My Leader - Ender Project Update

I was looking for something the other day and found another orphan block (gifted to me many years ago by a sweet friend).  All I have to do is finish adding the rest of the leaves. Not even sure what pattern this is but I love it!

Since the colors were so perfect, I started putting some of my leader/ender hst's around it to just play around (you know, 15 minutes of play). :)   This has A LOT of potential!!

Here's the original star that I shared before, plus another orphan block I found.   I had been playing around with this layout and it was looking good............ until I starting robbing the blocks for the flower block.

I've started sewing some of the units together into flying geese units, hst rows and the square in a square block.  Trying not to do too many as I don't want to limit my options.

These are all the triangles I have left (in the basket) - so when I finish making all these units, I'll see where I stand.  It's still going to take a while unless I just start sewing :)!!  Leader/ ender blocks are such a brilliant idea - thanks Bonnie!!

Have a great day,

Karen

I tried to resist, really I did....

I've participated in 2 of Bonnie Hunter's mystery quilts - Roll, Roll, Cotton Boll and Orca Bay.  Of course, neither one is quilted yet, but the tops are done - except for a border on Orca Bay.   And I was going to stay away this time, but the whole mystery of it just got to me - so Easy Street has begun.

So far, Step 1 - 71 blocks.  I already know I don't want to make it as big as hers, so I'm holding off for now.  Plus I have run out of a variety of white and black prints - so this is it for at least a week.

I went ahead and made my kitty block - love him :)!!  I don't have many of the colors she's using, so I'll be changing them.  I just need to see a little more before I decide what colors to use.  This morning's clue did not help me one bit!!  I know that's kind of cheating, what with it being a mystery and all...... but life is too short to end up making somethig you don't like!  I've been collecting grey, pink and red fabrics - so I'm thinking I'll probably lean that direction. I do like the grey blocks so far.

Have a great Friday!!

Karen

Table Cover

My Pineapple Nine Patch is quilted, bound, done!  It looks so pretty on my kitchen table.

I used the Grace line by 3 Sisters - so beautiful!!  Had to fill in with a little stash - mainly the lights.

In the centers I quilted small swirls.

The green areas got a soft squiggle design that goes back and forth.

I quilted a feather in the cream colored areas with a meandering vine in the outside red border.

A quilt on the table makes my kitchen seem warm and cozy.

Have a great day,

Karen

Ready for Binding

The quilting is done, now I just need to find some binding fabric.

These are just the prettiest fabrics - kudos to Amy who was a pioneer in the field of vintage modern fabrics.  And even though these are from 4 different lines, they all blend so beautifully.

This still got a little washed out, I will get a perfect picture when the binding gets on.  The top part is pretty close to how it looks in person.  I'm totally out of my favorite AB fabric to use for bindings.  Will have to see what else goes.

The cactus are blooming again.  So little work to bring such beauty each year.

Have a great day,

Karen

UFO Fun

I'm a little between things at the moment, so I brought out a UFO.  I've made a total of 6 Amy Butler quilts, so I had quite a bag of scraps.

Each big row is 4" wide, all size scraps were used.

The little skinny rows are about 1 1/2" to 2" - totally scrappy.

I got a back pieced today, got it basted and started quilting.

I love these happy colors.  Not very Christmassy, but happy none the less.

Hope it was a good Wednesday,

Karen

It's a Start...

I don't have much out in the way of decorations yet, but this little Santa has found his spot.  He is one of the first things I get out each year.

I made this little quilt a few years ago to specifically to go with this Santa sitting in his chair.

He sits outside my back door in the garage.  Each time I pull in - he is there to greet me.  It feels a little bit more like Christmas and he makes me smile.

Have a great day.

Karen

The Last Few Weeks

I can't believe that Thanksgiving is over and it's now officially December.  I have this little bit to show in my ongoing trek to finishing these hexies.

They just seem to be growing so slowly.

I was able to do these on the way back from my trip. "What trip" you ask?  Well, it all started like this......

Two weeks ago, our house started filling up with people.  Both our children and their families came to Pensacola for Thanksgiving for the first time in 6 years.

It was our little granddaughter's first visit to Nana and Granddaddy's house :).

It was the first time for my parents to be with all 7 of their great grandchildren.

All 23 of these people spent the majority of the holiday at our house and we ate all our big meals here.  This is quite a crew - we all stayed healthy and had so much fun together!  I'm so glad we had great weather - the kids played outside as much as possible.

A last minute decision found me leaving early Monday morning on a 1,100 trek.  One of the benefits of being currently unemployed is the ability to do things on the spur of the moment.  By lunchtime on Tuesday I got to see this!! 

My little punkin was pretty good for most of those 1,100 miles.  I'm so glad I was there to help her when that car seat got to be too much!

Before I knew it (LOL!!) we were here..... Iowa!!  I've never been to Iowa, but we were on our way to Cedar Rapids.  After 19 hours on the road, we arrived!

My DS and his family are living here - in a Residence Inn.  They've been there 4 months and counting.  My punkin got this stroller for Christmas and was taking her cow for a ride :).

This was parked out front of the hotel.  We got to go inside :).  I guess you never know who will show up!

I flew back to Pensacola yesterday, and my house looks pretty much the way it did after everyone left!  Today I've been trying to get things back in order and start thinking about decorating for Christmas.  I hope to get back into a groove, but the last few weeks have been so wonderful.

Have a great day,

Karen

A Little Gift

Now that this little piece has arrived at its new home, I can share pictures.  I needed a gift for someone and found out she loved all things Mary Engelbreit so I immediately knew I wanted to do a teapot wallhanging.

Years ago I did a ME quilt for my daughter.  I still have scraps left (imagine that LOL) - it was so much fun to re-visit all these cute fabrics.

The thing about ME fabric is that they have such a personality, they are almost like "friends" :).  And they are so quirky that you don't have to stress about what goes with what.  I hand appliqued and hand quilted this little piece.  The border was a little hard to do with the small pieces and seams.  But it was still so much fun.

I just cut little pieces of lots of different scraps.  And then in true ME style, you anchor everything with black.

Don't you love this little face??

The back was just a blue  piece of ME I had.

And of course, the hidden kitty :) - my trademark.

Have a great day,

Karen

My Fall Quilts

Fall is such a great time of year, even in Florida where we don't see much color change.  Of all my fireplace quilts, this might be my favorite.  It was the last one I made during my NYB series (8 in all).  I pulled in the clay/red color and made the golds a little stronger - love this one!  It almost glows at night.

My hand pieced and hand quilted apple core is always a favorite.  It's a good size and has so many wonderful memories attached to it.

This little fall wallhanging used to hang in my office in my ever changing series of  "Office Art", but now it gets to hang out in my living room, making me smile.  The applique is all by hand and it's hand quilted.  This is one of the quilts I've made using the "One of a Kind" method.  Love it!!

This last one is one I haven't shown before.  I made this quilt in 2003-2004.  We had just gotten this new couch and of course I had to make a quilt to match.

I'm not sure what this pattern is called, but it was fun and easy.  I carried this pillow around with me for weeks, making sure the fabrics would match.

It matches so well it almost doesn't show up!!  This was one of the last "utility" quilts I hand quilted before I started learning to machine quilt.  Now I pretty much save the hand quilting for 1st time baby quilts for the grands and the quilts I put in the quilt show.

It's not a really "wow" quilt, but was perfect for what I was trying to achieve.

Have a great day,

Karen

Mini Trail Mix and HST's

First, thanks for all the comments about my sweet punkin - aka the cutest owl ever!!  Less than 2 weeks until she's here (along with my other 2 munchkins)!!  I can't wait!

I've voted today and now it's time to get this little quilt basted and quilted.

I chose a tan print for the outer border and a cheddar for the inner border.  It looks really good I think.  Now I need to decide on a quilting design - always the hardest part for me.

I found this orphan block stuck in a box and put it on the design wall.  My leader/ender project (remember that bag of triangles from Karen?) has yielded over 60 hst's so far :)!!  Makes me feel so productive.  Right now I'm just sticking them up there - no real idea where it will go.

But so far I really like it!! 

So glad to hear some in the NE are slowly getting back to normal - hang in there.

- Karen

The Cutest Owl You've Ever Seen

This is a non-quilty post, but one that I just had to share.  This is quite possibly the cutest owl you will see this season :)!!

This is my sweet granddaughter - the one living with her parents currently in Iowa!  My incredibly talented DIL made this Halloween outfit for her - without a pattern!!

Not sure how she got in the tree (I think her Daddy had something to do with it) -  :).

My DIL made this so that the wings attach to the arms so she could move around.

Those boots are so cute - look how the tail flows behind her.

Here's a picture of the back.  The only thing she purchased was the hat.  And yes, in case you're wondering - she is a very creative person in many areas!

Here is my sweet punkin :).  She is 14 months old and coming for Thanksgiving - it will be her first time to Nana Girl's house!!  In case you're wondering.... I'm not too excited :).  Thanks for letting me share.

Until next time,

Karen