Back in the saddle again.........literally........

Hey ya'll!

So sorry it's been a little more than a week since last I blogged!

Your stories have been so inspiring to read!  I hope you all have had a chance to read each other's replies as to who was the person most responsible for your involvement in quilting?  I think from your responses, mother's definitely win, with grandmother's coming in a close second!  This feedback is invaluable to me, and please encourage your friends, family, and neighbors to still reply!

My apologies for being unable to reply to your responses for a while!

I PROMISE I have a REALLY good reason!

You see........well, I ummm...........

OHHHHHHHHHH I will just show you in photos!

I was visiting my blogging friend Alycia of Alycia Quilts!

For those of you who haven't visited her blog, please check it out!

I have said it before, and I will say it again, this gal is an angel on earth for all of the hard work she does for 

Quilts of Valor!

 She and her family (including her 4 legged family) made me feel right at home!

This is Dixie!

Dixie had a grooming appointment with me!  Who knew I could do hair?!?!?!

And a riding lesson with Wrangler Man!  I am not sure who looks more concerned here?

Me or Dixie???????? LOL

Awwww......I'm just kidding!  We both had a great ride, and I had a great time!

Before I give you the impression that all I did was ride horses while visiting Alycia and her family, let me inform you on the purpose of my visit, (besides visiting) was to hand deliver Celtic Solstice to her, and work on some Quilt of Valor related items.  

We were really busy cutting scraps.....no photo......too busy.......

Trimming quilted quilts........well, Alycia trimmed more than me.........no photo........too busy.........

Making backings..........no photo.........too busy.........

TOO BUSY = LAUGHING, TALKING, VISITING

I was able to take a photo of the pile of quilts I added labels to though!

WOWZERS!  That's a LOT of beautiful quilts!

I was also able to work with Alycia's Quilts of Valor group at their work day!

What a wonderful group of ladies and gentleman I was able to meet and work with!

I loved being able to see how this group worked and was able to discuss with several of them the way Quilts of Valor Eastern Missouri works.  Several tips and ideas were shared back and forth.  It was a very productive meeting!  And as you can see, those blocks from Alycia's block drive are DEFINITELY being put to use!  I thoroughly enjoyed working with this group!

AND.......

I met my first follower outside of immediate friends and family!

From the minute she met me she said, "You look familiar, I know you!"  After she kept asking questions, she realized I am "Kevin the Quilter!"  Sorry for the blurry photo!  Everyone was giggling too much over what just happened! LOL

Thank you so much Alycia for yet another wonderful visit to your beautiful state of Colorado!  I was so honored to spend time with you, your family, and friends.  I had an absolutely wonderful time!  Please tell my girl Dixie I will be back!

Here is my question for you this week...........

Are you a charity quilter?  If so, which charities do you quilt for?  

Your replies will again be used in my upcoming presentation!  Thank you in advance for helping me out!

"Happy Trails"

I'm back in the saddle again!

Until next time,

Thanks for all of the encouragement!

Kevin the Quilter

A week in the life........

First and foremost, I would like to thank all of you for your kind comments concerning my patriotic Celtic Solstice quilt top!  Your words have brought me absolute delight.  I can only hope the eventual Quilt of Valor will bring as much joy to it's recipient as you all have brought to me with your encouraging words! THANKS!  

I would also like to welcome all of my new blog followers!  WELCOME!

I have literally flown coast to coast multiple times this past week.  As a flight attendant, I have a unique opportunity to be able to see, and visit some places that other people, quilters in particular, would LOVE to be able to see and visit.  For that, I am very grateful.  I continually have to remind myself, I love people, I love to travel, and I love customer service!  At least I do when I have work weeks like this past one!  I thought I would show you all a few of the happenings of my work week?  

Getting ready to get my work week started.

A view from my office.

I need to fill you all in on a little airline lingo.

DEADHEAD:  

No, in the airline industry, this isn't a boring or stupid person.

Nor is it a sunken log.

And, it isn't the act of removing dead flowers off of a flowering plant.

It IS, however, a pilot or flight attendant that is being caught up with his or her route 

without working the flight to get him or her caught up to their intended destination.

In other words........it's a BEAUTIFUL thing!

While deadheading,..............

I read A LOT of quilting magazines.  These magazines were gifted to me by a new friend, Jackie!

Thanks Jackie!

I receive so much inspiration by reading quilting magazines.  It doesn't matter to me if they are current or not.

I doodle a lot!

This is an idea I have for a REALLY quick QOV.

Pattern testing will be taking place this week!

Then while in my hotel rooms.....

Miss Bev hummed along while I watched TV.

Then on one of my overnights, I found this brochure.....

Really?????  And the hotel shuttle will take me??????

One of my crew members even went with me!

This photo doesn't even begin to show the enormity of this place!

I truly felt overwhelmed by over 11,000 bolts of quilting cotton, yet, all the while I was grinning ear to ear!

Fabric Depot was NOT a disappointment!

If ever you are in Portland, Oregon, GO!!!!!!!!!!!

They also have a large online store, just follow the link I provided.

Here are some of the goodies that came home with me.

14 yards total to be exact.

And, yes, I had to make room in my roller bag for these! LOL

All in all, a very good week!

I hope yours was or is going to be too!

And, here is a plea request for you.....

Remember last week, I was asking for some input on a presentation I am getting ready to do?  Would some of you help spread the word for me?  This week is the first question I have for all of you, and I would LOVE to hear your responses?  Please direct your friends to my blog so they may reply as well?

Who is most responsible for your involvement in quilting?  A family member?  A friend?  Or did you jump into quilting on your own?

I can't wait to hear your responses!

Until next time........

Thanks for all of the encouragement!

Kevin the Quilter

 

Celtic Solstice...................FINALE'...............

Salutations blog readers!

Great news!

Kevin the Quilter has finally completed the Celtic Solstice quilt top!

After reading Bonnie Hunter's inspirational post about finishes the other day, I was pumped to finish this top!

So, without further adieu...........

Celtic Solstice

Mystery Quilt by Bonnie Hunter of Quiltville.

I am very pleased with the way the top turned out, and like Bonnie's, mine is DEFINITELY NOT perfect!  However, I couldn't be happier with the color scheme I chose.  This quilt top will be donated to my friend Alycia of Alycia Quilts and her efforts with Colorado Quilts of Valor.  

I am often asked how I am able to let go of a quilt such as this?  One that took several hours of devotion, and thought, and a gazillion pieces of fabric?  OK, maybe it wasn't a gazillion, just 2,344 pieces for the small version of the quilt excluding the non-pieced border fabrics.  But, I digress.......the answer to this question is simple.  I donate it because that is what the quilt was ordained to be; a donation quilt from it's very conception.  I can separate myself from it, because I know how much it will be appreciated by a United States Military Veteran.

 The piecing is NOT perfect, but, then again, neither am I.

    It kind of has a stained glass effect, doesn't it?

Thanks again Bonnie for sharing your time and talent and providing us with a wonderful mystery quilt!

You may have noticed on my side bar that I will be participating in the Rainbow Scrap Challenge 2014?  I have seen many of my blogging friends such as Andee of The Modern Diary, Teresa of A Quilt And A Prayer, and Amy of Amy's Passions participate in previous years, and I have loved what they have been able to make!  What a perfect challenge for me to be able to use my scraps in various colors to create something wonderful!  I am really looking forward to this challenge, and have started making Maverick Stars!  Of course I would choose something "Bonnie!"  I adjusted the size a bit and have already started playing with this month's color:

BLUE

I have a feeling I am going to love this one!

In the next few weeks, I am going to be asking a few questions of you all?  I am needing some major feedback concerning some ideas I have about a future presentation I will be making.  I would love to get my readers involved with this process!  Is everyone game?  I hope so!

Until next time,

Thanks for all of the encouragement!

Kevin the Quilter

Happy New Year........O! M! G!............

Happy New Year to you all!

O! M! G!

I simply cannot believe we are in a new year already.  Moreover, I cannot believe we are 8 days into the new year, and I have NOT:

-blogged since before Christmas

-finished storing my Christmas decorations

-stuck to my diet (well, this isn't all that unbelievable!)

-completed Celtic Solstice!!!!!!!

You will simply have to forgive me.  I worked the week after Christmas and over New Year's Eve.  Weather, delays, reroutes and long days prevented me from being able to complete clue #5, and I completely missed the New Year's Eve reveal of Celtic Solstice!  I truly thought there may be another clue?  I was snoring in the new year as several Bonniacs were celebrating the unveiling of this year's mystery from our beloved Bonnie!  

So, how about a few photos of my progress thus far?

I like both layouts of the chevron blocks, so I have decided to incorporate them into my version of Celtic Solstice.  I realize this isn't a contest of who gets done first, but, I simply must accept the fact that I am going to have to post unfinished photos of the quilt top, so..........

 Some sections are sewn, obviously the blocks on the right haven't been trimmed or sewn together yet.  Borders haven't been touched yet! :-/

Linking up with Bonnie's Monday Linky!

I really love the pattern Bonnie!  You are so talented to create such a wonderful FREE pattern for your loyal followers!  I am working yet again this week, and this project won't travel well with me.  Therefore, I will take some other items to work on along with some books I received for Christmas.

There is some great inspiration in these books!

And, here are some photos taken during Christmas.  I know there are a lot of them, but, I hope you enjoy them none the less.

She loved her memory quilt!

He loved his memory quilt!

He loved his memory quilt!  He immediately began hugging and cuddling it!

Warms the heart, doesn't it?

She loved her memory quilt!

There were tears shed.

But, he really loved his memory quilt!

I was able to embellish some kitchen towels for my sister from her father in law's shirts.

I modified this tutorial to make these towels.

And, finally, I want to give my new found blogging friend Shanna, of Sparrow in Flight a HUGE thank you!

We have been keeping up with each other's progress on Bonnie's mystery, and she GENEROUSLY sent me...........

this huge lot of fabric to be used in Quilts of Valor!

Thanks again Shanna........the fabric is greatly appreciated and will be used to make more quilts of valor!

Hopefully I can get on a better blogging schedule when I return from flying this week.

Thanks for all of the encouragement!

Kevin the Quilter