Sisterhood of the Traveling STASH

This is a story of a traveling stash...

This stash was born way up north in Fairbanks, Alaska... in the home of the kind and gentle Beverly Bennett - aka "Bev from Alaska". ... A member of the Sunshine Yahoo Quilting Guild, Bev made hundreds of quilts with her Sunshine friends, and machine quilted hundreds more.

Sadly, Bev passed away a month or two ago... but her stash is still going strong...

Some friends of Bev from the Sunshine Guild lovingly retreived her stash and divided it into a stack of USPS flat-rate boxes... Each box was a lovely mix of prepared blocks, fabric, and even some notions and magazines that once were Bev's treasure. The boxes traveled all over the US... and this is just part of my share::::

This past weekend, Bev's stash was being crafted into charity quilts in at least ten states, ranging from Florida, California, Wisconsin, heck, all over!

I've been having a great discovery going through the quarters, eighths, blocks, and books that were included in my box... and then I found THIS

Now I must ask you - what do you think Bev, a woman fiercely proud of living in Alaska, was thinking when she bought this???? of course - the beautiful northern lights...

I think I will keep this piece in the "permanent collection" part of my stash... it makes me smile thinking of a woman who loved fabric, loved her home, and loved to quilt.

And the next step for this fabric???? Why - of all places - Peru! The "Bev Memorial Quilts" will go along on a medical mission hosted by Rotary International - a quilt is given to each child who undergoes facial disfigurement surgery (like cleft palate) - and the quilt is theirs to keep - sweet, huh?

Happy Quilting everyone,

Kate

The Fabric Told Me to Stop

MY QUESTION FOR THE DAY: If you don't know what something is going to be when you begin, how do you know when it is finished????

So - I think this is done... I played around with putting more borders on it, but it just doesn't want any more... and so now it goes to the pile that needs to be sandwiched and quilted...

I am starting to love these small wall hangings... they are just the thing for decorating - and they are wonderfully portable to take to class, or to a friend's house!

OK - what's next???? Oh my, there's so many things half-finished, there's no big need to think up something brand new!

Happy Quilting Everyone,

Kate

Good Advice, Guys

What good advice you all gave me! Here is the compass with the geese laid out around it... you all certainly recommended the right option... I love the contrast. Now I need to get it all sewn together, and add the central circle... and then figure out what comes next! Happy Sunday, everyone, and Happy Quilting! Kate

What do You Think????

OK - I need some feedback here... I'm going to put a ring of flying geese around this Mariner's Compass... so I could do a rust with yellow geese, as at 10:00 pm on the clock of the circle...; or I could use a lighter background with geese in the fabrics of the points... what do you think???

ps - don't ask what the center will be or what the background will be - I don't know yet - just going one step at the time as the fabric tells me what to do!!!!

So - please leave a comment - which do you like best - 10:00 pm or 2:00 am ???? Many thanks and Happy Quilting... Kate

Mariner's Compass Progress Report

Progress - - the compass is done - now to find a fabric for the center!

And I'm going to put some flying geese around it..

right now it looks like it opens up to infinity................

Kate

I've Been Gifted!

WOW - it's my Birthday!!!!

And DH gifted me a Gingher box...


It's the spring-loaded scissors! I've been wanting these for a long time - I cut a lot of
denim, and my poor hand hurts - and a while back I mentioned to DH that I wanted these...

...........once upon a time I wanted boxes that said "Waterford" on the side... now I'm much happier with "Gingher".... (but I still love my Waterford, honey).


Also - a couple of weeks ago I won this lovely gift from PURL SOHO, a store in NYC that is supporting the efforts of Victoria Findley, who has organized a QUILT GATHERING for families in the city who are re-entering homes after being homeless... go by bumblebeansbasics.com to read more about it - or to DONATE A QUILT!

The book pictured is "Last Minute Quilted Patchwork Gifts" by Joelle Hoverson and Anna Williams. I am loving it AND the fabrics!


How lucky am I to get these wonderful gifts that play so nicely together? Happy Birthday to me...

Kate

Fabulous Class

What a Great Class I went to yesterday - Mariner's Compass with Judy Mathieson... a fabulous quilter who literally 'wrote the book' on Mariner's Compass, and is a great teacher as well.

Here's my design wall today - a bit more than half of my class project - - and I am off to try to add some more to it!!

Hope everybody has something fun to sew on today!!

Kate