Oh so Charming!

The top is done! I just love it.
This has been a lot of fun.

I did the corner blocks for the borders a little differently than the directions. When I started to play with the borders, I decided to put the strips in a structured colorway. Once I did that, I decided that I wanted something other than the 9 patch for the corners. I played with having the corners just be more straight patches, or maybe be strips in a wedge radiating out from the inner corner... so I went with a variation of both of those. Keeping to the colorway, I cut 4 cuts, pieced them and cut the square on an angle.
Easier than the wedge, a little more fun than just more strips.


So I ended up with a pink corner, a peach corner, a green one and a blue one. fun!

Happy quilting
Kate

Next Step Between Charming Friends

Yea! My blocks are done. And they were really easy to put together- a lot of cutting and sewing but easy.

Here they are all lined up ready to sew.


I love how they turned out.
What do you think?

When I was cutting the charm squares, I just couldn't throw out the little scraps- they were so cute!



So I saved them and put them in a glass and now I have scrap art!
The glass is from the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Restaurant- I got it the one time I was in California! Had to get the glass and now it has a use!


Off to the next project.
I am working on another new design- here is a sneak peak...


Have a great day!
Happy quilting
Kate

p.s. Jackie at Canton Village Quiltworks is having a fun giveaway- check it out here

Between Charming Friends

First, thanks to everyone who has commented so far on the last post! What fun! Good luck to everyone who has entered the giveaway. Like some of you, I do think making bags has become an addiction for me! I like designing them, making them, making other designer's bags... Of course, I need all those bags so I can go shopping for more fabric to make more bags!

I always seem to havea lot of projects going at once. A little fabric ADD! Can we call it FADD??? But really, there are so many wonderful fabrics out there- how can anyone resist? I go into a fabric shop and walk around saying "Oh that is so pretty! Oh, look at that! That is so pretty! Oh wait, look over there...." and on it goes.

In that spirit, I have found another fun group making a quilt and I thought, why not? So I grabbed a couple of Robert Kaufman charm packs and some lovely purple Moda fabric from my stash and off I go!

My version of an Amish quilt I guess!

Now this group started a couple of weeks ago, so I am really behind, but I hope to catch up over the next couple of weeks. You cazn check out what the group is doing at Charming Chatter.

Off to go do a little cutting (when I should be in bed!)
Happy quilting
Kate

Summer Vacation Giveaway

Hi to the Quilt Dashers!
So.... we are doing a giveaway! We have been working on a couple of bag patterns (you may have seen them in an earlier post) and we were hoping to have the patterns completed for the Quilt Dash. But, we don't like to release patterns until they have been tested and approved.

Since they are not quite ready, we are giving away three bags! The first one is one of our classic patterns- the Four Star Tote.

The next one is the pink and black Sweet Pea.


And the other is the Sweet Alyssum made from a charm pack.

Aren't they sweet!

To enter the giveaway, post a comment on this post only. If you become a follower of this blog, you get 2 entries! The contest will close on June 30th - the end of the shop hop. You can check back here on July 2 to see who the winners are!

Have fun on your quilt dash!

And check back to see when the patterns are ready! They are a lot of fun to make. And Sweet Pea only needs 2 FQs and 1/2 yard for the inside fabric! I bet you have that in your stash!

Happy quilting
Kate and Elizabeth
Giveaway is now closed! Thanks to all who posted!

Block 9

I mentioned before I was doing a block of the month thru 3 Creative Studios. This month was our last block... and as usual, I got it done just before the deadline! But it's done, I like it and that's what counts. Yea! Next month, they plan to post some finishing suggestions- it will be fun to see how everyone finishes their quilt.

Off to work on some more quilts for the new collection Elizabeth and I are planning...It's the BOMB! Keep checking for a few sneak peaks!

Happy quilting
Kate

Quilt Weekend

Elizabeth and her friends are off on a quilting weekend this weekend. They have traveled to O'Susannah's Quilt and Gift Shop in Watkins Glen NY to the Upstairs Inn. Above this very nice quilt shop is a lovely retreat area. There are bedrooms, a room for quilting, a kitchen... and you have a quilt shop downstairs! How cool is that! You can check it out here: O'Susannah's Quilt and Gift Shop

Of course, I am very jealous! I would love to be there, but it is a long ride for me, especially with my knee. So I am doing a mini quilt weekend all by myself! Sat morning I finished a top for a new pattern and decided to make a few more - I am making two different versions for the cover of the pattern,plus I am making one for a family member for a gift and I should have enough fabric for at least one to set aside for Sample Spree at Fall Quilt Market!

So I have three more tops and one mini quilt top cut out and I started sewing! Then my daughter and I headed out to run a few errands- including going by the local quilt shop of course! There was a quilt class in progress at Quadrille Quilting and the instructor was Kate Mitchell from Berkshire Quilts! It was fun to see her and the class looked like they were having a great time!

Not only that but some of the ladies were using the same fabric that I am using today for my quit- some of the beautiful purples and green! What good taste they have! and anothe good lesson to be sure to get enough fabric the first time, because if you need more, it may not be there!

So... isn't this quilt cute!



This morning I am off to chain piece more log cabin blocks...
sew much fun!



Happy quilting
Kate

Quilt Guild

Boy, it has been busy for me these last couple of months! Lots happening including my daughter graduating from Temple University! Yea Alyssa! Here is the graduate with her brothers- aren't they all wonderful? (sorry, proud parent moment!)


I wanted to share what we worked on at our quilt guild recently, but I had to wait until after our guild meeting!

Back in January, we started a Mother's Day Swap. Everyone who wanted to participate put 5 FQs in a brown lunch bag along with their name. And we traded bags. No one was supposed to know who got their bag and we were to take them home and make something. Anything. Each person was allowed to include with their fabric one request such as "please don't make me a hat"! We could add anything to the stash we were given, but we had to use all the fabrics they gave us!


The exchange of completed projects would take place at our May meeting- hence the Mother's Day reference. The organizer said it would be fun to see who recognized their fabrics when everything was all done. I thought, of course people will recognize their stuff- they picked it!

Boy was I wrong! What fun reveal night was- a lot of people did not recognize their fabrics once they were created into a beautiful quilt,tote bag, apron or table runner (we had a lot of runners- I made one too!). One quilter made a beautiful doll!
So I thought I would show you what I made.

I wish I had thought to take a picture of the 5 fabrics I had been given- but I didn't. I had a very interesting Autralian print, two greens, a peachy orange fabric and a green, brown and white print. Hmmm.. what to do? Luckily for me, my quilter had included a full half yard of the Aussie print. So I decide to use that for the border and make a runner from our pattern Pinpoint. I made up some pinwheel blocks and after I had them all sewn together decided they were too busy. So, I took the runner apart, took some of the blocks apart and I made some more blocks- but not pinwheels. Much better! Here is the front of the runner.



Then, I decided I did not want to waste the other pieces, so I made pinwheel blocks from the rest and used them for a fun, pieced back. I only had small scraps left! I added only a rich brown to the mix, which I used in the back and for the praire points and binding. Here is part of the back.


After that I just needed to baste, do some quilting, make a label and I was done.

Not. I decided the top still needed a little something. In the original pattern, I had added some yo-yos to the center of the pinwheels but that did not seem to go with this runner. So off to the store to find some fun buttons! Perfect!




I used three different buttons and they added just the right touch to this runner! This leaf button is my favorite one.







I have to admit, when I first saw the fabrics, I felt they were a challenge but I think it came out great! And I think the owner liked it- that is the most important part!

I hope we do this again next year!

Happy quilting
Kate