Category Archives: Longarm Machne Quilting

Quilting Customer Quilts on my APQS Longarm

Quilting Survives The Holidays

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Quilting Survives The Holidays

Or, maybe I should say, “the quilter survived the holidays” and is back to a more normal workday.  The latest quilt off the table belongs to Roberta A.  She is a big fan of K. Fassett patterns and fabrics.  I really love these fabrics she used in this great quilt!

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I did throw in a Quilts of Valor quilt.  It turned out really well with a rather heavy patriotic design by Nancy Haacke.  I used royal blue Glide thread on the top with a matching bottom line on the bottom.  I love working with the red/white/blue color scheme!

It is the 7th day of the 365 Challenge for one block per day.  Actually, since this challenge originated in Australia, it is the eight day of the challenge.  So far so good, maybe not one per day but I am caught up with the blocks so far.  I was concerned about the color values but a black/white picture of the finished quilt shows that the border we are working on is very dark and the value comes into effect when put next to the light colored blocks.  The blocks, although 3″ square, are really simple!  Go to http://www.365challenge.com.au if you are interested in joining the fun.  She also has a facebook page.  Here are the simple blocks we’ve constructed up until now.  You can see what I mean by the values.  I choose browns and DSC_0004 (1)creams since my stash is overflowing there.  We shall see…..

Happy Quilting….Karen

 

 

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365 Challenge Starts Today

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Oh my, it’s the first day of the 365 challenge that I am participating in.  Kinda nervous, I don’t like starting something I can’t, or don’t, finish.  (Please don’t look at my UFO list)  So many choices of things to make on a daily or monthly basis and most start in January.  If any of you are participating in any challenge please join and show us your project.  In this case we were given two blocks to choose from, one a really easy 3 piece rail fence and the other, well lets say its definitely more complicated!  Hopefully I’ll get mine done and post pictures tomorrow.

Trying to finish a wall hanging that I started at the Houston Quilt Festival this year.  It was a thread painting class with Pam Holland.  This was simply a cat’s head that was based on a photograph but is super fun and pretty easy to do.  Not quite finished yet but here is a pic:DSC_0415I love the background fabric and will do some quilting on it when I finish the cat.  He is almost finished.  It is all thread except some of the inside of the ears.  Loved doing it!

So, I belong to two guilds and both are doing a UFO challenge this year.  Five items over a 12 month period.  So…submit same 5 for both guilds (no, that isn’t right), pick 10 pretty easy finishes? – maybe, or just find the 10 UFO’s that I really want to finish – probably.  I have to make up my mind shortly so will let you know.  Way to many UFO’s to pick from!

Off to work.  Happy Quilting.  Karen

 

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

Thursday Tool Time

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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!)

Havel Ripper

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

Goldduster’s Fleece Throws

Quilt happy

Karen

WORK IN PROGRESS (WIP) – CELTIC SOLSTICE

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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

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

My Favorite Quilty Blog This Week

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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.

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Happy quilting…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