Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Let the countdown begin..........







Let the countdown begin!



COUNTDOWN CLOCK WEBSITE">

Let's get a little excited in here!

If you're participating, leave a comment, and encourage your friends to leave comments as well!

In the meantime I hope you all have a BLESSED Thanksgiving!

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

STLMQG Riley Blake Challenge.......

Greetings!

I have been working on the Riley Blake Challenge we have been issued from the St. Louis Modern Quilt Guild.  Here is what I have come up with thus far with the fabrics issued, along with the solids I selected.......


I love how some of the rows match up to create longer linear lines of particular colors.  I was able to get much of the sewing done at a little sewing get together hosted by my friend Ann. I am much more comfortable sewing with others now thanks to her and many friends I have met through her.  I have a definite plan of action for the quilting of this project.  It will all be in the execution!  I have to get through the holiday season before I can even think about quilting this though.  

In other news, I have been asked to make a presentation for a wonderful quilt guild!  I was a little gobsmacked when I received the invitation, but, I am really excited about it.  The presentation will consist of some of my "views" as a "guy that quilts."  But, the majority of it will be about my love of Bonnie Hunter's scrap user's system, and how I use many of her methods to create quilts.  And for those of you who are wondering, I have already contacted Bonnie, and she has given me her complete permission to discuss such items.  Quilts of Valor will also be discussed and I am in the process of making several samples to take with me. The focus on these quilts will be how to utilize stash, scraps, and crumbs to make a QUICK charity quilt.  Again, I am very excited and look forward to be able to share one of my passions with others that are like minded!  

I have received so much encouragement from my friends concerning this effort.  My good friend Bev has been instrumental in helping me design some quilts that are in the process of being made.  Moreover, she has helped me stitch some together!  

We decided that we work really well as a team!

We were really focused, and got this top done in a few hours!

You will have to wait to see it though!








OK, you waited long enough!





We are calling this "Git'R'Done!"

(((((I am unsure as to who designed this pattern?????  Can you help me?)))))

This (untrimmed) quilt top was made completely from scraps!  The majority of the neutrals used were made from backing scraps I found at a quilt shop somewhere that costed next to nothing?!  Bev and I had a great day laying this quilt out, and "Gitt'n'R'Done!"

This is just a peek of things to come!  I have so many other designs using scraps buzzing around in my head! Thanks Bev for being a great friend, and for all of your help! 

I am off to Georgia this weekend to judge the Miss Georgia USA Pageant.  And here comes a deep thought with Kevin the Quilter...........I have come to a conclusion.........quilt shows are a lot like beauty pageants?  I mean, everything/one is beautiful in it's/her own way?  Sometimes you agree with the judges opinions, and sometimes you don't?  Subjectivity IS a double-edged sword sometimes!?!?!?  But, having judged my fair share of pageants, I do have to give quilt show judges some credit.  It CAN'T be an easy job!

Thanks for ALL of the comments!
Thanks for ALL of the encouragement!
Until next time......
Kevin the Quilter  







Friday, November 15, 2013

November in photos.....

The further we delve into the year, the faster it seems to be going! So, here are some photos of what has been going on lately.

Enjoy!

Some playing in the park!
Sophia's favorite is to play Frisbee!

Gracie Lu loves to play with her tennis ball!

Bonnie Hunter's mystery, Celtic Solstice is coming up!
I had to get the Tri-Recs rulers so I will be ready!

I was able to take a little road trip with some great gals to the 
Missouri Star Quilt Company in Hamilton, Missouri!
Their new building is much larger than their first one.
We were also able to visit Crossroads Quilting in Cameron, Missouri.
If you are going to one shop, you should go to the other.  They are both wonderful shops!

 Some stash enhancements were purchased!
Here are some silver fat quarters I got while in Houston for Celtic Solstice.

 The St. Louis Modern Quilt Guild is participating in the Riley Blake Challenge and these are the challenge fabrics.  Below are the fabrics I am adding into the mix!  Stay tuned for that one!


 I have gone "Crumb Crazy" lately!
Most of these pieces are around 1.5" or less!

And...............did you hear angels breaking into the "Hallelujah Chorus" this past week?
I DID!
I FINALLY got this project done!
Curious as to what it is??????
Stay tuned!

I have a lot of my projects wrapped up so I can enjoy Bonnie Hunter's mystery!
Hope you all are stitching along!
Thanks for all of the encouragement!
Kevin the Quilter




Saturday, November 9, 2013

Thought for the day.......

Thought for the day..........


THANK YOU!

Veterans Day
November 11, 2013


Many things coming up!
Be sure to check back soon!
Thanks for all of the encouragement!
Kevin the Quilter

Sunday, November 3, 2013

International Quilt Festival in Houston......and more......

Another busy week has passed, but, it was a fun week as well!

I had the opportunity to escort my friends Ann and Dar to the International Quilt Festival in Houston!  Being a flight attendant does have it's perks at times! ;-)

Ann's quilt, "All My Rowdy Friends" was a finalist in the show!  

CONGRATS ANN!  

It was really wonderful being able to see her work hang there.  I hope to have my work be there with yours one day Ann!

The following are some photo highlights of the trip! 

Ann with her beautiful work of art, "All My Rowdy Friends."

And now, some eye candy for your pleasure!
(I did not have the time to write down the names of every quilt and quilt maker because time was of the essence in order to be able to see everything I wanted to......in ONE day!)

"Double Edged Love" Best in Show at QuiltCon by Victoria Findlay Wolfe and Lisa Sipes.









 This quilt was part of a celebration of the works of Libby Lehman.










And, here are some of the people I was able to meet down in Houston!

 My friend Alycia working at the Modern Quilts Unlimited booth.

See, I AM taller than you Alycia!


And, my quilting star crush...., Eleanor Burns of Quilt In A Day fame!

It was a WONDERFUL trip no matter how short it was!  I was so grateful to be able to go!

In other news........

I received these!
No, it wasn't Monday's garbage!!!!! LOL

 It turned out to be these!

 And these!

Which were then sorted into these!!!!
There is tons of variety in these scraps!

Thank you SO MUCH to Vernie!!!!!!!  Vernie is my friend Bev's friend, and now, is my friend too!

And finally........

Drumroll please.........

I have finalized my color scheme for Bonnie Hunter's upcoming mystery Celtic Solstice
(At least I think I have! LOL)

For the Neutrals I have chosen:
 very light neutrals.

For the yellow I have chosen:
 silver-ish grays.

For the blues I have chosen:
 dark blues and Navy.
  ( I know they look purple in the photo, but, trust me, it's navy!)

For the orange I have chosen:
 bright reds.

And, for the green I have chosen:
bright yellows and golds.

All in all, I think I will be very happy with this color scheme.  I kept my colors for Easy Street very clean and straight forward.  Each color used could be seen in each unit, and I think I will be able to do the same with this color scheme.  And, just like last year, this quilt will be a donation to Alycia's efforts with Quilts of Valor.

I hope you all are enjoying this year that is passing by very swiftly!
Thanks for all of the encouragement!
Kevin the Quilter