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

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

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.

http://rock1029.com/teacher-tuesday-voting-february-2019/

http://999thepoint.com/teacher-tuesday-voting-february-2019/

http://943thex.com/teacher-tuesday-voting-february-2019/

http://newcountry991.com/teacher-tuesday-voting-february-2019/

http://tri1025.com/teacher-tuesday-voting-february-2019/

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

Thanks!!

Until Next Time-

Kyle

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