Category Archives: applique

Oh..I’d Rather Be Quilting

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Well, the holidays are over and the inevitable has come…time to take down the Christmas tree and decorations!  I sure don’t like this part.  Thought about leaving the tree up all year (I love the lights) but figured that wouldn’t be acceptable..sigh.  So, ornaments and garland off the tree and now I have to figure out a new container for the tree itself.  It’s old home has given up the ghost.  Problems, problems.

Here are a couple more designs for background fill on quilts.  Just imagine a beautiful applique in the center of either of these fills.  They were fun to do, fun to learn, and I’m looking forward to trying them out on some quilts this year.

My 365 Challenge is going well.  This is Day 3 and I have 3 blocks complete – 3″ blocks.  That means I only have 362 more to do before Jan. 1, 2016.  Right on task – wonder if that will be true 6 months from now, or 6 days from now for that matter.

I found reference to another type of 365 challenge that I thought was a terrific way to be ready for the holidays next year.  I wish I could give credit to its inventor but can’t locate that information.  So here it is:

Find a jar and keep it handy.  On day 1 put 1 cent into the jar, day 2 put 2 cents in, on and on, day 100 put $1 in and on day 365 put $3.65 into the jar.  If you are good all year, on day 365 you will have $667.95.  Great, effortless spending money!  I think I will try it!

Watching Downton Abby over again in prep for the last season (sob).  Love this series and my Amazon prime has all 6 seasons.  I’m up to Season 3, Episode 4.  Need to watch the rest of that season, then season 4 and 5, then, alas, the final season starting in the USA now.  I love this show and love the way the costumers have integrated its’ story into the quilting world.  The second time through really lets me SEE what is there, the fantastic fabrics and costume design, the wonderful home as well as the incredible countryside.

Back to the tube…happy quilting.  Karen

 

 

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Wow, I’m Back!! Quilt blogging again!

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Well, it’s only been 1 1/2 years but blogging has peaked my interest again since I am trying to cut back on the number of customer quilts I am doing each week to have more time to play and talk with you.  I am actually taking a couple of weeks off and “playing with quilting and my Intelliquilter again.  Working on fun new backgrounds for applique and/or show quilts.  I love technology and really like the challenge of making the computer “sew”.  This is one background fill I’ve played with.  the echo pearl design would look great around your fantastic applique!

Great around applique

Great around applique

My new favorite blog:  I am Pam by Pam Holland      Check it out!

My new challenge:  http://www.365challenge.com.au   Check it out and join me.  one block a day for 356 days!  Starts Jan. 1   Great scrap project!!

See you soon!  Happy Quilting

Karen

Mug Rug for Coffee with great Blog reading!

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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

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

Mug Rug Monday

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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!!2014 February Mug Rug Color

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

TOOL TIME THURSDAY and more quilts

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TOOL TIME THURSDAY and more quilts

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!

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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!

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A charity quilt that just came off the table.  Really nice, I know someone will really appreciate Jennefer’s work on this one!

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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.

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Happy Quilting…bee happy!   Karen

LIKE EXCERCISE…RENEW BLOGGING IS ON MY LIST FOR 2014

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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

Quilting Whirlwind Festival Countdown

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It’s October, Houston Quilt Festival and market time! Cleaning house, finishing customer quilts and preparing for a house full of quilters for ten days. I look forward to this so much every year. People sleeping everywhere, comparing festival purchases each night, tons of food and drink, and our annual favorite snack – peanuts mixed with candy corn! Yup, super good, try it!

Just finished a really nice Texas Quilt made by Keeley. She is so talented. This quilt was based on an Across Texas Shop Hop from a year ago, I believe!

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20131004-043128.jpg. Fun to quilt!

Countdown – 20 days!

Meanwhile, bee happy,
Karen

Shed responsibility – quilt more!

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Wow, I am back after spending time shedding responsibilities that have consumed my life for the past six or so years. It’s amazing how free I feel and how excited I am to venture into other areas. My latest adventure has been working on a quilt I am donating to the Houston Boxer Rescue group for their annual silent auction. I am a boxer nut and have three rescued boxers! Would have more but I suspect the neighbors would object! Here is a pic

20130905-064426.jpg. I have been busy quilting for customers. Some of the latest…

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20130905-064707.jpg. These are wonderful baby quilts. The first two were hand appliqués by Judy and the last was put together by Carol for someone at her church. They are all adorable.

Watch for my next adventure. I have a small quilt in mind for a quild challenge..due in two weeks but time pressure works for me.

Meanwhile…bee happy!

Karen

Show entry quilts, appliqué, quilt hints

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Gosh, been so busy, nose down, working on a couple of show quilts, that I haven’t posted for a while.

First, here’s a beautiful quilt appliquéd by Joyce. Some great appliqué and fun to quilt-even if it took me forever to figure out what I wanted to do. These quilts with very little quiltable room are tough but I like the result.

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This is another show quilt you will probably recognize as Judy Niemeyer’s Glacier Star. It is truly a challenge to quilt these paper pieced marvels since they are so popular. Charmaine’s version is delightful. I love the colors!

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And, last but not least, a beautiful happy birthday quilt for my friend and “quilt-bee participant , Beck. Our Sugar Land, Texas bee makes a quilt for each member celebrating their 80th. The other members do the terrific appliqué blocks.

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Now hint for today…if you mark with pencil and it won’t come off, mix 1/4 cup water with 3/4 cup alcohol and 7or 8 drops of Palmolive green liquid dish detergent and apply gently with toothbrush.

Bee Happy…Karen