Catching Up

Longtime, no post!!!! I have been busy traveling and sewing but have not managed to sit down and write anything in a long time,
Grab a cuppa because the might be a long one! :-)

In January I decided to fly to  England and surprise my cousin for her 70th Birthday.
I got the first surprise when landing was delayed 2 hours due to SNOW!!! I have to admit, tho, that the journey from the airport  through villages and past fields was magical.
The surprise came off well and I had a great time catching up with family and friends. I love being in England, but maybe not in January so much.

Historical Sally Lunn House in Bath

Bath Abbey

This was the most wonderful little shop filled with so many wonderful goodies

eye candy, not real candy! Buttons and tiles etc.

Be still my Heart,A Cath Kidston Shop!!!! sigh..spent alot of money in this store!!!

Eagerly waiting to get inside this wonderful shop!

Quilt shop called Country Threads every nook and cranny of two rooms filed
with fabrics. pre-cuts, books etc. Did find some Tilda fabric that I have not seen here.
On the left my cousin, Pix and right good friends John and Julie.

Midsomer Quilting Nice shop near Bath

Now on to what has been happening in the Quilt Studio.

New Years Day Mystery over at Planet Patchwork...not my usual pallet but like it.

Pretty quilt made from Paris Flea Market, pattern from Spring/Summer 07 Quilt Sampler
called Rosy Chic, from The Cotton Patch, Keizer, Oregon.



In February, after catching up from jet lag..I put this cute little pattern together using Primitive  Gatherings  and
this cute pattern.
  

Circa 1934 using pattern from magazine

"Seaside Bed Quilt" from Cluck Cluck Sew, using mostly Seaside fabrics.

I think I may have left a few things out but they will wait until the next post. I promise to write more often.
Enjoy your day..the sun is out here, at the moment..must get onto more fun sewing.
Cheers.
Kay xo

A few little things

I have had this post floating around in my head for a few weeks now and just couldn't seem to get around to sitting down and posting. A few friends that read my blog regularly have told me that they miss reading about what I have been making, so I'm going to let you see what I have been up to since October!! Wow, how time flies.

These darling little pillows were made by my wonderful co-workers as "comfort pillows". Each has a distinct personality just like the maker and give me love and comfort each time I see them. I work with best ladies and we are a family for sure.

I found this cute bag tutorial at www.noodle-head.com/openwidezipperpouch. I have made a few of these great bags that open wide so you can see what is all the way down in the bottom. They also hold an amazing amout of "stuff". I like mine for holding hand sewing/embroidery supplies. The directions are clear and easy to follow. Anna has many great designs, I encourage you to check her out.

This is "Sparkle" from Fig Tree & Co using Joanna's Tapestry line. I really love this pattern!! I have plans for a Christmas themed one..probably for next year LOL.

Last but not least (for this post , anyway :-)!!) I have been working on this quilt off and on for a few years..finally this Christmas it will be finished..still have the binding to put on but close enough,,right? I think that will be all for today, back soon! Kay

One Foot in Front of the Other

This post is very difficult for me to write. I have been mulling it over and over in my head and have decided to just start writting and see how it goes. Deep Breath.... For the past year my dear husband of 42 years has been suffering from End Stage non-alcoholic Liver Disease. Last November our hopes were high as he was put on the Liver Transplant List. This summer, however, proved medically challenging and sadly on Sept 4 the love of my life passed away. Life will never be the same without his unwavering love, support and great sense of humor. I have the unending love and support of family and so many friends and I will get through this. I am continuing to find comfort in my sewing and have been able to spend some time in the quilt studio. Since this blog is about my quilting adventures I will continue to post my starts and finishes and goings on relating to my craft. I could not, however, carry on as tho nothing had changed when, everything has changed. In my next post I will return to my usual sharing. One foot in front of the other...I can only move forward and he would want it that way.

I will miss him forever, Kay

Another Schnibble's

I am just a wee bit behind now on the Another Year of Scnibbles's projects. I did finally finish July which was, I believe, my choice, so I made Paganini, version #4. I saw this made up in a larger size at a local quilt shop and really liked it. I used Vintage Modern for my fabric choice and used a light grey solid by Kona Cotton that I had in my stash.

I also finished a skirt for grand daughter Stella. I found the mustash fabric on Spoonflower Fabrics. The blue fabric is a vintage piece and the silver and black check is Lakehouse. The pattern is "Olivia Skirt" by Butterfly Kisses patterns. I hope everyone has a great holiday weekend. Until we meet again.. Keep Calm and Sew On ooxx Kay

I am still here!!

I don't know what is happening to Blogger. I have been trying to compose a post this morning and I can only post in HTML. I'm not even sure it will post from here. Well here it goes. I have been encountering many road blocks to updating my blog..this recent one is just the last of many. I was begining to think that maybe I wasn't meant to blog right now?? We continue to struggle with my hubby's ever changing health issues. He is currently in a rehabilitation facility so skilled staff can help him gain strength while monitoring his very complicated chronic illness. Meanwhile, in my "spare time" (haha) I have finished a quilt for my grand daughter's birthday and my secret project , a wedding quilt for my niece and husband-to-be, the wedding is Aug 25, Pam at quiltingsquareone.blogspot.com did anamazing job machine quilting her magic onto the quilt.

This is the finished quilt for my grand daughter Stella's birthday.

Wedding quilt for Angela and Matt. Double Pinwheel using Fig Tree fabrics. King Size!

I will try to post more pictures when I can get blogger to co-operate.

Kay

Breathe

Taking many deep breaths these last few weeks. Since I posted last life has been challenging, I have not found nearly enough time in my "quilt studio" and I have struggled to meet my self-imposed deadlines.

Last week I came across a tutorial for converting a wooden folding table (TV tray) into a portable ironing board. Here is how mine turned out, I found it on Martha Stewart's website..gotta love Martha Right??? 
This took less than an hour to complete. I did buy the table but all the other supplies I already had. I bought this fabric a couple of years ago hoping to make a new cover for my "other" ironing board but I love it on this. I find this size very useful next to my sewing machine and works great with the smaller travel size iron.
Now I can fold up the "big" one and just bring it out when I need to press bigger things..allows much more room in my space!!

Now for what I have managed to sew this month. Still working on the "secret" quilt, so can't show progress on that yet, but finished my 12 dresden plates for the Bunny Hill Designs free pattern, just deciding on what to use for sashing .

I have purchased a wonderful red and white polka dot for the border.

not the final arrangement!

I recently bought a new book called Sliver Quilts by Lisa O'Neil. The concept intrigued me and when I turned to page 35 and saw the "Stella" quilt...then read that this quilt was designed to celebrate the 4th of July...well I had to buy the book and make this quilt. The reason?? Well I have a grand daughter named Stella and her birthday is the 4th of July :-)..I hope to get this at least pieced together by her birthday and I will add a border to make it a little bigger to snuggle under. Oh by the way, Stella will be 11 this year.

Here is a Baby Quilt made for youngest gran daughter's Kindergarten teacher for her first grand child.
My daughter used the art work made my the children in  the kindergarten classes to make a piece of art to auction at the annual  spring auction this year. Then she printed the art work on transfer fabric by EQ.
I assembled the blocks and machine quilted it just in time for the last day of school. It was a real hit.

 I had to take a break from the Year of Schnibbles that I have been participating in, hubby was in ICU for three days at the beginning of the month total of 7 days in hospital. Had to concentrate on my immediate deadlines and I plan on making June and July next month. I really love the design for June called Leap Year so I hope I can catch up!!
Speaking of catching up.. better get started.
Today's goal...finish piecing the Stella blocks !
Have a great weekend and a great 4th of July!!!
ox Kay

A Few New Things

Well, here we are at the end of another month. The summer is getting closer and closer, at least on
the calendar. I have finished a few projects and still have many more waiting for me to remember them.
I finished  the Year of Schnibbles pattern for May, Doc using 30's playtime as the fabric choice.

I like the vintage feel that this paring has. It seems Card Trick and 30's reproductions are a good match.
My next finish is from the pattern called Victory Garden. I have been working on it off and on all month and when I finished it Monday I realized that it would be done in time to celebrate the Queens Jubilee. I have British roots and family that reside there. I ordered the kit for "Baby Brit" using Cabbages and Roses Northcote Range.

. Today the weather is very grey and raining so hard to get a real good picture. I will take another when it is quilted.
I have also been working on something using Fig Tree and a double pinwheel pattern. It needs to remain a secret for now but I thought I could at least share the first 2 blocks.

So long May and hello June, I hope you bring some sunny days!!
Take care
Kay xo