This is one of my favorite blog to follow. Laura works with one block at a time, generally thru EQ7 and plays with settings with that block and with different colors. One week she will play with straight settings and the next week “on point” settings. I think you will enjoy her blog as much as I do.
Monday was President’s Day and, of course, I needed a cute little mug rug that would be special for the holiday. Using silhouettes downloaded from free clip art, and combining them with a wonderful patriotic print, I quickly came up with “Coffee with the Presidents.”
Presidents Day
Mug Rug
Super simple and quick…maybe one day I’ll learn how to take the pictures better!
BLOG FOR THE DAY: Check out all of the tutorials on this site! Everything from purses to great little paper pieced designs. I love the 30’s apron paper pieced design, the super cute hot pads/mug rugs and the hexagon purse. http://charisecreates.blogspot.com/:// Great free patterns, tutorials and fun little gifts to make.
FUNtastic baby/toddler quilt just came off the longarm table. Sandy always does such a great job on her colors and applique. Take a look.
Happy Quilting….Karen
Well, its Thursday and my favorite ripper shows up this week. The Havel ripper is the best ever! I found this out the very hard way, ripping the quilting from an entire quilt, worse yet, made from Kaffe Fassett fabric. If any of you have tried ripping this fabric you know how hard it is to rip without damaging the fabric. I have tried this type of ripper before but never really gave it a chance. There is a bit of a learning curve, try it and stick with it. You will not regret your efforts. I bought at least 10 different rippers ranging from the normal ripper we use up to these “instruments of destruction! Even that tiny tiny point is so sharp that it will cut a thread with just the bare bit of pressure – BUT NOT THE FABRIC! The Havel Ripper won hands down (and it even comes with extra blades!)
Now, here are a few pictures of my completed Celtic Mystery quilt. Still have binding to go though. I spread it on the bed, not the greatest lighting but will show you the pattern a little better I think. Again, kudos to Bonnie Hunter!
The rest of todays efforts went to embroidering a bunch of fleece throws for my daughter’s dance team – GO GOLDDUSTERS!
Goldduster’s Fleece Throws
Quilt happy
Karen
One more row of quilting and my 116 x 116 inch Celtic Solstice will be quilted! I am so totally in love with the backing fabric as well as the border fabric! What a quilt this was to tackle but I did enjoy the process! Thanks ever so much to Bonnie Hunter for giving us this free mystery quilt. It is the second mystery quilt that I have completed from Bonnie, both Easy Street (2012-13) and now Celtic Solstice (2013-14). Check out her wonderful website www.quiltville.com . After completing my favorite thing…550 inches + of binding, this will find a home on my bed!
Bonnie Hunter 2013 Mystery Quilt
Tomorrow the full reveal…have to go look for a way to take a picture of something this incredibly large!
Happy quilting
Karen
I ran across a wonderful blog from a blogger called “Don’t Call Me Betsy”. Her blog, dated February 10th, ” A glimpse into my Type A mind and sewing studio…” is a fantastic tale of her SPOTLESS and Oh, so organized sewing studio. Yes, I admit to being a Type A personality too but my studio just doesn’t look like this…Wish it did. Go to www.dontcallmebetsy.com and have a look. I know you will enjoy it as much as I did. Some great organizational ideas!
Last year’s Bonnie Hunter mystery quilt (quiltville.com), “Easy Street” has been finished for a while. This year’s quilt, Celtic Solstice, is on the longarm machine right now. Finished at 116 x 116 it has over 5700 pieces in it! I’ll post a picture tomorrow in my Work In Progress (WIP) Wednesday.
Happy quilting…Karen
I have always been in love with the adorable little, and quick, mug rugs. I collect them in a bowl in my kitchen so that I always have something to set my coffee on in the mornings. After a long time of thinking about designing my own little rugs, I have designed my first in honor of February. Fun and finished in about an hour. Quick, easy and free!!
I must be a total pinhead today because I can’t manage to upload the pattern for you onto this blog. Until I figure it out if you want a copy please just reply with your e-mail address and I will send you a black and white pattern with instructions and supply list.
Enjoy…bee happy. Karen
Well, its Thursday so I think Thursdays would be really good to tell you about new tools or materials etc. that I have discovered. This week I will concentrate on you appliquers! I have found, and tried, a new foundation paper for those who use a foundation meant to partially disappear when soaked only leaving the fibre content..great for giving a little dimension to your applique. It’s not really so new, I just got around to trying it. The foundation is made by Floriani and is called Stitch N Wash Tearaway Fusible. The interesting part is the fusible. It is a very, very light fusible and you MUST read the directions for it to work. Unlike other fusibles this one takes a very limited amount of heat for a very limited amount of time. You need to use the SILK setting on your iron and press from the fabric side or use a press cloth! If you heat it too much it will not stick. Be sure to follow the directions. (Ask me how I figured that out!) It feels much lighter than the Sharon Schamber paper we have been using. I cannot pick a favorite but they are definitely different. I do like the idea of not having to add that extra glue to place the template. Give it a try. Here are a few pics of a quilt that I finished not long ago. It was totally done with fusible and what a fantastic job!
What a great baby quilt this is. I used a whimsical dragon fly for the quilting motif and love the way it came out. Baby is due tomorrow so Grandma will be binding quickly I imagine! Great job!
A charity quilt that just came off the table. Really nice, I know someone will really appreciate Jennefer’s work on this one!
On the table now. A gigantic batik quilt. A great birthday present for a Bonnie’s wonderful son! He surprised her by picking batiks and bright batiks at that! Hopefully it will be finished today.
Happy Quilting…bee happy! Karen
Some eye candy for today…Great quilts that recently went home to their owners…super fun to quilt!
Wow, how exciting to see all of the beautiful quilts from the first big quilt show of the year, “Road To California”. I have had the chance to go to that show and truly enjoyed it! But then, how could anyone not enjoy all the unbelievable quilts set in the beautiful city of San Diego. (My favorite zoo in all the world is there too!) Check out the many winners at http://road2ca.com/2014winners/index.html Congratulations to Sharon Schamber for her fantastic applique quilt that won Best of Show! I was so lucky to see this quilt when I spent time at her Payson, AZ home. Incredible up close (and she even let her super-cute little fur baby, “Baby”, sit on it! Wow, fantastic! So many other fantastic quilts you have to find a cup of coffee and take a look! Enjoy!
Meanwhile, Bee Happy. Karen
When you watch the Olympics or see ads on TV, keep your eye out for all of the patchwork designs incorporated into the logos and advertising. Yes, even TEAM USA is dressed in patchwork. Quilting is widely popular in Russia. Here are a few of the logos being used. Notice the fantastic colors and patterns included by the designers.
Now isn’t that just too cool! Quilting up in space and quilting at the Olympics!!!
Bee Happy…Karen
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I have spent the last three days renewing my blogging knowledge, trying to learn better ways of posting pictures and adding links to my blog. Hopefully I have managed to learn something that you will find interesting! So much to learn about this fun activity!!! (Blogging that is!).
I have been quilting though. Here is one of my favorite quilts. Charmaine did an incredible job of piecing this Judy Niemeyer quilt. Beautiful! Lots of fun quilts finished before Christmas.
Kids quilts are always so much fun to quilt! Love the happy colors and can just imagine how happy he or she will be “dragging” around their “blankie”.
Testing my skills again with this Ho Hum post. Lots of exciting ideas to come. Missed Ya All!!!
Bee Happy…Karen
Karen The Quilter 
