Villa Rosa Designs Blog Hop

Welcome to my stop on the hop! I am Sandra of mmmquilts, which came about from the original name of my blog which I started in 2013, Musings of a Menopausal Melon. It was started when I quit teaching because my husband took early retirement, and I was certainly not going to work if he wasn't. Along with that major decision we made a major move across Canada, and the blog (I love to write) became my way of keeping in touch with family and friends afar as I mused about our new direction in life, life in general, and quilting, which led to a whole new journey in and of itself! When quilting became the predominant subject of the blog, I shortened the name to mmmquilts, all one word, lower case. I also design patterns, which have appeared in several publications, and you can also find them in my Etsy shop, SandraJaneQuilts. On April 3, my eighth annual Quilt Along begins, running through June 15 at a nice relaxed pace. This year it is once again free to participants, with some great prizes to be won.

I was thrilled to be invited to participate for the second year of this hop which showcases five fast and fun quilts to make. The one I chose came together from start to finish within a few hours!

Rufus, my quilt model

This design is named Gypsy Rose, but I’ve named my quilt Around the Block for a couple of reasons. Read on for that explanation, as well as to enter for your chance to win some truly fantastic prizes, many of which are open to quilters around the globe this year.

The Art of Riding Thermals: Villa Rosa Designs Blog Hop

Welcome to my stop on the first ever Fast and Fun Blog Hop with Villa Rosa Designs.

I was really pleased to be asked several months ago to be a part of this blog hop by Bernie of Needle & Foot. Make a quick quilt? Help out a designer? Be part of a hop? Sign me up!

The hop is based on a bundle of five super-quick quilt patterns. I chose Snow Goose and made it à la Sandra.

You can get all five patterns on sale right now by clicking here. If you are new to Villa Rosa Designs, as I was, then you might want to check out this link, which takes you to their shop where you can find... wait for it... over 500 of these postcard-sized fast quilt patterns. I had to look twice and scroll to a second page to believe my eyes: TWO DOLLARS per pattern. The instructions fit on a postcard. The quilts are super-fast.

So Much to Say!

There is a lot in the post today, but I'll keep it short so I can get back to work. I've been busy, though not crazy busy. I have a few irons in the fire as they say, and I'm here to tell you all about each one. First of all, the Villa Rosa Designs blog hop begins this week; my day to post is Sunday, January 22. My top is done, and it has marinated on the design wall overnight while I contemplate taking off the extra row I did, which is sort of but not quite, a border. My gut is leaning, though only slightly leaning, towards taking it off. It does add that bit of unexpected, wait, let me look again, idea. Here is the block you may have seen on Instagram.

There are a ton of prizes to be won during this hop which begins tomorrow, January 19! The schedule is below.

Balloon Ride - Scrappy Improv Quilting Book Release Hop

I am super-duper-excited to have been asked by Kelly of My Quilt Infatuation to participate in her second quilt book release blog hop, and to be posting my project on the first day of the hop!

If, (lol, let me change that):  Because you have oodles of scraps, you need, yup, need this book. It will help decrease them, I promise; though, if you're like me, you won't notice the decrease, ha. 

So. Many. Gorgeous. Mini quilts. It was hard, but I finally decided upon the hot air balloon mini, which I've called 'Balloon Ride'. 

Up, Up, and Away!

Joyful Star - 12 Days of Christmas in July

I was honoured to be asked by Sarah of Confessions of a Fabric Addict to be part of her hop this year. Despite already having two rather major commitments within six days of each other, I said yes, adding a third! I work well under pressure, always have. Well, I'm pleased to report all three commitments/deadlines have been met. I am now going to have a relaxing August once this post is done! So welcome, and I hope to inspire you with not one, but three little projects!

First of all truth tea: I never, not ever, think of, or make stuff for, Christmas in July. I am a summer-loving girl and thoughts of snow and cold are no part of my July soak up the sun time! However. I made an exception this year. Because? 

Well, Sarah.

And - 

I had a pattern that was almost ready to publish, that would work beautifully for a Christmas quilt. I'd even had that thought percolating.

And it is published! And it's on sale 30% off for the duration of the hop! You can snag a copy for yourself for just $7.70CA in my Etsy shop.

So.

Exceptions had to be made, I mean really! And I'm so thrilled with how it came together.

So cheery! So... joyful! The red fabric is even called 'Joy' by Kate Spain.

Captiva Meadow for Just One Charm Pack Blog Hop

Welcome to my stop on Cheryl's second book release blog hop! I am so happy to be a part of her book release hop once again. This new book is just the ticket for those of us who have a charm pack (or ten) hanging around. All you need is what the title says, "just one", and a little bit of yardage to make any of the wonderful quilts in the book. I chose to make Blossom Chains.

I love designs that make your eye fly over a quilt. I also immediately saw the large plus-shape negative space between the diagonals and zip! knew I would do a little fancy quilting in there. You can hop over to Cheryl's blog, Meadow Mist Designs, to get links to all the stops on the hop. Links to purchase her book are at the end of this post.

The Ultimate Home Décor Blog Hop Week 3 & To-Do Tuesday

It is the third week of the Island Batik 'Ultimate Home Décor' blog hop. There are four this year, all with giveaways! I hope you caught the array of inspiring home décor projects last week, from quilts to triptychs, from cushions to runners, oh my.

The hop runs May 4 - 26 with new Island Batik giveaways each week, giveaways at pretty much each ambassador's stop, and tons of inspiration and eye candy featuring the newest collections.

The Ultimate Home Décor Blog Hop With Island Batik Week 2

It is the second week of the Island Batik 'Ultimate Home Décor' blog hop. There are four this year, all with giveaways! I hope you caught the array of inspiring home décor projects last week, from yoga cushions to runners and placemats, and of course, quilts.

The hop runs May 4 - 26 with new Island Batik giveaways each week, giveaways at pretty much each ambassador's stop, and tons of inspiration and eye candy featuring the newest collections. I finally get to show you my surprise fabric bundle. You may even get another sneak peek in this post...

Blog Hop Announcement, Giveaways and OMG!

This is a quick post to take care of several items!
First and foremost, it is the start of our second Island Batik blog hop for 2020. There are four this year, yep! And hopefully you caught the announcement this past weekend on Instagram, because there's already a sweet giveaway on offer. So head over and check it out.

The hop runs May 4 - 26 with new Island Batik giveaways each week, giveaways at pretty much each ambassador's stop, and tons of inspiration and eye candy featuring the newest collections. I finally get to show you my surprise fabric bundle. You may even get a sneak peek in this post...

Bohemian Rhapsody: Benartex Precut Project Blog Hop & Giveaway

Welcome to my stop on the Benartex Precut Project blog hop! 'Aha!' you're thinking. 'This is one of her secret sewing projects she's mentioned.' Yup!

I was honoured to have been asked by Benartex Fabrics to create a quilt with one of their new lines. I chose Mabon by Shelley Cavanna of Cora's Quilts. It makes me think of Morocco, spices and heat with its rich colours. I kept thinking Boho as I worked with the fabrics, and it's not too hard to see the small leap to Bohemian Rhapsody.

This is the third time I've made my Pockeful of Sunshine pattern. Why is it that we designers like to remake our patterns? I do not know, but I really do! Not so with books; I rarely re-read them, even favourites, but patterns? Yes. This pattern sews up super-fast, and would make a quick comfort or baby quilt.

Benartex supplied the fabrics for this lovely lap-size quilt.

The pattern is available in my Etsy store. This was the very first pattern I wrote and published.

Island Batik Log Cabin Blog Hop Final Week

It's the final day of Island Batik's Log Cabin blog hop, so I thought I'd pop in with a parade of this week's quilts and a reminder to be sure to enter the giveaways on the ambassadors' blogs, as well as on Island Batik's blog. All of these collections should be available in quilt shops now.
My own quilt is shown below. The sun is out this morning, so I took another photo which you can see at the end of the post.

Centred

Centred: Log Cabin Blog Hop With Island Batik

It is my day to share my Log Cabin quilt, and I am very excited to show you what I created.

My line of fabric is Prairie Skies. I was born in Alberta, and spent many happy times at my grandma's farm, and at my aunt's farm with my cousins, so I know all about those blue Alberta prairie skies. Blue is also my favourite colour, so I was so happy to get to work with this line!

Quilters' Meet & Greet

Greetings! I was asked (again this year, oops) to be a part of this hop, and this time I said yes! Last year I was, I dunno, busy? an idiot? but I didn't sign up... Anyhow, I am in this year and I am very pleased to welcome everyone, including any newcomers to my blog.

I hope you'll stay, poke around a bit using the tabs up top, or visit some of the links in my sidebar which will take you to to the magazines in which my designs have featured, or my pattern shop on Etsy. Some of the links in the sidebar can help you investigate some of the linky parties I host here both annually and monthly.

I also hope once you are done here, you'll click the graphic above which will take you to the main page for this hop where you will find the list and links to all the other quilt bloggers in the hop. And, yes! There are some absolutely amazing prizes. Read on through to find out how to enter! The hop runs through the month of September, so you have lots of time to visit and enter from each blog.

Beat the Heat! Island Batik Blog Hop - Ripples

Welcome to my stop on the Island Batik Blog Hop where we are showcasing Spring 2019 collections. I got the fantabulous Electric Desert by Jackie Kunkel collection.

Isn't it divine? For the challenge we had to create a lap size or larger quilt, using as many of the fabrics in our line as possible. I used every single one of these 31 chops! I knew I wanted a modern style of quilt, but as per usual, I waffled on what design to do: invent a fresh one (started to sketch out some basic blocks to use my AccuQuilt Go! dies), then thought I could do my own design that was recently published in an ezine, and actually started cutting the 2.5" strips for it with that fabulous die, and then, I opened a recently purchased book that I just love, and want to make every quilt in it, The Quilter's Negative Space Handbook, by Sylvia Schaefer. You know when the universe aligns and you just feel it deep in your heart, your solar plexus your mind, your third eye and you hear the choir voices soar? Yeah, that all happened....it was heat all right, of the This is the one! kind.

A quilt in a tree, Lake Erie in the background...pretty much all you need to know about me in one photo.

Autumn Winds & Giveaway

I am so pleased to be a part of the "Autumn in the Air" blog hop with Benartex! You can see lots more Autumn inspiration all week long at their blog Sew in Love With Fabric. Giveaways each day!

Even though autumn is the second furthest thing from my mind right now, winter being the furthest, I do so love the colours of the Fall season, so when I was asked if I would like to be a part of this hop, despite the real life goings-on right now (animals, renovations, summer planning, to name a few) I jumped at the chance. Besides, just say two words: "'free' fabric", okay yes, but I actually meant "Amanda Murphy", and you've got my full attention and adoration! This is her new line for Contempo, by Benartex, named 'Thankful'. It is wonderful, fresh modern colours for Fall. And yes, there is a giveaway of some of it! Be sure to hop over to the Benartex blog to read an interview with Amanda about this line!

Getaway Island Batik Bloghop & Giveaways Week 4

Wow! Inspiration overload, right? Wrong! One can never have too much quilt inspiration and eye candy, at least in my humble opinion. Fabulous fabrics, gorgeous, creative quilts, ahhh. We are entering the final week of the month-long hop. My own post where there are three giveaways (I remembered I have an extra copy of January/February American Patchwork & Quilting, so I'm giving it away too), can be found here. The finished quilt can be found here, and seen below!

Getaway Island Batik Blog Hop & Giveaways

It's Week 2 of the Island Batik Blog Hop! I hope you got a chance to view all the quilts from last week. If not, no worries; the list is below of all the ambassadors showcasing various Island Batik collections, and they are all stunning. Lots of drool-worthy fabrics and quilts. Lots of giveaways, at the Island Batik blog, as well as at most, if not all, of the stops on the hop!

If you missed my own post, it is here. I have a couple of giveaways for you!

Getaway! Island Batik Blog Hop and Giveaways

Who doesn't love to hear that phrase, "Let's get away!" be it January, cold and dark in the northern hemisphere, OR January, summertime in the southern hemisphere, school's out and let's head to a great camping spot or the big city or the ocean...
I try to be all-inclusive, and I have realized especially over the past year, but even years ago when I had a grade 7 student from South Africa (whose mum was my first Yin yoga teacher😊) who spent a month, December/January, in the southern hemisphere summer visiting their family each year, that we northern hemisphere peeps do not recognize our sister/brother southern hemisphere peeps' seasons. So I am right here right now. Sidenote: said grade 7 student is now a doctor, as in M.D.!

And welcome to my spiralling mind! It's how I roll, both on the blog and IRL, (in real life). I always have been like that; menopause exacerbates it, and I sometimes leave my dear husband, aka MacGyver, in the dust with my spiralling and jumping around and assuming he is following my meanderings. Anyhow. Let's focus, shall we?

I am so excited to show you my quilt I designed for this hop! It's the biggest one I've made for Island Batik, measuring 69 X 84". All the fabrics were provided by Island Batik, the batting by Hobbs Batting (I'm using 100% wool, pinch me!), and the threads by Aurifil. I should also tell you that I found out this week that I've been accepted for a second year representing this wonderful company as an ambassador for their fabrics. I just love their fabrics, truly. I've been a batik lover forever, have used them solo, or mixed them in with other cottons. Here is the group I got to work with for the hop. It is called Crystal Ball.

The Great Outdoors Island Batik Blog Hop Week 4 & Giveaway

Wow, it's week 4 of the Island Batik blog hop, and I know my mind is reeling seeing all of the creativity in our circle. There is so much creativity, period, in QBL, aka Quilting Blog Land, isn't there? I've said all my life, too many books, not enough time, and that's is still oh SO TRUE, but now it also applies to quilts! And here we have give whole weeks, two to three posts per day of quilty inspiration and beautiful batiks! It's almost too much....na, one can never have too much quilty eye candy.

You will find the giveaway on Island Batik's blog, and giveaways at each of the bloggers' stops. My own is here!

Free Motion Fantasy Blog Hop and Giveaway

Welcome to my stop on the Free Motion Fantasy Blog Hop, showcasing Amanda Murphy's newly released line, Free Motion Fantasy. I was super-excited to be asked to participate in this hop; I love Amanda's style, her fabrics and her free-motion quilting prowess. Fabric that incorporates her beautiful FMQ? I'm in! Be sure to check out the link; betcha want 'em all! I know I did.

And just look at that fabric on the hop button.... Right?!!

I decided to sew up one of my designs I sketched while on an extended stay at my darling grandson Brady's house last summer. This fabric is perfection for this design, which I've made as a bed runner.