Look for the helpers

Posted on April 16, 2013 by katyquilts

mrrogers

Praying for our nation today and thankful for all our helpers.

Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments

Design Wall Monday

Posted on April 15, 2013 by katyquilts

It is DWM again! This is a view of my large design wall. Because of the tables in front, it is not as useful as I thought it would be. It tends to be long term thinking space and short term storage! I count 5 finished pieces up there, one needing quilting, and three others in the “what do I do now?” stage.

20130415-132217.jpg
I am linking up with Judy at Patchwork Times. Need some ideas? Check out what others have on their design walls!

Posted in Creativity | 4 Comments

BlogLovin’

Posted on April 15, 2013 by katyquilts

I am not sure how you all keep track of blogs you enjoy, I generally bookmark them and check periodically to see if something is new. Probably not the most efficient method! However, BlogLovin’ is a way to keep track and follow blogs. If you use it and want to follow me that way, you can do so here.

I am curious to know what works best for all of you. I do have links in my sidebar to some of my favorite blogs. I do need to update it as I have found many more that I enjoy. Check them out if you have time.

And because you can’t have a blog post without a picture….

taquilt (4)

I made this quilt a few years back for my wonderful son, Zach. It was a gift for his graduation from UTI in Arizona. He has a ’77 Trans Am, Betty.

ta

Until next time….

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Harmony finish!

Posted on April 14, 2013 by katyquilts

I finished two projects this weekend. One is my top secret SQT Swap quilt and the other is my little Harmony quilt for Lori’s QAL at Humble Quilts.

20130414-220918.jpg
Mine finished at 15″ square. I went with what seems to be my default quilting pattern lately, a random grid. This was such a fun little project and I was able to use up bits and pieces that have been sitting here forever. Now I need to find the perfect place to hang it!
Until next time….

Posted in Civil War Repro Quilts, Doll Quilts, Machine quilting | 4 Comments

Harmony QAL Progress

Posted on April 14, 2013 by katyquilts

After work at the library, I pulled out more scraps to make the border for my little Harmony quilt from the QAL hosted by Lori over at Humble Quilts. I had some scraps already cut to 2 1/2 x 3 1/2″ and decided to use those along with a few odd pieces thrown in to break things up a bit. I made longer border strips than I needed and added them log cabin style, whacking off the extra and adding it to the next side.

20130414-080454.jpg
I did finish quilting it last night and will post the finished quilt after I sew the binding today. Completion is a beautiful thing.
For we rejoice when we ourselves are weak but you are strong, this we also pray for, that you may be made complete. 2 Corinthians 13:9

Posted in Civil War Repro Quilts, Doll Quilts, Scraps, Traditional Quilts, Uncategorized | 4 Comments

Harmony QAL

Posted on April 13, 2013 by katyquilts

Lori over at Humble Quilts has done it again! She is hosting a quick little QAL. I loved the last one and had to jump in. Hers is all done in madder prints and I intended to do the same. However, I had some bits and pieces I cut a few years back and decided to make them work.

20130413-114801.jpg
As you can see, my triangles in the border were not the correct size. I knew that but they were cut and I decided to use them and whack off the extra ala Gwen Marston. After all, it IS a humble quilt!
Lori has posted part two but that will have to wait until after work. Until next time….

Posted in Civil War Repro Quilts, Doll Quilts | 2 Comments

A productive evening

Posted on April 13, 2013 by katyquilts

I got a fair amount done last night. I’ve been wanting to make a QOV or two using the Take Five die for my studio cutter. I used this on my daughter’s Type quilt and it went together so fast. Usually, the T5Q is made with just 5 fabrics. The die cuts an 8″ square, three 4″ squares, and one 4″ by 8″ rectangle in one pass (finished sizes). I wanted as much variety as possible so I tried to cut from nearly every patriotic fabric I had. Here are my stacks:

20130413-080313.jpg
I have enough here for two 20 block quilts and one with 12. At the same time, I cut tumblers using my 4″ tumbler die.

20130413-080551.jpg
I may alternate these with white tumblers like I did in this quilt.
Next I worked on a very old UFO. I made this disappearing 9 patch top as an experiment a few years back. I couldn’t find anything I liked in my stash for a border so I finally decided to add more of the background and call it good. I found some old peach prints in my stash for the backing and got it loaded on the frame.

20130413-080945.jpg
And last but not least, I worked on a super secret project for a lovely lady across the pond 😄. Here is a sneak peak:

20130413-081139.jpg
I’ll be working this afternoon, but hopefully, I will get a few more stitches in tonight.
Until next time…

Posted in Accuquilt Studio Cutter, Civil War Repro Quilts, Quilt of Valor | 1 Comment

Swaps!

Posted on April 12, 2013 by katyquilts

This week I haven’t done much sewing. However, I did get back my loot from a couple swaps I participated in. The Small Quilt Talk group exchanged 6″ charms in Civil War Repro fabrics.

20130412-115804.jpg
And the Quilt of Valor group on Facebook exchanged 12″ blocks.

20130412-115917.jpg
You never know for sure what you will end up with when you do a swap and you have to decide going in whether that is okay or not. You will get all skill levels participating. Sometimes you need to trim or border blocks. I have been known to take apart and restitch blocks. But I am okay with that! It is fun! There is a camaraderie and the surprise is worth it. I like to send my stuff in way early and then I am delightfully surprised when I get squishies in the mail 😄.
Now I need to figure out what to do with these little bits of loveliness!
Until next time…

Posted in Civil War Repro Quilts, Quilt of Valor | 2 Comments

Hmmmm….. QOV #13 Dilemna

Posted on April 10, 2013 by katyquilts

I have had the following panel to use for a Quilt of Valor for more than a year. I love it but I cannot figure out what to do with it! I thought I had finally come up with something in the right fabrics, but, eh….. Not so much.

20130410-055144.jpg
Ugh. Back to square one. I do like the ribbon border so maybe I can make a stripy quilt with just those:

20130410-055311.jpg
Or not.

20130410-055340.jpg

20130410-055354.jpg

20130410-055410.jpg
I like the last two fabrics with the pieced block fabrics but the backgrounds do not match. What to do, what to do? I really wanted to have this top done this week. My goal for the year is to do one QOV for each month and this would be for May. I am still trying to work ahead and get those committments out of the way ahead of the wedding.
Until next time….

Posted in Quilt of Valor | 1 Comment

QOV #12

Posted on April 9, 2013 by katyquilts

I started quilting QOV #12 yesterday morning.

20130409-080214.jpg
Nothing fancy here, just a basic piano key border and some loopy quilting in the middle.

20130409-080324.jpg

20130409-080346.jpg
I am happy with it. No tension problems. I used Glide thread in Khaki. I was able to get it bound and the presentation case made. Today it will get washed and the label added.

???????????????????????????????
Until next time…

Posted in Machine quilting, Quilt of Valor, Uncategorized | 2 Comments