Paper Piecing My Way to A Brighter Day

Wow, what a week. I don't know about you but I have been on CNN overload watching all that has been happening across the US. I needed to take a step back away from the tv and try to concentrate on something more positive and bright.

I searched the internet for some inspiration and I found this cute little butterfly paper piecing pattern on Craftsy. Its been awhile since I have done any paper piecing and I had to break out a book to help me remember how.

Even with the book, i still messed up and sewed the fabric to the wrong side...I've never been good a reading directions.  Thank God for seam rippers right?  I finally got into the groove and picked out some bright and pretty tonal fabrics form Art Gallery and Robert Kaufman.

At first I thought this would be a nice sort of mindless sewing project that I could do while still keeping one eye on the news.  But after ripping out more than one seam and a few missed pieces altogether, I really needed to focus.

Believe it or not the toughest part to this pattern was piecing the butterfly body piece.  Of coarse it was getting late by that point and everything was getting a little harder to do.

This is by bright little butterfly.  Now I need to decide what I'm going to do with her.

I think I will put her on some Essex Denim.  What do you think...pillow?...bag?...

I Need Your Vote!!

Recently i entered the AccuQuilt Barn Quilt Design Contest.

Wednesday i got an email saying one of my blocks

 was chosen to be apart of the top 100.

I'm so excited!

Now voting is open to the public

 and i would be honored if you would vote for my block.

Block #41

This is my block #41 in the voting.

The winner will have their block displayed at AccuQuilt's headquarters 

as well as a trip to attend the unveiling.

I would love to win!!

To vote just click here
Hurry voting ends April 17th!!

Free Motion Quilting... Yikes!

I practiced and practiced

and then i stepped off into the deep end.

I questioned myself and reconsidered several times.

Even as i started i told myself...

you can always pull the thread out.

I kept going 

I'm still not sure if i like it

but i think i'll keep going.

I'm also doing a GIVEAWAY this week to celebrate my 500th sale on Etsy.

Check out my blog post here to enter to win a fat quarter bundle of
Color Me Retro by Jeni Baker!

Celebrating A Milestone With A Giveaway

Over the weekend I reached my 500th in my Etsy Shop !

 I'm really excited about the direction my shop is going

and hope to continue to grow.

To celebrate this small milestone i wanted to have a giveaway.

Color Me Retro by Jeni Baker

This is such a bright fun fabric line

 i thought it would be perfect for this cheery time

The winner will get a fat quarter bundle of each print in the collection!

The Giveaway is open to everyone!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good Luck! 

Craftsy Sale and Some New Additions

I got an email that Craftsy is having a huge sale!

Starting April 5th through April 8th,
a different set of Craftsy classes will be on sale each day,

 up to 75% off their normal price.

 Don't see the class you want on sale? 

Check back tomorrow - a fresh pick of courses will be on sale!

I've been taking a free-motion class taught by Angela Walters.
 I have both her books and while they are excellent,
you just don't get as much from them. 
If you're a visual learner like me,
than this platform is for you!
 

I also just got in some new fabrics!
Color Me Retro by Jeni Baker for Art Gallery Fabrics!!

I just love all the happy colors in this collection.
And as always Art Gallery's fabrics are so soft.
Besides making their way into a quilt or two
 i defiantly see a cute top being made from these great fabrics soon!

My Little Triangle Quilt

I have been wanting to do a triangle quilt for some time.

I even bought a ruler for triangles last fall but had never figure out how to use it.

Then i came across a quilt on Pinterest and knew i had to try it.

Wouldn't you know the quilt was made by Lee from Freshly Pieced!

The quilt that became my inspiration can be found here.

My little triangle quilt has been hanging on my design board for a couple of months now.

This weekend i decided to take a break from my Marcelle Medallion Quilt and finish piecing this one.

I really only had a few seams left to sew.

 

I changed it just a tad...

I added one larger triangle.  

Which was interesting, me trying to figure out how big it needed to be. 

 I've never been a super star in math. 

 Thankfully, for some quilt math there is an App for that.

Did you know that Robert Kaufman has an app?

 

I loved this print from Luxe in Bloom by Sarah Watson so much and wanted to use it

 but by cutting it up so small you would completely lose the print. 

I don't have the fabric for the backing yet but i ordered this print

Extravagarden Hush

I can't wait till it gets here and i can finish this puppy up.

I'm still  trying to decide how to quilt it.

A part of me wants to free motion quilt it.

I've been practicing.

but i'm scared!