I’m super honored to be joining in on this Zakka Along!  If you’re not sure what I’m talking about you can read more about it here on LR Stitched.  Basically we’re celebrating Ayumi (Pink Penguin) newly released book Patchwork Please!  Every week another blogger shares their version of one of the projects in the book and we giveaway some great stuff.  Can’t go wrong with that!

Ayumi is such a kind and generous person.  I’m so glad I have her book finally!  I’ve been eagerly waiting for her to finish it and then for it to be published.  She’s put so much thought and detail into each project.  I really love the construction methods she used for both the Lettered Tea Cozy + Tea Pouch.  They were truly a joy to make.

Each step is very clearly laid out and well written.  There aren’t a ton of illustrations or visuals, but again, things are explained so well that it feels like she’s sitting right alongside helping out!

I felt a bit out of my comfort zone with the mostly primary colors of Cloud 9‘s collection by Steffi Brocoli (In the Forest), but in the end it’s quite beautiful and every project I’ve seen made with them is gorgeous.  It was hard to stop taking pictures once I was finished.  They went so dreamily with the Robert Kaufman denim linen (purchased mine from Pink Chalk Fabrics) and Essex Linen in Sunshine (purchased from Pink Castle Fabrics).

Ok, so the nitty gritty!  I think this is a great project combo just for the shear variety of skills you can build upon.  A little bit of paper piecing (nothing too complicated so it would make a great starter) and some quilting make this project really fulfilling.  I really liked that each part was so different, no crazy repetitiveness, so it was definitely an interesting sew.

Here’s a schedule of all the other participating bloggers! Hang out each week as we work our way through the book, from June through the first week in October!

June 3: Penny | Sew Take a Hike :: Bell Pepper Coasters
June 10: Maureen | MC Handmade :: B,L,D Towels
June 17: Anna | Noodlehead :: Lettered Tea Cozy + Pouch (yay! you’re here!)
June 24: Angela | Cut to Pieces :: Polka Dot Cafe Apron
July 1: Lynne | Lily’s Quilts :: Diamond Patchwork Placemat
July 8: Lindsey | LRstitched :: Yum Yum Apple Bib
July 15: Sukie | Don’t Ya Know :: Dino-Mite Hat
July 22: Jennifer | Ellison Lane :: Book for Baby Quilt
July 29: Krista | Poppyprint :: My Scrappy Box
August 5: Kerry | Very Kerry Berry :: Swedish Bloom Time Quilt
August 12: Tamiko | Patchwork Notes :: You’ve Got Mail Wall Pocket
August 19: Monica | Happy Zombie :: Happy Hexagon Trivet
August 26: Krista | Spotted Stone Studio :: Piece of Cake Shopping Bag
Sept 2: Lori | Bee in My Bonnet :: Triangle Patchwork Box Pouch
Sept 9: Amy | During Quiet TIme :: Vintage Pencil Case
Sept 16: Svetlana | SOTAK Handmade :: I love My Ipad Quilted Cover
Sept 23: Amber | One Shabby Chick :: Handy Market Tote
Sept 30: Deb | A Quilter’s Table :: Sweet Trips Embroidery Pouch
Oct 7: Leila | Where the Orchids Grow :: Prettified Pincushion

Along with my version of the Tea Cozy and Pouch, in celebration of the sew-along I’m hosting this bonus Giveaway today!! Here’s the loot:

• four sample packs of Aurifil thread
• special fabric gift from Form & Fabric
• sample card of Pellon interfacing and batting

• One entry per person.  Please leave your email address in your comment. You can leave it in a format like this if you wish: anna [at] gmail [dot] com, it’s up to you though, if you have your email listed in your blogger profile, that works too!
• Four winners will be chosen.
• US entries only please!
• Giveaway ends Friday, June 21st

For those of you joining in the sew-along don’t forget — there’s also a Giveaway this week for linking up your finished project over on Lindsey’s blog! Share your project by Sunday June, 23rd and you’ll have a chance to win:

• a fat quarter bundle of “Raaga” by Monaluna
•  (1) yard 975 Insul-fleece from Pellon

I had to make another ‘my quilt‘ again after I spotted this lovely Anna Maria Horner Field Study fabric (Sinister Swarm in Flour).  These beautiful shot cottons immediately drew me in.  After all the Super Tote sewing I needed some quilting action, quick!

I love how it turned out.  The loopy quilting was so fun.  I always think of Jeni when I see loopy quilting!  She’s the loop queen!  Plus I finished the whole quilt in just the weekend, not bad for a big one!

So this stack sat and waited patiently for me until I was ready.  I had the yellow (Coordinates in Saffron) fabric for another project, but I’m so glad that I used it for the backing.  I think mostly the back will be on display and maybe just the butterfly front when it’s spring and summer – but who knows!

I’m also really really excited to finish my little side project of refinishing this Jenny Lind bed so I can use it!  It’s only primed at this point.  I think it might just get painted white, but I might get a little crazy and paint it a coral or turquoise.  Open to suggestions!  ♥

Finished quilt measures: 72″ wide x 86″ long, perfect for the double bed
Little tutorial here.
Fabrics:  Anna Maria Horner Field Study, Kaffe Fassett Shot Cottons (including binding)

Here’s my Ringo Pie quilt bee quilt top, from round one (we’re now on round 2).  I feel really lucky to have all these beautiful blocks to look at.  I took forever to put the quilt top together, I tried so many times with different layouts.  In my mind I just wanted to make sure everyone liked it, but in the end I knew it would never get done that way.  So I bit the bullet, did some trimming and adding and here’s what I came up with.  I’m really glad to get these blocks out in the open and not stuck away in some plastic bin. I chose a ‘dessert’ theme!!

Bee members (round 1):
Penny – Sew Take a Hike
Ayumi – Pink Penguin
Kerry – Verry Kerry Berry
Amber – One Shabby Chick
Amy – Badskirt
Erica – Craftyblossom
Lynne – Lily’s Quilts
Quilt It
Little Miss Shabby
Lisa – Vintage Modern Quilts

Thanks all!

I have the back together too, here’s a little sneak peek of it.  It’ll probably be a while before the quilt is done, as I plan to hand quilt it.  Wish me luck!  I’m excited to do it, just need to get myself a thimble now! ♥

ps, the cupcake  is a modified version of Sew- Ichigo‘s Button It Pattern! The heart was inspired by this quilt and these pillows.