Monday, December 17, 2018

Secret Santa

I'm sure at one time or another
you've been part of a Secret Santa 
gift exchange.
This year I was a recipient of 
a secret Santa gift from
the Temecula Quilt Co quilt shop.
I have never been to the shop in Temecula, California,
or never have met the shop owner, Sheryl Johnson,
but she shared a wonderful secret Santa mystery quilt design
with anyone who read her blog.

What an awesome gift!


Each week we received another clue.

A little more cutting and
some more sewing.  

Nine patches...

4 patches...

Greens...

and plenty of Reds and Neutrals.
Lots of oldies, but goodies, for sure.


After 5-6 weeks
this sweet Christmas variation of 
the classic Burgoyne Surrounded quilt
was sewn together.

"Secret Santa"
42" x 54"

I machine quilted using a 28wt. Aurifil thread.
I love the texture it created.


Snowflakes, and 


snow blowing swirls.

Of course, there were lots of 
things I should have been working on,
but it was exciting to get a mystery 
Secret Santa gift each week.

This pattern has been on my
perpetual list for 20+ years.
Sheryl divided up the construction 
in easy and doable segments.

I think 2019 will find me 
FINALLY making this pattern

1991

in the indigo and white fabrics I had planned 
so long ago. 

Thanks, Sheryl for sharing 
your mystery with all of us. 
It was a fabulous seasonal project.

Wishing you all a Happy Holiday season
and Merry Christmas.  We'll catch up
after the New Year.
Until Then-
Kyle

Thursday, December 6, 2018

The Colors of Santa Fe

It's been over 6 months 
since I finished this quilt.


The Colors of Santa Fe

But I was waiting for the right 
backdrop to highlight this pattern.

You might recognize it as 
the quilt of the year 
designed exclusively for
The Quilt Show by Sue Garman in 2017
called Halo Medallion.


This past weekend I had two tall sons-in-laws
who were willing to stretch their arms and brave frigid temps
so I could finally take a photo. 

The majority of the piecing 
for this quilt had to be done using 
a paper piecing method.  
That can be a challenge for me.

But it was definitely necessary, especially for these
 fabulous flying geese.


But what has made this quilt so wonderful
is the beautiful machine quilting that
my machine quilter and friend, Kathy Herman, 
of Hearth and Home Quilting so skillfully and
artistically stitched.


This quilt has become one of my favorites.

The colors were inspired by my many
trips to Santa Fe and incorporating
the color palette found in the American desert areas.


Colors such as sand, adobe, terracotta, and mahogany.  
I emphasized the neutrals.

It's wonderful to finally be able to share this properly.


The Colors of Santa Fe
86" x 86"

Until Next Time-
Kyle


Monday, November 26, 2018

November Small Quilt- Another One Done

With the Thanksgiving holiday over,


it's time to get back to a "normal" routine.
Well, at least for a couple days.

My Florida daughter and son-in-law are coming

to celebrate Christmas, birthdays,
and just being together.
They come and freeze, these two born and raised Colorado kids,
but it's wonderful to have them here.

So it's time to share my November small quilt,
which is part of the monthly challenge
coordinated by Wendy, the Constant Quilter.


Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice
22" x 36"

This little quilt had it's beginning back in January, 2017.
It's when I started Primitive Gathering's Triangle Gatherings.

I made lots of  sets of triangle units,

even put together a few blocks, but

then staled out.
That ever happened to you?!
Of course it has!

Well, those little piles have stayed
together for almost 2 years.
Time to use 'em
move 'em, or loose 'em.


One of my favorite combos
is indigo blue with cheddar orange.
I had this fabulous cheddar strip and
it was telling me to use those blocks
in this simple pattern from
Jo Morton's book, Jo's Little Favorites III.

Most of the sewing was already done.
So it went together easily.

But look what I discovered when I set the
quilt up for its photo shoot.


Oh, well.
Such is life.

Don't sweat the small stuff.
You could be Humpty Dumpty.

I kept that fabulous color scheme going
on the back and


stretched a favorite remnant to make it work.

Thanks again, Wendy for
all this fun!
One more month and then another year?
Until Next Time-
Kyle

Tuesday, November 13, 2018

Houston International Quilt Festival

How do you describe the "grandmother"
of all quilt shows?

Fabulous, Amazing, Incredible, Extraordinary....
I'm not sure you really can.
Each of the 50,000+ attendees would say something else 
to describe their experience.

I went to be inspired.







Daisy and Basket by Helm Hulsman

I went to learn some new things.

Redbird Quilt Co and Aurifil Thread

I went to do some shopping.



Each day as the doors opened
it was an organized frenzy of quilters


all seeking out their favorite venders to
discover what enticing products they had brought.


First stop for me
saying hi to Petra Prins and Judith Ebbelaar.

Judith and Me

I had my map labeled 1,2,3,...

There's never been so many 
beautiful temptations.

There is something for every style of quilter,
every skill level, and every credit card limit.

Equally important is seeing and meeting friends.

I finally had the privilege to meet 
Janet Olmstead from Calgary, Alberta Canada.
You might know her as Mrs Sew n' sew
Her applique work is exquisite and she
is so delightful to hangout with.
We had a great time shopping and
viewing the quilts.

It was exciting to see her Bird of Paradise quilt 
in person!


It was also exciting to say hi
to Rachael Daisy from Australia.


Her quilts are an explosion of color, pattern
and innovated techniques.  That's her 
Whiz Bang, prize winning quilt in the background.

The show couldn't happen or run 
so smoothly without the incredible crew of 
volunteers that work behind the scenes.
I caught up with Lori DeJarnatt


as she was getting things set up for the next
open studio demos.

My dear Virginia and Netherlands travelers
were all there 

with an outstanding exhibit 


Esther's Quilt, 1858 

Many quilters followed along and 
created their own masterpieces.

 Doreen Johnson's Quilt
made with French General fabrics.
You might know Doreen at


Patti Snyder's quilt
with extraordinary quilting


who you know as the Log Cabin Quilter
with her wonderful chocolate background


Wendy Reed's quilt
Don't you love the cheddar background!


Harolyn Klawan's,
"Playtime in the Valley", with her 
lovely small embroidered interpretation.


Susie Martin Corrao's 
lovely quilt with sashing.

Laurie Sanders took a different approach.


Laurie visualized the flowers that Esther might have
seen from her kitchen window.

There were so many quilts to enjoy and study,
about 1600.  Each one a work of art.

Just a couple more.
How about:


Barb Vedder's quilt
It was fabulous to see in person.  
The pink background is awesome with
the blue saw tooth border.  
She has a creative whimsical style.

There were so many hand quilted quilts this year
with the exhibit of Antique Quilts of the British Isles



Hexagon Quilt, 1810

and the French collection
Quilts de Legende


Marie-Henriette 
by Martine Crabe'-Lanux.

I know I didn't see everything in my two days,


but I gave it a good try.

Until Next Time-
Kyle