Friday, March 29, 2013

New Website

Hello friends,
Just a last post here to make sure you have been able to find us at our new website and new blog.

Lily rolling around on the new Row House quilt!
We don't want to lose our old friends while we make the switch- I am going to miss blogging here- it was comfortable.

But we have moved and just like I have adjusted to living in Colorado (well, most days anyway!), I will adjust to the switch.

I hope you will join us at our new blog!

Hope to see you all soon!

Happy quilting,

Kate


Wednesday, March 27, 2013

It's here!

The new website is here! The new website is here!

Just click here and come visit with us!

You will go to the blog where you can see all the groovy stuff for the Launch Party Giveaway!

And be sure to look at the Tips and Freebies page, and the Browse and Shop page, and the Gallery and....

See you over there!

Happy quilting,
Kate and Libby


Monday, March 25, 2013

Two more days till our new website!

We are so excited around here- in two days our new website will be live and we will be hosting a giveaway with lots of goodies for you!

So get your pot of tea ready, and a cookie or two, so you can sit back, relax and check out our new site!





Check back here on Wednesday for the link!

happy quilting,

Kate and Libby

Friday, March 22, 2013

In a Bind?



Okay, I admit it.  I love to make binding. 

But what do you do with all of the tail ends of the binding you have left over from the quilt? 

As quilters we have trouble tossing out any little bit of fabric that we know can be repurposed into another project. 







I have accumulated a pile of “binding spaghetti”.









So what to do with all the pieces?  Well, we certainly know which member of the family really appreciates quilted items.  Stanley already has plenty of quilts on various beds, couches and chairs throughout the house for his pleasure.  Well his pet carrier really need a cute little kitty quilt.

Stanley
                                                                    


     I decided to sew all my binding strips together                                                           
     I then cut them into an approximately 18 x19 rectangle.
     Measure your pet carrier for an estimate.



 


         


                             Look at the cute backing fabric I found in the stash! 
                                For the size I made a FQ would work purrfectly!





Even though it was hard to put the scissors to these kitties, I cut a piece to match the binding strip rectangle.  Put the fabrics right sides together with a piece of batting.  Sew around the four sides – but remember to leave a space open for turning.  Whip stitch or decoratively stitch the opening closed.  Super project to practice your machine quilting skills. Stanley is still deciding whether he wants fish or mice as a design! Either way he will think it's yummy!


What a great project for your own pet or think about making a few to donate to your local shelter or rescue organization.  What kitty wouldn’t love to have a stylish mini quilt for their fur-ever home!



 And speaking of binding....


Our new website debuts on Wednesday – stop by to visit.  We will have 2 binding tutorials to share with you. Check out our new digs!

Libby

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

New Website, New blog

A week from today we will be launching our new website and our new blog!

We are so excited!


And, we are going to have a launch party- and what is a party without presents?











So mark your calendar for next Wed and pop over here to get the link to the new site. Over on the new blog you will be able to put your name in the hat for one of 10 prizes- one for each year we have been in business!

happy quilting,

Kate and Elizabeth

Monday, March 18, 2013

Monday Monday

Another Monday- did you all have a great weekend?

What did you do for St Patty's Day? Something fun and green, I hope!









The last Project Quilting challenge was posted yesterday. If you are interested in participating, here is the link. I have no idea of what I am going to do for this one yet. Must think.

Meanwhile there has been a little bag making going around here...



happy quilting,
Kate


Friday, March 15, 2013

World Wide Quilting Day

Saturday March 16 is World Wide Quilting Day.

Worldwide Quilting Day


What are you doing to celebrate?

I am going to a Modern Quilt Guild meeting- it will be the first time I have gone to that guild. It sounds like fun, huh?



And since, I have already been to a few quilt stores this week, I think I will then spend a little time sewing. Seems appropriate doesn't it?

Go out and celebrate!



Happy quilting,
Kate

P.S. One of the stores I have been to twice in the past week is Snappy Quilts. It is their two year anniversary! Happy anniversary Snappy Quilts!
If you haven't been, go! Lots of fun, modern fabrics!


Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Make New Friends




Make New Friends


The group of ladies who participated in the last block exchange, with those gorgeous batiks, decided they wanted to do another exchange. 



We will do a traditional Bull’s Eye Block pattern.  The only controlled item will be the background.  Otherwise…it’s anything goes on the fabrics. 

We will use material from our…. stashes – what?  A stash?  Who has one of those?  And how many fabrics do we have that we just had to have but never have used?  Those are the one’s to go into this scrappy project!


Exchanges are a great way to stay connected with your friends who have scattered throughout the country.  Kate and I now live in Colorado and Maryland respectively.  We have a Floridian, a few Nutmeggers, and some Upstate New Yorkers in the group.  I have invited some of my new friends in Maryland and they happily agreed!    


This reminds me of that old scouting song:

 Make new friends
But keep the old
One is silver
The other is gold.


I hope to see some reflections of each of my friend’s personalities in their fabric choices – and maybe some threads of Hoffman silver and gold!

Happy quilting,
Libby

Monday, March 11, 2013

Project Quilting- Challenge 5- Print Publications


This was a fun challenge- grab a magazine, or a catalog, or any print publication and turn to page 28. Find something on that page to be the inspiration for your design.

Of course, it is tempting to sneak a peak at page 28 and then choose- but that is not cool!




I had three publications that I pulled from a stack, Coastal Living, Art Journaling and Where Women Create.

All great magazines- how could I go wrong?

I mixed them up in a pile, no peeking! and grabbed one.














Where Women Create, Autumn 2011.  Cool.



Now onto page 28- awesome! I remember reading this page and loving the chandelier! I think Heather Bailey is a lucky girl to have this! I love it!



Now what to do?

I was really hoping that for once, I would start this earlier in the week, but that would just not be my style.






So, I spent the week house hunting. And occasionally thinking about the project. Finally it was Friday night  and I was nowhere. Burned out from house hunting- FYI. real estate around here is flying off the shelves and you see a house and two seconds later, it is under contract! Craziness! Creates this heightened sense of urgency and anxiety.

Anyway, back to Project Quilting! So I showed dear hubbie my very tentative ideas, he made a suggestion and viola! An great idea started to form.

Saturday am- more house hunting, in the snow! It was wet and heavy snow but the roads weren't too bad. And we did not get the 8-14" that were predicted so that helped.



Finally I was back at the apartment and ready to begin.

A bin of scraps.

Trimming scraps.

Sewing scraps. A little hand drawing, fusible, machine stitching, quilting....


Done!



Spring on a Shelf


I had decided to use both elements that I liked in the picture- the swirls of the green chandelier and that shelf of fabric that just looked so pretty and spring-y.



I repeated the flower in the quilting in the upper arch of the shelf. 
FYI- I quilted with Aurifil thread- 50 wt white and a really pretty yellow. 
Lucky that I had them in my stash! Lovely thread.





Yea! I managed to squeak this one out. Happy girl. Loving how bright and happy this little quilt looks.

And if you get a chance to pop over to the Project Quilting Flickr pool- there are some truly amazing quilts over there! Check it out!

Have a great week everyone!


happy quilting,
Kate











Friday, March 8, 2013

Long Arm Quilting

Elizabeth and I are very lucky to be able to work with some amazing long arm quilters.

One that Elizabeth works with a lot is Sandi Verbridge  and she does an amazing job.

I have shown you some of my blocks for our Block Exchange- well, Elizabeth finished her quilt! Doesn't it look great! Can't wait to see it in person and get some detail shots.



This is Elizabeth's version of one of our new Cat Nap series quilts- meet Tiger Lily!

Made with a jelly roll- 

And here is a sneak peak of one of the giveaways for our new website launch! Keep checking back... coming soon!

Jelly Roll Jumble- made with the Marmalade fabric line

All were quilted by Sandi- check out her website!


happy quilting,
kate



Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Libby's New Sewing Machine

I know that Kate got a new sewing machine - well I just couldn't let her be the only one with a new toy!

Mine is the low budget model! My son Michael created this with the instructions provided on the following blog.



Monday, March 4, 2013

Kate's new sewing machine!

So...

I looked at sewing machines the other day while on my mini shop hop with my friend Wendy. While we were at Sew-ciety down in Castle Rock, I saw they had a Tribute 140C. It came out last year as the 140 year anniversary machine for Viking.

It has been replaced with the new machine Eden Rose. They are basically the same machine. And since the Tribute is last year's model, it was on special. Hmm.... soooo tempting.


While I would love to be able to afford a machine with a ton a bells and whistles, right now that is not possible. But this machine seems to have most of what I need.




So Saturday I went back to check it out. And, drum roll please, I bought it.

They were very nice to work with at Sew-ciety and they gave me a great deal so I splurged on a Sew Steady table for it as well. (Ever since I won the Sew Steady table for my featherweight, I realize what a difference it makes!)

Yippee! I am back in business and able to sew away!

Got to go- go some sewing to do!

happy quilting,
Kate


Friday, March 1, 2013

March!

My March decorations!






I have a spot on this little wall going into the kitchen area where I can hang banners to celebrate each month.        

Adds some fun to the very beige walls





I love this runner! Really brightens up the table.



Everyone is Irish on St Patty's Day! 


March is a big birthday month in our extended family. 

I have two sons who are both born in March- later in the month. 
I always wished one was born on St Patty's Day. 
I cannot believe how old they are- how is that possible when I am not getting any older! 
But they are wonderful young men and I am very proud of them both.



Happy birthday month Sean and Scott- momma loves you!


happy quilting,
Kate





Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Lucky Stars BOM- February block

Here is my February block for the Lucky Stars BOM going on thru Don't Call me Betsy.


No excuses on the piecing, you have already heard my sewing machine woes. I like it anyway.
Love the colors.

happy quilting,
kate

p.s. on a side note, I am so amused by the name of her blog- Don't call me Betsy. Reminds me of my family where there are a lot of people we don't call by their real name. My mom's name was Mary and she was called Bitsy (at 5'7" that was pretty funny) and her sister is called Sue but her name is Martha. Go figure!

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Dyeing with Marcia




Fabric dyeing!














Orange gradient: light to dark adding black






Over the last few weeks, we have dyed a bunch
of fabric!



We have been busy!

Moss green

Cobalt blue- pretty!










This one was dyed in a large yogurt cup.



And of course, who comes to visit if there is fabric on the floor?
















This next one was ice dyed... lovely.










Can't wait to play with all this great fabric we made!

happy quilting,
Kate

p.s. new website coming soon... with goodies... keep checking back!

Monday, February 25, 2013

Project Quilting Challenge 4

Project Quilting- another challenge and another quilt done!


This time I did not procrastinate quite as much, but almost! Hubby and I were scheduled to take a screen printing class on Sat (more on that another time) so I had to get the quilt done before that.


One of the things I am trying to do during these challenges is only use what I have. No shopping for extra fabric, no shopping for embellishments etc... I should have enough stuff!






This week's challenge was "Wish upon a Star".

I love stars. Pieced stars, appliquéd stars, quilted stars, star buttons.... so this should be fun! I pondered the quilt design all week- pieced stars? Appliqué? what to do?

I even printed out the words to the Disney song, Wish upon a Star for inspiration. Finally on Friday, I just started to go for it with a partial plan in place. Good thing I was not totally set on one idea as things did not go as planned.

First- no blue! My first three Project quilting quilts all had blue in them, so no blue!

Second- no sawtooth stars. They are my go to star so I needed to do something else.

Third, I decided to put words on my quilt and luckily I found some great fabric pens to use in my stash.

Fourth- the theme: Hedge Your Bets, Wish upon a Galaxy!


I did a cross between the Big Bang and a galaxy of stars. I made wonky log cabin blocks and then cut them on an angle.

The center of the log cabin is traditionally red to signify the hearth of the home- for me, it is the center of the big bang where all the stars were "born".

Then a ring of appliquéd stars. Then the words.





A little stitching around the stars, circular quilting, binding, more words and the quilt was born!



Side note- the challenges this week were not only the one issued by Project Quilting. My machine truly is not working well and so I could not embellish the stars with machine stitched blanket stitch. I was down to a straight stitch only machine.








Second, fabric pens do not last forever. I probably got the pens 6 years ago and they only lasted through a few words. I was going to put the words of the entire song along the border of the quilt, but the pen barely made the first two lines!










That's OK- I am learning to be flexible. The quilt is still adorable!


happy quilting,
kate

Friday, February 22, 2013

Confession

I was just going to post my February block for the Aurifil BOM and be done with it.



But I must confess. This block is a mess.

I may have mentioned that I have been having trouble with my sewing machine. She is fighting with me over the 1/4" seam allowance- I really think something is wrong as I have not had this problem before. The feed dogs look crooked!

So, this week I was making the block, fighting with Vicky to get a nice 1/4" seam allowance, spending way too much time with my seam ripper and finally, ta done! Finished! I had a block.

I felt beat up.

I took a picture of my block at the end of the battle. Victory was mine. Then, as I was looking at the picture, I noticed that something seemed off. OMG. Are you kidding me?

I had sewed it together wrong.

Darn! So I got out my seam ripper (again!) and got to work.

Soon my block looked like this:


I managed to resew the sections, finish dismantling the block and sew it back together. But it does not quite fit in all areas. Too many mishaps with the seam allowance, too many interactions with the seam ripper!

So,while some points don't match, I like the color scheme and I am trying to be OK with, "It is what it is."

In the meantime, Vicky needs to go to the sewing machine hospital. Not sure if what she has is fatal or not. I feel a little like I did when my beloved VW bug started to go- after a while you are just pouring good money after bad. But I loved my bug- and I love Vicky.  

I will keep you posted.

happy quilting,
Kate

p.s. I am thinking I should name my seam ripper- the sewing machines have names and I seem to be spending an inordinate amount of time with the seam ripper...

any suggestions?