Category Archives: Uncategorized

Jan12

STATE OF THE STUDIO

Posted on by
Standard
STATE OF THE STUDIO

Well, this seems a very appropriate day to check on the “State of The Studio”.  I make a really big mess when I am working on a project (kind of like not doing dishes as you are cooking).  That being said, I can’t stand to start a new project, no matter how large or small, when my studio is a mess.  The studio is almost the entire upstairs of my home, and yes, it does overflow downstairs.  The main “game room” holds my longarm, my design walls, my book shelves and longarm thread cabinets along with many other things as well.  Walls are covered with patterns I have printed out, ribbons, notes to myself etc.  Here are some pics of the “main” room.  We will check out the “cutting” room with the another post and then the embroidery/serger/stash room later.  Yes, there are two more bedrooms upstairs and there is barely room for the beds!  Closets are “quilt” full!

Happy Quilting…Karen

 

 

Advertisement
Jan7

Quilting Survives The Holidays

Posted on by
Standard
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!

DSC_0003 (1)

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!

Great QOV Pattern
Close up of quilting

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

 

 

Jan2

Oh..I’d Rather Be Quilting

Posted on by
Standard

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

 

 

Dec31

365 Challenge Starts Today

Posted on by
Standard

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

 

Dec30

Wow, I’m Back!! Quilt blogging again!

Posted on by
Standard

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

Mar10

Balance

Posted on by
Standard

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.

Feb18

Mug Rug for Coffee with great Blog reading!

Posted on by
Standard

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

Feb11

My Favorite Quilty Blog This Week

Posted on by
Standard

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.

P1030667

Happy quilting…Karen

Feb6

TOOL TIME THURSDAY and more quilts

Posted on by
Standard
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!

IMG_0055 IMG_0056 IMG_0066

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!

P1030681 P1030682

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

P1030684

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.

P1030688

Happy Quilting…bee happy!   Karen