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Monday, March 18, 2024

March Sponsor News!

Hey there, my friends!  Despite the fact that it is going to be 28 degrees tonight (boo!), I'm going to wish you a happy almost spring!  Here, it has been positively spring-like for the past few weeks.  Some rain for sure, but mostly tons of sunshine and soft, warm breezes.  In fact, after this temperature drop tonight, we'll be right back in the 60's tomorrow.  Spring is such a source of inspiration for me, and I just love ogling all of the gorgeous collections.  So, let's check out the latest spring things from my favorite shops around the web-



LouLou's Fabric Shop has lots of new beauties arriving in the shop, so they're doing some spring cleaning in the shop to make room.  Use the code springcleaning through 3/31 to get an extra 20% off sale items, like this lovely bundle of the Homestead collection by April Rosenthal.


                        LouLou’s Fabric Shop









And don't forget about the LouLou Bundles!  I just love these.  Each week, LouLou's curates a collection of eight perfectly coordinated fat quarters.  They are always super cute and seasonally appropriate.  They're great for smaller projects, or a perfect starting point for a larger one.  Or, you can even use them to bulk up colors in your stash that are lacking.  If you see one you love, you'd better grab it- when they're gone, they're gone!  Here are two of the latest-








Spring is in the air at Lady Belle Fabric too!  This bundle of the Sunroom collection by Elizabeth Hartman is so fresh and cheerful, and it's brand new in the shop.




               Lady Belle Fabric









Are you a fabric treasure hunter?  Or a scrap-lover?  Or maybe you like a little mystery with your fabric shopping?  Then you should check out Lady Belle's new scrap packs.  As the name suggests, these bundles contain pieces from a wide variety of Art Gallery fabrics, ranging from 18" width, to no smaller than           3 1/2"x 42".  Each bundle is guaranteed to contain five full yards of fabric for a super-low price.  All of Lady Belle's fabrics are gorgeous, so you can't really go wrong.







Oh, and one more important thing.  Lady Belle is currently running a sale as well- 25% off your entire purchase!  There is no code needed to take advantage of this deal, and the discount will be applied in your shopping cart.  I don't have an end date for this sale, so you might want to jump on it!

Okay friends, I really hope you'll hurry off and show these amazing shops some love.  You'll be so happy you did.  Happy shopping!



Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Needle and Thread Thursday!

Welcome to NTT, y'all!  My trip to Charlotte last week was fantastic!  I loved presenting my trunk show to the Charlotte Quilter's Guild, and we had so much fun in the class.  What was NOT fun was my return trip home.  I was scheduled to leave Charlotte at 8:30 pm following my class, catch a connecting flight to Memphis at 10:30 pm, and make it home a little after midnight Thursday night.  Well, the weather had other plans.  As it turned out, because of weather in Dallas (where my plane was coming from), my flight from Charlotte didn't take off until almost 2:00 am!  Needless to say, I missed my connecting flight back to Memphis and the next available flight from Chicago to Memphis didn't leave until 9:10 am.  I had no choice but to stay awake in the airports, and after teaching all day, that was tough.  I finally made it home and in my own bed at noon Friday, and after being awake for about 31 hours straight, my bed has never felt so good.

I haven't sewn anything since getting back home.  Instead, I've been either catching up on sleep, or outside enjoying the glorious spring weather and working in my yard.

As always, last week's party was amazing, and it certainly gave me some awesome eye candy while I was awake in the airport.  Take a look at this stunner from Karen at Quilts...Etc.


This quilt (and pattern) is from Sew Preeti Quilts.  It's a brand new pattern, and there are several other versions linked up to last week's party as well!


And finally, these two fun quilts are from Nancy at Grace and Peace Quilting-


Okay, friends, let's get our party going!

1You can link finished projects or WIP's , but just keep it about quilting and sewing!
2. Link to your specific post (not to your home page!) to make it easier for others.
3. Please remember to spread the word and post my button or a text link within your 
    post.  
4. Spread the comment love far and wide!
5. Following me is not a requirement to link, but is so very appreciated!

*If you're new to the party, here's a helpful tip for linking up- select "Auto Crop"  when selecting your thumbnail photo.  For some reason, trying to crop your own image results in the dreaded "white question mark box," and we definitely want to see your awesome work!  :)



Wednesday, March 6, 2024

A Finished Class Sample and NTT

Happy Needle and Thread Thursday, friends!  I'm super excited that I get to visit Charlotte, North Carolina this week, and I've been getting all my last minute things finished before I go.  When this post goes live, I'll actually be getting ready for my trunk show!  One of the things I checked off my to-do list this week was to finish this class sample of my Churn, Churn, Churn quilt.


This quilt is by far my most popular class.  It is almost endlessly customizable with improv color choices and background fabric, and I wanted to make another example for quilters to see.  The quilt in the book is quilted with an allover box stipple design, and I wanted to do something different here.  I quilted each churn block with dense lines, radiating out from the center, and then the black background lines are in the opposite direction.  The effect is very neat.  I tried to brighten the picture and add a bit of contrast so you can see the quilting against the black.


My decision to use the cool side of the color wheel was entirely dictated by my scrap jars.  As you all probably know by now, I sort my scraps by color and not by size, and my cool scrap jars always seem to fill up the fastest.  The black background really makes these cool colors stand out.


Awhile ago, one of my good quilty friends decided to pare down her stash.  Her quilting studio has been overtaken by her home office since Covid, and she just doesn't quilt as much as she used to.  And I was lucky to get first pick of her destash. This gorgeous print on the back is one that came from her, and I love how it blends so well with the front of the quilt.  I think it's an Alison Glass print, but I'm not completely sure.

I have a busy spring of travel ahead. This little quilt is heading to North Carolina with me this week, to Tulsa, Oklahoma next month, and finally to Bloomington, Indiana in May. If your guild is looking for a teacher in the fall, send me an email!  I just have two available months open in 2024.  Of course, I'm already booking 2025 as well.

Okay friends!  Before we party, let's check out the highlights from last week.  Check out this gorgeous finish from Maggie at Making a Lather-


I love this one by Viridian's Blog-


And even though it's spring now, this autumn quilt from Kim at Purring Cottage is so lovely-


Are you ready to party?  I can't wait to browse through all of your projects while I'm in the airport on the way home!  Let's do it!

1You can link finished projects or WIP's , but just keep it about quilting and sewing!
2. Link to your specific post (not to your home page!) to make it easier for others.
3. Please remember to spread the word and post my button or a text link within your 
    post.  
4. Spread the comment love far and wide!
5. Following me is not a requirement to link, but is so very appreciated!

*If you're new to the party, here's a helpful tip for linking up- select "Auto Crop"  when selecting your thumbnail photo.  For some reason, trying to crop your own image results in the dreaded "white question mark box," and we definitely want to see your awesome work!  :)



Wednesday, February 28, 2024

Churning and NTT

Welcome to Needle and Thread Thursday, friends. I got into my studio this week for the first time since the loss of my dog, and it felt good to sew something, however small.  By far, the Churn, Churn Churn pattern is the most popular class I teach from my book, Scrappy Improv Quilting, and I've been wanting to sew another class sample for awhile now.  

I decided to make this one in a cool color way with purple, blue, and teal, and I think it is so striking against the solid black background.  Here is the original quilt from the book-

I like the single color gradient effect, but it's always nice to show a different option for quilters in my classes.  I'm heading to Charlotte, NC next week to teach this one, and then I'm teaching it again in Tulsa, OK in April.  So, it seemed like the perfect time to get this new sample "churned" out. I'm working to get it quilted and finished before I leave at the crack of dawn on Wednesday (I literally have to be at the airport at 4:30am).  

Even though I'll be in North Carolina at the time of posting next week, don't worry!  NTT is still on.  I'll have the post all ready to go before leaving.  Now, let's get to the highlights from last week.  This EPP finish is from Turid at Den syende himmel.  WOW!  This quilt was ten years in the making!


Quilting Gail shared her method for making a diagonal quilt back, and you know I'm all about pieced quilt backs!


Check out this cute quilt from Maggie at Making a Lather-


And finally, I am in LOVE with scrappy finish from Something Rosemade-


Okay y'all!  let's link up!

1You can link finished projects or WIP's , but just keep it about quilting and sewing!
2. Link to your specific post (not to your home page!) to make it easier for others.
3. Please remember to spread the word and post my button or a text link within your 
    post.  
4. Spread the comment love far and wide!
5. Following me is not a requirement to link, but is so very appreciated!

*If you're new to the party, here's a helpful tip for linking up- select "Auto Crop"  when selecting your thumbnail photo.  For some reason, trying to crop your own image results in the dreaded "white question mark box," and we definitely want to see your awesome work!  :)



Wednesday, February 21, 2024

Spring is in the Air and NTT

Welcome to Needle and Thread Thursday, y'all. It feels like spring here, with temps in the low 70's and sunny, with a warm, light breeze.  As I write this post, I'm out here soaking up the sunshine.

No sewing for me this week, but I did have a lovely visit with my family last weekend, and of course they saw the memory quilts and ornaments in person for the first time.  They loved them as much as I hoped they would.  

So, without delay, let's get right to the highlights from last week's party.  Linda at Kokaquilts linked up this sweet quilt top-

This pretty quilt top is from Gretchen's Little Corner-


And this little baby quilt top is from Kat at Scrapbox Quilts-


Okay friends!  It's time to get our party started.  Show me what's been going on in your studio!

1You can link finished projects or WIP's , but just keep it about quilting and sewing!
2. Link to your specific post (not to your home page!) to make it easier for others.
3. Please remember to spread the word and post my button or a text link within your 
    post.  
4. Spread the comment love far and wide!
5. Following me is not a requirement to link, but is so very appreciated!

*If you're new to the party, here's a helpful tip for linking up- select "Auto Crop"  when selecting your thumbnail photo.  For some reason, trying to crop your own image results in the dreaded "white question mark box," and we definitely want to see your awesome work!  :)



Wednesday, February 14, 2024

Memory Ornaments and NTT

Happy Valentine's Day, and welcome to NTT friends.  Thank you so much to all who left kind condolences on last week's post.  It has been a very long ten days.  I have been keeping myself busy, and staying away from home much more than usual.  Home is where the memories and sadness hit the hardest.  My parents and grandmother are coming in town tomorrow though, so I'm really looking forward to that.  

On that note, I'll be sending the quilts made from my grandfather's shirts back to Louisiana with them, as well as these finished ornaments.  Though I haven't gotten any sewing done since Finn's death, these ornaments were a nice, mindless distraction.  Decoupage is a little messy, but it's fun to do and pretty simple, which was just what I needed.  I do love how they turned out.

These four ornaments are for my sister and my three first cousins, one for each granddaughter in our family (my own ornament is already put away, so it's not pictured).  Each ornament is a simple 4" plastic ball ornament, decoupaged with 1.5" squares, layered to cover the entire ornament.  I used the same thirty shirts from the memory quilts, and I used the chambray fabric from the quilts to add a decorative tie.  I am certain these ornaments and the three memory quilts will be treasured.

Okay friends, let's take a look at some of the gorgeous links from our party two weeks ago.  Sew Preeti Quilts shared this beauty-


Check out this fun one from Sandra at mmm...quilts-


This minimal quilt from Yvonne at Quilting Jetgirl is fabulous!


This quilt by Gretchen's Little Corner looks so cozy-


And finally, this quilt by Kris at Sew Sunshine is a stunner!

Okay, ya'll!  Party on!  And enjoy your Valentine's Day!

1You can link finished projects or WIP's , but just keep it about quilting and sewing!
2. Link to your specific post (not to your home page!) to make it easier for others.
3. Please remember to spread the word and post my button or a text link within your 
    post.  
4. Spread the comment love far and wide!
5. Following me is not a requirement to link, but is so very appreciated!

*If you're new to the party, here's a helpful tip for linking up- select "Auto Crop"  when selecting your thumbnail photo.  For some reason, trying to crop your own image results in the dreaded "white question mark box," and we definitely want to see your awesome work!  :)



Tuesday, February 13, 2024

February Sponsor News

Hey there, friends!  Tomorrow is Valentine's Day, and actually, today is Mardi Gras.  What better time to treat yourself to a little fabric goodness.  I have the very best sponsors, and I'm delighted to let you know what's going on with them.




Over at LouLou's Fabric Shop, they're having a Valentine's Day fabric clear-out, and all Valentine's fabrics are on sale right now.  Take a look at the latest LouLou Bundles.  Aren't they sweet?


               LouLou’s Fabric Shop





You can take advantage of this storewide sale, PLUS LouLou's has graciously offered my readers an additional 10% off your entire purchase with the code myquiltinfatuation.  This code is good through 2/20/24, so don't miss out!








Do you follow LouLou's Fabric Shop on social media?  If not, you definitely should.  It's the very best way to keep up with the very latest happenings, and right now, there's a giveaway going on.  Check out their social media pages to find out how to get this cute little bundle of goodies.


If you're into solids, Lady Belle Fabric has you covered.  Take a look at this bundle of Pure Solids by Art Gallery Fabrics.  And, if pinks and reds aren't your vibe, there are a few different solid palettes to choose from.









If you'd rather skip right to spring (and I must admit that I'm right there with you), Lady Belle Fabric also has so many fresh bundles and you're sure to find something you love.  How about the Sunroom collection by Elizabeth Hartman?














And isn't this bundle of the Flower Fields collection by Maureen Cracknell gorgeous?




              Lady Belle Fabric





There you have it, friends.  Each of these shops has so much amazing fabric that I have a tough time choosing what to show you each month.  I hope you'll take a few minutes to visit these wonderful shops.  I know you'll find something you love.  What better day to treat yourself?

Happy shopping, y'all!



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