This gallery contains 4 photos.
Well, quilting a custom quilt is so labor intensive that I HAVE TO break up the quilting with something more free. So, opened up my Electric Quilt 8. I updated it long ago but this is the first time I’ve actually looked at it since then. WOW has the face of this program changed. Love […]
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!
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 
creams since my stash is overflowing there. We shall see…..
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
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
!
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
Before I forget this for the 100th time, wanted to let everyone know about “Greased Lightning”. I have been using it for years for everything. I keep it in my quilt studio all the time. It will remove grease spots from fabric and it doesn’t leave a water spot. It’s great for spots on your laundry and just about everything. I discovered it many years ago and it has sometimes been hard to find. I went into Lowe’s yesterday for some brush cleaner and, lo and behold, on the endcap, was a large display of Greased Lightning. This big container only costs a little over $7…. No connection with the company, just appreciate how many binds it has gotten me out of.
BE HAPPY…Karen
I have been working on customer quilts and have a few pictures to show. The first “pile” of yellow 
is left over strips of fleece that I braided into pull toys for dogs. I will give them to family dogs and take the rest to the shelter. They were just the selvage edges that I cut off before finishing the edges of the blankets for a dance team. The second picture is a delightful wall hanging, meant to hang on a high wall in a stairwell. Joyce did a great job of designing this. The last is a quilt made by Mary. It has the cutest embroidered blocks. Back to work for today. I have a king size quilt on the long arm, 102″ x 96″
BE HAPPY…Karen
Had a really great time last week at Bonnie Hunter’s workshop in Cypress, Texas. She is the most down to earth, friendly teacher!! What an experience. She will be speaking at the Coastal Prairie Guild in Missouri City, Texas next February. Yeah, I know, way to long to wait. Bonnie is an avid collector of vintage machines as well as a scrap quilt gal. She has a great scrap saving system and you can read about it on her website, http://www.quiltville.com Lots and lots of free patterns as well.
I am not a scrap person and was really unsure about “scraping”. I did her Easy Street mystery over the holidays and had such fun with it that I have attempted to get into scrap mode. Wow, that’s harder than you would think for a non “scraper”. You would not believe the pieces she was confiscating from the trash bin at the workshop! Look on her site for her little bitty “ruler” that has tiny holes in it so that you can check any machine you are sewing on to make sure you have an accurate 1/4 inch seam. I bought one, but it is so tiny I’m not sure I got home with it. I may have to buy another ($3). I highly recommend getting yourself one. So Cool! The block is my first of many for Bonnie’s Tulip Time quilt. It is in her new book “String Fling”.
Until Later
BE HAPPY…Karen
Great little quilts from this weeks quilting schedule. The fourth picture is not QUITE a quilt yet but is on my list for the upcoming weekend. These are blocks from all over the place. There are 42 total blocks donated by Mary Kay from Arizona, Evelyn from Canada, Jaynie from Texas, Mary Pat from Wisconsin, Rebecca from Utah, and Lisa from New Zealand. I will build these into a wonky quilt pattern and they will be sent to E-Quilter to be distributed to the people who went thru Sandy, the horrible storm on the East coast. So many are still without homes! It really feels good to give back to people in trouble. I hope to piece, quilt and bind this quilt and get it into the mail next week. Watch for a finished picture.
I had a wonderful time at my David Taylor class last weekend. One of the tips I learned, which I think is fantastic, is how David keeps his quilts perfectly square. Get twill tape (1/4″) from your local fabric store. Measure your quilt carefully and pin a piece of twill tape from exact corner to other corner. Do opposing sides as step 1 and 2. Be sure to pin the twill take carefully, ends, then middle, then split the difference as many times as you need to. Sew with a straight line stitch making sure the tape is right along the edge and does not extend into your quilt where the binding will not cover it. Then, measure the other two sides, excluding the first tape, pin as you did the others and stitch. THOSE EDGES AREN’T GOING ANYWHERE ANYMORE AND WILL ALWAYS BE EXACTLY THE SAME! No more uneven edges to bug you or quilt judges!
BE HAPPY…..Karen
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.
My fantastic new find – the wristband. It is truly comfortable!
Until Later…BE HAPPY ….Karen
Karen The Quilter 