Student Work

Back in March I taught my version of Pineapple Nine Patch for the Santa Rosa Guild.  What a great time we had and I asked my students to send me pictures when they had finished their quilts.  To date, there are four!  I find this amazing. 

This was the collection of everyone's blocks.  Can you find the match for these quilts?

These are all so different but all so wonderful. I do love this pattern as its so visually interesting. Thanks for sending me pictures, I am so impressed with your skills and talent.  Keep them coming!!

Happy stitching, 

Karen 

A Fun Weekend Workshop

I've spent a fun 2 days with the Santa Rosa Quilters Guild teaching a Pineapple Nine Patch class.  This was a super talented group of quilters and they did a great job learning a new technique and using new tools.

 As with all groups there was lots of chatting and laughing along with sewing.

 They helped each other press blocks and sometimes to un-sew.

 They shared fabrics and ideas.

 They made some wonderful food and we ate very well for 2 days.

 They cut and cut and cut and really achieved a lot.

 They encouraged each other and oohed and aahed over each others progress.

 They went home Friday night and raided their stashed to bring back more fabric on Saturday.

 At the end we put up all the blocks and created a beautiful collage.

I think they were all inspired to see what beauty was hiding in their efforts and they got a glimpse of the finished quilt.  I hope to be able to share pictures soon of finished quilts so keep sewing!!
Happy Stitching,
Karen

My Fourth Time - Celtic Solstice

It seems I'm a sucker for a mystery - especially one from Bonnie Hunter.  And this year (for the first time) I'm doing it right.  This will be my 4th mystery quilt by Bonnie.  All the other three I waited until it was over to see if I liked it, and then decided to make it.  Which is kind of like cheating, but it's a lot of work, and I wanted to make sure I was willing to put that much time into it.

These yellow and green chevrons are Clue #2.  They are really fun to make.  This time I am making this quilt in the same colorway that Bonnie suggests.  The last 2 times I have changed her suggested color choices.  This is not at all my normal palette, but surprisingly I had fabric in most of the colors.  I bought a few 1/8 yd pieces but for the most part I'm stash busting which really feels good.

The neutral and gold triangles were step #1.  Bonnie recommended using the Tri-Recs ruler set, which happens to be one of my favorite rulers.

I used this ruler set for my Pineapple Nine Patch quilts that I did last year.  Love it!!

So here is where I am at this point.  Bonnie's suggestion is to make some of each step so you can get an idea but you don't have to stress about making the entire amount.  Bonnie's quilts are always HUGE - and this year she's offering a smaller version.  But I'm guessing it will still be big.  So I'm not making the total number of blocks at this point.  Hmmmmm, I guess I still want to see what it looks like before I totally commit :).

And here's an update on"Jubilee Tribute".  The 1/2" crossed hatch quilting is about halfway done but  I still have a long way to go.  I'm trying to do a little bit every day and I can see progress.  This is the most hand quilting I think I will have ever done in a quilt.  It is such a special quilt but it still speaks to me :).

Stay warm, happy stitching, stay healthy.

Until next time,

Karen

A Different Look

I decided to try my Nine Patch Pineapple quilt on the couch this year.  Last year it was not quilted.  I was scheduled to teach this technique as a 2 day workshop last January. So I needed to quilt this one and then decided to make another quilt (the Christmas table topper). 

I must say, I do think it looks quite wonderful!!  With all the light areas, it brightens up the couch.  It's not an exact color match, but still very "fallish" looking with a great graphic pattern.  I'm enjoying having it out where I can see it every day.

This simple quilt is the one I normally use on the couch during the fall.  I made it years ago in fabrics that almost exactly match the couch.  This year I decided to try it in the foyer on the deacon's bench.  Love it!!  With the morning sun coming in, it looked so pretty.

And last to put up for my fall quilt decorating, is my "One of Kind" fall sampler.  I finally decided to put a sleeve on this instead of just pinning it up.   It looks so much better that I sometimes wonder why I procrastinate so long on something so simple. Still love this one.

And this weekend in downtown Pensacola, was the Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival. The Pensacola Quilters Guild had a booth in the Heritage Arts section.  We were able to hang "Vintage Blooms" and sell tickets.  

I was told that it earned an award and won $100.00!!  Yippee :).  So happy, this quilt just makes me smile every time I see it.  And to think that for one mere dollar, it could go home with someone. :)

It was a great weekend - this is a beautiful time of year along the Gulf Coast. 

Thanks for stopping in,

Karen

Workshop Update

I spent the last 2 days in Gulf Shores, AL leading a workshop on my variation of the Pineapple Nine Patch Quilt.  I was invited by the Island Quilt Guild.  What a fun time we had.

 



  I'm pretty sure I got pictures of everybody - all at various stages of progess.

  In addition to the resident members of the guild, the "snow birds" had arrived!!  There were people from all over - Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Canada, Kentucky and probably some places I've forgotten.  There was even a permanent RVer in the group.

  They all look pretty happy :).

  And they look very serious about their sewing.

  Some worked in pairs,

  some worked alone.

  The variety of fabrics was so inspiring.  I affectionately called the one on the right the "Salsa" quilt - it was hot and spicy!

  There was lots of visiting around to check and see how everyone else was doing.

  These 3 really had their things spread out!

  These 4 from my home guild in Pensacola were little busy beavers - getting some progress made along with all the fellowship.

  These bright Kaffe blocks were really looking good.

  As Saturday afternoon wound down and people started leaving, I found these 3 willing to show their blocks. 

 

Thanks for inviting me - I had a ball.  And I hope to be able to share lots of these quilts in the near future.  Keep sewing!

Karen







A Retreat Update

 On Wednesday I travelled to Gulf Shores, AL to present a trunk show for the Island Quilters Guild.  It was so much fun and I ran into a few friends from Mobile who had attended the retreat I led last August.  I asked whether any of them had finished their Pineapple Nine Patch.  One girl said she had and had given it away as a wedding gift.  She sent me this picture - I am blown away!!  Wish I could have seen it in person - it's beautiful.  Well done Mary!!

 

I am going to be leading a 2 day workshop for the Island Quilters next week, and we'll be doing this same project.  The snow birds are in town and we have a good group signed up.  Can't wait to see what these new quilters create.

Have a great Friday, I'm off to work :).

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

Getting Ready for Retreat!!

I only have 2 more days until I leave for Retreat - yay!!!!  The most interesting and different thing about this retreat is that I'm the teacher!  Yikes! How did that happen?  Well, here's what happened..........

To some of you, this will look familiar.  This is the 9 Patch Pineapple quilt I made last year to present as a program for our guild.

I presented it as a mystery quilt, starting with a 6" strip and showing how all the units were made until you ended up with this block.

Here's the finished quilt (before borders).  It is absolutely beautiful in person - so rich with the rusts, browns, reds and greens.  After I presented this I was approached by the Azeala City Quilters' Guild in Mobile, AL to do a program for them, and I decided on doing my One of a Kind Quilts.  I was then asked if I would be interested in being the Retreat leader and did I have a project in mind.  I immedeiately thought of the 9 Patch Pineapple.  Done deal!

We all agreed and I decided to make a smaller version in another colorway to help the girls get inspired :).

I ended up with this Christmas quilt using only 9 blocks mostly from the Grace fabric line.

It's going to look so pretty on my table this year.  It's been over in Mobile visiting for several months, so I'll have to get busy when I get back.

There are 42 girls signed up - two are even coming from New Orleans!!  I've started doing the instructions and my design wall and I will admit there are a few little butterflies forming.  But it's a great bunch of girls and I hope they all have fun.  I'll let you know how it all turns out.....  I'm REALLY excited!!!!!

Until next time,

Karen