Stitching time is happening!

 So excited to finally get some stitching done this week!  I haven't had much to post lately what with all of the home projects.  We are hoping to see an end to all of that soon, or at least a cease fire if you know what I mean!  

I've been working on my May challenge for Island Batik!  Our theme for this month (which will also feature a blog hop with great prizes!) is paper piecing.  I like to actually challenge myself with each month's theme, so this time I decided to try out foundation paper piecing with freezer paper.  I was not sure how it would go, but it turns out that I really like it a lot!  I'll tell you more about that on May 6 when my post is scheduled!

I also started another paper piecing project as part of a sew along sponsored by one of my fellow Island Batik ambassadors!  Denise of A Quiltery is hosting the St Paddy Sew Along this month featuring her project for the Blog Hop.  I'm using regular foundation piecing for the center medallion, and am loving it so far!  You still have time to jump in if you want, the quilt is really quite lovely.  The instructions will be free until the next round comes out on Monday, so hop over to her blog and get them quick!

Here is my first block!  I love how nicely my Oliso iron presses those small slivers!  That nice pointy nose gets those seams nice and flat.  This iron was provided as part of the Island Batik Ambassador program, but I have been using an Oliso for the past four years and was already a fan.  I love that I don't have to worry about setting my iron upright between pressing the sections. 

I have some super exciting news!  I (along with the other Island Batik Ambassadors) was invited to be an affiliate for Missouri Star Quilt Company!  If you shop with my Affiliate link, you will get 20% off an order of $50 or more!  I also will earn a commission, so that's a win/win scenario for sure!  It will also always be on the sidebar of my blog, to make it easy to find!  I have an order on the way, so I can't wait to share with you the fun items I am getting!  

I enjoyed a guild meeting as well this month!  I showed my quilted jacket, as well as my March quilt for Island Batik!  The pattern for Oscillation is available now in my Etsy shop - this is an easy quilt, and perfect for precut strips.  I still need to quilt my pastel version, but that will probably happen in May for sure.  It's not often that I get a quilt ready, and don't get it finished!  That tells you how busy I have been this month!  Hopefully May will settle down a bit and I will make more time for quilting, I need it!  

Last, but not least - I have my Happy Dance pattern on sale for 50% off this weekend!  This in an easy quilt to make, and includes detailed instructions for the quilting designs I used for it.  You can find it in my Etsy shop:  Happy Dance PDF or Happy Dance Printed Version.  This quilt just makes me do a happy dance every time I look at it, those colors are so vibrant!

Have a wonderful weekend!  Hope you can make some time for stitching, too!