It's a flimsy..........

As I suspected, I was able to finish the "Soul Searching" quilt top I started last week.

(My apologies for the sloppy photography in this post.  Every time I get ready to take photos outside,

some gale force winds blow up and prevent me from getting good shots! ARGH!)

What do you get when you put together various shades of blue such as:

cobalt

azure

Prussian

sky

royal

sapphire

midnight

baby

(I promise it is square!)

And then you add some purples such as:

royal

electric

mauve

orchid

phlox

lavender

pansy

violet

(Again.....just imagine it is square, because it is! LOL)

Combine those with a ton of neutrals like:

camel

ecru

sand

wheat

buff

taupe

beige

khaki

?

?

?

?

?

My friends Dar and Teresa would probably say, "A match made in Heaven!"  Well, the recipients of this quilt are a match made in Heaven........at least I think so? LOL 

What do you think?

"Soul Mates"

Inspired by Kathy Doughty's 

"Soul Searching" quilt and design.

(I promise it is square!  The wind WOULD NOT agree for a nice photo!  You can see how the flimsy is bowing between the railings and is lop sided!  ARGH!)

I simply love all of the various colors, prints, and variations of the fabrics in this quilt!
Thanks to Cardygirl for your lovely inspiration and encouragement!

Thanks Bev for letting me borrow your 2.5" strip die for the accuquilt!

True to form in my previous post, I knew this would be a super quick top to put together for me.  SUPER SCRAPPY mixed with some therapeutic straight sewing!  I will DEFINITELY be making more quilts like this in various other colors!  This will be quilted for my friends Matt and Samantha who are getting married next June.  Perhaps you could help me decide upon a quilting pattern?  I would love to hear your comments and suggestions?! ?!?!?!?

This was a nice little project to ease my mind for a while.  But, now it's back to another project that needs to get finished!  The fabrics came in!!!!!!!!  Times a' wastin'!!!! 

As always,

Thanks for all of the encouragement!

Kevin the Quilter

Soul Searching........

It happened to me again..........

I saw a quilt I love and feel as though I simply HAVE to make it!  NOW!

You can read about the first time this happened to me here.

I don't know what comes over me?  I see the quilt, and the desire to make the quilt ignites inside me, and I am like a crazed man!  All I can think about is getting that quilt top made!

Am I alone here?

I mean, it isn't like I don't have deadlines looming for other projects?  (Although, I did run out of some fabric I MUST have for another project.  And I am waiting for said fabric I ordered for this particular project with a deadline.)  Perhaps it IS good to cleanse the mind with a new project while working on something so fastidiously?  An "in between" project if you will?  A palette cleanser?

What am I talking about?????

SOUL SEARCHING

OK, so a few weeks back I was reading Cardygirl's blog when she revealed this!

I shall give you a few moments to check both of those links out!

No, seriously.....check them out!

 Here are some paper towels for you!

I was seriously DROOLING too!!!!!!!!!

I learned that the pattern is called "Soul Searching" and is in Kathy Doughty's book:

 "Making Quilts, The Promise of Joy."  

I had to order this book immediately after seeing Cardygirls version!  Kathy's book is certainly making waves in the quilting world right now!  I am sure you have seen the "Fractured" quilt many times in blogland already?  (Another quilt I am bound and determined to make very soon!) Vicky Welsh is even hosting a "Fractured" quilt along right now!  How I WISH I could join in!  There are several other quilts in the book that I find intriguing and am putting on my bucket list, but, I digress.

"Soul Searching" is based on 2.5" strips, and has a "Delectable Mountains" kind of feel to it.  It was SO MUCH FUN going through my scraps and finding fabrics that I could cut into 2.5" strips.  This quilt is being made for a couple of my friends who are getting married next summer.  Of course I had to kind of make the pattern my own, so I chose my own color scheme.

The bride's favorite color is purple.

The groom's favorite color is blue.

I have a TON of neutral scraps, so that is what the background will be.  I am thoroughly enjoying this process, and the sewing is very easy and therapeutic.  I am sure this will be a flimsy in a matter of days.  

I can't thank Alison of Cardygirl enough for inspiring me to make this quilt!  I love your version of "Soul Searching" and enjoy reading your blog as well as Wish2Stitch's blog.  These two women are my new found Aussie friends!  Just two questions though.......

What is a Cardygirl???????

and

Where is the mailman with that fabric I ordered for my other project!!!!!

Thanks for all of the encouragement!

Kevin the Quilter

St. Louis Modern Quilt Guild............

Well, it happened..........

I finally took the plunge and decided to join a guild..........the.........

This is the only guild I have been to where I haven't been looked at as though I have 3 heads.  (That is, besides, another local guild where many of my quilting friends are members.....I will probably join that one too.)  We shall see how things go with the STLMQG, but, I do love the fact that they are a philanthropic organization focused on giving back to the community.  I also enjoyed Saturday's meeting because many members had participated in a challenge and had their works there to show.  (Regrettably, I didn't have my camera!)  I am eagerly anticipating an upcoming drive STLMQG has in the making.

Here are some fabrics I have selected for the proposed projects we will be making:

  I am unsure who the designer is for the top fabric as it was cut off of the selvage on my particular piece of yardage!  OY!

The bottom piece is a screen print by Cynthia Frenette for Robert Kaufman - Kona Modern Quilts

For those of you who are curious......NO, I will NOT be using these fabrics together! LOL  I am just sprucing up my modern fabrics for the upcoming projects through STLMQG.

Last week, when I went home to visit family, I was able to visit a new quilt shop that opened close to where I grew up.  I was quite impressed with "Treasured Threads" in Dexter, Missouri as they have only been open three months!  Again, I didn't have my camera with me, but, trust me, when they get their website up and running, I will definitely share that with you.  Joyce and Amanda were BEYOND welcoming, and were lovely gals to visit with.  

Here are some fabric stash enhancements I bought while there:

   The grey and black fabrics are Comma, by Brigitte Heitland for Zen Chic for Moda.

The fuchsia fabric is "Pin Spin" by Michael Miller fabrics.

The polka dot and linear fabric is an ombre line called Edges Collection by Laura Gunn for Michael Miller.

My friend Bev has been vacationing and asked if I would like to borrow some Accuquilt dies from her.  I took her up on her offer, and have been able to clean up a part of my scraps for an upcoming quilt I am making for a friend's wedding.  I promise not to keep that one a secret!

2 1/2" strips in various neutrals

Can Gracie go with a moose, birds, and calicos?

SHE CAN IN MY WORLD! ;-)

This is a work week for me, so I will be soaring through the skies.  Wave at me if you see me! LOL

As always,

Thanks for all of the encouragement!
Kevin the Quilter

Welcome home 1138th Engineer Company........

Quilts of Valor Eastern Missouri was able to participate in the homecoming of the 1138th Engineer Company (Sapper) by presenting each member with a quilt.  My friend Dar who introduced me to Quilts of Valor Eastern Missouri already created a beautiful post about this event here.  I would like to share some of my photos from that day on my blog........

The Patriot Guard escorted the quilts to the venue on their motorcycles.

You can read more about the Patriot Guard Riders here.

Here come the quilts!

Some of the Patriot Guard held flags as others carried the quilts to the venue.

The quilts in pillowcases waiting to be distributed to their new owners.

After the company was officially dismissed, Jean and Jackie along with

members of the Patriot Guard distributed the Quilts of Valor.

Linda, Jackie, and Jean stand with two of the recipients.

Jackie, Jean, and Linda stand with the Captain of the company with his Quilt of Valor.

I was so happy to see several members of Quilts of Valor, Eastern Missouri

make the 90 mile trip to be part of the presentation.

I can't put into words how happy I am to be a part of this wonderful organization!!!!!

I believe I promised some photos of the quilting of "Golden Rings".  I can't believe I hadn't been to my parent's home in almost two months, but, that is exactly how long it had been.  Work, commitments, and the need to be in MY home after long stints of flying prevented me from making the two hour drive to my parent's house, but, I was able to have a nice 4 day visit with them.

Here is "Golden Rings" laying across my parent's bed.

(I started making rings and didn't know when to stop!)

I promise the arcs are not wonky like they look in this photo!

I was so pleased with the way it turned out thanks to my friend Ann!

I also received two surprises from some quilting friends at recent quilt gigs.

Scraps from Lou!

And scraps from Marsha!

Thank you ladies SOOOOOOOOOO much!

I have a few things under wraps here, and I am DYING to share them with you all.  When the time comes, trust me, I will!  Also, I am making up the pattern for one of the memory quilts I am making.  It's a great pattern for using in memory quilts, or using up those scraps!

Until next time,

Thanks for ALL of the encouragement!

Kevin the Quilter 

Happy Labor Day....in the U.S. of A...........

Read ALL about Labor Day here.

I plan to observe it by being as far away from an airplane or airport as possible!

And I plan to work in these ALL day long!  

HAPPY LABOR DAY!

As always,

Thanks for all of the encouragement!

Kevin the Quilter