Sneak Preview of the latest quilt from KoolKat

SNEAK PREVIEW!



I just had to share with you a couple of pictures from my new design "Aussie ABC". It is a single bed quilt, featuring all things Aussie and using Aboriginal fabrics. It is so easy to make and I had a ball designing all the little critters in it!



We will be at the Quilt and Craft Fair in Brisbane 21-25 October with kits and patterns for this quilt and other original designs.




"T" is for Turtle
I expect that the kits will sell very fast as they are great value at only $150 including fabric and pattern book. Kits may be reserved in advance. There will only be 40 in the first release. The pattern books by themselves are $35

"B" is for Bilby (how cute is that!)
Would you belive that the "eye" happened accidentally as it was a detail in the fabric. I loved making this one!

Giant's Causeway

Today is reveal day on the Art Quilts Around the World blog. The theme for this challenge was "Where Sea and Land Meet" This is my interpretation. I have always marveled at the basaltic rocks that form the Giant's Causeway in Ireland. I hope to travel and see this ancient place someday.

I would like to invite you to to visit the Art Quilts Around the World site and see the rest of the challenge quilts. These ladies are so talented. I always enjoy seeing all the different ideas they come up with.

Finishing this quilt was the last big deadline I needed to meet. I'm looking forward to some down time soon. I cleaned 3 rooms of carpeting last weekend and still need to move the furniture back where it belongs. By the end of this coming weekend I should have my house back in order.

It is good to be back to a normal routine. I hope to catch up on my favorite blogs in the next week or so. It was really hard staying away and I have to admit I did a lot of lurking when I had free time.

First Kit from Roben-Marie Smith

Just downloaded the Considering Ruby from Roben-Marie Smith @ paperbag studios.

And here is my layout:


Having so much fun being a CT. Yippee

time!!!!

I do not have it!!  Do you ever fall victim to the conundrum of not having the time to blog about the things you're doing / thinking / feeling, because you're too busy doing / thinking / feeling the things you'd blog about?  It's where I am!

I didn't have a "Sew-freely Monday" because my boss, who had been out of the country for a week, returned to work yesterday and wanted me there to help catch him up.  Understandable.  I have today off instead, which is a pretty decent trade! 

I'm still working on finishing the table topper I started for my mom two weeks ago.  I've finished quilting the appliqués, and now I'm quilting "leaf swirls" in the center.  I'll probably machine quilt the sides . . . or not.  I haven't quite decided on that yet.  I'd like to have it ready to sew the border on tonight, though.  I have until Saturday to get it into the mail.  My folks leave today for Texas, to visit my youngest sister and her family, and they (mom & dad) won't be back until next week.  So I've bought myself a little time there!

I got a sweet call from sister Cynthia this morning.  She returned from Israel on Sunday evening.  I got a brief glimpse of her trip, but can't wait to hear more about it and to see pictures!!!!  I love to see the pictures people take on their trips.  The things people take pictures of gives one an idea about the picture-taker's perspective.  When I see Cynthia's pictures, I won't just be seeing Israel, I'll be seeing it as she saw it.  Interesting.  And, I can't wait!

Then the oldest of my younger sisters -- Julia -- called at around 8 am.  I'm sending BBSQ to her today.  She's using it in a display this weekend.  I need to get busy!!!!

I did something I've never done yesterday; a NEW thing!!  I entered an online quilt swap!!!  Doesn't that sound like fun?  It's a mini-quilt swap -- the largest it can be is 24" X 24", so it's not too overwhelming.  And the deadline for mailing is January 29th, so it's all cool.  I may use the topper that I've patterned and do a fourth.  I dunno.  I'll post the link for the swap this week -- it's a pretty cool concept.

What else?  Let's see, hopefully we'll hear something about Camp Macoba this week.  In the meantime, I just keep praying the prayer that never fails:  Thy will be done!  :)

I forgot to get a picture of my secret pal's gift this week.  It was cute!  I found some fun fall stuff at the dollar store -- a pretty stuffed pumpkin, a leaf-shaped votive candle plate, a bag of Hershey's kisses (ok, they weren't fall, but they were chocolate!), and an autumn angel with maple leaf wings -- very cute (and my sp collects angels).  I found a basket I'd had and arranged the things prettily and wrapped it with clear cellophane draped in fall-colored curly ribbons.  It was pretty!  I may have mentioned this, but I truly believe that half the fun of the gift is the packaging.  A simple gift, thoughtfully packaged, feels extravagant!  :)  At least, that's how it feels for me. 

Goodness.  I feel like there's so much more for me to say, yet if I stay here to write (type) them, I'm not quilting, or scanning more clippings, or going to the post office, or getting laundry done (which wouldn't hurt my feelings too bad)!  And the more I do today, the more I'll have to talk about later!

Enough!!!

:)

Bali Butteffly king size

It has been very interestting and stimulating for Kathy as a quilt designer to see her designs come to life. Liane at Wandoan adapted the Bali Butterfly design to King Size by adding extra Bali fabric to the border.

This quilt was made with a Bali Pop from the Bali Pop 1 range - these have now been superseded with the Bali Pop 2 range. To see the new range, clink on the link on the link below:
http://www.hoffmanfabrics.com/SuperStore/SuperStore-Assortment.asp?AssortmentID=302

We will have these new colours at the Brisbane Craft and Quilt fair at the Brisbane Convention Centre Ocoter 21-5. Come and saw hello if you're in town - KoolKat Quulting is at Stand C6.

Catching Up

Well, it's been a busy week, (see "Note" below.)
I have lots of chores and blogs to catch up with and I have no new quilts to show, but I can show you two fabric designs which I have been working on and that I just ordered from Spoonflower.


I decided to go with two colorful patchwork, "cheater cloth" designs. I thought that they offered some really fun sewing possibilities and I am excited to see how they look as actual fabric!


I'll be sure to post the fabric once I receive it :0)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Note: After a very busy week, with lots of last minute details, (no matter how well prepared and organized one is, and my daughter is, there are always last minute details!) I am happy to report that as of early this morning, eldest daughter has arrived safe and sound in London! Whew!

Both of us are a wee bit obsessive compulsive and all the "what if?" questions such as, "what if the car breaks down on the way to the airport?" can become exhausting... the fear of something going wrong was growing with each day, so knowing that she made it, that she is finally in the place that she has longed to be in for years... I am very happy and very grateful!
(Love you, Em!)

News and new links

KoolKat Quilting is taking the plunge and Kathy and Geoff will have their first ever stall at a major craft and quilt event - the Brisbane Craft and Quilt Fair held at the Convention centre, Brisbane on October 21-5. Please be sure to see us at Stall C6 - we'll have some great specials on Kathy's patterns and fabric kits. Kathy has been busy and will have a new pattern, tentatively titled 'Aussie ABC' to launch at the show.

Congratulations once again to Toowoomba Quilters for another successful annual quilt exhibition held during the annual Carnival of Flowers in September. There were some 200 entries. Our thanks to the many club members who have entrusted their quilts to KoolKat for quilting and who displayed their quilts at this and previous exhibitions.

Kathy and Geoff also did 'white glove duty' for the inaugural Australian Machine Quilters' Association exhibition held in Brisbane September 26-7. The standard high and humbling - there is some great work being done by machine quilters across the country. The home page of our website has a link to AMQA where you can find more details.

Meanwhile, here are some great links that Judi B of Bella OnLine gave us when we saw her recently.

http://craftgossip.com/

http://quilterblogs.com/

http://www.iquilt.com.au/

So excited

Just found out I was accepted on the Paper Bag studios creative team. So so so very excited. The designer is Roben-Marie Smith. Her designs are funky, great stuff. I especially like her elements. She is also at Digichicks. So check her out. I will post all the layout when they are ready.

just a quickie . . .

I have so much to share -- lots of things running around in my head today. From the ministry, to moving to the RV, to moving the RV . . . it's amazing to see God at work in so many areas in my life, and to see how it's all connected to one good.

I do want to share a quick pic I took Wednesday night -- this is an RV parking spot (!!!) up at Camp Macoba. It has full sewer, water, electric hookup. The little campsite sits at the top of about 110 acres of beautiful woods, ponds, creeks, meadows, and walking trails. Gorgeous. My dream yard! Over and over, as we looked at this and pray through the formalities, God keeps bringing my verse back to me -- Ps. 37:4: Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.

I'd love to share more, but now is not the time . . . busy day!

:)

Will I ever go to sleep?

Hello! It is very late... I am tired yet just cannot get to sleep. I tried ...trust me. After I was laying there... tossing and turning...messing up the bed I said... I am done with this.
I got up..., decided to have a good healthy snack..., and decided to read awhile and slowly but surely... I am feeling sleep may just come very soon. Hooray!
I plan when I awake in the morning to get to town on a quilt that is almost finished. It is a gift... then I have my list...and I will start on the next thing on the list. I am hoping for a good day... and I do not have to go anywhere either.
It is my day!
Oh... I am feeling it... sleep is coming very fast now... and with this good feeling, I am going to say good night! Cu all later..... Hugs Morgan

such a daze!

I think I got lost.

So much has happened over the past few days! Where to begin?

The first day, of course! Saturday and the Quilt Show! Oh wow. Let me just tell you how incredibly impressed I am with the quilting talent we have in the Huntsville/North Alabama area! *So many beautiful quilts!*  I worked Saturday for most of the day, being a floor hostess and then at the admissions table.  It was so gratifying to see so many people walk through the doors (after buying a ticket) to see all the wonderful handiwork!  I was thrilled to have the white gloves, so I could go around and inspect quilts all the more closely!

One thing that really captivated me was that, unlike at the national (or international) shows I've been to, where the quilter was from some far off state or even across the ocean from another country, all of these quilts were created by women I see at guild meetings every month.  They live and work and raise their families in the same area I do.  Fabulous quilting isn't just done by faceless folks.  I know them!  I could become them. 

With a lot of practice, time, patience and practice.  Lots and lots of practice.

The good news is, I bought *plenty* of new fabric to practice with!

So, I worked the show on Saturday, and took some pictures, and I think I purchased something from just about every vendor that was there (we had about twenty), even if it was just a fat quarter, as my way of saying "Thank you!" to each one of them for helping to make our show a success.  From what I gathered after speaking with many of them, the weekend was good for them, too.  I'm glad.  Happy vendors tend to come back for future shows!  I won't bore you with pictures of *everything* I purchased, but let's just say I got lots of different orange fat quarters (must be pumpkin month) and several MODA charm packs (for little baby blankets) and a very interesting tutorial on machine quilting, that came with pre-marked fabric to practice on!  Fun!

Sunday, after church, Todd and I headed back to the house and I made us a quick bite to eat, then we headed back to the show so I could continue to take pictures.  I'm fairly certain I got at least one picture of every quilt in the show.  I got duplicates of several -- especially if they caught my eye.  I'll post a few of my favorites before the week ends -- but I decided I won't post all of them!  I think the guild is going to post them all -- I'll link over to their link!

I wanted to be at the show on Sunday when they drew for the raffle quilt.  It was created (mainly) by one of the women in our guild.  One who happened to win several ribbons.  LOL -- Okay; we could enter up to four quilts.  Karen did.  She got three blue ribbons and one second place ribbon.  Plus one of those blue ribbons won the people's choice award, to boot!  Anyway, she did a beautiful job on the raffle quilt as well, and I'd have loved to have won it!  But no.  Oh well!  My quilt didn't win anything either, but I really didn't expect it to.  Not in a self-deprecating sort of way, but in a realistic, I-know-(now)-it-wasn't-a-show-quilt kind of way.  I'll speak more to that line of thought later one.  At five, my quilt (and my apron) were ready to be picked up and taken home!

As we headed toward home, James & Kim called and wanted to meet us for dinner.  Since we were already in town, we suggested Applebees.  They met us there at about six-thirty and we stayed there until after NINE!  It was a fun night and we talked and talked and talked.  It's nice to have that kind of relationship with your adult children!

Monday, I put my feet up!  I diddled, mostly.  A little tidying here, a little grocery shopping there, and a little scanning to add to the mix.  I also worked on the leaf & acorn table topper.  I was blanket stitching the outlines of the leaves; I started with the sewing machine and did one leaf, but I didn't like the way it looked.  So I pulled out the floss and finished the rest with a double dose of thread.  It looks better.  I varied the stitched lengths between the two remained leaves, so they all three have a little bit of a different look.  I'll probably go ahead and do this on all three of the toppers.

Jason and Jocelyn headed to the house on Monday for dinner with us.  I do love my children and spending time with them!  I'm really experiencing the best of both worlds in a lot of ways.  I've not felt in any way useless or like I'm missing something since both my children have moved out and on . . . and yet I still feel very privileged to be a part of their lives and to communicate with them (one way or another) on a very regular [daily] basis!  God is GOOD!

Work is work.  And why spoil a perfectly nice post by saying more?

FIN! 

:)

Monday.......

Monday... and my hubby still has not got homefrom work and it is already 1:00 pm. This is really a good thing. As for the last three weeks, his job has been slow. This hurts when paying bills. The times are so difficult for so many rights now. I think...from what I see on the news it will be getting worse before it gets better.

Yet I am going to twist this a bit and feel that in a short time things will get better. I am going to look at all I am lucky to still have... Moreover, how I can make things better for us and others. I am very grateful for so many things in my life. I just believe we need to stay positive and find ways to make it easier on our own lives. I am cutting back, on some of the things we really could do without... and... I am starting a garden in pots... that could help during the upcoming holidays. Veggies.... herbs
Making all of my gifts... some are plant pots handed painted by me... with a quilt pattern on it. I will give a herb to someone, and make him or her a quilt to match the pattern. This is something that does not cost a lot.

Today I am going to pick up a couple pots to start. (For the gifts). I tried it out on my very own pots; I have many just here sitting around waiting to have something in them. How pretty they look and it brightens them up. I used oil paint... as I oil paint. It does take three days for it to dry. Yet it will not wipe away this way, or the weather ruin the design on the pot. It can be used outside.

I am going to work on a hand-quilting project; I had started for my hubby. Tomorrow is my hubby’s birthday! Going to make him a German chocolate birthday cake too... and give him a pillow, I started of a picture of his boat on it.
I do hope everyone is having a great day... and remember to stay positive! Hugs Morgan

What a Great Saturday Morning!

Today I am feeling wonderful.... and I am up and about. Today I am starting on a few new projects. Going to do a few blocks... and then my hubby fixed my quilting frame for me and I shall do some work doing some hand quilting. Something I have never been able to understand is paper foundation...and many wonderful ladies I have met have given me some great sites to learn this technique. There are a few blocks I need to actually do this technique and I will be very busy, learning this.
I hope everyone is fine...and has a wonderful day! Hugs Morgan

shhhh!

Okay.  So there's a new text editor in blog-town and I just 
wanted to take a moment to check it out.

And voila, I'm done. 

Do you realize how many terribly creative people there 
are out there?  It floors me.

And it humbles me. 

:)

HOW COULD I FORGET???!

I can't believe I forgot to share this! A couple of weeks ago, I entered for chances to win on Mel's Own Place for her "blogiversary" event. She had some really *great* prizes and guess what? I WON! I won the 4th post - Swaps. My prize came in the mail Monday -- look what it is!!!!!!

Fat quarters! My favorite! Aren't they pretty?!?! I love the colors -- and they make me think of my sweet daughter-in-law, Kim. She's a brown and turquoise girl! Mel sent the fat quarters in a cute little pillow, along with a sweet note. Thank you, Mel, and congratulations on your anniversary!!!!

Today is TGIF! Don't forget to check out the Freebies Friday button on the left! They are giving away an inchie quilt book and tool. Fun stuff! Also, speaking of giveaways, check out the Gum Tree button to the left. This is a new group of nine Australian designers, and each one of them is doing some significant giving away, too!

Today is also the first day of our local quilt show!!!! HURRAH!! So much hard work has gone into this event. From the organizers, to the promoters, to all the show contributors -- it amazes me! We had the judge, Kathy Kansier, as our guest speaker at our guild meeting last night. Wow. She's quite fun to listen to and a fount of information. I was impressed with her guidelines for quilt judging, and it made me feel a little better about knowing my quilt probably had no business being in that show! :) What really impressed me about Kathy was that she incorporated her faith into her program. Not in an in-your-face kind of way, but in a way that let you know it had made a difference in her life and was a part of who she was. Neat lady. I'd like to take classes from her. She and her students will have a special exhibit at the Houston show!!!

I'll work tomorrow as a hostess, from 10-12, and then in the booth, from 1-3. Then I'll wander around to my heart's content!!! Oooh, and the craft show is also at the VBC this weekend, so I'll probably stop in there, too. Then, as a special bonus, Todd and I will go again to the quilt show on Sunday afternoon. My husband is such a good partner. The best.

One of my favorite web stores, Pumpkin Patch Primitives, has a new blog. You can check it out here. She has lots of fun projects and fabrics and is very personable too. Enjoy!

On a more serious note, here's a blog to take a look at: Building the Blocks. What an incredible family this is, with a passion for children needing adoption, and helping families fund those adoptions. They have a pretty incredible testimony. You can "click to give" to help a family adopt a precious one. Good stuff. :)

I had orientation for Tate Farms Cotton Pickin' Pumpkins yesterday. Whoohoo!!! Bring on the pumpkin season! I will be working on Saturdays in the admissions office, and sometimes in the country store (which is my favorite). I don't work here because I need the work; I do it because I really enjoy being out at the farm during the month of October! I love the crowds and the color and the air and the smell and the atmosphere! What a super-fun place! Maybe next year I'll see if they will let me have a quilt booth there on Saturdays! Wouldn't that be a fun thing???? I could do fall and Christmassy things. Bet they'd be big sellers! :) Hahaha -- this coming from the woman who's wondering why she put her quilt in the local show! Anyway, all the money I make from Tate Farms will go to outfit our RV and get it ready to take on the road. We are blessed.

Early, early, *so* early this morning, my friend Jennifer left for Nicaragua. She's going with a team up-river to help build a church for a small village -- Asang. That's what they are doing during the day. At night they are going into even smaller villages and sharing their testimonies and showing the Jesus movie. They will be speaking with people that have never heard the name Jesus before! I'm honored to be one of Jennifer's prayer partners. She will be on my mind and in my heart for the next week!!

Merlin found a sunny spot by the door. He's a good fellow and a sweet companion.

It's Friday -- the kick-off to a three day weekend. Yay!

Tenga un buen fin de semana!

:)

Spoonflower Love

As promised here is the finished result of the fabric design that I had printed by Spoonflower. I got to say I was thrilled with the results and completely delighted by the colors, (even though they were a little brighter then I had imagined) and how clear and sharp the details were!


Now that I see the results I'm anxious to order some new designs, of which I have been diligently working on. (So many ideas!) However being of frugal means, I can't just willy-nilly order every design I come up with and like. No, no, no. Each one has to pass a certain test in my mind as I ask the question, "is it Spoonflower worthy?" ...I feel a bit like Elaine on Seinfeld wondering if the men she dated were sponge worthy!


On another note, I have jumped on the Twitter band wagon. My main reason is so that I can easily keep in touch with eldest daughter when she leaves, (in a week and a half) to study abroad for the semester, (have mercy, I will miss her) However, I figured if I have it I might as well use it. Trouble is, I feel like a slow moving turtle crossing a 4-lane highway... very out of my comfort zone. (Heck, I don't even know how to text message someone... pathetic but true.) Will soon see how this newest venture into cyberville turns out, wish me luck!

I really haven't disappeared off the face of the earth -

I've just been sewing and proofing and sewing and proofing and sewing and.......well, you get the idea. It's about all of these deadlines for Fall Market.
This is the KC Star BOM by Edie McGinnis and myself that will show to the shops at Fall Market. Now that I have 9/10ths of my work done on it, I kind of like it again. In the middle of a big quilt or book, when all the pressure is on to get things done on time, sometimes I don't like them very much. I think that's why so many of my quilts are BOMs or BOM types. That way I really get to like each block as I finish it. Both versions of the quilt are made from Linda and my Blessings line - by Moda, of course. To see Edie's version (mine is more intense - go figure - and Edie's is softer and more subtle, go to pickledish.kcstar.com/)



And speaking of Edie - You all just have to see - and read - all of the awesome work she did on my Flags book. When I originally made this "Flags of the American Revolution" quilt, I had a small paragraph about the history of most of the blocks (or flags) in the quilt. She edited the book and took the idea and ran with it. There is a full page of history on the center eagle block and on each of the Flag blocks. It adds so much to the book that I tried to get her to have her name on the cover too, etc. She said no, that she was content to have her name on the history pages. And I have learned not to argue with Edie McGinnis. It just does no good at all. It turned the book into a great read with all sorts of information as well as, I think, full of great quilts to look at.



"Flags" was truly a collaborative quilt. One day my husband was "dinking" around on the net, looking for a Gadsden flag - the one with a coiled snake and the words "Don't tread on me". And he said, Jan, come here. I think these are your kind of colors and your kind of thing." So I did a little research on that site. I had already been scheduled to take a rare day off and go see my birthday sister Cherie Ralston in Lawrence. I jumped in my car the next day and as usual, instead of taking the day off, we played and she drew out the quilt for me. I can draw on the computer myself, now but she still does a lot of my left brain stuff whenever I yell "help". She's a very neat lady and I like her a lot.



Anyway, this is a great book - first to look out and secondarily, thanks to Edie McGinnis, great to read. I don't think it's up on my website quite yet - I just sent it to Shannon - but if you want one you can email Tara at info@janpatekquilts.com you can order one from her.
Cost is $24.95 + S&H.

Then there's this year's Girl Gang Quilt - Sunny Days that we're finishing up as well as 2 quilts using my our new Looking Back fabric line - one using lots and lots of Moda designer triangle squares. But I can't show them yet. We do have lots of things to look forward to.



Of course, I do have a life outside of quilting. Two of my grandchildren have birthdays this week. Aidan will be 7 and Cullen will be 3. Birthdays do have to be celebrated.

For now, back to proofing and sewing - ond proofing and sewing --------

And so, today, it's back to work! I really enjoyed my long weekend; especially my day of quilting. I accomplished most of what I wanted to get done. I really like how the tops of these fall table toppers turned out. I played around with the stitches on my Janome last night to see if I couldn't embellish the leaves (and acorns) a little. Good lessons learned last night! I went ahead and added a fourth acorn, and I used a tight zig-zag stitch to make the veins and stems. I know I still want to outline the leaves and the acorns -- I'll probably do a blanket stitch. I'm afraid to do that on the machine, though. I may get some floss and do that part by hand. Makes for a nice evening activity!

This afternoon, after work, I'll swing by Patches and Stitches and get some more of the acorn fabric for the backings, and the brown for the binding. And some more thread. And gosh, their Christmas fabric was really looking pretty when I was in there last . . .

But NO MORE BOOKS!

Then.......I drop off the quilt and apron for the show! I posted an event on Facebook, too. Lots of coverage; we want lots of folks to come out and see how fun quilting is! Then to Stuckey Builders and then HOME! Long day, non? But it should be prosperous!

Toodles!

:)

SEW FREELY MONDAY!

Okay. On today's (so-to-speak) design wall . . .

I wanted to do a really simple table topper (square) for my mom. Then I made it *so* simple I decided to do three, one for my mom, and then one for my daughter and my daughter-in-law. The tops are all pieced, I just have to cut out the rest of the leaves, press 'em and stitch. Then the tops will be finished. I'll back them with the cute, cute, CUTE acorn fabric, and then bind them with the darker brown. Fun colors. The photos don't do justice.

For the last five or six years, I've made it a tradition to send my mom something squirrel-related every fall. This year, will be this cute little fellow:

He's using the same fabric as the acorn bottoms in the table runner. The acorns in the tea towel are the same fabric as the acorn tops in the runner.

Let's see. I also squared up BBS quilt top, and cut out and squared up the flannel back. At least, they are both squared up providing the lines in my kitchen floor linoleum are squared. I had swept and mopped the kitchen floor this morning, so I could lay the top and back on the floor to get them ready for quilting. I'd no sooner got them down when Merlin, my little black cat, just *had* to try and walk on them. Stinker.

Lastly, I had to put a tag and a sleeve on the back of the Grand Hands quilt, to get it ready to turn in TOMORROW!!! I can hardly believe the quilt show is this coming weekend!! I can't wait to see what other women from our guild have done! We have lots and lots of talented women (and men) in our group. Should be an incredible show. I'll take lots of pictures!

So. There's my day. To see what others are doing with their design walls, check out Judy's Patchwork Times blog! There's LOTS of quilting going on out there today! I do love Mondays!

For now, back to the cutting board . . .

cya!

:)

Beautiful Batik

Hope you all like color because my latest piece is almost dripping color!

It's another patchwork table runner, (or wall hanging if you prefer) this time done in assorted batik fabrics. (Actually, one of those fabrics pictured above is not a batik but a commercial print... anyone spot it?)


I rarely use batik fabrics yet am highly attracted to them. These two factors have helped me, over the years, to amass a nice little stash of the beauties and I thought that they would be perfect to finally use in some runners.


I am really enjoying working in this style of patchwork and quilting. Maybe it is the former weaver in me but I find myself very intrigued by this closely spaced, straight line quilting. I am definitely going to be doing more!


This Quilted Patchwork Batik Table Runner is now available for sale in my shop.

Also, I received my first order from Spoonflower, (Heaven help, me I like it!) Will post it next time around.
Till then, have a great day everyone!

P.S. A mighty big thanks for all the kind words and support from my last post. You are a wonderful group of people!

LAZY DAY?

Well, it certainly started off that way. I was not motivated to do much of anything this morning! We slept in late -- it was nearly 7:30 when we got up this morning! Then we lounged around drinking coffee and discussed all the things we *could* do, until about 10:30. The day really did get off to a slooooooow start! But then I wrote my list and headed off to the grocery store, and things picked up from there.

I was reading Hanne's Quilt Corner blog and she has a picture of a beautiful hexagon quilt she's worked on in today's entry. It reminded me that I still have not shared pictures of the unfinished quilt top that belonged to my Grandma Wadleigh, which my aunt sent me last month. Here it is! You can see from the closeups that not only did she hand piece, but she fussy cut a lot of the hexagons. Whew. I'm not sure when I'll get around to finishing this up! I'm a more than a little anxious about it -- I don't want to mess it up! It's very dear and precious to me!



As I was sorting my magazine clippings this week for scanning, I came across a recipe for "Scotties" that looked pretty good. It was a nice change of pace from brownies. I tried 'em out today -- they were very easy and are very tasty. I will send the plate in with Todd for the crew at Station 6, tomorrow! Here's the recipe:


Scotties

1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter
1 large egg
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 Tbsp baking powder
Pinch of salt
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup chopped nuts

1. Heat oven to 325°F. You'll need a 9-inch square pan lined with nonstick foil (let foil extend 2 inches above pan on opposite sides).

2. Put sugars and butter in a 2-quart saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring, 5 minutes or until butter is melted and sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and let cool about minutes.

3. Whisk in egg, then whisk in remaining ingredients until well blended.

4. Spread in prepared pan. Bake 30 to 35 minutes until sides being to pull away from foil and pick inserted near center comes out with moist crumbs clinging. (Batter will rise, then fall. Edges will be higher than the center; that's okay.) Cool in pan on wire rack.

5. Lift by foil ends onto cutting board. Cut into 6 strips, then cut each strip into 6 squares. Store in an airtight container at room temperature up to 1 week.


Mmmm, mmmm, GREAT!

Let's see . . . what else? Oh yeah. I remembered I have a gift for my Secret Pal this week. I hate spending money I could be spending on my Pal on the gift bags, so I've challenged myself to use things I have here at home to cleverly wrap the gifts I leave for her. She's a big John Deere collector, so this week I pulled out some leftover fabric I had from the Grand Hands quilt and came up with . . .


TaaaDAH! What's the saying? Necessity is the mother of invention!

Last but not least, here's a glimpse of what I'll be taking in this evening and tomorrow afternoon between church services!


October's issue of Quilter's World


The September/October issue of Southern Lady


and the Halloween issue of Celebrate!

Can you say, "Happy Camper!"?? That's me!

:)

Lastest purchase

Okay I know I don't NEED anymore kits but I couldn't resist.

From oscraps I picked up the new Taylormade and Paislee Press collab.



And from Digital Scrap Cafe Scooty's Design Fresh Spring

Would you like Zig with your Zag?

'Would you like Zig with your Zag?' is the Kathy's newest pattern design released this week. It is a strip-pieced quilt inspired by the designs of the Seminole Indian tribe. It is a Jelly Roll friendly design - the Kaffe Fasset fabrics used in this sample can be substituted with one Jelly Roll or Bali Pop set for feature print fabrics. For more information, click here.

OH WELL!

It's FRIDAY! Hooray for Friday!!

I couldn't do it. I had to tell my sister that I was working on something for her. I even sent her a picture. I can't keep quilt secrets!! (Except that big one I kept from my mom!) Here it is...

I absolutely love the fabrics in this! When I saw the rooster print (from the French Country Rooster line from Clothworks), I thought immediately of my sweet sister and KNEW I had to do something for her with it. The pattern is actually one Thimbleberries (I think) did a long time ago for use with a snowman and lights--sorta country-Christmassy--but it lends itself well to whatever applique I've wanted to do. I did it with different horses, and I'll do one with cats in the near future. This time it's a rooster with the cupola and probably sitting hens in the corners. Love it, love it, love it!

You know, for years I've been saying that I'm not the kind of quilter that buys fabric just because I like it . . . when I buy fabric it's because I've got a specific project in mind. I'm not a stash builder or a fabric collector. I'm not fabric frivolous.

Or am I????

I've recently purchased quite a bit of different fabrics (a lot with a specific project [vaguely] in mind) and last night I got the urge to pull out my fabric bin and fold and sort everything I had.

Um. That was a bit bigger project than I thought it would be. I was quite frankly AMAZED at the amount of fabric I had. And even more amazed to hear myself exclaiming over my finds (which I OWN) as I sorted and folded. I was having a moment of duality. On the one hand, I was so enjoying the feel, color, and prints of each piece of fabric. On the other hand, I was ever so amused with myself.

La. One of the quilters of whose blogs I read, recently commented that she was on a mission to not buy more fabric until she'd used all her scraps or stash or something on projects. I thought, Hey! That's a good idea for me -- I've got *lots* and lots of fabric, big and small amounts. I should do that! And so last night I resolved I would not buy another scrap of fabric until I had used that stash that I'd built (and am, I have to admit, a little proud of).

After today, I mean. After all, today was the day to turn in my blocks to Patches & Stitches and get this month's installment. I feel obligated to support small, local businesses -- especially quilt shops. What could I do? If it makes me feel better, I do have a specific project in mind, that I plan to start on my next Sew Freely Monday.

Yum.

:)

God Bless

Downloadable craft patterns

KoolKat Quilting now has patterns listed on a brand new website, eCraft patterns. This website is due to be launched very shortly by Christine Abela of Gecko Gully Website Design. More information can be found here

TGIT!!!

Are you frantically trying to figure out if you missed a day or if I missed a letter?

No! Thank You, God, it's Thursday!

I realized this morning that I've really always liked Thursdays. I'm not sure why. To the best of my knowledge nothing spectacular has happened to me on a Thursday. I wasn't born or married on a Thursday. My children weren't born on Thursdays. I really couldn't pinpoint one singular event that would cause me to not just *like* Thursdays, but be really excited that it is Thursday.

Unless . . . maybe just maybe . . .

This is the day that the LORD has made?? He made all days, I know. But just think, way back to the beginning . . . He did some incredible things on each of the 'first' days. On the first "fifth" day, or Thursday, though, He made all manner of creatures to live in the oceans, and birds to inhabit the air! I love birds! They bring so much interest and enjoyment; between their song, their beauty, and their antics, they are well-rounded entertainment! And fish? My husband *loves* to fish! It's where he is headed right this moment!

I can't imagine what this day -- this Thursday -- would be like if the Lord hadn't seen fit to do on the original Thursday what He did. I wouldn't have enjoyed the cheery call of the wren this morning, or the dozens of sparrows making a mad dash from my boxwood hedge this morning as I passed by, and my dh would have headed into work as normal, instead of heading to the lake with his dad. How blah. God, You are SO good!

This *is* the day that the LORD has made; I WILL rejoice and be glad in it!

Viva jueves!

:)

Not Playing With a Full Deck

Our Art Quilts Around the World group recently hosted a postcard exchange based on the theme "playing cards". I love ink and pen illustrations from the late 1800's and early 20th century. I decided to use the drawings of John Tenniel from "Through the Looking Glass and what Alice Found There" by Lewis Carroll.

I used pigma pens to recreate the outline and shading and then colored the post cards using my colored pencils. I heat set the pencil ink into the fabric and sent them off in the mail to California and Australia. I have always been suspicious of the Kings and Queens in a deck of playing cards and finally figured out why.

I really enjoy being a part of this group. The women are very diverse in their talents and I love having a deadline to meet. It forces me to break away from production for my shops and make time for myself.

I will be at the Madison Quilt Expo on Saturday. Please let me know if you will be there. I'd love to say hello.

Have a great weekend!

Chris

My first blog

Well here it is my first blog. And of course it is all about scrapbooking.

THOUGHT PROCESSES . . .

May I make a confession?

I've really been struggling about just what books/magazines/media would make the shift from our 3,000+ square foot home, to our 300 (maybe) square foot RV, with a 3,000 lb weight limit.

Really, REALLY struggled!

We're tossing all the dvd clamshells and putting all the dvd's into one of those books made just for that. That's condensing. We'll no doubt do the same for our cd collection. I reported earlier this week that I was scanning my magazine clippings into pdf files, and I think I've resigned myself to doing that for the intact magazines I was planning on keeping too. Instead of keeping any of my quilt magazines, I'll go through and scan the projects or articles that I really want to be able to reference (some day way on down the line), and toss the bulky magazine. I think I'm going to keep my Tea Time magazines intact. They are more of a collection; I've got every single issue that's ever been published. But, as time passes, I may even just scan those, too. So, see? I've struggled, yes, but I'm also conquering. I am woman, hear me roar!

And then there's my precious books . . .

Hey, I've come a long way. I've sorta-kinda gotten over the book thing. This is major. MAJOR! I have a *huge* collection of books. Shelves and shelves and shelves. Books double-stacked on shelves and shelves. Books stacked in random spots. Books stacked in hidden spots! I love to read, and I love to buy books. Lots of all kinds of books. Have I mentioned I have a lot of books? Cookbooks, fiction books (then there's the whole break down of those), historical books, crafting books, hymnals, children's books, reference books, Bible study books; there really are a lot of 'em.

L O T S.

But. I have sucked it up and decided that with the exception of my Bible, one or two really good Bible references (that I can't get on cd-rom), and my Mitford series books (including the cookbook, the beside companion, and the rest), the books go. Or rather, they don't go with me on the RV.

Ooops. Then there's my quilting books. I'm taking 'em. I AM TAKING THEM! It's not like I have a whole lot. I've put a moratorium on purchasing them. No, really -- I just last weekend put down two books that I had in my hand and was ready to purchase. Discipline, right? As it is, I only have enough to fill a shelf that's right at a single yard long. Not bad, eh? Especially for one like me who is a BOOK FANATIC! I think it's pretty incredible. So incredible that the books themselves deserve to make the move.

Have I talked me into it yet?

It means I probably can't take any shoes. Oh the sacrifices I have to make.

I prefer flip-flops anyway.

:)

Even more good news

My Mom Georgia Starley's patriotic log cabin quilt has won the Viewer's Choice award at the Springville Museum of Art Quilt show. This award is in addition to the flawless workmanship award. It's been a great show.

Cheating Yourself

This morning I accidently stumbled upon an Etsy quilter who had copied some of my work and the work of another well known Etsy textile artist. At first I just wanted to chalk it up to a freak coincidence. Two people who had similar ideas at the same time. It happens. But when I looked at the whole shop, I couldn't deny that some of the pieces were blatant rip-offs. They had even used parts of the wording and phrasing found in my descriptions for their own. I was shocked.

I am not going to name names, or pursue this, as I don't want to use up my energy on negative issues.
But I will say this...

We all get inspired by others. It can not be helped. But inspiration should take the form as a starting point towards blazing a new direction, it should not be an invitation to trod down someone else's path. The main work and reward of being an artist is to tap into yourself and mine what treasures of your own you have to offer the world. That's your job.

It is of course wrong to take from others, and pass them off as original works of your own. However, in my opinion, it is even more morally wrong to never explore your own voice, to never dig down and find what gifts you can bring to the table.

When artists share their work, they are doing so in a spirit of community. There is an honor code and a sense of trust. When you take their offerings and try to prosper by selling them as your own, you break that code of honor. You cheat them but you cheat yourself more.

You will never know the joy of being in that zone, when creative ideas flow from you and time stands still. You will never know the thrill of having that kind of energy rush through you. You will never know what you could have accomplished, what new offerings YOU could have brought to the table, had you only done the WORK.

Learn from those that have gone before you. Let yourself be inspired by them, but take that inspiration as a light to help guide you on your own path. Don't be afraid. Discover YOURSELF, don't cheat yourself!

LOVING IT!

That it's Tuesday morning, that I got so much accomplished over the weekend, that my boss was in a great mood this morning, that it's fall . . . what's not to love?!?

While I was scanning clippings into my computer, I came across a very darling pattern for a fall table runner. It's very simply pieced, but it has big leaves and acorns appliqued down the center. Very cute! The leaves and acorns would be the perfect use for the fall fabrics I got last week -- I just need a plaid for the border. I've probably got something on hand that would work for the center. It's nice to have gotten my 'stash' to the point where I can say that (and not have it detriment some other project I've purchased it for -- which I have done)! I'd like to make a simple runner for Jocelyn, Kim, and my mom. Of course, I told the girls last year that the first one to have family Thanksgiving at their house would get the pretty runner I made last year! :)

I'm really tickled with the project I'm working on that I can't talk about. It's fun to see tangible evidence of what started as a simple idea. I love playing with fabric and colors and shapes! I think perhaps I was born to quilt. LOL!

I need to square up the pieced top of BBS quilt and cut out and do the same for the flannel back. I'll get it to Becky this week! Whoohoo!

This afternoon I'll go from work to Stuckey Builders and take care of his books. Then I'll stop and get us something for supper. We were going to have sloppy joes, but I cannot find the freezer bag of it anywhere! I've been through both freezers twice -- all I can think is that I bagged that up with Jocelyn's stuff. Ah well -- nothing that I had in there sounded good for tonight. I may have to settle for Chinese. *grin*

I can hardly write without including a picture . . . last night I went to sit on the porch for just a bit to watch the storm that was passing to the South. As I came out the door, I saw the big, white, fluffy tail of Bernadette walking into the cluster of evergreens around the storm shelter. She wasn't rushing -- just taking her time, swishing that tail of hers. Bernandette is one of our three skunks. She's the most beautiful -- mostly white -- sparkly white -- with very, very long hair. She's definitely the prima dona of the bunch! Anyway, she left before I could get a camera shot of her, but I did turn on the fairy lights and sit on the porch for a while. I'll upload the picture later, when I get home.

Enough for now!

Hasta luego!

:)

SEW FREE MONDAY!

As in, "So free to SEW on Monday!" Catchy, non? I think so. I also think this is the first of many such wonderful Mondays! Know why? Because as of this week, I no longer work on Mondays! Hurrah! So (sew) I shall dedicate Mondays to days of quilting and the like! Isn't this absolutely wonderful??? It makes me SMILE!
What a super weekend I've had! It started Saturday morning. Todd chose not to work overtime, but to spend the day with me! Yay! We headed to Madison and the Cracker Barrel there for breakfast. From there we were going to go to Decatur to a quilt shop (don't I have the most wonderful husband?!?), but when I called them, they didn't have what I'd hoped they would have. Seemed a shame to drive all the way out there for something I could get in town, so we headed back to Huntsville and Hancock Fabrics.

It was my lucky day. Hancocks had solid flannel quilt backing - 108" wide. Yay again! When the clerk cut it for me, he commented that it was a new item -- they'd only just put it out within the hour. Wow! While I was there I found some really pretty autumnal fabrics that will make GORGEOUS applique leaves! I'm finally finding my fabric fetish, I think. There were lots of fun Christmas fabrics, too, but I held off! There's time . . . sorta! Are they pretty? They all have sparkle! Here's also the fabrics I got in the mail this week. I love mail ordering!!!



Anyway, from Hancocks we headed home. From there it was a domestic day. We picked the rest of the apples from our trees and then I picked tomatoes and the last of the cucumbers and a couple of cantaloupes, while Todd picked tomatoes and raspberries! He stayed out in the yard, tending to the garden and watering plants and trimming bushes and putting out birdseed. He also re-hung the bird feeder tray outside my yellow room window! I love to watch the birds while I sew! Plus Todd informs me that the squirrels are back -- perhaps they'll find their way to it too!

I high-tailed it into the kitchen and put up stewed tomatoes and green peppers, baked a pan of brownies, baked a raspberry cobbler, and got dinner ready; home made meatball subs, potato wedges, and a recipe from Eating Well magazine that my daughter had recommended to me -- Corn & Tomato Saute. It was really good! We had cobber & vanilla ice cream for dessert. Bliss!

After dinner, we camped out in the living room. Todd was going through his RV helpful hints book, and I was scanning. So many years ago, I got the bright idea to clip articles, ideas, recipes, etc. from magazines and filing them -- so I didn't end up saving a whole magazine for a couple of pages of interest. Great idea, right? Not so much, when you're moving into an RV that has a limited weight capacity, and my 'saved' clippings were already close to 50 pounds! Egads! So *then* I got the bright idea to SCAN all of my clippings, and store them appropriately on my laptop! They'd be a LOT lighter, and a lot easier to access, to boot! So, that's what I did.

And we watched the game. The GAME. The season opener for the Alabama Crimson Tide. Whew! They sure didn't want anyone to get comfortable, did they? What a four quarters! They played Virginia Tech, which is rather funny; my nephew Ben (the B in BBS quilt) is a freshman there. We texted back and forth throughout the game. Happy ending. For our home, anyway!

We topped off Saturday night by retiring to the RV. Yep, we slept out there! It was a good night's sleep. :)

Sunday we headed to church at Lighthouse, came home to eat dinner, headed to WalMart and Tractor & Supply, and spend a quiet evening with Todd playing xbox, and me scanning. And once again, we retired to the RV for the night. I could get used to it! (Ha ha, I know!)

Today finds Todd back on shift and me in the yellow room. Guess what?? I FINISHED IT! I need to square it up, and then it's off to the long-arm quilter!! Whooo whooo!

Now I'm going to finish piecing the gift quilted wall hanging. And some more scanning. Oooh--and probably some more reading. I finished the last of the Mitford series this morning; I'll start the Father Tim series (of which there's only one book right now) next. Lemme see; I think that's it. There's a pot of Constant Comment on the warmer, and a brownie for an afternoon pick-me-up. Life is good.

Sew Free Monday. Amen & amen!

:)

Patchwork Days

Hard to believe that this summer is coming to an end soon. Weather wise, the days have been so spectacular! Before the season is officially over, I thought I should make something that reflects the beautiful colors and wonderful patchwork of unstructured days that make summer so special.



This pretty patchwork table runner features various prints from Kaffe Fassett and Philip Jacobs.


I stitched the quilted rows very close, (3/16" apart) and used various colors of thread, (Sulky's Premium Cotton which is slightly thicker then regular thread.)


The various stitched rows of color thread help to create a very subtle color overlay pattern on top of the fabric prints... a bit hard to see in these photos but a really lovely effect in person.


The back of quits can be as much fun to make as the fronts!


And of course, this Patchwork Table Runner is currently available in my shop!