Visit Your local Quilt Shop Day!

Today is the day-

Row House Runner- I am loving this pattern!
So much fun to make
Coming soon!!

The day to show your love and support and visit your local quilt shop!

OK- I am in- how about you?














As many of you know, I moved here to Colorado about 6 months ago. And working from home does not give one as many opportunities to meet new people. Last week, I went to the quilt shop that is only about 2 miles from my house- isn't this great!- AND I made a new quilting friend! Even with laryngitis!

She is a recent transplant from North Carolina and has been here for about 5 months. So today, I am taking her on a little mini quilt shop hop.

There are quite a few great shops not too far away and she hasn't gotten to them yet.

Well, we must correct that!

So, first we are going to Harriet Hargrave's store, Harriet's Treadle Arts in Wheat Ridge. Then on to the Golden Quilt Company in Golden- they have wonderful fiber arts store in the back called Golden Fiber Arts. Lots of thread, paint, ribbons and just really fun stuff!

I just love to wander Golden's Main street which is not, Main Street. It's Washington Ave. Remind me to tell you someday where Main Street was in the town I grew up in!

Then on to downtown Denver to Fabric Bliss and Fancy Tiger Crafts. Love both of these places! And they both carry yarns- to feed my other addiction!

(And yes, Elizabeth and hubby, if you are reading this, I am driving into downtown Denver. Me. wish me luck!)

The back south a little to Snappy Quilts (isn't that a great name!)  and Holly's Quilt Cabin. What a great adventure!

I have lots of projects going- who doesn't? and I need a fabric infusion to the piles I grabbed from my stash.

This is the pile of fabrics for the Star Paper Piecing BOM over on Don't Call me Betsy. I got a bunch of them last year in New York on a quilt retreat with friends at O'Susannah's Quilts &Gifts in Watkins Glen.

Another great store with a wonderful set up on the second floor that you can rent out for retreats.

And these are FQs of California Girl that I picked up in CT at Yankee Quilter shortly before I left. Two great ladies, Barb and Cheryl- sisters- run that store.

(Don't tell hubby I bought fabric right when I was supposed to be purging for the move! But who could resist?) These will be for the Aurifil BOM.

I was pretty determined to use my stash for both of these projects and just add some extras.



Have a great day- and get out there and support your local quilt shop!


OK Wendy- let's go shopping!






happy quilting,
kate

Wordless Wednesday

happy quilting,

kate

Banner of the Month!

Happy Monday to you!

How are you all?

I have been spending a little more time online lately. Feeling under the weather means more computer time!

So, look what came in the mail today!

I won this stack of lovely solids recently from the Quilting Secrets blog hop organized over at MrsPickles.

It looks like I will have to come up with a project for them- they sure are bright!

Nice and cheery for spring!





Over the holidays, I sent my son and daughter in law a lovely Christmas tree wall hanging and a hanger from Ackfeld.  Recently I realized that they would need new banners to hang on their hanger- you can't hang a Christmas tree all year!

So, in honor of Rea's birthday, I included 2 more wall hanging in her birthday box.

This one is the January wall hanging. It is a pattern I designed a couple of years ago but we never published. Maybe I will revive it someday soon! It is called Winter Sunset. The banner is adorable and the quilt is in the pattern is really great. Hmmm...

The other one I sent is for February. It is from our pattern, Little Bits of Love. Perfect for February!






I picked up these fabrics recently and am thinking about making myself a new Little Bits with them- what do you think? Aren't they great?



But first, I have a few other projects to work on...










This is fabric for a bag that I am making for the monthly project over on Hopeful Threads. I plan to fill it with some goodies and send it to her for the outreach program called Water Angles. You can read about it over on Hopeful Threads.

Next I am making a few more table runners from our new pattern Row House. I love the runner and it is a great way for me to get a few samples done, test the pattern and have fun!

And then it is time to plan this weeks Project Quilting challenge project!

So many projects... so little time!

happy quilting!
kate

Pressing tips

Pressing.

Such an important part of block construction. Ever notice some of us press more than others?
And pressing is not ironing.

I like to press often. It helps me to create a better block.




I usually press first with the seam closed from the wrong side to set the stitches and relax them in case they got tight during the sewing.








Then I press the seam to one side,  from the right side of the fabric.
It minimizes the frequency of getting that pesky little flap that sometimes one gets when pressing from the wrong side.








I started this post a few days ago and I was going to give you some more tips, but then I saw this post at Allpeoplequilt.com! Ta-da! (thanks Celine for the link!)

I am a big believer in not re-creating the wheel.

Good information. Go check it out!


happy quilting,
Kate

Oh, and one good point that they don't mention. Just in case you need to know this.

Do not attempt picture taking while holding a hot iron in one hand and a camera in the other.

Just saying. NOT the best plan.

Points

How many pins do you use to get perfect points?

Curious minds want to know!

happy quilting,

kate

Wordless Wednesday

happy quilting,

kate

Puzzler Update

A while age, I shared some photos of blocks that I had received from a 12 month block exchange.

I just got the last 5 months of blocks in the mail!

Over the holidays, while back in CT, I spent a great day with my daughter and my cousin and we finished up the last of our blocks. I think we were the final hold outs to getting this finished!











Here are the blocks I got back from the group:

September:

A close up of one of the blocks.

October:

Don't you just love the dots?

















November:

 Some months we all seemed to be on the same page- this month had a lot of green in it!

December:

Love the grey fabric with the pink and turquoise- such a great combo!
















And the last month-

January:

Two of my blocks have that red center- I may switch one out for a hot pink. But it is so cute! I just love it!









Elizabeth, who was the organizer and block exchanger extraordinaire, also made all of these lovely quilt labels for the backs of our quilts.

I guess she is expecting us to finish!

The label was made with Printed Treasures Sew-On.

Our group was diverse and Elizabeth shared some of the demographics. We had 12 swappers from 5 states with an age range from 20s to 60s. And from very beginner to seasoned quilters. Didn't we all do a great job?

Now to out some of those blocks together....

happy quilting,
Kate