My Blog Has Moved

My blog has moved, to view my new posts visit:  http://quiltmakersjourney.wordpress.com/  See you there! 

Baby Quilts - Alot of Progress!

Yesterday I was able to sew together the top of the quilt for little Grace.  I was so pleased at the way all the colors came together.  I have a couple of borders to add on include one with pieced 1.5" squares.  It's going to be so beautiful!








Today, Jim and the guys went to the auto show so I had a quiet day at home by myself and I was able to cut all the pieces for the next baby quilt I am working on for little Grace.  For this quilt I am using the 1930's reproduction fabrics.  This is the first baby quilt I've used 1930's fabrics on so I'm really excited to see this one come together!  :)

Baby Quilts - In the Works!

My oldest niece Anna, just had her 5th child, Emma Diane Shafer.  Within 24 hours, her sister, my niece Caroline, had her 2nd child, James Kalliman.  As you could have guessed a couple of quilts are in the works! 

The first quilt is for Grace (Emma's older sister whom I haven't made a quilt for yet!), and I've used batiks which have been cut, sewn, and pressed into blocks.  Everything is all ready to come together!  The only other thing I need to spend time doing is piecing the last of the borders.

The next quilt will be for James, which I think I've decided on using some Thomas the Train fabrics for. 

I'm also planning on making another with 1930's reproduction fabrics for Emma.  So much to do for the start of the year!

2011 Year At A Glance

The first part of 2011 consisted of radiation treatments for breast cancer.  It seemed like it would never end at times, but it certainly made the winter months go quickly.  The fatigue that came along with the treatments stayed with me for a long, long time.  I really didn't get to do alot of sewing this year, but the few things I were able to do, I really enjoyed.

A baby quilt for our goddaughter Amira.

 A couple of table toppers.  I didn't have a square or round table to place them on,, so my coffee table was picked for the job.  It wasn't until I took the photo that I noticed that one entire block was inverted, so that was put away for another session of ripping out and rotating. :)

A couple of Memorial Day/4th of July projects, a wall hanging and a table runner:

Now for 2012, I've made my resolution to make more time for the things I enjoy, especially sewing, the other things can wait.  Spend as much time with my family as I can possibly can.  Take my Mom to the Upper Peninsula again this year to see her brothers and family.  One thing the cancer has made me realize so much more than I did before, is to take more time for the  most important things like spending time with family and do the things you enjoy doing while you can.  I'm also back on my treadmill every day and drinking my protein drinks.  Going to get myself back down to a healthy weight so I can add more years to my life. 

So Happy New Year to all!

Starry Night - Block of the Month #2

As of this block, I am all caught up with this Block of the Month series.  I believe this quilt is really going to pop when it's all assembled.  The vibrant blues and greens are really set off with the black background.

Block #2 - February 2011 - Starry Night Pattern

"Saturday Sampler" Block of the Month in 1930's Reproduction Fabrics

I am actually caught up now with both blocks today.  I just signed up a few days ago and figured I had better get a move on!  Each month when you bring back your completed block, you get the next block at no cost.  I really like the first block pattern and fabrics.

January 2011 - "Air Castle" block

February 2011 - "Spinning Stars" block

Starry Night - Block of the Month #1

I'm playing catch up with January's block of the month, which I picked up yesterday, and February's block of the month, which I will pick up tomorrow.  Here's January block, love that black and blue contrast!

UFO Inventory

Unfinished lap quilts and wall hangings

Have you ever had one of those days where you sit down and look at all those UFO's and wonder, why didn't I finish that when I was working on it?  What made me stop and start a new one before finishing the last one?  Well, I had one of those days and started looking around at the unfinished projects and my list was begging to lengthen.  So I started to take pictures of the projects I had hanging, organized in piles on my sewing table or in containers.  Phew.  Every once in a while I'll get the urge to finish up a previously start project.  Today is not that day.  ;-)  There's that one project that I want to start  ;-).  I do like piecing the tops of quilts, but not the quilting at this point.  Maybe someday...

So first, what will my next project be?  Pat J. made this beautiful raw edge applique elephant and I thought I would give one a try.  I picked up the pattern for dogs (of course).

My next project

 

Unfinished Table Runner

Unfinished Table Runners & Throws/Lap Quilts

Unfinished Twin Size Quilt

Unfinished Quilt

Unfinished Wall Hanging

Enough blocks to make 2 lap quilts or 1 twin

Full size quilt for a friend in progress

QFK Fundraiser Quilts!

I was able to pick up some finished quilt tops from a sale at a wonderful quilt shop The Quilting Season in Saline for our next Quilts For Kids fundraiser.  Today I finished piecing the backs of those quilts that needed them and cut the batting.  Tomorrow we are taking them to our long arm quilter, Mavis Shanks of Quilting By Mavis in Howell, MI.  Once they are finished they will be available for sale to help fund our Chapter of Quilts For Kids, stay tuned!

Read more about our Ann Arbor Chapter of Quilts For Kids

December's Fundraiser for Our Quilts For Kids - Dundee Chapter

There were several of us who made items for the fundraiser in Saline back in December 2010.  I was having problems with my sewing machine and did not get done all that I wanted to do.  However I was able to get done some table runners and a lap quilt.  We are looking forward to the next fundraiser that our Fundraiser Coordinator - Diane Laybourn will be setting up for us.  These are a few items that a couple of us were working on for the fundraiser in 2010.  The pictures are in various stages of completion and a couple pictures of our display at the fundraiser! 

Quilts For Kids Information Sign

Karen Basile (Chapter Leader), Diane Laybourn (Fundraiser Coordinator) and Mary Ann Sweet (Marketing Coordinator)

 Mary Ann Sweet (Marketing Coordinator), Joan Wittkop (Co-Chapter Leader) and Diane Laybourn (Fundraiser Coordinator)

Our fundraiser setup at the Bazaar at St Paul UCC in Saline.  Dec. 11, 2010

Table runner

Table runner

Table runner

Twin size quilt

Lap Size Quilt

Tooth Fairy Pillows

Child's Quilt

Sewing Machine Problems AGAIN

This sewing machine is less than a year old and now I have to take it in AGAIN.  The first time was mid-December 2010.  At that time the issue was the thread breaking/jamming.

Now as you can see from the picture I have a new issue.  I can sew for awhile just fine and then this.  I am so frustrated right now. 

I'll take it back in for service tomorrow.  I wonder how many days will be wasted this time of non-sewing. 

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