Housewarming.......

 Hey everybody!

We as quilters are some of the most generous human beings on the planet.......
at least that is MY opinion.

As you all know, I LOVE giving quilts to people!

Quilts of Valor............

Anniversary Quilts.............

Memory Quilts........

Quilts for special occasions...........

The list goes on and on!

I LOVE sharing my art with others!

However, how does one who gives quilts, receive a quilt?

WITH ENTHUSIASM!!!!!!

I literally was thrilled to death when my quilting buddy Bev gifted me

with her recent finish of Bonnie Hunter's 

Tumalo Trail!

This is my housewarming present from her!

It is beyond beautiful!

How fitting!

A beautiful quilt, from quilting friend to quilting friend!

This quilt shall be used and cherished the rest of my days!

Thanks Bev!!!!

You KNOW I love it!

Most quilters have heard of Dusty Farrell?

He is an amazing quilter with several accolades behind his name!

My friend Ann of  Attic Threads & Quilts recently hosted him

for several workshops with quilters from around our area.

Ann was nice enough to invite me over to meet him and

I was given a personal trunk show of his work.  He even 

showed me some of his work on the machine.  

Here he is quilting on some leather duds

for a biker babe!

This was SOOOOOOO COOL!

Dusty and his wife Stephanie own

Country Stitchin

and attend virtually every major quilt show across the United States.

Here Stephanie is showing our group some of the 

templates she uses for domestic machine quilting.

The templates were really great too!

At the most recent meeting of Perky Piecers in Troy, Missouri, we had

our Officer's Luncheon.  And, along with it, we had our show and share

of the mystery quilt most of us participated in.

This was the quilt named after your's truly!

I think it is so cool to see all of the variations of the same pattern.

Please enjoy the following quilt show!

 Marcia's version........

 Helen's version.......

 Dot's version.........

 Susan's version.........

You may be asking yourself why Susan is holding a photo of her version.......

regrettably, Susan's quilt studio caught on fire, and it was a complete loss.

Could you imagine losing your entire quilting studio?

It boggles my mind how lost I would feel!
Susan has handled it with such class and grace though.

I really admire her!

 Judy's version..........

 Loretta's version.......

and

Lou's version!

They are all so different, but, yet they are they same.

For those of you who have contacted me concerning the Southwest system shut down, yes, I was involved in it.  After hours of delays, and a day of standing in line to get home, I finally was able to rest in my own bed, in my own home last night.  Was it frustrating?  Of course, but, things could be worse.......

Thanks for all of the encouragement!

Keep on Quilting!

Kevin the Quilter

WINNER!......and more............

Here's hoping you ALL had a wonderful 4th of July holiday!

Thank you ALL for the beautiful comments you shared about "Red, White, and Blue" along with your favorite ways to spend the 4th of July!

I will be sharing my 4th of July celebration with everyone in just a moment........

BUT FIRST............

I want to thank Travis of 

The Barr Spool

for offering the wonderful fat quarter bundle giveaway in my last post.

 Since ole' Uncle Kevin here is technologically illiterate,

I did the drawing the old fashioned way!

I placed all of the names in a plastic container......

And drew a name at random.........

The lucky winner is........

Randy of Barrister's Block!

Travis and I congratulate you Randy, and hope you enjoy your new fat quarter bundle!

(I have sent you an e-mail so your fabric can be on it's way to you!)

Thanks again to EVERYONE for playing!

Now, how about a photographic view of my most recent activities?

I typically spend the 4th of July with my family.

My sister hosts a nice summer dinner, and then my niece and nephew, 

along with their father and his brother shoot off fireworks for all to see.

This year's show was a stunner as usual.  However, getting good shots of 

fireworks didn't pan out as I had planned.

While visiting the family, we were reminiscing about my Meemaw who taught me how

to sew, and quilt.  You all KNOW how influential she was to me and my

eventual love of quilting.  Her favorite quilt to sew was "Trip Around the World."

She had a particular quilt that she used daily, and spread across the back of her

couch, that I thought had been lost long ago........

 Lo and behold, my sister has it!

This is a very humble quilt made of double knit polyester!

It will last FOREVER!

I am just happy to know that it has remained in the family

and will continue to do so!

After viewing the fireworks, I brought my niece and nephew 

home with me to stay for a few days.

They know I will do whatever they want to do and

take them wherever they want to go.

Uncles are allowed to spoil their nieces and nephews a little!

The kiddos wanted to play miniature golf.

Something I am admittedly not very good at!

So usually, the game consists of the kids laughing at me!

They also wanted to go to the St. Louis Zoo.

I have to admit, I love going to the zoo as St. Louis has 

one of the best zoos in the country!

We decided to have a look alike contest with the great apes!

Clearly, I look nothing like these wonderful mammals!

I think Holly needs sunglasses on her head to

see the true resemblance to Hannah?

Hmmm.......Curtis is looking a lot like this gorilla!

The winner of the look a like contest this day was my friend Mike!

Don't you agree???? LOLOL

And, before you think the zoo and quilts have nothing in common......

Here is Curtis in the Insecterium with

the bug quilt!

I had a wonderful visit with the kiddos, and all too soon it was over.

Back home they went, and I went back to quilting........

I received this from the Missouri Star Quilt Company

unexpectedly, and thought someone was trying to surprise me?

It contained these goodies!

I called MSQC to see if I could find out if I had 

ordered something inadvertently or if someone had

surprised me?  They said that several of these were

sent out as a thank you to random customers.

THANK YOU! MSQC!!!!

I am still thinning out those strings and crumbs with a few new projects!

These new projects will be shared soon, I promise......and have made for

very easy sewing while I am flying!

 I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my Accuquilt Studio!

Perhaps you all remember the smaller group I am a part of

called Perky Piecers, and the Friendship Triangle Exchange we

participated in all of last year?  Each month we made half square triangles

in a different color to represent that month's birthstone color.

Well, all of the triangles have been sorted thanks to the help of my

friend Kim, and will be going to their new homes this week!

I can't WAIT to see what the members create with their

half square triangles!

And, I am very happy to say that the chickens are

FINALLY earning their keep!

The first egg is always so exciting to find!

When first laying, the eggs are not the prettiest, but, this egg

proves the gal that laid it will eventually be providing 

wonderful eggs!

At a little over 4 months, I am VERY surprised to already start

receiving an egg here and there.  However, it is not unheard of.

I think the ladies are very happy with their new home and are 

showing their appreciation!

And for those of you who made comments about what type

of barn quilt I should make for the chicken barn.......

I think I have made my decision.......

"Hen & Chicks" is beyond appropriate and doable!

These are some photos I found on google images that

helped solidify my decision!

Thanks to all of you who stop by for a visit!

Thanks for all of the encouragement!

Keep on quilting!

Kevin the Quilter

Happy Independence Day!!!!!

Happy Independence Day!!!! 

OK, so I am a couple of days early?!?!
Isn't that a nice change from me for once???? LOL

I truly am thankful for many things this 4th of July holiday here in the U.S.A.!
My family, my new home, and especially all of you, my  friends and allies in promoting the art of

QUILTING!!!!!!

I thought it might be nice to celebrate this Independence Day with a reveal, AND a giveaway?

More about the giveaway in a moment.

"I pledge allegiance, to the flag, of the United States of America........"

I know all computer monitors and phone and other digital devices are different, 

but, this is "The Pledge of Allegiance" quilted in a portion of the work I am about to reveal.

Before I moved out of my home last fall, I had completed this quilt top with intentions of

it becoming a Quilt of Valor.  With many recent speaking engagements, I have had the pleasure

of  sharing my philosophy of using any and all forms of scraps, and this is just one of the ways I do it.

Crumb piecing!!!

 It is so relaxing for me.  And hopefully you will be able to tell, the results are sometimes

very unexpected.

I approached my extremely talented quilting friend, Susan, of Farm Quilter,

and asked if she would be interested in quilting this top for me.

I was so pleased when she said yes!

Again, this quilt will eventually be a awarded to a U.S. Veteran

when I complete my speaking engagements.

Without further adieu.......

I would like to present to you.......

"Red, White, and Blue"

No, this is not stained glass, but, it sure looks like it to me?

Does it you?

The red, white, and blue panel sections are completely pieced from crumbs.

No foundation was used, just piece by piece, straight edge to straight edge of fabric.

The gold borders are various widths, but, trimmed to size, as are the silver corner stones.

(This photo is minus the binding, as it is on it's way to me. During my move,

I thought I had more of the dark brown, but,.....SURPRISE, I didn't.)

Let's take a closer look at some of Susan's quilting, shall we?

Such texture in those sashings!

Very dense quilting gives a quilt the body and heft I love.

Truly, just like stained glass!

A U.S. Veteran is sure to enjoy this one..........I hope!

I can't thank Susan enough for the beautiful job she did quilting "Red, White, and Blue."

She has a blog post about her end of the quilting 

HERE

Please go visit to see her insights into quilting this beauty.

So, how about a giveaway to celebrate our freedoms?

I met Travis of "The Barr Spool" from the Quilting Men Facebook Page.

He does some really wonderful work, and has been a cheerleader for me.

It is time for me to be his cheerleader as he is becoming an entrepreneur.

Here is a little about Travis......

"I started The Barr Spool in March 2013, after I discovered how much I love quilting and everything that comes along with it. I try to find fabrics that are interesting to a wide range of quilters tastes and that can be used in many different projects. I currently carry Robert Kaufman Fabrics, Quilting Treasures, and Clothworks and I constantly try to increase my inventory."

What are we giving away here?

Travis has generously offered a Fat Quarter Bundle of Santoro Mirabelle.

This bundle offers 12 fat quarters.

Who wouldn't love a free fat quarter bundle?  Right????

What do you need to do to win?

First, I would like for you to leave a comment about your favorite thing about the 4th of July

here on my blog.

The Second thing you need to do in order to win is to follow

The Barr Spool's Facebook page at:

www.facebook.com/TheBarrSpool/

Travis offers discounts all of the time, and he has a GREAT selection of fabrics at

very reasonable prices!  You can check out what he offers in his online store at:

The Barr Spool

Once again, please comment on my blog, and start following The Barr Spool on Facebook in order to win.  Please help spread the word!

(My apologies to my international quilting friends, but,

this giveaway is for U.S. residents only.)

We will leave the give away open until July 9, 2016.

However you celebrate this Independence Day, make it a great one!
I sure do appreciate each and every one of you out there in blogland!

Perhaps I have inspired you to do some crumb piecing of your own?

Thanks for all of the encouragement!

Keep on QUILTING!

Kevin the Quilter