I Wish You a Merry QAL - Block 1

Monday, July 31, 2017

Today's the day! The wait is over! The "I Wish You a Merry Quilt-A-Long" starts today!

I Wish You a Merry Quilt Along - Block 1

Retreat Surprises

Saturday, July 29, 2017

I am currently at a quilting retreat, but I can reveal some secret sewing I've been doing!


Zipper pouches and key chains with Here Comes the Fun fabrics by Art Gallery Fabrics

The retreat is at the same location as the one I went to in February (read about that here), and most of the same group of quilters are here, too. I decided to make a few goodies for all my quilty friends to have something to take home from the retreat.

Have Sewing Machine, Will Travel

Wednesday, July 26, 2017

Last week, I shared all the activities I had prepped for my boys before our long road trip (see that post here). I also shared that I had bought a battery powered sewing machine to try out in the car!


Battery powered sewing machine for travel sewing

Well, now that I've tried it, I'm excited for the possibilities!

Makin' the Bacon

Sunday, July 23, 2017

I really enjoy participating in quilting challenges. It lets me try new things and makes me push through to finish a project before the deadline. I enjoyed participating in the Project Quilting challenges earlier this year, and in the off-season, Kim of Persimon Dreams hosts a few other quilting challenges to encourage her readers to keep sewing. For July, the challenge theme was "Summer Sizzle." Well, it took me all of about 2 minutes to decide I was making a bacon quilt!

Improv curves giant bacon quilt

Christmas Quilt-A-Long starts August 1st!

Monday, July 17, 2017

Do you love trying new things and learning new techniques? Do you want to meet some new quilty friends? Would you like to finish a Christmas quilt BEFORE Christmas? Then you should join me and a dozen bloggers for the "I Wish You a Merry Quilt-A-Long!"


Christmas quilt-a-long with free block patterns

Travel Prep

Saturday, July 15, 2017

I’ve spent my usual sewing time this week preparing some new and never-before-seen activities for my boys in preparation for a family vacation. We will be going to Leech Lake, Minnesota – a 13 hour drive (without stops) from where we live! I have two young boys (ages two and four), so traveling can be quite the chore! My boys are very good travelers, but this isn’t my first rodeo, so I want to be prepared!


Planning for a road trip with a toddler and preschooler

A Speedy Gonzalez Quilt

Monday, July 10, 2017

About a month ago, I received an invitation for a baby shower for a friend in the mail. The baby shower was less than two weeks away, and I had a million other things on my plate. It was already on my to-do list to make a quilt for my friend, but the baby shower moved the deadline up by several weeks!


Quilt-As-You-Go quick and easy baby quilt

Fruit of the Spirit - in Make Modern!

Friday, July 7, 2017

Do you remember this quilt from last September's selvage challenge? Well, fast forward 10 months and the pattern is in Issue 17 of Make Modern magazine! It's my first pattern in a magazine!


Selvage pineapple fruit of the Spirit quilt

Hearts for USS Fitzgerald

Tuesday, July 4, 2017

On June 17th, the US Navy destroyer USS Fitzgerald collided with a cargo ship in Japanese waters. Seven sailors were killed.


Red, white, and blue heart quilt for USS Fitzgerald
Red, white, and blue heart quilt for USS Fitzgerald