Sketching it Out : :

Due to a very rainy Thursday morning last week, along with a couple of very late night and early morning sewing sessions this past weekend, I'm so close to having an Ant Farm Quilt finish! This one came together quick -- it's made up of fairly large piecing in an easy pattern. However I'm crediting my quick timing to having sketched out my pattern before beginning. This is something new for me! That may sound crazy? But just a week ago I bought myself a very inexpensive binder system with lots of plain sketch & graph paper to take with me to the pool and on our other Summer outings, and I'm filling it up quick!

For my Ant Farm Quilt I'm using both scrappy, Log Cabin style blocks and a few Court House Step. My blocks are large at 17.5" all squared up, and I think this 50 x 68 size quilt will be perfect for my seven year old nephew Owen! My blocks are already quilted, using my quilt-as-you-go method. Now I just have to sew these together, baste, add those last quilt stitches, & some binding! I'm so excited to have another quilt finish this week!!







During my sketching, with a few tweaks, I came up with a pattern for a new quilt that I just can't wait to start! Right now I'm planning to use this Kona cotton Wine Cellar Colorstory fat quarter bundle I was sent from the generous folks at Robert Kaufman, paired with my Text Me Maybe bundle from Stash Fabrics. After I clean my sewing room today, a long overdue must, I hope to dive right in!!



Up until now it's always been the fabrics that have inspired my quilt designs, coming together almost always from improvising. I'm really looking forward to seeing how having this sketch binder just for my quilt ideas works for me throughout the upcoming Fall & Winter months. And I'm curious, how many of you plan out your quilts with a sketch? Or maybe you use a computer program?

I look forward to reading what works for you!! Happy Monday,   ♥  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 offer FREE shipping on all orders over $50 in the US!!

We invite you to visit Stash at their --

 SHOP  *  BLOG  *  FACEBOOK  *  TWITTER  *  INSTAGRAM
 

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We hope you enjoy visiting the Stash Fabrics sites!! 

For this weekend's Fabric Giveaway, Stash Fabrics is offering their very cool, custom Test Me Maybe Fat quarter Bundle! This bundle includes 14 Fat Quarters, one in each of the prints pictured, for a total of 3.5 yards of fabric! WOW, I LOVE these fabrics!

Be sure to check out Stash Fabric's wonderful variety of custom bundle, stash builders HERE!!

In addition,  Stash Fabric's is having a wonderful Spring Cleaning Sale! And don't forget to use Stash Fabric's coupon code SHIPFREE50, to 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. Follow Stash Fabrics on Facebook, Instagram, or signup to receive the Stash Fabric Newsletter, you can subscribe by simply entering your email found on the right sidebar 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, on Facebook, or on Instagram, 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 midnight Monday, April 29th. The winner will be chosen by Random and I will announce their name Tuesday, 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!                    

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Thank you to all who entered the Giveaway!! 

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  From 1,825 entries, Mr. Random says the lucky winner is...

*  Comment #591 -- Christine Slaughter *  

Congratulations!!! I will be in touch shortly!

QAYG In Progress : :

I looked around my newly cleaned sewing room the other day and I noticed I was surrounded by several qayg projects in progress. I snapped a few pics of each and thought I'd share these "in-between" photos today.

As I mentioned yesterday, this quilt is going to take just a little longer than I had planned and hoped for. If you just said to yourself, "Of course it is, Maureen" or something similar, it's o.k. I forgive you and completely agree. My ability to begin a new sewing project far exceeds my ability to finish one. No one is more aware of that than me, and I apologize!



But wait, I do have excuses too! When I cut into the LillyBelle Garden Rocket print, months ago, I made sure to cut my squares so each one had one of those sweet little bees. I planned from the beginning to alternate blocks with the Lillybelle print and improv Sweet Summer Dream blocks without it. Well, I just noticed late last week that I had made many more blocks with those little bees, than without, so now more improv blocks without are needed for my quilt to turn out just the way I want it to. And it's never a good idea to rush, right? So...more blocks are being made. Which is still progress!

Below is my improv chevron block, all quilted, with the Pure Element Emerald and Empire Yellow fabrics I chose for the pillow backing. It's actually all finished now and is just waiting to be photographed and then packed away for the new house!



Do you remember that pieced house-air-balloon block from a couple of weeks ago? Well, it's been quilted as well! I had planned to make this into another floor pillow for the kids, but now I am thinking of making it into a throw size qayg quilt for my daughter? What do you think???  I love the way Art Gallery fabrics feel quilted and this looks kind of dreamy to me. Much like the plan I have for her bedroom.



And finally, here are some photos of  my new qayg tote bag tutorial wip! I am really loving all that black & white! I wished right away that I had some text fabrics to add in there, but I haven't ever stashed any, can you believe it? I need to change that soon!



I added just a little color by using one of my beloved Melody Miller Typewriters as a simple applique to the center of my log cabin block.



I had planned on doing the same for the other side of my bag, but then I stumbled upon this amazing image yesterday and was immediately inspired to combine a bunch of the ideas floating around me! I used some of those built-in stitches that I shared yesterday, with this embroidered typography image and my typerwriter applique as inspration to make my own text fabric! I programmed in a few quotes and saying that are special to me. and I am really thrilled with the end result!



I love when "making progress" takes a little detour like that and you end up with something better than you ever expected. That is certainly one of the many reasons I love sewing and just making in general!

Of course, there is still nothing better than seeing a project done...here's hoping that happens at least once today! ♥,  Maureen

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