A Pretty Pink Tote Bag : :

I can't believe it has already been a couple weeks since the night I started this tote bag! Which will explain all the dark photos, yikes! One thing I do plan to do in this new, glorious year is lots and lots of more applique projects. I do love applique!! And, I'm excited to finally share this pretty pink bag today, yet another handmade gift for the holiday!



This particular applique was so simple and completely inspired by one of the Joel Dewberry Notting Hill fabrics I recently stashed from Sprightly Fabrics, Primrose in Magenta.



Mimicking the simple, modern flower, made up of stacked circle shapes in Mr. Dewberry's lovely design, plus a couple fussy-cut leaves from a Stockholm print, just as I did on this pillow -- this applique came together super quickly with some Heat'n Bond Lite and a little zig zag stitching with black thread.



The night I finished up this bag front I was so tempted to continue sewing this into a colorful quilt top! I had to hang it up to snap a quick photo and stare at it just a little while before I could move on with my tote bag making. What do you think about a quilt made up of these blocks?



The rest of the bag is made up of a few more Notting Hill fabrics, some pretty pink Pure Element solids, and a little coral pink polka-dot!



It came together using very similar instructions to the Quilted Tote Bag Tutorial that I put together for Riley Blake. I love the soft, sturdiness the batting and quilted stitches add, while leaving it very washer friendly!



I've made a few other bags in a new style that I'll be sharing soon! How about you, what have you been stitching up? I'm loving all the Scrappy Trip Along photos I've been seeing everywhere!!

A Pink House Pillow : :

My goodness, the pictures and the news of the devastation from Hurricane Sandy is just horrifying, it's so heartbreaking! We are a little wet here in Northwestern Pa, our Halloween Trick or Treating was postponed until Saturday, so I'll be sharing the costume I'm making (yes, still!) next week, but more than anything we are so grateful and feel blessed to be safe, and will continue to send our prayers and well wishes to everyone that needs them!

And now, I have this new Pink House Pillow to share. Which feels a bit silly, but I hope it might bring a little cheer today!



This pillow was made recently as a custom etsy order that came through my shop. I was really excited for the chance to make one again! The request was for something very pink, with pops of green. This is what I started with, along with some coordinating scraps.



I love the little details and how a project like this allows you to play. This sweet button garden was really fun!



I finished the pillow back in one of my VERY favorite Art Gallery prints, from Pat Bravo's collection Modernology. This chic pink is the Impressions print in Sachet, still available here at Hawthorne, here at Moona, here at Project Anthologies, and here at the Fat Quarter Shop!



I'm hoping to have several more of these little house pillows, in a variety of colors, in my shop come time for holiday shopping, which is SO soon! Yikes!!



Happy November 1st all! ♥ Maureen
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A Skull Quilt Top : :

I am so very excited to share this new quilt top with all of you today!



First, let's talk fabric!! I had so much fun making this! It's made out of some of my favorite prints from both colorways of Pat Bravo's newest collection Rock & Romance. Another amazing collection, I have to say!



When I first received these fabrics, I understood Pat's vision right away -- both sweet and dark, feminine and bold, girly-girl meets rocker. Perfect for that daughter, grand-daughter, sister, niece, friend -- who is too mature for anything cute, but still young and definitely fun! This collection is full of pretty florals, which Pat always does so beautifully, in many shades of grey, a little black, with pops of pinks, purples, and yellow. Each print is just gorgeous!!



Next up, the design! Well, what would be more perfect to explain Pat's vision for this collection than a skull quilt?! Oh yeah!

I am so honored to have been asked again to help tell her story for these fabrics through quilt making, just as I did with Indie.



Designing this quilt was such a treat for me. The skull pattern is a little taste specific, but I think it works so well with these fabrics, but the design is versatile enough that it would make a very cool boy quilt for a pretty wide range of ages, as well as the perfect Halloween quilt. Don't you think?

Soon, I plan to offer both this new pattern, and my Indie quilt pattern, here to all of you. I can't wait!!



And now, in case you are wondering where this crazy backdrop of a house is located? The answer is.. right in our little town, smack in the middle of Main St. While making this quilt, I just couldn't get the idea of these pictures out of my head. It just seemed like the most perfect place to go for this particular quilt, it had to happen.

So, last evening Kevin and I did a little innocent trespassing all for the love of Rock & Romance quilt top picture taking. And, it was SO worth it!!



They may look a little spooky, especially in black & white! Yikes!!



But we thought the end result was pretty special! I've seen photos of this "Old Hickory" house used in ads for horror movies shared on facebook, I found a popular photo on flickr from 2006, and even some on Pinterest. I'm glad to have finally found a reason to share it myself!

I do hope to turn this quilt into a pattern, but the truth is, the idea creating a quilt pattern scares me way more than this house? But that's a fear I really need to conquer! I have so many ideas for new quilts....and I'm really hoping you'll be interested in sewing them?!

♥,  Maureen 

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A Fabric GIVEAWAY : :

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It's Fabric Giveaway Friday!

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My sponsor The Intrepid Thread is a family owned and run business. In their shop you'll find Fat Quarters, Half Yards, Yards, and Yardage, as well as patterns and embellishments. Their designer fabrics include many of our favorites -- Art Gallery Fabrics, Moda, and Riley Blake Designs just to name a few! 
The owners work extremely hard everyday to bring their customers the best fabrics,
at the best prices, with high quality customer service!
  
SHOP  *  BLOG  *  FACEBOOK
 

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We hope you enjoy visiting The Intrepid Thread's sites!! 

For this weekend's giveaway The Intrepid Thread is offering a lovely bundle of Art Gallery Fabrics, 
chosen by Julie & myself with my Pretty Bow Pillow as inspiration! 
 

I also put together one of my Color Inspiration mosaics to share, just for fun and because I love a good visual of how unexpected color choices can be paired together to create something gorgeous. 
Can you imagine a quilt in these rich colors? Now that would be amazing!!
 

This weekend's Giveaway offer includes the ELEVEN Fat Quarters in pretty Pink & Yellow prints and solids, 
that make up this custom fabric bundle!! 

You can find this bundle available in both Fat Quarters and Half Yards in The Intrepid Thread Shop. 
 

Enter to win!

Here's how,
 
1. Simply leave a comment here in this post. I'd love to know what you'd like to make with these? (one entry)
2. Follow The Intrepid Thread on facebook, their blog, or sign up to receive their Newsletter. 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... (optional extra entry)
 
That’s 4 possible entries! Enter now through Monday morning, September 17th. 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 an anonymous commenter, remember to include your email address in your comment so that I can contact you, should you win! 

* * * * *  UPDATE  * * * * *

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

 

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  From 1,640 entries, Mr. Random says the lucky winner is...

Comment #996 -- Lindsay, who said...

i think i'd make a fun crib quilt with these. such a lovely combination!

Congratulations Lindsay!!! I will be in touch shortly!

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A Pretty Pillow & Stash : :

Are those fabrics distracting?? Don't worry...there's lots more below, but first I want to share my newest pillow!!

On a rainy day a couple weeks ago, I started thinking ahead to the holidays, with an idea for a new pillow design, and the need to make something bright and warm and pretty! I reached for my favorite LillyBelle print, Garden Rocket in Ruby, and my favorite shade of yellow, with a little pop of hot pink, and got to work!



I finished it with a Modernology print, Mod Vines in Raspberry, and I just love this beautiful jewel-tone pink. Overall, I think and hope my pillow came out bright & warm and pretty & cheery! I've added it to my etsy and am crossing my fingers that it will find a home soon!



NOW LETS TALK FABRIC!!



Today, I finally plan to separate and photograph all that I've stashed these last several weeks! For the record, this is way more than I usually buy in months and months....and months!! With my dream of sewing full-time beginning and so many amazing collections due out ALL at the exact same time, what's up with that?? I just felt like I had no choice!! It was a business investment, right?!



I know you've been stashing or saving for that new fabric collection(s), too -- please do share!! I'd love to know what your current favorite is??

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Quilted Heart Throw Pillow Tutorial : :

Today's tutorial is for a fun and sweet Valentine's Day pillow cover -- A Quilted Heart Throw Pillow. Using several cuts of my very favorite red and pink fabrics, cherry red wool blend felt, and little hand stitching, I created this pillow for a fast and cute V-day decoration!

What you'll need : :

• 1 - Pillow Insert measuring 12" x 12"
• 9 - pieces of quilting weight fabric measuring 2" x 13"
• 1 - piece of batting (I use a bamboo/wool blend) measuring 14" x 14"
• 1 - piece of bright red wool blend felt measuring 12.5" x 12.5"
• 2 - 9" x 12.5" pieces of fabric for the back of the pillow (I used a white and red polka dot)
• Fabric pen
• Sewing pins
• Sharp scissors and/or a rotary cutter/mat set
• thread and embroidery floss/baker's twine

Creating the Quilted Pillow Top : :

1. Cut 9 strips of fabric measuring 2" x 13" 2. Piece together using a 1/4" seam allowance 3. Use iron to press seams open




4. Trim pieced together fabrics to measure a 12.5" square 5. Using pins, baste the pieced together fabrics (pillow top) to the piece of batting




6. Use coordinating thread to add quilting stitches to the pillow top and batting layers 7. Once finished, remove pins and trim away excess batting




8. Using a fabric pen, draw a heart on the wool blend felt large enough to show off the quilted fabrics 9. Cutting along the outside of the drawn heart, cut felt away to show the heart 10. Pin felt heart piece to quilted fabric layer and sew around the heart leaving a 1/4" seam, removing pins as you go




11. Use embroidery floss or a red and white baker's twine to hand sew a running stitch around the heart




Your pillow top is completely finished! Now, for instructions on finishing the envelope style back, please see my Quilted Stripes Pillow Tutorial here. The directions needed can be found in the "Sewing Pillow Together" section of that tutorial.

Insert the pillow form and Voila! You're done!

I had a lot of fun making this pillow, I hope you do too!