Fat Quarter Scarves

I wear a lot of scarves.  You see, my wardrobe is mostly block colored basics (tank, cardigan, jeans) so a scarf adds pattern, color variety and texture.  I have tried to make an infinity scarf in the past, but I always feel like it's too tight/choking me/eating my head.  Recently, Anna pointed out the Tea Rose Home tutorial where you can make a patchwork scarf of five fat quarters of quilting cotton.  I had to try it. 

When you look at the Tea Rose Home post, you'll see that her scarf is a bit shorter than one I would normally wear.  I tend to wrap it fully around my neck so the two ends dangle in front.  I decided, then to use six fat quarters to increase the length.  In the first scarf, I combined Mon Ami, Hearty Good Wishes and Reel Time (from the shop), focusing on bringing together mustard yellows and navy blues.  This seems to be a constant go-to color combo in my wardrobe.

I am quite pleased with how it came together.  It's very quick, very easy to stitch together and doesn't look too patchworky when you're wearing it in a twisted ring around your neck.  The length is good for me, so I am glad to have added that extra fat quarter.  

Feeling optimistic, I pulled whites, creams and grey fat quarters from Reel Time, Mon Ami and Modern Background Paper to compliment my ever growing grey cardigan collection.  Again, I was completely pleased with the result!  Love how the fabrics give color variety/values, but do not stand out individually.

Both scarves are a bit thick, bulky and warm as compared to a voile scarf.  In the Galway weather, that is entirely fine with me.  I don't see these as an addition to my summer holiday wardrobe.  (I don't really have one anyway, living in Ireland!)  I imagine that they will become softer with washing.

My only regret with these scarves is that I didn't have the little pom pom edges as described in the Tea Room tutorial.  They are completely fine as they are and I never would have thought of it until I saw that "extra" on her website.  Next time, my friends.  

A Sparkling Blogger Bundle!

Who is this month's featured blogger?  Can you guess?  They created a bundle that's sophisticated, masculine and modern....and dipped the FSQ in pink glitter.  You have one guess and only one guess...

That's right! Today is the launch of the Molli Sparkles blogger bundle.  Today's a great day to visit Molli's blog if this is your first time meeting him.  Just this past Monday he made his television debut on the Today show where he did a super job promoting quilting while the co-host lost all sanity while trying to stitch together two little squares of fabric.  Step away from the machine, Karl.

Back to the fat quarter bundle!  This month's bundle is filled with teal, aqua, grey and black mixing Kona solids (teal, aloe and black) with Simply Style, Le Creme dots, Minimalista and Architextures.

Retailing for €27.50, you can pick one up in the shop right here.  It's the perfect stash builder, really boosting your aquas and turquoise selection.

Molli, this has been great fun.  We'll have to find another way to join up in the future - I have to get these little sparkly sheep back to Oz!  Baaaa!

Clover & Violet's Blogger Bundle

What a delicious bundle I have for you this month!  This month's color-laden blogger bundle was created by the lovely Jennie of Clover and Violet.  Jennie has such amazing taste in fabric, expertly combining pattern and color so that they sing. 

Here Jennie combined natural Essex linen with the Wrens and Friends main floral print and lots of super pretty, color-saturated blenders from Dottie, Architextures, Minimalista and Wishes.  Won't these make a gorgeous hand bag or tote? 

Jennie knows, of course, that they'll be stunning in a project like that.  If you have not done so already, be sure you pop over to her shop where you can see the wide variety of bag patterns she has available in print or to download.  There's a bag there for every occasion!

To scoop up your own bundle, just click here.  They're retailing for 27.50 each, so I can not imagine they will be hanging around the shop for long!  Jennie, thank you.  Your bundle is absolutely beautiful.

Happy SMS Giveaway Day!

It's SMS Giveaway Day!  Giveaway Day has become a holiday in this house that holds a place in my personal calendar.  Is that weird?  It is just so much fun I would not want to miss out!

On offer here, for one lucky winner, is a fat quarter bundle from my shop: Fluffy Sheep Quilting.  Included is one FQ bundle of small 1/8th inch white dots on 9 different color backgrounds.  You can see the full line in the shop here.  I am so excited to have fresh, new, happy dots in our shelves in a wide variety of saturated, bright colors.  They are great for quilts, bindings, little projects like frame purses or even clothes for a little gal or guy.

Winning is easy.  There are three different options, each of which will get you one entry into the giveaway:

1. leave a comment below telling me how you'd use a dotty fabric

2. leave a second comment if you are (or become) a follower of the blog 

2. leave a third comment if you are (or become) a follower of the shop on Facebook or on Instagram (@fluffysheepquilting).

There will be one domestic or international winner drawn by RNG on 18 May at 10PM Galway time. To be included in the draw, I need to be able to contact you via email.  If you are a no reply commenter, please leave your email address in your comment.  If I do not hear a response from the winner in 3 days (by 21 May 2014), I will draw a second winner and pass the FQ bundle onto them.

Many thanks for coming by Fluffy Sheep Quilting.  Do take a minute or to two poke around the blog and the shop.  You might find something you like!  I wish you all the best of luck in Giveaway Day.  May your sewing rooms be filled to the brim!

S.O.T.A.K Handmade Blogger Bundle

Svetlana, one of the most amazingly talented and inspirational sewists I know, has generously created May's blogger bundle for Fluffy Sheep Quilting!

Author of SOTAK Handmade, Svetlana creates the most beautiful quilts, bags, wall hangings and pin cushions.  If you do not follow her already, check out her blog and instagram page.  Like, now...I'll wait.  Her tutorials alone will keep you happily sewing for some time!  Nearly everything she posts about I want to make immediately.  If only there was more time in the day.

I believe (correct me if I'm wrong, Svetlana!) I first "met" Svetlana in August of 2011.   We were both newbie bloggers and my sphere of friends was quite small.  I thought that I'd host a swap to meet new friends.  Well, the lovely Svetlana signed up and I've been blown away by her talent and taste in fabric since.  I'm so glad she joined in.

Svetlana has combined prints from Wishes, Vintage Happy, Minimalista and Architextures in primarily red, aqua, green and pink.  Together these fabrics shine on their own as well as perfectly compliment one another.  You can pick up a beautiful bundle of your own (by clicking here) from Fluffy Sheep Quilting.  Each bundle of 8 fat quarters retails for 28 euro + shipping.

Svetlana, thank you.  You've created a beautiful bundle for us all.

FairyFace Designs Blogger Bundle!

As you may have already guessed from IG, the super talented Sarah, who blogs at FairyFace Designs, created a beautiful fat quarter bundle for Fluffy Sheep Quilting this month!  I can't wait to tell you all about it.

Sarah was the first blogger I followed in the modern quilting world.  She was (and still is) a total quilting rock star in my mind.  I so very clearly remember the day I emailed her (I was so nervous!) to tell her I started a blog and ask her the best way to pick up a few followers.  Her advice was spot on: don't be shy, chime in, comment on other blogs and join in linky parties.  That was my start...all because of Miss Sarah.

Many years have passed since that email.  I'm so grateful to say she's now a real life friend and my co-founder of the Modern Irish Quilters.  There's no better laugh then a Saturday afternoon chat with Miss Sarah. She lets me vent, makes me laugh and is wonderful person to bounce ideas on/off.

Get to the fabric, Cindy! Right.  Sarah's pulled prints from Wrens and Friends, Rapture, Wishes and Scrumptious that work so brilliantly together.  There are 9 fat quarters in this bundle (18x22 inches) retailing at 31.50 euro.  To pick up a bundle for yourself, just hop over here.  If you've missed the other Blogger Bundles earlier this year, you can see Leanne's and Kat's bundles here.

Sarah, thank you for the time, effort and energy that went into building this bundle.  I absolutely love it.  xx

Riley Blake Basics join Fluffy Sheep Quilting

Not only does Riley Blake make super cute novelty kids prints, but they have a gorgeous range of modern basics prints that are welcome in any stash.  I am so happy to say that Fluffy Sheep Quilting now carries two ranges of Riley Blake basics:

Le Crème Swiss Dots

These are low volume, classic prints with a Riley Blake twist.  The colors they use for the 1/8th inch dots are just gorgeous and would brighten up any project.  We have grey, aqua, lime green, orange, red and pink dots in stock as well as a fat quarter bundle (of course!).  

Since the arrival of this line it was high time to create a Low Volume section of the website.  It's here, nested under the Theme tab.

Gingham

Another classic made modern with the Riley Blake flair for color.  Fluffy Sheep Quilting has four prints in red, yellow, green and aqua on a white background.  I could not disappoint, so there is also a fat quarter bundle available. The stripes are 1/8th inch wide, making them absolutely adorable.  They are screaming BUNTING to me, so I had better get to stitching.  

There are more fabrics to come shortly, so watch this space!

Flutter.Kat Blogger Bundle!!!

I am so pleased to show you March's blogger bundle, created by Kat of Diary of a Flutter.Kat!  Kat and I have been bloggy friends for many years and even met once in person, which is very cool seeing as she lives on the other side of the world (New Zealand) from me (Ireland).  Kat was also an integral part of the creation of Fluffy Sheep Quilting {the shop}.  She not only was a beta tester of the shop website, but created the FSQ logo.  Who doesn't love that little sheep of hers?

Kat really surprised me with her choice of fabric.  She is well known for her love of rainbows, but here she created something completely unexpected.  Kat combined yellow, orange, pink, blue and aquas from Wrens and Friends, Minimalista, Sunnyside, Simply Style, Rapture and Wishes to create a bundle of 9 fat quarters.

If you'd like to add this bundle to your stash, just click on over here and pick one up. They're going for 31.50 euro per bundle of nine fat quarters, or 3.50 euro per FQ.  With a mix of 100% cotton and cotton:linen FQs, low volume prints, geometric prints and floral goodies it's a winner all around.  

Kat, thank you for your time and effort in creating this bundle.  I think you have created a gorgeous bundle.  It has been an absolute pleasure playing along with you.  

She Can Quilt Blogger Bundle!

I am delighted to announce the launch of Fluffy Sheep Quilting's brand new blogger bundle series!  Each month we will offer a fresh, new bundle of 8-10 fat quarters curated by an incredibly talented blogger.  This month, our bundle was created by master quilter Leanne of She Can Quilt.  I've always loved her eye for color and pattern.  She hit this one out of the park!

 

Leanne's bundle holds 10 gorgeous, fresh prints in red, pink, grey and black.  Not only is her choice in color quite seasonal, but it's also super on trend with all of the spring/summer Moda and Riley Blake fabric lines.  Here we have fabrics from Scrumptious, Road 15, Architextures and Minimalista that just sing together beautifully.

To pick up a bundle of your own, just click here.  Please also hop over to Leanne's blog and become a follower.  She already has plans for what she's making with her bundle so you don't want to miss the great reveal!  For a preview of the gorgeous things she makes, jump right to her My Quilts page.  They'll inspire anyone to get stitching!

Leanne, thank you for creating this bundle for the shop. It has been such a joy watching it grow!  xx

Bundle Bonanza

The shop is a-buzz with new fabric lines and fat quarter bundles this evening.  I am so jazzed about the new additions that I thought I would blog about them too.  They are the highlight of my quilty world right now, so why not share them?

First off, there are two new fabric lines available at Fluffy Sheep Quilting.  Recently Happy Go Lucky has arrived including yardage of four prints as well as 5 inch charm packs.  Of course there are FQ bundles in the shop too!

Shades of Black has also arrived.  I love the elegance in this line of prints.  I can't wait to use it in borders or bindings as well as in my general patchwork creations.  We have mini-charms which are just screaming borders to me!  They're a steal at 5 euro each.  Of course, there's a FQ bundle as well....

And then I made little FQ bundles for several lines already in the shop.  How pretty are these?  2wenty Thr3e prints (four of them!) with a Kona Med Grey solid that coordinates.  Yum!

Boho, so soft and beautiful with greens, blues and a little flash of red:

Comma, my love, comes with four prints and two coordinating Kona solids:

One for the Boys with four prints and one Kona solid:

There are more to come tomorrow, too!  I think I have fabric overload for today and just need a small breather....If you are still on a fabric high, be sure to pop over and check out the Sale page. There are lots of new goodies there and the oldies are marked down even further.  Ah, happiness.

Cutting...But Not Much Sewing

It has been a bit quiet here on the sewing front for the past two weeks.  You see, I get 99% of my sewing done on the weekends as I just can not find the time or energy in the evenings after work.  Most of what you see during the week on the blog, then, is a product of a happy Saturday or Sunday stitching away.  It works pretty well for me that way.  However, the system breaks down as soon as I need to focus on the shop in preparation for a show or festival.

To be in tip-top shape for the International Quilt Festival of Ireland on the 7-9 June, I have been cutting fat quarters of every print in the shop and am trying to find some pretty way to display them all.  I think I am going by rainbow order instead of by fabric line. It just looks prettier that way.  I have them all cut now and tucked away in little baskets ready to display.

I am also trying to make Kona Solid fat quarter bundles for the show.  I have eight colorways and I want to make several bundles each, so I have just been cutting and cutting and cutting.  This is what 220+ Kona fat quarters look like:

I just have 4 of Bone and lots of Tomato to cut yet, then I will be ready to start making bundles.  I like that part...with the ribbon and all.  

That is the news around here.  More fabric line bundles (Boho, 2wenty Thr3e and One for the Boys) tomorrow night and I am cutting a stash of Kona FQs for yet another basket.  I need another rotary blade ASAP....

Lovin' Liberty

At the Fat Quarterly Retreat last summer, I first saw bolts of Liberty fabric in person.  Of course I heard of Liberty before July 2012, but as I grew up in the US it was never a big deal.  Not our kind of thing, I guess.

Everything changed when Liberty released a fabric line suitable for quilting.

I found these beauties at the Knitting and Stitching show a few days ago. Eva told me when entering the show that one vendor had a Liberty display.  I could not get there fast enough.  Once I had a dig around and pulled the 4 prints I wanted to take home, Fiona convinced me I needed more.  It didn't take much to convince me, did it?

Now what will I make with them?  Any ideas?

Just Can't Get Enough....of Solids

There was very little sewing this weekend.  I had fabric on the brain.  Solids, to be specific.  That's right, ladies!  I cut like CRAZY to make up the blogger fat 8th bundles from the competition this past July.  They are just spectacular in person.

Amish Girl

While I was already going to town with the rotary cutter, I made both fat 8th AND fat quarter bundles.  Who could say no to double the goodness?  I could not, apparently

Beginner's Toolbox

 So, if you are looking for a bit of this goodness in your stash, you can head here for the fat 8th bundles....

Mermaid Splash

 Or pop over here for the fat quarter bundles.

Sunrise

I had such a good time having each of you participate in the bundle creation.  Thank you so very much to everyone who contributed a mosaic.  It was so fun I am already dreaming up a second round....are you interested?  Maybe this October we'll try it all again.  I would love that!  Hope you would too :)

Under the Palm Tree

Tomorrow's focus will be turned back to sewing.  Even though Granny Mania is finished, I am still making Granny blocks.  That is right - not one, but two of my bees are looking for Granny.  I can not wait to dive into more!