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

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

Will You Choose?

Besides finishing up the binding on my Friendship Diamond NouvElle quilt...



And, continuing my easy Herringbone QAYG with Arizona...



I don't have too many unfinished projects at the moment, well compared to my usual amount. I do have lots of newly delivered, beautiful fabrics that are all waiting to become something. When they arrived I know I had a good idea for each that have all abandoned me these past ten days. Honestly I'm having a pretty tough time getting back on track, thinking clearly & staying focused, feeling inspired & motivated. It's not from lack of effort, I just feel very overwhelmed. I do want to sew and I know beginning something new will be good. Would you mind choosing the next beginning for me? From,

Sew Caroline's Limited Addition Gleeful collection for Art Gallery Fabrics.







Sarah Watson's new organic Arcadia collection for Cloud9 Fabrics. 





Alison Glass's Field Day collection for Andover.

 




They are all such amazing fabrics! What do you think I should cut into first?

Thanks in advance for the help! ♥ 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

New Fabric & Plans : :

Today seems like the perfect day to share my newest fabric deliveries and plans. Since I've so been busy making birthday crowns and not much else!



The same day Spring weather finally arrived to my part of PA this lovely & fresh Meadow collection showed up at my door via Art Gallery Fabrics! This collection is by artist Leah Duncan, a gorgeous follow-up to her Tule collection! I'm such a huge fan of Leah's work and cannot wait to turn these beauties into a quilt. At first glace a simple triangle patchwork quilt came to mind, maybe another go at this pattern, hmn?



Prompted by my recent Storybook collection giveaway, I couldn't resist stashing my two favorite prints in the ultra-soft brushed cotton option from Crafter's Vision. These hot air balloon prints will be the backs to two crib size quilts I hope to make this month. Baby quilts aren't something I ever make, but I have an idea that a sweet crib size quilt will be just perfect for, stay tuned!





I was recently invited to receive and play around with this beautiful, Lipari bundle of handwoven Oakshott Cottons! These will certainly become more flying geese units!





My sponsor Cloud9 Fabrics sent me two bundles of their new organic, quilter's weight Enchanted collection By Michelle Engel Bencsko. One to turn into something quilty and one to giveaway once I do! I hope to make my little sister a quick, quilted tote bag before she leaves for Hawaii on Friday!



How about you, have you stashed anything good lately?

Happy sewing!  ♥  Maureen