Solids Along Post Four

Happy Wednesday! How are your solids blocks coming along?! I've been having a lot of fun with mine. This week (because you know it changes every week) my favorite Moda Bellas are the ones pictured above (from left: Amelia Orange, Peony, Daffodil, Peacock, and Amelia Pink). 

And here are the blocks for today...

First up is Block 13. I really love this design. I used Admiral Blue (9900 48) and Fuschia (9900 190). Directions here.

Next is Block 22 by Basic Grey. I used Peony (9900 91) and Daffodil (9900 250). Directions can be found here.

Finally I made  Block 8 by Lily Ashbury. I used Peacock (9900 216) and Amelia Pink (9900 166). Directions here.

And here are the first twelve together. It's so interesting to take photos in progress. I definitely want to use some more blues and will be sure to add them in on the next go-around of blocks. The next Solids Along blocks will post on May 25th. It's not too late to join in! Once I get the directions written for my setting plan I'll be sharing those in a pdf download.

I'm heading to Portland today for Quilt Market...absolutely can't wait. It's already in the 100's here at home, and I'm looking forward to the Portland weather! I'll be posting on Instagram (sherrimcconnell) and will also try to get in a blog post as well! 

Thanks so much for stopping by! Oh...and I have a little post over at the Moda Cutting Table blog today, too. Leave a comment on that blog post if there is anything Moda you'd like to see in my market recap!

Have a wonderful day!

Here and There

The last week has been busy, busy, busy with end-of-the year activities (we have a high school senior--which pretty much explains most of the craziness) and International Quilt Market preparation. I feel like I've been here and there but not really any one place for very long--if that makes sense. I haven't been able to spend much time with my sewing machine, but I did have a chance to start working on my "Gentle Art" quilt.

I've combined some of my favorite fabrics from Bonnie & Camille's Happy Go Lucky and Scrumptious collections--and I love the result! The collections just play wonderfully together. The pattern is fast and fun, too--gotta love those patterns where all the seams nest!

The plan is to get this finished up and ready for quilting before I leave for Portland on Wednesday. If' you're going to be at quilt market I'm giving a SchoolHouse on Thursday at 11:00 Room B115. There will be giveaway copies of my book at the SchoolHouse, and I'm also doing a book signing on Friday at 4:00 at the United Notions/Moda booth 917--hope to see you there!

Before I go today I'd like to share some gorgeous fabrics my friend Emily  sent me...this is her latest collection, Technicolor!

Such gorgeous fabrics...I can't wait to play with them!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Quilt Stories

Every quilt has two stories--the story of its making and the story of the maker during the process. We piece some quilts quickly, and they are finished in an instant of our lives; however, some quilts (as we all know) take a little time. Today I finished one of those quilts that took quite a while to finish. This is my scrappy Tula Pink quilt (Moda Bella Bleached White for background).

I absolutely love so many of the combinations in this quilt...I'll share just a few favorites so the post isn't over-loaded with pictures.

I always tell people I'm not much of a pink fan...but I don't know...I think it just has to be this shade of pink!

And then this combination of blues and greens along with the mix of hexagons and plus signs...love!

It's overcast out today, so I may have gone a little overboard with the pictures...

Anyway, back to the story of this quilt. This quilt is the story of being patient. Sometimes you collect fabrics knowing they are for something special but not knowing what that is. And once I figured out what I was going to do with my small collection of Tula Pink fabrics I knew I wanted to wait for more Tula fabric collections to mix in.

I'm glad I waited. I think this quilt just has so much more depth with the play of so many collections...and yet I also think they mix and match beautifully. Now if I can just figure out a backing...should I look for something now...or wait for another collection to be released? I'll have to ponder that one a while.

I also want to share something I forgot to mention the other day when I shared my "Cross Roads" quilt and pattern. I love the backing I used...it's from another Sweetwater collection, Lucy's Crab Shack.

So if you have any Lucy's Crab Shack sitting around...you might want to keep some to mix in with Road 15 when it is available--they are wonderful together!

Thanks so much for stopping by. And thank you for the lovely pattern comments. It's a little scary putting something out that is a personal design (at least for me), and I appreciate the kind words. Some of you who have left the nicest comments are "no reply" bloggers meaning that I can't email you back to say thank you--so thank you to every one!

PS Patterns for "Cross Roads" are still on sale through Friday in my Etsy shop.


Have a wonderful day!

Cross Roads

Introducing..."Cross Roads"...my very first pattern release! (And...I'm currently working on four other patterns which will release after market). When I saw this gorgeous bundle of Road 15 by Sweetwater for Moda I set to work immediately--my quilt design was waiting for the perfect fabric, and I knew it when I saw it!

I heart plus blocks!

I just had so much fun putting this together...the blocks have a super easy setting, and the scrappy border and scrappy binding just seemed to set everything off perfectly!

This would also be the perfect project for scraps...I can't wait to make another scrappy version!

"Cross Roads" is 61" x 71" and is now available in PDF download in my Etsy shop. Print copies will be available after they return from the printer in a couple of weeks.

But to celebrate...I'm offering "Cross Roads" for just $6.00 through Friday.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Water Lily

Happy Saturday...today I'd like to share another quilt from my book A Quilting Life: Creating a Handmade Home. This is Water Lily...created with Moda's Good Fortune by Kate Spain.

This is a quilt that was truly inspired by the fabric--I received a Layer Cake of this collection and was sewing by afternoon!

It sure is good to have this quilt home!

Some new happy Kate Spain fabric arrived the other day...a new quilt is already in the works!



Thanks so much for stopping by!

Schnibbling and More

Thanks so much to everyone who visited the May Day Schnibbles parades on my blog and on Sinta's blog. We had over 60 entries! And as usual we have some prizes to announce (all prizes picked by the time-tested method of Random.org). If you are a winner please email me your mailing address.

Carrie has four surprise packages for two people from each parade (A little bird  told me the packages will include a Layer Cake, and some other terrific goodies). Congratulations to Polly and Cindy from Sinta's parade and Elizabeth and Joanne from my parade.


Sinta is giving away a fun prize package today also. Her prize is an Etsy shop gift certificate, an Open Gate Flying Geese Ruler, and a Charm Pack of Fig Tree's Avignon. Congratulations to Nancy!

Oh, and I have something fun, too...a Layer Cake of Kate Spain's wonderful Honey Honey collection (with another surprise or two added in). Congratulations to Jackie!

And just a little bit of what's going on in the sewing room here this weekend...some Honeysweet market bag sewing (collection is by Joanna Figueroa for Moda), and....

Some Moda Bella solid blocks coming soon!

I'll have another quilt from my book to share tomorrow...and a big announcement on Monday!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

May Day

Happy May Day! And welcome to a Parade of Vintage Schnibbles..."Hat Trick!" First, though...I need to announce that next month's pattern will be "Gentle Art." This is a pattern I've been wanting to make for a long time...and while mine isn't finished yet, Sinta has a beautiful version on her blog. (I'll be sure to share mine when it's finished).

I thought Sarah's "Hat Trick" would be the perfect way to start the day...what a gorgeous quilt in such a gorgeous setting!

Elizabeth's "Hat Trick" has a fun story about the fabrics (and has a super fun fabric for the backing)!

Carol's "Hat Trick" is so "fun" in PB & J!

Jennifer made this lovely "Hat Trick"

Carol's "Hat Trick" (with Buster helping out)

"Hat Trick" by Chris!

Connie's "Hat Trick" is gorgeous!

Deb's beautiful version

Gail's "Hat Trick"

Denise's "Hat Trick"

Izzy's gorgeous spring "Hat Trick"

Jodi's beautiful Fig Tree Hat Trick

Judith's gorgeous "Hat Trick"

"Hat Trick" by Karen M

"Hat Trick" by Karen O

Jackie's "Hat Trick"

Gerri's great quilt

Kim's gorgeous  quilt

Karen C's "Hat Trick"

Dorothy's "Hat Trick"

And I just love Hildy's version!

And Joan made a lovely runner...hmmm I might have to make one of these!

Sue and Wendy are friends who always participate together...cheering each other on. This is Sue's...

And this is Wendy's!

Angela's quilt

Brenda's "Hat Trick"

Carol C's "Hat Trick"

And Messy Karen's great "Hat Trick"

Joanne's quilt...we are ending with another beautiful quilt in another beautiful setting!



Thanks so much to everyone!  I'll be adding a few more quilts to my parade later this evening...but I wanted to at least get these posted.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Also...today was a crazy day, so if I left out any blog links...please let me know, and I'll add them in!