Wednesday, February 27, 2019

February Mini Check-In

With only 28 days in the  month of February
you've got to apply the
K.I.S.S principle.
To make it less harsh
than the original acronym
I'm saying
"Keep It Simple, Sweetie".💗

That was my principle
as I worked on my February small quilt.


"KISS"
16" x 21"

Nothing quite says February
more than hearts.


Yay! Everything from my resource center,
including the pink 28 wt. Aurifil thread.


One of the wonderful benefits
of having "talented quilting blogging
friends" is the inspiration.
they share with me and many others.
I have always been a double binding kind of a gal,
but because Barb had shared a single binding tutorial
I decided to give it a try.

I really liked the feel it had on the small quilt
with it not being so thick at the edges.

My challenge has always been
folding and ironing a carefully even seam allowance
for the back side.
I just took my time and used
"a ruler" (duh)  for better accuracy and consistency
and did all that before sewing the binding on.

It's nice to know you can
teach an old quilter some new tricks.💗💗
Check it out..

****
Update

Again I wanted to thank many of
you for taking the time to vote for my daughter, Jessica,
 in the Northern Colorado Teacher Tuesday Contest.

Unfortunately, she didn't win, but has
given her some much need recognition for her
abilities, love of teaching
and dedication to the profession.
Plus a $50 gift card to a local restaurant.
Thanks!
Until Next Time-
Kyle

Wednesday, February 20, 2019

Flash Back to the 90's

A couple times a year 
I put together a photo book of 
the quilts that I've made in previous years.

It requires finding old photos,
looking through my quilting journals,
or retaking some better photos
of the quits I still have.

We each have our own past.
This is my history.
Oriole Circles
1998

Hand quilted and paper pieced.

This month I've been documenting 
my quilts from the 1999-1995.

It's interesting to see what I was working on and
to see the changing variables such as styles, colors, 
and designer influences.

The 90's were a time when I was making 
quilts that generally fell into 5 categories.

1. Quilts for the family

 
The Real Sunbonnet Sue
1996
Hand appliqued and hand quilted


Sunbonnet Sue loved doing 
lots of different things.
She was her own person.

My girls were still at home and 
everyone needed and wanted quilts.

Noah's Ark
1997


Debbie Mumm's fabric designs
were still very popular.

2.  Quilts for classes

I started working in a LQS in 1994, but
had been teaching classes years before that
so there was always the need to come up with
 new ideas for classes.

Bear Lake
1996
(fusible applique)


Wear Warm Clothes
1995
(applique and piecing techniques)

Both patterns by Country Threads

3. Quilt block exchanges


Farmer's Daughter
1999

Of course,
block exchanges are still popular.

The quilters I exchanged blocks with
are the dear friends I still see on a regular basis.
Fabric is so abundant, but you can't buy it all,
so exchanges are a wonderful idea.

 Bears Raid
 Friend's Plaid Stashes
1996

I still love those plaid hst's. 


Paper Bag Stars
1997

I called this my "paper bag" quilt because
 Moda marbles were becoming very popular and
the tan background was just the same shade as a 
brown paper bag.

4. Quilts Made to Sell

My business name was Timeless Reflections
and I made quilts for customers start to finish
or hand quilted tops.

Many were like this.
.

 I sold them
to designers in Denver
for Show Homes.
Size and colors were the important things
to fit the space and decor.

1995

The other project I was involved in 
was with a group of friends
and we made small wall quilts to sell at
craft fairs.





1995
We called ourselves the Material Girls
and had a great time together.

5.  Just for Me

25th Wedding Anniversary Quilt
1998

Hand pieced and hand quilted


Red and White Double T's
1995

Looking back can be very interesting.
Some years were more productive than others.
Some of the quilts have gone on
to other homes, some quilts I still love,
and others...not so much.
I guess it's just the natural cycle.
It's nice to see where you've been
and how it's influenced you as to where
you are today.

One thing is important though.
Taking the time to document and,
of course, label your work.
It's your history.
 Until Next Time-
Kyle

Wednesday, February 13, 2019

What I've Been Up To

I confess.
Oh, it can be so easy to do.

What's taken my attention?


The One block Wednesday SAL
designed by Temecula Quilt Co.

I've been finding bits and pieces
of fabrics, cutting the pieces, and 
sewing these simple blocks.


The instructions are very good and
are designed for a faster approach, but
rather than making multiples of the same
combinations, I've been cutting individual blocks
from lots of different fabric scraps.

Much more time consuming,
but more to my liking.



To make the size quilt that
Sharon at Temecula Quilt Co. suggests
would require 360 blocks,
180 light and 180 dark.

The SAL has you make only 12 blocks
per week.
I've veered off  here too.  I'm sewing as many blocks
as I get cut during the week.

The one thing that I've been very careful 
to do is to press the diagonal seams
always towards the dark. 

 This allows
the seams to mesh when I'm sewing blocks 
side by side.


Well, I might have gotten sidetracked from other projects,
but I'm having great fun playing with scraps,
sewing on my featherweight,
and enjoying the process.

I hope you might get sidetracked sometime soon.
Let us know where it sends you.

****
We could use your help!

I've also been busy, online,
voting for my school teacher daughter, Jessica Wolfe,
who was nominated for 
"Northern Colorado's Tuesday Teacher Award".

It's quite the honor and there's a $500 award
for the school.  What school couldn't use that!
If you have a moment and feel inclined,
here's a couple link to some local radio stations
where you could add a vote or two for her.


You can vote on each link.
Just scroll down until
you see the place to "vote now".  
Thanks!!

Until Next Time-
Kyle



















Wednesday, February 6, 2019

I Didn't Forget you!

If your Nana is a quilt maker,
then everyone should have at least
one special quilt  made just for them.
Right?


Well, I can finally say, I've done that.

This little sweetie pie


has a finished quilt just for her.


"Springtime in the Rockies"

The simple snowball block
was my leaders and enders project last year.



My color palette came from
the beautiful flowering crab apple
trees that you see covered with blossoms 
in the spring,


the delicate pinks,
creamy whites,
springtime greens
and the rich brown branches.

Of course, here in Colorado,


the spring time snows can eliminate 
those blossoms rather quickly.

The combination of those
ideas brought this quilt together

just for this little Colorado girl.

The 4 inch  blocks were laid out
 alternating a 
light center with dark corners
 and a dark center with light corners.


I machine quilted it
simply by outlining the blocks
and then adding a flower in all of the pink centered blocks.
I used a light pink 28 weight
Aurifil  thread.
Love that thread.

The borders

were pink tumblers
quilted with hearts.


The binding included a little
spring green flange, just as a reminder that
spring will come.

There's no way I could have forgotten
this little one,

but quilts take time to
stitch all that love into them.

Until Next Time-
Kyle