If you give a mouse a cookie….

Posted on October 25, 2017 by katyquilts

….he’s going to want a glass of milk….. That’s how the children’s book goes. The moral is that one thing leads to another. That’s exactly how this project got started!

After I basted a small quilt on the longarm, I had leftover backing. So I decided to use it to practice some machine quilting.


I pulled out a piece of muslin and pressed it to find the center.


Then I thought this would be a good time to work with some of my long arm rulers.


I started marking some things and decided I should make a small whole cloth quilt.


I’m marking way more than I should, but I’m also designing as I go.


So much for a quick practice.

Have a great day!

Posted in Long Arm Quilting, Longarm Quilting, Uncategorized | 5 Comments

Machine Quilting

Posted on October 24, 2017 by katyquilts

I recently had this quilt top dropped off to me for quilting. It was purchased at an Amish quilt auction.


The person that dropped it off was not the owner. So I’m waiting to hear back on what she wants me to do. In the mean time, I played around a bit to try out some custom work on it.


It’s a good thing I quilt better than I draw!

I used to use the Adobe Ideas app to try out quilting designs. This app was discontinued and since updating my iPad, it no longer works for me. I found a new app that I’m trying out called You Doodle. It is available on the Apple App Store for free. 

Have a grea day!

Posted in Customer Quilts, Long Arm Quilting, Longarm Quilting | 4 Comments

Quilting a Baby Quilt

Posted on October 23, 2017 by katyquilts

My friend, Donna, pieced this top for a baby shower gift and asked me to quilt it for her. Isn’t it cute?

This pantograph is from Urban Elementz and it is called Windblown.

I love this horseshoe print!

Here is a look at the back.

Have a great day!

Posted in Customer Quilts, Finishes, Long Arm Quilting, Longarm Quilting, Pantographs, Uncategorized | 3 Comments

This and That

Posted on October 22, 2017 by katyquilts

I am home! It is hard to believe that just a year ago I was finishing last minute packing to head to Arizona for the winter. Visiting this time truly felt like going home! We spent most of our time loving on the littles, but I did squeeze in a trip to two of my favorite fabric stores in Phoenix, SAS Fabrics and 35th Avenue Sew and Vac. I was not disappointed! Here is my loot, all 27+ yards!


We had the best time with these boys!

I also had a wonderful evening out with my wonderful AZ friends!


I cannot tell you how amazing these women are! When I moved out last fall, they welcomed me into their group with open arms. I felt like I found my tribe. I belonged. And it all started with that beautiful lady to my right, Zenia from A Quilted Passion. We followed each other’s blogs and corresponded by e-mail before we finally met on one of my trips out west. She introduced me to the rest of the group, invited me to sew days and quilt shop hops and then even flew to Michigan to see me! 

GayLee is one member of the group and she brought me this beautiful stack of fabrics for QOVs.


I did a bit of hand quilting and binding on my trip. I actually added the binding by machine before I left and the quilting still isn’t done, but it’s close. Big L was fascinated by this quilt and declared that Nana was making it for him! He enjoyed snuggling in it even in its unfinished state! He also loved the treasures in my sewing bag, especially this retractable tape measure!


 I was remiss at responding to comments during this 10 day trip. I’m good at scheduling posts ahead when I’m gong to be out of town, not so good at responding to email and comments though. I did read every one and appreciate them all. Especially your kind words regarding my treasured parts cabinet from my dad. I took this picture a year ago last week. It shows my grandson, Big E, helping my dad, Papa Bill, fix something in the bathroom.


I love this picture! It shows my dad as I will always remember him, fixing, teaching, and loving his grandkids.

Have a wonderful day!

Posted in Life, Uncategorized | 10 Comments

AZ State Fair

Posted on October 21, 2017 by katyquilts

We are traveling home today after a wonderful time in AZ with our son and his family. Last weekend we went to the Arizona State Fair and I took photos of some of the quilts. Enjoy!

I couldn’t believe this one was hand quilted!

Have a wonderful day!

Posted in Uncategorized | 5 Comments

Finish It Up Friday ~ HSTs Quilt

Posted on October 20, 2017 by katyquilts

I cut the pieces for this quilt before I had my  Accuquilt die cutter, I think it was back in 2012. I cut them at the same time that I cut out Daughter #1’s wedding quilt. The top was pieced last winter in Arizona and I have finally finished it. I took these pictures while visiting Sweet MIL.

All the prints are from various Denise Schmidt lines. The white is from Ikea.

The pantograph I used for the quilting is called Petal Flambé and it is available from Urban Elementz.

This fun backing fabric is actually a vintage sheet that my sister gave me. It was perfect for this top!

And I’m happy to say that I found the perfect binding fabric in my stash.

Have a wonderful day!

Linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts, Busy Hands Quilts, Confessions of a Fabric Addict

This post contains affiliate links, and I receive a small compensation for any purchases made through them. Thank you for your support!

Posted in Accuquilt, Finishes, Pantographs, Uncategorized | 19 Comments

Finish on Thursday!

Posted on October 19, 2017 by katyquilts

Today I’m sharing my latest baby quilt finish. I’m really pleased with this one! You can find my block tutorial for this here. 

And here is some oversharing of the quilting, just because I love it!

The backing is an old Ikea print I had in my stash.

I dug through my bin of left over binding pieces to make the scrappy binding.


Have a great day!

Linking up with My Quilt Infatuation, AnjaQuilts

Posted in Baby Quilts, Finishes, Free Motion Quilting, Fresh Modern Quilts, Long Arm Quilting, Longarm Quilting, Uncategorized | 23 Comments

QOV #4

Posted on October 18, 2017 by katyquilts

Here is the last of the QOVs I quilted this month. The top was made by Val from our Stitching Sisters group. The background fabric is a beautiful mottled gray fabric.

Here is a look at the back.

This is the panto I used. It is from Urban Elementz.


Have a great day!

This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for your support.

Posted in Finishes, Pantographs, Quilt of Valor, Uncategorized | 4 Comments

Treasure

Posted on October 17, 2017 by katyquilts

On my last trip home to see my mom, I brought home this cabinet. It belonged to my dad and he used it in his garage/workshop to store little bits of hardware that he might need some day.

I have very fond memories of tinkering with my dad in his workshop. He even made me my own workbench and gave me some tools of my own. Believe it or not, I spent a lot of time scrubbing this up before I brought it into my sewing room! But I don’t really mind the rusty bits.  My dad could often see value in things that others could not see. He loved his tools and was a master at fixing and making things. I picked up some shelf liner for the drawers at the dollar store.

I found this ad for this very same cabinet online!

I love the numbers on the drawers!


Dad got this from the company where he worked as a machinist. Apparently they were throwing it out, but he knew it had life and purpose left in it. I’m not yet sure what I will use it for, but I’m so thankful to have it.

Have a great day!

Posted in Uncategorized | 13 Comments

DWMonday

Posted on October 16, 2017 by katyquilts

I recently received this charm pack as a freebie from Missouri Star. I thought it would make a cute baby girl quilt. And I need yet another for a gift.

So I used my 5 inch square die from Accuquilt and cut an equal number of plain white squares.

Then I threw them up on the wall.

Hmmmm….maybe a little more order is needed.

Better, but maybe not done yet. Anyway, this will finish at 37 by 45 inches. I may or may not add a narrow white border. Sometimes simple is best.

Have a great day!

This post contains affiliate links.

Posted in Baby Quilts, Design Wall Monday, Uncategorized | 5 Comments