Gone to the Dogs! (And Cats!)

Throughout the year, I save up all my fabric and batting scraps. These are cutoffs from projects that are too small to use on something else. Trimmings from squaring up blocks, batting and backing that's cut off after squaring up a quilt, etc. I just toss them into a trash bag as they are created.

At the end of the year, I use "ugly" fabric that I've acquired or fabric that I know I won't use for something else and sew up little "pillowcases" that are stuffed with the fabric scraps and sewn shut. Then I donate them to the local animal shelter to use as dog and cat beds. A "trash to treasure" win!

Quilt Your Weight Off

A personal goal I have for the new year is to lose some weight. After two kids, I have a "few" extra lingering pounds. I was already planning on getting serious about it at the start of the year, but then I discovered that @stacypacy on Instagram was planning a weightloss sewalong!

(Photo credit @stacypacy)

Here's how it works: for each pound that you lose, make a quilt block. Then at the end of your weightloss journey, you have a quilt to show for it!

Best of 2016

As 2016 comes to a close, I'd like to take a look back at my five best blog posts of the year! Thank you to Cheryl of Meadow Mist Designs for hosting the linky party!

Think Even Bigger!

At the prompt of QuiltingJetGirl, I'm looking back at my 2016 goals and thinking ahead to what I want to accomplish in the new year!

At the start of 2016, I casually decided that my theme for the year would be "Think Bigger." Without knowing it at the time, this would turn out to be the perfect guide for me!

An Ozark Christmas

A couple months ago, I received a gift of about five yards of pre-quilted fabric (often called double faced quilt fabric). If you've ever shopped for this type of fabric before, you know it is often $15-$20 per yard. This was a great gift!

The fabric is "Ozark Christmas" by Fabri-Quilt. I live in the Ozarks! It was meant to be!

Slow Stitching

I have a few secret sewing projects going on right now (new quilt patterns coming soon!), so I thought I'd give you an update on an ongoing project.

I started making hexies from Sarah Watts' Honeymoon fabric line (for Cotton + Steel) back in February. I had never made a hexie before, but the tutorial from Modern Handcraft seemed easy enough. So thanks to a road trip and my pledge to sew 20 minutes a day in February (Beth of EvaPaige Quilts hosts DAGMT every year - join in!), I took the plunge.

Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Blog Hop

Hello! Welcome to the Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Volume 14 Blog Hop!

If you're new here, you're in great company! This is my first time having a block in a 100 Blocks issue. (Okay, let's be honest. It's my first print magazine appearance ever - so I'm a little excited ecstatic!)

My block and name are not technically on the cover, but I am included in an elite group of designers known as the "And More!" club!