A special quilt, a special ribbon

This quilt was made in the summer of 2008 as an entry in our guild's quilt challenge called "Shades of Nature". Each participant got 3 paint colors (on an index card) and you had to make a quilt based on those colors. This quilt ended up being # 7 in a series of 9 quilts (I had a slight learning curve drafting my own pattern in EQ6). Each one is different. I kept a few, sold a few of them, and still have 2 left that are for sale.

My 3 colors were a creamsickle orange, bright yellow and lime green. I had never really worked with batiks before, so this was a blast for me to have an excuse to buy little 1/8 yd pieces of lots of fabrics. I have never entered a quilt in the machine quilting category before. I was a little nervous, but felt like this was my best effort. And I figured I'm at the point where I'm ready to hear some constructive criticism from the judge. Probably having it in the small category helped, but either way, I was thrilled.

I still love these colors, they are way outside my normal, but that's the whole point of a challenge - right??

My computer has crashed, so I'll be a little limited for the next few weeks waiting for my new one.

Until next time,

Karen

My non-birthday

In all the rush of the quilt show, my birthday, or non-birthday, snuck in. For those who want to know how old I am, I'm somewhere between 14 and 15. I'll give you a hint, this was not a leap year. Anyway, I got lots of sweet cards, and it was a good day.
Until next time,
Karen

First Quilt Show Pictures

Here is the reason I stopped blogging for about 6 weeks. It's called "Upstate Beauty" in honor of growing up near Rochester, NY and fall being my favorite time of year. It's based on an antique quilt I saw in a magazine in 1995. I ripped the page out thinking one day I'll make that quilt! With close to 3,000 little spikes, if I hadn't had the deadline of the show, this quilt would probably still be sitting in a box.

But, it's not, it's wearing a red ribbon, for 2nd place. I was thrilled. As hard as I worked on this quilt, I knew that it had its issues. (Don't we all know exactly where the "issues" are?) Last summer I bought a book called Quilting in the Limelight by Philippa Naylor. I read it cover to cover, it's an absolutely incredible book. Philippa is so extremely talented, that trying anything she writes about is inimidating. Well, I tried 4 new techniques on this quilt from that book! I think the first time you use a new technique, it's risky. It may or may not work. Mostly, mine didn't work, but who knows what would have happened if I hadn't tried them. There is always a learning curve on new techniques. Plus, I was teaching myself, which is more difficult than if you take a class to learn a technique. Next time will be a little better, I'm sure.

I'm very pleased with the quilting design in the open spaces. I drafted the design to mimick the arcs of the blocks. I used a Kaufman Batik, so hand quilting thru a batik was not the best thing to achieve a small stitch. Plus, I do not use a hoop, but quilt in my lap (which also is not the best to achieve a small hand stitch). But, this quilt is for me, and on many levels, it achieved everything I had hoped for. It will occupy a place of honor in my house. I used Bamboo batting for the first time, and love it!! This quilt, with all its seams and use of batiks, already feels like it's been washed 100 times.

My friend, Kim Brackett, of Magnolia Bay Quilts and author of Scrap Basket Surprises, showed up Saturday afternoon for a book signing with our local quilt shop. She graciously stood in front of my quilt (what else??) for a picture.

I will post more pictures, now that the show is over, I feel like I have a portion of my life back. There is one more deadline looming, but I'll tell more about that another time.

Until next time,

Karen

The Show is here

I am so excited and so frustrated (by computers)!! I could only get this one to upload after almost an hour of fiddling with this computer. Anyway, I have to work all day at the show but wanted to share something. This is a consignment quilt I did for my friend Faye who retired from teaching last year. It's called "Touching Lives Goes Both Ways" and it won second place in the Mixed Technique/ Machine quilting category. I'm so happy for her. I'll take more pictures today.
Until then,
Karen

Getting ready for the Show

Our Quilt Show is now three days away, and the preview party is two days away. Last night at our guild meeting we had 96 people as we enjoyed a trunk show presented by our show judge, Scott Murkin. So, in honor of the show, I thought I'd share a few pictures of one of my quilts from 4 years ago. I still to this day, absolutely love this quilt.

Thanks for all the kind comments on joining blogland! I don't have time right now to answer each comment, but, thank you.

Until next time,

Karen

Office Art

This is the first of many of these "office quilt" posts. I work in a law firm and have a big blank wall in my office. I was fortunate to get permission to hang my quilts. Since I spend many more hours in my office than I do at home, it's been fun for me to enjoy my quilts. Other people in my office have also enjoyed them over the years. I change out the quilts seasonally or as the spirit moves me. It's not often that as quilters we have quilts made and given to us. This quilt was made by my friend Kim and given to me for my 50th birthday several (several) years ago. It is a treasure to me.

Until next time,

Karen

I'm almost back

There are so many things buzzing in my head, and every excuse to not doing another post. We have our Guild sponsered quilt show coming up in less than two weeks. I am Chairman of the Silent Auction and have been busy finishing my quilt to be entered. I will take pictures soon. I haven't mastered the whole picture thing yet, but I'll start with these two special people in my life. This is my daughter (on the left) and my daughter in law with their birthday presents last year. I made them both Amy Butler quilts! Having never worked with such bright colors before, I wasn't sure about anything. But Amy knows what she's doing (wouldn't we all love to be so talented). The girls loved them, and I have since made 2 more and helped my sister make 3 more.

Later...