Thursday, February 21, 2013

This is today's project on my sewing table.  It is Kadette, my #4 or February UFO with www.52quilts.com (Thirteen in '13 Challenge).  As you can guess it is a paper pieced project that is small.  The finished project is 13 1/2" square.  I have all the papers pieced now.  Next up is assembling the flag and stars into blocks...then to rows...then....  I'm hoping to have this done today.  The pattern is United We Stand by Mary Herschleb Designs.

The next two photos are my February finishes.  I got them back last week from Kerry's Quilting.  First up is a Bonnie Hunter 2011 Challenge that she coined Cheddar Bow Ties.  Did you know that Curly Cue is another name for Bow Tie?  I collected blues and cheddars for about a year.  The blocks finish at 3".

Kurly Kues
49" x 49"

 The second is a Karen Eckmeier project that I took as a workshop at Road to California Quilt Show in January 2012.  The design is Scrappy Layered Log Cabin.  I just might have to add a little bling to it if my pal Sue has some extra.  I call my project Krayons.  I used a decorative stitch that I hadn't used before when adding the triangles on two sides of the border.  The quilting accentuates all the color of the logs.  It may look difficult, but it was fun putting this one together.

Krayons
38" x 39"

I've got lots more finishes on my website at www.kwiltnkats.com.  If you see something you like it just might be available

Sunday Stash Report, November 18, 2012

Krayons

I do have one finish for this week.  Krayons was started at Road to California Quilt Show in January of this year.  I'm so pleased to have it done before the show takes place in 2013!  The pattern can be found in Karen Eckmeier's Layered Waves book.  It is called Scrappy Layered Log Cabin. 

Road to California Mystery

I got around to cutting out one of the two projects that I'll need for the next show.  The show is to be held the last part of January.  This year I'm excited that my Mom will join Kerry and I.  Southwest had a great deal recently on flights.  I've been wanting my Mom to attend and it worked out perfectly.  Anxious to see what the mystery "Expect the Unexpected" will become.

Karen's Knines

The second project that I'm close to finishing is Karen's Knines.  This one is Sister's Nine Patch by Bonnie Hunter.  There's more than one way to cover up the "industrial look" of the foam board before I can get the black batting.  Besides the setting triangles on the right top portion this is the size of the quilt.  The bottom portion has three more rows yet and the quilt will be square.  The design wall ends around the light switch!  I'll be sewing the rest of the day putting the blocks and rows together.

Karen's Knines

For now I'll report yardage for Krayons.  Next week I'll report Karen's Nines. 

Used this week: 6.75  yards
Used YTD: 270 yards

Purchased this week: 0 yards

Purchased YTD: 135.25 yards

Net Fabric Used in 2012: 134.75 yards

Design Wall Monday, November 12, 2012

It was a nice day to be sitting inside sewing today.  It was bright and clear and COLD...for San Diego that is!  Thought I'd show you how to make a layered log cabin block.  You start with 2 1/2" strips that have the long side pressed down at least 1/4" in a curvy motion.  This doesn't sound too easy if you've not done it, but trust me it really is.  Next you start building in a counter clockwise direction around a 2 1/2" square with a 1/8" top stitch.

After going around with 12 strips (6 light and 6 dark) you've got a block.  There is no particular width of each "log".  You just find what looks good to you and go for it. 

Here's a photo of the finished block front (above) and back (below). 

Next you arrange the blocks to your liking.  I've got mine in a diagonal pattern, but a barn raising pattern looks nice too.

Next you layer the blocks in a row on top of each other in the same way as you made the blocks.  Pressing under one side, layering over the next block and top stitching it down.

Once you have the blocks sewn into rows you do it all again putting the rows together. 

Here's where I am right now adding some fancy triangles on the border with steam a seam.  I'll be continuing to press under 1/4" making it curvy and top stitch it down.  Right border first and sew counter clockwise.  Only the right and top will have the triangles.  The pattern suggests beads or sequences in the triangles and more triangles on the logs.  Not sure beyond what you see how far I'll go with this.  This is a Karen Eckmeier pattern in her Layered Waves book.  It's good to have this project nearly done after 11 months from having taken a workshop where I started this project.

Krayons

See other quilters displaying their design walls via Patchwork Times.

Sunday Stash Report, November 11, 2012

Let's start with a purchase.  This fabric already has a home with my current project Karen's Knines.  I had the 9-patches complete on Thursday.  I didn't have a yellow with red that I wanted to use for the setting blocks and triangles as well as the outside border.  I went to the new Bits and Pieces along with Paradise Sewing that are both in Poway without success.  A drive to Rosie's in La Mesa on Saturday paid off.  It was also fun to see friends although I didn't have much time to chat since DH was being ever so patient waiting for me in the car.  I'm ready to finish Karen's Knines!  It's a Bonnie Hunter pattern in her second book called Sister's Nine Patch.

Another purchase at Rosie's was for a couple of black on white that I'll need to beef up my stash a bit for Bonnie Hunter's annual mystery called Easy Street that's set to start on November 23rd.

A very happy time for me this week.  I've been wanting to put up a design wall for so long.  It came to be starting Friday with the purchase of the foam board, nails, washers, and T-pins.  Saturday morning I cut the pieces to size and readied all the tools.

DH found all the studs...we measured and double checked that we were right...  DH used his might and powered in the nails.  He couldn't figure out why I was so elated...  The top of the design wall measures 114" and from ceiling to floor is 78".  It stops just above the light switch on the right side and just above the electrical outlet from the floor.

At Rosie's if I spent enough which is not too hard for me to do in a quilt shop :)!...you could get 40% off a notion.  Since I needed two king battings, one white and the other black, guess what I used my discount on?  Yes, Warm and Natural is considered a notion :)!  If they would have had a black it would have come home with me too.  My plan is to put black on the foam board first and then white over top.  This way I can cover up the industrial look as DH calls it and have both white and black design walls if the need should present itself.  I'll remove a few T-pins and roll the white batting up to the top to expose the black batting.

So here's my numbers for this week.  Nothing to claim today, but I'm pretty certain I'll have one or two finishes next week. 

Used this week: 0  yards
Used YTD: 263.25 yards

Purchased this week: 5.5 yards

Purchased YTD: 135.25 yards

Net Fabric Used in 2012: 128 yards

Design Wall Monday, November 5, 2012

I finished up Krabapple and decided next to finish up a few small projects I had going on.  First up the 9-patch neutral blocks.  Another 25 were made adding to the others that will at some point be made into a project.  Don't know what that will be yet, but I'm sure these will come in handy some day.

Next up Sunshine Quilt Guild's November BOM.  The stripe was provided with instructions to add in two complimentary colors for each block.  I really liked how the green with a touch of gold sparkle played with the stripe and the rust and orange looked nice too.  I thought about a deep purple, but decided to stay in line with what might be more popular.  The deep purple really did look nice.  The meeting isn't for another week so I'm early.

Finally I pulled fabrics, cut pieces...

arranged...

and completed the November Quilt Square Quilt Along block.  This is a Lori Smith design from her pattern Quilt Squares #6.  This one is Small Quilt #5. DH said I should make this one over the Single Star design...because it looked so much like the others.  This one was more unique; so I went for it!

It brings in another light block to match the two already made.  These are the blocks that will eventually be made into a sampler.  Only December block to go.

Today at lunch I'm pulling from my 1 1/2" stash for anything that will work for Sister's Nine Patch.  This pattern is in her Adventures with Leaders and Enders book.  The pages in the book kept flipping to this pattern while I was making Krabapple (Crabapple).  There must have been something calling me to make this quilt.  I'm going to stay with Bonnie's colors that are reds ranging anywhere from dark pink to red to burgundy and neutrals ranging from white to cream to beige to tan.  Bonnie's instructions are for 2" squares, but I'm going a 1/2" smaller.  More 9-patches coming!

I will be getting into another project this week, Krayons.  The Scrappy Layered Log Cabin from a workshop I took with Karen Eckmeier in January at Road to California Quilt Show.  More on this one as the week progresses.

Make sure you vote!

Design Wall Monday, October 1, 2012

Kaktus

Judy selected #6 to work on this month for our 2012 Challenge.  I'm really pleased to have Kaktus done already.  I have two more UFOs on the list and neither are started...  I'm hopeful with this extra time to continue on some of my projects not part of the challenge and perhaps get started on one of the two that are coming.



No Klucks Here Either!

 

Kurly Kues

 During the quilt retreat this past weekend I got done with the turkey blocks less the zig zag stitching around the Steam-A-Seam turkeys.  I wanted to do this part on my Pfaff instead.  I'm familiar with it's stitching and like it a bit better than my portable Janome.  I also got done with the 16 16-patch bow ties blocks.  I wanted to put these blocks together after a long look at placement so that I can spread the fabrics out best.  I'll find time this week to finish Kurly Kues for certain.



Krayons



Krabapple

Never got to work on Krabapple or Krayons, but it was good to have taken them just in case.  For some more eye candy check out the links today on Patchwork Time's Design Wall Monday.  Have a wonderful week!

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Get ready...get set...get retreat ready!

Wednesday evening...eek...had to get lots of stuff ready...retreat starts today.  I will be on my way there around 2pm.  So not only did I finish getting Krayons sew ready.  I made a streusel for the continental breakfast we'll be having each day through Sunday.  A stop by the grocery store for chicken chili ingredients (Saturday night's dinner that Bonnie and I are responsible for); along with other food and beverage items to share with the other retreaters.  Then the figuring out what to wear...just how hot will it get in Lakeside this weekend?  Remember the dental floss...hmm what else goes with the toiletries...do I need makeup?

Krayons started in a workshop that I took at Road to California Quilt Show in January this year.  It is the last of three projects I brought home from the show to finish.  It is a neat idea, something I hadn't tried before.  Taught by Karen Eckimer a way to create scrappy log cabin blocks by pressing under and top stitching the logs.  Next you sew the blocks and rows together in similar fashion.  Add a few fusible embellishments and voila!  I made seven blocks during the workshop.  I had brought a Bali Strip pack to use for the project, but as it turns out there wasn't enough contrast.  During lunch break I was shopping for more batiks.  The project has 30 blocks with loads of embellishments.  I don't know if I will make that many...I may just make my project a smaller version.  Not real certain this is a technique that I am wrapped around, but I did enjoy trying it.

Unhappy...time just ran out on me to finish putting Krayons together.  I pulled fabrics, but that is as far as I got.  Frankly, being realistic, I probably have enough to work on in my car already.  Well maybe I'll just put all the fabrics and what's started in my car anyway.  I do have the space...

Tonight I'll be sewing!

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Get ready...get set...get retreat ready!

Tuesday night was the evening for Kurly Kues.  I have a 108 of these done, but I need a bunch more, 148 to be exact.  This was a project started in 2011...intended as a leader and ender...and a challenge with Bonnie Hunter.  The challenge was to guess how many Bonnie would have done in a year.  I think someone actually guessed exactly.  If you've been on her blog you will remember the cute bowtie pattern.  It is a little block only 3.5" unfinished.  I never much liked bowtie projects, but making the blocks smaller got me motivated!  I leader and ender on each of the projects I work on so bringing in a second project doesn't work for me.  Instead I cut the pieces when I have the right stash then sew up everything I have at the time.  Wait until I have a bunch more to work on and repeat.  Since I want to get the project done I'll cut a little bit of each of the blues and cheddars to finish the project.  My project should end up 48" x 48".  This cheddar fabric I got in the Sale Room at Rosie's should handle the back...if not I'll add some blue.  After all it is a project that's meant to use stash!

This instructions for this cute bowtie pattern can be found on Bonnie's Quiltville website under Free Patterns! called Cheddar Bow-Ties.

Later this evening I'll be getting Krayons in order.

Design Wall Monday, September 24, 2012

No Klucks Here Either!

I'm making progress finishing up the workshop sample for No Klucks Here!  I led the workshop last Sunday for Friendship Quilt Guild at Paradise Quilters.  I need some more Steam A Seam 2 Lite to get the four turkeys put together.  I only had enough to start on the feathers. 

No Klucks Here Either!

This week I'm gathering up what I'll need for the quilting retreat that starts on Thursday.  Sure hope it doesn't end up being a really hot weekend.  Four projects are going into my car.  This way I'll have enough to work on and whatever inspires me most will be right at my fingers.  No Klucks Here Either!, Krabapples, Krayons, and Kurly Kues are all started with each at about the same stage of completion.

Hope your last week of September is full of what makes you most happy!  See what other quilters are doing at Patchwork Times.

Design Wall Monday, January 23, 2012

This is what was finished Friday at the first workshop of the day at the Road to California Quilters' Conference and Showcase.  The workshop was with Karen Eckimer on her design Scrappy Layered Log Cabin.  The technique is to press under a curvy side to your strip then starting with the black center layer it on top and top stitch the strip down.  Cut off excess.  Working in a counter clockwise direction add on the next curvy strip and repeat.  Center, light, light, dark, dark then repeat with the light.  These blocks have no particular size.  You match them up in a row then attach them to the next row in the same press under a curvy side manner.  You'll have to learn more with her pattern available in her book Layered Waves.

The Lakeside Mystery 1 that was the late night workshop was held at the Doubletree until midnight.  There were about 30 something attending.  We had cutting before class so we were ready to sew to our hearts content.  Tracy Brookshier was our instructor.  She was really prepared for us with seven clues and the reveal.  She sure mixed it up so none was the wiser until clue seven was passed out.  I managed to get all 36 hearts done during the six hours with a little help from speedy Kerry!  This project is nearly finished which makes me real happy since I've got so many other projects going on.

This week I'll be focusing on two 2012 January UFO deadlines.  This is Kontinuum my January UFO #5 with Patchwork Times.  I have all the major blocks done.  I am assembling the 84 small 9-Patches that will be part of the border right now.

How's your week looking? Lot's of quilters showing off their Design Walls today at Patchwork Times.

Sunday Stash Report, January 22, 2012

Again nothing USED!  But PURCHASE I did!  What fun I had...of course now with less pennies in my piggy bank.  The report is showing a bigger negative than last week.  I'm not going to say anything about when this current trend will go in the other direction.  This is just the way it is right now. 

I attended the Road to California Quilters' Conference & Showcase.  Kerry and I attend this together annually usually staying in the Doubletree which puts us in walking distance from the Convention Center and the location of the Mystery Workshop that finishes real late at night.

Quilters Paradise in Escondido helped me with my first purchase this week.  FQs and a bit of yardage for the Road to California Quilt Show workshop Lakeside Mystery 1 with Tracey Brookshier that I took on Friday night from 6pm to midnight.  I had a good start from my stash for the project, just not a stripe and some additional coordinating fabrics with the start.  I was real excited how these pieces worked in to the rest.

The second purchase came at lunchtime the day of the workshop at the Vendor Mall on the Showroom Floor.  Turns out the Mango Margarita Bali Pop didn't have enough lights in it for the Scrappy Layered Log Cabin workshop with Karen Eckmier.  Kerry and I purchased a bunch of FQs and split them to keep going in the class.  Both of us could have shopped in our stash, but it exactly in our reach being 1.5 hours one way away from the classroom.  We also purchased Karen's book...sorry classmates I got the last one she had with her.  Karen took the time to sign it too.

Saturday was our Showroom Floor day that began immediately at the Koala booth.  I did it!  In just a few short weeks I'll be having furniture delivered that will be awesome.  I decided on white (just like the picture) and wine upholstery for the chair.  In the photo the base cabinet which is where the machine is located with two sets of drawers one on either side fo the chair.  I also got the optional leaf and shelves that attach under it.  I also got the extra 6" height.  The extra height will make it kitchen counter heights so there's no bending over to cut.  I'm terribly excited!  I picked up a package of bobbins for the new machine too.  It was getting a little silly with only two bobbins; stopping to fill them up all the time instead of having a bunch done at once.  You know how fast you can get through two bobbins.

The final fabric purchase was reproduction theme blacks and a great cheddar.  A pattern caught my eye that will need a bunch of small scale blacks so I'll be building my stash with them until I need a new project and I've got enough variety. The pattern is called Licorice Allsorts by The Rabbit Factory.  I also picked up the book Beauty 'n Check from the Cozy booth.  I've been waiting for this book for at least two years.  The authors held a class at Cozy's awhile back that I really wanted to attend but timing just wasn't what would work at the time. 

Here's the damage!  Check me out tomorrow and I'll show you what I was able to accomplish during the 12 hours of sewing in Friday's two workshops.

Used this week: 0 yards
Used YTD: 0 yards
Purchased this week: 6.75 yards
Purchased YTD: 9.75 yards
Net Fabric Used in 2012: -9.75 yards

How am I matching up to what you're doing?  See others adding and using up their stash at Patchwork Times.

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Happy Wednesday!  Hump day for most of us...but for me its the start of only two work days left this week.  Then it's time to have fun!  Starting Thursday it's Road to California Quilt Show the Best Quilt Show in the West.  I'm going with Kerry on Friday morning bright and early to arrive by 8am for the first workshop Scrappy Layered Log Cabin taught by Karen Eckmeier.  We will be making a quilt that's approximately 42" x 50" with an assortment of dark and light scraps and black.  I'll be using what is left of two Mango Margarita Bali Pops and my favorite black Kona cotton.  It's a raw edge project that looks like it will be fun putting together.

Scrappy Layered Log Cabin

The second workshop of the day starts at 6pm and goes until midnight. Yes you heard right midnight. Sounds like Tracey Brookshier has a fun evening planned out with this Mystery project along with a contest to boot. We had homework and I'm working on that today. Fabric requirements are 1-2 yards of medium or large scale print in a particular theme along with 12 or more FQs of small or tone on tone prints; half light and the other dark that will coordinate with the large scale print. Last fabric to bring is a coordinating striped fabric; stripes running parallel to the selvage. Here are my fabrics before cutting along with the "or more FQs". Hope I've chosen correctly. Morgan my 4 year old niece will be the recipient of this project.



Lakeside Mystery 1



Lakeside Mystery 1 Extra Fabrics



Then it's to bed for the Quilt Show and Vendor Mall in the morning on Saturday.  Hopefully I'll be able to meet up with friends at lunchtime on Friday and just before the second workshop.  Not to mention seeing other friends on the show room floor.  One thing I'm sure to purchase at the show is a Koala sewing cabinet.  I've been waiting to see first hand what I'll be ordering and the "Show Deal".  Today I learned of another item I'll be purchasing at the "Show Deal" is the book I've been waiting for for two years Beauty 'n Check by Janice Ellertson and Jodel Yover.  It will be available at the Cozy Quilt Shop Booth.  Wonder what other goodies will entice us this year?





Next picture is of a block swap that I've been coordinating.  Blocks are due to me by the end of February and already I've got the blocks from Karen C, Lisa F, Joan T, and Collette M.  The last stack are my blocks to swap.  We are swapping Bonnie Hunter's Chunky Churndashes, 30 must be swapped giving each of us two from everyone participating.  11 more to turn in as of today but we've got lots of time yet. 



Chunky Churndashes Swap

Last but not any less exciting came tonight to my doorstep from my Mom.  I will certainly put this Iron Caddy from Keepsake Quilting to work this weekend.  A big thank you to my best friend!  Love you Mom.

Iron Caddy

That's it for now.  I'll be back soon to tell you about my Road to California Quilt Show adventure.