Pinwheel mania!

Started the Pinwheel mania. I sewed all the way around the two charm squares. Did this the Missouri Star Way.

They are very cute! Starting to really like these color selections! My niece did a great job!

Thirty pinwheels down! 118 left!

The Hubbie gave me the most adorable purse! My new obsession with Owls gave him the inspiration! Love it! I am such a blessed wife!

TIME! Where are you going??

So....it is December 12.

How am I going to do this? I have not been able to get anything done! Not a single stitch. So much to do for the kids and the hubby. Christmas seems to steal my time and now I have less and less time to get this quilt done. Looks like I might be sending this quilt overnight mail!

Sigh! How does everyone do this?

Have a great night, all!
Katie

PS...Christmas JOY!

My Dilemma

Man.
I am not very good at math.

I knew that.  Before I got into quilting, I knew that I had to measure and do math and such.

However, I am not very good at it.

So....let's be honest. I avoid it.

So, when I put my quilt backing fabric up to my finished top and....DOH! It is about 3 inches lacking in width. With the selvages still on!

So....now I am problem-solving. How do I fix this?

So....I have cut my charms in half...and I am sewing them together lengthwise. Then, I think I am going to cut off the selvages and sew on this 2.5 inch strip to either side of the quilt to add width. I have no idea how this is going to look or work in the end...but Hey.

Gotta give it a try!

Finished!!

Wow! It is done. Thank you all so much for all the advice and help that you have given me. I really appreciate it! Now...to sandwich and quilt this sucker!

It came together so quickly! And most of my points actually match!

Woohoo!
Kate

The new pattern we elected...

The hubbie reworked this for me....as I was going to scream.

These are already sewn together into strips. The Hubbie and I worked to put this into a pattern. I was thinking the little shapes that formed would help give the eye a place to rest. I am not going to pull them all down and redo these. Lol! I have a Christmas deadline.

Need your help!

How do I fix this? I really don't like the two whit next to each other! Help!

You asked for pictures....so here they are!

Here are pictures of the quilt that I made.....please note that this is the second piece that I put together. I haven't worked on it for over a year because it just made me say....blah. None of my corners match...but....I don't think that my dad will care if it is perfect or not. He has the important ingredient...unconditional love.

Here is Unconditional Love quilt. See? Not a single straight line in the entire quilt

Here is a different look.

My binding (ick!)

Just finished "Unconditional Love"

Thank goodness! Unconditional Love is finally finished!

I bound my quilt using my sewing machine. I have to admit - I loath binding quilts. It is the only part of quilting that I really am not a fan of. It just...bugs me that my bindings never look good. I know that I just need to practice.

So....the binding is done. Whew!

Oh.....and I am thinking a giveaway to come!

Have a great day!
Kate

New project for the Freezing Morning Car!

I am looking at making a quick quilt on the for the car. It has been in the 30's in this morning and the Car has been freezing. So I am looking to make a quilt and I figure that I can use my Clearance Fabric that I got a Joann's and I want to practice the block I want to use for my husband's quilt. Here is the clearance fabric:

I want to make a "Jelly Star Quilt" for my hubbie - so I am going to practice. Here is the YouTube Video for that from Missouri Star Quilt Company:

Sorry!

First, let me say I am SOOOO SORRY that I haven't written anything for such a long time.

LIFE HAS BEEN CRAZY!

Just a short personal note....life has been crazy because all of my spare time has been spent researching the the 11 different places that are on our "Dream Sheet."

If you are in any way associated with someone in the military, then you know that the Dream Sheet is all about the places that you hope that they station you. You have to give a HUGE list of places for someone that you don't know to select from. The person who has no clue how important having a Movie Theater nearby is to your family...no clue how much Costco matters to your daily life...well...this person gets to select where you live.

They select your job from a list of 21 different jobs, in 11 different locations (if you are us). So....I have spent HOURS and HOURS researching schools, and housing, and utility costs, and...the list goes on. So....absolutely no quilting has happened for months and months.

The second that the list was submitted, I started quilting again. I finally finished my second quilt. I made it for my dad.

 And well....I am calling it "Unconditional Love" because the amount of mistakes make it so that you have to have unconditional love for the quilt maker. Not a straight line to be found on the entire quilt. BUT....it is almost done. I just need to bind it. Whew!

I will try to get a podcast out as soon as possible! Which, honestly, might not be that soon.

Thanks for sticking with me!
Kate

Here it is. The second quilt I ever started!

Unconditional Love

Podcast 10 is out!

Well....I have been working on making this better. However, my sound is still having serious issues. However, it was no use. So...I have given up and just decided to share it with you!. I hope you enjoy!

My design wall

My "For Me" Quilt! Mt tube quilting experiment. 

A different angle!

A closer look

Here is what I put on my new design wall. Well...actually....it is just a vinyl tablecloth. I have tacked it to the wall reversed. The polyester flannel stuff holds the fabric on perfectly.

It is also folds up very small and only cost $7 at Target.

So...what do you think? The hubbie says, "It is so-so."

And the winner is......!

Today is the Day!

The winner for the giveaway is........Colleen!

I have sent an email off to her and hope to hear back soon! 

Thank you all so much for your comments. I will be doing another giveaway soon!
Katie

A much quilting done this weekend!

I am so excited by how much quilting I got done this weekend. I am working on my tube quilt, like the "Summer in the Park" quilt that the Missouri Star ladies put together. I didn't use a full 40 strips for mine...only 20 because of the fabric that I selected. However, I love it so far. I completed all of tubes (10 total) and cut them into triangles. Then. I pressed them all open. Here are some pictures of my blocks.

Oh....and I forgot to mention the fabric that I bought at Underground Quilts in Seattle! So pretty!

Here are all of my blocks stacked into piles of 7. I will have 7 rows of 7 blocks.

Here is one block, so you can get a sense of what they look like.

Finally....got to Underground Quilts in Pike's Market!

Many people have been after me to get into downtown Seattle and check out Underground quilts.

So, this Thursday, my husband dragged me down there while Vanilla and Pumpkin had a class.

First impression...beautiful quilts! Wonderful examples hanging. Gorgeous fabric! Cool patterns!

BUT....

Cold. Not outside...it was 75 and beautiful at 5pm in Seattle. But, the service was distant. Honestly, I felt like my presence annoyed the clerk.

Once I got over not feeling wanted...I was awed by the Seattle centered patterns. I was drawn to all the Owls...who knew that I would develop an Owl obsession? Also, the native work was amazing. I bought...gulp...patterns. Actual pattens. Here...these are the patterns that I bought.

This was actually made and hanging in store. So lovely!

I saw this image carved in wood and loved it. I thought it would be cool done in...gulp...applique.

Look! A dress pattern! I loved it and I have great fabric that I can use to make these for my girls. But....I have never made a dress before. I will have to build up my courage.

Aren't these adorable? They are hotpads! Looks like I can do these for Christmas Presents!

Tube Quilting from the Missouri Star

I am going to be using the Summer in the Park tutorial for my strips.

Podcast 9 is available!

I want to apologize right now for the roboty sound in this podcast. It was the best quality that I could bring you after I lost my previous podcast.

I hope you enjoy. It is a bit of a ramble. :)

My two sweet bears - Pumpkin and Vanilla - at the outdoor movies.

Have a wonderful day!
Katie

Lost my Podcast!

So bummed!
My podcast is on my iPhone and I have no way of getting it on to my computer. Going to have to re-record it all. So sad!

Organizing the Pegboard

My new pegboard! Love the way that all my notions fit in this!

The full view.
Everything hangs on the wall beautifully.

So...setting up my cabinet and making this pegboard has really helped me to get all of my quilting stuff in order. All of my rulers fit perfectly. I am super excited by how perfectly things fit.

The pegboard is a standard size - 24 x 48 inches. I just added a 1x2 (cut to the dimesions of the pegboard) to the back to make a frame. That is what is holding up the pegboard.

My 5 year old, Vanilla, helped me pick the bright red paint and paint this bad boy! :) Just took one of their samples for like $2.50 and the whole thing was painted.

Now...I need to get quilting!

Met up with Susan...the History Quilter

Me at the quilt show! Miles of smiles!

Susan the History Quilter and Me. :)

Thank you, Susan, for your kind...and funny words about meeting me in Long Beach at the Quilt Festival. I am REALLY tall. I am an inch over six feet tall, and most people don't expect that of me.

It was great to meet up with a fellow blogger.


I am going to try and attach the pictures that I took at the Long Beach Quilt Festival, using a web album. We shall see if this works.

Decluttering! My podcast is also finally out again...

Finally getting organized!

These fit so perfectly!

I really LOVE those stashorganizer.com organizers! Wonderful!

I am Inspired by Sandy at Quilting...for the Rest of Us. Her Decluttering podcast got me moving and I found a great place to store my fabric.

Please head over to my podcast, and have a listen! :)

Countdown to Christmas Fabric giveaway!

A fabric giveaway!

There are 6 charm packs in this bundle.

Here is the line of fabric...

I am going to be giving away six packages of charms in the same line to those who comment on my podcast and blog. I will be posting a new podcast this week.

My question that I would like you to respond to is about fabric.

When I go to the quilt store, I am drawn to fabrics for others. I don't think to look for things that I want, but for what I can do for others. It has left me with a stash filled with children's fabrics.  I find myself wondering - When you go to buy fabric, who do you buy it for?

The drawing will be on September 12, 2011.

Inspired...in an odd way

Inspiration comes in the strangest places...

So I cleared my girls room...and put away all of their books.
Looking at the titles and the stacks...I found myself wanting to make a book quilt.

I am thinking...a quilt with a border all the way around that has strips that I can sew the titles of books on...and make a little bookshelf as the border around my quilt. Something cute should be in the center. I am thinking I should try some applique in the middle...maybe characters from my daughters book.

Hmmm....Just an idea....

By the Way....the kids book "Big Red Apple" is completed illustrated by applique - it is a quilt that goes through the story. It is beautiful! SO cool!!

Long Beach Quilt Show

I am going to the Long Beach Quilt Show! I am so excited!

Anyone else going to be there? I would love to say hi!

Hope you are having a wonderful day!
Kate

Crazy...but returning soon...

Hello Everyone!

I am sorry I have been insanely busy and I haven't had a chance to do much of anything for me.

Thank you, Nonnie, for reminding me, in your podcast, that people might be wondering where I went.

Summer school is cranking and I have a ton of work to do. I love it, but it means that I have no time to quilt. I actually had to hire a babysitter to watch my babies, even though I am at home, so that I could get all of my work done.

My quilting...well....it hasn't happened at all. I am worried that I won't remember how to do anything when I finally get the time to dive in.

Thank you, everyone, for sticking with me! I will hopefully have a podcast for you by Monday!

Have a wonderful, exciting summer day!
Kate

Podcast is suffering from technical difficulties!

Drat!!

I am having serious computer challenges and haven't been able to do my podcast. I am going to reinstall my recording software and hopefully that will help my problem. :-(

I am planning fabric giveaway with my next podcast. 8 fat quarters...up for grabs. Just need to get that sucker working again.

Nonnie asked what model my brother is. Here are the specs o. My sweet new machine. :-) I found a video link all about my fabulous machine.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0vtqy4Hrec&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Happy quilting!
Katie

My new Brother!

My brand new sewing machine! I love it. Sews wonderfully. Just wish I had more time to actually sew!

Another view. Just noticed all of my little do-dads and hoo-haws, like my quilting gloves and seam ripper. Sorry. I guess the picture is cluttered, like my mind. LOL.

Sorry for those who thought I have a new brother...as in a new person related to me. No...I just have my fabulous machine.

Wishing I could sew this week...but I can't justify doing it when I have dirty dishes and the floor needs to be vacuumed. Dang it.

More images of the rag quilt

It ragged up beatifully!! I love it!

See my corner stone....I don' t know that I really like the borders. Second guessing myself. I frayed up the ends an inch instead of half an inch...

Here is the whole thing! Pumpkin LOVES it. Wants it on her bed all the time. I am so happy that she loves it.

Podcast problems

Well....I have reached my podcast bandwidth limt this month. Wow! I love that people are listening, but it means that I can't upload as many podcasts. :( It looks like I can only do two podcasts a month, instead of four. Perhaps I will upgrade my account.

Super bummer.

So much to say about my new sewing machine. And Pumpkin's quilt....the cutting continues. More and more....cutting. Gave myself a blister on my finger from the cutting.

Pictures to come...

Podcast 7 is available!

Please come check out my latest podcast. All about this weekend and the insanity that has taken over my life. :) Vanilla getting sick....my sewing machine breaking....and my realization about my kids. I came to see that I need to make time...one on one....with each of my babies just to talk. I need to put the small stuff behind me and just enjoy them. The dishes will eventually get done. The beds might even get made....but they are the light of my life and I need to find the time to bask in that light. :)

Hope you are having a fabulous day!
Katie

Borders

My zigzag quilting on the borders. I basted these to keep them together before I quilted them.

Here is one of the light yellow border I am working on for Pumpkin's quilt. I added a line of stitches to one side so that I can cut/rag the side of the border for the outside of the quilt. I wanted a larger rag, so I quilted an inch in from the side.

Finishing up Pumpkin's quilt

Piecing together  four blocks into rows.

All of the blocks sewn together. 14 rows by 15. I LOVE that it is already quilted.

Worked very quickly to put together my 49 four blocks into seven rows. It only took me two hours to piece together the rows and then sew them together. I had held out seven two blocks, so that I could make my last row. I was amazed at how fast everything came together. I think it is looking so cute! However, I still have to do the borders. Haven't decided how to quilt the border yet. It needs to be prequilted before I attach it to the quilt.

Podcast 6 is now available!

Putting together my four blocks for the rag quilt. So hard to remember - HALF INCH SEAMS!

I can do it! I can make the seams half an inch! Looking for  a way to chain piece....

Vanilla and her first diorama. I explain about this in the podcast.

In this podcast, I talk a lot about my trip to Leavenworth, and the adorable quilt store that I fell in love with there. Here is the link to the bed and breakfast, that has a quilt store inside! Check out her website at http://www.quiltersheaven.com/dees.html. The store is 5000 times better than the website. I am looking to start her Block of the Month for Strawberry Hill. I hope it is still available. :)

Happy Quilting!
Katit