Five Year Blogiversary, Sale, and Giveaway!

Five years today!  I can't believe that I started this blog half a decade ago.

Back in 2012 when I started this blog Flickr was one of the main ways of connecting with other quilters online, Instagram was still in its infancy (I had did not have a smart phone and had not even heard of it), and I had a toddler and a kindergartner.  I began blogging to have more engagement in the online quilting community and to be able to take part in all of the fun linky parties that were happening around the web.

Fast forward to today, I now have a 2nd and 5th grader and am approaching the big 40.  I now have so many wonderful quilters that I am lucky enough to call friends.  I have published just about 500 posts, have over 2 dozen free tutorials, and posted close to 100 finishes.  I am now hosting my fourth annual mystery quilt and have a book coming out in February.  I look forward to the next 5 years!

I have a bunch of stuff planned to celebrate my 5 year blogiversary...

Five Year Blogiversary Pattern Sale
Meadow Mist Designs Etsy Shop

FREE SHIPPING All printed patterns in my Etsy shop have free shipping.  No coupon code needed, I have set all shipping costs to $0 for 1 week (until midnight Oct 5th).

COUPON CODE Use the coupon code 5YEARS for $10 off your purchase price of $35 or more in my Etsy shop (this will work out to be similar to buying 3 patterns and getting 1 free).  This coupon code will be valid until midnight Oct 5th.  

Want an even better discount?  Subscribers to my Meadow Mist Designs Pattern are getting an even better special coupon code (will be sent out at 7am EST on 9/28), you can sign up here for the newsletter and the coupon code.

(Note: When the launch of the pattern newsletter was sent out last week, the embedded form did not work well with some mail services, I am very sorry for this.  If you tried to sign up but did not receive an e-mail to confirm your desire to sign up or if you did not get a newsletter this morning (about 7am EST) you can resign up right by clicking this link.  Please let me know if you have any problems.)

Giveaway

How about a giveaway to celebrate too?  I am giving away one complete set of my printed patterns, 15 of my best selling patterns! ($150 value). The giveaway is open worldwide, but if the winner is outside the US I will substitute digital patterns due to shipping costs.

To enter, simply use the rafflecopter entry below: (if you are reading this post via e-mail, you may need to click over to the blog for the rafflecopter box to appear below).  To enter the giveaway, you must be a follower (new or existing) of my blog (e-mail, bloglovin, feedly, etc).  For a bonus entry, you can name your favorite Meadow Mist Designs pattern.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

**Giveaway now closed, congrats Sandra W!***

Thank you all so much for your support and friendship over the last half a decade!!!

Wayward Transparency - my fabrics

Have you seen the new quilt along that Yvonne just started over on her blog, Quilting Jetgirl?  Yvonne creates amazing quilts with a transparency effect and Wayward Transparency is one of my favorites she has created.

The Wayward Transparency is a free quilt along with monthly directions and plenty of different options for laying quilt top.

The quilt top uses 3 different fabric so I went shopping in my stash to see what I had that would work.  Here is what I decided to use:

Fabric A - Free Spirit Solids in Yellow
Fabric B - Kaffe Fassett - Shot Cotton in Clementine
Fabric C - Kona Cotton in Lipstick

These colors are a bit of a departure for me, I have never made a quilt with a bright yellow background, but hopefully they will look good in the quilt :)

The Fabric B is a cross-weave of red and yellow (the warps of the fabric are yellow and the wefts are red) giving the fabric an overall orange look.

You can find out more information about the Wayward Transparency on the Quilting Jetgirl blog right here.

Curated Cabins - a finished mini quilt

Curated Quilts is a new a printed quarterly journal that is launching their first issue soon and in their news section of the website, I saw a call for submissions for their next issue.

The magazine was looking for mini Log Cabin quilts 10"x10" up to 16"x16" using their color palette of 5 colors. I have been working on some quilts and patterns for magazines (to support the Modern Plus Sign Quilts book), so I thought that a mini might be a fun little side project.

Here is how my mini came to be...  After finding solids in my stash that were pretty close to the colors in their color palette, I cut a bunch of ¾" - 1 ¼" wide strips from each color and started piecing them together into random log cabin blocks.

Next came the fun part, trying to fit them all together into a cohesive and pleasing arrangement. Due to the size restriction, I decided my blocks were a little on the large size and so when I arranged them, I folded them to get an idea of how to trim them down and fit them together.

I used Kona Windsor as the negative space because I love the color (it is this wonderful dark blue with gray in it which is difficult to capture in a picture) and I had a bunch of it.

For quilting, I used a diamond cross-hatch design with varying spaced lines. The quilting went super quickly due to the small size of the quilt.

I used Aurifil 1246, a medium gray, in 50 wt to quilt with. I wanted the quilting to show up both on the lighter blocks and in the darker blue background to pull the blocks and negative space together.

I bound the quilt with the same print I used on the back of the mini, it is almost the same shade as the orange in the quilt top, just a little less bright with a very subtle print. The mini finished at about 12 ½" x 15 ½" and I named it Curated Cabins :)

I will be submitting my quilt into the Log Cabin Mini Quilt Call for Entries on Curated Quilts in hopes it makes it into the second issue of Curated Quilts. You should check out all of the other mini's that have already been entered, each is such a great take on the log cabin design and the specified color palette.

Thanks for stopping by!

I am linking up with Finish it up Friday with Crazy Mom Quilts.

Meadow Mist Designs Pattern Newsletter

Would you like more sneak peeks of upcoming Meadow Mist Designs patterns?  How about special coupon codes for newly released patterns?  I have decided to launch a Meadow Mist Designs Pattern Newsletter and I hope you will want to join in :)

This newsletter will be focused on the pattern/sales side of Meadow Mist Designs (including both patterns and my upcoming book Modern Plus Sign Quilts) and will be separate from than the blog content posted here.

The newsletter will not contain mystery quilt instructions (or other blog content) and does not replace (but builds on and enhances) my blog content delivered via Bloglovin, e-mail, Feedly, or your other favorite way of following the blog.

You can sign up for the Meadow Mist Designs Newsletter right here:

Meadow Mist Designs Newsletter

Blogger's Quilt Festival - Arrow Point Path

It's that time of the year again...each fall, Amy, who blogs over at Amy's Creative Side, hosts the Blogger's Quilt Festival on her blog.  We are allowed to link up two quilts and have the opportunity to visit and be inspired by other blogger's wonderful quilts.  

My second entry for the Blogger's Quilt Festival is Arrow Point Path, a quilt I made for Quilt Theory.  Quilt Theory was formed back in February 2016 from tight-knit group of like-minded quilters collaborating to create simple and modern quilt patterns.  All of our patterns are printed on 4"x6" cards (also available on 1 page pdfs) and we will be releasing our third collection in just about a month. 

Photograph by Michelle Bartholomew

Arrow Point Path has a really fun design that is created using a simple block that is repeated and rotated within the quilt top.  My son said that he really liked the design because it made his eyes do funny things :)

Photograph by Michelle Bartholomew

I quilted Arrow Point Path in an swirl/paisley type design using 40wt white (color 2024) Aurifil thread.  I liked the effect of using the 40wt (versus my usual go to 50wt) because it made the quilting stand out just a bit more to give the quilt some good texture.

Photograph by Michelle Bartholomew

Quilt Stats

Size: 60" x 70"

Fabrics: Cotton Couture solids by Michael Miller.  

Thread: Aurifil 40 wt in white (2024)

Batting: Warm & White by the Warm Company

Quilting Patterns: Large paisley shapes

You can find the Arrow Point Path pattern on the Quilt Theory website.

My other entry for the Fall 2017 Blogger's Quilt Festival is Taste the Rainbow, you can read about it right here.

Here are my entries for the Blogger's Quilt Festival over the years:

Fall 2016: State of Being

Fall 2016: Canvas Lines

Fall 2015: Riley Blake Triangle Quilt

Fall 2015: Improv Table Runner

Spring 2015: Use Your Illusion

Spring 2015: Plus Plus - Two Tone Version

Fall 2014: Oh The Places You'll Go

Fall 2014: Vintage Star

Spring 2014: Kona 2013 Quilt

Spring 2014: Improv Quilt Two

Fall 2013: Pi Quilt

Fall 2013: Pink Broken Herringbone Quilt

For those that are new to my blog, please check out the Magnolia Mystery Quilt (my 4th annual mystery quilt), we are just getting started!

Blogger's Quilt Festival - Taste the Rainbow

It's that time of the year again...each fall, Amy, who blogs over at Amy's Creative Side, hosts the Blogger's Quilt Festival on her blog.  We are allowed to link up two quilts and have the opportunity to visit and be inspired by other blogger's wonderful quilts.  

My first entry to the festival is my Taste the Rainbow mini quilt which I designed and made for my local guild's, Greenville Modern Quilt Guild, challenge.   The challenge was to create a mini quilt (less than 36" on all sides) with a modern take on the classic birds in the air block.

My mind went towards how to place the blocks without the traditional grid and thought of a circular design.  Combining that with a rainbow palette and I had the beginnings of my quilt design.  The rainbow fabrics are a mixture of fabric manufacturers with the majority of the fabrics being Robert Kaufman Kona Cottons and Michael Miller Cotton Coutures.  The background is a Blueberry Park print from Karen Lewis for Robert Kaufman.

I used Corel Draw to draw out the design and create the paper piecing templates.  In order to keep everything well aligned and spaced, I added a lot of radial lines, you can see the craziness.

The design is paper pieced from 16 "pie slices", with each slice being sewn from 4 paper piecing templates.  This was not a quick make, but it was exciting as each colored slice came together.

I used my favorite batting, Warm & White by the Warm Company for the quilt.  I find Warm & White has a great structure after quilting so it is perfect for wall hangings.

I quilted the background by echoing the triangle shapes close to the seam lines and then adding some concentric 16 sided polygons.  Next, I add some running stitch hand embroidery (I am calling it embroidery as the stitches only go through the top layer, they are not quilting stitches) 1/8" spacing between the lines using matching Aurifil threads in 28 wt.  This also took a long time but gave me a nice hand project for when I was outside with the kids.

As I was showing sneak peaks of the design and quilt on my blog and social media I was asked if I could write a pattern for the quilt so I put together templates for anyone who would like to create their own Taste the Rainbow - Craftsy & Etsy

Note: This is a set of advanced level paper piecing templates, not a full pattern.  The instructions do not contain general paper piecing instructions, sizes of fabric pieces to cut, or seam allowances printed on the template sections.  

Quilt Stats

Size: 32 1/2" x 32 1/2"
Fabrics: Solids from Kona Cotton by Robert Kaufman and Cotton Couture by Michael Miller.  Background gray is from Blueberry Park by Karen Lewis for Robert Kaufman.
Thread: Triangles used matching Aurifil 12 wt., Background used Aurifil 40 wt in dove (2600)
Batting: Warm & White by the Warm Company
Quilting Patterns: Triangles used running stitch hand quilting.  Background used outlining and concentric octagons.

My other entry for the Fall 2017 Blogger's Quilt Festival is Arrow Point Path, you can read about it right here.

Here are my entries for the Blogger's Quilt Festival over the years:

Fall 2016: State of Being
Fall 2016: Canvas Lines

Fall 2015: Riley Blake Triangle Quilt
Fall 2015: Improv Table Runner

Spring 2015: Use Your Illusion
Spring 2015: Plus Plus - Two Tone Version

Fall 2014: Oh The Places You'll Go
Fall 2014: Vintage Star

Spring 2014: Kona 2013 Quilt
Spring 2014: Improv Quilt Two

Fall 2013: Pi Quilt
Fall 2013: Pink Broken Herringbone Quilt

For those that are new to my blog, please check out the Magnolia Mystery Quilt (my 4th annual mystery quilt), we are just getting started!

Magnolia Mystery Quilt ++ My HST

I am so excited to see all of the half square triangles (HST) for the Magnolia Mystery Quilt popping up in our Facebook group and on social media #MagnoliaMysteryQuilt.

We just started piecing the mystery quilt and instructions are monthly so if you want to join in it is not too late!  You can find all of the information about the mystery quilt here (including the instructions, fabric requirements, quilt sizes, Facebook group, sneak peek, etc).

My Half Square Triangles:

I am linking up with Let's Bee Social at Lorna @ Sew Fresh Quilts and Needle and Thread Thursday at Kelly @My Quilt Infatuation.

Modern Plus Sign Quilts ++ the Book!!

I am so excited to finally be able to share one of my largest and longest ongoing secret-sewing projects....I wrote a book with Paige Alexander (of Quilted Blooms) called Modern Plus Sign Quilts!

You all know my love for the plus sign as a design element in a quilt based on how often they show up in my patterns and quilts.  I love how classic and universally appealing the design is.  We had such fun creating 16 different plus sign quilt patterns, each a twist on the classic and traditional plus sign designs.

Modern Plus Sign Quilts and is being published by Stash Publications (part of C&T Publications) and is now available for pre-order on Amazon (affiliate link) so I can finally share the cover of the book with you!

I think that there are designs for everyone, from baby all the way to queen sizes and from very beginner friendly to more challenging.  Most of the quilt patterns are traditionally pieced but there are a couple of foundation paper pieced patterns and applique patterns too.

The book is supposed to be published in early February (right before QuiltCon 2018) and I will share more information as soon as I can.

I am linking up with Finish it up Friday with Crazy Mom Quilts.

Magnolia Mystery Quilt ++ HST Instructions

Welcome to the September Instructions for the Magnolia Mystery Quilt, we are starting to piece our quilt top!

You can find all of the Magnolia Mystery Quilt information and posts can be found here. We are just getting started so please join us!

Now that the Magnolia Mystery Quilt Along has been completed, you can get the instructions as part of the instruction blog posts or you can go to Etsy for a full set of easy to print pdf instructions for sale:

Magnolia Mystery Quilt - Full pdf Instructions on Etsy

The Magnolia Mystery Quilt contains instructions for both Lap and Queen sizes which are both included in this post:

Half Square Triangle Units




Combine the following fabric squares to form half square triangle units (HST units) using the method outlined below:

LAP SIZE
36 Fabric A squares (3” x 3”) and 36 Fabric D squares (3” x 3”) to make 72 HST units (2 ½” x 2 ½”).

QUEEN SIZE 
36 Fabric A squares (4” x 4”) and 36 Fabric D squares (4” x 4”) to make 72 HST units (3 ½” x 3 ½”).

     1. Place the Fabric A and D squares right sides together. Draw a diagonal line using a removable marking device on the back of the lighter square (shown as the solid line).

     2. Sew a ¼” seam on either side of the solid line (shown as the dotted lines). Cut on the solid line and press seams open or toward the darker fabric.

     3. Trim each HST unit to 2 ½” x 2 ½” (lap), 3 1/2” x 3 1/2” (queen).

     4. Repeat to make a total of 72 HST units.

Do you love or loath making half square triangles?  Any tips for making them more accurate or quicker to share?  I love to oversize my HST and then trim using my Bloc-Loc ruler.  I find this makes the most accurate HSTs for me.



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FREE! Craftsy All-You-Can Watch Day

You will seldom see me posting about sales on my blog, but free quilting classes?  I need to spread the word!

For tomorrow only (Labor Day), Craftsy is giving FREE one-day access to ALL online Craftsy classes.  You can binge watch 1,200+ streaming classes - FREE! 

• Starts: Monday, September 4th at 12:01am MST
• Ends: Monday, September 4th at 11:59pm MST

You can hop over to Craftsy right here (affiliate link) to learn some new techniques!

I have the following on my to-watch list:

• Dot-to-Dot: Quilting With Piecing as Your Guide with Angela Walters
• Startup Library: Hand Embroidery with Kat McTee
• Creative Free-Motion Techniques: From Doodle to Design with Lori Kennedy

Note: This post contains an affiliate link which do provide a small commission from your purchase (this does not affect your purchase price).

Which classes are on your watch list?