Manly Unicorn In a Bed of Flowers Quilt finish...

Today is my (Heather) day for a Quilt Story. This is the story of the Manly Unicorn Quilt. It all started about a month ago. I was browsing my Instagram feed and came across @thesewingchick. She was at a fabric store and found a secret stash of the very sold out Heather Ross Far Far Away line. I put aside all social etiquette and graces, and begged her on Instagram to buy me some. And not just a little, a lot! (I think that pile in the back is mine!) Bless her heart, without even knowing me at all, Tessa (The Sewing Chick)  risked buying all this fabric, crossing her fingers that I pay her back $300! My husband was all nervous, "you are paypal-ing a stranger $300, hoping she will actually send you this fabric?" I said, "yes, of course! what could go wrong?"  I wasn't nervous a bit! A week later a lovely package showed up at my door!

THANK YOU TESSA YOU ARE A WONDERFUL AND SUPER TALENTED FRIEND!

image borrowed from The Sewing Chick

Once I opened the package, Weston, my four year old son, went nuts! He was saying "ahhh" and "I like it!" and looked through it all with me with sincere excitement. (why is he my favorite you ask?) He grabbed onto the blue unicorn and took it straight to the sewing machind (not lying) and said "make me a quilt!"

The next day out of the blue in the carpool line he said "I love your new fabric Mommy." Melted my heart. He asked me a few more times to make him a quilt. What was I to do? I started immediately. 

But there was a bit of a problem, his favorite print was a Unicorn laying on a bed of flowers! (I think all he saw was a horse, his favorite animal)  So I went through my stash and used mostly Sarah Jane's Children at Play boy line. Perfect!

He pushed the petal for the majority of the quilt top construction! I would just tell him to start and stop.  He kept thinking it was finished several times along the way. I had to explain to him basting, backing, quilting, binding. It required a lot of patience on his part! But he was good. 

I decided to practice my free motion quilting skills along the way. I did a different stitch in each border segment. 

Do you think he is pleased?

I had a lot of fun making it, knowing if was going to this darling boy who begged for it!

When I wrapped him up in it he told me it was "snug and toasty" Should I rent him out? He is the best! Love my little Moose Man. 

Craftsy Block of the Month 2013

Hi all, I know you have all seen Craftsy buttons all over right? They are everywhere!

Have you taken any classes? I first started with a free class just to give it a try. I have to admit that I have taken a few online quilting classes, and if I am being perfectly honest, some were so "nerdy," that even if the content was good, I couldn't make it through the class with the instructor.

I have not found that with Craftsy. I have taken several now, some paid like a free motion quilting class, which was well worth it. And plenty of the free ones. The content is current and fresh. The teachers are not scripted or "nerdy." 

Anyhow, This Craftsy Block of the month looks pretty fun, and it is all FREE!

I am going to be doing it, even if I don't make the exact same blocks, I love watching the tricks of the pro's. 

Here is the course description online:

The Craftsy Block of the Month is back and better than ever in 2013! Sew along with quilting legend Laura Nownes as she teaches you how to make 10 blocks of various sizes, including LeMoyne Star, Tumbling Blocks, Strippy Spools and Offset Log Cabins. You'll learn techniques such as 45-degree and 60-degree triangles, partial seams, Y-seam construction and curved piecing. In the fall, you'll learn two fun filler blocks, then assemble the quilt and finish with Laura's easy mitered binding.

Enroll FREE any time during the year and get instant access to all the lessons you've missed. As with all Craftsy courses, you can take the class at your own pace, and you get a great online community to share ideas with.

Get ready for your 2013 quilting adventure. Sign up for Craftsy's 2013 Block of the Month today!

Fabric Tuesday..

Sorry we are late again! I will be brief. Meg and I are up against a few deadlines. Busy girls! Here are a few darling things from last week!

From Jo's country Junction. Darling baby quilt...

Star's surround from Creating with fabric and thread. Love the pattern! (from Happy Quilting Melissa)

Happy Quilting Melissa's Jelly Roll Jam quilt, love!

This cutie from Material Girl Quilts. Just makes me Happy

Robot Mom Sews- Ginorma Churn dash selvage quilt!

Robot Mom sews is a fun funny gal that I (Heather) have had the privilege to hang out with a few times. She makes me laugh, and laughing and sewing are my two favorite things, instant friendship! Anyhow, she makes some awesome quilts! Here is one that I love. Be sure to check out Robot Mom Sews for more fun quilts, also, check out her Etsy shop for some cuteness...

Ginorma-Churn

Yesterday I decided I was going to make a Giant Churn Dash quilt, entirely out of my selvages.  I ♥ me some selvages.   When I saw  Ella's Cottage make one, I knew I had to dive right in. :)  Be sure to check hers out, she also gave tips on how to make it!

I used everything I had in my stash.  People, let me tell you that this is a first for me!  I usually have a project in mind, but have to buy stuff for it.  Yes, yes, I have tons of delicious goodies in my stash, but I like to match my goodies with projects.  And if the perfect project doesn't come along for that fabric, it's held in limbo until said perfect project arises. ;)

Instagram pic of my selvage stash

As you can see, I hoard collect selvages.  I love them. Especially the cute and unique ones.  Well, who am I kidding...if it has a selvage, I keep it.

I went out of my comfort zone and tried not to be too fussy on which selvages I chose.  I just grabbed what fit.  I used parchment paper for my template, because these blocks are biggies.  Parchment paper worked really well to sew the selvages on. 

I straight line quilted, rather organically.  Didn't want it to be too fussy.  As you can see, my lines aren't straight in most spots, so ahem, we call this 'organic' line quilting. ;)

I used some backing fabric I had for another project that didn't turn out.  Ooops...oh well, at least this backing didn't go to waste.

Blog-ditty-blog

Hello fellow friends, crafters, fabric lovers and readers please please please take a minute and read today's post! Please :)  We generally show a lot more interesting pictures than the words we write but today we are genuinely interested in hearing from YOU!  We are looking for feedback on our blog! 

We are making some long overdue changes to our blog...updating the look, content, etc.  While we will still remain Quilt Story, writing patterns and blogging about fabric & quilts & sewing we're trying to focus our content.  This is where you come in!

Like I said, we are genuinely interested in what you have to say.  Here are some of our thoughts, look through these and give us your feedback on these thoughts or whatever you have on your mind!

What do you enjoy reading and seeing:

• Finished Quilts?
• Quilt progress: fabric selection, blocks, layout, etc.?
• Features of other's finished quilts?
• Fabric Lines and stashes?
• Other Sewing Projects?
• Info about new products/notions/designers?
• Guest posts?

Would you like to see more or less of:

• Giveaways?
• Tutorials?
• Linky Parties?
• Our home decor projects? 
• Series? like our Block of the Month, Lucky Stars QAL and Block Party
• Us!

Advertising...do you have any opinions on this?  As is we make very very little on our blog (well below minimum wage).  Truthfully we do the blog because we love quilting, fabric and the whole community. But we spend a lot of time here :)  Not a bad thing but if we're able to bring in a little extra we both could use it.  We have sponsors and from time to time we receive products for free in exchange for promoting the product.  We are researching other avenues to monetize the blog.  Are there things you really like or dislike on blogs that advertise? 

We really want you to be brutally honest here, we are hoping this feedback won't be useful for just us but for all of us who blog!  Hopefully this can be a resource for you as well!!

As a thank you for taking time out to leave us a comment and/or constructive criticism we'd like to have two mini-giveaways. First this lovely little stack of Amy Butler fat quarters and the book "Modern Quilts from the Blogging Universe" AND second 2 PDF Quilt Story Patterns of winner's choice. Winners will be chosen at random so please feel free to say whatever!!  I'll have announce next week:  The giveaway portion of this posts is closed.  However feel free to leave any comments!!

Thank you!!!

Heather & Megan

HST Koi Zipper Pouches

Hello hello :)

I love getting lovely stacks of fabric.  I got this gorgeous Don't Be Koi from Honey Be Good.  I love it.  I usually get a stack and it sits for a lot longer than I want it to.  I decided this time I was going to make something straight away! :)

So many lovely prints in this line.

I have a niece who just left to serve an 18 month LDS mission in Georgia.  This means she is packing and moving a lot.  I have three zipper pouches that I use everytime I go anywhere, so I decided to make her some as well.

A while back Heather and I stocked up on colorful zippers and a few zipper pulls.  I do not remember which shop but I know we got them on Etsy.  Seriously best stash purchase ever.  I use them ALL the time.  It is so awesome to have them on hand for projects.

Finished sizes are about 10.5" x 12", 10.5" x 7" and 10.5" x 5".  I decided to add HST's to one of them and I think it turned out really cute!  It's on both sides.

And there you go!  Easy peasy project and I feel so satisfied having used my Don't Be Koi already.  And it is still available at Honey Be Good.

Come back tomorrow!  I have an important post and we really really want feedback from YOU!

Fabric Tuesday!

Happy Tuesday friends!  Sorry I'm so late this Tuesday morning.  I've got the winner from Honey Be Good giveaway and then we'll jump right into features from last week:

Shauna said...

I am loving the Havana Scoot Scoot Blue and Scooters Too, just too cute

SEPTEMBER 12, 2013 AT 10:15 AM 

Congrats! Look out for an email from us!

Here are some great link-ups from last week:

Arkansas Traveler from Simply Pieced

Reversible Table Runner from Saltwater Quilts

Ruffle Throw Pillow from Good Golly Ginger

Farmer's Wife Quilt Top from Karen's Sewing Room

Double Wedding Rings from Quilts with Personality

Orphan Blocks from Sewn by Leila

Swirling Medallion by she can quilt

Fall Wreath by Quilty Habit

Fabric Tuesday #153

Let's see your projects!

Jelly Roll Jam Free Quilt Pattern

I hope everyone had a great weekend. Mine (Megan) was highs and lows :/  I'd prefer an easy going week(end) sometime soon!  All this moving and things that come along with it.  Sigh.  But I did get a good amount done behind my machine and that always makes me smile :)  And I have a new project to share, hooray!

This easy peasy quilt pattern from the lovelies at Fat Quarter Shop.  It came together soooo fast. I wish I timed myself because it was a breeze.

I chose to use a Baby Jane Jelly Roll from Moda.  I just adore these colors together and the vintage feel of the prints.  One Jelly Roll makes two quilt tops...yes please!

PS From now on you will be seeing many a quilt on my weathered backyard fence and gate with the gorgeous green forest behind.  This is what won me over on this home (and the east!).  I am in love.  I can't wait to see it change through the seasons.  After living in Arizona for three years and although I miss it terribly, I am a seasons girl and so excited for Fall!

Like I mentioned, Jelly Roll Jam is a FREE quilt pattern!  There is also a YouTube version if that is more your thing:

When you're in need of a quick baby quilt this should be your go-to pattern, at least give it a try :)  

You can find other versions of Jelly Roll Jam today with these fabulous bloggers, I'm excited to see what theirs look like!  And thank you to the Fat Quarter Shop ladies for including us in this project! :)

Kaye Prince

Sew Mama Sew

Diary of a Quilter

Quilting Gallery

Pile O Fabric

Piece N Quilt

PS I Quilt

Angela Yosten

Pam Kitty Morning

Red Pepper Quilts

Cupcakes n’ Daisies

I’m a Ginger Monkey

Honey Be Good Giveaway!

Hey everybody!  We've got another great giveaway from one of my personal favorite online shops, Honey Be Good:

Karen carries the cutest up-to-date designer organic lines.  Shall we look at some darling eye candy that's in the shop?  We shall :)

Hand screen-printed Flax Linen by Celina Mancurti - Available in yardage and as finished tea towels. Celina has a new collection of towels perfect for the holiday home.  Very chic and unique!

 Koi - Quilter's Poplin and Voile.  I got a bundle of this last week and I'm putting something fun together to share next week!! Can't wait :)

 110" Width Organic Cotton Sateens - for luxuriously soft and smooth quilts, bedding, and apparel.  I am so intrigued with Sateens but haven't tried them yet, have you??

Critter Patch **coming later this month**- An adorable collection of organic cotton prints by Alyssa Thomas of Penguin & Fish.  I am so madly in love with those bunnies!!!

 Fanfare Flannel  **coming later this month**- perfect for all things baby!  It's such a sweet line!

Would you like to treat yourself to some of those goodies today??  Honey Be Good is giving one lucky ready a gift card:

And if you're impatient like me, get shopping now!  

Receive $10 off your order of $60 or more (and U.S. shipping's free too!). Coupon code QSTORY. Expiring 9/19.  One-time use, can't be combined.

To enter, leave a separate comment for each please;

1. Visit Honey Be Good and tell me your favorite collection

2. Like Honey Be Good on facebook and let us know you did!

This giveaway is now closed.