Midnight Lemonade - Blocks 2 & 3 & A Giveaway!

Oh boy, it sure has been a busy couple of weeks. I hope everyone had a happy and safe weekend.

I have such an exciting week planned.  Tomorrow I am getting a visitor and we are going to spend an entire day quilt shop hopping around Portland.  I have not ventured out to all of the shops on my own yet.  Shop hopping is so much better with a friend don't you think?

Despite everything going on, I did get quite a bit of time at my machine.

I finished Block 2 and Block 3 of Midnight Clear from my Holiday Wishes book.  You can purchase the book HERE.  And stay-tuned because I have a surprise at the end of this post.

I am making my quilt in bright summer colors instead of the holiday fabrics, so I am calling it Midnight Lemonade, reminiscent of those hot summer days by the pool sipping on ice cold lemonade.  :)


I am loving these colors.  

Grrrr....More seam ripping to get those perfect points.  Only a few this time though.  One day I won't even have to think about it.  Practice makes perfect, right?  

This swirl placement was a complete accident.  :) 

I did not realize this photo was so blurry, but it was the only one I took of the finished block for some reason. 

 Starting on Block 3.  Points are looking good.


I don't remember where I read about this tip, but with these little pieces I have been placing them under a stack of old magazines after pressing while they are still warm.  It helps a lot to get that crisp seam fold.  Especially when you have a lot of seams coming together.  I think this method will be added to my "always do" list.


I couldn't resist taking this photo against the bright sunny window.  Isn't it pretty?

I am having so much fun doing these blocks that I thought some of you should join me.
The Fat Quarter Shop wants you to join in too.  They are giving me, not one, but TWO Holiday Wishes books to give away today.  Also, if you swing on over to their blog, they are hosting an entire blog hop with this book.  There are some great quilters doing the patterns in the book and it looks like so much fun! You can check it out HERE.

To enter the giveaway, leave a comment below.  The winners will be chosen randomly and the giveaway will close Sunday, July 24th. Make sure to leave an email address if you are a no-reply blogger so I can contact you.

Question:  Do you find that you quilt in seasonal advance?  Or in the theme of a particular season?
In other words, are you making your holiday quilts in July?  Or do you wait until the weather is cool and the holiday is near to be in that mood?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Today I'll be linking up with:
Let's Bee Social at Sew Fresh Quilts
Needle & Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation
Linky Tuesday at Free Motion by the River
Fabric Frenzy Friday at Fort Worth Fabric Studio

Comments

  1. Usually I quilt in the season! I work uh well under pressure! I do!

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  2. Meant to add that I just LOVE that block 3! The purple pink and yellow against the white is so cheery! Also Jasmine at Quilt Kisses uses that magazine stack trick; I need to try it too!

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  3. I love the colours you are using in this quilt. They do remind me of summer and of lemonade.

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  4. I do all my seasonal quilting during my summer break which was 2 weeks shorter this year. :(

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  5. Very pretty blocks! And I really like that centered swirl! This year I am attempting to quilt in advance of the season. It seems to be working, as this is the first year I have a chance at holiday decorations actually coming together at all!

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  6. What a fun block. Looks like it was fun to make, too. I like the colors and the name, too.

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  7. Hello Jen, I hopped to you from Lorna at Sew Fresh Quilts. Your stained glass photo is so lovely, and the purple and teal block, 2 of my favourite colours. No , I do not plan in advance, down here we do not get severe winters, although we have had snow ONCE!!! And summers can get hot, but not usually scorching. I tend to do more during the winter, when the outside work load is less, but for Christmas things and anyone's birthday, those would be when I do get organised very early. I already have one in the planning for a Christmas Birthday girl who is overseas from where I live in New Zealand.

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  8. I love the colours you chose for your blocks. I love bright colours and your blocks look so tasty and inspiring. I am looking forward to seeing more of your project as you make more blocks. Warm greetings from a fellow Hive Sewciety member =)

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  9. I quilt as the inspiration strikes even if it is a couple weeks before the holiday.

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  10. Love your block against the window. I tend to quilt with no particular plan in place. I move along with a project, and suddenly, a squirrel, or a butterfly, or a unicorn. I tend to focus on completion closer to the time a gift is needed. Thanks for the chance to win.

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    1. Hi Christine. I never finish anything too early. It is usually right at the deadline. :)
      You are marked as a no-reply blogger. I will need your email address for the giveaway.
      Good luck.

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  11. I work on whatever grabs my attention. So it usually gets used next time around.

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  12. I don't usually do seasonal quilts...maybe because I am can be very slow to finish , working on many things at once. but sometimes I I find myself sewing with summery fabrics in the summer.

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  13. Gorgeous fabrics! I love the accidental swirl. :) I've never been a seasonal quilter. I just go with whatever sparks my creativity at the time.

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  14. Your blocks are beautiful! Even if I plan to start a seasonal project well in advance, I'm always delayed... but good for the next season ;)
    quiltpatchappli at gmail.com

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  15. Beautiful fabrics in your blocks! I have that book and it is great!

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  16. Love your colors in the blocks! I tend to do seasonal quilting, and event quilting as birthdays, weddings, baby, etc.

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  17. I always think I am going to quilt ahead, but ends up "in the season".

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  18. I love the blocks and I'm probably too much of an analyst for my own good but I really like that photo taken against the window...did you see how the shadow of the seam allowance added another design element to the block...No? Maybe it's just me :) but it's nice all the same. I quilt as the mood strikes unless now that I have a couple of commissioned work to get done then I work with a deadline.

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  19. I love the blocks and I'm probably too much of an analyst for my own good but I really like that photo taken against the window...did you see how the shadow of the seam allowance added another design element to the block...No? Maybe it's just me :) but it's nice all the same. I quilt as the mood strikes unless now that I have a couple of commissioned work to get done then I work with a deadline.

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  20. I would love to get Christmas projects done ahead of time for once! But probably that won't happen. Oh well!

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  21. I work at random. I need to assemble my Valentine's Day blocks that I made in May in hopes that I might have it completed for next February!

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  22. I have been known to do both but I normally go with the seasons. Thanks for the great giveaway.

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  23. I'll start before the holiday and then typically finish after its gone by, lol.
    I'm machine appliqué get shamrocks right now. Loved your tip on that stack of magazines after pressing, I'll be giving it a try.
    Thanks for your generous oft and TFQShops too. Midnight lemonade is beautiful, I'll be back to see your progress.

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  24. I quilt all year long; sometimes before the season, sometimes during the season. It depends on my mood when I start a new project.

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    1. I follow my mood a lot as well.

      You are marked as a no-reply blogger. I will need your email address if you are in the giveaway. :)

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  25. I don't make many holiday quilts, but I do love this pattern! It would look great in any fabric.

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  26. I tend to get excited and make quilts in the season and wind up having them done for next year of course!

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  27. Great looking blocks! I quilt/sew in the season. I seem to need a deadline to get me to "kick it into gear."

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  28. Beautiful blocks! My intentions are always good but the reality is that they get done when the mood strikes. LOL I have a stash of Christmas fabrics that would be perfect.

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  29. Very pretty blocks! I tend to make Christmas quilts when ever I get an idea. I just finished one for my grandson.

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  30. I love making gifts for the season, but I have not made a holiday quilt yet. Thanks for the giveaway. grinnie1961 at gmail dot com

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  31. I work on what ever i like at the moment. I try to start gifts by September and this year i started in June but haven't gotten past the planning stage. I have finished 3 quilt tops and quilted 2 in the last 2 weeks.

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  32. LOVE your fabrics! And I love the light effect in that last pic! Great work! I don't pay attention to seasons when it comes to quiting. Everything gets my attention all year long.

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    1. Thank you. I love that photo too. It just brightens the block up.

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  33. I try and give myself plenty of time to complete any project as I'm relatively new to quilting and am quite slow.
    annamariehlustik@googlemail.com

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    1. Well, welcome to the wonderful world of quilting! :) Giving yourself the time needed is always important. You never want to rush a quilt and be less than pleased with it.

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  34. I only wish my sewing could be ahead of the season. I'm usually last minute or late!

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    1. Hannah- I call that being in the mood. :) No sense in rushing things right?

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  35. I like to quilt ahead, but sometimes don't finish anyway.

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    1. I certainly know how that goes!
      Just to let you know, you are marked as a no-reply blogger and I will need your email if you happen to win the giveaway. Good Luck and thanks for stopping by.
      Jen

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  36. Absolutely love the block and fabric choices! I'm really good at planning gifts and buying ahead of time, finishing is a whole other matter.

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  37. I plan to quilt ahead, but somehow, I usually don't make it. I've bound a Christmas quilt on Christmas Eve...

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