A new plan for all the Fig Tree Quilts fabrics and blocks

 I have a teeny tiny, overflowing but totally necessary stash of Fig Tree Quilts fabrics. You can read about it here.
 I had decided to do a Farmer's Wife quilt, and restarted it in September, but the thing is I hate templates and I'm not the biggest paper piecing fan. So about half the blocks I just plain ol' don't want to do.

 But I'm still in love with the idea of an all Fig Tree sampler quilt. It still represents my quilting journey to me. And I have a LOT of Fig Tree fabrics.
 This is just the yardage.

As this seems to be the year of the sampler online I've decided to join a few, make the blocks I like or look to teach me something new or I just love enough to make with pp or templates.

 First up is the Moda Sampler Shuffle. I've been getting the blocks from Fat Quarter Shop's blog but they're around on several shops sites and I assume the Moda blog.

I've got 17 done between a small sewing frenzy and a few that are the same as the Farmer's Wife Quilt.

Next is the Splendid Sampler from Pat Sloan and Jane Davidson. It starts Feb 14th and has over 100 blocks so I know there will be plenty to make from that!


I decided to throw in a few 12" blocks, all the others are 6" finished, Just so I don't need the like 200+ blocks I would have had to make for a king size sampler. I want it about 100" and haven't decided if I want to add borders or not. I figure that's a decision for another day.

I've added Aurifil's block of the month quilt along and I really liked Fat Quarter Shop's Single Ring blocks so made one of them up for a few of the 12". I figure I can hide 10-12 of the large blocks without them taking over.

Total 6" block total so far = 49

What are you up? Do you have a certain style you have a lot of? Or that represents something to you?

Don't forget to follow me on Instagram or Twitter to see what I'm up to. I post there much more frequently then I do here.

Fat Quarter Shop's Charm Pack Cherry in Mixed Bag!

 I was asked about 2 months ago to make up what would be a new free pattern from Fat Quarter Shop made from charm packs, of course I said yes as I am a precut addict.

 I was intrigued by the size of the quilt, charm pack patterns rarely make my 40+" minimum for usable quilts, and the Charm Pack Cherry is about 52-54" (I forget now, I did measure I swear! It is perfect for  using 58 or 60" backing fabrics. Just saying)

You can find all the goods, including a tutorial video with Kimberly all ovver FQS's social media, as well as what I'm thinking is going to be a fairly large parade of quilts (or bloggers who made the quilt) to give you lots and lots of ideas.

Charm Pack Cherry Video Tutorial:

Charm Pack Cherry Free Quilt Pattern

 Basically the pattern uses 4 charm packs, two prints and two solids (about 3yards), and you have 12 of each type of charm left over, these are great for adding a border or making a fun back, especially if you make a medallion or maybe something like flying geese or HSTs in an arrow shape, or even a super scrappy binding!

Because I was going to give mine to a baby, and I confess to disliking the hassel of pieced backs that have to be perfectly centered etc, I did back mine in Moda Snuggles.


I only used a FQ for binding, cut to 1.5" and using the Clover bias maker in 3/4" size (the red one), so over all a very scrappable or all new fabrics pattern, both would work awesome!




For another layout/look check out Sara's over at Sew Sweetness! She's a sweety for sure and her version is like I had imagined mine to begin with but I didn't want to get in trouble so was careful to follow the pattern placements.

And to encourage some new ones  All Charm Packs will be 20% off at Fat Quarter Shop from Monday morning until Sunday at midnight CST. 

The pattern is easy, pretty quick, and depending on the colours you choose will look really different, or in one or two colour families even. When I looked at the instructions I actually thought of stained glass windows, the abstract/mostly vertical strips kind, but I don't see it as much with the red. 
A great way to use up charm packs, especially ones from the same designer but different lines, would make this quilt even more interesting, and you could of course choose more than one solid as well.

And because Chelsey is always on top of things over at FQS I have all sorts of images/graphics to show! YAY!

  This one in Sphere, which may be one of my all time favorites, really makes me want to make another! This was the colour combo I wanted originally but it hadn't hit shops yet. I also would love to see it in Plum Sweet with a cream or mauve background.

So looks like fun doesn't it? 

Tell me, are you a stash shopper or always up for some pretty and new? Got tips on either?

Fat Quarter Shop & #talknt discount code!

 

 +

 = AWESOME!!

 

   If you participate in Talkin Tuesdays, either #talknt2 from 1-3pm Eastern (6pm UK) or #talknt from 9-11pm Eastern, you know that Fat Quarter Shop is a big sponsor for us.
Kimberly and the gang sponsor 3-4 chats a month and are always giving out awesome prizes.

This week, and really for the next TWO weeks, everyone is getting a prize! Use the discount code Talknt  for a 20% off your order!!(excludes clubs and purchase of gift certificates)

The code expires 9/30/12 at midnight.

How awesome is that??? Feel free to share the code with your friends! This is a Talkin Tuesday exclusive!!

Talkin Tuesday

For those new to my blog and me I wanted to let you know more about Talkin Tuesday, the weekly quilting/sewing chat I host over on twitter!
 Every Tuesday at 9pm Eastern I host a 2 hour chat with quilters/sewists and fabric lovers from all over the world!
I ask questions, conversations pop up and a good time is had by all!
I even have prizes!

This week Fat Quarter Shop is giving away two fat quarter bundles of Patty Young's newest line, Heaven & Helsinki. We're giving away 1 each of the Metro and Retro colour ways.

All you have to do is sign in on the Talkin' Tuesday blog and join in the chatting on twitter. You can find tutorials here and here. If you're new to chats on twitter I suggest using TweetChat. It will add the hashtag for you.
I use TweetDeck now because I can have multiple columns open. There is something out there you'll like, sometimes it just takes a few tries.

We're super friendly and LOVE having new people come out and chat. Just say "Hi I'm new #talknt" during the chat and you'll have several people willing to help you along and welcome you.

You have nothing to lose and so much to gain from trying out Talkin Tuesdays, friends, new blogs to visit and not to mention a chance at hose gorgeous fabric bundles!!

Another Update

So the laptop is still dead. We are debating fixing it or getting a desktop for Little Bit and I to share, since she will need to start using a computer for school in the next few years,and my next computer had better frickin' last that long this time.
I do apologize for the pictureless posts, I don't like not having any but of well.

I've been working on the Year of Schnibbles pattern, which this month is Picnic. I've got all the half square triangles sewn, and they are all matched up. So I need to do some more ironing and sewing and I should be able to get them done this week, and the sashing is not complicated so it won't take long.
I've been working on embroidering a tea towel for my mom with nesting dolls and will add wheat sheaves to the edges. As soon as DH gets the pics of my camera and puts them on a thumb drive for me I'll show you. I got the pattern free from the Hand Embroidery Network or HEN.

I've been noticing more that I'm having more trouble with the dyslexia when I'm at the computer. I don't know if it is because I'm in the middle of a pain flare or what but excuse the typos, and general none nonsensicalness of me. Using Mozilla Firefox helps because it underlines misspellings, or non US spellings, of most words so I've been able to catch most of the mistakes. It is getting annoying because so many of the errors are ones I have managed to not make in years. I'm hoping it is my fingers are going slower instead of my brain not being able to compensate like it is trained to.

If you are a love of Fat Quarter Shop, as I am, head over to the Jolly Jabber to get a code for 20% off until November 24th.

I debated sharing my "excitement" from yesterday. I got a call from Little Bit's school. An AMBULANCE had been called for her. AN AMBULANCE. Apparently she is ok, but all you hear is AMBULANCE. Could I come to the school? I'm half way out the door already. When I arrived there was a police car and the AMBULANCE, light on, in the parking lot. The EMTs were smart enough to let me see her before they started talking.
Little Bit had appeared to fall asleep at her desk, when the teacher tried to wake her, she was unresponsive, the EA told me later she appeared to be in a seizure at first, when she finally started responding, when the EMTs were there, she was disoriented, complained of a headache, and was pale with red angry looking welts on her jawline and back. The ones on her back had faded by the time I got there, the ones on her jawline while I was waiting at the doctors office.
After discussing things with the police, who are called whenever an ambulance is called to a school, and the EMTs we decided I'd take her to her pediatrician as she seemed to be alert and generally ok by the time I got there.
The pediatrician couldn't figure out anything, her blood sugars were normal (although it was about 2hours later when they were tested) so we are going to be referred to a neurologist, and we are under orders to take her straight to Children's ER if it happens again, probably by ambulance.
She seems completely normal now. No residuals at all. She was pale for a few hours, and not jumping off the walls but generally normal. And now she's still her normal cheery self.
So I have no idea what happened yesterday other then I got scared to all get out, and that both the EMTs and the policewoman did an amazing job, checking out Little Bit, keeping her calm and not scared, and of dealing with me, who was flashing back to my son's death until I saw her sitting there clutching Sparky, a stuffed dog the policewoman gave her.
So thank you to you, even though in all the rush I forgot to get your names. Thank you for taking care of my baby girl.