The Third Step

Well after a slight detour, I am ready to start the orange peel row.  I should have known better and checked my measurements but I didn't. So with 68 out of 80 petals already prepped and pinned I realized the template was too big and didn't fit on the squares. Grrrrrrr!!  So I undid all the basting, re-pressed, trimmed and basted again.  

But now that they are all redone I'm ready to go.  I'm still trying to decide on the center (as you can tell) but I'm happy with the petals.

Here's a darker blue in the center. I just feel like it needs color and so far nothing is speaking to me.

Just for grins I did one in B&W.  Some of these are pretty low contrast but I think that's what the pattern is going for.  Now it's time for some appliqué 😍.

Happy stitching,

Karen 

So Much to Learn

Thanks for all the encouragement about taking Jane's class.  Let me just say she is amazing and I am a very newbie Art Quilter.  Pretty much the whole day I struggled and felt very out of it.  While I do like to work organically and let my quilts grow as they speak to me, making an art quilt is something else entirely.

This is my class project.  This is a work in progress. I can guarantee you that it will look different and hopefully better than this when its done.  I'm really counting on that as it looks sort of pitiful to me at this point. I didn't bring enough fabrics to play with these colors so it's definitely lacking something LOL!!

Jane's work is is inspiring.

Even the backs are beautiful.

She is a wonderful teacher and I had a great day.  A lot of my class projects never get done, but I promise to finish this one.  

Happy stitching.

Karen

Preparing for a Workshop

Next week I will be taking a workshop with Jane Sassaman!!  I'm really excited but I never know what to take.  I think it's the hardest part of taking a workshop. 

This is the one I'm taking called Suns and Moons.  I'm hoping to have fun, learn a lot and get better at circles.  

I found this piece of her dot fabric on vacation last summer at the quilt shop in Waynesville, NC.  The bundle of RK solids is part of what I won as grand prize winner for Organic Pink Pickles.  Obviously I haven't known what to do with it as it's still intact.  I think it's time to cut some up ☺️

The directions say to bring dots, batiks and solids.  This is about as much as I can gather.  I need a few more supplies to round up and then I think I'm ready. 

Hoping for a great time and getting to know Jane.  I'll let you know how it turns out. 

Happy Saturday stitching,

Karen 

The Second Step

Well it seems the second step is not any easier.  I can't even begin to describe how out of my comfort zone I feel. I keep telling myself this is a good thing. I seem to be struggling making choices with each step.  I haven't decided in a background fabric but I did buy 1/2 yard of the dot that Jen used.  I'm trying not to buy too much fabric.  So, ask me how that's going LOL!!

I do think the dark fabric helps set off the fabrics.  I'm not totally crazy about the stripe but I already had it.  Now I'm working on the petals so there won't be much progress for a while.n at least I'll enjoy the appliqué 😊.

Happy stitching,

Karen 

The First Step

I think the hardest part of quiltmaking is starting. Especially when the quilt is outside your comfort zone. 

I have decided to just jump in and start somewhere. These may not all work but with a super scrappy quilt like this one you have to have something to build on. 

Having fun,

Karen

Almost Ready to Start

After my crazy but wonderful summer, I am ready to start this!!  After meeting Jen Kingwell in June and seeing her quilts in person, I was smitten with Midnight at the Oasis.  Imagine my joy when I found a Quiltalong for Jen's quilts that is just starting.  Juliann over at "Lining Up My Stitches" is heading the QAL.  (I'm using Blogger and I can't figure out how to add a link.  Anybody know how to do that?). 

Jen is so delightful and I am excited to start this quilt.

I have not decided on my background fabric yet, but I'm gathering my other fabric.  I actually made some petals for one of the borders.

This quilt is going to be way outside my normal fabrics, but I'm excited to be stretching myself.

This is one of the pictures I took of Jen's quilt.  I can't wait!!

Happy stitching.

Karen 

My Mug Rug Gifts

It has been so long since I blogged I'm not sure where to start. Tonight we had a birthday party up in North Carolina for my parents 85th birthdays. They were born 6 days apart.  We cooked dinner for 45 people!!  That is quite outside my wheelhouse of abilities.  But we made it.  The color theme for the party was yellow and gray.  

I decided to make mug rugs for each guest to take home. 

They were all made different but from the same group of fabrics.

I used the same fabric on the back and alternated between gray and yellow bindings.

I wrote and dated the back on each of them.  I think they were a hit.  My sister and sister-in-law also made gifts to send home with each person.  It was a wonderful night. 

This is the picture I saved as a teaser on Instagram .  I hope every guest will enjoy this reminder of my wonderful parents and the fun night we had. 

Karen