Closing out 2010

One of the last projects of 2010 were to complete 3 quilt blocks which were part of a group project.  I finished these up yesterday.


There is another quilt that I am making for a friend that I am now able to continue on. 

It surely has been a difficult year to keep on task with many things.  With the diagnosis of breast cancer, tests, surgery, more tests, decision to not to have chemo, and waiting to have radiation, it seems like I have not accomplished much the second half of this year.

As I start off 2011 with 7 weeks of radiation treatments, I am not sure how much sewing I'll get done until spring, but we shall see.

Happy New Year!

It's Been A Busy Month!

This week I am finishing up a quilt for a fundraiser for our Dundee, MI Chapter of Quilts For Kids.  I have some solid pink sashing and pieced borders to finish it off.

This was so fun and easy to put together with a jelly roll.  :-) 

I had some donated fabric pieces so I made up a quick kids Christmas quilt.  Hopefully by this weekend, I'll have both quilts completed in addition to the 2 Christmas table runners.

Playing Catch Up

It has been many months since my last post.  I really have been working on some projects but have fallen behind on my posts. 

My largest finished project was my Mom's quilt which I gave to her on Mother's Day this year.  I also made matching pillows and pillowcases. 

A wall hanging for my Aunt Ellen....

A lap quilt in May, which just needs the binding and we'll be good to go! 







I have a number of projects on the verge of completion.  Hopefully I can finish those and take photo's of my finished projects soon and keep up on my posts.  :-)

Happy Sewing Everyone!

~Karen

King Size Quilt Top - DONE!

I had to look back at my first posting on this quilt, that I started it on Oct. 3, 2009 (Starting A King Sized Project).  Last year I actually had finished 90% of the top and needed to put on the borders.  So many other projects got pushed to the top of the priority list so it sat in the sidelines for quite awhile.

Finally, yesterday, I cut out my borders and sewed them to the quilt top.  Once I pick up the backing fabric this week, I will send off to be machine quilted.  In the meantime, I have extra fabric that I plan to pillowcases / or shams with.

I am so happy to have finally finished this quilt top! 

Table Runner - Made For A Special Aunt

I wanted to make something special for my Aunt Ellen and I decided on a table runner for her coffee table.  Ellen's favorite color is green and she likes earth tones.  This will be a surprise for her the next time I go to visit (the 4th Saturday of every month so my next visit is in April) so SHHHHH, don't tell!   I hope she likes it.

My Mom and I picked out the fabrics on Saturday and selected the block and size (10" x 10").  I used the Electric Quilt -- Quilt Wizard program I purchased to select block style, layout, size, and colors.  It is a very easy program to use, and I liked the fact that I was able to play with the fabric color placement in the design before I cut my fabrics. 

Twirling Kaleidoscope Wall Hanging

This morning I started on the Twirling Kaleidoscope Wall Hanging and finished piecing it this afternoon.  It measures 26" x 26".

It was a little awkward tracing a 'template' rather than just measuring and cutting, since the long large triangles needed to be cut.  It would have gone quicker with a triangle template ruler, but I have never needed one before so it's not in my collection yet.

To machine quilt this one I am going to use the invisible monofilament thread and the a special programmed stitch in my sewing machine that mimics a hand quilting stitch. Since there are so many angles and light/dark contrasts, I think it would be best to use an invisible thread. Wish me luck!


I've picked out the backing and binding from my stash and 'sandwiched' it together using basting spray (first time I've used the basting spray & I love it!  Much easier than pinning!!)  I need to pick up some invisible thread tomorrow so I can begin to quilt it.  :-)  Once it's completed I have special wall space reserved in my family room for it!  :-)

Mom's Quilt Top - DONE!!

I finished my Mom's queen size quilt top today, hurray!  There are enough fabrics leftover to make a wall hanging too!  The quilt will be sent off to be machine quilted once I pick up the backing fabric.  It will be back in plenty of time for Mother's Day.

The guys had to stand on chairs to hold it up off the ground and touched the ceiling with it just to get it in the picture.  They're both over 6 foot to begin with, great job, guys!

Now to figure out the matching wall hanging....  I have 102 (if I remember correctly) half square triangle blocks left over, they're approximately 2-1/2" square, one large 14" star block, as well as a good amount of all fabrics I used in the quilt left over.  I'd also like to make a couple of pillow cases or shams.  :-)

Upcoming Projects.....Wall Hanging and a Throw

I am looking forward to a few upcoming projects.  I already have the patterns and fabrics so now it's just a matter of time until I can start working on them.  The purple/white pattern is for a wall hanging. 

This red/white pattern is for the lap quilt I'll be making with the fabrics shown. 

If only there were more hours in a day to get things done! 

Auld Lang Syne

A quilting friend of mine (Pat) made a table topper/wall hanging called Auld Lang Syne from a pattern found in the January 2009 issue of The Quilter.  I fell in love with the design and the colors were just right!  The block size is 6" x 6", with 25 blocks and a finished size of 42" x 42".  This black/white photo is from the picture online from that issue.

I chose these fabrics to use with this pattern.  

My husband wonders why I keep finding more projects that I want to start, but you just can't help falling in love with a new pattern!  All I need to do is reorganize the priorities of all my quilt projects, and place this one in line...... soooooo this one will fall in line just after I finish my Mom's quilt top.  ;-)

Time to get sewing!  :-)

Ice Cream Social - Quilt for Raffle

We are raffling off a quilt again this year at the Ice Cream Social at the church in June.  We chose a free pattern called Ceylon by Nancy Mahoney, originally using Hoffman Fabrics.

The Quilting Season in Saline had a wonderful selection of Batik's that we chose from. 

I've sewn a couple of the blocks together today and I really love the color combinations.  I can't wait to see the whole quilt assembled!!

(( Click on pictures for larger view))

Mom's Quilt - 1st Block Done!

(( Click on picture for larger view))

Just finished the first block today. 

The block took longer than I had anticipated, but once I found a rhythm to sewing the sides of the star, it moved more quickly. 

There are a number of these blocks yet to do, but I am happy to have the first one down!  My goal is to have all 12 blocks done by Monday.

More Quilts For Kids

I completed 6 quilts for Quilts For Kids (headquarters) in January.  The first 3 were sewn from my own fabrics, the last 3 from the fabric and pattern supplied from QFK. 

I played around with a few different patterns with the ones I used my own fabric on. 

This cute kitty cat print with lots of quarter square triangles was a bit more work, but worth the effort.  It was a fun one to put together.

This princess quilt was really quick and easy to put together with it's large 8-1/2" blocks.

The "letter" fabric I purchased for this last one was not a great choice.  I didn't realize each "letter block" was not perfectly square.  I had planned to cut out each letter and use those squares in a block in some fashion.  Once I got the fabric home I realized the letter blocks were not square so I had to cut them in strips (I only had a 1/2 yard) and used them in this fashion.  NOT my most favorite by far, but a learning experience, none the less.  I am sure some child will love it and be comforted by it. 

With having to machine quilt each of the 6 quilts, I really did learn alot.  I had never machine quilted anything before so with each quilt I learned a little more.  I would never want to machine quilt a large quilt, but for these lap size quilts, I feel a bit more comfortable now.   :-)  I will stick to piecing the tops which is what I like to do best.

These last 3 were sewn with the fabrics and pattern supplied by Quilts For Kids. 

A Quilt For My Mom... Progress!

I was shocked when I looked back at my blog post as to when I found the pattern for the quilt my Mom, that was back in October of 2009!  Where did the time go?!?  At that time I had found a pattern for my Mom's quilt and was to begin fabric hunting for it.  I recall purchasing the fabric before the holidays but had not yet started on it.  (See my blog post for picture of pattern.)

I decided that I needed to put all my other projects aside and focus on getting this quilt done.  So today I took out the fabric and cut all the fabric for it.  Now it's time to get sewing!! 

((Click on picture to enlarge))

Ruler / Square Organizer

A friend of mine (Mary Ann) had a ruler / square organizer that I thought would be a quick project for my husband to make for me.  I took a picture and showed him on Friday and he had one made for me on Saturday out of Black Walnut hardwood.   Keeps my work area more organized, love it! 

Quilts for Nursing Home Residents

In January I worked on making several quilts for my 2 great-neices and nephew to take and give to residents at their area nursing home.  I have these 3 tops ready and 2 in progress.


The two remaining quilts are purple and yellow using the Yellow Brick Road Pattern. 
Once those last 2 are complete I'll post pics.

Quilts For Kids - New Chapter!! Dundee, MI

Today my request to become a Michigan Chapter of Quilts For Kids was approved!  What an exciting project this will be!

Quilts for Kids, Inc. transforms fabrics into quilts that comfort children in need - these children are fighting a battle with cancer and other life threatening illnesses.  Quilts are also made for children who have been abused.

If you would like to donate a kids quilt please contact me.  If you would like to make a monetary donation the new Dundee, MI Chapter of Quilts For Kids to help get us started, please contact me.   You can also join our Yahoo e-group at:  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/michiganquiltsforkids/

 

Moving to My New Work Area

We recently moved all of my quilting fabric, notions, and supplies into the sunroom which is about 12' x 17' with many windows for wonderful natural lighting.  My previous work area was my office upstairs which was shared with my computer desk in the room which was only about 8'x10'. 

With my new work area I have room for a large table which is about 8' long which my large cutting mat and table top ironing board sit (until Jim builds me my elevated cutting table, that will be so nice!), plus a 2nd table for my sewing machine and the 3rd small table for my work in progress items, such as fabric to be cut, Quilts For Kids quilts in various stages of completion, there are 2 Lucky Stars pattern quilts that are in progress, lap quilts, 3 binders of patterns, batting, and so on.


Lastly, I have my fabric cabinet, which houses all of my stash.  The top shelf is 2 layers deep of fabrics so it's hard to see what I actually have.  One of these days I'll get a 2nd cabinet so I can organize my fabric better. 

I love my new work space, it is so much easier to move from sewing to cutting to pressing, finding fabric, and organizing my projects. 

Since I've started working in my new area I've found that I waste less time, finish things more quickly, everything is much more efficient when you don't have to rearrange things often to make room to do a task.

Time to get sewing!   

~Karen

Sewing Machine - Bad News/Good News

The bad news... two days ago my sewing machine decided it had enough.  My Mom gave me the Brother sewing machine as gift and it has worked well for my needs for some time now.  It would not operate properly for me anymore so it was time to buy a new one.

My husband and I headed over to the Viking Sewing Center in Ann Arbor and starting looking at all the wonderful sewing machines there.  I wanted a sewing machine that would not only need my current skill level now, but would also have features that I would use in the future.

  The good news... I ended up choosing the Husqvarna Viking Sapphire 855.  What an amazing sewing machine that has 145 stitches and 4 fonts.  It was on sale and had all the features I was looking for.  Plus it had the larger throat which was the one thing I really wanted to have. 


So now it's time to get sewing! 

Happy sewing my quilting friends!!

Major Progress!

This picture shows a small section of the quilt top.  I have made alot of progress on this king size quilt.  I finished sewing the 144 - 7-1/2" blocks of quarter square triangles.  With all my blocks now sewn together, my next step will be to cut the 3 border fabrics and add those to the top.  Then off to get machine quilted.  Soon to be another project complete!!  (let's hope!)   

Quilts For Kids - Work in Progress

I have been working on these 3 quilt kits I requested from the Quilts For Kids organization. 

These quilts will go to children who have life threatening illnesses such as children receiving chemo treatments for cancer, etc.  I will be matching the number of quilt kits they sent me with 3 kids quilts of my own.  I have completed 2 of the kits they sent and I am working on the 3rd.  I have fabric cut out for the 4th and already have a vision of what I will make for the last 2. 


I am looking into starting a chapter here in Michigan.  I will write again when I have more information.

Wall Quilt Rack - I Love It!

My husband loves woodworking and a couple of months ago asked me what new project he should start. 

I asked him to build me a wall hanging quilt rack as his first big project and he just finished it.  Well, it's ALMOST finished he says.  He is hand carving a floral piece to place in the center arch on the top, and THEN it will be done. 

It is made it out of cherry hardwood and it's 4 feet wide by 4 feet tall.  The rails are slightly rounded on the edges so the quilts won't get creased and the rails slide out.  I now have have to gather my quilts from their various spots around the house and hang them all in one place.  Yea!!

His next project is building me a free standing quilt rack with 3 top cascading rails for our guest room but it will be nice that I can move it room to room if I want. 

This wall quilt rack is just perfect and I just love it!