A very Happy New Year

A very cold ending to 2010.  A full day and a half later, my birdbath is still frozen solid.  And here I thought Arizona was supposed to be a warm climate!  We had snow yesterday and this evening it's still hanging around.  I know some are thinking "big deal" and for Arizona, it is.  Coming originally from the U.P. of Michigan, I do understand cold, snow and ice.  I am looking forward to this cold snap going away and going back to sunny days.

So on to 2011 no resolutions to speak of.  I'd like to think I was going to become more organized, get my scraps used up.  But I know it probably won't happen. 

I wish for you a healthy, prosperous New Year.

Katie

An honor

I didn't mention in an earlier post that my neighbor gave me a quilting frame.  This wonderful lady is 76 and unfortunately has terminal cancer.  I will certainly miss her when the Lord calls her home.  Anyway....I found out that she used this frame to tie a quilt that her mother had made.  She had promised her mother that she would finish the quilt.  Well, without the binding, the quilt isn't finished.  I offered to bind the quilt and I hadn't even seen it yet - she took me up on my offer to bind the Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt that her mom had pieced.  I will embroider a special label for it and get it bound and returned to her.  I'm so honored that she trusts me with this task. 
As to the frame - it's a beautiful frame and I will be making a quilt to put on it for handquilting.  Now I have to inject here that I have a Tin Lizzy 18 set up and the only thing I ever hand quilted was a placemat!  This will be a learning experience for me but one that I look forward to.  And I know with every stitch I take, I'll think of my wonderful neighbor and I will hope that she will still be around for me to show her the hand quilted quilt.
New Years?!  Really?  So soon?  I guess we can't slow down the calendar.  2010 just simply flew by.  What a busy year it was and 2011 is looking to be just as busy - Praise God, I hope I can keep up.  I do not make resolutions, nor do I set goals.  I live each day and hope for the next.  I know, maybe not the best system to live my life by, but it does work for me. 
I'm off to cut binding strips and work on binding that very special quilt.
Please if you go out to celebrate bringing in the New Year, be safe stay healthy.

Katie

Christmas over and moving on

I hope everyone had as wonderful a Christmas as I did.  Did alot of cooking, but I loved it.  Enjoyed my family and a couple dear friends for the day.  My sister's boyfriend loved his sailboat quilt.  I told him to please use it on the boat.  He said he definitely would and that he thought he'd leave it on the boat but decided if he did that he couldn't enjoy it at home - so I guess it'll be a traveling quilt! 

But Christmas decorations are down and boxed up, ready for DH to put away.  I've been asked to do a couple quilts for a friend who does motorcycle rodeos and poker runs.  He will be doing a poker run and the proceeds will go to the benefit of Honor Flight.  The first quilt will be displayed at a "biker bar" and I know it won't appeal to everyone, but I'm hoping it appeals to the clientel at the 'bar':

This is the center of the quilt.   I haven't decided yet on the narrow border fabric, but the outer/ wider border will be done in a dark grey.  I worked this quilt pattern up in EQ and I really like it - I think I will be using it again.

QFC on Yahoo is doing another Quilt Block Lotto.  Here is my contribution to it:

This is a pattern from Quilter's Cache by Marcia Hohn.  I can't remember the name right now....

So I am done with the Christmas sewing and moving forward with some quilt projects.

Until next time,

Katie

My Special Date

I was in FL in Sept. when my darling, 4 yr. old DGS called and asked me for a date.  I promised him when I got back to AZ I would love to have a date with him.  Our date finally happened yesterday.  I took him to the Sonoran Desert Museum in Tucson.  This has exhibits of the animals, reptiles and vegetation of the Sonoran desert.  The desert cats were sleeping, which is normal this time of year.  He had a racoon come right up to the screen of it's enclosure - so fun!  I gave him my camera and he loved taking pictures.  I finally got a picture.  I kept telling him to smile big - this is what I got:

He asked me if it was big enough - Yep, think this works.  We followed our trip to the museum with a later lunch.  Of course it had to be a place that served Mac & Cheese followed with an ice cream.  A great day and one I will store in my most precious memories.  Thank You Tiernan for a great Day!

Days spent with grandchildren - Priceless! 

Katie who's hoping everyone has this type of love in their lives.



ahhh, a sigh of relief

I will mark the calendar, 2010 is the year that I was ready for Christmas before Christmas Eve!  It's done, it's bought, it's wrapped - yea me!!!  Even all the grocery shopping for the big meal is done.  I will probably start cooking on the 23rd and continue through Christmas!  And to think it will all be demolished in 20 minutes or less :-)  But, oh the blessing of having my family and friends around me on such a wonderful day.  I hope everyone is enjoying the week of Christmas as stress free as possible.

Katie

yes I am done!

well sort of.  Everything is sewn.  I have to get snaps/buttons on the camo and that will get done tonight or tomorrow after DH leaves.  He'll be off hunting for a couple days so gives me plenty of time!  All the shopping is done and most everything is wrapped and ready for Christmas.  I've never been ready before Christmas Eve for as long as I can remember.
As this year is coming to a close I look ahead to this next year.  I see lots of quilts in my future and I hope to become more proficient in my long arm quilting.  I've had people tell me I should 'quilt for profit' but I just am so apprehensive about quilting someone else's masterpiece.  And I do consider every quilt a masterpiece.  I don't care if it's all square patches.  Someone took the time to cut and sew those patches and put a part of themselves into that quilt top.  I'm okay with what I do with an 'all over' meander.  I'm getting better at doing feathers.  I've never used a pantograph or a stencil.  I know those are things I need work at.  Maybe 2011 will be the year I 'advance' forward with my longarm quilting.

Katie

Plugging away

I used to only sew garments and the occasional toy/doll.  Then I discovered quilting - YeeHA!  So now I rarely sew garments and the last couple of weeks inforces why that is! Why do the pattern companies give you a 5/8" seam allowance then tell you to trim to 1/4"?  What a waste IMO.  I've made jammies and nightgowns and working on the sly to make camo outfits for my men.  It's the sewing on the sly that is getting to me more than anything.  I like to sit down and work at it until it's done or at the very least be able to leave it sitting there until I can get back to it!  Nope, have to put it all away and when I think DH is going to be gone for a while, take it out and work at it.  Then so I don't get 'caught', put it away about when I think he'll be coming back - sheesh, I'll be glad when the camo is done!!!  Only a bit more to do - hummm wonder when he's going to be out and about again........
I'm wanting to join in on RRCB mystery over on Quiltville.  I've never done a mystery before and this one sounds interesting.  I've downloaded and saved all the clues but I knew I couldn't start until I got all my Christmas sewing done.  I may cheat myself a bit and do a few of the clues just to have them ready when Bonnie releases the setting for the clues.  It's the string block and how it will fit into the scheme of things that has me intrigued.
Need to get to my sewing room - still have more Christmas sewing to do.  Of course, if I quit adding to my list of 'want to get done' it wouldn't be so bad :-)  I tend to make more work for myself.  I see something and think " oh (so & so) would like that".  Maybe I just need to stay off the blogs until after Christmas :-)

Katie

Getting there

Earlier in the month I posted pictures of Christmas postcards that I made my G-sons, here's the one for my DGD:





She's only 10 months old

so her Christmas card is more

like a little doll quilt. 

So while I was at it, I embroidered a card on card stock:

If I could figure out how to keep the chalk off the thread, I'd add a bit more color to these cards using chalks - unfortunately, I don't color inside the lines too well!

And..... because of what I've been reading about Mug Rugs, I tried my hand at those, too.



I have a bit more Christmas sewing to do and will hopefully get most of it done tomorrow.  But sometimes you just gotta play :-)

Katie

Crunch time!

It's still 15 days to Christmas but I'm starting to feel some pressure.  I have a couple more items to make in the sewing room that need to be sent out.  But I'm also trying to get some baking done to send out and simply can't be in both places at the same time.  I always worry about packages being received in time for Christmas.  I'd probably worry if I sent them on Dec. 1st!  I will have everything done and ready to send on Monday, and hope for the best.  I think our postal service does work very hard this time of year to make sure things are moving smoothly.  I know our local post office employees are always very helpful.
Guess sitting here at the computer isn't getting the work done!! So I'm off and running - well okay maybe not 'running'.......

Katie

on to more things

I am discovering that many quilters are also knitters.  I do enjoy knitting, but I have carpal tunnel and find I'm only able to knit about 30 minutes at a time before the fingers go numb! I finished a pair of socks this morning.  They're only my second pair.  I knit them on the 2 circular needles.  I want to start another pair, but decided on a quick project.  I'm knitting mittens for my grandson for Christmas.  Something to put in his stocking!  I did get a quilt on the frame and will work on quilting it tomorrow.  I have finished up all the sewing projects that I had cut.  I still have 3 more things to cut out and if time permits, the camo fabric will get cut. 
I do hope everyone is enjoying the Holiday season.

Katie

22 days til.....

So it's December - 22 days to Christmas.  I was in a depression last year during the Holidays which is something very rare for me - I am usually a very positive person.  So this year, I'm really looking forward to Christmas.  This is the first time in a very long time that if Christmas came tomorrow, I'd be relatively prepared.  I need to wrap some gifts as I don't want the recipients to possibly come across them!  With all the interest in 'going green', I've thought about making simple gift bags that could be recycled for use as 'grocery bags'.  I'm thinking I wouldn't want them to be so season specific, but if I made them with simple muslin and a Christmas print lining, they could be turned 'inside out' when ready to be used for other purposes.  Or, maybe put a vinyl pocket on the outside of the bag and insert an old Christmas card in it (I save all my cards just incase the kids ever want to craft with them).  Or.... what the heck, make the bags with Christmas print fabric and ask that the bags are reused for future Christmas gift exchange.  Oh, the possibilities......

ah....creativity

I went into EQ and designed a quilt:

The white centers will be fussy cut fabric and the yellow fabric is actually a tan.  Because I decided to make these blocks 12", I doubt I will make this many blocks.  This quilt will be donated to a friend who does motorcycle poker runs and motorcycle rodeos.  The proceeds from these events go to charitable organizations.  This quilt will be raffled and the proceeds donated to Honor Flight http://www.honorflight.org/

My friend has asked that I have the quilt ready by the end of January.  He would like to display it when he starts selling the raffle tickets.  So, I've already made 7 blocks, but I am short on the red fabric and will have to get more.  The fussy cut centers are not fabrics that will appeal to everyone (you'll understand once I post actual pictures).  I personally am really liking the way this quilt is coming together.  I've put the 7 blocks on the design wall and I'm happy with the look.

Tomorrow will be back to sewing for Christmas gifts.  I have so many ideas running through my brain, I know I won't get them all done.  If I was more disciplined, I'd try and do one gift a day, then I'd have them all done for Christmas.  I ordered Camo fabric to make my guys camo outfits for hunting.  They may get the fabric wrapped with a note "some assembly required"  and signed "see mom".  I've been known to give partial gifts such as jammie tops or bottoms with a note of "to be continued".  One crocheted slipper instead of 2.  A picture frame with a picture of the unfinished quilt.  As long as everything is together for the kids, I don't mind giving 'partial' gifts to the adults in the family :-) 

Other than some small stocking stuffer type items, my actual Christmas shopping is done.  That's a first for me.  I'm normally the Christmas Eve, rush to the store type of person (and hope there's actually something left worth buying).
I see Christmas lights going up on the houses, trees in windows and wonder what happened to waiting at least until the 1st of December.  But that is another story (or possible rant!)

Katie

need to piece a block

Seriously, I need to piece a block!!! Ever have anyone ask why you'd cut fabric into little pieces just to sew them back together again to make a large piece of  fabric?!  Of course, my answer is simply because "I can".  I used to be a garment sewist (I don't like sewer - sounds like something smelly).  I took the required Home Ec class in 7th grade.  Even the teacher wasn't too impressed with my sewing skills!  When I started having children and the first 2 were girls, I knew I had to do something to dress them the way I wanted to.  So, bought a simple Singer straight/zig zag machine, a pattern and some thread and went to town.  I was hooked!  I wouldn't call myself an advanced seamstress by any stretch, but I have managed to muddle through a simple wedding gown.  But as the kids grew up and left home, I didn't have much call for garment sewing.  A friend asked me to take a quilt class with her in 2001 - I've been quilting ever since!  Now I had taken a beginner's quilt class from the local community college back in the early 80's, but WOW had things changed!  Anyway.......after sewing a few jammies for my G-kids this past week, I appreciate that I can now call myself a 'quilter'.  I like simple straight sewing and those small pieces!  It's a lot easier to unsew a 4 or 6" seam than a 14" seam (or larger)!  So after a couple days of the jammie thing, today will be spent piecing SOMETHING!!! Don't know what yet but I'm sure it'll be something I will use :-)

Katie

the season is off and running!

The Holiday season is officially off and running - or so the retailers say! Thanksgiving was wonderful.  My DIL & Son just always outdo themselves. 
Did you do Black Friday?  Oh, I thought about it.  Looked at the clock and rolled over and went back to sleep.  I did do some online shopping later in the day.  When I think of what I saved on gas to drive to Tucson (approx. 60 miles), not paying sales tax and many places offered free shipping, I was probably a little money ahead and definitely more sane!  I did go into JoAnn's today to buy batting.  At 50% off and a coupon for an additional 20%, I simply couldn't let it pass.  Now to get up my ambition to get a few of the quilts quilted I have in my stack.
I did get a couple of my fabric postcards done - these are about 5 X 7", but for my G-kids they're perfect.  I have at least one more to do for my DGD, but she's only 10 months old so her's will be softer (something to chew on)

I've also finished the quilt top for my sister's boyfriend.  He really likes sailboats and owns one.  Being in FL, he may not have much use for a quilt at home, but I'm hoping he'll use this on the boat.



I was undecided about the inner border - but the darker print has red and I really wanted to pull that out in the quilt - so red it was.  Now to decide how to quilt it!

Until next time, please stay safe.

Katie

Happy Thanksgiving

 I want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.  I hope anyone who is traveling has safe, uneventful travel.  My DH is off hunting in N. Arizona so he and his partner will have dinner at a restaurant.  I will spend Thanksgiving with my son and his family.  He and his wife are great cooks and put out quite a spread.  My contribution is home made bread/rolls, cranberry salad and a fruit salad.  I know it will be a wonderful day.
Made up a couple postcards but I'm having some 'issues' with my machine not liking the satin stitching I'm doing around the edge.  So put it all aside for awhile, may use a different machine for the satin stitching. 
With DH gone, I will get busy here very soon, get my house work done, get salads done for Thanksgiving tomorrow and then hit the sewing room for awhile.

Katie

I HATE colds!

Instead of sewing yesterday, took the day and spent it in Tucson (approx. 50 miles SW) with DH.  I am wanting to buy a new sofa so thought I'd take a look, but nothing jumped out at me.  So I'll wait.  DH is getting ready for his hunting season, so we had some places to stop for him.  When you live in a rural community, you take advantage of being in the city when you can!  By the time we got home, about 5 hours later, I just wasn't feeling myself.  Within an hour, I knew what was going on.  I have a darn cold.  Chest congestion and hot, runny eyes.  Took some nighttime cold medicine and was out for the count.  Today I just feel run down (probably a medicine hangover!)   But I will hit the sewing room.  Thought about pulling out the scrap basket and doing some 'mindless' sewing but if I pull it out, everything else gets put on hold.  What is my fascination with scraps!?   But I do enjoy making fabric postcards, so maybe a couple of them in Christmas themes are a good idea.  Guess sitting here thinking about it isn't getting it done ;-)  off to the sewing room I go.  And I will try very hard not to spread my cold germs!  Thank goodness those germs don't travel over cyber space.

Katie

more accomplished

I have some jammies sewn up, a sailboat quilt that has an Attic Windows setting ready to be assembled  (blocks are done!).  Got some carousel horses embroidered (designs from ArtisticThreadWorks)

The pillow panel on top, the solid pink, tan, turquoise (just a sliver), the printed fabric and the embroidered blocks.  This will all go into the quilt once I decide on a layout.
I will spend tomorrow assembling the sailboat quilt and deciding on border fabric.  Will probably start embroidering some sets for the coming Quilters for Comfort charities for 2011.  I have a hard time sitting sewing and the embroidery machine sitting quietly.
I hope everyone is counting their blessings as we approach Thanksgiving.

Katie

it's a start

Started sewing up jammies and while I was sewing, I had the embroidery machine going too.  I got some fabric at a yard sale that has almost a victorian 'feel' to it.  It's of carousel horses.  It's pink background and sort of taupe print horses (with other colors).  It also came with pillow panels, so I'm embroidering some carousel horses and will incorporate them into the Carousel Horse quilt.  I'm thinking this quilt will go to my DGD for her first birthday the end of January.  Will post pictures as I have them.

Katie

one more off the list!

As we start to roll into the Holiday season, I start making lists - probably the only time of year I actually have a 'list'!  I'm usually racing to get projects done a couple weeks before Christmas, and amazingly seem to get them completed.  Sometimes I think I simply work better under preasure.  I love to make flannel jammies for my family.  So... yesterday I pulled out my flannel stash and started cutting.  Now I have a stack ready to just be sewn.  I had originally hoped (note I didn't say planned?) to get some slippers crocheted/knitted to go with jammies, but that's not going to happen.  I have carpal tunnel in each hand and I can only crochet or knit for about 30 minutes and then the hands go numb - bummer! Now I feel like I'm officially into the Holiday season.
Today is Veteran's Day.  I hope everyone takes a moment to remember our veterans past, appreciate our troops present and support or troops future.  Without our brave men and women in the armed forces, we would not be able to enjoy our freedoms of today.

Katie

better day

Thank goodness I had a better day!  Got some placemats done - I loaded the backing and batting on the frame:

put the placemats that I made using panels and basted down.
Quilted around the printed design of the panel and some free motion:

And after all had been quilted:

I just trimmed them, put the binding on and
Voila!

So now I have my "fall" placemats done.  One more thing off my list of  'to dos'.
Our AZ weather is supposed to be a bit on the cool side this week, so I'm thinking I will be doing some
baking and sewing - I love to bake when it gets cooler!  I have my sourdough starter ready to make up some
sourdough bread - will make up some hearty soup to go with it - yummmy!!!  It's going to be a good week!

Katie

Get up n Go - Got up and Went!!

Great day spent with friends yesterday doing some shop hopping.  Bought a 'few' pieces of fabric and just knew I'd be anxious to get it washed and start a new quilt.  Got up this morning and have zero energy.  I have walked into the sewing room several times, looked around and walked out.  I have browsed through quilt patterns and quilt blogs trying to find something to spark my interest and get me going.  Now it's not that I don't have anything to do - I do!  I just can't muster up the excitement to get going on it (actually 4 of them).  Maybe I should pull out my knitting...... I have a pair of socks that I started a year ago and only have a bit more to finish up the second sock.....
Hopefully tomorrow will be better! 

Katie

Putting scraps away

Put my scraps basket away!  I have at least 3 quilts that I should be working on that are not associated with scraps, so get the scraps out of site and I will get going on what I should be working on!  I get so easily sidetracked :-)
Took some preprinted panels (11" square) and framed them out to make them 'placemat' size.  I will put a piece of backing on the Tin Lizzy and will quilt them all at one time.  I'd thought about free motion quilting them with the regular sewing machine, but I've also wanted to see how doing something like this on the longarm would work out - guess I'll find out!
Will be visiting a couple quilt shops tomorrow that I've never been it - always a fun time!  Not looking for something particular, but bet I come out with something :-)
I'm feeling bad for the people of Haiti.  First the devasting earthquake and then the colera outbreak and now the flooding from Hurrican Tomas.  Please remember this devasted country in your prayers.

Katie

Piecework

I'm calling this quilt "Piecework" but the designer, Stephanie Prescott, named it Squares in the Air.  The pattern was published in Quilts magazine Oct/Nov 2010 issue.

This was pieced from scraps or fat quarters.  I liked working with the light,medium, dark color values.  Everything about this quilt was pieced including the backing,

and even the batting and binding. 
Because this is a quilt for me and for utilitarian use, I sewed together scraps of batting I had. ( I would not recommend doing this for a 'better' or gift quilt.)  I used binding left over from other quilts, pieced that together and therefor the name "Piecework" as it truly is a work of pieces!
I couldn't really decide on how I wanted to quilt it. I had thought I'd try something new, but in the end went with just what I call vines and leaves.  Simply a continous line swirly type stitching with some loops and leaves.
Now on to my next project which I really haven't decided what it will be :-)

Katie

didn't get 'er done!

Well, I didn't get my fall table topper done - got side tracked while looking at fabrics.  Now isn't that a surprise!  I finished my DGD's Christmas quilt.  I did feather wreaths in the quilting and was pretty happy with the results.  I really want to get comfortable with those feathers.  I watch every video I come across.  I figure eventually I'll be able to take all the techniques I see and come up with something I'm proud of. 
While I was looking at fabrics for a table topper, I came across some 11" square preprinted panels that I forgot I had.  I think I'll add to them and make place mats instead of a topper. 
I have also gone through my fabrics and pulled flannel to use for the Christmas jammies.  I will spend a day sometime next week and just cut everything out.  Then I'll be able to sew the jammies up at my leisure.  If I get the jammies done early enough, I may actually do some Christmas deco sewing. 
So I have projects in the works, projects planned and hopefully I'll find the ambition to do them :-)

Katie

seasons change

Seasons change and so do our taste in fabrics.  Thinking about this as I'm considering a new fall table topper.  I love the colors of fall!  As I look through my stash of fabrics, I see so many fabrics that I know I bought for a reason and probably loved when I bought, but now they are just 'there'. Oh, I do still like them, I simply can't remember what I had in mind for them when I bought them.  I'm thinking it may be time to cut up some of this fabric and make simple 4 or 9 patch blocks just to have some on hand for a charity quilt on down the road.  My fabric stash is not huge compared to many I've seen and I'm really trying to use fabrics that I already have before buying more.  Fat Quarters - now there's a topic!  I have been in a few FQ swaps and have a few of them.  You know, I don't really care for FQ's.  I know alot of quilters will buy a FQ because they like the fabric but don't really know what they'll use it for.  I do like scrappy quilts and most of what I make are scrappy, but I almost always use the scraps from the scrap basket.  My scrap basket has pieces as small as 2" and as large as 10".  A lot of strips in that basket, anywhere from 1½" wide to 3" wide.  And, no, I don't organize scraps.  They are all literally thrown in this big wicker laundry style basket.  When I sew scrappy, I reach in and use what I pull out (if it's a big enough piece). 
Enough for now - I will spend my day cleaning up from my previous project and getting ready to make that fall table topper!

Katie

a few projects

Finished up and mailed off the quilt to Donna B.  I used blocks from a swap I did a while ago.  They just seemed to jump out at me and say "use me, use me"  so I did!  I know some people don't like to get involved in swaps, and that's really okay.  I like them.  Sometimes I get something I can't use or something I need to 'modify' a bit, but I always appreciate that someone took the time to be involved and share.  I also like that with swaps I've always got something that I can use to put together a quick quilt.  And that was the case with the quilts needed by Donna B.

I'm also working on a paper piecing block that I found in an older book.  I'm using some of my scraps.  It's a 6" block and has 21 pieces in it.

I like the use of all the white.  I have alot of white cotton muslin left over from quilt backings and also from trimming blocks after embroidery.
I finished the quilt top for my granddaughter's Christmas quilt and will get it quilted over the weekend.  Pictures to follow.

Katie

trying again

Ever start something then forget the important parts of it?  Well, that's what I did!  Started a quilting blog and then forgot what my password was!  So here I go again and this time I made certain to write all the pertinent information down.  I am on Facebook, and it's okay for simple, short statements, but when I really want to say something, I don't like the limitations.  So here I am and I will try to keep this blog up to date with pictures and activities.
My profile picture is of my brother and myself.  There are so few pictures of me (as I'm usually behind the camera) that I decided to just post a picture that simply makes me smile.  I will remember that day I went fishing with my brother until the day I die.  We had such fun.
Okay, so this blog is about quilts for the most part but it will also be simply about me and, of course, my family.  I wouldn't be who I am without my family - they are my heart and soul!
Quilting...........I love it!  I would say I'm an intermediate quilter.  I don't do alot of small pieces (unless it's paper pieced), I will only do machine applique and that may be simply because I don't think I have the patience for the hand applique.  I really like to incorporate machine embroidery into quilts that  I make.  I also have a Tin Lizzy machine quilting set up.  I am a member of Quilters for Comfort.  QFC, as we're more commonly refered to, is a wonderful group of people who create quilts for causes.  We try to find non nationally recognized organizations in need and donate quilts to bring comfort and let those recipients know someone care about them in a time of need.  You will notice (if you continue to follow my blog) that I will refer alot to QFC and post pictures of quilts that are done for QFC.
Until next time,

Katie