A Making Rows Quilt : :

It's amazing that my last quilt photo shoot and this one were taken with just a few days in between, one on the beach in Virginia and the other back here in Potter County. I finished this Making Rows quilt up just before we left last week for our Thanksgiving vacation, I brought it along, but decided it was meant to be photographed right here at home. I toted it with us on our recent trip to the tree farm, it was cold and snowy, but with isles of dark evergreen Firs, Pines, and Spruces as my backdrop it was so beautiful & perfect!






This quilt is made using a combination of my go-to quilt as you go method and the panel style of qayg that I shared a tutorial for after finishing my Autumn Herringbone Quilt. Of course this quilt of rows can be done without the quilting as you go, but it's so fun and is just too quick! Plus I love to see the combination of the dense straight line quilting and the decorative stitches I added all with a white Auriful 50wt!



I had chosen these fabrics inspired by my son Kaiden's entire wardrobe of almost all black, grays, and reds. It was a little risky, since he had asked for either a "Hunger Games" or "Harry Potter" themed quilt with suggestions so specific they gave me a tension headache. But with two quilts still to make in these next three weeks, I decided I couldn't take it on under my time constraints. Being the sweet kid that he is, he understood, and when I shared with him the beginnings of his quilt -- he was thrilled!









Most of the back is finished in an 100% cotton flannel shirting fabric in a red and black plaid that Kaiden loves to wear! When I ordered this print I didn't read that the width of these particular fabrics is 41" and so my calculations were off. That same day I noticed my mistake Lindsey posted some flannel houndstooth she was hoping to destash on her Instagram and I jumped, lucky me! Another reason I love Instagram!






Once we flipped the quilt to get those back photos both the wind and snow started picking up, so the rest of my close up shots turned out to be too dark and blurry to share. This is a quilt that I do love just as much from far away. Sometimes that doesn't work out, but this time some of the far away shots are my most favorite!




The rest of the night was spent picking out & setting up our Christmas tree, and of course the decorating that followed! My favorite!!





Yesterday after school I snapped these photos of Kaiden with his finished quilt. I bet you can imagine how great seeing this felt! There's nothing better than seeing a quilt you've made being used and loved, is there?!







♥  Maureen 

For Kaiden : :

This past Sunday morning I finished up my Making Rows Quilt top, a quilt-as-you-go style quilt I'm making to give Kaiden on Christmas. I had mentioned when I shared my Diamond Strings Quilt that Kaiden had such grand ideas for his design that it could take just as long to make, as it's taken me to make the eight I've already finished. That, combined with him changing his mind sort of often, was making me a little nervous as to whether I could reach my goal of making my three kiddos and each of my brother's & sister's children a quilt of their very own to handout at Christmas time.

With so much on my plate besides this quilt goal of mine, I decided to just go for it and I started a quilt for Kaiden using fabrics I knew he'd like, in a color-scheme I knew he'd love. I showed him some peeks along the way and I'm happy to report he's thrilled with it! I felt especially proud after noticing how very similar the quilt I made for him is to the items he chose for himself when we recently went Winter clothes shopping. Yay, victory!



I quilted each row using my go-to quilt-as-you-go method, with mostly straight line quilting, adding in just a few decorative stitches here and there!





I chose a 100% cotton, plaid flannel shirting for the quilt back that is soooo perfect!



I'm basting this one today and I'll be back tomorrow with a Sunset Quilt finish to share! I glanced over those quilt photos just now as I was putting these together, and I'm so excited! Be sure to stop back!!

♥  Maureen

Celebrations and Earth Day Sewing : :

This weekend we celebrated our 11th Wedding Anniversary and Jacob's 9th Birthday. I'm sure it goes without saying that this weekend in April, the birthday boy's big day always wins out! This year Jacob decided on a movie theater theme party and it was so much fun!!



Complete with a Popcorn Cake, made by my best friend Cynthia of TaylorMade Baked Goods!



Paper good details that were super sweet, from Sweet Bella!



A concession stand, run by Haila and myself. We were both wearing our Applique Aprons!



This was my very favorite picture from the day! It was such a great weekend!!



Today, in celebration of Earth Day, I'll be sewing for each of the kids a cross-body, fold-over satchel in some fabric from my stash, mostly purchased from Bloomerie!



These bags will be made to fit their new sketchbook and pencil sets from Stubby Pencil Studios. We plan to do a lot of bike-riding this Summer and since my kids are all such little artists, I've been wanting to make them each a bag, perfect for bringing along their sketchbooks and drawing supplies!



I'll be sure to share them once they're finished!

Today, in celebration of Earth Day, Stubby Pencil Studio is giving a free set of colored pencils with every sketchbook purchased! These sketchbooks are really adorable, and are also super Earth friendly, made from 100% post consumer recycled paper that is acid and chlorine free, fully biodegradable glue, and vegetable based inks.


My kiddos are going to love them, I can't wait!

Be sure to check out these great sketchbooks here!

In addtion to receiving the free set of colored pencils, you can also use discount code EARTHDAY and receive 15% off your order thru midnight 4/22/13!!

Happy Earth Day everyone!! I wish you all a wonderful,
new week!!

♥,  Maureen

New Projects : :

A little more than a week ago I shared my plans for the Atlanta Sewing Retreat I was attending. Most of which were projects I needed to finish up by this week. I was happy and excited about making each of them, but once in Atlanta, I realized that a sewing retreat would not be the best place for tutorial writing, with step by step picture taking. Yes, day one at the retreat, I definitely had a "what was I thinking?" moment with the projects I had brought along. I needed something much more relaxed and easy -- a quilt for ME sounded like the perfect idea!

So, I finally dove into my own Sweet Summer Dreams blogger bundle and got to work! Want to see?

Thank you Holly and Ara Jane for the pictures!

Since I've been home, my pretty stack of quilt blocks has gone untouched, but that's alright! I've been busy working my way through those projects that didn't get any love in Atlanta, and I'm so excited to share them (along with some amazing giveaways) throughout this week!



And of course, now that I'm home and back in my studio, I'm never short on help and company!

My Helper -- joining me super early to help me top-stitch!



My Lily -- happy to be the first one to try out the new picnic quilt!



My Fabric Folder -- (oh, that iron burn on my mat drives me crazy!)



My Artist -- always up to something amazing and inspiring!

It's been a busy few days playing catch up, with lots of early morning sewing, which I'm quite beginning to like! It's definitely not a bad way to start off the day, that's for sure!

And now, its going to be a busy week here -- including a new Riley Blake Design Team project, my first Art Gallery Fabrics Fat Quarter Gang project, with some AMAZING Fabric Giveaways, and even a little sewing stash make-over that I started as soon as I got home!



Yes, it's going to be a good week! I hope you do join me!! ♥ Maureen

A Good Day : :

I stayed determined yesterday to make it back to the sewing room and hooray! It turned out to be a wonderful sewing day after all! With temperatures cold enough to produce snow flurries off and on, and some worn out kiddos from all the Easter celebrating, a relaxing day is just what we all needed.

First thing to check off my list, of course, my Bottled Rainbows Quilt top! It's all pieced and I'm so thrilled with it! I'm still figuring out my plan for the back, but I now think it's best to just keep it simple. Hopefully by early next week I will be completely finished with this one!!



Since my sewing room is such a small space and seams to be closing in on me a little more with each fabric purchase, it's tight quarters when there are five of us + a large quilt in there. The kids were more than happy to play a computer game while I sewed those long panels together.



My daughter even began work on a new quilt design for me, putting all those Easter basket art supplies to great use -- I think she has something here!?



The only one of the five of us who wasn't completely enjoying themselves was Lily. Just look at that face! I relocated her fabric bed to a spot other than my main work surface and now she's mad.



Next, I moved on to my etsy orders. Done!



I received some Fabric Envy mail! I won an amazing giveaway on the Fabric Envy blog recently, and now I'm blessed to welcome this fabulous shop as an MCH Sponsor. Aren't they pretty?



I planned out my next Design Team project for Riley Blake Designs. I get to use their Chevrons to create a new tutorial and then give a bundle of them away right here!! I can't wait! You can find these in the shops of most of my sponsors, but you better hurry, they are going fast!!



Finally, late last night I found a little alone time, and decided to begin a new Sketch Stitch - thread drawing project. This one's going to be a mini quilt for my girl. I'm always dreaming up new project ideas and am slowly working out my plan for these Sketch Stitch projects of mine. More on that soon!



Have a beautiful day, friends!!

♥ Maureen

Holding On {and a giveaway winner} : :

In just one week from today it's back to school for my boys. It's bitter sweet. For all of us.



In an attempt to hold on to these last few unscheduled, what-do-you-feel-like-doing-days, I decided to take a little break from blogging and my etsy.



I will be back here Monday, August 29th with lots of new things to share. We have planned a busy week full of playing and crafting together!

And now...We have our fabric giveaway winner! 

From 247 entries Mr. Random says our lucky winner is comment # 38, Leila of Where the Orchids Grow!!! I hope you enjoy your new beautiful fabrics! I will be in touch shortly!

Have a great week, everyone!!!!

{this moment} : :

{this moment} - A Friday ritual inspired by Soulemama. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

*** *** *** 

I will be taking a little time away from my blog, etsy, and other sites do to a first time weekend away with the hubby, followed by some not so fun stuff after that, and a much needed few days of being "unplugged" after that. I hope to see you back here Monday May 9th. Wishing you all a lovely stretch of days until then! ~ Maureen