Wishing you a Happy Easter!

Thanks so much for all the sweet comments on my last post.  I promise I'll share a tutorial soon..hopefully this coming week.  It just has been crazy the last couple weeks with kiddo getting over sicknesses, school projects, and trying my best to keep up with the shop.

I thought I'd share with you this beautiful Easter message as my heart is so full at this time of year!  I love Easter time with the sounds and smell of Spring, and the new freshness of life all around us.  It truly makes me grateful for the beautiful world we live in, and reminds me to focus on the things that matter.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter week-end!

 See you next week!  Hugs,

simple folded star

A couple week-ends ago my Aunt asked me to go with her to a local Quilt Show.  I hadn't ever been to one and it was so much fun!  My Aunt also invited one of my other Aunts and my cousins wife.  It was so wonderful to have a lovely day out with the girls.  :)

While I was at the quilt show I learned a new technique on how to make the folded star...and it is super simple.  Oh, how I love simple but fun new ways to do quilting!  I have two blocks done so far and am thinking of doing either a pillow or a wall hanging.  They would also make great potholders.  Hmmm, decisions...what do you think?

The pink star~

The red star~

I thought I'd show you the simple steps if you'd like.   Have I done too many tutorials lately?  I don't want to bore you.

For shop news...This week I got a shipment of some pretty Lecien fabric that I've been anticipating.  Durham Anew and Folk Tale!!  I really LOVE these collections!

 Durham Anew...pretty vintage inspired flowers in soft pastel aqua, pink and cream!!  They are gorgeous!

Folk Tale...A woodlands themed collection with deers, mushrooms, hedgehogs, pixies and cuckoo clocks in the prettiest color of bright aqua and pink!!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Wednesday!

scrappy trip around the world

These last couple weeks have been a bit slow going for me.  Right after Valentines Day I got sick along with some of my little ones.  It took me a bit to really start feeling better and I feell like I'm still not quite caught up on everything.

This week I was finally able to get back to my scrappy trip along blocks.  I've done 12 more so now have 36.  I'm thinking I'll do another 12 more so it will be a nice rectangle.  I find myself preferring rectangle quilts over square.

I took these pictures with my daughters Instagram as my camera cord is no were to be found.  It was fun using Instagram though, so I won't complain.  I have a windows phone so hadn't used instagram yet, I've heard it is quite addicting.  My daughter better hide her ipod touch.   Hee Hee! :)

 A close up of a few blocks.

I had told you I'd show you a few more pics of the twins that I had taken a few weeks ago.   With being sick I haven't gotten to see them much so looking at these pictures sure do help.  :)

I hope you are having a lovely week!

Hugs,

easy patchwork heart pillow & tutorial

This week I did a patchwork heart pillow for a sweet friend of mine who's birthday is today on Valentines Day.  I thought it would be fun to do a Valentines/birthday pillow.   The pillow is inspired by this heart quilt.  In case you'd like to make one in the future I have some instructions and measurements for you, as it really is simple. 

Here is what you need~

31, 2 1/2 X 2 1/2 inch red, aqua, and pink squares
2, 18 1/2 X 2 1/2 inch white strips
2, 8 1/2 X 2 1/2 inch white strips
3, 6 1/2 X 2 1/2 inch white strips
4, 4 1/2 X 2 1/2 inch white strips
7, 2 1/2 X 2 1/2 inch white squares
Coordinating backing fabric
Coordinating binding fabric
Quilting Ruler
Rotary Cutter

Cut your pieces and lay them out as follows~

1st row, 18 1/2 inch strip
2nd row, 4 1/2 white, 2 1/2 aqua, 6 1/2 white, 2 1/2 red, 4 1/2 white
3rd row, 2 1/2 white, 2 1/2 red, pink, aqua, 2 1/2 white, 2 1/2 pink, aqua, red, 2 1/2 white
4th row, 2 1/2 white, 2 1/2 aqua, red, pink, red, aqua, pink, aqua, 2 1/2 white
5th row, 2 1/2 white, 2 1/2 pink, aqua, red, pink, red, aqua, pink, 2 1/2 white
6th row, 4 1/2 white, 2 1/2 pink, aqua, red, pink, red, 4 1/2 white
7th row, 6 1/2 white, 2 1/2 pink, aqua, red, 6 1/2 white
8th row, 8 1/2 white, 2 1/2 pink, 8 1/2 white
9th row, 18 1/2 white

 Stitch squares and strips together into rows

 Stitch your rows together

 Sandwich and quilt your top

 Add backing and then binding

 All done!!  Isn't that super easy!  I think it is so much fun to have a project you can get done quickly especially after working on a bigger quilt.  :)

I hope you are having a wonderful Valentines Day!!  My hubby and I are going to have a lovely evening eating out, and I'll be stopping by my friends to hand deliver her pillow.  She's stuck at home with a couple sick kiddos so maybe this will cheer her up.  :)

 Hugs,

x's & o's quilt tutorial

I finally was able to finish up the x's & o's quilt.  I wasn't able to get to quilting it till this weekend since life got a little busy.  My sweet sister in law had twins a week and half ago about 4 1/2 weeks early so had been helping with one of her other little ones and even got to go there last week and take some pictures of them.   :)

Thanks for all the sweet comments on the quilt top in my last post!!  I truly love hearing from you, and thanks for being so patient for the tutorial!  Are you ready to see how I made it!?!...  Here is what you'll need~

Rotary Blade & Ruler
Scissors
Pins
3 charm packs
Red (32), aqua (32), pink (28) and white (28) solid fabric, 5 X 5 inch squares
3/4 yard small border fabric
1 yard large border fabric
3/4 yard binding fabric
Rotating cutting mat (optional)

Finished size, approx. 62 X 72

Let's get started!

Take one of your charm squares and cut it in half. 

This is where the rotating cutting mat is really helpful.  Turn your mat and then cut it in half again so you have 4, 2 1/2 inch squares.

Keep going till you have all your charm squares that you want to use cut.

Pick out 8 small squares, and 4 solid red squares.  Then press your small squares in half so the points touch.  Press the rest of your 8 squares.

Place two of them on one square.  You can pin them if you want or just place them there.

Place your other pressed small squares on your 3 other red squares.  Now stitch on the pressed lines.

With your rotary cutter and ruler trim your corners so you have a 1/4 inch seam.

Press seams, I like to press mine open.  Continue with your other 3 blocks.

Here is your first block.  :)

 Stitch your block together

A little tip...if you pin your points it will help get them perfect.  :)

Continue stitching all your blocks like above until you have them all done.  Do half in an O shape and half in an X shape.

Layout all your blocks.

Then add your sashing.  Smaller ones are 2 X 9 1/2.  The longer ones are 2 X a little longer than the length of the row.  Then I trim it after.

Continue with your sashing and then add your border.  The large border is 4 1/2 inches wide.  Then all you have left is to sandwich, quilt and bind your quilt!  :)

Yippee!!  Wasn't that easy!!

For the quilting I did the dogwood pattern.  This was the first time I did a different free motion quilting pattern other than stippling.  I'm happy with how it turned out for my first time.  Definatley want to work at it and get better.

For the backing I used a pretty pink and aqua rose vintage sheet.  I think it was perfect for the quilt.

So you want to see a few of the pictures I took of the twins?  Another thing I really love is taking pictures of infants so I hope you don't mind me sharing.  They are so adorable and sweet!!  :)

Maybe in another post I'll show you a few more.  :)

I can't wait to see them again this week!!  I could sit and hold them all day long!

I hope you have a lovely Valentines week!!