Saturday, March 29, 2025

SHOCK!  It's only been a couple of months instead of years for posting ;-)  

I mentioned in my December 2024 post that I was going on a quilting cruise.  Now this was a long 18 day cruise.  Left San Diego and went to Hawaii where we had 5 stops at different islands, then to Ensenada, Mexico for a day and ended back in San Diego.  I will just say that I've discovered I'm not meant for cruising.  I loved spending time with the friends I went with, but the life aboard ship, not so much.  Too confining for me.  The quilting part of the cruise was somewhat restrictive.  A dealer 'loaned'  Berninas and was very specific about he supplied the thread, he wound and changed out empty bobbins and whatever you do, don't push any button unless asking him first.  Well, I did not like the machines (everyone has their own preferences), the tables were too high the chairs too low so sewing was uncomfortable.  The couple of classes I took, the instructors were super ladies, but alas, I have favorite techniques that I use and did not correspond with their teaching.  Enough said.

I was hoping the cruise would help kick start my quilting again and to a degree it did.  I finished the quilt top I started on the cruise.  It's added to the 'in waiting' stack for quilting.  I actually took the time and completed 2 quilts.  Now I have a new great grandbaby due in July, so will be concentrating on her baby quilt and other small, quick baby accessories.  I have a couple other patterns with fabric kitted for when I get the urge to move on.  

I hope all is well with you.  I hope you feel as blessed as I do.  Life is good.

Katie

Never know when I'll be back

 Never know when I'll be back and have something to say.  My quilting life is almost non existent.  I know we all get into slumps and lose motivation, ambition, creativity or whatever you want to call it.  For me it's simply a case of no goal to reach.  QFC (Quilters for Comfort) hasn't done donations in a few years.  The last time I did quilts for donation, was to my husband's local VFW.  I asked the ladies of QFC to send me simple Friendship Star blocks and that I would make the quilts, quilt them and donate them.  I believe I managed to donate 21 quilts.  All my family has quilts and I've even heard "I don't need anymore quilts."  So, alas, I have tops waiting to be quilted and it may be a while as I've taken down my quilting frame.  I did convert my Tin Lizzy 18LS into a sit down quilter with hopes I might use it more.  That was over 6 months ago and I have yet to quilt a quilt using it.  I will be going on a Quilting cruise after the New Year and I'm hoping I will find some motivation / incentive to at least finish the quilts I have 'in-waiting'.  Wish me luck!

Christmas is 2 days away and I have sewn several small projects that I put in a "Christmas Box" and really enjoyed working on those.  My Christmas Box is a box that I fill with small things I sew, knit or other crafty items I might try my hand at.  After gifts are opened on Christmas, the box is put out and anyone who wants anything in it, is welcome to it.  Rarely do I have anything left in the box.  Sometimes I think the family likes what's in the box more than what they receive as a gift.

As life goes on and interests change, I know that I will always keep my love of sewing alive whether it be quilts or small projects.  May your life be full of all that you love.  I am very blessed in my life and I do thank God for those very many blessings.

Katie

So here I am (again).  Think it's 2 or 3 years since I posted anything here on this blog.  Truly no one missed much.  Yes I've made some quilts but not near to the capacity I had been.  With the pandemic, there were no more Sew Fests.  We did have one planned that had to be cancelled due to Covid.  Now we've had members who have passed or simply have so many other obligations.  Not to mention that after 12 very successful years of QFC, we've 'run our course'.

Not going to be a long post today.  I have finally bookmarked my blog and maybe I will take some time and start being a little more serious about blogging.

This quilt above has been called "chandelier" or "beads".  I used a layer cake that I have had for a while to make this.  Don't know why, but I always have to really pay attention whenever I make a quilt that used setting triangles.  

This one is "Braided Stars" and I used a jelly roll for it and did not have enough to make the 6 more blocks to make it truly square, but I kind of like it just like this.  Obviously, this isn't yet quilted and it's because I'm still trying to decide if I want to add a border.  I kind of like it without one and think ust a dark binding would be enough to 'frame' it.

Wishing all a pleasant and creative day.

excess fabric and precuts

 Over time I have been gifted fabric that might not necessarily be my tastes, but I've always appreciated when I've been thought of and because I do quite a bit of quilt making for charity, I accept what is offered.   Often times, it is 1 yard or less and many times just pieces.  I decided I had enough small amounts and pieces laying around and figured if I was ever going to use any of it, I should do precuts with it.  I don't like working with small pieces.  For awhile I made fabric postcards and entered a few exchanges, so those smaller bits and pieces came in handy.  Not so much anymore and I will never do a 'crumb' quilt!  I started cutting and did 4½", 6½" and 10½' squares.  Nope I did not do 5" as I can't ever remember doing or wanting to do a quilt that used that size.  If I'm going to have something, I want it to be something I will use.  Purged quite a bit of those pieces but decided to take it further.  I matched up ½ yard to 1 or 1½ yard fabrics that I thought would look good together and cut them into precuts of 10" and 2½" strips for layer cakes and jelly rolls.  There might not be as many different prints as a manufacturer precut, but the fabrics will match together and I will be more inclined to use them now.  I used my 4½" and 6½" squares with scraps of different whites to make up some scrappy quilts.  

this is a picture as I started the layout. Just simple 4 and 9 patch blocks.  It ended up being a queen sized quilt and lots of squares left.  I used quite a bit of the 6½" squares making the 'cup' style face masks...

this is another one made from the 6½" squares.  It's a scrappy starburst and I just used an embroidered square in the center.  This one is still in the 'to be quilted' pile and ended up being king size.  And, yep, I still have some 6½" squares left ;-)

this one used my 10½" squares and was a pattern in the BLOCK magazine from Missouri Star Quilt Co.  Can't think of the name right now ... I also purchase their large Drunkard's Path template set and used it on this quilt.  I enjoy curved piecing so the template set will get used.

So these are my 'Scrappy' precuts.  My coordinated precuts are still sitting in a tote waiting for me to come across that 'perfect' pattern.  And I still have coordinating fabrics set aside to cut up into precuts.  

Wherever you're reading from, I hope you're safe from so much of the disasters happening in the world as well as safe from the Corona Virus.  

Katie

Katie 

OMG, thought I was lost

 Been a long time since I came over to my own blog.   Not even sure how long it's been - not that I had / have many followers anyway.

I am still quilting, just not as much for charity as I used to.  Quilters for Comfort is still in existence, but we're not doing near the volume we used to, nor do we have the participation we used to have.  Because of our structure, it called for a lot of mailing of packages and quite frankly, shipping whole quilts can get a little pricey.

Lately, I am spending time purging fabric.  Had way too many scraps that I was certain I wouldn't use.  I had cut them into specific sizes and they were in zip bags.  I took quite a few to Goodwill - I sure hope some quilter felt they'd hit the mother lode :-)   I also purged garment fabric.  I rarely sew garments anymore - so another thing I did not need to have taking up space.  Not too long after I did my big spring purge, I was gifted with a large amount of fleece.  I almost told the lady no, but decided I could use if for making donation quilts.  I will be cutting up pieces of fabric into strips and doing simple strip quilts and using the fleece for batting/ backing.  I think it will make some nice cuddle quilts.

I am running out of family & friends to give quilts to, so I truly am cutting back.

As with most sewist, I've made my share of face masks.  Another way I used up scraps.  I did not sell mine and I was sad to hear / read that some who did sell were made to feel bad doing so.  Just don't think we should judge another when we don't know their situation.

I'm sure I could write a book, but don't really want to bore you.  I will add one picture for this post.  It's for a niece who got married almost a year ago.  It's the Northern Star pattern from Missouri Star Quilt Company.  Easy enough pattern, but a bit time consuming, but my niece loved it so it was well worth the effort.

almost a year

It's been almost a year since I blogged.  And probably almost that long since I read blogs.  It's not that I don't care, I just have felt like blogging was a waste of my time.  I don't post a lot of pictures.  I don't want any advertisements cluttering up my blog as I never meant for it to be a business.  If I had something to offer, great, I hope you appreciated it.  If not, well, my blog initially was for me anyway.
So what's happened in a year.... Spent Christmas in Florida with my sister and her husband.  Had a total knee replacement in January.  I was prepared for pain which, fortunately was minimal.  I was not prepared for loss of energy.  Took almost 4 months to get it back.  Yes, I have made quilts.  I do stay busy on that front.  This spring I discovered I enjoyed making Fairy Gardens and broken pot gardens - I should have stayed off Pinterest - way too many ideas.  I am gearing up for Christmas already and also have a couple big projects I will be working on.  Life is good and I am blessed.

Will I be back often, probably not...  But just thought I would pop in here and let those few who care know I have not fallen off the face of the earth.


Katie

just some chatter

June 4th was my last post - looking like I'm only doing this every 3 months or so..  I seem to be doing more quilting for QFC than actually working on my own projects.....  I came home from Sew Fest this year thinking I only had two that I had assembled to quilt and finish and then someone who volunteered fell through and I ended up with 5 more.  On top of that, I already had 8 to quilt for the Senior's Center quilt ladies.  Now I still have 5 more of my own that are 'in waiting' and have been for quite some time.  Do you do that?  Find yourself working more on things for others than you do yourself?

these are the quilts I got done at Sew Fest.  I really like the 4-patch lattice (bottom) and have some fabric that I will probably make one for myself with.  Just a lot of bias edges, so need to remember to starch a bit heavier.
The hurricanes hitting our country - my heart goes out to those people who are struggling with clean up and repair / rebuild.  Irma became personal as my sister lives just outside Tampa on the coast side.  To say I was thankful that it hit as a Cat 2 versus the 4 they thought it might be is putting it lightly.  She is without electric, but their home is intact and undamaged.  Still don't know how the boat faired, but I was more concerned over their safety and them having a home they could return to.   After Hurrican Harvey, there was a big cry for quilts on the groups I belong to through FaceBook and as quilters, I know we all wanted to help and do what we do - make quilts!  I am hoping people remember that the most immediate need to disaster victims is always food, water & shelter - a quilt can not provide that but a monetary donation to a reputable charity can.  So please consider a monetary donation - maybe in the amount of what it would cost for postage to ship a quilt...
Until next time ...

Katie