Time for the Guild Show

Well, it's time for my Guild's semi-annual show...  so I had to think long and hard about what to enter, and I finally decided on these three:


First up is the creatively named quilt:  RWB..................... This is a Joan Ford pattern - I love her two books of scrap patterns - this is from the Second volume - don't you love that inner border????  The outside border is stars, and my camera won't photo it well, but it looks great in real life.

this quilt belongs to my DH.  I gave it to him as a Quilt of Valor, for his service in Vietnam.  But I won't let him sleep under it until after the quilt show - LOL !  I couldn't find a name for it, so I called it, creatively :   RWB

Second is my little world traveler, home from her journeys to national quilt shows...



Elizabeth's Legacy

Since the next photo was taken, the binding is on, and the kitty is OFF -  this comes from Bonnie Hunter's pattern, and it was WAY FUN to make !


Pineapple Party








 

So - let's check:

PAPERWORK?     not finished

HANGING SLEEVES?  well, two out of three


I BETTER GO GET BUSY !!

HAPPY QUILTING TTO ALL,


KATE




A Little of This, A Little of That..............

What would you do if THIS man showed up on your front step?  

 

Strange as it looks, that's my DH, just returned from a "Holi" party.  Holi is an Indian spring festival where the participants eat, drink, and put powdered color on each other to celebrate spring.   I was celebrating color in my sewing room , and let him go off along to the Holi party, which was down the street. 

 

 

I have been working on a few things, but really nothing earth-shattering to show you, so I will share some cute little charity quilts that I have finished up recently.  I didn't make them all - they come from friends.... for whom I did some quilting and binding... but they are fun...

 

ALPHABETS

CRUMB BLOCKS



ROOSTERS !

Of This and Of That

Good Sunday to you all   ...  it's a lovely day, the sun is shining, and the kitties are napping in the sunshiny spot. 
Lots of sewing and quilting going on here... 

This top is underway for Sarah's "Hands to Help" initiative... I made these sixteen patches a year ago, for no purpose, and then 'surprise', she was saying 'make 16 patches'  , so I knew then what they were supposed to be............... 

Border?  yes
What kind?  I don't know yet..............

gee I think that needs a little ironing....... it's been squished up on a shelf for a bit. 

OH OH OH - EXCITEMENT.................

my linen quilt, "Sonoma Sunday", won a Judges' Choice ribbon at the Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival !!!  The judge was Anita Hergert - THANK YOU, ANITA...  I can't wait til the quilt comes home with its ribbon - will take a photo and share with you then.

And, the 'new' linen quilt is so much fun...  it is starting to show a little shape:  here are some in-progress pics

 interesting perspective on this shot - taken hanging off the edge of the table - not a recommended photo technique !

And, although it's a little premature, I have been thinking about a name.  I think it will be something about Bodega Bay...  a little California town I love dearly, and it's rather a secret reference, since there are birds on this linen, and Bodega Bay is famous because Hitchcock filmed "The Birds" on location there.  

Well, Sunday afternoon - the cherished time before one has to turn the thoughts toward another work week.  I do hope you have found something lovely to sew on this weekend !

Happy Quilting,

Kate

Sandwiches and Pins

OH, the delight of a new project... 

I have been thinking and drawing on this new piece of linen for  while - it's a gorgeous Madeira tablecloth, about 50 by 50.

so yesterday was the day to sandwich it...

So - I know there are people 'out there' who are still looking for good ways to sandwich quilts for machine quilting - so I'll share how I do it.  I should quickly add that I learned a lot of this technique from Cindy Needham, and she teaches it in detail in her first Craftsy class,  "Design it, Quilt it"...  which I highly recommend !!

So, here we go.  I sandwich in my garage on two small tables I bought from Home Depot.  (no cars are allowed in my garage !)

Step One:  backing;  right side down, I put the seam in the middle on this one;  I don't always.  I believe long-armers like the seam horizontal;  on my DSM, it doesn't matter. 

I use these wonderful springy clips - they are tablecloth clips, and fit on any table - you can get them at any camping goods store or online.

I use two layers of batting.  First a layer of thin, low loft poly or cotton -  I am currently using Quilter's Dream 'request'  - then a layer of Hobbs Wool.  Only wool gives the look I like.  Remember, this is going to be quilted within an inch of its life !

 Next comes the fabric "top", or "underlayment".  this is Dupioni silk.  Yes, it's expensive, I just tell my Visa card to be quiet ... it's worth it!

Next we put the linen on top....

 See how lovely that Dupioni is going to look through the cutwork???

 And now LOTS and LOTS of pins !!!  The edges of these vintage pieces are always stretched out - after all, they are many many years old...  so it takes a lot of pinning to get it all laid out flat....

Update today:   we're off !!!!  Sewing away ...  I'll keep you up to date as it progresses - this one is going to take a while !

Happy Sunday to all !  There are a few hours of weekend left - enjoy !

Kate

Do You Think I was the First to Finish My Bonnie Hunter Mystery???

Hi there - you a Bonnie Hunter fan ?

Did you make Grand Illusion ????

Did you finish it yet?  top?  quilting?   binding ????

Well, I didn't..............

I didn't even start..............

But I did finish the top of ...............

DRUMROLL.............

EASY SUNDAY - the 2013 Mystery !!!

I love, love this top, and can not wait to quilt it - I need to do something fancy, I think. 
For now I'll just enjoy the top...

Tomorrow is Friday - yippee !

Kate

Happy Valentine's Day

Oh Oh OH-  I learned a new skill !!!!

I have been wanting to learn to add captions to photos for such a long time !!!  Who knew it was so easy !!

My first product is this photo, which will go into a pet Valentine's Day photo contest - isn't my little darling adorable???  (I know, I am a bit partial)...

Kate

So Exciting !

Oh my friends, I am so excited !!!

My quilt titled "Sonoma Sunday" got juried into the Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival !!! 

YIPPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE







Sonoma Sunday

I think the linen was from the 1930s era - it's beautiful embroidery... and I had such fun beading all the little grapes !

 And then I lost my mind completely and decided to hand-embroider over all the stitching in the feathers, and bead in the center... 

So now I have to get busy and get a hanging sleeve on this piece !!!  Why do I always wait to put off the hanging sleeve - good grief.................

Kate