Charm Box Quilt with Fat Quarter Shop!

Today I'm here to show you my version of the new Charm Box Quilt Pattern by Fat Quarter Shop! Their shortcut patterns are so fun and easy....and FREE!!!

I just love the simplicity of this one along with the "short cut" techniques used. I decided to go with the fail proof Cotton + Steel Basics. I seriously am in LOVE with them. How could anyone NOT be??? They're so awesome!!! I wanted to do a reverse idea and really wanted the background fun with all the colors so I chose Jacks from Melody Miller's new Playful line for Cotton + Steel. I love the way it plays together with all the colors. I chose Overlookserape from Alexia Marcelle Abegg's new Mesa line for Cotton + Steel and backed it in Moonbunnies from Rashida Coleman-Hale's new Mochi line for Cotton + Steel. So here it is in all it's Cotton + Steel glory!!! Be sure to pick up the pattern HERE! Thanks for stopping by!

By the way...I'm feeling much better! Thank you to everyone who was concerned about me. The Army life is tough one!

Aloha Girl Quilt Kit HERE

xoxo,

Makin' it cute with FQS again!

I'm need to first apologize for my absence. Life has been pretty hectic and stressful lately. I've been feeling pretty overwhelmed with some things and haven't been sewing. Life just takes over sometimes and you have to take a step back to catch a breather. Anyways.....

I did have a chance to try Me and My Sister Designs new Makin' It Cute templates from Fat Quarter Shop though. They are so fun! I'm in love with the butterfly pack! So cute! My model was pretty excited about them too :)

I bet if you head over to the Jolly Jabber, they might have a list of more bloggers with their cute creations and perhaps a giveaway!

September is National Sewing and Quilting Month!!!

Woot Woot! September is national sewing and quilting month! How awesome is that!? A whole month to celebrate! Now's the time to finish some WIPs or start something new! Fat Quarter Shop has a fun new pattern for you to download and has asked me to participate as part of this special occasion. How could I say no? They asked me a few questions and challenged me to make something I've never made before! OMG! Here it goes!!!

Why do I love sewing?

With craziness happening all around me at any given time. Sewing is my outlet. It's the "me" time I need. I love spending time at my machine making something that will be used and loved. It's a real joy to see others get excited by things I've made as well. I definitely cut myself short when it comes to accepting sewing as a talent. I think it's just a fun hobby but others really do see it as a talent. I've always had a hard time accepting compliments. I usually think and/or say "Pfff!". I've learned to accept compliments and be thankful that I can make beautiful things.

1.       How did you start quilting/sewing? I started in High School and was taught by my Mom. She challenged each of us (kids) to do something productive with our summer instead of watching TV everyday. I decided to make a quilt. I still have it and use it all the time!

2.       When was the first time you knew that you were a quilter/sewer? I'd say I really found my sewing mojo about 3 years ago. I would go to quilt shops with my Mom just for fun and just fell head over heels with fabric! I was an avid paper collector and scrapbooker before but fabric is something that doesn't only look nice but feels nice. I love playing with it and making something that is useful instead of just something pretty to look at.

3.       Do you have any sewing/quilting horror stories or faux pas? Well, I remember I was rockin' and rollin' on a quilt one time and for some reason I wasn't paying attention as I finished piecing. I went to clip the thread and my thumb got run over by the needle. I literally sewed through my skin. It was kinda cool to see the thread go through my skin (not entire finger). Then it hit me what just happened and I got all dizzy. Haha! I'm so lame! I have such a weak stomach for things like this.

4.       What advice would you give to someone who’s just starting out in sewing/quilting? Start slow with easy project. Just jump in and go for some crazy quilt or weekender bag. Work your way up with new challenges. Don't be afraid to cut into your favorite fabric! That's why you bought it to begin with! It doesn't do you any good sitting on a shelve collecting dust "waiting" for a special project. Every project is special!

Ok, so Fat Quarter Shop has challenged me!!! Ok, so they asked me to make something this month that I've never made before. Hmmm...that was tough! I've made so many different things from quilts to bags, clutches to backpacks, fabric baskets to pincushions....I'm willing to try anything! BUT one thing or should I say one "department" of sewing I have NOT ever tried is CLOTHING. 

Yes folks, it's true. I have never made an item of clothing from scratch. Seriously! Those knits and rayons scare the crap out of me! I can trace an existing pattern from something into a duplicate but I've never actually followed a garment pattern before or even a tutorial. So..I decided to put my big girl panties on and make an item of clothing! 

I knew I wanted to make a dress for my daughter. My Mom was getting rid of a bunch of clothing patterns a few weeks ago and I grabbed a few (ok, like a box) that I could see myself sewing up. I was going through them last night (yes, last night...procrastination at it's finest) and picked something "fast" and "easy". I was so nervous to start but went for it anyway! 

It will probably be lame for some of you more experienced garment sewers. I skipped the pockets and ric rac because I like it better without. Some things look cuter simpler. So here's my little A-line dress. It's a little big for my daughter but she'll grow into it. It's so fun! I used a large pink & red gingham print called Cheeky Checks from Early Birds by Jane Sassaman for FreeSpirit. I had 1 yard on hand which was perfect for size 2T!!!

Sorry for that FAT wrinkle!

For those of you who are wondering...

Thanks for stopping in! Don't forget to download this fun and free pattern by Fat Quarter Shop!!! Just click the image below to download!

 Now challenge yourself to do something you haven't tried yet! Share your projects with Fat Quarter Shop on their Facebook, Google +, and Instagram using #fqschallenge. Have fun!

Be sure to follow along with the other bloggers to see what they've made this month!

Sherri of A Quilting Life

Amy of Amy's Creative Side

Alyce of Blossom Heart Blog

Charise of Charise Creates

Lucy of Charm About You

Erin of Dog Under My Desk

Amy of During Quiet Time

Rachel of Family Ever After

Anne Marie of Generation X Quilters

Marni of Haberdashery Fun

Melissa of Happy Quilting

Katy of I'm A Ginger Monkey

Elizabeth of In the Boon Docks

Jana of Jana Machado

Lynne of Lily's Quilts

Maureen of Made by Marzipan

Barb and Mary of Me and My Sister Designs

Melanie of I Heart Stitching

Kaye of Miss Print

Dana of Old Red Barn Co.

Natalia of Piece N' Quilt

Denise of Pieced Brain

Stephanie of Quarter Incher

Jane of Quilt Jane

Heather and Megan of Quilt Story

Cheryl of Quilter Chic

Michele of Quilting Gallery

Allison of Quilting Mumma

Teresa of Quilting Stitching & Sew On

Leslie of Seasoned Homemaker

Kelli of Seriously.. I Think It Needs Stitches

Liz of Sew4Home

Erin of Sew At Home Mummy

Sara of Sew Sweetness

Leanne of She Can Quilt

Vickie of Spun Sugar Quilts

Amy of Stitchery Dickory Dock

Tonya of The Crafty Mummy

Julie of The Crafty Quilter

Paula of The Sassy Quilter

Erin of Why Not Sew?

Jelly Roll Jam 2 with Fat Quarter Shop!

Hi there everyone! When Fat Quarter shop asked me to be part of their Jelly Roll Jam 2 quilt series I was delighted! I'm here to show you my version of the Short Cut Quilt Pattern.

This quilt pattern was so quick and easy! It uses half a jelly roll and makes a great baby sized quilt. I chose to use the new Cotton + Steel basics Spindle Roll for mine. I just couldn't resist these new prints! They're so awesome in person if you haven't had a chance to work with them yet. The colors are amazing. The quilt came together nicely and turned out adorable. Not sure if I can part with this one or not!

I just did very simple quilting by sewing on either sides of the quilt blocks with Rainbow thread. I like the simple quilt look since the pattern and prints are simple as well. What do you think?

Be sure to download the pattern HERE

If you need some help putting the quilt together, check out Kimberly with this wonderful video tutorial.

Thanks for checking in! Stay tuned for a giveaway next week!

I'm "Makin' It Cute" Today!

How fun are these flower templates from Me and My Sister Designs??? Well, let me tell you! They are adorable! Fat Quarter Shop sent me a pack to try out and I love them! The instructions were very clear and easy to follow. The flowers came together quickly and were so fun to make! It hardest part was choosing the fabric...of course! So here's my version of the little flowers all put together...

Fun right? I thought this would look great on a crochet beanie for my daughter. She loves to wear hats so it was a good match for her :)

Here are some other fun ways to use the flowers. I'm using swap items I've received in the past in case you were wondering.

Add them to a fabric basket to perk up any space

Here they're added to a journal cover

I hope you find a way to use these because they are adorable!

Be sure to visit the other bloggers showcasing their versions today as well. Fat Quarter Shop is being generous enough to giveaway 20 Makin' It Cute Petal Packs so don't forget to enter the giveaway on the Fat Quarter Shop blog The Jolly Jabber to score a set of your own to try! Have fun and good luck!

Sponsor Spotlight: Fat Quarter Shop with Giveaway!!!

Hello all you cute people! Today is my first Sponsor Spotlight! Yay! I have a great one for your today too!

Fat Quarter Shop!

Many of you have probably been to their online super store at one point of another I'm sure. Well today they launched a new free quilt pattern called the Charm Pack Cherry Quilt! It's so cute & simple! Fun right?

Fat Quarter Shop has teamed up with a list of great bloggers to show you their versions too! So click on over to The Jolly Jabber for a list to see all the Charm Pack Cherry Quilts. Here's a link to the free pattern!

Here's a link to the video tutorial!

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This week ALL charm packs in their shop are 20% off to celebrate the new pattern! So now is the time to stock up on some great new collections you've been eyeballing!

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Giveaway!

Fat Quarter Shop has a charm pack of your choice up for grabs!

You have 3 chances to win:

-Visit the Fat Quarter Shop website and leave a comment telling me which Charm Packs you would use to make the Charm Pack Cherry Quilt.

-My followers get an extra entry. Leave a second comment telling me how you follow me.

-Follow The Jolly Jabber blog for a third entry. Leave a third comment letting me know you follow their blog

That's it! Good luck and I'll choose a winner on Sunday March 2nd!

Giveaway closed

Win my September Fat Quarter Bundle!

I just wanted to give a quick heads up about winning my September Fat Quarter Bundle for Fat Shop! Click on over to their blog the Jolly Jabber for a chance to win! Yay! You have until 10/16 so hurry up and enter! Congrats Jane!

Good luck!

Some updates to the September Blogger's Choice Bundle for Fat Quarter Shop

Thank you for all the wonderful messages about being pregnant on my last post! I have so many kind comments from readers. It's nice to have support while I'm going through this experience through the online quilting community!

I just wanted to give you a little update about my September Blogger's Choice Bundle for Fat Quarter Shop. Two of the prints are from "Little Things" organic by Moda which has been delayed and will not be available for the bundle. Aww....bummed. The grey prints with the buttons and the coral print with the scrabble letters will not be in the bundle.

But not worry! There are other great prints to choose from! I chose some replacements and wanted to share with you so we can all get excited! The bundles will be cut soon and available for purchase! Yay!

I chose the Grey Numbers from Lori Holt's new line Gracie Girl & Sunset Humming Bird by Tula Pink's new line Acacia (the 2 center prints)

If you're ready to make the commitment, click the image to be directed to the shop! It's now available!