Friday, September 30, 2016

I've Been A Log Cabin Loonie For A While

 When Running Man and I 
were first married 43 years ago,


we lived out in the Piceance Basin in 
northwestern Colorado.
This was our home,
 a little green log cabin.


We were here for 3 months,
while he did his research for his master's degree.

made me think of that cabin so long ago
and the different log cabin quilts 
that I've made over the years.
So if you'll indulge me,
let me share those with you.

Despite the fact that Eleanor Burns 
first published her 
Quilt in a Day Log Cabin book
in 1978
I didn't make my first log cabin quilt until 1987.

It was a circular log cabin and
was constructed with
paper pieced pattern designed
by June Ryker of Colorado.

 It was a challenge
 but rewarding to make.
I love remembering the popular
color scheme of the time,
country blue and mauve.
I sold the quilt to a local dentist
who had it hanging in his office.

The following year, 1988,
with the same popular color scheme,
I made this log cabin with the 
traditional barn raising layout.
I sold this one as well.

In 1990
I was enjoying the folk art designs of the
Red Wagon gals,
Gerry Kimmel Carr, Linda Brannock,
and Jan Patek.

The courthouse steps border
was perfect using
Roberta Horton's plaids.

2001 found me crazy
for the Buggy Barn girls
and their Crazy Log Cabin.

Their stack, slice and shuffle method
was a fun way to get the scrappy look without
too much effort.

In October, 2004
I was heading to Bennington, Kansas
for a Quilt Getaway with the talented
Lynn Hagmeier of Kansas Troubles.
 I bought her current line of fabric
 and spent the weekend 

 happily cutting and sewing.

In 2014
I purchases this wonderful
red and white antique log cabin.

It was the perfect combination
of a red and white quilt and 


a sunshine and shadows log cabin layout. 

Then, of course, this year
there was Strawberries and Chocolate

The Log Cabin pattern is an old and beloved
design and 
I'm sure there is still one or two more
that I'll have to make.
How many have you made?

Until Next Time-
Kyle

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Flower Gardens

 I live in beautiful Fort Collins, Colorado
located along the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and
home of Colorado State University.
One of the advantages of being a university town
is the outreach to the community.
CSU is well known for it's
horticulture department and the research it does
on different annual plants and their tolerance
to high altitude, arid conditions,
wind and hail.
(Sounds like a great place to live.)

Actually, it is
and the Annual Flower Trial Gardens reminds us
that flowers can grow here.
 
It's a beautiful place to come and stroll
and enjoy all the different varieties of flowers and color.
The air even smells sweet.

What better place to take some
photos of a flower garden quilt than at
a lovely flower garden.

 The pillar print by Andover and Di Ford
has made a fantastic vintage style border.

The colors in the border were
the perfect guide for choosing the
fabrics for the hexagons.


Each corner came out differently because of the
miter, but the pillar still
flows around the quilt.

The sun was beginning to set and the
surface of the quilt was washed with
a soft golden light.

The nearby geraniums were a brilliant red which
caused the reds in the quilt to pop and show off too.

I'm thinking,
I might have to hand quilt this one,
but we'll see.

There was an older man sitting on a bench
enjoying the evening and he watched curiously as
Running Man and I moved the quilt
from place to place
setting it with different groups of flowers.
I don't think he ever figured out
exactly what we were doing.
Hopefully,
 we didn't interrupt his quiet evening too much.

Until Next Time-
Kyle

Tuesday, September 13, 2016

Almost Done

Ever so slowly my
hexagons have come together.
 

I like how neat and crisp the back looked

 with all the paper templates. 

Finally, all the sections were
completed.
And I started to see what it would
look like with the border I'd chosen.

The next step was to connect all the rows
with the diamond shape.

It looked fantastic to see it all together.


I  had been putzing along at a pretty good clip,

 when I saw myself heading
onto a very uneven road.

Hexagons don't leave a straight edge,
but a very bumpy road.
The directions said to cut each side 
straight and leave a 1/4" seam.

I couldn't do that.

All the sides of the hexies were tacked down.
And all I could see was trouble ahead.

So my solution was to applique the border
to each side of the quilt

It has taken quite a bit of time to
get it right.

I've actually taken each side off at least once.
I was surprised how much the top
stretched even with the papers intact,
extra pinning and careful placement.

Well, it's almost a flimsy.
It's heading off to it's official
photo shoot this week.

Until Next Time- 
Kyle

Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Giving Feels Good

 Giving makes you feel good.
It generates a sense of pleasure,
a "warm glow".

In other words,
it makes you just want to dance
and share your happiness with others.
 

I have a friend who is very involved
in an organization called
Their goal is to help and heal
children of sexual abuse.
 They like to wrap each child
in a love quilt. 
The sad part is that there is a 
need for 100's of quilt.

My friends, the Quilty Buddies,
challenged each other to make a quilt this summer 
to give to this hard working organization.

"Frozen"
45" x 56"

My grandkiddos love all the characters of 
"Frozen".

The pattern I used was a Disappearing Nine Patch.
You can find instructions anywhere online. 
I made sure the purple fabric was
always the middle square and
that the themed fabric was in the
lower left and upper right.

 So when the nine patch was cut
it gave some continuity
and made the characters
stand out.

I'm hoping some sweet child
finds comfort wrapped in this quilt.
****

And now for my anniversary giveaway.
I want to thank everyone who
left a comment last week
Because so many of you did
I added a third prize!

Drum roll, please.....


 #1 - Susan at http://thimblestitch.blogspot.com/



#2 - Audrey at http://quiltyfolk.blogspot.com/

#3- Pat at http://amityquilter.blogspot.com/


Ladies, please send me your mailing addresses
and then start checking your mailboxes.
If you're not a follower on these quilter's blog,
check them out.
You'll be glad you did.
Until Next Time-
Kyle