Have You Missed Me?

I've been so busy quilting I just have not taken the time to post! I had planned on posting pictures of what I've been up to, but I don't post customer quilts without getting their permission first, and I have been unable to contact her! I'm sure she won't mind, so once she gives the OK I'll post pictures of the custom feathering I did on a small red/white quilt. It was a very simple pattern - just 9-patches and bow ties, but the way it was set together created a very interesting flow of one block into another. You'll understand when you see the pictures.

It seemed like it took forever to quilt because we have been having thundershowers move through this area almost every day, so about the time I would get going well on it, a thunderstorm would move through and I would have to shut down the machine. That seems to cause me to lose all momentum for the day, and it is very difficult to get started up again. I think it actually took me 3 days to finish this quilt with the storm interruptions!

I love the creative flow of custom quilting, but I don't do much custom quilting for customers (and I'm not complaining... I just don't make any money on those because I am slow and meticulous, which means I make about $3/hour!).

Also done this week was a very old star quilt (probably 60s fabrics), hand-pieced. It was really a challenge because it was coming apart in many places. The quilting won't win any awards, but I was able to stabilize the quilt to where hopefully it will last for a long time with gentle care.

And then I've also done 3 quilts with pantographs last week. So you see, I really HAVE been busy!!

Now... off to pin in another quilt. I don't plan on quilting any more today, but the next one will be ready and waiting!

Have a blessed day!
Kat

Win a Book!

And not just ANY book, but the new Freddy Moran and Gwen Marston book, Freddy and Gwen Colaborate Again! I love their bright colors and cheerful patterns. Enter to win by leaving a comment HERE.



Kat

Retreat Finishes

Who "frogged" (rippit! rippit!) the most at our retreat? Brinda! She won a basket of goodies and a cute apron embroidered by Kathy A.

And speaking of Kathy A., here she is with one of her projects, a cute snowman wall quilt.

Barrett and her cute baby quilt from "Stack the Deck".

Judy B. and her beautiful fussy-cut flower blocks.

Pat and her log cabin and star blocks from Civil War fabrics.

Mary Anne and her French braid quilt. Yes, it is the same pattern that I used, but I like HERS better than mine!

Carolyn and her Split 9-Patch.

Brinda and her Split 9-Patch.

Jo Ann and her Split 9-Patch.

Barbara and 2 cute baby quilts.

Suzanne and her Stash Pot Pie quilt.

Linda and her Split 9-Patch quilt.

Lara and her burp cloths... I did not get photos of the cute pillowcases and blankets she made to go with them. Sorry, Lara!

Barrett and her "Martha's Wedding Quilt".

I hope you enjoyed your "virtual retreat". Come again next year!

Kat

APOLOGIES...

I know, I know... you are thinking, "She's begging for followers, and then she stops posting!". Please accept my apology if you are one of my new followers and are SICK of looking at the FOOD pictures from retreat!

I promise THIS AFTERNOON I will load the quilt-finishes pictures from retreat and WOW will you have some eye-candy!

Of course, that will be AFTER a busy day of quilting... I think I have customer quilts stacked everywhere, and I must do something about that today! Because...

My SIL TWISTED MY ARM and is MAKING me go on a mini-shop hop tomorrow. (Yeah... right...HAHA!) The invitation was to join her and my niece on this trip. We will visit 3 not-so-local quilt shops and then make a run to "the Big City" to visit Sam's Club... My list is long.

Truthfully, I need more fabric like I need a hole in my head, BUT... the fellowship will be fun, I'm sure we will find a great place to EAT, and I can window shop (SURE!!!! You KNOW I won't buy anything! HAHA!).

So... off to quilt. I'll post again late this evening and share retreat finishes.

Have a wonderful day, enjoy this little bit of cooler weather, and count your blessings today.
Kat

Give-Away Winner!

I'm coming up from my "white tornado" cleaning spree (I work best under pressure... company is coming!), just long enought to draw for the winner of my goodies. Since entries were on 2 different posts, I started the numbering on the first post (June 28th, 4 entries) and then added the 22 posts on the July 2 post. I used the random.org # generator for 26 entries and the winner is:



#1 - Renee G said...
I love surprises, so I would love to be entered in your giveaway. It sounds like a lot of fabric fun.



I have emailed Renee and as soon as I get a mailing address the rainbow bowl, 5 coordinating fat quarters, and 1 yard of hand-painted fabric will be zooming her way.



Thanks to all who entered, and thank you all for putting up with me and my meandering posts. Please continue to check in with me, and if you enjoy my blog, please tell others!!

The remaining pictures of our retreat will be posted sometime this weekend... I just don't have time to deal with it today!

Congrats to Renee G!!

Kat

Too Pooped to Post

Retreating has worn me out, so although I am at home I won't try to post pictures tonight or do the blog give-away drawing. Those things will be done either tomorrow or this weekend. Company is coming tomorrow, so I'll see if I have time.

Now... off to rest. See ya' tomorrow in Blogville.

Kat

Food For Thought...

Well actually, for EATING! Here is what Chef Charles has cooked for us today. It was all WONDERFUL!

Breakfast: Country Frittata, cinnamon chip coffee cake, mixed fruit

Lunch Menu: Chicken club sandwich rings, rainbow slaw with pineapple, strawberry shortcake

Dinner Menu (OK... it is SUPPER where I come from!): Southern Meatloaf, scalloped potatoes, zesty French salad, butter batter bread, chocolate cobbler (super-YUM!).

Neat little gadget: Can you guess what this is for?

It is a thread cutter to use when you chain piece. Just set this baby on the table and run the chain thread through the cutter to separate your pieces. SOOOO much quicker and easier than using scissors to cut them apart!

And here is my first finish... This quilt uses a Moda Swanky jelly roll, a little yardage for the borders, and a lot of time and pressing. I got the pattern from the Moda web site. See, Dear... I really HAVE been busy and not JUST playing on the internet!!

Tomorrow I will post LOTS of finishes... our group has really kicked it into gear today and lots of things are up on the "finish" wall.

Kat

The Jungle Is Jumping Tonight!

We are having a BLAST! I have taken lots of wonderfully incriminating pictures to share with you. Tomorrow I will share more project pictures. It seems everyone started new projects on this retreat so we are a little slow getting things finished, but tomorrow will see lots of things completed.

Today we have... gone to a quilt shop in Montgomery, TX, ate at the Rabbit Run Cafe (YUM!). Since returning we have done a lot of quilting. And tonight was our first meal cooked by Chef Charles... YUMMO! I'll try to remember to take a picture of the meals tomorrow... he REALLY does do a great job of feeding us.

And this is his wife, Janet. She checks in with us during the day, admires our projects, and talks about very interesting things. Tonight we found out about "letterboxing", one of their hobbies.

BUT the highlight of the evening was the "jungle dance". Each evening at some point decided by Fearless Leader, the music to "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" is played. Remember this is the SEWFARI, so the music is our theme song. When the music starts, we are all SUPPOSED to get on our feet and dance. Yesterday it was an animal imitation dance, and each participant got a tiny animal to place on the top of their sewing machine. Tonight, participants in the Congo Line got animal tattoos! Note I said PARTICIPANTS.... (A COUPLE of us did not get a tatoo... no play, no tattoo!) This event was captured on video... now if I can just figure out how to load it...YOU'LL get to see it, too!

We posed for group pictures, and now back to quilting into the wee small hours of the morning. Tomorrow will totally be for quilting... no Fabric Aquisition Road Trips (FART for short) are planned. Tomorrow I will also share more great blackmail, ummm... I mean CANDID photos. Stay tuned!

Kat