Something exciting coming up soon!

I have some exciting news.   I will soon be offering some quilt kits on this website.  I also have something special in the works, but I can't share yet.  Here's a hint.  It's like having your very own piecing instructor come to your house and give you personalized instructions on how to construct a quilt top while teaching you essential skills for quiltmaking.  Be watching for an official announcement soon.

In the meantime I have a few things to share with you.   Have you ever heard of Quilters Hollow?  They are a terrific fabric store that I have been dealing with lately.  Here is the link to their Facebook page: Quilters Hollow .  They are also getting a brand new website on March 11th.  I will be sure to post a link to that as soon as it opens.

Here is what I've been working on this weekend.  I had to make 18- 12.5" squares out of Kaffe Fassett fabrics for a block swap.  They are definitely bright and colorful.  I think I've decided that I like the Kaffe Fassett fabric, but I want to partner it with something more subtle- like Kona cotton or Moda Blenders.    Here's the picture. You might want to grab some sunglasses before you look at it.

I've also been working on a cute little chevron quilt made of scraps.  I didn't piece the top, but I'm having a blast quilting it.  Here's a picture.

The quilting designs are borrowed from Kathy at Tamarack Shack.  She does phenomenal work. 

I hope everybody is warm and dry.  May your ice and snow melt soon and love warm your heart.

Snow days- sew days

It snowed here on Sunday night- well, sleeted and then snowed- so we have been out of school this week.  I have used the time to finish some quilting, design a new pattern, and work on plans to build my business.  My Facebook account has over 1000 likes now.  I have picked up two new customers and had several inquiries. I just ordered 10 bolts of fabrics from Marshall Dry Goods and tons of yardage from Hancocks of Paducah.  I plan to put together some kits and offer those for sale, in addition to my quilting services and memory quilts.  I have asked and had some input about what people want in kits.  So far I've been told there is a need for first time quilts, baby quilts, bed quilts in blues, greens, and butter yellows, and quilts with a masculine feel. I hope to get all of those available in the next few months.  Be watching here and on Facebook for details as those come available.

Here are some pictures of the things I have quilted the last two days.

This table topper is from a pattern by Amanda Murphy Designs.  She even emailed me the embroidery files when I asked for them.  I tried to quilt it just like she did on the sample ones.  My favorite part is the curved crosshatch.  This was made for a Easter Table runner swap I signed up for. I wonder what I will get.

I took this picture before I added the teal blue binding.  My first attempt at scalloped binding. It was tough.

This little quilt was made by a brand new quilter, and my newest customer.   She did a very nice job on this.  I used Warm and Natural batting and pink thread on top and bottom. The pattern is from the Twirling Flowers pantograph by Lorien.  I had to modify it a little bit so I could go around her appliques. 

A new customer- her first quilt. Didn't she do a nice job?

Here is the back of her little quilt.

This is the view down our driveway today.  There's more snow expected tonight.

A group effort and a reminder to get your mammogram

As I mentioned some time ago, I have joined several online quilt groups since there are no quilt guilds nearby.    One of the members of one of the quilt groups recently posted that her boss has been diagnosed with breast cancer.  It's a horrible thing, and I think many of us know at least one person who has been affected by it.

Plans were quickly made to create a comfort quilt for this sweet lady, and everybody got busy stitching.  Within two weeks the blocks were made, mailed to an assembly person who added sashing and borders, and the top was sent back to me for a quick quilting job. 

This is the final result. I used the Cosmos board from Circle Lord and quilted on my APQS Lenni .   For batting I used one layer of washable wool and one layer of Warm and Natural.  The top thread is a pale pink and the bottom thread is lavender.

This is the block I made. It is called Rays of Hope.  Here is a link to the paper pieced pattern.

I really hope this little quilt gives the lady some comfort as she recovers from surgery and begins her radiation and chemotherapy treatments.  
Lastly,  here are a couple of funny things to think about as you call to schedule that test.