Solid Beginnings : :

RJR Fabrics recently invited me to join in a blog hop to celebrate their solids collection, RJR Cotton Supreme Solids. I had a lot of fun looking through the color card and deciding what to choose for my project. There's so many color options, you can find many of them available here at Pink Castle Fabrics!



Usually I receive or purchase fabrics and then decide what they should become once the arrive, when I can see them up close, feel them, play around with grouping certain prints together, and separating their color values. With solid fabrics it's much different. Designing a project using only solids is something I haven't tried until now, although I've always wanted to!



I began by simply choosing a stack of colors that I've been feeling lately. Optical White, a bright crisp neutral. One the Rock, a light stone-y gray. Flamingo, a medium peachy pink. Tropicana, a radiant coral. Slate, a muted dark blue. And Navy, an inky ultra-dark shade. By beginning with colors that I really love, it eases any worry I feel over not having a project plan, like I'm guaranteed to make something pretty if the fabrics are beautiful!



I stitched up just one block in the time I had to begin yesterday and still haven't committed to a solid plan.





Since this solid only project is a first for me, I thought it might be fun to make something new and different than a quilt. Maybe. An extra-large quilted floor pillow, a new Summer tote bag, a modern table runner, or even a baby quilt are a few of the possibilities I've been imagining.  Any suggestions?

A Skull Quilt Pattern : :

I have never been so excited to share something! My Skull Quilt Pattern is finished and is listed in my etsy shop as an instant downloadable PDF!

This is my very first quilt pattern and I'm really hoping you all enjoy it and all the one's that come after!



Besides being a wonderful Halloween quilt, this design in versatile eough that it will make a very cool boy quilt for any age, as well as being perfect for our music-loving rocker girls!

This bold and fun pixelated, skull quilt pattern is made using simple patchwork and HST (half square triangle) techniques, includes fabric requirements // measurements // instructions for making a generous throw size skull quilt measuring 62" x 84"

15-page PDF pattern includes:

- Fabric Requirements and Cutting Instructions
- HST and Layout Diagrams
- Quilt Top Assembly Instructions
- Finishing Fabric Requirements and Instructions

You can find this pattern for sale in my etsy shop, HERE!

Now that all that hard work is done, I'm treating myself with a new quilt finish -- My Modern Tsuru Sampler just came back from Sew Shabby Quilting and looks better than I could have ever imaged!





Thank you all for your kind words and interest in this very first pattern of mine! You guys are the best!! A special thanks to my friends Pat, Julie, Sondra, Nicke, and Cynthia for helping me pull this off!!

Happy Sewing!!  ♥  Maureen

A Chicopee Triangle & Colorblock Quilt : :

I finished another new quilt this weekend, A Chicopee Triangles & Colorblock Quilt! Many thanks to those of you offered up sashing help on Thursday!! I was working on finishing up my triangle blocks, stopping to read your suggestions as they came in, agreed that the white had to go, and then I had to do some thinking. I was really torn between the Chicopee & grey and the Chicopee & aqua, yellow combo for a little while.



I loved the way the grey warmed up this collection and kept it a little masculine, but equally loved how the two solid colors brightened everything up. Curious, I decided to see how things would look if I added even more colors to the mix, with the grey as well, and I loved it!!



Seeing all those Art Gallery Pure Elements beautifully blur together with the Chicopee colors made such a pretty picture!



The back is imporv pieced together using up some of my left over triangles, to make one large triangle, combined with several more Pure Element Solids. I snapped this photo early Saturday morning, I just love these colors together with the Chicopee patchwork! 



I went with 505 Spray again for the basting, and quilted when I found the chance throughout the rest of the weekend, using a colorful, Brick Red Aurifil Thread.



I was pretty nervous about how my quilting would look on all those solid fabrics that made up the back, with such an obvious thread choice, but I went for it anyways!



My binding is made of Dark Citron Pure Element, my favorite shade of green!!





I wish I wouldn't have gotten better photos of the finished front, this is my best shot!



Thankfully the back photos turned out nice. I'm really happy I went with something modern and improv for the back!



This was a really fun quilt for me to make and is my husband's new favorite! It finished measuring 50" x 56", so a nice quilt size for the couch!

I have my Applique Art quilt top all basted and ready to be finished next, just as soon as I figure out a plan for the quilting!

Wishing you all a wonderful new week!  ♥,  Maureen 

A Fabric GIVEAWAY : :

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It's Fabric Giveaway Friday!

    
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My sponsor Stash Fabrics is an online store full of fresh, modern fabric. They carry many of our favorite designer fabrics, including Riley Blake, Art Gallery, Free Spirit, Cloud9, Moda, and many more! They ship within 24 hours of any order and offer FREE shipping on all orders over $50 in the US, and discounts to those purchasing internationally. We invite you to visit Stash at their --

 SHOP  *  BLOG  *  FACEBOOK  *  TWITTER
 

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We hope you enjoy visiting the Stash Fabrics sites!! 

For this weekend's Fabric Giveaway, Stash Fabrics is offering this very cool bundle of MicroMod by Designer Rob Bancroft for Cloud9 Fabrics. This bundle includes 12 Fat Quarters, one in each of the prints pictured, for a total of 3 yards of fabric! This collection is 100% certified organic cotton printed with low impact dyes, as well. It's perfect for quilting or any other fun patchwork project!

 You can find the full MicroMod Collection available in the Stash Fabric shop 
in yardage, FQ's, and in a variety of cuts and bundles right HERE!!

In addition,  ALL Japanese and Organic prints are 20% off now through Sunday!  Prices are already reduced, and if you use Stash Fabric's coupon code FREEOVER50, you'll receive free US shipping on any order over $50!!

Enter to win!

Here's how,   
 
1. Simply leave a comment here in this post! (one entry)
2. Sign up to receive the Stash Fabric Newsletter, you can subscribe by simply entering your email found on the right side bar of the Stash Blog. 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! Whether you follow me here, in your reader, or on Facebook, 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 tweet, facebook, pin, blog, etc... (one optional entry) 

That’s 4 possible entries! Enter now through Monday morning, January 28th. 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 anonymous commenter, please remember to include your email address in your comment so that I can contact you should you win!                           

Have a great weekend! 

Thank you to all who entered this past weekend's Giveaway!! 

 

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  From 808 entries, Mr. Random says the lucky winner is...

Comment #1478 -- Christina, who said... 

 Love it!

Congratulations!!! I will be in touch shortly!

Hello Whipstitch : :

If you happen to follow some of the other ladies in the group who traveled to Atlanta this past weekend, then it's likely that you've already seen what's happening inside the doors of Whipstitch. Still, I just have to share! This was my very first experience of visiting a brick & mortar, modern quilt shop -- very exciting stuff for me!!



In every area of Deborah's shop, there was something beautiful and inspiring happening! So much so, that I just had to change up my own studio space here at home. Big time, I'll save that for next week! For now, I'll share a little tour with you with hopes that the amazing spaces at Whipstitch might inspire you as well!

Just entering, to your right, a colorful display of Whipstitch Organic fabrics including Monsterz by Cloud 9. I had to have some!!



To your left, happy bolts of Ellen Lucket Baker's Quilt Blocks! So happy to bring a few of these home, as well!



Just after that, you have a cutting station with the most fabulously dressed, sweetest woman, ready to cut your fabrics. Seriously!



Here's another -- this picture of me taken by Amanda, with my wonderful Washi 241 tote by Rachel, and proof that I never stopped talking the entire weekend! I warned Amanda that I do that both when I'm nervous and then comfortable, so it's hopeless!!

Next up is the lounge area. Stylish...



comfy...



and super cute now that Ella, Nicke, and Jacey have decided to relax there! 



After that it was clear -- there just IS inspiring fabric and stitched up goodness everywhere you look!



This amazing Scrappy Sting Block Quilt...



This! I could describe it, but I think the picture says it all!!



Inspiration for my floss stash -- I would love to do something like this!



Another amazing HUGE quilt!



Of course I was thrilled to bring home a few Whipstitch souvenirs! In the form of mostly yardage, but a few fat quarters, too, we have -- several prints of Monsterz by Cloud 9, much needed Hello Pilgrim Stripes by Lizzy House, my favorite Stars in Shade Quilt Block print, and a Birch ModSquad print.



I'm sure this goes without saying, but as you can see, I brought home much, much more than fabric! 

Arajane * me * Amanda * Rachel * Jessica * Jacey * Nicke * Ella * Holly

Until we meet again sweet Whipstitch! ♥ Maureen

Pillows for Octadia : :

First, thanks for all the help yesterday! I finished my Dresden pillow,  found the perfect red/white check fabric for my Little Red, and the fabric for my chair project. You guys are the best!

This Summer I had stitched up a bundle of custom pillow covers for Octadia -- an Eco-friendly, modern condo design company located in beautiful Charlotte, North Carolina. You may even remember me sharing the fabrics back in July. Well, I was recently sent the staged photos and I just have to share!













Aren't they lovely photos?! I really, really love receiving customer photos! Whether it's a happy little one wearing their new birthday crown, hugging their pillow or owl doll, or from a unique opportunity like this was. It's always such an honor and just means so much!

p.s. There's a new fabric giveaway (here's a peek) happening here tomorrow, so please do stop back!