We're Here!!

We've arrived and the fun has begun! Coldspring, TX is NOT living up to its name of cold... we are thankful for good AC, because it is about 103 degrees outside. We are on a SEWFARI, and missing one of our most creative members (who came up with this theme and other goodies that will not yet be disclosed! But she had to go welcome Miss Rylee into the world... IMAGINE... choosing a baby over us???). It did not take long for 12 of us to get moved in, set up, and down to serious business. Several others will be coming to join us tomorrow.

This is Linda, our fearless leader. She has not quite gotten down to the "fun" side of retreating, but she will soon. Thanks, Linda, for organizing, collecting money, and TRYING to control this crazy group!

This is my SIL Mary Anne. She wasted no time in getting down to business... bindings must be done! This cute beach memory quilt will be checked off her to-do list soon.

Here we are, SERIOUSLY working. No completed projects yet, but I know we will have some tomorrow when I post.

I think Suzanne is very serious about all of this, but check out the BOX sitting next to her...CHOCOLATE SHOP! HMMM... I think she brought her own stash (and not fabric, either). Just kidding... my guess is she is hiding quilt blocks in these boxes.

Most of us brought the new-fangled machines, but Pat is sewing on her trusty Featherweight... go Pat!

And of course, serious quilting requires serious eating! We must keep up our strength for the fun ahead. Tonight was a picnic, featuring fried chicken and fresh veggies. Tomorrow Charles will start feeding us his wonderful cooking, complete with home-made rolls.

This is a part of the barn that we don't plan on using until late tonight! The bedrooms here are so pretty with a quilt on each bed, and wonderful decorations. We LOVE coming here.

Got to run... FUN is calling me. I am working on a quilt using a jelly roll. I've already made good progress and hope to have the body of the quilt together tomorrow!

Please visit us again tomorrow evening when I will give you another full report on our day of fun!

Kat

And We're Off!

Tomorrow morning about 16 of the "Sew Crafty Quilters" will gather at a local spot and then head to East TX. Our destination (after several stops) will be the Red Barn Retreat in Coldspring, TX. We have been going here for about 6 or 7 years, and we all look forward to this get-away.

We will spend 4 days and 3 nights quilting, eating, laughing... the usual for women who leave responsibilities behind for fun, food, and quilting into the wee small hours of the morning. They (Charles and Janet Watson) cook, they clean, they keep the coffee pot full... WONDERFUL!

My plans are to take the laptop and give you all updates on our accomplishments and fun as we go along. So, YOU ARE INVITED to attend this cyber-retreat!! Come along with us, please. We would love to have you meet us here each evening as I post what we have been up to that day.

Now if I can just get the rest of my stuff packed to go, and get some sleep tonight. It reminds me of trying to sleep the night before I went off to summer camp as a kid... too excited to rest!

See you tomorrow evening!

Kat

YUMMY PAINTED FABRIC!

Late this afternoon I remembered that I was supposed to paint fabric for the give-away! So here are pictures (not very good ones, because it was late and I had to use the flash) of 4 different pieces I painted today.

It was lots of fun, but I had to wrestle with a couple of cats when I laid this out on the screen porch to dry... sure hope they are not curled up on it napping tonight! The blobs you see in the pictures are rock salt... this causes the paint to really be intense where the salt sits.

Tomorrow when it is dry I will take the salt off and heat set the paints with my iron. I may also add some glitz to one or two of them with a sea sponge and some pearlescent gold or silver paint... just a little is all that is needed to add interest and slight sparkle to the fabric. Then it will need to dry and be heat set once more. Then they are ready to be washed. Once washed they have the same hand as regular fabric.

I was really pleased with the colors... hope you like them too.

Does this look like something YOU would like to have? One of the rainbow colored ones will be given away so be sure and sign up below on the July 2 post.

The give-away includes the rainbow basket from the earlier post, 1 yard of rainbow painted fabric, and 5 coordinated fat quarters.

Kat

Fabric Bowl for Give-Away

Would you like to have this? Hot off the machine, I made my second fabric bowl today using the techniques I learned in a class taught by Jamie Wallen. I really like the rainbow progression! I also decided to leave off the handles on this one. It is stitched with metallic gold thread in the bobbin and Pixelles neon in the top (the "top" actually becomes the inside of the bowl).

Jamie's technique is really easy and neat because there are no raw edges! These are really fun to make! He is working now on a DVD that teaches his method. I'll let you know when they are out because as part of our class we will get one.

Interested in having this basket in YOUR sewing room? Register for the give-away on the July 2nd post to my blog. More goodies to come... I'm planning on painting fabric on Friday.

Kat

Fabric Painting Made Simple

I LOVE fabric painting! It (to me) is more controlable than dyes, what you see is what you get, and is also less mess with no face mask necessary. The other plus for fabric painting is that you have 2 different sides to the fabric. I tend to usually like the "wrong" side of the fabric best because it is a little lighter in intensity and details.

Patricia asked the question about good books to learn fabric painting techniques. There are lots of great books out there on painting fabrics; it seems to really be growing in popularity. Here are the ones I have used. I have had these for quite a while, so whether they are still in print or not I do not know.

"Off-the-Shelf Fabric Painting", by Sue Beevers. Subtitled "30 Simple Recipes for Gourmet Results". A very good book with step-by-step procedures. I used this book when I taught fabric painting at the not-so-local quilt shop. Publisher: C & T Publishing

"Fabric Painting, a Simple Approach" by Ginny Eckley. Another GREAT book with tons of information, patterns, and a great gallery of painted fabrics and projects. Publisher: Martingale & Co.

My favorite fabric to paint on is 200 thread count white fabric. I don't usually get the PFD (prepared for dying) fabric because the thread count is not as nice as the 200 thread count. When you are done painting on the 200 stuff your fabrics LOOKS like commercial batiks. Now that is impressive!!! HOWEVER, I can now order the PFD wholesale, so that may be what I use once my supply of 200 count is gone.

Type of fabric paints: I like to use the Setacolor Textile Paints, transparent. I also have some of the Shimmer paints... very nice addition to fabric that didn't quite turn out the way you wanted.... just paint some sparkle on it and it will look fabulous anyway! I have never used the opaque paints so I have no experience with them. The transparent Setacolor can also be used for sun printing, which is another really neat technique.

Source of paints: Two places that I have ordered from are: Pro Chemical & Dye (they have GREAT customer service and a very nice selection of supplies), and Dharma Trading Co. (another great company to work with, they have a larger selection of supplies. ANYTHING for painting or dying, they've got it!)

I hope to be doing a little fabric painting the later part of this week and I will take some pictures to post. I was going to post pics of some of the things I have previously painted, but that means I have to FIND THEM... cleaning out my quilting and office/sewing rooms are on my list to be done this week, also (IF I can tear myself away from the really beautiful fabric basket I am working on).

SHAMELESS PLUG: Don't forget to sign up for my drawing on the July 2 post... you could win 1 yard of painted fabric plus other goodies.

Feel free to ask any questions you may have and I will try to answer them.

Kat

Pat's Give-away

Pat's drawing has already been held and my SIL won!!! Way to go, MAR!!


Want to win some really neat stuff? Head over to Silver Thimble Talk and register here. Pat is wanting NEW FOLLOWERS for her blog, so please sign up to follow... the drawing won't happen until she gets 10 more of us! You will LOVE her blog... she has a great sense of humor, and she has a "quilt boy" (You'll have to read some of her earlier post to find out who that is!).


AND DON'T FORGET ABOUT MY DRAWING... ENTER BELOW. I'm upping the offerings as I come across things that might sweeten the pot, so keep checking me out.

ALSO: Post about my giveaway on YOUR blog and get an extra entry. Just leave a post (on the July 2 entry below) and let me know you have done so, also leave the link so I can read about it.

Become a follower of my blog and get ANOTHER extra entry! Already a follower? I'm not leaving you out of the fun! Just leave a comment and let me know you already follow, and you will also be given the 3rd entry.

Have a wonderful 4th of July!

Kat

Blog Giveaway Items

Would you like to win 1/2 1 yard of painted fabric? This is what I made in Jamie Wallen's workshop I took this week. You won't be getting this exact piece, but I will be painting some more in a few days and one piece will be given away.



Would you like to win a fabric bowl (another technique I learned from Jamie)? Sorry for the washed out colors, but it really is beautiful! I will be making another one in a few days using a color progression, and I know it will really be nice. THAT is the one I will be giving away.

And I found some beautiful fat quarters at the Painted Pony 'n Quilts. If you are ever in the La Porte, TX area (SE of Houston) you MUST go there! It is a FABULOUS quilt shop!!!These will also go to the winner of the drawing.

And you say, "Is that all?" Nope... I'm doing some clean-up and I know I will have a book or 2 to add, plus other assorted items I may find in my sorting through. So keep checking back, the list will be growing. Sorry for my unorganization, but such is my life!

So start putting your name in the hat (by replying to this post). Those that have already entered on the previous post will also be included.

PLEASE let others know about this giveaway on your blog. I would love for LOTS of people to be included in the drawing. Post about MY giveaway on YOUR blog and get an extra entry... just leave a comment here letting me know you have posted, provide a link so I can check out your blog, and then you are entered again!

So how about a 3rd chance to win? Become a follower of my blog and get an extra entry! Just post here and let me know once you are signed up to follow. Are you already a follower? I'm not leaving you out of the extra fun... Just post here and let me know that you already follow, and YOU will also be given an extra entry.

Be sure to give me an email address if you don't use a blogger identity when posting.

Remember... this contest will end July 16th at 5PM, central time.

Good luck to all!

Kat

Time for a Give-away!

I have no idea WHAT I will be giving away, but I soon will have another one. Just as soon as we return from our trip to TX I will gather some items and let you all know what it will be. I bet I can find some really neat things on my trip that will go into the pot. I think it will probably include some fabric, perhaps some thread, perhaps a book... I'll gather a collection of several things that should interest quilters. I will post a list and picture of the items on about July 3rd.



WHY? I am almost to 3000 visitors on my blog!



You may go ahead and sign up for the give-away NOW by replying to this post. Please be sure that I have a way to contact you should you be the lucky chosen one. ALSO, please spread the word by posting on YOUR blog about my giveaway... I would love to have LOTS of names to randomly select from!



This contest ends on Thursday, July 16th at 5pm central time. Good luck to all!

Kat