Saturday, February 2, 2013

Well today is Ground Hog's Day.  Was there a shadow?  I've not heard yet...  There's been no shadows in my sewing room I'm happy to say.  Mom and I took the Travel Case workshop at Bits and Pieces on Thursday.  We are happy with our Travel Cases.  Plan to change up the batting with any that we make in the future.  What we used was a bit thicker than what we really needed.

My Travel Case

Mom's Travel Case

I got my January UFO #5 in on time.  Aunt Marti pulled #4 to work on in February.  Here's what you'll be seeing me work on during the month.  It is a small one finishing 13 1/2" square.  I'll be calling my project Kadette.  If you want pattern information check out my list of 2013 UFOs in my Pages at the right.

Next up a completion!  Kovers is finished.  Kerry's Quilting did a terrific job on the quilting.  I'm so happy with how this mystery project turned out.  The quilt finishes at 71" square.

Have a terrific day today.  Find time to do what you enjoy most.  I'll be sewing with my Mom!

Texture Magic Demo, May 18, 2011

This is a fun product.  I learned of it through a few different sources and thought it would be fun to use sometime. 

Well that time came with my Kovers project.  Kovers has an applique center that has berries in the design.  I was a participant at the Lakeside Mystery II workshop at Road to California in January with Cathy Farris.  Cathy used the product and well that's why I decided to give it a try for Kovers. 

I'll walk you through the steps I took; it is very simple...don't let the end result scare you off!  Texture Magic comes in a couple of sizes.  It  "shrinks" in size about 30% in all directions.  There is a conversion chart included that guides you through how large of a piece you need to start with to finish at the size you need for your project.

The first thing you will need to do is determine the size of piece you will need.  Next mark stitching lines on either side of the Texture Magic product.  You can eliminate this step if you don't need markings.  Pin the product to the WRONG side of your fabric.  You can add batting between the two layers for some extra loft if you want.  The stitches pretty much disappear so I used thread that nearly matched the fabric.  Stitch the layers together. 

Now take the finished piece to your ironing board and using a steam iron apply steam to the fabric side.  (You can also use a steamer; if you do the manufacturer suggest steaming directly on the product side.)  You'll be surprised how fast it "shrinks". 

Now get your pattern and mark on the Texture Magic side the shape you need.  Cut out your shapes and apply to your project.

I used a satin stitch to apply my finished piece to my project so I did not need to allow for a seam allowance to turn under.  Kovers is in Kerry's Quilting queue now.  I'll be using a gray thread for the custom stitching planned for it.  Texture Magic by Superior Threads gave me a nice result for Kovers.  Give it a try sometime.

Sunday Stash Report, May 15, 2011

I felt very successful after my first quilty lecture at Sunshine Quilters of San Diego in El Cajon, CA on Tuesday of this past week.  The guild took me out to a nice Italian restaurant before the meeting and treated me to a nice gift card for merchandise at Memory Lane Quilt Shop in Santee, CA.  I have a potential for a purchase, but since it's a gift no yardage to add this week.  I'm also at the start of one project and the middle of three others so nothing to claim as used.  A null week!

Used this week: 0 yards
Used YTD: 115.25 yards
Purchased this week: 0 yards
Purchased YTD: 26.5 yards
Net Fabric Used in 2011: 88.75 yards


I used the Quiltmaker Dances With Waves pattern to put together a tutorial on paper piecing.  It is the next post if you are interested.  Awhile back one of my followers asked for it.  I have another tutorial on the product Texture Magic that I will be posting shortly too.  I used the Texture Magic on my Kovers project that is currently in the quilting queue at Kerry's Quilting.  It's fun and easy creating a different element.  Did you hear me say it's easy?

So here's what I'm working on today...Kartwheels. I've got the first four of 12 arcs done. Four each of different dark blues, greens, and purples. You see two of the blues. Green is being sewing now.  I'm using five different backgrounds. The background fabrics are from Sew Batik and the other batiks I'll use are stash (mostly from Memory Lane).  This is a Judy Niemeyer pattern called Mariner's Star and one of my 2011 UFOs.

I've also got Kourageous, Koncealed, and Korrecting Koncealed in work.  You can see where I'm at will all three of these at the end of the month.  Kourageous is my 2011 UFO that I'm doing with Judy's 2011 UFO Challenge.  This month I'm to make a Lily of the Valley block.  The Koncealed quilts are part of the Quiltmaker 2011 Quilt-Along that I'm hosting at Quilters Club of America.

My DH came up with a great name for my Making Ends Meet quilt project, Koasting.  This one is my favorite out of a couple others...Kounting and Kompromising.  What do you think? 

See how others are doing with their stash at Judy's Patchwork Times.

Design Wall Monday, April 18, 2011

This is what kept me occupied until midnight!  All done for showing the designer Cathy Farris tonight.  She's our guest speaker at Canyon Quilters April monthly meeting.

I was able to get the pattern for this all too cute quilt project from Quiltmaker.  It's going to be made for a little baby girl expected in June.  Our family is big on June birthdays.  Haven't pulled fabrics yet, but thinking about batiks.  The baby shower is May 7th in Virginia.  I'll be shooting to have it done and in the mail to open that day.  Wish I could be there...one of the disadvantages of moving away :(

Check out other inspiring designs today and every Monday at Patchwork Times.

Sunday Stash Report, April 17, 2011

I purchased five yards of a green leafy batik for a 2011 UFO  fabric.  A positive purchase!  Did have quilte a bunch that I can claim as used.  I finished my Lakeside Mystery II!  Just in time for Cathy Farris tomorrow at Canyon Quilters April monthly meeting.


So how did you do using your stash this week?


Used this week: 13,25 yards
Used YTD: 100 yards
Purchased this week: 5 yard
Purchased YTD: 24.5 yards
Net Fabric Used in 2011: 75.5 yards


Check out more Stash Reports at Patchwork Times.

Design Wall Monday, April 11, 2011

I have so much going on right now it's getting difficult to figure out what's next.  I've been working on deadlines first certainly.  Last week I was getting ready for my Part 1 - Scrappy Cutting and Sewing blog post for Quiltmaker's 2011 Mystery Quilt-Along that is being hosted on Quilters Club of America.  This post is available today.  Check out the action there and sign up FREE if you want to quilt-along.  I'd love to have you join the group where I'm the host!  Hoffman Batiks are my fabric line with the Quilt-Along. I'm also making a second project using red, white, and black fabrics that I'll show the end results of each part here on my blog.  Here's how Part 1 ends.

The next project I needed to get done is the BOM for my quilt guild Sunshine Quilters April meeting that is tomorrow.  This is called Flower Patch.  The flower block will be used for the middle and the snowball green block will be for the winner to use in the border.

Here is Kandy Korn all finished.  This is a Judy Laquidara design called Peaches and Dreams.  Some of you may have helped me with this quilt's name.  Originally I'd thought to call it Kreamed Korn, but Kandy Korn definitely sounds more appropriate.

Kandy Korn

Next up is a quilt that I've yet to name.  I'm trying to have the top done by next Monday because it's a pattern by Cathy Farris taken at a workshop in January called Lakeside Mystery II at the 2011 Road to California Quilt Show.  Cathy Farris will be our guest speaker at Canyon Quilt Guild the April meeting.  I'm appliqueing the center medallion called "Orange Blossom" right now.  I have all the borders done.  It may not be finished but I'll be taking it for Show and Tell one way or another!

If all of this isn't enough...did you see the Better Homes and Gardens American Patchwork and Quilting June 2011 Issue?  Starting on page 30 there is another pattern I want to make.  I've got loads of stash green and ivory I want to use...red might be a trip to the quilt shop, but this one just has to be made!  It's called Twist on Tradition by Avis Shirer.  I also have lots of Bonnie Hunter bonus squares already sewn to be part of this gorgeous design.  And of course another Bonnie Hunter pattern in the May/June 2011 Quiltmaker Issue called Lady of Lake Erie is screaming to be made.  Again I've got those bonus squares and a huge selection of blues for this one popping out of their storage bins ready to be sewn.

Check out other design walls by other fabulous quilters at Patchwork Times.

Design Wall Monday, March 28, 2011

I'll be working on the finishing touches of my March UFO this week.  I've got to add some embroidery (stem stitches) to the flowers creating sepals and two small leaves at the stem with green thread.

Next up will be finishing the mystery quilt project I started in January at Road to California. The center will be a simple applique pattern.

Don't forget to quilt-along with me starting March 29 on Quilters Club of America (QCA) when Quiltmaker's 3 Part Mystery Secret Windows unfolds. I'll be hosting this Debbie Caffrey mystery project for Quiltmaker over he next few months. You'll need to join the Quiltmaker's Mystery Quilt-Along 2011 group at QCA to participate. It is completely FREE!

Have a great week ahead. April and it's UFO project comes Friday! Gosh is it April already?

Design Wall Monday, January 24, 2011

Tonight I'm posting my Design Wall Monday entry.  Yes, I'm a little behind since the weekend was having fun in Ontario at the Road to California Quilt Show.  All of these projects are not on my design wall because the wall is just not big enough.  And one you'll notice is on the floor, again because it's too big. 

Let me start with the project that demands my attention if I'm to get it done in the allotted time.  January 31st is looming, beyond pulling fabric and reproducing the foundation pattern I have not done a thing.  This is the first of several blocks that will make Kourageous.  #6 was selected and that means the Lily block.  I'll be making most of the flower with animal skin themed fabrics.

I've decided on the brownish black print batik to use as the quilts common background.  The Lily block will use the very first black and white cheetah print at least I think its a cheetah (closest to the bottom of the photo) along with the smallest zebra print, third gray (working from the bottom of the photo), the first dark gray and the next two greens.  The pattern has lots of itty bitty pieces...taking a breath right here!  Come back later this week and I'll have a progress report.
Komet IS on my Design Wall (door), but only a small portion of it.  If you know Bonnie Hunter you know what I'm talking about.  Bonnie likes them big!  This is Bonnie Hunter's Star Struck design.  This one is third in my queue to work on. 

Lakeside Mystery II is pictured next and fourth in the sewing queue.  Most of this was assembled during the workshop.  Notice the quilt is a medallion quilt.  The center will be an applique design called "Orange Blossom" (Fig. 12) which is one of the patterns Cathy Farris provided in the pattern.  The dark circles will be where I'll use Texture Magic.  It will be a first for me to use the product so I'll take you through the journey with me.  I've got the final three borders cut already; they'll be the medium dark gray, the light gray, and finally that BEAUTIFUL dark gray batik.  Not sure what fabrics will go into the applique; I'll figure that out as the project moves along.  I am considering black for the dark circles to really give it some punch.  Are there enough details for you to start considering a "K" name for this project?

If you were counting my projects you might be wondering about what's second in my sewing queue.  I've just got to get back to Kotton my Roll Roll, Cotton Boll Bonnie Hunter Mystery that's just finished.  I'm so close but my January 31st deadline demands my attention--you never know what surprises might come along!

See other Design Walls that were posted at Patchwork Times with the link on my side bar.  Happy Sewing!

Sunday Stash Report, January 23, 2011

Posting late this week since I was attending Road to California Quilt Show over the weekend.  I drove up on Saturday morning with Kerry to arrive when the doors opened at 9:30am.  We spent the next several hours admiring all the beautiful quilts and shopping the terrific vendor mall.  I didn't do too much damage to my wallet, but alas I do have some yardage to add this week.  I came home with fabric for my Kourageous project, cheddar fabric to enhance my stash, a bag of batik neutral scraps, the Ichabod Hollow quilt pattern, a spool of neutral thread, a KAI pair of scissors, and a package of Texture Magic.

First let me say that I'm mosted excited about my KAI scissors purchase.  These are 6" scissors from the Patchwork Scissors collection.  What makes them really nice is the Micro Serration on the blades. They honestly "hug or hold" your fabric when you use them.  I have a pair of KAI 5" scissors that I use all the time next to my machine that I just love so I was pretty sure I'd be completely happy with this pair.  The Ichabod Hollow kits were sold out when I first found it; not that I would have purchased a kit anyway but this provides you an idea of how popular it was.  The Sew Batik scrap bag is something I had not seen before at one of my most favorite vendors.  Sew Batik packages 2 yards of scraps with nothing in the package less than a 2" wide WOF strip.  I couldn't pass up the neutral package at $9 for the bag.  I wasn't disappointed when I opened the package and do plan on another purchase sometime in the future when the scraps will be different neutrals.

So let's move on to my first workshop, Lakeside Mystery II by Cathy Farris.  Me in action!  The Texture Magic by Superior Threads that I purchased will be for this project.  This product is neat as it magically texturizes your fabric using only your steam iron.  I'll be talking more about it as my project is being worked on.  It was a fun class that was from 6pm to midnight on Saturday night.

We woke up early to attend the second workshop Star Struck with Bonnie Hunter.  Me again in action!  A special thanks to one of my classmates.  She was making her Star Struck with animal prints....remember my Kourageous project?  She gave me the scraps on the far right pictured in the fabric photo.  I'm certain to use these in one of the many blocks.  Komet as my Star Struck will be called is third in queue on my sewing table after my January UFO finish (Kourageous Lily block) and Roll Roll, Cotton Boll (Kottonwood Kurl) is completely assembled.

It just happened to be Bonnie's birthday so Kerry and I arranged for a cake.  It was a yummy white cake with fresh strawberries as the filling that everyone enjoyed.

It was fun meeting some of my blog followers and fellow Quiltville Chat friends.  The day ended around 5pm with new projects, experiences, and friends.  What a great weekend!

So here's the damage:

Used this week: 0 yards

Used YTD: 26 yards

Purchased this week: 3.25 yards

Purchased YTD: 6.25 yards

Net Fabric Used in 2011: 19.75yards

Check out more Stash Reports at Patchwork Times.

Friday, January 21, 2011

TGIF!  A superb one too because it's one of my OFF Fridays and Road to California Quilt Show is this weekend.  I'm leaving bright and early from San Diego for the not too far drive to Ontario to arrive when the doors open at 9:30am.  We'll check in at the show for our two workshops and then see the show.  Of course we'll have to visit the vendor mall.  I wonder what wonderful new things are out there to be scooped up!  I don't have anything particular that I'm looking for, but not likely that it will stop me from opening up my wallet... guaranteed!  Hope my stats don't look too bad when I post my Sunday Stash Report on Patchwork Times this week.

First workshop starts at 6pm and goes until midnight on Saturday!  It's sort of a Quilters Night Out this workshop the Lakeside Mystery II with Cathy Farris.  My fabrics are four different shades of gray and a goldish color.  We'll see what comes from this mystery project!

Second workshop is on Sunday from 8:30am until 4:30pm with Bonnie Hunter.  We'll be making her Star Struck design.  Mine will of course be scrappy fabrics with one constant hot pink as the accent.  Komet will be this quilts name.  Oh boy!  Just love Bonnie's designs and can hardly wait to start into this one.

I've continued working on Kottonwood Kurl (Roll Roll, Cotton Boll by Bonnie Hunter).  I'm on the assembly of the last pieced border.  I found in my stash what I'll be using for the inner border, yeah.  I'm also already pulling fabrics for the 10 1/2" blocks I'll need for the back.  Stash Users System all the way baby!!!!

I've got absolutely no progress to report on Kourageous UFO #6 Lily block.  It is waiting it's turn on my sewing table.  Rest assured that I'll make the end of January deadline!

Bonnie's stay with me this week was great.  She is just the person you'd think she'd be from all she writes.  If you happen to be at Road to California Quilt Show on Sunday make sure you stop by her classroom and wish her a Happy Birthday!

Sunday Stash Report, January 16, 2010

So how's your stash being reduced this week?  Mine NOT!  I'm still working on my Kotton (aka Roll Roll, Cotton Boll by Bonnie Hunter).  Yes I know the last Clue was released a couple of weeks ago, but work and preparing for a special house guest have been my priorities of late.  The weather has been beautiful this weekend and continues this way through Monday.  Just perfect for my guest who is coming from the East Coast.


Clue 7 is what I've been able to work on during the week.  I'm trying to get it finished before I move on to errands of the day and the 5:44pm arrival of my East Coast guest.  Here's where I am this morning.



I have one more vertical row to sew together and then it's time to sew the rows together.  Trim the edges to 1/4" and a finish to Clue 7.  You can see from my sewing table that Clue 8 parts are waiting me next.

Kourageous lily block that is my UFO #6 with Patchwork Times is ready next.  I hope to get to this later this week.  I've got time to sew this week after Tuesday.  This block needs to finish by the end of the month.  Plenty of time...

I'm going to close this report with no change from last week.  The weekend ahead is Road to California Quilt Show in Ontario, California.  I'll be taking two workshops.  One is the Lakeside Mystery II (the purchase this week) on Saturday night.  This will be fun sewing from 6pm to midnight with Cathy Farris and a bunch of fun loving quilters.  I've got my kit ready to go that included some precutting and sewing.  This one will be in four shades of gray ranging from light to dark and an accent burnt gold.  The other workshop is with Bonnie Hunter on Sunday where she takes us through Star Struck (mine to be called Komet).  For this project I'll be using scarps...did you expect anything different?  I have the darkest strips from a Bali Pops butterscotch pack along with light beige strips for the neutral background and a hot pink for the accent.  The weekend ahead is sure to be fun.

Come visit me again tomorrow and I'll reveal who my special house guest is.  It is someone all of you know!  Okay, I'll give you a small clue...She's coming from North Carolina. 

The purchase this week was for the fabric need for the Lakeside Mystery II workshop.

Used this week: 0 yards
Used YTD: 26 yards
Purchased this week: 3 yards
Purchased YTD: 3 yards
Net Fabric Used in 2011: 26 yards
Check out more Stash Reports through Patchwork Times.

Sunday Stash Report, January 9, 2011

The start of another week is upon us.  I'm quite anxious to sew today.  I've got so much to catch up with.  Today I start my morning with working on Clue 7 of Kotton (aka Roll Roll, Cotton Boll).

I have so many other projects in work and preparing for that I'm feeling somewhat frazzled.  I know you've been there too.  I've got Kotton going along with 1) Sunshine's BOM due Tuesday; 2) first 2011 UFO #6 project Kourageous due end of the month; 3) Clue 8 of Kotton waiting; 4) preparation of Star-Struck project due by 1/21; and 5) preparation of Lakeside Mystery II due by 1/21.  As you can see I am making some progress on all of them, but I'd sure like some of them to be done.  The one I want to work most is the one with no due date...don't you find that to often be the case.


Kotton Clue 7, 1st two of 30

UFO #6, Lakeside Mystery II, Star-Struck

Kotton Clue 8

Star-Struck and Lakeside Mystery II are the two workshops I'll be taking at Road to California Quilt Show in two weeks.  I need to find a fabric that goes with the two grays for the Lakeside Mystery II project that I'm hoping to use.  I will be using my Rosie's Gift Card received at Christmas for the purchase since my stash doesn't have anything that will work.  Star-Struck will be another scrappy project that my stash will certainly accommodate.

So my numbers this week are as they were last week.  This will change as soon as I can get some things done!

Used this week: 0 yards
Used YTD: 26 yards
Purchased this week: 0 yards
Purchased YTD: 0 yards
Net Fabric Used in 2011: 26 yards


Check out more Stash Reports through Patchwork Times.