A Mandala Dreams Quilt : :

Photographed at last! Back in May I quickly pieced together this Mandala Dreams Quilt, the free pattern designed specifically for my Soulful collection. I brought the top along with me to Spring Quilt Market to send back to Florida with with the AGF girls to have it quilted and photographed for the Soulful LookBook. They did such a beautiful job finishing and styling this quilt for the LookBook! Since it was returned to me, I've been meaning to go out and take my own photos to share here on the blog. Last night my husband and I finally made the time to take pictures of Mandala Dreams and a second newly finished quilt top that I plan to share later this week.

It was the perfect evening at one of my favorite spots for photographing quilts!

I won't go into too much detail about the fabrics needed to make this quilt, since you can download everything you'll need with wonderful instructions to make your very own right here -- http://liveartgalleryfabrics.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Mandala_Dreams_Instructions.pdf

Soulful seems to be selling fast, which is so exciting! Lady Belle Fabrics is currently sold out, but you can still find a few bundles and yardage available at Fat Quarter Shop and yardage at Fabric.com. Be sure to let me know if you make a Mandala Dreams quilt of your very own! And be sure to hashtag your Soulful sewing photos on Instagram with #soulfulfabrics & #maureencracknell :)

xo Maureen

Late-Night Blogging : :

Yesterday was a much needed day of rest for me. With this respiratory flu thing still lingering, taking a little blog break seemed like a necessary and good idea. Though, that isn't to say that I didn't find myself both on this computer and at my sewing machine pretty often! Throughout these past two weeks, the days have been very, very full and I wasn't expecting that this time of year! Usually the holidays end and we settle into easy winter days at home, but not this year!

Well, I'm feeling much better tonight, so I thought I'd pop in and share a few things quickly before the week ends. I've been whipping up my crowns like crazy! Here are a few, and now I'm thinking I need to make a space in my new room for photographing these!





My newest felt order was delivered late last week, so I'm back into the Birthday Crown business and now the felt selling business, too!







Finally being able to offer the felt I use in my own sewing projects for sale is something I'm really excited about! I've never sold supplies before, so I'm still working out how I want to do this? For now, I offer two difference size cuts, in bundles of four or eight. Soon I hope to offer pretty color story bundles and maybe even some kits that will include die cuts and patterns? Currently my etsy listings include several different color mosaics that showcase the colors I have available, like this...



Oh, and I have a pin board here, "Just For Felt," that I'm always adding inspiring felt-y thing to, as well!

Definitely one of the best things to happen this week, besides finishing my QAYG quilt top, was a little sketching session with the kiddos! A poster was made for me to hang in my sewing room, along with a very cool anime character, and I shared a little how-to for drawing Mandalas. A healing activity that I do far too seldom!





Wishing you all a lovely and healthy stretch of days! Be sure to stop back tomorrow for Friday's Fabric Giveaway!!  ♥,  Maureen 

Teal Quilt Block : :

My Teal Block for my Bottled Rainbow Quilt is finished!

This block was a bit challenge for me! Mostly because I just didn't have the scraps. Back when we "bottled our rainbows" the pieces I had considered teal all had the right color but also many others? After sticking so closely to my kona solid color for the other blocks I had to break my rule this time and cut into some stashed fabrics. My new 1001 Peeps!

I experimented with some new shapes for this, as well. I'm using a Mandala inspired theme for each block, starting out with one center shape to work from. I sort-of  mimicked the hexagon shape in the 1001 Peeps print for this and then I used my new GO! Baby fabric cutter and my favorite flower die to help me with some more tricky shapes. It worked!!!

Zig-zag stitching around the really curvy pieces was a little tricky, too -- it definitely wasn't easy!

Look matching nails!

My Teal Block makes four finished! I've made room in my studio closet for all of them.

Here you can see the others -- my Pumpkin Petals, my Buttercup Sunburst, and my Ruby Love birds.

How about you -- what are you working on these days? I'd love to see!

Buttercup Sunburst Quilt Block : :

Well, I hope a wonderful 4th was had bad all! We had a great time, pictures tomorrow!

I did find a little sewing time over this busy weekend and now...

My second Bottled Rainbow quilt block is complete! For this Buttercup block I took the time to arrange a layout that I was happy with and taking that extra step made all the difference! Last time I truly just cut, glued, sewed for each piece. And, I'm not sure why? I had spent a bit of time before I actually began my Ruby block cutting all my pieces for the entire quilt, so I can only explain by saying that I just wanted to get to it already.

I am really happy with this one! My Ruby block had me unsure that this idea of Mandala inspired designs would work with the rectangle shape of the block? I think as an entire quilt the design will be much more pleasing to the eye, than each individual block. So, I am pressing forward with hopes that I am right. My children really love both of the blocks. Of course suggesting they become 16 different colored pillows for them to toss around all day. Good idea but NO, this will be a quilt!

Two down, 14 to go! Wouldn't it be wonderful to have a wall of finished quilt blocks hanging by these vintage hangers? I have been dreaming of this ever since I pinned this neat photo display via Cynthia. Thanks C!!!

I was planning to tackle one block a week, but I think I can move a bit faster with some late night sewing sessions. Once again, this Summer isn't leaving much room for mama-sewing-time. I feel bad complaining about beautiful weather, but honestly a stormy day or two would be nice! How about you, how do you find alone sewing/crafting time?