OMG Y'all!!!  I had the most amazing opportunity this week,  and I have been so busy I didn't even get the opportunity to make a post until now.  

I was invited to be featured on The Fat Quarter Shop LIVESTREAM on Friday!  It was so much fun, I got to show my Handi Quilter Avante Long Arm machine, do a little quilting, and answer a ton of live questions.  I had a couple snags, but it happens.  I couldn't read some of my notes because I lost my glasses, ha ha but I tried my best to just enjoy the opportunity and share my love of quilting.  

If you missed the live video, you can catch it anytime on YouTube! I'd love for you scroll down to the video below and check it out, well at least a little of it, it's a pretty long video.  If you have time please give me a quick response and let me know you think.  Oh and feel free to ask any questions that I may have missed. There were several things I thought about later, but there is only so much you can squeeze into an hour.  

Anyway, we talked about some future ideas and maybe I will be invited back again someday, in the meantime, I am just thankful to be part of a great company!  I really enjoy blogging, testing patterns and quilting some of their sample quilts!  The Fat Quarter Shop has fabulous products, and amazing staff behind the scenes, I'm a lucky girl!!

Here is the quilt we worked on in the video, it's called "In Season" designed by
​It's Sew Emma, and available soon on Fat Quarter Shop website, and it even made it to the pattern cover!  

If you missed the livestream, you can catch it anytime on YouTube!
​Thanks for visiting!  

​Look what I’ve been making, yall! ❤️✂️
Jessica Swift has been hosting a Summer Tote Challenge with her new collection called Sirena for Art Gallery Fabrics, and I was super lucky to be chosen by Jessica to get involved! Check her out, she's got some awesome talent!
Woo Hoo!! I'm so excited, it's finally my turn to share my tote bag, and my little bonus zipper bag!  This fabric is so pretty and fun, you need it for your stash!! 😍

I used the Indigo Tote Pattern designed by friends at It's Sew Emma, if you wanna make one too, the FREE pattern and full fabric collection are available at The Fat Quarter Shop. ​

Sometimes the selvage on the fabric is totally fabulous and must be included in the project, so I included it on the exterior pocket, and I love it!!

There is a fun little hidden message here in this picture...
​The spiky plant down on the bottom right, is a pineapple plant!!!  I love to water-root starts after we eat the pineapple from the store.  Sometimes they even grow a new baby pineapple, if you are lucky!!  

Here are a few pictures during the making of my bag.  I used Pellon Naked Flex-Foam for the body of the bag, and I really liked how it turned out.  It gave the bag good body without being too stiff, plus it was easy to work with! 
**Bonus zipper bag: I used leftover strip pieces to make a 7x9 front and back with cotton batting, and two 7x9 pieces for the liner pieces, along with a 10 inch zipper.  These are fast and easy little bags that I make all the time!  Feel free to comment if you have questions or comments, I am happy to help!  ❤️✂️

Thank you so much for visiting my blog, hope to see you again soon!  
Happy Sewing! 
​Gina Tell 

Hey Y'all!  I'm excited to share my latest finish with you today. 
Often times I make quilts for books & pattern covers, or client quilts, and even fabric designer projects, but this quilt was made straight from my heart.  I have a beautiful friend that just found out she has breast cancer and I hope that she will snuggle up and know we are fighting with her as she kicks cancers ass!!

I purchased two Color Cuts by Moda Fabric from The Fat Quarter Shop for this project, one pink and one grey bundle, and I pulled the pattern from The Jolly Bar Book Vol.1 by It's Sew Emma.  This book is one of my favorite "Go To" books for fun and fast patterns!   

I picked the Hopscotch Quilt on page 18 for this PINK project, and I added one special heart from the Paper Hearts Quilt pattern on the next page to add a splash of love to the quilt front. I'm really excited how the color cuts fabric blended together to make such a pretty quilt!  
​
One of my favorite parts of making a quilt is the time I spend with my hubby looking for the perfect place to take photographs!  We found a tiny white gazebo not far from our house at one of our fishing spots, and it was perfect for this pink quilt of Love!  

Since I am also a long arm quilter, I did some large scale swirls and flowers for the quilting and a few hearts blended in for fun!  Oh and I also painted my nails hot pink for an extra touch of love for my friend too!  Giving quilts to friends and family that I love has always been one of my favorite things to do, and this one is no exception.  I hope you will try out one of the patterns in this book the next time you need a special quilt.  

I have also made the Seas the Day Quilt for one of the sweet little boys in my life a couple years ago.  I used all Kona Solids for that boy quilt, and I guess the point is, no matter the fabric, all these patterns are simply adorable!  ​

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog, hope to see you back soon!  
Gina Tell 
​Thread Graffiti 

When I got my first sewing machine back in 2003 I knew absolutely nothing about sewing,fabric, patterns, designers and all the rest of the gadgets that went along with it! 
I made myself one very horrible quilt with that machine, and I didn't get it back out of the box again for a couple years.  I taught myself during a time before YouTube videos and social media, so it took me a long time to really develop my skills and enjoy the process.  
I grew up in the floral industry pretty much my entire life, my Mom did it when I was kid, then I worked as a floral designer all though high school and college as I earned my degree in interior design. I even owned my own flower shop for a while before I decided to move to Austin, Texas.  So, it didn't take long after the move for me to miss creating colorful things with my hands.  I realized I was kinda lost inside, I realized that I had spent all those years struggling to get my degree in design for a reason, it's just who I am!  So in 2005 I got that machine back out and started making a quilt for my niece.  She was just a little girl at the time, and I knew she wouldn't care what it looked like.  That quilt was also ugly, but I enjoyed making it!  I quickly made two more for my nephews too.  They were all just scrappy squares and I didn't know how to nest seams or iron correctly, all I did know, I had just fallen in love with colorful things again.  By then, I had become a new Mom, and I quit my job as a bookkeeper to be at home with our son full time.  I loved being a Mom, I loved teaching and playing, but my mind missed being an adult out in the world.  So I pushed myself to really learn to quilt, I got myself a good Juki sewing machine and I set up a room dedicated to quilting, and me.  I started making things for everyone, every holiday that came up I made handmade gifts!!  Everyone in my family got a quilt, I still wasn't good, but loved it!

I got a few more machines and kept making all kinds of handmade things....
I had an opportunity to put a few of my things in a local craft show, but was required to get a sales tax number to reserve the booth.  So my BFF Jody, and I spent days talking about  business names, we talked about old times in college and laughed at the stupid things we used to do.  I had gone though some hard times personally and Jody helped me heal my wounded soul.  I battled several forms of abuse back then, and she would remind me to live in the moment.  She helped me grow strong and appreciate each day that was good and learn from the bad ones and move past them.  It was then that I learned what
​Carpe Diem meant, and it was something I held onto daily! 
So naturally as we tossed around name options this came up, we decided to name our little crafty team Carpe Quiltin'.  We decided we would "Seize the day, and put very little trust in tomorrow (the future)", because we never intended for it to ever be anything but fun.

But, as the last 10 years have passed we HAVE grown a beautiful small business out of our love for fabric and quilts!  I am no longer a damaged 20 year old struggling to find myself.  We are both happily married, with great families, living in beautiful places filled with positivity and love, and we have decided that it's time for a new fresh name!  

We still make unique gifts, but we now have a new Handi Quilter Avante Long Arm Machine here in the studio and we offer full custom Long Arm Quilting!  Full custom means that we don't offer pantographs or digital designs, all the quilting I do here is custom free hand quilting guided by my two arms, years of practice, and a lotta love for art and design!  We are now Thread Graffiti, y'all!!
I currently quilt many of The Fat Quarter Shop quilts that are featured on their new pattern covers, blogs and books, but I also welcome new clients too!!  So, if you have a special quilt that needs more than just a digital quilting pattern, I would love to work with you.  Maybe you have a quilt that you want to enter into a quilt show, like the client quilt I did in the picture.  I hope that you will continue to follow my blog and grow with me!  As we transition you will be able to follow me using BOTH CarpeQuiltin.com and
Thread-Graffiti.com  and we are also still available on Facebook and Instagram too, you will just notice some name changes, but it's still me! :)
Much Love, 
Gina 

It's all coming together now y'all! It's time to make a quilt top with these beautiful Clementine blocks we've been working on!!
The Fat Quarter Shop put together such an amazing quilt along, it's been so much fun!  The patterns have been a little tricky at times, and the wait each month has been agonizing, but we made it!  It's finally time to piece all these fabulous blocks together and watch them dazzle in the sunshine! 

​The Voyage fabric I picked is so AMAZING, Kate Spain is a rockstar!  

So... each month the pattern was released on the 25th and you got the cutting instructions to make one block pattern, in two different sizes.  Now we are going to add a secondary background fabric to the smaller blocks so they will all be the same size, then we get to put the quilt top together! 

If you didn't get a chance to sew along, it's not too late.  You can certainly donate to St. Jude right now and get the patterns and work on it at your convenience.  It really is a beautiful quilt and you wont be sorry you got involved! Here are the details behind this event....
The Fat Quarter Shop partnered with Moda Fabric once again, to bring you this beautiful quilt along to help benefit our community!  The 2018 Clementine Quilt Along is benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.  So please don't forget to donate!!!  Their mission is to save children by making their research and findings available to everyone AND by treating children at NO COST to the families, so they can focus on the one thing that matters – helping their children get better.  Moda and The Fat Quarter Shop will match donations in the 2018 fundraiser - thats HUGE!  The pattern will be available to download for FREE on the Clementine Quilt Along page on The Fat Quarter Shop blog the 25th of each month from January 2018 to July 2018.  You still have time to download and print all 6 block patterns, even if you don't have time to start them right now.  It's still and awesome quilt, and an awesome cause to donate towards!  We encourage you to donate at least $5 for the use of each FREE pattern.   ​​​

I changed my mind on the background fabric I originally ordered, but that ok, I get to keep it in my stash for a future project! :)  I ended up using Bungalow Grey Tile from a different Kate Spain collection and I love how it turned out!  I also added an additional corner piece to the small blocks because I just liked the way the solid grey connected each block together. I know I am a weirdo sometimes  :)
The next step for me is loading it to my Handi Quilter Avante.  I am a long arm quilter that does only custom quilting, so I'd love for you to check back to see the final quilt once I am totally finished.  Next month I will include pictures of the quilting, and some tips on binding and finishing your quilts. 

It's that time again!  The Sixth, and Final Clementine Quilt Along block is releasing today, and I'm pretty sure it's my favorite! 
Next step..... we get to start making a quilt top together!  
I can't wait to get this beauty on my Handi Quilter long arm! ​

Here are all the blocks - gosh I am so excited to put them together!!

​I decided to switch things up a bit for the fabric selections for my Clementine Quilt!  I'm using Voyage by Kate Spain for Moda Fabric for the quilt along, and I am super excited!!  ​It's not too late to get started and quilt along, if you'd like to use Voyage also it's available through The Fat Quarter Shop, along with the Bella Solid Zen Grey that I picked for my background.  www.fatquartershop.com/voyage-fat-quarter-bundl

Block Five - Pineapple's Puzzle was a fun block, and then I got to take my final pictures with the warm glow of the Texas sunset and some great friends that came over to visit! 
​Ya gotta love summer!

I have several very talented quilter friends involved in the Fat Quarter Shop Clementine Quilt Along,
​I encourage you to go check them out!  
I hope you will join in on the fun!!
Please also visit some of the other talented designers that are quilting along:​
*April of April Rosenthal (@amrosenthal)
Bonnie of Sunset Family Living (@sunsetfamilyliving)
Cara of That Crafty Cara (@thatcraftycara)
Carrie of Moda Cutting Table (@modafabrics)
Denise of Pieced Brain (@piecedbrain)
Elise of Elise and Emelie (@eliseandemelie)
Gina of Carpe Quiltin (@gina_tell_carpequiltin)
Heather of A Creative Pursuit (@acreativemama)
Hilary of By Hilary Jordan (@byhilaryjordan)
Jan of Cocoa Quilts (@cocoaquilts)
Jen of Heritage Threads (@heritage.threads)
Joanne of Quilts by Joanne (@turtlequilterjo)
Kairle of Kairle Oaks Handcrafted Goodness (@kairleoaks)
Kendra of Good Starter (@good_starter)
Kristen of 3 in the Nest (@threeinthenestraleigh)
Kristina of Center Street Quilts (@centerstreetquilts)
Leah of Ponderings from My Heart (@ponderingsfrommyheart)
Melanie of A Bit of Scrap Stuff (@mellierc)
Melissa of Happy Quilting (@happyquiltingmc)
Pat of Pat Sloan (@quilterpatsloan)
Pat B. of Life in the Scrapatch (@scrapatches)
Patty of Elm Street Quilts (@elmstreetquilts)
Rebecca of One Wee Bird (@oneweebird)
Sarah of 123 Quilt (@123quilt)
Seema of SSK Craft Shop (@sskcraftshop)
Sherri of A Quilting Life (@aquiltinglife)
Sondra of Out of the Blue Quilts (@sondradavison)
Stephanie of Quilt 'n Party (@quiltnparty)
Tanya of Tanya Quilts in CO (@tanyaquiltsinco)
Teresa of Aurea's Kitchen (@aureaskitchen)
Vickie of Crocheting Vixen (@crochetingvixen)

When you need a quick quilt with a FREE pattern and video tutorial, a Shortcut Quilt is the answer!  Luckily, The Fat Quarter Shop LOVES shortcut quilts, so much so that they have over 20 to offer, and today I get to tell you about the newest one!!! 
The Fat Quarter Cubes Quilt!
This quilt measures 66.5” x 87.5” and requires: 
18 Fat Quarters
2 yards of background fabric
5.5 yards of backing
Simple! 
​The Fat Quarter Shop has a super great kit all ready for you 
Featuring Well Said by Sandy Gervais

I decided since these finished blocks are nice and big (18.5 x18.5) I wanted to feature something bright and fun, and the new Beach Road Fat Quarter Bundle by Jen Kingwell for Moda Fabric was perfect! I also picked two of Jen's other great fabric for the background and backing.

 The cutting and piecing goes very fast when your blocks are 18.5 x 18.5 and you only need 12!   You could honestly have this quilt done in a few days.  Even though I have a design wall, I always tend to use the open space of my dining room to lay things out... and usually I have Oliver the Bulldog helping.  I love him so much!  

​Even though this is a fast finish, since I am also a long arm quilter, I spent a little extra time having some fun with freehand quilting on my Handi Quilter Long Arm.  My machine is not computerized, so everything I do all comes from my creative heart.  Speaking of my heart.....one of my favorite parts of quilting is the photography travels with my hubby after they are complete.  My husband, Scott is a really good sport, and he is always willing to jump in the car when the light is just right.  We had a really fun day chasing the Texas Bluebonnets with multiple quilts piled up in the back seat.  If you have never been to South/Central Texas in the spring, you really need to add it to your bucket list.  It's amazing!  Here are several shots of the cubes quilt, I couldn't pick just one.  :)

It's time for The Fat Quarter Shop Clementine Quilt Along y'all!! 
Block Four is finally here!
We are getting so close to the final steps of this quilt and I am really starting to get excited, it's gonna be awesome! 

The Fat Quarter Shop is partnering with Moda Fabric once again, to bring you this beautiful quilt along to help benefit our community!  The 2018 Clementine Quilt Along is benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.  So please don't forget to donate!!!  Their mission is to save children by making their research and findings available to everyone AND by treating children at NO COST to the families, so they can focus on the one thing that matters – helping their children get better.  Moda and The Fat Quarter Shop will match donations in the 2018 fundraiser - thats HUGE!  The pattern will be available to download for FREE on the Clementine Quilt Along page on The Fat Quarter Shop blog the 25th of each month from January 2018 to July 2018.   We encourage you to donate at least $5 for the use of each FREE pattern.  Please click the link below to donate with St. Jude today. ​

So about a year ago, my hubby Scott, walked into my sewing studio (probably asking me about dinner -lol) as he looked over to one of my shelves of fabric he mentioned that something up there made him think of Skittles candy.  I had just purchased a new ombre' jelly roll and it was sitting there on the shelf looking very bright and fabulous. From there we kinda talked about putting an ombre' block together that looked like melting Skittles, and later that week I turned a vision into a pattern! 
Today I finally get to share it.  

This Melting Candy pattern is great for anyone, especially a beginner, and it's only available in Modern Patchwork May/June issue.  You can order your copy online now with the link provided below, or find it in local stores.  
www.quiltingcompany.com/store/magazines-books/modern-patchwork/modern-patchwork-magazine-may-june-2018-print-edition

Since I am also a custom Long Arm Quilter with a beautiful new Handi Quilter Avante,  I will be extending a sale to any new long arm clients that mention this blog post.  I'd love to talk with you if you have a special quilt that needs custom quilting! 

Thank you so much for stopping by, and I do hope you enjoy the pattern! Please tag me and share pictures if you decide to melt some candy, I'd love to see your work! 
​Follow me on Instagram for daily posts and updates!
www.instagram.com/gina_tell_carpequiltin/
​#carpequiltin #meltingcandy #ginatell