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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
Some eye candy for today…Great quilts that recently went home to their owners…super fun to quilt!
Wow, how exciting to see all of the beautiful quilts from the first big quilt show of the year, “Road To California”. I have had the chance to go to that show and truly enjoyed it! But then, how could anyone not enjoy all the unbelievable quilts set in the beautiful city of San Diego. (My favorite zoo in all the world is there too!) Check out the many winners at http://road2ca.com/2014winners/index.html Congratulations to Sharon Schamber for her fantastic applique quilt that won Best of Show! I was so lucky to see this quilt when I spent time at her Payson, AZ home. Incredible up close (and she even let her super-cute little fur baby, “Baby”, sit on it! Wow, fantastic! So many other fantastic quilts you have to find a cup of coffee and take a look! Enjoy!
Meanwhile, Bee Happy. Karen
When you watch the Olympics or see ads on TV, keep your eye out for all of the patchwork designs incorporated into the logos and advertising. Yes, even TEAM USA is dressed in patchwork. Quilting is widely popular in Russia. Here are a few of the logos being used. Notice the fantastic colors and patterns included by the designers.
Now isn’t that just too cool! Quilting up in space and quilting at the Olympics!!!
Bee Happy…Karen
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!
. Fun to quilt!
Countdown – 20 days!
Meanwhile, bee happy,
Karen
Oh my, the cows are ready to go home and their momma is going to the farm! I guess they will have to graze at my house for a little longer. They are fantastic and look so content. Great whimsical design work by Sandy K! Good job! Can’t wait to see them embellished!
don’t you just love them!
Until later…Bee Happy. Karen
It is so much fun to spend time on quilts for our service men and women. Some really good feel good minutes! Here are two that I was privileged to quilt today.
These are for a group returning to Texas from a tour in Afghanistan in mid May. There is just no way to thank them enough!
Be Happy, Karen
Well I’ve been playing with using up my stash and found some wonderful charm squares. Somewhere I saw a quilter making half square triangles from these. I wish I could remember where so I could give her credit. Here is how I remember it though.
Take 2 charms and place them right sides together. Sew a scant 1/4 inch seam all around all four sides of the charms
Carefully use your rotary cutter and ruler to cut these from corner to corner across the charms diagonally. Press each HST open, pressing the seams to the dark side. I advise using starch to stabilize the bias edges.
Once you have your pieces ironed, place them so that you can sew two HST together to form half of your pinwheel. Sew both halves. These will each nest easily. Now you will sew both halves together to form the final pinwheel. This is the tricky part. I pin them because of the thickness of the intersection. Note the pins in my pictures. I first pin one pin vertically thru the layers at where the center seams meet. You can peak between the layers to see that these seams match. THEN, I put a pin into the project on both sides of center, very close to the first pin. You can then remove the center pin and sew your seam. Only one center pin allows the fabric to “roll” and can offset your perfectly matched seam.
Once you have your perfectly matched seam you are ready to press your pinwheel. Make sure your seams are all pressed the same direction as they spin around your pinwheel. Then, by gently manipulating the center (you may have to loosen one or two stitches) you can make a beautiful tiny pinwheel in the center back of your block. Press this and you will have a perfect pinwheel!
Congratulations. Sew easy!
Bee Happy, Karen
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.
Well, 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
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
Karen The Quilter 