together. With NouvElle I'm so excited to see the return of one of my most favorite Pat Bravo prints, Femme Metale! This gorgeous floral design was my very favorite in her Rock 'n Romance collection and I am loving it once again, only this time in Sapphire!



Aurifil Thread so generously sent me two colorful thread sets, one in their 40 wt and one in 50 wt, including twelve large spools each, in their most popular thread colors! In addition, I was sent several sample thread packs of six spools each in fabulous colors, in a variety of weights that even includes their beautiful new floss on the cute wooden spools! Keep an eye out for a special Aurifil Giveaway soon!!



Have you seen Rae Hoekstra's newest collection Lotus Pond for Cloud9 Fabrics? This collection is full of the most adorable, cheery & colorful nature themed fabrics! The colors are truly amazing, so vibrant and fun!



It was impossible to choose a collection favorite, but just as I did yesterday with my personal Meadow favorite, I have to highlight this gorgeous Kelly green diamond print! I can't get enough of this color!



Also from Cloud9 Fabrics arrived this beautiful Grey Abbey collection by designer Elizabeth Olwen! The pastel palette is so soft & sweet, in prints inspired by nature and folklore, with a vintagey feel. It's so lovely! I'm really hoping we'll all get to enjoy many more fabric collaborations from Elizabeth & Cloud9 Fabrics!



Such amazing fabrics, aren't they? Now my only problem is deciding which to cut into first!  

How about you, what are you loving these days? Have you stashed anything good lately?

♥  Maureen

Cloud9 Cushions { & A Fabric GIVEAWAY! } : :

As planned, this past weekend I turned that gorgeous fat quarter bundle of Cloud9 Fabric's Bark & Branch collection into a happy stack of quilted pillows!



For the three patchwork pillows I simply made a pile of half square triangles, geese units, narrow strips in varying widths, and began imrov piecing one pillow top at a time!

There are so many wonderful, low volume prints in this collection! I did put some effort into separating the color values as I sewed each pillow together, but I do think my piecing really does shine best up close. I especially love the diamond and zigzag pattern that emerged with the placement of my flying geese! I definitely plan to work this pattern into another project very soon!



As I worked my way through the bundle, this Forest Floor leaf print became my most favorite, so I made sure to keep just enough to quilt up for my 12" x 16" pillow form!





I pressed each pillow top to a piece of HeatnBond Fleece, used a 50wt Aurifil for all of my quilting, and finished with an Essex Yarn Dyed Linen in black as my pillow backing! The combination of these really makes a beautiful and sturdy pillow!



Along with my bundle of Bark & Branch, Cloud9 Fabrics also sent me a bundle of Koi Canvas to Giveaway today!! Click right HERE to get a better look, the colors are gorgeous!!





To enter,

 -- Simply leave a comment here in this post! I'd love to know what you'd make with your FQ bundle of Koi Canvas?
-- You can follow the Cloud9 Facebook page, Blog, or Instagram as an optional extra entry! Just let me know that you do by making a separate comment here to record that entry.
-- My followers get an extra entry, too!

I'll be sure to add the winner to the bottom of this post!

Thank you so much stopping by today!!!   ♥ Maureen

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Thank you to all who entered the Giveaway!! From  1,150 entries, Mr. Random says the lucky winner is... 

Comment #29 --   * Linda * Congratulations, I'll be in touch shortly! 

Bark & Branch : :

In my last post I shared just a peek at this collection, Bark & Branch, a new release by Eloise Renouf for Cloud9 Fabrics. Unsure of which new fabric bundle I should cut into first, I untied the pretty bow wrapping this collection to get those good project ideas flowing, and decided these needed to become pillows a.s.a.p!  I snapped these photos quickly before beginning and just as soon as I had finished the phone rang, our luck had run out, my first kiddo had the flu! Since, they've all come down with it and are all home again today keeping me company and extra busy! While my sewing plans are still on hold, I thought you might like to see a closer look at Bark & Branch, as well!















I can't pick a favorite, I really love each print! With names like Winter Wonderland, Nature Trail, Passing Clouds, and Birdsong, they're fabric perfection for these cold, winter days! I'm really looking forward to turning them into a stack of quilted pillows combined with some Essex Linen. What do they inspire you to make? I always love reading your ideas!

Feel free to send healthy vibes our way, it's been a rough week for all of us! Be sure to stop back tomorrow for an awesome Fabric Giveaway Friday with Bobbie Lou Fabrics, with hopefully another giveaway to follow on Monday for some Cloud9 Fabrics goodness and a Bark & Branch pillow show & tell!

Take care!  ♥  Maureen

Stash Happy : :

There's nothing quite like fabric mail, don't you agree? The excitement of opening each package, the fanning it all out, and the dreaming of what they'll become! I share often that it's my most favorite part of sewing, and this past week was extra, extra good! To top it off, a surprise package from Love Patchwork & Quilting arrived including my Butterfly Quilt -- in print, on the cover! WOWSA!!



Here we have two brand new, amazingly beautiful collections by Art Gallery Fabrics!



First the new Chromatics, a wonderful assortment of our very favorite prints in gorgeous new colors to coordinate perfectly with all of the AGF collections. I'm so excited about these! I sew with Art Gallery fabrics more than any other, because I'm in love with the feel, and have developed a bit of habit for keeping only AGF's together in my projects. Not always, but most of the time. Stashing these was a must for me and I really, really hope they'll offer more of this style of mix and match collections!



I especially love these sweet & dainty Love Notes florals!



Have you seen Bonnie Christine's newest collection Sweet as Honey? Named perfectly, this collection is full of the prettiest woodland themed fabrics I've seen and the colors are so amazing!





My personal favorites are the beautiful Fly By Day and Fly By Night prints. I plan to back an entire quilt in this fabric, and after seeing Art Gallery's new pattern for their Rustic Autumn quilt, I'm inspired!



Since both Anna Maria Horner's new Dowry and True Colors collections didn't make it into my AMH Love Herringbone Quilt, and because I've been dying to make a second one! I recently received from Free Spirit Fabrics these Design Rolls in both of Anna's new collections! Already pre-cut into the 2.5" strips my pattern calls for, these are just too perfect and will make an already super quick quilt pattern even quicker! Plus, I have a roll of each to offer in a Giveaway right here, just as soon I finish up my quilt!!



From Cloud9 Fabrics, I have big pillow plans for this Bark & Branch bundle, such a perfect Winter collection! As well as, big Giveaway plans for their brand new, Koi Canvas collection!



Such amazing fabrics, aren't they? Now my only problem is that I cannot decide which to cut into first! What do you think ?? Help!! 

♥  Maureen 

p.s. If you happened to miss both my posts on Facebook and Instagram yesterday, sadly one of my favorites and former sponsors here, Project Anthologies, is closing their shop. In closing they are offering some amazing fabrics all at an incredible price plus an extra 40% OFF with coupon code: closeout  Please, give Melany's shop a visit and help spread the word!!