"I Love Home" Borders and Giveaway

My "I Love Home" quilt is coming together. Woohoo!

Today is the release of the border and sashing (the borders in between the blocks) instructions for the Jacquelynne Steves "I Love Home" Block-of-the-Month quilt along.

I laid out some of the border fabric with my blocks so I could get a sense of what my quilt will look like. I don't have every detail of the borders, but I can still see the overall effect. I think the quilt definitely shows off the pretty blue floral fabric that was the starting point for my fabric picking.

Check out my quilt so far below.




Obviously, I need to finish up Block 4 before I get started on borders. So in tonight's Facebook Live I'll be working on Block 4 instead of jumping into the borders and sashing. I'll get to those later this week.

The center square of Block 4 all by its lonesome.
Block 4 took a bit longer because I did more needle turn appliqué than the other blocks. But I'm getting SO MUCH BETTER at it. I'm thrilled! I was able to fully relax into the zen mode of needle turn this time.

Mission accomplished.

Besides getting better at needle turn appliqué, my other goals for this project were to try out the style of needle turn appliqué and embroidery together, to use fabric entirely from my stash, and to push myself with color in a way I don't normally do.

So far I'm very happy with everything.

I hope you join me tonight while I start sewing the rest of Block 4.

You can join me LIVE to watch the whole process during my nightly Facebook LIVE show, and you can watch the replays on YouTube. Note: My Facebook LIVE show now starts at 8:30 pm Central Standard Time (UTC/GMT -6 hrs).

If you’re already signed up to the Block of the Month quilt-along, then the borders and sashing instructions should be on their way to your email.

If you haven’t joined yet, here’s a link to sign up for the free “I Love Home” Block of the month quilt along. Click here.

More about the borders and sashing on Jacquelynne’s blog. Click here.

Also, check out photos of all the blocks people are making in Jacquelynne's Facebook group. Click here.

And check out this month's new giveaway!

This month's giveaway prize is a $25 gift certificate from Thermoweb.




How to win:

To enter to win, “Like” the Penguin & Fish Facebook page, and leave the comment #ILoveHomeQuilt 
on any of my Facebook Lives this week from Monday, December 4 - Friday, December 8.

Leave a comment while I'm live or after, during a replay.

Not on Facebook? You can also enter on my YouTube replays. Head over to the PenguinAndFishMovies Youtube page, click Subscribe, and leave a comment #ILoveHomeQuilt

Each evening I’m Live is another chance to enter. You can enter during my Facebook Live video, during the reply, or on YouTube.

The entry period starts in tonight’s Facebook Live (December 4) and will run through December 8th. I’ll randomly pick a winner on the 10th. I will message the winner next week and share who won during a Facebook Live.


To be notified when I’m on Facebook Live:

1. "Like" the Penguin & Fish page on Facebook for crafty live streams every night at 8:30 pm Central Standard Time. Click here to get to the page: http://facebook.com/penguinandfish

2. You can either remember to be on the page at 8:30 pm Central Standard Time, or to be notified, after “Liking” the Penguin & Fish page on Facebook, click the “Following” tab and make sure Notifications are set to “On”. Then click "See first".


Want more chances to win?

Check out the lovely people below who are also “I Love Home” BOM quilt along bloggers. Each blogger has a chance to win.

The Crafty Quilter

The Inbox Jaunt

Designs by Sarah J

Farmhouse Quilts

Podunk Pretties

The Quilting Nook

The Sewing Loft


Thanks so much!

xoxo - Alyssa


________

If you found this post interesting, I hope you'll join me to get occasional emails on how to craft a happy life - and make something cute in the process. For signing up you’ll also get a FREE hand embroidery pattern.

Click here to join (it's FREE too!)




Block 4 release and a new giveaway from Olfa! "I Love Home" BOM

Today is the release of Block 4 of the Jacquelynne Steves "I Love Home" Block-of-the-Month quilt along.

Yay!

This is the last block in the quilt along.

For me, Block 4 looks like it's going to be the most advanced as far as the skills I wanted to improve on with this project, and the new skills I've learned.

The skill I'm trying to improve is needle turn appliqué. The flower petals and thin stem were a challenge on Block 3. But I improved as I stitched. Because of Block 3 I'm more confident about my ability to stitch the stems on Block 4. Now there are two thin stems instead of one, and they're curved. There are also two flowers with petals instead of one.

For new skills, Block 3 was the first time I've dealt with half-triangle-rectangles (HTRs). They're back (and just as pretty) in Block 4. I'm going to try and see if I can do them from memory without looking up how to do them again. But if I get stuck, I have no problem watching Jacquelynne's instruction video. Click this link to watch Jacquelynne's Half Rectangle Triangle video.

I'm excited to test myself!

I'll be jumping into Block 4 tonight, starting with transferring the design to fabric, picking appliqué fabrics, and starting the needle turn appliqué.

You can join me LIVE to watch the whole process during my nightly Facebook LIVE show, and you can watch the replays on YouTube. Note: My Facebook LIVE show now starts at 8:30 pm Central Standard Time (UTC/GMT -6 hrs).

Below is a photo of my blocks so far and where they're going to live in the quilt. At the start of this project, I was unsure of my fabric choices, but as we go I'm liking them more and more. I think the blues, teals, and greens are starting to look like different bodies of water. To me, the quilt looks tranquil and homey. I'm over the moon about it!

My "I Love Home" quilt so far.

If you’re already signed up to the Block of the Month quilt-along, then Block 4 should be on its way to your email.

If you haven’t joined yet, here’s a link to sign up for the free “I Love Home” Block of the month quilt along. Click here.

Check out Block 4 on Jacquelynne’s blog by clicking here.

Also, check out photos of all the blocks people are making in Jacquelynne's Facebook group. Click here.

And check out this amazing new giveaway!

This month's giveaway prize is from Olfa - a folding cutting mat, rotary cutter, and package of Endurance blades. These are all just like the ones I've been using in my Facebook LIVES.



Click here for more info on Olfa.

How to win:

To enter to win, “Like” the Penguin & Fish Facebook page, and leave the comment #ILoveHomeQuilt 
on any of my Facebook Lives this week from Monday, Nov 6 - Friday, Nov 10.

Leave a comment while I'm live or after, during a replay.

Not on Facebook? You can also enter on my YouTube replays. Head over to the PenguinAndFishMovies Youtube page, click Subscribe, and leave a comment #ILoveHomeQuilt

Each evening I’m Live is another chance to enter. You can enter every evening during my Facebook Live video, during the reply, or on YouTube.

The entry period starts in tonight’s Facebook Live (Nov 6) and will run through November 10th. I’ll randomly pick a winner on the 12th. I will message the winner and share who won during a Facebook Live.


To be notified when I’m on Facebook Live:

1. "Like" the Penguin & Fish page on Facebook for crafty live streams every night at 8:30 pm Central Standard Time. Click here to get to the page: http://facebook.com/penguinandfish

2. You can either remember to be on the page at 8:30 pm Central Standard Time, or to be notified, after “Liking” the Penguin & Fish page on Facebook, click the “Following” tab and make sure Notifications are set to “On”. Then click "See first".


Want more chances to win?

Check out the lovely people below who are also “I Love Home” BOM quilt along bloggers. Each blogger has a chance to win.

The Crafty Quilter

The Inbox Jaunt

Designs by Sarah J

Farmhouse Quilts

Podunk Pretties

The Quilting Nook

The Sewing Loft


Bonne chance!

xoxo - Alyssa


________

If you found this post interesting, I hope you'll join me to get occasional emails on how to craft a happy life - and make something cute in the process. For signing up you’ll also get a FREE hand embroidery pattern.

Click here to join (it's FREE too!)



Block 3 Giveaway - "I Love Home" Block of the Month quilt-along by Jacquelynne Steves

Wow. It's October already. Where did summer go???

A new month means that there's a new block for the "I Love Home" Block of the Month quilt-along by Jacquelynne Steves.

It's super cute!

I'm ready to get needle turn appliquéing and embroidering again.

I'm recording the whole process of every block Live over on Facebook, and you can watch the replays on YouTube.


Click here or the image above to watch the replays on YouTube.

For Block 3, there's a new-to-me technique that I'm excited to try.

Half Rectangle Triangle units. They're like Half Square Triangles but rectangles instead. And there's a little trick to making them.

Jacquelynne made a how to video on how to make the Half Rectangle Triangle units that you can watch here:

Click this link to watch Jacquelynne's Half Rectangle Triangle video.

Make sure to watch the video because it's not as obvious to do as you think.

Here's Jacquelynne's blog post about Half Rectangle Triangles as well. Click here.

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If you’re already signed up to the Block of the Month quilt-along, then Block 3 should be on its way to your email.

If you haven’t joined yet, here’s a link to sign up for the free “I Love Home” Block of the month quilt along. Click here.

Check out Block 3 on Jacquelynne’s blog by clicking here.

Also, check out photos of all the blocks people are making in Jacquelynne's Facebook group. Click here.


And with the new block, we have a new giveaway.

Yippee!!!

This giveaway is super cute too.

This month's giveaway prize is an assortment of buttons and chars from I Love Buttons, Etc.


Click here for more info on I Love Buttons, Etc.

They're so sweet and would fit right in with these blocks if you wanted to add some cute details.


How to win:

To enter to win, “Like” the Penguin & Fish Facebook page, and leave the comment #ILoveHomeQuilt 
on any of my Facebook Lives this week from Monday, Oct 2 - Friday, Oct 6.

Leave a comment while I'm live or after, during a replay.

Not on Facebook? You can also enter on my YouTube replays. Head over to the PenguinAndFishMovies Youtube page, click Subscribe, and leave a comment #ILoveHomeQuilt

Each evening I’m Live is another chance to enter. You can enter every evening during my Facebook Live video, during the reply, or on YouTube.

The entry period starts in tonight’s Facebook Live (Oct 2) and will run through October 7th. I’ll randomly pick a winner on the 8th. I will message the winner and share who won during a Facebook Live.


To be notified when I’m on Facebook Live:

1. "Like" the Penguin & Fish page on Facebook for crafty live streams every night at 9:30 pm central time. Click here to get to the page: http://facebook.com/penguinandfish

2. You can either remember to be on the page at 9:30 pm Central time, or to be notified, after “Liking” the Penguin & Fish page on Facebook, click the “Following” tab and make sure Notifications are set to “On”. Then click "See first".


Want more chances to win?

Check out the lovely people below who are also “I Love Home” BOM quilt along bloggers. Each blogger has a chance to win.

The Crafty Quilter

The Inbox Jaunt

Designs by Sarah J

Farmhouse Quilts

Podunk Pretties

The Quilting Nook

The Sewing Loft


Good luck! And I'll see you tonight for some Live stitching!

xoxo - Alyssa


________

If you found this post interesting, I hope you'll join me to get occasional emails on how to craft a happy life - and make something cute in the process. For signing up you’ll also get a FREE hand embroidery pattern.

Click here to join (it's FREE too!)


My top 5 favorite sewing books to add to your quilting library. They’re the best!

Even though we have Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook to find all sorts of sewing inspiration and tutorials, there’s still nothing like a good book.

Something that you can hold in your hands. Something that can look pretty on your shelf. Something that can trigger your creativity every time you page through it.

After years of collecting, I’ve amassed oodles of sewing books. However, there are just a few that I go back to over and over again.

I thought I’d share with you my top 5 favorite sewing books that you should add to your quilting library. At least, in my opinion. 😉😍


Wise Craft Quilts: A Guide to Turning Beloved Fabrics into Meaningful Patchwork
By Blair Stocker



I got this book a couple weeks ago and instantly connected to it when I saw the jean quilt on the cover. I knew the book had to go in my top 5.

I’ve been making a jean quilt on and off over a period of (very literally) a decade. It thrilled me to see Blair’s jean quilt. It uses a traditional quilt block design to turn several shades of jeans into a clean, modern, warm and inviting quilt. I’m telling you, my heart expands when I look at it.

Actually, that’s how I felt with just about every project in the book. Blair shares her expertise in using well-loved and found fabrics such as vintage handkerchiefs, men’s button up tops, and even a wedding dress, and turns them into amazing quilts.

None of the quilts feel kitschy or overdone, something I commonly see in projects using reclaimed fabrics. They are all beautiful in their simplicity and I want to make every single one.

The biggest takeaway for me was to give yourself permission to cut into that special fabric.

I’ve been known to keep all my pretty fabric folded on the shelf to pull out every once in awhile and marvel at its prettiness but never hurt it by actually using it. Well, I’m getting over that. The more I use my special fabrics, the more I want to use them up. They’re far prettier in a finished project than sitting on my shelf.

Click here to purchase Wise Craft Quilts: A Guide to Turning Beloved Fabrics into Meaningful Patchwork by Blair Stocker



The Improv Handbook for Modern Quilters: A Guide to Creating, Quilting & Living Courageously
By Sherri Lynn Wood



For me, The Improv Handbook for Modern Quilters by Sherri Lynn Wood helped me put fear aside and step into a world that before I only wished I could enter.

The world of free form, no pattern involved quilt making where every quilt ends up looking like an abstract art piece.

Before reading this book I thought there was no way I could ever make something so beautiful and seemingly impossible to make. How would I know what size to cut things? How would I get seams to match together? How would I even make a decision on what to do next?

I felt like there was no way to break away from a planned out pattern and make something so improvisational.

But Sherri Lynn Wood illustrates the process in an informative and encouraging way. And after using her methods, I feel like there’s a creative part of me that’s finally getting the chance to open up.

I used her methods to construct the back of my Splendid Sampler quilt using all my scraps up from the project. It was a thrill. (See my YouTube videos of the process by clicking here.)

You don’t need any special design skills, just a few methods and parameters you set for yourself, and the world of Improv piecing becomes understandable.

I can’t recommend this book enough. It breaks down the creative decision-making process in a way that will help in any project. So even if you don’t plan on making an improvisational quilt, The Improv Handbook for Modern Quilters will still be a valuable addition to your sewing library.

Click here to purchase The Improv Handbook for Modern Quilters: A Guide to Creating, Quilting & Living Courageously by Sherri Lynn Wood



Stuffed Animals: From Concept to Construction
By Abigail Patner Glassenberg



Abby is a PRO at designing and sewing super cute stuffed animals. In Stuffed Animals: From Concept to Construction she shares her technical knowledge in a digestible way so that you can design and sew your own stuffed animal patterns. Even complex designs.

Click here to see my longer review of Stuffed Animals: From Concept to Construction.

If you want to learn how to make professional looking stuffed animals, you won’t find a better book than this.

Abby starts with how to design your own stuffed animal, then, through her projects, takes you through making a simple stuffed animal with two sides, all the way through how to make more complicated designs with gussets, darts, rounded shapes, asymmetrical design, and fully jointed parts. The “Lesson” inserts throughout the book are gold.

Even if you don’t make stuffed animals, you’ll get a great education on how to manipulate fabric into 3-dimensional shapes.

You’ll use Stuffed Animals: From Concept to Construction as a go to reference for years.

Click here to purchase Stuffed Animals: From Concept to Construction by Abigail Patner Glassenberg



The Art of Manipulating Fabric
By Colette Wolff



I’ve had this book for years and years and it never fails to inspire me.

There are no projects in this book. It is purely a technical guide on how to manipulate the flat surface of fabric to give it dimensionality using a wide variety of traditional techniques. Techniques include gathering, shirring, ruffles, godets, pleating, smocking, quilting, stuffing, and more, all in great detail and with lots of diagrams and photos.

One of my favorite things I like about this book is that it shows what the most traditional way of a doing a technique looks like, all the way through what a technique would look like when done in a way that’s more free form or unconventional.

All the techniques are shown in plain white cotton and photographed in black and white. I think that design choice focuses the book on the textures you can create, and lets you think of your own projects that you could use them in.

There are textures in this book that you’ve never seen before being created with fabric. Any of them would be stunning in a quilt.

Now that I’m crafting a whole lot more (because of my nightly Facebook Lives), I’d like to start experimenting with more dimensional techniques and include them in upcoming projects.


Click here to purchase The Art of Manipulating Fabric by Colette Wolff



Story Quilts: Through the Seasons
By Yukari Takahara



I found out about this book several years ago at the International Quilt Market trade show. I met Yukari there and we traded books (my book, Sew & Stitch Embroidery, had just come out).

The quilts in this book are so beautiful that I get kind of emotional every time I page through.

Yukari’s quilts consist of large scenes of people, buildings, toys, plants, and animals made through a combination of patchwork, needle turn appliqué, and embroidery.

The sheer amount of handwork is astounding.

Story Quilts: Through the Seasons is eye candy for sure, but there are also great lessons on needle turn appliqué and different ways you can combine it with embroidery. I love the page where it shows the same little girl design made several times in different combinations of needle turn appliqué and embroidery, and in a variety of materials.

Although I love my Japanese version, I’m sure it’s even more informative in English!

For a kick of beauty and inspiration, I pull this book off my shelf more than any other sewing book in my library.

Click here to purchase Story Quilts: Through the Seasons (English version) by Yukari Takahara



Red and White Quilts: Infinite Variety: Presented by The American Folk Art Museum

By Elizabeth Warren, Maggi Gordon, Joanna S. Rose. Forward by Martha Stewart. 

Image from The American Folk Art Museum website


Ok, yes, this is a sixth book, but it’s technically not on my bookshelf. It’s on my Mom’s. And it’s definitely worth putting on yours.

In 2011, The American Folk Art Museum displayed red and white quilts from over 3 centuries of making. The show featured 651 quilts, all from the collection of Joanna S. Rose.

What a gift of Joanna’s to share such a history.

Colorfast “Turkey red” dye became available in the mid-nineteenth century, and in turn made red and white quilts popular. And it’s easy to understand why. The contrast between the plain white and the vivid red is stunning.

And to see 651 red and white quilts all in one place takes your breath away. I wish I went to the show when the quilts were displayed, but I’ll settle for paging through the book.

The book showcases each quilt from the show on its own page, grouped by technique or style. I love that you can see all the log cabin style quilts together and all the embroidered quilts together.

Not only does this book make you want to sew a red and white quilt immediately, you feel a connection with the women and men, some from hundreds of years ago, who were makers just like you.

Click here to purchase Red and White Quilts: Infinite Variety: Presented by The American Folk Art Museum by Elizabeth Warren, Maggi Gordon, Joanna S. Rose. Forward by Martha Stewart



There you have it. My top 5 (6) favorite sewing books for your quilting library.

Share YOUR favorite sewing book in the comments below. I can't wait to check them out!

I’d love a really good one on basic clothing pattern drafting from measurements only. For some reason that’s been itching at my creativity trigger lately. Not directly quilting related, but I feel like everything I learn in other sewing categories helps me with my quilts.


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If you found this post interesting, I hope you'll join me to get occasional emails on how to craft a happy life - and make something cute in the process. For signing up you’ll also get a FREE hand embroidery pattern.

Click here to join (it's FREE too!)

Giveaway 2 for the Jacquelynne Steves, “I Love Home” BOM quilt along.

I had so much fun this past month working on Block 1 of the Jacquelynne Steves “I Love Home” block of the month quilt along.

Here’s my Block 1 all finished.


(To watch the YouTube replays of me making Block 1 Live, click here.)


Kind of a vintagey, floral explosion.

I like it.

It’s interesting to see the fabrics come together.

I don’t know about you, but I feel like it’s a mystery how fabric and color combinations will relate to each other and in the larger quilt. You can do all the planning in the world, but the result is still ultimately a surprise.

A great surprise because it represents you.

It’s like a fingerprint. No one is ever going to put fabrics and colors together quite like you. And that makes your quilt uniquely special.

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If you haven’t joined in on the free "I Love Home" quilt along, have no fear! There’s tons of time to work on it. There are four blocks total.

TODAY is the release of Block 2!

Woo hoo!

If you’re already signed up, Block 2 should be on its way to your email.

If you haven’t joined yet, here’s a link to sign up for the free “I Love Home” Block of the month quilt along. Click here.

Check out Block 2 on Jacquelynne’s blog by clicking here.

Also, check out photos of all the blocks people are making in Jacquelynne's Facebook group. Click here.


With Block 2 comes Giveaway 2!

Speaking of fabric…

Block 2’s giveaway is a gorgeous Fat Quarter fabric bundle from Sarah J. Maxwell, who also happens to be another “I Love Home” blogger.

Click here to find out more about Sarah.



Aren’t the colors pretty! They’re the colors I’ve been gravitating to as of late. I love that blue fabric on top!

How to win:

To enter to win, “Like” the Penguin & Fish Facebook page, and leave the comment #ILoveHomeQuilt 
on any of my Facebook Lives this week.

Leave a comment while I'm live or after, during a replay.

Not on Facebook? You can also enter on my YouTube replays. Head over to the PenguinAndFishMovies Youtube page, click Subscribe, and leave a comment #ILoveHomeQuilt

Each evening I’m Live is another chance to enter. You can enter every evening during my Facebook Live video, during the reply, or on YouTube.

The entry period starts in tonight’s Facebook Live (Sept 4) and will run through September 10th. I’ll randomly pick a winner on the 11th, and the winner will be announced on Thursday the 14th on Facebook Live.


To be notified when I’m on Facebook Live:

1. "Like" the Penguin & Fish page on Facebook for crafty live streams every night at 9:30 pm central time. Click here to get to the page: http://facebook.com/penguinandfish

2. You can either remember to be on the page at 9:30 pm Central time, or to be notified, after “Liking” the Penguin & Fish page on Facebook, click the “Following” tab and make sure Notifications are set to “On”. Then click "See first".


Want more chances to win?

Check out the lovely people below who are also “I Love Home” BOM quilt along bloggers. Each blogger has a chance to win.

The Crafty Quilter

The Inbox Jaunt

Designs by Sarah J

Farmhouse Quilts

Podunk Pretties

The Quilting Nook

The Sewing Loft


Good luck! And happy sewing!

xoxo - Alyssa


________

If you found this post interesting, I hope you'll join me to get occasional emails on how to craft a happy life - and make something cute in the process. For signing up you’ll also get a FREE hand embroidery pattern.

Click here to join (it's FREE too!)


“I Love Home” Block of the Month (BOM) quilt along. Sewing LIVE from start to finish. Plus a GIVEAWAY!

It’s time for a new project over on Facebook Live. Yay!


Tonight we’ll be starting the Jaquelynne Steves, “I Love Home” Block of the Month (BOM) quilt along.


The project is the second in my Designer Series on the Penguin & Fish Facebook Live #RelaxAndCraft show.


For the “I Love Home” BOM, we’ll be stitching the cutest embroidered / appliquéd house blocks into the sweetest quilt. There are 4 blocks total that will be sent to your email every month. If you’re signed up, you should have received your first block in your email today.






I’ll be filming the whole process from beginning to end on Facebook Live. That means everything from cutting my fabric, to each embroidery and appliqué stitch, to sandwiching my quilt, and binding.


The awesome thing about working on a project Live is that we all get to help each other out while we work. If you have any questions, I’ll be able to answer them on the spot. And if I don’t know what to do, I bet one of the lovely people in the chat, just like you, will be able to help. There are some new-to-me techniques in this project (like half-rectangle triangles) and I may need a little hand holding. I’ll be there to hold yours as well.

This is going to be fun!

My 8 most used embroidery stitches. (And how to make them)




And be sure to check out her “I Love Home” Pinterest page by clicking here. There are some great examples of different fabric colorways for the quilt. Helped me a bunch.





And for some more fun…


How about winning a box of Aurifil thread!


The prize sponsor for this month’s block is Aurifil and they’re giving away a box of thread from the image below to one of my lucky blog readers!

Awesome!




How to win:

To enter to win, “Like” the Penguin & Fish Facebook page, and leave the comment #ILoveHomeQuilt
on any of my Facebook Lives this week. (You don’t have to be there Live to leave a comment.)
The giveaway ends after Friday’s (Aug 11, 2017) Facebook Live. And I’ll randomly choose a winner on Monday the 14th.


(quick note: I won’t be Live on Tuesday this week, so there will only be videos on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.)


To be notified when I’m Live:


1. "Like" the Penguin & Fish page on Facebook for crafty live streams every night at 9:30pm central time. Click here to get to the page: http://facebook.com/penguinandfish


2. You can either remember to be on the page at 9:30 pm Central time, or to be notified, after “Liking” the Penguin & Fish page on Facebook, click the “Following” tab and make sure Notifications are set to “On”. Then click "See first".


Want more chances to win (and see some awesome work by other designers)?


Check out the lovely people below who are also “I Love Home” BOM quilt along bloggers. Each blogger has a box of Aurifil to give away.

The Crafty Quilter



The Sewing Loft



I hope you join me over on the Penguin & Fish page for my Facebook Live tonight at 9:30 pm Central time. I’ll be cutting the fabric for ALL of the blocks. Cutting is always the scariest thing for me when quilting, so I could use your hand holding tonight. Eeep.


Cheers!

-Alyssa


________

If you found this post interesting, I hope you'll join me to get occasional emails on how to craft a happy life - and make something cute in the process. For signing up you’ll also get a FREE hand embroidery pattern.

Click here to join (it's FREE too!)



Half way finished with The Splendid Sampler quilt along.

The last 6 months for me have been defined by one big crafty project.

The Splendid Sampler quilt along.

If you haven’t yet joined the 21,000+ people working on a Splendid Sampler quilt of their own, here’s a little background on the project.

Started by quilting stars, Pat Sloan and Jane Davidson, The Splendid Sampler is a 100 block mystery quilt along running from Feb 2016 - Feb 2017. Each week, on Thursdays and Sundays, a new mystery 6 ½ inch quilt block is released as a digital pattern.

Each block pattern is written by a different designer and uses a technique they’re known for. I’ve been fortunate enough to be the designer for block 11.

So far we’ve seen everything from traditional piecing to embroidery. And also raw edge appliqué, needle turn appliqué, foundation paper piecing, English paper piecing, and combinations of all these techniques.

Right now The Splendid Sampler quilt along is totally FREE.

That means every pattern with a bunch of bonus patterns, all beautifully crafted by some of your favorite designers, is all at your fingertips. Not to mention an incredibly helpful, kind, and inspiring Facebook group of over 21,000 quilters. Some quilting for 50+ years and others making their first ever quilt. All the patterns are free for the duration of the project and then they will be taken offline and turned into a book.

My versions of The Splendid Sampler blocks (clockwise from top left) 32, 31, 15, 18

I love that there may be 21,000+ Splendid Sampler quilts being made right now. Pretty amazing, huh!

Tomorrow marks the halfway point of The Splendid Sampler.

Wow!

Block 50!

I’m making myself a Splendid Sampler quilt and I’m so proud I made it this far. My craftiness temperament doesn’t usually want me to take on large projects (it likes small “quick win” projects), so it was a big leap for me to choose to do The Splendid Sampler.

I’m so happy I did! I realized that breaking the quilt down into blocks, turned the project into a whole series of “quick wins”.

My mom decided to do the Splendid Sampler too, and it’s been so great to have the shared experience of working on the blocks with her.


Mom's "Flip Flopping Challenge" bonus block.

I decided to keep myself accountable by broadcasting Live the process of making every block in the streaming app, Periscope. Every night at 9:30pm central time I broadcast Live and work on the most current Splendid Sampler block. Viewers can comment and ask questions in real time.

At minimum I thought the Live broadcasting would keep me on track by giving me a dedicated time to sew, and I’d be able to help people with the embroidery on the block I designed, block 11.


The block I designed! Block 11.

What I found through Live broadcasting on Periscope was community of new friends, all helping each other to become better quilters. And a group of wonderful people to hang out with every night.

It’s because of my Periscope community, that I’ve gone from a “faking it” quilter that knew just enough to get by, to a confident quilter that could stand up tall in any room of experienced quilters.

One of the biggest rewards for me has been the comments and emails from quilters who’ve watched the Live broadcasts or the replays on YouTube, who’ve said that the videos have helped them make their blocks.

And it’s especially exciting when they decided to try a technique they thought they’d never tackle because they could watch me do it, and it didn’t seem so hard anymore.

That makes me so happy!

The more people trying new things and gaining confidence through crafting the better! Yay us!





To celebrate the 50 block halfway point of The Splendid Sampler quilt along, I’ll be having a special Periscope at my parent’s house. I’ll be laying out all of my blocks like a quilt. The last time I did that was when I finished block 25. The quilt has doubled in size since then!

And even better, my mom is going to lay out all of her quilt blocks as well. You’ll get to see both of our quilts side by side. It’s amazing how different fabrics can totally change the look of a quilt.

After “show and tell” I’ll be starting block 50 Live on Periscope.

I’d love for you to join me in tomorrow’s (Thursday August 4th) 9:30pm Central Live Periscope broadcast “show and tell” to celebrate block 50.

To watch and chat LIVE:

1. Download the Periscope app to your device (IPad users may have to look in the Iphone only apps)
2. Sign in using your Twitter account.
3. Click the Person icon, then click the magnifying glass
4. Search for penguinandfish, and when you see me, Alyssa Thomas, click the plus sign or follow button
You'll be notified when I go live. Click the notification or the title of my "scope" in Periscope to join.

You can also watch online at http://periscope.tv/penguinandfish at 9:30pm central time.

Replays of the Live Periscope broadcasts are on YouTube on my channel, Penguin & Fish Movies: http://youtube.com/penguinandfishmovies. If you want to learn a new technique or need some help making it through a block, that’s the place to be.

You don’t have to wait until tomorrow to join me on Periscope either. I’m there every night! So pop on in tonight while I finish up block 49. I’ll be stitching at my parent’s house and sewing it on my mom’s machine.

The best part of stitching at my parent’s house is that you’ll get to hear the frogs outside!

🐸🐸🐸

For more info on The Splendid Sampler and access all the free blocks, check out http://thesplendidsampler.com

And click here to join The Splendid Sampler Facebook group.

If you’re nervous about starting such a big project, start off by stitching my Splendid Sampler freebie bonus project. My BEE BRAVE quilting bee. It will help you muster up the confidence to “BEE BRAVE”!

Click here to get your FREE Bee Brave embroidery.


I’ll see you on Periscope!

Happy halfway point!

best
-Alyssa

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If you found this post interesting, I hope you'll join me to get weekly emails on how to craft a happy life - and make something cute in the process. For signing up you’ll also get a FREE hand embroidery pattern.

Click here to join (it's FREE too!)


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