Tangerine and Marmalade

Hi there.. been feeling under the weather around here.. both hubby and myself have been down with a bad cold/flu bug. Not one to stop sewing, I have been working on the "Summer Nine-Patch Project" found on  http://annalenaland.com/ Karen Snyder's blog. I came late to the party but have now caught up. One nine-patch block a day for the summer! how fun and easy is that. I have picked orange and white for my colors. So far I've managed to use fabrics from my stash but I may have to venture out and buy a few more..I'm making them 61/2 inches and I think that this will be such a fun quilt. There are really no rules and it's not to late to start..check it out!!

Since tomorrow is Father's Day, I'm remembering my Dad...such a great guy and I miss him every day. Happy Father's Day Dad. I love you!!

I hope you  have a great weekend and find time to do what you love!!

Stitch away :)  K

Next Project

Hello,

I started cutting the fabrics for this fast and easy quilt Friday night and finished piecing it last night. It went together really fast. A friend found the pattern on a blog and made the quilt and I liked it so much that I made one too. It is a good design for many styles of fabrics. I'm thinking about using the left over Kaffe Fasset for the next one. I rarely make the same quilt more than once but this was fun and quick and would make a great gift, I even know how I will quilt it!!  I did add side and corner triangles instead of trimming the points to square it up, but either way it is a very sweet design. Crazy Mom Quilts guest blogger for http://beesquarefabrics.blogspot.com/  Check it out!!

Now, I need to finish machine quilting grandsons' quilt. As long as I have my sewing space cleared and ready for quilting, I may be working on a few unquilted pieces, I need to finish my nieces graduation quilt ( from last year ) she has been very patient. I need to stay focused because I am so easily distracted these days and want to make every thing that catches my attention. But I also have many projects that have all the materials collected and need to be started and those that are half or even almost finshed. Anyone else out there the same?? There is comfort in numbers I think!! I will be posting as I finish.

Have a good day.

Ta...Kay

Progress

Hi all.
 In April three quilting friends/ co-workers and myself attended a yearly quilt retreat in Chelan, Wa. This was year three for us and it is always such a welcomed getaway, not to mention beautiful landscape and fun classes. Each year Rosie from Woven Threads Quilt Shop invites a designer to create a project for the group and teach methods specific to the project. It is always fun and until this year I have not completed the project started during the retreat. The first year I attended Verna Mosquera taught Strawberry Baskets. I have just a small portion of the last applique' border to complete and then it will be ready to quilt. The project last year is still in progress but I'm determined to get it done before next years retreat.

 I just finished the final pieced border to this years quilt by Cyndi Walker. Her pattern combined pieced  and applique blocks. She shared her invisible machine applique method with us and even though I had attempted this before I decided to give it another try. I love hand applique but I have so many projects that I want to do that I decided to improve my  invisible machine applique skills. I know that to increase my abilities I must do it!! So I have two projects that I chose to "practice" this method. I must say that I'm improving and I'm quilte satisfied with the results. My only complaint is that the prep work is very time intensive. I'm pleased with the final look. I still enjoy hand applique very much, but its good to have options, right?
So here is a picture of the finished quilt called "Posey Patch" . I used mostly Mill House Inn and Aster Manor from Moda.

Now I need to think about how I will quilt it. I will add it to the list of "needs to be quilted". I confess that I procrastinate this part because it is not my favorite thing to do and I'm still working on mastering it.

Guess I better get on to the next project.  Have a great day! K

It's me again!!

Well this is a first. Blogging two days in a row!!

 I found my camera! I made it a little bag a few weeks ago, put it in it so I would know where it was..haha. then I forgot I put it in the little bag. I think I need to leave myself notes about where I put things. I keep misplacing things. I wanted a place where all the cords and extra stuff I was always looking for that went with the camera could live. It works great!

Here is a photo of the cute little camera bag made from Layer Cake squares and I also  a sample for the quilt shop I work at. It is designed by Heather Bailey and is called "Smarty Girl Book Bag". It is just soooo cute and really fast and easy to make.
And Thanks for the kind and encouraging comment, it truly made my day and I will not give up!!! A journey is one step at a time!!!!
Have a great day out there in Blogland!!!
Hugs, K

New Beginnings

Hi there,
First I must say that my post today will be without photos because I cannot locate my digital camera. I have complained so much about it not taking great pics that I think it may be hiding from me!! Seriously, I cannot remember where I put it or used it last. I've searched the whole house, but no luck.
Anyway, I have spent the last two weeks embarking on a new/old adventure..losing weight and increasing my activity level. So far I gained 4 pounds :-(   and I'm hungry all the time. And I'm having serious carb and sugar withdrawal!   So I'm adding some more healthy carbs this week to see if I can jumpstart something. I feel as though my body is against me, but I am determind to stay with it. More fruit and veg and whole grains and lean protien. Sounds like a plan right? I can't understand why it isn't working!!
I do have a few projects to work on in the studio this week. More quilting to be done on  grandson's quilt and a new bag idea to work on. Maybe work will distract me?
Well must go and find something healthy to eat!! Wish me luck.
K

Time For Tea & Thee

This adorable vintage wall ornament was sent by a very special friend. She found it in an antique mall in  Indiana. She knows my passion for anything "tea" and "chickens" and found both in the same piece. Is this cute or what!!! Thank you sooo much, Libby! You know me so well. I just adore this.
I also have been working on making some small bags using some Honeybun strips and left-over jellyroll strips. The pattern is included in the honeybun two roll box set. It makes a very cute bag but I don't like wasting the beautiful strips on the inside of the bag so I adapted it to use 1/2 the strip-set and a coordinate piece to line the inside. You get two bags from a set of 10 instead of just one. The Jellyrolls work as well you just need 5 of them to make two bags. I think these will make really nice gifts to have on hand for special people.
I plan on keeping one to use for my hand applique supplies. I may even play with adding a pocket inside.

Well to all of you Mothers out there I hope you have a great day celebrating with those you love and love you.  Spend your day doing whatever it is that gives you the most pleasure.

As for me, I will be in my studio for part of the day sewing and then enjoying dinner with family.

Enjoy   xxoo

Where does the time go??

It has been a while since I have posted an entry. I have been dealing with a computer virus...very nasty, and buying a new computer..not a planned purchase ofcourse but it is pretty cool and Cherry Red...I feel so stylish and modern!!  I'm still figuring out all it can do and that will take a while, I'm sure, but I have my EQ6 downloaded and I'm good to go for designing again.
I promised to post pics of the finished aution quilt "Hot Dimonds". My photos do not do it justice but the quilting that my friend Pam did really enhanced the beauty of this quilt. I have some left-overs and plan to make another smaller lap size with them because I really liked the quilt and had a hard time giving it up. I hope it will bring lots a $$ for the school.
I have been trying to finish a 16th birthday quilt for my grandson and it keeps evolving and I keep changing the arrangment and I must make a decision and stay with it or it will never get done. I have been working on it way too long and should have finished it by now, I don't know what the problem is.
Well I better get to my studio for a few hours today, beacuse it will be another busy week and I don't know how much time I will get to "play". I really need it for my sanity..don't we all!!!
Hope you find some time to play this week.
Happy Stitching!!