Resting....

Well, it has been a whirlwind summer for me, with 4-H and several new endeavors for my family.  Trying to get our house fixed up to sell, or live in...whichever The Lord shows us is best has been very time consuming as well.  Today, the house is mostly clean, laundry is running, and I am hoping for some quality, quilty time with this quilt.  (Just as soon as I quit drinking coffee and actually get showered.)

 

Really, it is mostly done.  Still waiting on the binding fabric to arrive, so I might just have time to cut into this fabric.

 



 

I purchased the FMF while on vacation this year.  Just got the stripe this week...the last on the bolt...thanks be. 

 

I am planning on making this pocket bag from the book "Romantic Home Sewing:  Cottage-Style Projects to Stitch for the Home" by Christina Strutt.  It should be a quick sew, and hopefully the perfect cross-body bag to haul my iPad and handwork to soccer this fall.

 

Linking up to Show and Tell Tuesday

Fabric Tuesday

And WIP Wednesday

 

You can visit the many other wonderful projects by clicking on the cute buttons on the side bar.

 

On a more personal note.  my family has been looking for a house with more elbow room in our area for almost 4 years now.  We believe we are seeking God's will in this, but He hasn't provided the house yet.  We go to look at two houses this evening if you could be praying for us.

 

Blessings,

 

KT

Independence Day Decorations

I finished something...and now I am taking the time to blog.  Will wonders ever cease?   Even more amazing is that it is already hanging in my freshly painted dining room in time for the Fourth of July!!

This banner is about 17" x 45" and made entirely of Jennifer Paganelli fabrics.  (If you've visited very often you know she is my favorite fabric designer.)

I used some of the scraps for the back.  The colors were too good not to make the most of.

Behold, my new favorite way to hang a small quilt!  So simple, and I will be able to switch out with a picture or another wall hanging seasonally.

I especially love the table topper to match, which measures about 28" square.

Oh, and while editing, I realized that there are water spots from vacation on my camera lens.  By the time I noticed breakfast was already happening on the table.  The lens is properly cleaned for next time!

Also made scrappy bindings for both quilts.  There is something about using as much as is possible of favorite hoarded fabric that makes me happy.

After marking the quilting pattern with a Frixion pen, I used a walking foot to quilt these gentle waves.

This block was inspired by the work of Amy Smart at Diary of a Quilter.  I love the web for seeking out new and interesting ideas.  With no time in my life for a quilt guild meeting, I rely on the online community of quilters for inspiration and encouragement. 

Linking up to Show and Tell Tuesday,Fabric Tuesday and WIP Wednesday.  You can check out tons of lovely projects and be inspired by visiting the links using the buttons on my side bar.

Blessings,

KT

Works in Progress or How to Have too Much Going On!

What do you do when your husband books reservations for vacation?  Well, if you are me you make a purse!  I am using Quilt Smart's Midi bag pattern.  The fabric is Lucy's Crab Shack leftover from making my summer bag last year.  This one is just a smaller version of the Quilt Smart Mondo that I made last year.  Both bags go together zippy quick, and are fun.  I am not receiving anything from Quilt Smart, I just really like their stuff so far!

I have three more Midi bag interfacings, and fabric selected to make bags.  They will make great gifts!!

Love the print I chose for the liner!  I still have lots of leftovers.  Good, because I need some pouches!

My Hunky Dory progress to date; three rows together!!  The corners where the blocks come together are rather bulky, but coming together well for the most part. 

This is the point in quilt making that I start to feel claustrophobic in my sewing space.  Had to move all those rows just to get to my computer!  Yeah, and that dark shape hovering in the upper right side of the picture...dress pants to be hemmed for Treasure.  Yuk!!  Totally avoiding those, though I should probably just do them and get them out of my face.

These fabrics are the beginning of a pile for a teen boy quilt.  Not my kinda fabrics, but a labor of love.  

From top to bottom they are:

Kona Flame (Careful, it could put your eyes out!)

Sew Sporty by Dan Morris for RJR Fabrics

Karen Foster Design Inc. for Robert Kaufman Sports Life Screen Print D #11543

Karen Foster Design Inc. for Robert Kaufman Sports Life Screen Print D #11539

Connecting Threads Silver solid

Still to come:

Kona Black

Connecting Threads Gray solid

Linking up with WIP Wednesday, so you can enjoy a bunch of fun projects!

Blessings,

KT

Tutti Fruity Tuesday

Over in the land of Instagram, the #scrappytripalong was born.  I fell so hard for making this block that I worked start to finish on this quilt.  Such a rarity for me, who has so many WIPs.  Many of these fabrics are hoarded Jennifer Paganelli fabrics that I love.  As I was playing with block placement, four blocks with purple played ring around the rosy...and they were having so much fun that I couldn't bear to break them up.  

From there the colors get softer out to the edge of the quilt.  

I decided to break into my vintage sheet stash to back this quilt.  Since the top was all from fabric I had, it just didn't seem right to buy fabric for the back.  

I love how the soft, muted back plays with the bright, cheerful top.  The bright purple binding is the same fabric that is focal pattern on the front.

I added a border of some OOP Jennifer Paganelli fabric that I bought the last few yards of when I saw them at a quilt shop.  Alas, only a wee bit remains in my stash.

Those who have visited here before know that I often can't resist some decorative stitch quilting.  I did manage to limit it to where the border meets the patchwork.

Full disclosure, I am not a prewasher.  The back had no puckers before I washed the quilt.  It does make sense that it loosened up a bit because the rest of the quilt shrank a bit.  I have no problems with this because it is one of the softest, cuddliest quilts I have ever made.  If this is something that would drive you crazy, you could pre-wash, or not use vintage sheets.

Linking up to Fabric Tuesday and Show and Tell Tuesday.  Please use the nifty buttons in the sidebar to visit all the other great finishes!

Blessings,

KT

Pillow Talk

Finished couple pillows over the weekend. They are washed up and soft, but have not yet made it out of my sewing area. You see, I would only have to wash them again all to soon. There are several with fevers in the house. Every quilt and every sheet will soon need washing, and I just can't bring myself to add to the mountain!

This block was a rogue in a quilt, naughty block. I loved it anyway, and put it to good use.

I used only stash for these pillows, so when I ran a little short of fabric for the back, I improvised. I love the scrappiness of it all!

This one is my favorite, the colors make me think of watermelon and lemonade. I am so ready for summer!!!

Love the back of this one eve more!!! Most of these fabrics are of various lines of my favorite designer Jennifer Paganelli. Most are, unfortunately, out of print, and the last of my stash used. The up side is that when we are all well, we can cuddle them daily!!

Linking up with Randi for Show and Tell Tuesday, and Quilt Story for Fabric Tuesday.

Blessings,

KT

Scrappy Trip Works in Progress

Just a note, Google Reader is going to shut down this summer.  You can follow this blog with Bloglovin.  I am finding it to be a sleek reader, especially on my iPhone.

 

 

Well, my scrappy trip along quilt has been a constant ray of sunshine since I started it.  Sticking with one quilt from start to finish is not usually how I roll.  This quilt is just different for me I guess. 

I also had this drool-worthy block that Rene' sent to me all cut out and ready to sew in some of my favorite Jennifer Paganell fabrics. Well, I had been toying with the idea of my family needing some big puffy pillows since we removed the carpet in the living room. I pulled some Paganelli stash out and made a border and binding.

 

                       

 

This block was made to be part of my scrappy trip along quilt, but it didn't play nice with the others.  So I put it in time-out and made another one.  Funny, I still love the naughty little thing.  So another pillow was born!  More Paganelli stash for border and binding.

 

 

 

 

Now they are in my busy bag waiting for a moment for hand sewing.

 

 

As for my scrappy trip quilt, it is telling me nicely how it wants to be quilted.  I am just loving this sweet quilt.  Violet, my Singer 201, is speeding right along.  This has been an exceptional week already, in that I have gotten two days already with chunks of time to sew.  That just hasn't happened.  Don't know if there will be more time this week, but I am sure hoping!  I just can't wait to finish this quilt.

 

Be sure to visit all the other ladies playing along with WIP, by using the nifty button on the sidebar! 

 

Blessings,

 

KT

Bloglovin

Follow my blog with Bloglovin
I am just popping in a moment to let you all know that since Google Reader will be shutting down soon, you can all easily continue to follow me on Bloglovin.

Sorry I don't even have a picture!

Blessings,

KT

Promise of Peace

I finally had some time to finish up this beauty.  Too often I am lured into making bigger quilts, and by the end of the making...I need a rest.  This quilt was just right!  I made the lap version of Rene's Peace pattern.  I used two charm packs of Moda batiks with a little more purple thrown in for fun.  The background is a Connecting Threads solid, Silver Lining.  I really like them, the price is great ($4.96/yd.) , and they feel lovely.  Bonus, many of the colors have coordinating thread that is so inexpensive, and great as well.

The backing is some yardage that I got several years ago while on vacation.  It is a textured silvery purple.  I finished up the quilt with a little straight-line quilting which makes for a drape-y, cuddly, quilt.  The binding is simply a batik in a color that stands out from the colors in the top. 

This was such a fun quilt to make.  

Now I am on to my scrappy trip quilt, and halfway done piecing the blocks together.  I have everything I need to finish this quilt except the batting.  No idea when I will have time to go get some, but in the meantime, I am loving the process.

Linking up to Fabric Tuesday and Show and Tell Tuesday.  Join the fun and click on the buttons on the side bar!

Winner!!!

Congratulations to.........

Rene' will send you out your PDF copy of the pattern!

Those of you who didn't win can pop over and buy your own copy. It is such a fun quilt to make.

And here is a quick pic of my design wall just for fun!!!

Blessings,

KT

Peace

Back in the fall of 2009, when I started this little blog, I got much encouragement from a few ladies.  One of these fine ladies was Rene'.  She always had such kind words, and her quilts inspired me to reach out and try new things.  Well, once upon a time she made a quilt that I loved, and had never seen anything like.  Being the kind of gal I am, I pestered and stalked her, begging for her to tell me how she did it...send me a copy of her scribbled wanderings...make a pattern and let me purchase it.  I was desperate!

I know for a fact I am not the only gal to love Rene's Peace Quilt.  Sweet!  She developed a pattern!!!  Then, glory be, she sent a rough draft to little, old, stalker me!  Well, what was I to do?  I offered to test for her.

Behold, my version of Rene's Peace Quilt Pattern!!!

I chose to make the lap version of her quilt.  The pattern is great though, and has three size options.  I just love that in a pattern.  The larger quilt has pinwheels making up the peace sign.  It is definitely on my to do list!

I loved how the pattern was designed to be pre-cut friendly.  I got these great batiks at a LQS, and since the pattern is a PDF download, I was able to get started quickly.

edited to add:  Moda Rainbow batik charms are still available at The Quilt Shoppe, and she will mail them to you.  Just call Dawn at 765-649-9102.

The directions were excellent, and the corners met crisply.  I love that!!  I was able to make this even while my home is undergoing renovations.  All in all it is a great pattern that was a ton of fun to make!

Several lovely ladies are throwing bloggy parties for Rene'.  

Here is the schedule of events:

Tuesday, January 22 - Michele at  Nostalgic Cafe
Wednesday, January 23 - Cindy at  Live a Colorful Life
Thursday, January 24 - Michelle at  Frustrated Quilter
Friday, January 25 - Stephanie at Peas in a Pod
Monday, January 28 - Terri at Terri's Notebook
Tuesday, January 29 - Doris at Made by a Brunnette
Wednesday, January 30 - Mary at Mary on Lake Pulaski
Thursday, January 31 - Shelly at Prairie Moon Quilts
Friday, February 1 - back to me Rene' at Rene' Creates  for a give away!

I am so honored to be the first host!  Even better, Rene' is offering a free pattern to one of my readers.  Just leave a comment on this post, and be sure I will have a way to email you.  But don't stop there, visit all these ladies for chances to win. 

The giveaway will close Friday, February 1.

Blessings,

KT

Chaos Defined: there is nothing pretty here to see!

Thought I would pop in to let those of you not on Pinterest or Instagram know that I am alive, just not sewing much.

When I pulled up carpet in our bathroom, (yeah, CARPET IN THE BATHROOM= hiding something) I found duct tape holding tile down. Underneath all that was subfloor damage from a water leak we were unaware of...because of the carpet.

So this is what my bathroom currently looks like. This time porcelain tile is going in, no carpet. Ha ha!

Of course, one floor leads to another. We are tiling the hall and dining room as well. We had an oak rail taken out in this room making it seem bigger. The nasty paneling will come out too. I will also remove the wall paper. I can't complain about the wallpaper too much because it is my own fault!
;0)

But this all means this room will go back to being a dining room again. My quilting corner is again homeless. *sigh*

Well, that is not all, oh no that is not all! We are putting tile in the kitchen too. Only, we want to replace the cabinets in the future (when we fall into a pot of money) so for now we are moving the lower cabinets to tile to the wall, then putting them back in, as well as bringing back the cabinets that were removed for installation of the dishwasher. After killing two dishwashers in six years, I am not eager to spend any more money on dishwashers!

Of course all that open space seems almost peaceful.

Most of my kitchen and sewing paraphernalia is toted and stacked in the family room.

And here is our make shift food station in our living room. Boy, I get tired just thinking about putting it all back this weekend!

Well, that is just part of my Christmas story this year. Here is another of my Christmas presents:

I got a used minivan! Such a blessing because the twelve passenger extended cab van (known as the Maxi van) is a little slippery in this snowy weather we have been having.

Unfortunately, 8 hours later it was hit by a distracted teen driver while we were looking at Christmas lights. I might get it back in a couple of weeks. No one was hurt at least.

Can I get a break from Christmas Break please?

Blessings,

KT