Favorite Finish Monthly Linkup - May 2021

Welcome to May's Favorite Finish Monthly Linkup!

My big news this month was the official pre-sale launch of my book Just One Charm Pack Quilts. The super awesome, signed book bundle pre-sale includes:

• Signed copy of Just One Charm Pack Quilts book ($25 value)
• Three (3) individual Meadow Mist Designs patterns, printed or digital ($36 value)
• Digital copy of Cathedral Window Pincushions pattern ($12 value). This is a special pattern not available for purchase outside of this bundle.

$73 dollar value for $25 plus shipping

This special offer is only available through Saturday June 5th and you can find out more about the deal here.

I thought that in honor of the Just One Charm Pack Quilts, I would share one of my favorite quilts from the book. 

Here is Ninja, one of the very beginner friendly patterns from the book. I used a charm pack of Flower Shop by Patty Sloniger for Michael Miller Fabrics paired with Moda Bella solids in white (fabric A) and frost (background) for this quilt. I love the bright happy colors of this quilt and the swirl quilting that Carol Alperin quilted on it.

Photo: C&T Publications
Designed & sewn by Cheryl Brickey, Quilted by Carol Alperin

Ready for the party?  

Here is a reminder of the party details:

• The linky party will open at 12:01am EST on the last day of the month and will be open for 5 days, through the 4th at 11:59 pm EST.

• For instructions on how to link up blog, Instagram, or pictures from your computer (new - there is now a way to just upload a picture without a web link) to the party, click here.  

• If linking a blog post, I ask that you please add a link back to the party.

• Please visit at least 3 other links (and preferably leave comments) to share the love and celebration :)

I hope you join in by checking out the posts or linking your favorite finish of the month!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

 

 

Super Awesome Pre-Sale Signed Book Bundle!

Today is the day!!  The start of the Just One Charm Pack Quilts Super Awesome Presale Signed Book Bundle Sale!!

I originally said I would send all links today and the sale would start tomorrow, but I could not figure out how to get the links to work if the products were not live, so I decided to just launch a day early :)

Special Deal only from today Friday May 28th through Saturday June 5th

WHAT IS INCLUDED WITH THIS BUNDLE

• Signed copy of Just One Charm Pack Quilts book ($25 value)
• Three (3) individual Meadow Mist Designs patterns, printed or digital ($36 value)
• Digital copy of Cathedral Window Pincushions pattern ($12 value). This is a special pattern not available for purchase outside of this bundle.

$73 dollar value for $25 plus shipping*

* Shipping - Bundle will be shipped using USPS Priority Mail flat rate envelops for a cost of $7.50 for US and $28.50 for Canada. For all other countries, please email me at Cheryl@Meadow-Mist-Designs.com for a shipping estimate.

The shipping estimate currently is about June 25th, but this subject to change based on shipping delays and when I receive the books. As soon as I receive them, I will ship them out as quickly as possible.

Signed Copies - I will sign the inside of the book and include your name that is listed in the shipping address so if you would like a different name, please email me after purchase.







HOW TO PURCHASE THE BUNDLE

1. Add the Just One Charm Pack Book Bundle to your cart.

Link to Just One Charm Pack Book Bundle

2. Add three individual Meadow Mist Designs patterns (digital, printed, or a mixture of both) to your cart. Note: Digital patterns will be available right to download right after purchase. Printed patterns will be shipped with book.

Link to digital patterns

Link to printed patterns

3. Add the digital Cathedral Window Pincushion pattern to your cart.

Link to Cathedral Window Pincushion pattern

4. Enter the coupon code CHARMBOOK during checkout. The coupon code will take off $48 from the total to make the bundle cost $25 plus shipping.


If you have any questions with the listing or using the coupon code, e-mail me at Cheryl@Meadow-Mist-Designs.com and I will help you.

l

BONUS BOOK

If you purchase this bundle, you can add a signed copy of my first book, Modern Plus Sign Quilts for only $15 (40% off the list price of $25).

Link to specially priced Modern Plus Sign Quilts

ABOUT THE JUST ONE CHARM PACK BOOK

Who can resist a perfectly coordinated and fun-filled fabric charm pack? Now make the most of your growing collection with projects designed with the charm pack lover in mind. Sew colorful and bright quilt projects, each using only one charm pack, one extra fabric, and a background fabric.

All 18 projects come in two colorway options with easy to follow instructions and illustrations. Finished creations have multiple uses! Projects are perfectly sized for a baby or child, but also make for unique house décor as table toppers, wall hangings, or the perfect gift for friends and loved ones. Plus, you'll never need another excuse to keep buying those irresistibly fun charm packs!

By Cheryl Brickey of Meadow Mist Designs. Published by Stash Publications, an imprint of C&T Publications, June 2021.

You can find a series of posts and videos all about the book showing samples and giving many tips and tricks:

Book Introduction

Picking Fabric A and Background Fabric

Making Your Own Charm Packs

Book Quilt Sizes & How to Enlarge Quilt Designs

Just One Charm Pack Quilts - Quilt Sizes

 I hope that you are enjoying the different videos for the launch of my next book, Just One Charm Pack Quilts which comes out next month.  The previous videos are:

• Video #1 - Introductory Video
• Video #2 - Picking Out Fabric A and Background Fabric
• Video #3 - Making Your Own Charm Pack

In today's video, I am answering the most asked question about the book and giving you a sneak peek on the super awesome, pre-sale signed book bundle.

Video #4 - Quilt Sizes & How to Enlarge plus Book Bundle Deal

BOOK QUILT SIZES

The number one question I have received about the book is how big are the quilts?  

The quilts from the book are perfect for babies, kids, smaller adult lap quilts, wall hangings, and table toppers.  The smallest quilts are around 36" x 44" and the larger ones are about 52" x 52".  

In the video, I hold up one of the larger quilts called Star Surround (purple background with stars) and it is almost the width of my arms and goes from the floor to about my shoulders.  I would say that it is a nice size lap quilt, but would not be big enough for a 6 foot person to have from his chin to his toes.

HOW TO MAKE QUILTS LARGER

This brings us to the second part of the video, three ways of enlarging a quilt.  I hope that you will find this section helpful not only for the book quilts, but any quilt you would like to make.  

If you love a book quilt but really would like it to be larger there are three main methods to change the size:

1. Add borders - You can add simple or complex borders to a quilt top.  This is the easiest way (math-wise) to enlarge a quilt.  Here is Nine Patch Challenge made into a large lap quilt using borders. 

2.  Add more blocks - By adding more blocks you can change not only the size but also the shape of the quilt. This is Coin Flip made into a very large lap quilt by increasing the blocks from 9 to 20.

3.  Resize the blocks - This is the most complex way (math-wise) of enlarging a quilt because all of the piece sizes will need to be recalculated.  However, if you like the design and do not want to change it, enlarging the design is the way to go as the design will be the same, just bigger.  

Here is Cat's Eye transformed into a queen size quilt with the same design, just using a layer cake instead of a charm pack.

SUPER AWESOME PRE-SALE SIGNED BOOK BUNDLE

For a limited time, this Saturday May 30th through Saturday June 5th, I am offering a signed book bundle.  All details on how to purchase and links to the bundle will be posted on Friday, May 30th.

For only $25 plus shipping, you will get s signed copy of Just One Charm Pack Quilts, 3 stand alone patterns (digital and/or printed), and a digital version of my Cathedral Windows Pincushion pattern.  The pincushion pattern is a great way to use up extra charm squares (each pincushion uses 3 charm squares) and this pattern is not available for sale outside of this bundle.

Please note that all digital patterns will be available for download right after purchase and all printed patterns will be shipped with the book.  

The estimated date I have been given to receive books is June 25th, but this may change based on shipping.  I promise that as soon as I get the books in, I will have them shipped out as quickly as possible.

You can also pre-order Just One Charm Pack Quilts through Amazon (affiliate link).  

Due to shipping costs, the bundle is only available for US mailing addresses.  If you are international and wish to take part in the deal, please email me at cheryl@meadow-mist-designs.com and I can estimate the shipping cost.

Just One Charm Pack Quilts - Making Your Own Charm Pack

The Just One Charm Pack Quilts is launches soon!  At the end of this month I will be having a limited time, signed book bundle and next month the book is released! 

As part of the launch, I have recorded a number of videos showing some of the quilts from the book and giving some helpful tips.  

Introductory Video

Picking Out Fabric A and Background Fabric

The book, Just One Charm Pack Quilts, stretches a charm pack to make a quilt by adding in an additional fabric (called fabric A in the patterns) and a background fabric.  

I'm back today with the third video of the series for some tips on how to make your own charm pack.  You can also use this to pick fabrics and colors for a quilt (not just for a charm pack).

Just One Charm Pack Quilts - Video #3 - Making Your Own Charm Pack

EXAMPLE 1

My favorite way to create a charm pack is to build off a favorite print.  Looking at the colors in the print, I pick additional prints and solids that go with this colors.  If you need help figuring out the colors in the print, the selvedge will typically have spots of each color used in the print. 

The added in fabrics do not have to be an exact match and having them a vary a little gives great interest to the quilt top.  I really like to add blender fabrics, which fabric that have prints but read as nearly solids (such as grunge or tone-on-tone) to the charm pack. 

Here is Coin Flip made and quilted by Travis.  To make this charm pack, I started with the pink, white, and black plaid fabric you can see in the quilt top.  Then I pulled a number of black, gray, white, and pink fabrics to compliment it.  I usually try to have enough fabrics that I only have 1-3 squares of each print in my charm pack. 

Coin Flip

Pieced and quilted by Travis

Photo by Stash Publications

EXAMPLE 2

You can also go more monochromatic and pick 1-3 colors to build your charm pack.  Making a charm pack can be as easy as grabbing your bin of pink/red scraps and cutting them down to 5" square.

In One-Eyed Monster, I decided to use lime greens, true greens, and blues (some of my favorite colors).  I went with more saturated colors to stand out well against the white background.  

Usually when I pull fabrics, I over-pull meaning that I pull too many options.  Then I look at them all together and start editing and eliminating some.

One-Eyed Monster

Pieced and quilted by Cheryl Brickey

Photo by Stash Publications

SPECIAL SIGNED BOOK BUNDLE

From only May 29th - June 5th, I am going to be offering a super bundle for signed books that will include additional stand alone patterns, plus an unreleased pattern that will only be available during this pre-sale. More details soon :)

LAUNCH DATES

Publication Date Late June - Just One Charm Pack Quilts will be published towards the end of June.  The exact date is still unknown depending on shipping times/delays.

Pre-Sale Dates May 29th - June 5th - I am going to be offering a super bundle for signed books that will include additional patterns, plus an unreleased pattern that will only be available during this pre-sale.  More details soon :)

Book Hop - July 18-28th - Join in with me and over a dozen quilters highlighting each book quilt!

Just One Charm Pack Quilts - Video #3 - Making Your Own Charm Pack

Do you have any questions after watching the video?  Let me know in the comments below.

Just One Charm Pack Quilts - Picking Fabric A and Background Fabrics

The count down in on!  Next month, Just One Charm Pack Quilts will be released and I am so excited!

As part of the launch, I have recorded a number of videos showing some of the quilts from the book and giving some helpful tips.  You can find the introductory video here: Intro Video.

The book, Just One Charm Pack Quilts, stretches a charm pack to make a quilt by adding in an additional fabric (called fabric A in the patterns) and a background fabric.  

I'm back today with the second video of the series for some tips on how to pick out your fabric A and background fabric.

Just One Charm Pack Quilts - Video #2 - Picking Out Fabric A and Background Fabric

EXAMPLE 1

For some of the quilts in the book, like Bowtie shown below, both the charm prints and the fabric A (the gray solid) touch the background fabric.  The charm prints never touch the fabric A.  

In this case, you would want to pick a background fabric that has good contrast with both the charm prints and fabric A.  In many charm packs, the prints tend to be medium in tone so picking a lighter or darker background works well.  

Fabric A can be any fabric that has good contrast with the background fabric.  You could even use some yardage of one of the charm pack prints. 

Bowtie

Pieced by Cheryl Brickey, Quilted by Carol Alperin

Photo by Stash Publications

EXAMPLE 2

For other quilts in the book, like Blossom Chains shown below, the charm prints are next to both fabric A (the white solid) and the background fabric (the teal solid).  And the fabric A and background fabric are also next to each other.

In this case, you want to make sure that the charm prints, the fabric B, and the background fabric all have good contrast with each other.  When your charm pack has mostly medium tones, the easiest way of doing this would be to use a light fabric and a dark fabric (or vis versa) for fabric A and the background fabric.

Magic Carpet

Pieced by Cheryl Brickey & Quilted by Carol Alperin

Photo by Stash Publications

SPECIAL SIGNED BOOK BUNDLE

From only May 29th - June 5th, I am going to be offering a super bundle for signed books that will include additional stand alone patterns, plus an unreleased pattern that will only be available during this pre-sale. More details soon :)

LAUNCH DATES

Publication Date Late June - Just One Charm Pack Quilts will be published towards the end of June.  The exact date is still unknown depending on shipping times/delays.

Pre-Sale Dates May 29th - June 5th - I am going to be offering a super bundle for signed books that will include additional patterns, plus an unreleased pattern that will only be available during this pre-sale.  More details soon :)

Book Hop - July 18-28th - Join in with me and over a dozen quilters highlighting each book quilt!

Just One Charm Pack Quilts - Video #2 - Picking Out Fabric A and Background Fabric

Do you have any questions after watching the video?  Let me know in the comments below.

Orchid Valley Quilt and Pattern

I am excited to share a new quilt finish and pattern with you today called Orchid Valley, now available in my pattern shop!  This quilt is a little different for me, I usually do not use this many prints all together, but I must say that this is one of my favorite quilts I have made in the last few years.

FABRICS & MATERIALS

The cover quilt is made with:

• Kismet collection by Sharon Holland for Art Gallery Fabrics 
• Essex Linen in Flax by Robert Kaufman 
• Moda Bella Solids in White

The start of this quilt was the purchase of a fat quarter bundle of the Kismet fabrics.  I knew that I wanted to use the fabric together as a collection and design a quilt that would highlight all of the wonderful prints and colors.

I used my favorite Warm & White batting by the Warm Company and Aurifil thread for the piecing.  The beautiful quilting is by Carol Alperin and it is kind of a swirls clamshell like design.

For the backing, I went with a soft cream and tan wide back print (I love not having to piece a backing!).

ABOUT THE DESIGN & NAME

I love star designs and this little twist on the star block is so fun, with extra window-pane like grid incorporated into the block.  I also love how having different values and prints in various spots in the blocks make each block have a different look and feel.

The sashing and cornerstones ground the design a little and give the eye a place to rest.

One of my best friends (and the most awesome tech editor in the world!) Yvonne recently moved to the Big Island of Hawaii.  In addition to having the most interesting fruit trees, she also has a ton of native orchids growing on her property.  I named this pattern Orchid Valley in honor of her and in thanks for sharing all of Hawaii's beauty so that I may live a little vicariously through her.

PATTERN DETAILS

Orchid Valley is written at a confident beginner level and is fat quarter friendly.  You can use fat quarters, ¼ yard cuts, or a mixture of both to make the blocks.

The pattern contains instructions to make three sizes: baby, lap, and twin.

Orchid Valley is on sale in my pattern shop as a digital pattern at a special introductory price of $10 now through Sunday, May 9th.  Once you make an Orchid Valley of your own, you can share it via social media using the hashtag #OrchidValleyQuilt.

In my pattern shop, you can combine this intro sale price with an additional coupon for more savings. Use the code "TWOPATTERNS" for $2 off 2 patterns and "THREEPATTERNS" for $4 off 3 patterns.

MANY THANKS

I would like to thank Yvonne @Quilting Jetgirl for her amazing tech editing skills and quilting ideas (and for sharing her wonderful orchid pictures which inspired the quilt name).  I would also like to thank the Warm Company for the Warm & White batting (my favorite!).

MORE PICTURES

I went to take pictures of Orchid Valley over the weekend and had perfect photography weather.  It was around 4 pm and cloudy so the sky was bright but diffuse.  I went on a walk to the wood near my house (I always get funny looks walking down the street with my quilt and photography equipment) and the forest was just coming to life.  

All of the new grown had this gorgeous light green color and played really well with the earth tones of the quilt.  After I finished outside, I took a few styled shots within my house and my littlest cat Piper decided to join in.  

Here are some of my favorite pictures:

PINTEREST 

I have been more and more active on Pinterest (check me out here).  If you would like to save Orchid Valley for later on your Pinterest boards, here is a pinnable image.

Remember, you can get the Orchid Valley pattern in the Meadow Mist Designs pattern shop for only $10.00 through Sunday, May 9th.

In my pattern shop, you can combine this intro sale price with an additional coupon for more savings. Use the code "TWOPATTERNS" for $2 off 2 patterns and "THREEPATTERNS" for $4 off 3 patterns.

Salad Bin Fabric Storage

Today I am sharing a tip today that is:

1. good for your fabric
2. good for your health
3. good for the environment

What is this amazing tip?  Using empty salad tubs for fabric storage.  These tubs will organize for fabric, be great for your heath (from all of the salad you will eat), and save the environment by reusing the container.

When I started building up a fabric stash, I would stack my fabrics on shelves and in various containers, which was very messy and disorganized.  My lack of organization made finding the fabric I wanted very difficult and even harder to put away neatly.

I started searching out options for better organizing my growing fabric collection, quickly dismissing plastic storage bins from Target due to the cost.  Making mini-bolts using magazine boards looked interesting, but a good chunk of my stash was fat quarters and quarter yard cuts which do not lend themselves well to mini-bolts. (I do store my cuts greater than 1/2 yard cuts on the boards).

The solution came to me as I was serving my family salad one evening.  The salad bin was the perfect size...and it was free!  I decided to collect enough bins to have one bin per color for folded fabric and one bin per color for scraps.  That is a lot of bins which is where the health benefit of the fabric storage plan comes in...my family ate a lot a salad!

The salad bins I used were from Costco (shown above), but they have similar salad bins at Sam's Club, Publix and other larger grocery stores.

Now take a look at my organized shelves :) Each bin is clear making it easy to see all of the fabric. When I want to go through my pink fabrics (for example), I can just pull out the bin, take out the fabric I want, and put the bin back on my shelf.

Here is how I fold my fabric to fit well into the bins (the pictures below show a half yard cut)...

1.  Begin by laying out your yardage folded like it comes off the bolt, with the two salvages on the right side and the fold on the left side.  For fat quarters, orient your fabric so that the salvage is on right side.

2.  Bring the fold (or the cut edge in the case of a fat quarter) to the savages.

3.  Repeat  #2 again, bringing the folded edge to the salvages.  You should now have a fabric folded to approximately the width of the storage bin.  The length of the folded fabrics will depend on size of the fabric cut.

4.  Now fold the fabric along its length so that the bundle matches the depth of the bin.  I have found folding a half yard cut into fourths works best for my bin size.

What are your best fabric storage tips?