Goings on at the Quilt Cave......

20 days..........

SINCE MY LAST POST!

I really don't know what to say folks.........

I can't believe how time flies!

Please allow me to share with you some of the things that have transpired at the Quilt Cave since my last check in with you all!

FLYING! FLYING! FLYING!

WORK! WORK! WORK!

And these things...............

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this shot of me and the family.......

where were we?????

At the wedding of my beautiful cousin, Meredith!

Congrats to her and her groom Steven!

Their wedding and reception were gorgeous!

(As you can see, I am sporting a "Summer Haircut" as it is referred to by my

blogging friend P of The Way I Sew It.

LOL)

The "Scrap Club" at O'Sewpersonal

is in full swing as we had our first meeting discussing the history

and making of a log cabin block.

Almost 50 quilters have joined in this time around, and I LOVE

hosting this very talented group of quilters!

Stay tuned for inspiration from the various works these quilters

are making!

I was invited to speak at the Pike-Lin Quilt Guild in Clarksville, Missouri.

I was able to award these 2 veterans their very own Quilt of Valor

thanks to you all who contributed blocks for the block drive.

I NEVER tire of doing this on behalf of you all that sent in blocks!

On another note, my calendar is filling up with speaking engagements this year.

If you or your guild would be interested in having me present some Quilts of Valor,

along with my scrappy trunk show and lecture, please let me know ASAP!

And, YES!  I DO travel! LOL

Just contact me via my email in the upper right corner of the blog.

I am in the middle of a particular project that I can't show right now,

but, was in need of some recycled shirts and plaids which are red in color.

I made a plea via Facebook, and look what happened.....

From left to right,

My friends Linda, Cherie of Quilted Jonquil, and Alycia of Alycia Quilts,

all bombarded their stashes and sent me these delicious

red plaids! 

Quilters are simply the best people!

Thanks to these ladies, I can now finish my project.......and hopefully share it with you all soon!

You all KNOW I spent Father's Day with.....

Father Huffman!

I can't brag on my parents enough.

I thank God every day for the parents He gave me.

Me and my sister (at the piano) were able to sing a song in church while my

dad played along with his bass guitar (front left) on Father's Day.

My dad had me and my sister singing from a very young age.

My earliest memories are of my sister playing the piano (yes she started young and was taught by our paternal Grandmother), my dad playing the guitar, and everyone singing along.  My sister, cousin, and I even traveled around singing gospel music at various churches.  And, although we don't get together as much as we would like to, it is always nice to be able to sing in harmony with my sister and dad.

There's a little known fact for you all! LOL

My blogging friend Julie of Quilt Diva Julie 

has had astounding success with her new book, Build-a-Barn.

I am eagerly awaiting a signed copy from her and can't wait to 

play with her technique......however, in the meantime......

I have built my OWN barn......well, umm, I suppose it is the 

Chicken's barn....but, you know what I mean!

A fresh coat of paint has done wonders for this little shed, ummmmm, BARN!

You can see the before photos IN THIS POST.

NOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWW.......................

which quilt block shall I place on the side of it??????

HMMMMMMMMMMMMMM........decisions, decisions.....

Any suggestions from you all out there????

Hint! Hint!

And, Lil Bubs would LOVE to introduce you to some of the occupants of 

this new barn.......

My favorite hen, Sweetie Pie, loves to ride on your shoulder.

Sweetie Pie is a Light Brahma chicken.

And here is Lex, an Old English Blue Bantam rooster.

I LOVE his grey/blue coloring!

Next up, is Ricardo the Rooster.

This guy's name really suits him perfectly.

He is a White Faced, Black Spanish bantam rooster.

He is extremely rico, suave!

And last, but, not least is Little Bit.

He is a Red Crested Polish bantam rooster.

When his plumage comes in full force, he will be quite the spectacle!

I will share with you the other residents of the chicken barn as time goes by.

They certainly are pampered birds with their very own babysitter!

Little Sophia Annabella LOVEs watching her chickens!

Remember, give me some ideas for which quilt block to place on the side of my newly

renovated/ recycled barn!

Post a reply to this blog post.

Thanks for all of your encouragement!

Thanks for all of your input!

Thanks for flying...........ummmm....I am not even going there! LOL

Keep on Quilting!!!!!!
Kevin the Quilter

A post at last.......

A post from lil' ole me.....

AT LAST!!!!!

I never knew how busy I truly would be with a new home.  Sure, I knew I would have to be flying even more than I usually did.  But, on my days off, every day is allocated to a different project around the new house.  Am I complaining?  NOT! ONE! BIT!  I actually enjoy working on home improvement projects, and it has made me much more productive with my sewing while I am flying.

My black featherweight, Miss Bev, has been humming right along in my hotel rooms

during my layovers.  These string blocks are from the Missouri State Quilt Guild, and I have been able to assemble all of them into basket weave quilts for Quilts of Valor.

And before you think I haven't sewn anything in my new sewing studio, 

I have been playing with the recycled shirtings my friend Cherie of 

Quilted Jonquil

generously shared with me.  I cannot WAIT to show you what I am working up

with these.  This fabric came just at the right time as we start our second installment

of "Scrap Club" at O'Sewpersonal.

This segment of "Scrap Club" will be hosted by your's truly, and will focus on the

"Log Cabin" block.

I may have to participate in the Log Cabin Lunacy Julie is hosting on her blog that my blogging friend Kathy of Kathy's Quilts tempted me to read!

I am really, really excited about this class!

Along with our "Scrap Club" mystery, I issued a "Crumb" challenge to the students.

Many of them have never dabbled or played with the small left over pieces and cut offs of scraps

while they make quilts.  This encouraged the students to play with their fabrics, and try something new.  The turn out of "Crumb" quilts was great!  

Congrats to all of the students who played along!

As you can see, some got REALLY creative with portraits and letters!

 I sometimes get the cold shoulder from Valentino when I come home.

I can't say that I blame him when he has this gorgeous window view to stare out of with

the sun and shadows to ponder upon.

Miss Honolulu, AKA My Beautiful Little Momma

is doing great!  Thanks for all of your prayers!  She and my Handsome Daddy were able to come stay with me during the Memorial Day Weekend and work around the house.

She is sporting a flower from one of the flower gardens here at the new house. LOL

Of course when my Dad is around, Sophia is ALWAYS sitting in what I refer to

as the "PaPa Patch!"

But, we didn't just sit around and eat picnic food during the weekend!

NO! NO! NO!

There was important work to be done!

As I shared before, this old shed on the property was going to be transformed into

a chicken coop.

My friend Mike poured the concrete footings to make it extra secure

from any type of predator.

Metal studs are going up!

Nothing should be able to chew through these!

The framing is complete!

Hardware cloth hung and more concrete around the base for extra security!

As you can see, this is a very wooded area of the property which is home to all

sorts of predators such as raccoons, possums, foxes, coyotes, owls, hawks, and snakes.

I don't want ANY of those critters to get my flock!

Getting the inside of the coop set up.

Roosts are in the right hand corner, along with roosting

at the bench where my dad is working.

I plan to compost all of this hay as it is used and changed during cleanings.

And, a completed coop for some really happy chickens!

We were happy it was finished too!

This truly is the "FORT KNOX" of chicken coops!

Here my dad holds my Old English Blue Bantam Rooster named Lex.

And I am holding my most favorite hen, a Light Brahma named Sweetie Pie.

By the way, don't hate our excellent taste in fashions.

We were working!

My dad sure is talented when it comes to construction.

We had some ups and downs, as most people do with any

DIY project.  But, I couldn't be happier with this coop and 

am so happy I was able to have my dad help out with this project.

And, these little chickies couldn't be happier either!

I am thoroughly enjoying my mornings with a cup of coffee while reading some outdated

quilting magazines courtesy of quilting friends.  I love to watch these very entertaining birds.

I find inspiration in these old magazines from time to time, and really enjoy reading them.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh............this is what I have wanted for so long!

I promise to keep you all up to date on things that go on around here at 

the Quilt Cave.  It's going to take money, and time, and I will just have to 

be patient.  I wish money grew on trees! LOL

The next few projects are on the near horizon!

Thanks for your friendship!

Thanks for all of the encouragement!

Keep on quilting and enjoying life!

Kevin the Quilter