Sew Fest 2015

Odenville, AL was an absolutely beautiful place to hold Sew Fest and the Magnolia Park Retreat was amazing.  Unfortunately, we were their last retreat.  Elizabeth is ‘retiring’ from cooking.  She is opening (in the future) a facility that can be rented that will have a kitchen facility available and a huge work room.  The new facility will be able to house 8 (maybe 10) and boasts 5 full baths.  Anyway… Sew Fest 2015 was an absolutely amazing week.  Here’s a little sample of what what 11 sewist and 2 non sewist can accomplish in a week:

		Sew Fest 2015 VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

We changed things up a bit this year.  We normally do only Patriotic theme quilts for donation to veteran facilities or other service connected organizations that support our troops and veterans.  This year we added Christmas / winter theme quilts for donation to a children’s hospital.  The red, white & gold fabrics that were available worked with both Patriotic and Christmas  / winter.   There were a couple quilts made using preprinted panels and I love how each one is different.  Such creativity!

Now I really have to buckle down and get things finished for my sister’s wedding!  I still have my dress to make, my husband’s shirt and the wedding quilt!  I have a month…… oh dear!  I better get busy…..

Katie

may end up lengthy

Might want to grab a cup / glass and sit a bit… I could get long winded today.

Back in April I showed a quilt here.  The same lady brought me this quilt.  She told me she’d had it for about 30 years and had taken it from a ‘recycle’ bin at a thrift store she used to volunteer at.  She had tried to quilt it on her domestic machine and it bunched up on her so her husband told her to bring it to me.  There were a few issues in the quilting of this.  The first was she was using a very thin polyester blanket for the batting that barely reached side to side.  Some of the blocks were sewn by hand, some by machine.  The fabrics were different types of material and she had washed and dried this quilt and for the most part it did stay together.  There were a few seams I had to restitch as I quilted using a ladder stitch.  I used a simple meander on this and was able to ease in the excess.  This quilt was in no way going to lay flat and I was not going to try and stretch it as fragile as it is!  She had used a sheet as the backing and asked me to bind it, so I just trimmed after quilting and brought the backing to front for a binding.  The lady was happy so I’m happy…

These are just some blocks I’ve been working on for Sew Fest.  The bottom blocks are small measuring at just 6” finished – all made from scrap HST’s I had.  But there are 31 of them so they will stretch to use as fillers.  The Drunkard’s Path blocks are small, too.  They should have measured at 8” finished but because I’m not perfect and it is a curved seam, they measure 7½” finished…  I personally love the simplicity of the Ohio Star block.  I think it’s one of my favorites for putting in Patriotic quilts.  I like the crispness of the Spider Web block, but I hate the center where all the seams come together.  I’ve yet to figure out a way to reduce that center bulk.  If you know a way, I’d love to hear about it!

I have a special quilt for a special lady on the frame, but can’t show it until after Sew Fest.  Speaking of Sew Fest, which is just a little over 3 weeks away, I’m really looking forward to that this year.  There is only one lady attending that will be my first time meeting her.  We’ve communicated through email, but there’s nothing like meeting someone face to face.  Mickey M., whose quilts you’ve seen here countless times, will be stopping in for a few hours to visit.  Someday, Mickey, we’ll get you to come for the whole week!  I would like more than a couple hours……

I love to get together with my friends.  This year was my second annual 4th of July BBQ.  I’ve declared that as ‘my holiday’ to spend with friend and have told them to keep their calendars open.  This year I supplied all the meat and drinks and everyone else supplied side dishes.  We had quite a spread and a great time!

		Annual BBQ VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

And lastly, “Instagram” … I’ve read that blogs are a thing of the past and people are going to Instagram… well, I don’t have an account there and don’t know if I will ever open one.  I don’t always remember to take pictures and obviously I’m not great at even keeping up my blog.  I’m just curious as to other’s opinions.  Oh and I also don’t “Twitter”.  I do have a Facebook account but it’s another thing that I post to occasionally but use more for keeping up with other.  So, anyway, what are your thoughts on Social Media sites?  Which ones do you feel more drawn to?

So until next time (which will probably after Sew Fest…)

Katie

Buttons and a quilt to make

I have not been doing and quilt related sewing for a ‘few’ weeks.  My sewing time has been for my sister’s wedding.  I have to get the buttons on the groom’s shirt and then I can go back to quilting (thank goodness!)  I still have wedding sewing to do and some personal sewing for my sister but it’s on hold until the arrival of the bride’s maids dress fabric and my sister giving me the go-ahead that her blouse fits and she likes it before I make up the other 3! 

Then the quilt I have to make – actually there’s two.  My sister’s wedding quilt but the most important is a Patriotic quilt for my grandson who has just graduated Air Force basic training:

I love the shoulders back and ‘at attention’ stance.  So proud.

Here he is with his sisters and mom.  My daughter is in the black & white next to him. His oldest sister on the right and youngest on his left.  

I never post pictures of my youngest grandkids as my son has requested that I don’t and I, of course, will respect his wishes.  But these ones are okay

Now just a little chit chat…..  I have a favorite ‘estate sale’ that I go to.  Kevin liquidates after the initial estate sale and I can’t think of a time I’ve ever gone into his place and left empty handed.  I always find ‘something’…  I was in there on Wed. and came across a Cuisinart ice cream maker.  We both looked at it and Kevin says he thinks something is missing.  So I tell him I will look it up on the internet and see.  He tells me to take it and I tell him okay.  Well, the thing that was missing was the freezer bowl!  You’d think that would be obvious… Anyway…. I ordered the freezer bowl and stopped in yesterday to pay him half of what he asked for the ice cream maker.  I tell him, “We’re compromising on the price because I had to pay for the bowl.”  He laughs and is okay with it.  Then he says, “ I was thinking of you yesterday.”  oh, oh, is that good or bad?  He tells me he has “material” for me.  I ask him what kind because his idea of material is anything fabric related…. It’s place mats, napkins and heaven knows what else.  I bring home 5 contractor size black bags full of stuff for $20.  Well, there’s clothes and duffle bags and handbags, and a variety of other stuff.  The Hubby asks, “What are you going to do with this stuff?”  Simple, go through it, take out what I can use or want.  The rest goes to the thrift store and I will take my $20 off taxes as a contribution….  So now I have to tell you – I always use cloth napkins.  Over a year ago, I pulled out a pile of cloth napkins that I had accumulated over time and decided it was time to put them to use.  I found a cute little square basket (thrift store, of course), put  my folded napkins in there and keep it in the center of my dining table.  It took a while but now the entire family uses those cloth napkins.  I have saved a TON by not using paper towels.  And as the napkins get stained, they go into the kitchen and I use them for draining anything fried.  Soak in a bit of water and dish soap before laundering and they’re good for the next need!  I now have friends using cloth napkins instead of paper.  I will be sharing my HUGE amount of napkins that I got from Kevin – every body wins….

Until next time,

Katie

The year 2000

What is significant about the year 2000?  It was the year I started my journey as a quilter.  I had taken a quilt class in 1980.  Made a sampler quilt the ‘old fashion’ way – scissors and templates….  I was not a quilter!  I’d rather sew little Barbie doll clothes or reupholster a chair than cut and sew those pieces… So fast forward to 2015 – I’ve been sewing garments for the past 2 weeks.  I have button holes and buttons to put on the grooms wedding shirt and then I’m going to cut up some fabric with a rotary cutter and sew those tiny pieces back together!  I WILL work on something quilty!!!!

Off to finish a shirt and pick out some ‘quilting’ type fabric!

Katie

A little over a month!

It’s been a little over a month since I last blogged!  I have been busy, though.  May graduations, getting ready for a trip to Florida, trip taken (gone 10 days), and now getting over jet lag!

Here are some finished quilts that I managed before I left.  Also from my previous post, those quilts got quilted as well:

These quilts were a combined effort of Micky M. and Sheron R. from QFC.  Sent to me for quilting.  I really liked the little added applique in the upper left corners of the number teddies quilt.  And aren’t those little swirly ponies designs just the cutest! 

Okay, so my trip to FL… My sister is getting married in September and she asked me to maker her wedding dress and his shirt to match.  They are doing a Hawaiian theme wedding and getting married on a 90 ft. yacht so very casual.  She chose a pattern for a dress and I made it up in non-wedding fabric as a ‘sample’ before I went.  Too small but I had left the seams large and ‘unfinished’ so no big deal for taking out.  Dress didn’t do a thing for her!  Off to JoAnns on Memorial Day and hit a great sale on patterns and fabric.  Saved more than what we spent … New dress pattern, make another ‘sample, a few adjustments and we have our dress!  Unfortunately, she had wanted a long dress but because the skirt of this pattern is cut as a circle, not enough width in the fabric to make it long.  She’s decided Tea length is okay and, really, is quite flattering on her.  We’re going to add a petticoat to her undergarments to give it the fullness of a more traditional wedding dress.  Did a sample for his shirt, made a few adjustments but no time left to get his wedding shirt made so it came home with me.  Anyway,,,, while at JoAnns my darling sister asks, “do you think you can make me some simple blouses if I get some fabric?”  So, yep, add a few blouses and a skirt to the ‘need-to-get-it-done’ list.  Never could tell my baby sister “not now”…. Oh wait there’s more!  The bride’s maids dresses she bought???? a total bust!  So, yes, I’m making those, too….  How far off is September 20?  No, don’t answer that, I don’t need anymore stress!!!  I still have Sew Fest to prepare for.  That’s August 2nd – 8th.  And, I usually do a big 4th of July B-B-Q … Okay, breathe in , breathe out…. 

Here are some of what I’ve done for Sew Fest:

We’re adding Christmas / Winter theme quilts for children this year at Sew Fest.  Our main focus is still our Patriotic quilts, but figured a few quilts for children who may be in a hospital during the holidays would be a nice break.  And I got to use up some scraps of Christmas / Winter fabric!

So, if it’s another month (or two) before you ‘see’ me again, you know why….

Katie who really does strive on busy…..

and sew it goes…

I do believe that if I spent all my waking hours for the next 6 months in the sewing room, I would still not get caught up with everything I need or want to do…. but then if I’d stay off Pinterest, maybe I would quit finding things I’d like to try.  Ah such is life with a computer

Decided I needed to use up some scraps (maybe I should say “leftovers”).  I received 3 sets of embroidered squares from Darlene H. from QFC (Quilters for Comfort) and she used Mylar in 2 of those sets.  I decided I would use up some of my left over binding strips and made some 4 patch squares and came up with scrappy ‘filler’ blocks.  Still need to quilt these:

I really love the owl set of designs.  I normally work in sets of 10 but Darlene sent sets of 12 so a little different setting.  I get creative with my own quilts but not so much when they’re comfort quilts.

And in this quilt:

I took some smaller pieces of fabric and cut them into 15” squares and just did stack n whack blocks.  Took some left over 3½” squares and made the embroidered blocks into snowballs.  The border fabric is some that I received when my sister-in-law passed and because it has color that matches some of the embroidery threads as well as the fabrics, I decided this was a good place to use it.  The designs are Winnie the Pooh so lots of color..

Sew…. three quilts ready for quilting and I received two more completed quilt tops in the mail so make it now 5!  I will get them quilted, then on to binding and done!

Katie

Update from previous post

Remember I showed you this picture of the back of the cross stitched quilt and commented that I wish there was more quilting in the motif area?  Well, the lady’s hubby told her he thought it needed more quilting (smart man!) so I got the quilt back and added more quilting around the center of all the motifs and did the binding for her as well.  I have to say here that I will never – I mean NEVER – bind another quilt that has high loft cheap polyester batting.  It was bad enough to quilt yet alone bind.  I think I must be spoiled….

And a few finishes:

This is the second quilt I’ve made from the horses panels and coordinating fabric.  I bought it at a yard sale and have sent what was left on in a “I don’t want it …” swap held over on the Quilters for Comfort Yahoo page.  And even at that I still have a couple panels…  This quilt will be going to a great nephew’s baby daughter due to arrive in June.

I fell in love with the printed fabric in this quilt and knew I had to make something with it.  This has been a quilt top for a couple years and I’m so happy I’ve finished it.  This is a keeper for me (like I really need another quilt….)

This is another swap block quilt.  Those who participated chose their block pattern and the colors of fabrics they wanted to use.  Now I really am not a ‘yellow’ person, and why I chose yellow, black and grey?  I have no idea but I love how this quilt came together.  I’m still deciding if I’ll be keeping it or gifting it…This block pattern is Brasstown Star and is from Quilter’s Cache.

I received 3 sets of embroidered blocks that will be assembled into quilts for QFC.  The lady used Mylar in  two of the sets and sort of created a dilemma as far as what type of fabric to use for making the filler blocks.  I decided to pull my binding strips and made up some 4-patch blocks and alternated with white squares to make 9-patch blocks (pictures next time….)  So the fillers will be scrappy and I was able to use up quite a bit of my left over bindings.

I also was asked to help with a quilting project at the local Senior Citizens Center here in town.  I could never get a straight answer as to what they actually needed to I suggested a meeting to organize… So when I asked them what they needed from me the answer was to teach them what to do.  WHAT????  I’m not a teacher… Okay,  these ladies are not dumb they just need some guidance so I’ve told them we could do simple 4” squares.  The quilts are being donated for “humanitarian” efforts and need to be 45 X 60”  and tied or quilted every 4”.  Yes, I was thinking of 5” blocks until I was told that most of them would tie and I felt if the squares were 4” they could just tie them at the intersection of the blocks…  Thank goodness another lady who is also a quilter and had taught quilting showed up later.  She and I will work together to help these ladies learn some simple quilt making techniques.

So, yes, I’m staying busy and getting things accomplished.

Katie