Saturday, May 25, 2013

Blogger's Quilt Festival.......VOTING...........


The voting has begun!
 
Visit the following link to view the various categories! 
 
 
 
Please consider voting for my entry:
 
 
 
"She's Puttin' On Her Big Girl Panties"
 
# 36 in the
 
 
MANY, MANY THANKS!
 
A special thank you to Teresa of A Quilt And A Prayer for her blogging capabilities in helping me learn how to add the Blogger's Quilt Festival button.  And, best wishes to her and her entries in her respective categories!
 

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Blogger's Quilt Festival..........

If you told me 3 years ago I would be an avid quilter, I wouldn't have believed you.

If you told me a year ago I would be blogging, I wouldn't have believed you.

If you told me 6 months ago I would be entering one of my quilts into the Blogger's Quilt Festival......
well, I would have probably laughed in your face......or at least LOL'd you via social media devices!

But, alas, here I am sharing the big news that I am going to enter my latest quilt into the Blogger's Quilt Festival courtesy of Amy's Creative Side.  I admit, I have followed this particular event and oohed and ahhhhhed over the wonderful works of art various quilt bloggers have posted over the past few years.  Hopefully this year, some of you will be oohing and ahhing over my work?  Please feel free to come back, visit, and comment again and again!

I recently was asked by my new found friend, Victoria Findlay Wolfe, to participate in a quilt swap betwixt each other.  There were no specific rules other than the quilt needed to be 12x12 inches.  Any technique, any color, any style of quilt, and any type of quilting.  WOW!  That's dangerous to give me that much leeway!

I wanted the quilt to embody the following for her:
- I wanted to try something new.
- I wanted to incorporate her "made fabric" technique that she inspired me to learn.
- I wanted to make a quilt that had humor in it.
- I wanted it to be thought provoking, and have various meanings.  (i.e title, composition, literal meaning, implied meaning)
- I wanted it to represent some of the work I do with Quilts Of Valor and other donation quilts to veterans.  




So, without further adieu, 









I present to you.................





  "She's Puttin' On Her Big Girl Panties"



Quilt Specifics:
Quilt measures 12"x12"
Techniques used: made fabric, fusible applique, straight line quilting
Quilted by:  Your's truly!
Blogger's Quilt Festival Category:  Art Quilt 

Here's a little peek at the process:


I selected this image and drew a 12"x12" square in which to narrow down my design.

I drew out various design plans.

I made pattern pieces of the layout, and began "making" fabric to fit the specific pattern pieces. 

"In her satin tights, fighting for our rights, and the old red, white, and blue!!!!!!"

After the top was made, I made a decision to piece the back as well. 

Foodie alert!  Quilt sandwich!!!!!!

After appliqueing Wonder Woman's torso, I used my applique foot as a guide to sew straight line quilting throughout the various portions of the quilt. 

 Straight line quilting can provide a great effect and is easy enough for a beginning quilter to do!  

And, the signature!


I hope you enjoyed my process and more so, my entry into the Blogger's Quilt Festival?  I truly enjoyed the process of making this art quilt, and am thrilled with the results.  Perhaps I inspired YOU to make an art quilt of your very own?   Thanks for visiting, and make sure to visit ALL of the eye candy featured in the Blogger's Quilt Festival !


As always,
Thanks for all of the encouragement!
Kevin the Quilter

Thursday, May 16, 2013

I'm Taking Names..............and you should too..........

If you are a faithful follower of my blog you may have heard me talking about some exciting things that were in the works?  Remember?  Huh? Huh?  Do ya????

Well, today I will be able to share something that has completely flattered and excited me!  A few weeks back, my blogging friend Kelli at Seriously..I Think It Needs Stitches was pattern testing and swapping blocks for her friend Beth at Quilting Hottie Haven for Eva Paige Quilt Designs.  I LOVED the design, and the blocks Kelli was making and receiving and told her how much I was drawn to the pattern.

Well, low and behold, I received this e-mail:

Hi Kevin,

Kelli told me this morning that you have been asking about the Taking Names pattern I have been working on. I am thrilled to let you know it is finally done and ready, but instead of selling it to you I have a proposition.

Would you be interested in making some blocks, making a whole quilt, setting them however you want, having fun with it, etc and blogging about it for me? Your blog is fun and I’d love to share this pattern with your readers.

Let me know if you are interested!


Beth

REALLY?!?!?!?!?!?!

SERIOUSLY?!?!?!?!?!

OF COURSE I'M INTERESTED!!!!!!!!!!

I did let Beth know I am a newbie blogger, and that I haven't been quilting all that long.  She had absolutely no qualms, and trusted I would make her proud!  I sure HOPE I did as I present to you my Taking Names quilt!  

I first must say, FOR SOME, I believe this pattern is best demonstrated with high contrast colors, but, I decided to experiment a bit in a different way...................



   The PDF pattern.

My YUMMY color scheme!

Lots of strips and triangles!

Triangles are coming together!

Hmmm........I see a hexagon!  

Allow me to interject at this point HOW IMPORTANT it is to FOLLOW the pattern and TRIM!!!!!!!!!!  It truly will save you a lot of frustration un-sewing!   

And, there WILL be lots'o'trimming!



Before long............





you will  have................




are you ready for it????????????












A cool Taking Names Quilt!
Due to time constraints, and work,  I was only able to get a crib quilt top completed.  This quilt will be finished and donated to a worthy cause ASAP! 

I think it turned out really cool and I loved making it!  It looks REALLY modern to me, and it's hard to distinguish a true pattern, which I personally love!  Is it a hexagon?  Are there a lot of diamonds?  Is it triangles?  The blocks (triangles) actually go together fairly quickly, and remember......YOU MUST TRIM! LOL  More photos?  Well.........alrighty then!  

Dizzy and Delicious!

Cool!

Whatta fun quilt to make!

Beth, thank you so much for this wonderful opportunity!  I have loved getting to know you during this process and I hope we will be life-long friends!  I hope I made you proud?  Kelli, thank you so much for referring me to your sassy friend, and inspiring me with the eye candy on your blog!  Have fun at quilt market in Portland and kick some stash and take some names for me!

If you are interested in obtaining this pattern, please visit Beth for the Taking Names pattern!


Happy Mother's Day (week) to my beautiful mother and sister!

Thanks for all of the encouragement!
Kevin the Quilter

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

AQS Paducah Quilt Show Part 2........

OK guys and gals!  Here it is........the photos you all have been waiting to see!  I will take you through the photos as I went through the show.  I will do my best to give credit to the artist, and give the name of the quilt.  PLEASE share this post with your friends that may not have been able to attend the show.  Make sure to comment at the end and share with us your favorite quilt!  Enjoy the show!  (My apologies for some of the photos being sideways, and or minimally out of focus.  The miniature quilts were behind glass and there was no way to get the lighting out of the shots.)

1st Place Large Wall Quilts - Home Machine Quilted
My Journey to Baltimore 
Lois Podolny, Tucson, AZ

 3rd Place Large Wall Quilts - Home Machine Quilted
Love-In-A-Mist
Liz Jones, Leominster, Herefordshire, UK

 1st Place Large Wall Quilts -Longarm/Midarm Machine Quilted
Poppy's Rainbow
Mark L. Sherman, Coral Springs, FL

 Fall Explosion
Alice Zweck, Mason City, IA

 More Than A Memory
Kathy McNeil, Tulalip, WA

The Piecemaker's Web
Ozark Piecemakers Quilt Guild, Springfield, MO

 1st Place Group Quilts
Friends of Baltimore
Susan H. Garman, Cynthia Clark, Pat Cotter, Jerrianne Evans, Marsha Fuller, and Georgann Wrinkle
Friendswood, TX

 Fractured Star
Linda Bergmann, Elk Grove, CA

APQS Best Longarm/Midarm Machine Workmanship Award
Adventure Awaits
Sue McCarty, Roy UT

 Twenty Twelve
Judith Putnam, Paris, TN

 Janome of America Best of Show
Fiesta Mexico
Renae Haddadin and Karen Kay Buckley, Sandy, UT

View of Fiesta Mexico from back.

 AQS Best Hand Workmanship
The Charm of Small Pink Roses
Keiko Minami, Kawanishi-shi, Japan

 Spring Gift
Junko Suzuki, Yokohama-shi, Tokyo, Japan

 With Love in the Cut Glass
Chiyoko Saijo, Ebina-shi, Kanagawa, Japan

 1st Place Bed Quilts, Home Machine Quilted
Tequila Sunrise
Jean Lohmar, Galesburg, IL

 3rd Place Bed Quilts, Home Machine Quilted
Knots of Flowers
Marilyn R. Eparvier, Byron City, MI

 1st Place Bed Quilts - 1st Entry in an AQS Paducah Contest
Heartburst
Karen Mommsen, Rice Lake WI

 1st Place Bed Quilts - Longarm/Midarm Machine Quilted
Timeless Elegance
Sharyl L. Schlieckau, Loganville, WI

 1st Place Bed Quilts - Hand Quilted
Jacobean Dream
Linda M. Roy, Knoxville, TN

 Moda Fabrics Best Wall Quilt
Charm School
Janet Stone, Overland Park, KS

 Brother International Best Wall Machine Workmanship Award
Larry
Jennifer Day, Santa Fe, NM

 Handi Quilter Best Wall Longarm/Midarm Machine Workmanship Award
Purple Iris
Monica Troy, Lemont, IL

 1st Place Small Wall Quilts, Pictorial
God's Greatest Gift To Me Was Dad
Cindy Garcia, Racine, WI

 2nd Place Small Wall Quilts, Pictorial
Boy And His Best Friend
Jennifer Day, Santa Fe, NM

 Magic Carpet Ride
Cynthia L. Vogt, Kennewick, WA

 OverJOYed
Flora Joy, Johnson City, TN

 Recollections of  My Teacher
Masako Kiya, Nerima-ku, Tokyo, Japan

 1st Place Small Wall Quilts - Home Machine Quilted
Grandma's Stellar Array
Ann L. Petersen, Surprise, AZ

 Tumbleweeds
Jan Soules, Elk Grove, CA

 Gee's Ocean
Judith Putnamn, Paris, TN

 Lifelines III:  Can Something Come From Nothing?
Ricky Tims, La Veta, CO

 Windmills
Marcia DeCamp, Palmyra, NY

 Point Me In The Right Direction
Ann McNew, Winfield, MO
(This is my good friend and long arm quilter's entry!)

 Red Licorice
Linda McGibbon, Beaverton, MI

 Judges' Recognition
Monet in Pasadena
Melinda Bula, El Dorado Hills, CA

 1st Place Small Wall Quilts - Longarm/Midarm Machine Quilted
Imperial Blooms
Diana Trato, Yuba City, CA

 1st Place Small Wall Quilts, 1st Entry in an AQS Paducah Contest
Oklahoma Windsong
Cherrie Hampton, Oklahoma City, OK

 3rd Place Small Wall Quilts, 1st Entry in an AQS Paducah Contest
Melon Melange
Leona Harden, Lilburn, GA

 2nd Place Small Wall Quilts, 1st Entry in an AQS Paducah Contest
Sunshine
Pam McIntyre, Gainesville, FL

 Positive Energy
Karen Eckmeier, Kent, CT

 A Sanctuary for Special Chickens
Kat Marie Fick & Joyce Puffinbarger, Almo, KY

 Judges' Recognition
Fantasyland
Sheila Frampton-Cooper, Van Nuys, CA

 Blue Crystal
Michiyo Fukumoto, Tokushima, Japan

 Autumn in the City
Christina Larsson, Lidingo, Sweden

 1st Place Small Wall Quilts - Hand Quilted
Baltimore Baskets
Frances Yoder, Whispering Pines, NC

 3rd Place Small Wall Quilts - Hand Quilted
Little Puzzling
Diane Lane, Wichita, KS

 The Whereabouts of a Flower
Hisako Naito, Tokushima City, Japan

 Rose Garden
Tadako Nagasawa, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Japan

 Special Exhibit
Inspired by Egypt

 Triangle Charme Quilt
Atsuko Umeki, Kitahiroshima, Hokkaido, Japan

 2nd Place Miniature Quilts
Home At Last
Kaye Koler, Amherst, OH
 1st Place Miniature Quilts
In Flanders Fields
Robin Gausebeck, Rockford, IL

 Lepidopteran #3
Caryl Bryer Fallert-Gentry, Paducah, KY

Kaffe and Karen Take Sue to New York
Jenny Chiovaro, Bacliff, TX

I realize I am missing some categories, but, I have to be honest, I was completely overwhelmed by the quality and beauty of the quilts in the show.  I did get the majority of the winners for you all to see though.  And, just so everyone knows, there was no signage about no photos being taken.  I don't want to break the law, or step on any one's toes! LOL  I hope you enjoyed the photos, and I can't wait to share with you some projects I have been working on.  Stay tuned for those next time!

As always, 
Thanks for all of the encouragement!
Kevin the Quilter