Winner of the Four Peaches Fabric giveaway

Yippee, it's giveaway time! Last week I introduced you to my newest sponsor, Four Peaches Fabric. Shop owner Wendy was kind enough to offer a beautiful fat quarter bundle as a giveaway prize to one of my readers. If you haven't entered one of my giveaways before, my scientific method for selecting a winner is to copy and paste all of the comments into an Excel spreadsheet.  Then I do several sorts to rearrange the entries.  Then I call on someone I love (today it was my husband) to chose a winning number.  I suppose something like Rafflecopter would be more efficient, but this is much more fun!

Drumroll . . . the winner of the beautiful "Matilda" fat quarter bundle is SandyPA.  Sandy, I will contact you by email also.

More good news . . .  Wendy of Four Peaches Fabric celebrated a birthday this week, so she is offering 49 cent shipping on all purchases over $20 now through Saturday, September 30. Use code: BIRTHDAY to get the discount!  (Yep you guessed it, she is one year away from the B-I-G 50.)  Magic number 50 will greet me too this next summer, so I want to wish a very Happy Birthday to Wendy!

Thank you all for stopping by the blog today! 

~Taunja 

Photo credit: Four Peaches Fabric

September Sew Sampler box with Fat Quarter Shop

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I get SO darn excited when that signature blue Sew Sampler box from Fat Quarter Shop arrives on my doorstop. And the September boxing is super fantabulific!  

First I want to show you my basket blocks I've made from the recipe cards included in the box. I just love this growing collection of blocks, and they are so easy to make! 

Each month the Sew Sampler box includes a basket recipe card designed by Lori Holt of Bee in My Bonnet.  The blocks can be made in one of three sizes: 5 1/2", 10 1/2", or 15 1/2".  I'm making the 5 1/2" blocks, and I can’t wait to see what sort of cute table topper or runner they will become.  For now, I’m just enjoying the making!

The September Sew Sampler box is titled Farmer’s Market, and it includes these scrumptious goodies:

• a charm pack of The Good Life by Bonnie & Camille for Moda
• a medium The Good Life Tin with window (I’ve already filled mine with some pretty Bonnie & Camille fabric.)
• an exclusive Sew Sampler “Freshly Picked” table runner pattern
• a Matchbox quilt kit from Moda
• a Quilt Popsocket!  (If you don’t already have one of these on the back of your phone, you need one!  They are terrific for getting a better hold on your phone, especially when taking pictures!)

If you haven't yet signed up for this monthly subscription and want to know more, just follow this link: Sew Sampler box from Fat Quarter Shop.

Thank you to Fat Quarter Shop for another wonderful box.  Every month is a real treat! 

And thank you all for stopping by the blog today.  I hope you get carried away quilting real soon!

~Taunja

New charm pack pattern: Starry Way

Hello quilting friends! Today I’m pleased to share a new table runner pattern with you, Starry Way! This charm pack friendly pattern features dancing stars making their way among mini log cabins, both of which are so easy to construct.

Starry Way would sew up beautifully with just about any fabric collection you love! I selected a charm pack of Juniper Berry by Basic Grey for Moda to give my Starry Way runner a festive holiday feel. At 40” x 20”, this is a terrific size for your table or buffet.

While I absolutely love this Juniper Berry collection, I can also see Starry Way done up in rich autumn prints or a bright, sunny collection. I’m pretty sure I’ll be making another runner sometime soon! 

I need to give a virtual hug and shout out to Nancy Jolene Quilting in Danube, Minnesota.  Nancy applied her free motion quilting artistry to this runner of mine, making it an absolute gem. Take a close look at all the little details. I especially love the diagonal cross hatching on the log cabins! And her swirls and feathers in the white space . . . heavenly!

I also want to thank one of my favorite Instagram quilty friends, Darlene, for her feedback on this project.  If you’re reading Auntie Darlene, thank you!

Starry Way is available as a PDF digital download through my Etsy Store.

Thanks for stopping by the blog today! I hope you'll break open one of your favorite charm packs and give Starry Way a try.  Until next time, get carried away quilting my friends!

~Taunja

Four Peaches Fabric: A new sponsor & a giveaway!

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Hello quilting friends! Today I’m pleased to introduce you to a new sponsor of Carried Away Quilting: Four Peaches Fabric! This fresh new quilt shop offers top designer fabrics from Ella Blue, Art Gallery, Windham, Riley Blake, Robert Kaufman, and more! You’ll definitely want to check out their beautiful selections!

While the quilt shop’s home base is Texas, Four Peaches Fabric has a unique business setup. Shop owner Wendy explains that her husband’s job requires them to travel frequently throughout the United States. Wendy shares, “When I started Four Peaches Fabric, we knew we didn't want to be apart, so Four Peaches Fabric physically travels with us!  I share these travels, the interesting places we go and people we meet, on the website and on social media. Quilting, like life, is a journey and should be shared and celebrated.”   You can feel Wendy’s enthusiasm and passion for quilting, and life, in her writing! Are you curious about her unique store name? Well, you'll also have to check that out on her website too!

She’s been kind enough to share her enthusiasm with us as well, in the form of a giveaway! Wouldn’t you love to win this gorgeous fat quarter bundle from Ella Blue’s “Matilda” collection? Wendy sent me a sampling of this vibrant line by Australian fabric designer, Emma Jean Jansen (for Ella Blue). The colors are richly saturated and the fabric has a wonderful feel.  I look forward to making something pretty with Matilda!  

Photo credit: Four Peaches Fabric

To enter, simply leave a comment below and be sure to include your email address. The giveaway is open to US mailing addresses only due to the high rate of international shipping. Comments are open through 5:00 pm (CST) on Thursday, September 28, 2017. At that time, I will do a random drawing and announce the winner. *Only one comment per person/per email address.  Email me if you are having trouble leaving a comment and I will leave a comment on your behalf. (carriedawayquilting@gmail.com)

Thanks so much for visiting the blog today and hearing about Four Peaches Fabric.  Please hop over to their website and peruse their lovely offerings.  You will also find links to their shop’s social media accounts and blog, where we can all travel along with Four Peaches Fabric!

Have a great week and be sure to find time to get carried away quilting!

~Taunja

September Grandmother's Choice blocks: Patchwork Quilt Along with Fat Quarter Shop

Hello quilting friends! I can’t believe there are only three months left in the 2017 Patchwork Quilt Along with Fat Quarter Shop. The September block is sweetly named Grandmother’s Choice. It is such a pretty block. It might be one of my favorites!

I am sewing my blocks with the beautiful Fleurs fabric by Brenda Riddle for Moda.  I always love Brenda’s soft, romantic collections.  Fat Quarter Shop carries several Brenda Riddle lines if you’d like to check them out!

Many of you are sewing along, but if you are new to the game (and it’s NEVER too late to start),  I've shared some of my Patchwork Quilt Along piecing tips in an earlier blog post if that is helpful to you.

This quilt along is an annual charity event hosted by Fat Quarter Shop. The patterns are free and are posted on the 15^th of each month on the Jolly Jabber. Quilters are asked to donate $5 for each block pattern that they download.  All proceeds will go to the Make-A-Wish Foundation!  What a great opportunity for us all!

It's not too late for you to join in the fun. Here’s a link which provides all the details:

https://blog.fatquartershop.com/patchwork-quilt-along.html

And here’s a link to the kit if you want to make one in Basics by Bonnie & Camille!

http://www.fatquartershop.com/patchwork-quilt-along-quilt-kit

Several other bloggers are quilting along! Please visit their blogs too!

Amanda from Jedi Craft Girl (@jedicraftgirl)

Amy of Diary of a Quilter (@diaryofaquilter)

Andy of A Bright Corner (@abrightcorner)

Bonnie of Cotton Way (@bonniecottonway)

Camille of Thimble Blossoms (@thimbleblossoms)

Debbie of Happy Little Cottage (@happylittlecottage1)

Greg of Grey Dogwood Studio (@greydogwoodstudio)

Heidi of Buttons and Butterflies (@buttonsandbutterflies)

Melissa of Happy Quilting (@happyquiltingmc)

Melissa of Oh How Sweet (@ohhowsweet)

Pat Sloan of Pat Sloan.com (@quilterpatsloan)

Sedef of Down Grapevine Lane (@downgrapevinelane)

Sherri of A Quilting Life (@aquiltinglife)

Sondra of Out of the Blue Quilts (@sondradavison)

Taunja of Carried Away Quilting (@taunjalynn)

Tina of Emily Ann's Kloset (@emilyannskloset)

Carrie Nelson/Miss Rosie of Moda Cutting Table

Thanks for stopping by! Remember to share your progress on the 2017 Patchwork Quilt Along Facebook group! And be sure to post your own blocks using the hashtag #patchworkquiltalong on Instagram!   

~Taunja

Diamond Trail takes on a festive, winter look with Nordic Stitches

Hello quilting friends!  Two weeks ago I shared some photos of a lovely Norwegian collection I received from Fort Worth Fabric Studio:  Nordic Stitches by Wenche Wolff Hatling for Moda Fabrics. Today, I’m delighted to show you the table runner I made and announce that Fort Worth Fabric Studio is offering kits for this project! 

You may recognize this runner pattern.  It’s called Diamond Trail, and I just released it last month using another Moda collection, Sundrops by Corey Yoder. This charm pack pattern is so versatile and is definitely a top you can accomplish in a weekend.  When made with this festive fabric, Diamond Trail is a holiday runner you could leave on your table all winter. It would also make a great gift!

I shared a bit about my own Norwegian and Swedish heritage in my previous post: Nordic Stitches: A festive Scandinavian collection. This fabric collection was an emotional draw for me, and it brought back memories of my grandparents and others in the rural farming community where I grew up. (I also shared my Grandma Audrey’s recipe for Norwegian cookies!) 

The traditional Scandinavian colors and festive prints are quite beautiful and striking, don't you think? And just look at this gorgeous backing fabric!

I’ve taken some closeup shots to show you how easy it is to quilt Diamond Trail on your own home machine. The pattern lends itself to clean, straight-line machine quilting by just following the seams and flow of the design.  I didn’t even mark this top.  Instead I used the diamond blocks and seams as my guide.

I’ve pieced and quilted Diamond Trail with Aurifil 2021 (natural white) 50 wt. This is my go-to white thread.  It’s not too bright and not too creamy.  It’s a very soft white that works well with my favorite Moda fabrics. I can never have enough Aurifil 2021 on hand.  FYI: Fort Worth Fabric Studio has 2021 on sale right now, should you need to replenish your spools!

If you are interested in making your own Diamond Trail featuring Nordic Stitches, here's what you need to do:

• Purchase the pattern directly from me.
• Head over to Fort Worth Fabric Studio to purchase the fabric kit. The kit includes all the fabric you need for the top, binding and backing! 

Thanks so much for stopping by the blog today! I hate to mention this, but winter is just around the corner in my neck of the woods.  Time for us all to get carried away holiday quilting!

~Taunja

Autumn tablerunner inspired by LouLou's Bundle

Over the last two years I’ve made several projects from Lori Holt’s wonderful book, "Farm Girl Vintage." I’m happy to report that I finally made one of Lori’s small Harvest tablerunners.  This has been on my “must make” list since the first night I sat down in my comfy chair with a cup of tea and enjoyed Lori’s book, cover to cover. I’m so happy with how this runner turned out.

I have to give credit to LouLou’s Fabric Shop for inspiring me to finally make this autumn runner. LouLou’s offers weekly custom-curated fat quarter bundles (LouLou’s Bundles). When I saw the August bundle pictured below, I knew I had to have it.  But it wasn’t until I had the bundle in my happy little hands that inspiration truly struck. I pulled out Lori’s book, found the Furrows block tablerunner photo on page 106, and (I’m pretty sure) squealed aloud.  Woo hoo!

I decided to make the small version of the Harvest tablerunner, which calls for twelve 6 1/2” Furrows blocks. My LouLou Bundle included eight fabulous fall prints to get me started, and I decided to add four prints from my stash: three neutrals and one more butterscotch orange.  I organized these twelve into six pairs, and began making the flying geese. I followed Lori’s clear instructions, but I enjoyed the creative aspect of putting the fabrics together and arranging the layout.

I quilted my tablerunner using Aurifil 2214 (Golden Honey) 50wt. It's a soft golden orange that I’ve used before with Halloween and autumn projects.  It must be a “Taunja” color, because it seems to blend with so many fabrics in my stash!

My quilting pattern is simply a 1 1/2” square grid, but it gives the illusion of rectangles and smaller squares due to the seams of the flying geese.  Another advantage to this “offset” quilting pattern is that none of my stitched lines fell “in the ditch” which I typically avoid, especially on a small project where I’ve pressed most seams open.

While I was having fun taking photos of my new runner, it came to mind that this might look pretty darn cute with my new Pumpkin Sky pillow. The morale to this story is, if you see a fat quarter bundle that you love, BUY it! It will most likely look lovely with the other things you already have around your house, even if you don’t initially have a plan for it!

I hope you’ll visit LouLou’s Fabric Shop and check out the weekly LouLou Bundles and all their other terrific products.  Shop owner Jamie has a great eye for pulling together pretty bundles, and she also goes the extra mile to help her customers create their own custom bundles!

Thanks for stopping by the blog today!  I hope you get carried away buying fat quarter bundles to your heart’s desire . . . and sewing them up, of course!

~Taunja

New pattern: Pumpkin Sky wall hanging & pillow

As a Minnesota girl, I’ve come to love living in a state with four distinct seasons, but autumn is definitely my favorite. As a former farm girl, it is the time of year when I feel most connected to nature. It is the time of year that reminds us to be thankful, for the fall harvest and for our many blessings. So it is with autumn joy that I'm happy to share my newest pattern with you today: Pumpkin Sky.

This fat quarter friendly pattern includes the material list and instructions for you to make two projects: a wall hanging and coordinating pillow. The wall hanging measures 38 1/2” x 25 1/2”, while the pillow finishes at 18 1/2” square. Once you’ve made the wall hanging, the pillow will come together in a snap!

While there are many rich colors to choose from for an autumn quilt, I sometimes enjoy a fall quilt that has the crisp feeling achieved by using black, orange and taupe. Projects sewn in this color scheme give a nod toward the Halloween holiday, but can also grace your home through Thanksgiving. I’ve used mostly Fig Tree & Company fabric from Moda for my projects.  The black prints are from another Moda collection called Sturbridge by Kathy Schmitz.

While I really hope you like this new pattern, I also hope you took notice and were dazzled by the fabulous custom quilting on these two pieces.  Once again, the talented Starlit Bear of Starlit Quilts has worked her artistic magic, and I couldn’t be more pleased with the results!  I wish everyone could see this wall hanging and pillow in person.  You can see the heart and soul Star puts in every swirling stitch. Thank you so much, Star! You've made my Pumpkin Sky projects an absolute treasure!

Pumpkin Sky is available through my Etsy Store.

Thanks for stopping by the blog today. I hope your autumn blessings are abundant, and you find time to get carried away quilting!

~Taunja