A Collection Quilt Plan : :

It's beautiful this morning. Outside huge, fluffy snowflakes are falling and I'm inside warm & excited to begin my first quilt of the New Year!



On Friday, I had shared on my Instagram that my BIG goal for over the weekend was to design a new quilt pattern suitable for using all of my Art Gallery Fabrics collections. That's Wild & Free + Fleet & Flourish + Nightfall + Garden Dreamer -- sixty-eight prints total! While we were up in New York for one last holiday celebration with my husband's family, I worked here and there on my design, but in the end decided the best pattern for this project was to remake one of my favorites -- my Winter's Garden quilt, just bigger!



In the original Winter's Garden quilt design, each block features three different prints with a narrow, solid border that I could easily change to use a blender print. Or perhaps I'll just make a larger quilt, including twenty blocks rather than sixteen. The scrappy sashing is ideal for including my low volume prints, and the center area of each block perfect for the main prints that I've designed for each collection!

What do you think?



So there we have it, a project plan to begin right after I finish up the tutorial for my Reverse Appliqué Love Garden pillow!

I Can't wait! ♡ Maureen      

A Pillow for Fall : :

In keeping with Tuesday's pledge to turn the leftover blocks and bits from each new quilt top into a matching pillow before anything ends up in the scrap basket, I have another new pillow cover to share today. This one made from yesterday's Fall Vibes quilt top scraps!



Practically every part of this pillow, front and back, was created from the extra plus blocks that I made accidentally. I like to "stack and whack" multiple layers of each fabric print whenever I do lots of repetitive cutting, and sometimes a few extra strips and patches will end up in my chain-piecing piles. Those extras then result in extra blocks, but in this case it was a happy mistake! Since I didn't want to just simply sew those plus blocks together to create my matching pillow, I cut and pieced together something a little more creative that I'm really happy with!



You can still see the plus block design, with quite a bit more scrappiness. The four Luminous Field floral squares that formed when I sewed my pieces together looks as if I'm looking out at window, at a beautiful Fall garden. I really love how it turned out!







I had fun quilting this one heavily using the Juniper, a pretty blue-green shade, of Aurifil 50wt thread from my Bohemian Garden collection.





I used one of the extra, complete plus block on the back. It's one of my favorites, so I was happy to have made too many. So often I love the way the backs of my pillows look just as much as I do the front, and this is definitely one of those times!



My denim and off-white Folk Plaid from my Limited Edition Wild & Free collection just seemed to go with the style and colors of this Fall-themed pillow. Luckily, I happened to have a little extra binding of this print already made, yay! And I really do love how it works especially with the rustic, Canyon Sunset heavyweight AGF Denim. This particular line of denims from the AGF Denim Studio if my favorite for pillow backs because it is so incredibly sturdy and well-made. I don't know about you, but the pillows in my house (of three kiddos) take quite the beating on pretty much a daily basis. If the back of the pillow is just a thin layer of quilting cotton it doesn't take long for it to look a little worn. When I don't have the time to heavily quilt the pillow back pieces the same way I typically quilt a pillow front, this denim is the perfect solution! I know it with endure the umpteen pillow fights and jumping piles and heaves to the floor, and that makes me happy!



After yesterday's response to my newest quilt, it's always nice to receive your kind comments, I will definitely put together a quick tutorial to share for those of you wanting to make your own Fall Vibes quilt, thanks for that! Just don't forget to make a few extra blocks for a matching pillow of you own!

♡ Maureen  

A Fall Vibes Quilt Top : :

Immediately after I sewed the very last seam of my Fall Vibes quilt top, I took it outside, Wonder clipped it to the clothesline and snapped a few photos. I couldn't wait to step back to see it all finished. The afternoon sun was perfect and lit up the delicate pieced together fabrics like a stained glass window. I could have marveled at the light glazing through these colorful fabrics, shifting in the wind, for hours. It was so beautiful. I had hoped to get better photos to share this week, somewhere away from home with Potter County as my backdrop per usual, but the days that have followed that sunny afternoon have been both dreary and busy, so I decided to share these first photos today instead. I hope you like them!







This is the first quilt I've made combining prints from all of three of my Art Gallery collections -- Wild & Free, Fleet & Flourish, and Nightfall. I love how they look together! Especially with the very first floral fabric I ever created, my Luminous field print, as the main color palette inspiration for this quilt. This one just feels special!



I think I might put together a quick tutorial for this plus block and quilt design to share sometime next week. Let me know if you're interested!

XX Maureen

Wild & Free Inspiration : :

Yesterday I spent the morning sewing with Haila, she's making a denim pillow for our living room that I'll share here just as soon as she's finished! The rest of the day was spent straightening up around the house, since we have family coming to visit and my birthday is this Friday! When Haila chose a Wild & Free print to use to back her pillow, I realized it's been quite a while since I've stitched something new with Wild & Free myself!



Every so often I'll still receive notifications on Instagram when someone has tagged me in a Wild & Free sewing project post, and that usually will prompt me to check the collection hashtag #wildandfreefabric to see what I may have missed. It's always inspiring! So today I thought I'd share a little Wild & Free sewing inspiration for those of you who still have this first collection of mine in your stash!

This adorable, little doll dress in my Wild & Free Woven Path knit is by @allysews and I love that little bit of added sparkle! There are a few different Wild & Free rope bowls & baskets in the hashtag, this one is by @itsmaggimade. I haven't tried to make a basket yet, but I really must. I always love seeing them! The sweet bunny is made by @littlefalconco and features my Wild & Free Suntracks print.



@gooseberrylane has shared several, amazing Wild & Free fabric dresses. This collection paired with their beautiful dress designs is so perfect for Fall!



For Wild & Free quilty inspiration I wanted to share the Quick Quilt As You Go pillow I made some time ago. It was a gift for a friend, fast & easy, but so pretty in these fabrics! The middle quilt by @westboundquilts truly highlights each Wild & Free print. I can't tell you what an honor it is to see my fabrics used in such a special way! Then there's the stunning Mountain Campfire Quilt by @talesofcloth! It's one of my all time favorite Wild & Free projects, the addition of that pretty, bright aqua is so lovely!



I hope you enjoy seeing this little bit of Wild & Free inspiration today. Be sure to keep sharing your projects with me, I LOVE to see and re-share them!

If you're interested in stashing a bit of Wild & Free, the complete collection is still available at Lady Belle Fabrics!!

♡ Maureen

A Fabric GIVEAWAY : :

It's Fabric Giveaway Friday!

For this special Giveaway today I'm offering a bundle of my very first AGF collection, Wild & Free! Today's offer includes the EIGHT prints that make up this Limited Edition collection for Art Gallery Fabrics! 

My brand new full collection,  Fleet & Flourish, will be arriving in shops very soon, so I thought a bundle of what started it all for me was the perfect thing to give away today!!

Enter to Win!

Here's how,

1. Simply leave a comment here under this post letting me know what you'd love to stitch up with this bundle? (one entry) 

2. Followers get a second entry! Whether you follow me on Instagram or on Facebook, just let me know you do by making a separate comment here to record that entry. (optional extra entry) 
3. Help spread the word!! I know that many of you already do, so I've added sharing as another way to enter! Whether by instagram, tweet, facebook, pin, blog, etc... (optional extra entry) 

That’s 3 possible entries! Enter now through Monday, December 7th. The random # generator will pick the winner and I will announce their name at the bottom of this post!

* 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!

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Thank you so much for stopping by and entering my Giveaway! This week's winner is commenter, Theresa! Congratulations, I will be in touch shortly!  ♡ Maureen

Holiday Fox Pillow Making : :

In between making Etsy crown orders, I've been busy working on new little fox pillow design with pretty holiday flower crowns to offer in a special sale!

I loved making these Flower Crown Fox pillows last Spring and thought a holiday batch would be something fun to try!



Doesn't she look sweet?



I didn't go too crazy with the holiday theme so these can be enjoyed all year, as a pillow cover or mini quilt!



I'm making a batch of ten in my most-loved color combination of felt choices -- dusty pink, minty aqua blues, teal, buttery yellow, mustard, smoky blue, dark berry, peach and coral!



For the pillow backs I'm using different Wild & Free fabric prints, and for the bindings, just leftover bits from all my quilt projects. I love how this first one turned out!



I'm hoping to finish up the others soon, using a different background color for each, and plan to have a pop-up sale right here or on Instagram soon! If you're interested in one, please feel free to let me know in advance either in the comments or via email. The special holiday sale price will be $38!



Happy sewing!  ♡ Maureen   

A Fabric GIVEAWAY : :

It's Fabric Giveaway Friday!

For this week's Giveaway I'm offering a bundle of my very first Limited Edition collection for Art Gallery Fabrics, Wild & Free! Today's offer will include a fat quarter of each of the EIGHT prints that make up this collection! 

Enter to Win!

Here's how,

1. Simply leave a comment here under this post letting me know what you'd love to stitch up with this bundle? (one entry) 

2. Followers get a second entry! Whether you follow me on Instagram or on Facebook, just let me know you do by making a separate comment here to record that entry. (optional extra entry) 
3. Help spread the word!! I know that many of you already do, so I've added sharing as another way to enter! Whether by instagram, tweet, facebook, pin, blog, etc... (optional extra entry) 

That’s 3 possible entries! Enter now through Monday evening, September 28th. A random # generator will pick the winner and I will announce their name at the bottom of this post!

* 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!

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Thank you all so much for entering! This week's winner is Lee, Congrats!! I will be in touch shortly!   ♡ Maureen

Begin Again : :

Back in March, when it was still chilly and thoughts of colorful Summer flowers and days still felt distant, it was those musings combined with my first Monthly Sparks blogger bundle -- a bright collection of fabrics turned into dozens of flying geese that inspired the beginnings of my Modern Chrysanthemum quilt block!









I was so excited about where I was headed with this one and somehow still managed to bury it!

Then this morning I brought it out again, gave it and my remaining sixty flying geese units a good press, took lots of pictures to share today, all so I can begin a new plan for it.









There's a long drive ahead of us as we head to North Caroline tomorrow for our annual family vacation. I'm excited for the time to sketch out a final design plan and to have this beautiful beginning out awaiting my return!

♡ Maureen

A Folk Medallion Quilt : :

This Summer has been much busier than I ever anticipated, and this past weekend was no exception. Swimming, picnics, & parties - it was so much fun! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend, too!



I had big plans to take my finished Folk Medallion Quilt along for picture taking, but kept forgetting to grab it each time we headed out the door. This quilt, made with the last of my Wild & Free fabric strike-offs for my Fall Quilt Market booth months ago, has such an Americana feel. It was too perfect a weekend not to share it here today, thankfully we found a few extra minutes to venture out with it last night.



The pattern is just a jumble of different ideas really. I started with the center medallion patchwork, unsure if I was making a pillow or quilt at first. But with limited fabric and time, decided to combine several of my different works in progress to make a sampler style quilt.



This quilt showcases so much of what I love most about Wild & Free. Especially how well the denim-y blue Folk Plaid print works so well with all the colors! For those blocks I simply framed 8" cut squares of plaid with several different shades of my favorite Pure Element colors.



I think my most favorite part is this row of improv patchwork along the bottom! I still hope to create an entire Wild & Free quilt in this style someday.



For the binding I used both a Bari J. honey yellow print and my Sun Tracks print. I made sure to alternate the corners with each print and love the effect!





For some extra added patriotism, and to represent my Midnight Roof stars print that didn't make it into this quilt because I had already run out, I chose an allover loops and stars quilting pattern by Sew Shabby Quilting. I love it!



You can find more photos of this quilt in my Wild and Free fabric Look Book by Art Gallery Fabrics! Here's one of my favorites!!

Sharing these photos today means we can finally start using this quilt, hooray! I wish you all a wonderful start to the new week!

♡ Maureen