Hanging the Flag

In 1996, we were on our way to NC and my DH took me to my favorite quilt store in downtown Stone Mountain, GA. As it turned out, it the day before the torch was coming thru on it's way to Atlanta, for the Olympics. The whole little town was decked out in red, white and blue - everyone was so excited. When I went in the quilt store this quilt was hanging behind the counter. The minute I saw it - I was captivated. I'm not usually a "kit" kind of person, but I loved this quilt. It included everything except the backing. It was a fun quilt to piece.

Sometimes I hang this at the office, this year it's in my living room.

It adds so much color - I love the summer!!

This is my one and only time to quilt something using the big stitch. I used #8 perle cotton. I had a really hard time keeping the stitches consistent. I just outlined the stars and used wavy lines in the blocks.

I had quite a few comments when I posted about my quilt hanger so I thought I'd include a picture of what it looks like without a quilt. I covered the dowell with cordoroy to help the quilts stay on and to protect them from the wood.

So until next time, make something beautiful.

Karen

Fireworks!

It's almost time for fireworks! The 4th of July is a favorite, happy holiday for me. My DD and her family will be here this year (and bringing my grandchildren of course). She hasn't been home for the 4th in 15 years and we're all excited. This is one of two patriotic quilts I've made that I hang at the office. It's a pattern (called Fireworks) that I picked up at a quilt shop near Jacksonville, FL in 1994. It was the first quilt Kim and I did together. I can still remember sharing little squares of blue and red - bringing them to the office like little treasures and trading them. Then we'd go home, sew some blocks, and come back the next day for show and tell. That is a memory that makes me smile. After the subtle hues of Beauty for Ashes, this seems very vibrant. Change is good. Not sure why the color is off, they replaced the lights in my office and it's messing up my pictures :(.

Every time I get this quilt out, I think I need to re-do the binding. Isn't it good when we look at early work and think... I've gotten better!! My quilting as well as my binding technique have definitely improved since 1996. I think I'm promising myself, this is the year. Before I put this away, I will replace the binding. I figure if it bugs me this much, it's time to do something about it.

Until next time, make something beautiful.

-Karen

Piles of Projects!

I'm not sure what my problem is, lately I just keep going from one project to another. Can't quite get into a rhythm. I took my camera to my studio and literally turned in a circle and saw pile after pile of projects. Here's the 2 partially finished pineapple blocks that Kim and I started. We're not sure they will ever become a quilt (big sigh). As much as I don't want to, we may be going to Plan B. Here are the scraps of the strips used in the 2 blocks, still on my cutting table.

Here's the original Kaffe fabric I bought several weeks ago and the 2 1/2" strips I've cut. Not sure what I'm going to do with these - but these still make me happy.

This is a project for the guild up on my design wall. These are the fabrics that I got in the jelly roll swap. I'll do a post about that soon.

Trying to decide on color combinations.

Three more blocks ready to go on the design wall.

These are the fabrics I've been collecting for my next quilt for our quilt show. I'm still working on a pattern/ layout. I've got ideas but so far they're just on paper. I am very excited about this quilt, I need to sit down and start on it soon. This will include fabric that I dyed myself! Took a class last fall, putting this in one of my quilts will be a first for me. Another reason I'm excited.

This is a T-shirt quilt that is almost ready to baste. I've got to get another piece of fabric to add to the back. I just bought an open toe darning foot. Can't wait to try it out and see if makes any diffenence in the quilting.

This is a basket of pinks that I cut into strips for a new project that I put together for our last road trip when we went to Asheville (I always try to plan a project - even if I don't work on it).

Here's a peek at my new tree. This is what I'm currently working on, trying to get done. I always forget how long it takes to applique, but I do love it.

So until next time, make something beautiful.
Karen

Not Quite So Tangy

I've seen this quilt in person. It really is this happy and wild LOL!! But when Kim and I decided to make a quilt for a friend at the office who was celebrating her 50th Birthday, we decided to tone it down a bit.
Her husband sent us a picture of the couch (it was a surprise) so we could get some idea of where to go. I'd say it turned out pretty well. This is such a fast, fun, easy quilt to make. The beauty of this is that you only need two fabrics that go well together, and you're set.

We used a palette of soft blues, grays and sand colors. We both raided our stashes and only had to buy a few filler pieces. This quilt has a very tranquil feel to it, so unlike the original LOL!

The other neat thing about this quilt, is that for each pair of fabrics, you get a positive and a negative block. See the middle row, left block (above) and below? That batik was our focal fabric.

I can't believe how versatile these patterns are. Hope you all are enjoying Scrap Basket Surprises as much as I am.

Until next time, make something beautiful,

Karen

Cats and Quilts in Asheville

We recently returned from a visit to our son and daughter in law's house in Asheville, NC. While I was there, I decided to take pictures of the quilts I've made for them over the years. Here is my son's graduation quilt from the University of Florida. He wanted to be a ranger and work with bears - hence the bear theme. The story I told him was that the baby bears always followed their mother. Notice the one in the bottom left corner, he got lost LOL!! I had a friend quilt it (I had not started machine quilting yet). It's supposed to look like mountains.

Of course, there has to be a cat hidden in the quilt. I added two so they wouldn't be afraid of the bears LOL!!

Next is my DDIL's graduation quilt from Florida State University (you might think that this would present a problem, but it doesn't). I did the front in neutral earth tones. This is the same layout I used for my friend's thank you quilt - the wild one done with scraps from all the t-shirt quilts. I absolutely love this layout!

But the back is all FSU!!!

Here's the kitty fabric hidden in one of the blocks. By this time, I was machine quilting my quilts.

Last year I made an Amy Butler quilt for her birthday. By fussy cutting the kitty, I was able to make it look like he had a collar. How fun is that??

Last, but certainly not least, is their wedding quilt. It's a signature quilt. My original design. The guests signed the blocks at the reception. They were married in October outdoors in a meadow north of Asheville. I wanted the colors to remind them of the way the leaves looked that Friday afternoon as the sun turned them red and gold. The beauty around us was almost as stunning as the bride and groom.

I made a similar quilt for my daughter's wedding 8 years ago. The next time I'm in Charlotte I'll take pictures of all her quilts.

I used a Pigma pen and stabilized the panels with freezer paper before having the guests sign.

The quilt is hand quilted. I decided that a wedding quilt was worth the effort. And here are the kitties. I didn't realize I used the same fabric as her graduation quilt. I am needing a new supply of cat fabric, guess I'll have to go shopping :).

So for now, that's all of the quilts living in Asheville. I'm sure this won't be all.
Until next time, make something beautiful.

Karen

Graduation Quilt

This is a T-shirt quilt I just finished for one of our attorneys here at the office. I did one for her son last year, and this one's for her daughter for HS graduation. We went fabric shopping and she picked this stripe.
She combined childhood quilts along with some from high school.

I love doing T-shirt quilts. Each one is so different because each group of shirts varies so much.

Gulf Breeze is a little town across the bay from Pensacola.

Blue is her favorite color and she chose this Moda Marbles fabric for the back. She hasn't seen it yet, hope she likes it.

Until next time, make something beautiful.

Karen