Sixth And Last Quilt Layered For Now

I finished layering this quilt. It is the last one I am layering until I get these 6 quilts finished.
I picked up my machine that was being fixed so nothing can stand in the way now.
I am now ready to start the machine quilting on the remaining 5. I DO love to do machine quilting, especially when I can just play and move around.
Several of this group will require some precise quilting.
It is going to be great when I can add all 6 of these to my finished quilt list.
It will not be a race to see how fast I can do them. I’ll do it as the spirit moves me. Having them ready to quilt makes it easier to listen to that spirit!

I have had questions about the design of this quilt and the fabric. I am adding another picture which shows one yard of the fabrics. I designed the fabric and it is available through Spoonflower from this link.
http://www.spoonflower.com/profiles/kaydesignsfabric

 

I added the blue hand dyed fabric as a design element.

3 More Quilts Layered, 1 Quilted!

I was able to get 3 more quilts layered. Once they are layered the quilting goes quickly on most of my work.
I even got the 6 pointed star in the foreground quilted.
It is done with a technique I developed to make it easy to piece 6 pointed stars with no sewing yourself into a corner!
Hope my machine will be back soon as my little machine will not handle any of these well.

3 Quilts Layered

My current priorities are to get some of my quilts layered and ready for machine quilting.

My main sewing machine is being fixed so I want to have several ready when it is finished.

The smallest ones could be quilted on my smaller machine.

For those of you who are quilters you may notice I have used two different types of pins to hold the layers together.

On small quilts I often use my flower pins and double dip them and then bury the sharp tip in the layers. This works very well.

I often do this on larger quilts too. This time since I am going to be layering about 7 quilts I knew I would run out of pins.

With this in mind I used safety pins on two of these quilts.

Hopefully I will be able to make some quick progress on these quilts as soon as my machine comes home!

Still Haven’t Found It

If you have been following the search for the CC I am continuing to search for it.

I can’t believe I put the CC in the dryer while I was loading the wash machine…but I did. Took it our though before I ran the dryer so where is it?

Oh yes, now I remember I put them in the dishwasher so I could get it unloaded quickly. But where did it go from there?

Of course- right on the top shelf of the pantry – or so I thought. It’s not there.

Of course, I got out the mini shopping cart I use for napkins and plates when I entertain and I must have put it away with the shopping car. I just went and looked and I found the shopping cart but not the CC.

I wouldn’t think anyone would want CC with hot homemade bread…but I guess someone might have. The bread is gone but I still can’t find the CC.

Since I won’t be having a party soon I guess I still have time to look for it. Hope I find it.

Behind The Tree

I finished this quilt which is the coordinating one for Brain Waves.

Here is the completed quilt.

You have seen this version before. When I studied it I realized I need two more branches on the lower left.

And that is what got me into trouble when the coordinating quilt was underneath if when I stitched those lines. The story was on yesterday’s blog post.

I hope I NEVER do anything like that again!

Another one named by the same friend that named Brain Waves. Do you think I should let him continue naming some of my quilts?

I think it may have gone to his head as he is naming the dresses worn on the Oscars! The quilts fared far better than the dresses did!

Brain Waves

I have finished another quilt, but not without a major bump in the road along the way.

This is what it looked like last time I showed it to you.

You may remember I was making two companion quilts. I decided the companion quilt needed two more rows of satin stitching. I got the stitching done on the companion quilt although it wasn’t as easy to do the stitching as it had been doing it the first time. Then I looked for this quilt so that I could trim them.

It was right underneath the other quilt and I had satin stitched through both quilts!

Of course I had no choice but to remove the stitching. It was not easy to remove as it was a very narrow row with the stitches very close together. It didn’t take me as long as expected – only about 3 hours. Of course it helped that my friend Sally was her working on her quilt so I had someone to talk to while I did it.

When the satin stitches were removed they left very prominent needle holes in the quilt.

I cleaned up the loose threads and steamed it but the holes were still obvious.

So I threaded the machine with the same thread I had previously used and proceeded to add three more rows of stitching.

I barely had enough thread and finished the last row with less than a yard of the thread I was using!

I turned a lemon into lemonade as the extra rows of stitching added more interest and movement to the piece.

I did have help naming this one in a brain storming session with a friend.

Some Of My Prize Winning Quilts

A message from a friend this morning gave me the idea to share a few of the quilts I’ve one prizes with.

The colors in Thirties Baskets are not the colors most people would associate with my work. Yet, there are many things about the design and color selection that are my style. I can’t remember what awards this one got as it is not one of my most recent works.

Five Forever won First Place in the Quilters Express To Japan contest. Quilts had to be made with a certain group of fabrics. It was shown at the Yokohama Quilt Show in Japan.

In Living Color was a winner in the Jinny Beyer/RJR Palette contest. I won first prize professional.

This is the center area of Bordering On A New Millennium. The entire quilt has been a difficult quilt to get an accurate photo of. this photo shows the colors very accurately.

This is the entire quilt. It won First Place Large Quilt in the Jinny Beyer/RJR border fabric quilt contest.
Since I don’t produce quilts to enter contests for the most part I don’t have records of what quilts won what awards. I am sharing these from memory.
I was more likely to produce quilts and then find they are perfect for a specific contest.
There are many others that have won awards and maybe I’ll share them another day.

It’s A Fingerless Mitten Kind Of Day In Florida

As I sat here at the computer my hands were cold. Then I realized I had these in the basket on the side table.
They sure feel great and my hands are warming up.
By Sunday the temperature will be back in the 80’s!
We’ve had one of the strangest cold winters this year. Week days are cold but it warms up for the weekends. Great for people  who have the weekend off.

Cowl Is Finished!

This looks pretty boring in the photo, but it is drapey and warm.
I finished it just in time as our high temperatures in Florida will be 45 degrees today.
I am wearing it right now and hopefully will finish the sweater from the same yarn today.
I started the cowl first so it makes sense I finished it first.
I had less than 5 yards of yarn left.
I was so much fun and such an easy project to knit.
Here is a link to the free pattern:
http://www.simplymaggie.com/chunky-tri-style-knit-cowl-pattern-free
I know, mine doesn’t look at all like the pattern. That is one of the good things about knitting and knowing the weights of yarn.
You can adapt them to the yarn you have and/or love!

Oversized Sweater Almost Done!

In October my BFF Robbie was knitting a cowl.

I loved it. I found yarn to knit it in my yarn collection. I thought it would take a little over one skein.

Then I realized I had 6 skeins of this yarn and decided to knit a sweater, intending to add the cowl to the neckline!

I soon realized that on a bulky oversize sweater like this a cowl would have been too much.

It got put away as other things took priority. I got it out this week figuring if I didn’t finish it the weather would turn warm and I wouldn’t get a chance to wear it. I was OK with the weather turning warm!

Right now it is 73 degrees here but the temperatures will be heading down to highs of 50’s this week.

If I get the side seams sewn and ends taken care of I will have several days to wear it!

You can see the colors better with this close up.

I still have the cowl in progress and it looks like I’ll have enough yarn to finish it too. However I doubt I’ll wear them both at the same time.

Game Playing Friends!

We have a group of friends who get together about once a month to play  a card game or we could race our horses!

We were fortunate to have a warm evening so we could enjoy conversation, cocktails and appetizers enjoying the weather and the new furniture on the lanai.
We always welcome everyone's house guests to our get together and Mary brought her house guest.

The men always gravitate to the round table where I think they probably solve the world’s problems.
After appetizers it’s time for dinner.
Our dinner menu is always a cooperative meal with the hostess making the main course and the rest of the group contributing something to the meal.
I made Mexican Chicken sandwiches, Pat brought her special hot pineapple, and Marion shared delicious coleslaw.
Lynn made her now famous Berry shortcake.
After dinner we played a game of 31 and I didn’t see who won as I was one of the first out.
A great time was had by all.
And in case you are wondering I didn’t find the CC so I’ll keep looking!

Now Where Did I Put That?

Do you ever forget where you put something?

I am having a group of friends over and I can’t remember where I put the CC.

Each time I move something it is harder to find it.

I know I set it down on the dining room table but it’s not there anymore.

Oh, I do remember moving it over to the sewing machine. It’s no longer there as I had to sew. Where else could I have put it?

I do remember both bottles being by the TV. No, not there anymore either.

Oh, yes, I moved it over to the kitchen counter. But it’s no longer there.

I remember now. The doorbell rang and I had to put it down on the table by the front door to sign for a package. No, I must have moved it somewhere else.

I’m going to have to look for it a little later. I may not find it before this evening so I hope no one is a CC drinker.

Happy Valentine’s Day

A few weeks ago I was saying how I limit myself to one piece of my Godiva chocolates per day. My friend Pam Gray surprised me with a box of Lindt chocolates. She also included this heart she embroidered. I absolutely love thread embroidery and it is something I do not do.

This heart is extra special as it brings back so many memories of adventures we shared. It is always within my sight on the end table next to my chair. It also keeps Pam and her family in my thoughts each and every day.

Can’t Get Enough Of Eatons Beach

First of all I have to thank my BFF Sally for introducing me to Eatons Beach.

This is a view from the parking lot. You can’t begin to  imagine what is yet to come as you enter.

I’ve yet to venture down to the Sandbar, but I will on one of my visits.

These are some of the unique chairs you can sit on as you wait or just admire the view.

The sandy beach and the view as far as the eye can see.

I have been remiss in posting food pictures lately.

My Citrus Glazed Salmon Salad was out of this world delicious. I took home enough for a filling dinner too.

Jean declared her Shrimp and Garlic Pasta excellent and also had enough for tonight’s dinner.

I was so busy posting reunion photos last week I didn’t get a chance to post this photo of Tom Hansen relaxing on one of the decks after dinner at Eatons Beach.

Yes, I shall return again and again as there are so many things I’m looking forward to trying. After that I’ll be returning to eat my favorites once again.

My First Selfie and It Starts With K!

If you can’t remember my name just say the alphabet counting with your fingers. When you use up both hands the next letter is my name!

I started knitting this sock a long time ago. I messed up and ripped it back. over an inch.  I couldn’t seem to get things back on the Size 0 needles so I put it away. Today I tried again with good light and was able to get everything straightened out. I LOVE the colors in this yarn.

Community Car Show

I wanted to share a few of the cars I enjoyed at our car show Sunday.

I don’t even know what kind of cars most of these I will post are. I am just posting because I like them!

Thought this was fun and I LOVED the color!

Loved the gentles curves of this one. There’s that famous lady again!

I’m thinking someone did a lot of work on this pretty purple car!
I could share many more but I decided just to give you a little taste of the quality and variety in the car show.

Works In Progress

I’m back in the groove creating and finishing quilts again.

I started this quilt on a visit to Hilton Head Island a little over 4 years ago. It was right about the time Laney was born so that is how I can date things…birthdays, weddings, etc.

I was at a loss as to what it needed and last night it spoke and what it told me was something I enjoy doing.

I did all the brown curved satin stitch on it.

This one started as the positive image of the negative image I started with in the previous quilt.

It took off in a different direction when I added the rose leaf shapes.

Last night I added narrow satin stitching emphasize the image I had created previously.

I will finish both of them with a zigzag edge finish. I’ll add a casing on the back to put in a slat to hang them and they will be finished.

Only a little over 4 years for them to speak up and tell me how to finish them!

Negative Positive Game Quilt

Knowing that our quilt group had just a few people in attendance the Wednesday before Thanksgiving I came up with an idea to boost attendance in 2014.

It worked as we had a lot of people come.

Of course I had to do some preparation to share this idea/technique. I did make up all the squares and fused squares everyone used.

While watching TV I did some cutting of images to use on the squares. I did get a little carried away.

I had enough to do this quilt which is 7 squares by 8 squares.

Can you find the blocks with the matching images?

Sometimes using a different background can make it next to impossible to see that they are done with the same image.

The quilt is finished and has a top and bottom rod pocket so it will hang straight.

It’s really a fun technique to do and I couldn’t stop until it was finished.

Our Community Invitational Vintage Car Show

I heard my BFF Carol was at the car show with Trudy. I got there and found her right away and they our BFF Beth found us.

Here’s Trudy. She has all her original parts. So do Kay, Beth and Carol!

You are probably thinking this is some movie star or car show hostess with this interesting car. I’ll tell you a secret but don’t tell anyone….it’s my other BFF Lynn!
There were so many interesting cars at the show of various eras.
I’ll share more of them at another time. I need to get this blog post finished and published.