Category Archives: New Techniques

Adventures in trying new techniques

Apr3

Another landscape – retreat coming!

Posted on by
Standard

Well, getting ready for a great guild retreat next Monday thru Thursday – can’t wait.  I will be teaching a quick free half-day class on this super easy way to do a landscape quilt.  Being so close to the Gulf of Mexico I thought it would be fun to do a beach scene, and, I had to add one of the Lorelei beach ladies to my scene.  My studio bathroom is decorated with them so guess where my little quilt will eventually end up.  The quilt needs to be quilted yet, and, of course bound, but it’s moving right along.

Sexy Lady at the beach!

Paula and her quiltWell, if the above picture is titled “Sexy Lady at the Beach”  it stands to reason that this one should be called “Sexy Paula With Her Quilt!  It is so much fun to deliver a quilt and see the big smile!!!  Good job Paula!

Off to the Coastal Prairie Guild meeting tonight to learn all about broderie Perse…should be interesting.  Always fun to see so many quilters in one space having a great time.

Until later..BE HAPPY

Karen

Advertisement
Mar28

Landscape Quilt – what a blast!!!

Posted on by
Standard

Landscape 1Well, I really had a great time yesterday playing with my first landscape quilt.  I’ve been wrestling with something to do for a fabric challenge and hated my first project, sew…here is the beginning of my second try.  I have been collecting landscape fabrics for quite some time so now have a big pile to fold and put away again.  The roof of the old house is the challenge fabric.  Lots to do yet, it is only glued together so far.  Trees need foliage (thinking Angelina or snippets), thread painting, quilting, and embellishment.  It has turned out to be a fun project!

I love red and white quilts.  This one belongs to Paula and I just quilted a lovely edge to edge design onto it.  It was a pleasure to quilt, nice and crisp and square!

Paula q paula qt

Hope to get more accomplished on my landscape later today, although I have “the worlds biggest quilt (at least that’s what it feels like) on my table and quilting it.  Sure glad it wasn’t an inch bigger.  Actually it is a bedspread with extra fabric and is about 120” across and five yards – yes 5 – long….sigh!  Pictures later.

BE HAPPY…..Karen

Mar25

When your 3rd child turns 40…KEEP BUSY!!/new fusible technique

Posted on by
Standard

Keeley flowers close up keeley flowers

This is a really happy and bright quilt, designed and made by Keeley.  She really should go into pattern making!

This second, soft and cuddley rose quilt was also made by Keeley.  Such a different feel and style to both quilts.  I love them both!

Sure glad I had these to quilt on the day my daughter turned 40…and she thinks she feels old!  We did, however, enjoy a fantastic steak birthday dinner with most of the family at the Texas Road House..great peanuts too!

Another discovery that really looks great – a new, to me anyway, way to fuse without adding the fusible paper to your project.  Check out this tutorial:  http://andsewitgoes.blogspot.com.au/2006/04/my-fusing-method.html

I’m heading to Michaels to find some Liquid Thread today!  Worth a try!  BE HAPPY!  Karen

Keeley roses

Mar11

Posted on by
Standard

quilt hanger

This is the neatest, easiest way to hang a quilt I’ve ever seen.  Too bad I’ve had it in my house for close to two years and never used it.  I wanted to hang my surprise win quilt in my entry way and, of course, had no one to help.  This took about two minutes.  I found a stud and put a nail in the wall.  YES, one nail.  The small rod fits into the pocket and a small magnetic clamp with a nail hole in it clamps, by it’s magnet, thru the quilt and onto the rod.  Just centered it on the rod.  One Nail…it is perfectly level and fantastic!  I highly recommend these things and they are guaranteed for life and they come in various sizes.  www.hangitdangit.com    Again, WOW.  This is one happy customer!

Meanwhile I sure hope everyone had a great and safe day.  I’m still adjusting to the time change.  Did you know that there are 8% more accidents and 10% more heart attacks on the day after a time change?  Maybe we need to rethink the need.

Cleaned my studio today.  Way too many UFO’s!  Oh well…the life of a quilter!

BE HAPPY….Karen

Mar9

Mug Rugs are sooooo cute!

Posted on by
Standard

bird mug rug Owl mug rug

Well, here are my swap Mug Rugs for the Quilting Gallery.com swap. They are so much fun and so quick to do. I did the owl with hand applique, the Scharon Schamber way with foundation paper; and, the bird with fusible and a small machine blanket stitch. I love them both. I made the blanket stitch super small to reflect the overall size of the design and love the way it came out. These patterns, along with several other really cute designs are available on the Craftsy site. I will spend some time this weekend trying to learn how to upload buttons to make it easier for you to find things.

Wouldn’t this be a really fun guild exchange?

Meanwhile, I found a great thought today and it really fits me…. “if I were more organized I’d be able to keep up with my organizational list!” Trying to catch up this weekend after a great week of quilting with friends, two workshops, and a guild meeting! (not to mentions allergy issues-sigh-got to love Houston!).

BE HAPPY….Karen

Mar3

SANTA GROWS A BEARD

Posted on by
Standard

What great fun we had yesterday putting hair and make-up on our Santa heads. This is really fun and I think I will just have to do another. Can’t wait to build the body and start dressing him. Thanks so much to our teacher, Pat, for all of her patience and guidance.

It has been a great weekend here in the Southwest. Texas is a great state and when we have fantastic weather like we have had the last couple of days you just can’t beat it! I successfully completed my quilt project for the Sandy weather mess, finished my two mug rugs for another exchange, and am getting ready to work on some more MY projects. {Pictures to come).

I am attending two workshops this week. On Tuesday I am really looking forward to a Bonnie Hunter workshop (yes, another quilt of MANY pieces) Then on Thursday a session with Ebony Love working on the dye cutter and a Rob Peter To Pay Paul quilt. Lots of prep to do today. Guild Wednesday evening starring Ebony. Busy week but really looking forward to it. Hope everyone else is enjoying beautiful weather today! Perfect Quilting time!

Be Happy…Karen

Feb16

SANTA’S HEAD IS COOKING!

Posted on by
Standard

Had a great time today at our Saturday Coastal Prairie Guild class on sculpting Santa’s head.  Pat is a great instructor and, despite my misgivings, she guided me on to making my Santa head..(he is cooking in the oven right now).  Pictured here is my head alone and the group pic tags Pats head on your left, my head in the middle, and Candy’s head on the right!  They are so cute and so much fun to make.  Can’t wait to see them after they get their makeup, hair, etc.

Pat's Mine and Candys headsmy headJoyce's Table Topper house quilt

The quilt picture is Jeannie’s House quilt.  She designed the quilt and the houses.  I love her fun use of color!  Great quilt Jeannie!

Last, but not least, is a table topper made of Texas wildflowers and made for me by my friend Joyce from Florida!  You go Joyce…it is fantastic!

Hope everyone is enjoying a great weekend. meanwhile…BE HAPPY!

Karen

Feb14

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY! and freebie notice

Posted on by
Standard

A big Valentine hug to everyone! Hopes for lots of candy, dinner out, and especially quilty stuff!  A great pattern for hearts is a free download on Sarah Vedeler Designs site.  She is the designer that has designed the BOM for The Quilt Show for 2013.  She has made hers out of the Dupioni Silk fabric mix that is available in quilt stores (at least thats what it looks like to me).  It is very nice, modern, and very colorful.  Take a look at her site.   www.sarahvedelerdesigns.danemcoweb.com/    Click on the SHOP tab and scroll down to the Free Downloads pic, click there and you’ll find the heart quilt.  I love color!

New tool – to me! Well I finally stopped by the closest Harbor Freight in Sugar Land. Forever I have been wanting to stop by and pick up some 18″ long magnets that help hold the quilt tops I am quilting. I did manage to get several and really like them. BUT, as important, hanging right next to my magnets was a small magnetic wrist band.  It has wide elastic with a velcro closure and is advertised to hold screws, etc. that one might be working with.  HOWEVER, look how wonderful it is to hold a small pair of thread snipping scissors as well as pins.  FANTASTIC…this way I always have my scissors, don’t always need a pin cushion handy, and don’t have a pair of scissors poking me in the “girls”!  Whoo Hoo!  What a find.  I love both things!  Probably only longarmers would use the magnets but the wrist band is super!  I have researched and find that the claim of a magnet near our computerized machines not being good is a false assumption.magnets in use

Packaging of long magnets

Magnets in Use on My Longarm

magnets

My fantastic new find – the wristband.  It is truly comfortable!

wrist magnet

Until Later…BE HAPPY ….Karen

Jan23

MAKE IT PERFECT!!!

Posted on by
Standard

I’ve been busy all day finishing up costumes. Have one more to go and then, thank heavens, back to quilting! So looking forward to that.

Meanwhile, here’s a very neat technique you might try. When you really, really, really want all your points and intersections to match, or when you have fabric that just wants to stretch when you sew it, get out the Elmers glue. Credit for this technique goes to Sharon Schamber. When sewing your seams in a quilt put a very fine line of Elmers School glue (the liquid type-not the stick) down right along side the stitching line, put your two pieces together and press with a hot dry iron. Check everything for accuracy, open seam and re-glue if necessary, then stitch away with your 1/4 seam. Yes, it does take longer to do but you will have an absolutely perfect seam, no distortion anywhere on the fabric. I will certainly use this technique for any show quilts I would make. It will keep those seam lines straight and everything matching! SEW COOL!!!!! You will want to get a fine tip for the glue container. Remember the glue needs to be very fine and solid…not dotted.

BE HAPPY!!

Karen

Jan16

An Iron – Finally!

Posted on by
Standard

P1030675 (2)favorite ironP1030676 (2)iron box

I must have at least 10 irons sitting around my studio or parked on a shelf in the closet.  I HAVE to have a great iron.  All along I have been a fan of steam -lots of it!!!!  Yes, I know using steam is discouraged but it helps satisfy my need for speed.  But, eventually they cry and spit up all over the place (yes the iron, not the baby!)  Well, this new iron is the BEST!!!!  Cheap, under $30.  No auto shut down, just the right size, gets hot enough for freezer paper.  No holes in the plate to leave marks (yup, its a dry iron so never any dripping issues).  My spray bottle of water and my can of starch are always close by.  I’m in love!!!!  I bought mine from Amazon.

BE HAPPY…..Karen