Monday, December 18, 2017

On Ringo Lake Parts 3 & 4

Whew!

Ummmm.......that's all I can say!

What a flurry of activities have taken place here at the Quilt Cave as of late!
I wish there were a snow flurry or two to go along with the activities!
I want snow for Christmas......sorry, but, I do! That's the only time I want it though? LOL

So let me catch you all up to speed......


My name is Kevin the Quilter,
threw me for a loop!

I cut 120 of the coral units incorrectly.
I take complete ownership of this mistake.......

.....this HAPPY little mistake!
#newproject
#catchingup

was a breeze and saw a lot of 
odds and ends of aqua and grey used up!

Linking up with 

There was some trimming up of Part 2 on my commute
to work.
YES!  You CAN bring small scissors on the plane with you!
I am not doing anything here that the general travelling public
can't do.
Click HERE to see what can and can't be brought on the plane.

TA DAH!!!!!
The Cave Quilters completed "Snake Charming!"
As you can tell in this photo we are overjoyed!

It has been such a pleasure working with these
quilters on a project I wouldn't have tackled on my own!
Each quilter has brought their own special flair 
to our gatherings and to this project.

We even twirled seams courtesy of Cherie!

"Snake Charming"
This is a STRIKING Quilt of Valor!
Thanks
Cherie of Quilted Jonquil
and

I look forward to our next joint venture!

The Troy, Missouri quilt group I belong to
gathered at the Quilt Cave for our
Christmas party.
Here we are playing a game.

We also did a gift exchange of our favorite notion
that costs $5 or less.
This was so much fun and a lot was learned!
I received a plethora of storage bags and pipe cleaners!
My contribution was a small brass stiletto that I can't piece without.

My blogging friend P of 
shared these goodies with me in the mail.
Thanks so much P!
I am thinking of you and your family!

While browsing an antique mall I came across this album.
Look closely, the cover is a patchwork quilt!
Interested P? LOLOL

And I received another surprise in the mail!
This is from my blogging friend Susan of
Thanks so much Susan! You are such a good 
daughter to be helping your dad right now in his time
of need!

I took my mom and dad Christmas shopping....
I witnessed the following conversation.....
Mom:  You DON'T buy PASTRIES there!!!!!!
Dad: ????????
Priceless moments with the parents!

Lilly Mae got to meet Santa for the very first time.
I can completely hear her saying:
"I have been a really good girl, Santa.......
just don't ask anyone else....."
LILLY MAE!!!!

And, I recently was in negotiations with these representatives
from Feed the Hungry......
The girls DON'T get table food, but, that doesn't
keep them from wanting to smell everything I eat!
LOL

I know we are all very busy with Christmas and the holidays.
I want you all to know how much I consider each of you
a gift to me.
Thanks for being a friend!
Enjoy the season!




Until next time,
Thanks for all of the encouragement!
Keep on Quilting!
Kevin the Quilter











Monday, December 4, 2017

On Ringo Lake Part 2

Seasons Greetings Friends!

Are you all bustling about with holiday decorating, entertaining, and plans?

Or are you remaining low key, and taking it easy this time of year?

Ole' Uncle Kevin the Quilter lumps all of his vacations together so he can do a little of
both of the aforementioned during this juncture.


"Carolina Chain"
Bonnie Hunter's design from her book
"Addicted to Scraps."
I was pleasantly surprised how quickly this
quilt top pieced together, and even more pleased
with the results.
This is headed to my quilting friend Kim so
I can get it ready for my parent's Christmas gift this year.
(Don't worry, mom and dad don't even own a computer
to where they can see this! LOL)

Here is my Sis in her element.
This is her classroom.
She is incredibly talented, and knew she wanted to
teach music from a very young age.
I made a pilgrimage to my hometown
for a special reason and got to visit her
in between her classes.

Why was I at her school??????

My friend Mike and I were asked to talk about
what it is like to be a flight attendant to
my nephew's middle school class!
We visited in an unofficial capacity.
There were police officers, game wardens, performing artists, 
and even hog farmers visiting with these students
about potential career choices.
What a fun day it was........they certainly didn't
have these type of events when I was of middle school age.
I can't commend these students enough on how
respectful and well behaved they were.
I HAVE HOPE FOR THE FUTURE NOW!


Some decorating for Christmas has occurred.


And, of course,
of
Bonnie Hunter's Quiltville Mystery
was released!

I am so pleased that these fabrics are getting to see
the light of day and
BEING USED!

A surprising variety of Coral - Melon geese!

Navy is plentiful around these parts!

oooooooooOOOOOOOOOOooooooooo
I am LOVING this!

Linking with 

Here's hoping your holidays are Merry and Bright!
More holiday hubbub and relaxation are in my future!
Thanks for all of the encouragement!
Keep on Quilting!
Kevin the Quilter





Sunday, November 26, 2017

Thankful..........

So very much to be thankful for during this time of Thanksgiving........

 Wonderful family and friends.........

Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours!

A loving mother that has taught
and continues to teach how to
carry on traditions......
like her deviled eggs.....

and her perfect mashed potatoes......

A sister that has a knack for making Momma's home made
yeast rolls.
Get that just right sis!

Having a home and some land where 
I can raise my own food.....
by the way,....
this home grown turkey
exceeded ALL expectations!

Just ask my friend Mike!  LOL

Being able to host in a house I love.

Sitting down and making more memories
when we weren't stuffing our faces!

Thankful for the little ones!
Past and present!
Sophia Annabella loves it when
Paw Paw sneaks her a piece of turkey!

And, it was this little booger's first Thanksgiving!
Paw Paw had the honors of feeding her, her first bite of
Thanksgiving Turkey.
LILLY MAE!

Thankful for a father who shares his
talents with his family.
This beautiful cabinet is now displayed proudly in
the Quilt Cave!
My dad completely refinished my maternal
grandmother's treadle sewing machine cabinet
and did a masterful job!
(Machine still being refurbished.)

Dad did an amazing job on it.
And my mom is so proud of it too!
I can't thank my cousin Marcia enough
for allowing me to have this piece of
family history!

I wanted Dad to sign it to show the date
he refinished it.
While he did so, my mother shared a story of
this machine.
When Mom was around 15 years old, she worked
for a small restaurant washing dishes.
She saved the little money she made there and would
go buy fabric at a mercantile store in town.
My grandmother would compliment my mother
on what a good job she did saving money, and how
nice the fabric was, and in return would make my
mom a skirt or dress out of that fabric.
My mom says her first memories of sewing on
this machine was helping her mother make those
clothes on this machine.
PRICELESS memories for me to share with you all.



Thankful for a wonderful niece and nephew
that will hopefully come visit me
in the nursing home one day......
hopefully that day is FAR away......
The snowman ornament tradition with my nephew 
and niece continues on.
I get them one every year and date it for them.

And so many quilters are so thankful for
Bonnie Hunter's Quiltville Mystery
this time of year!
I am no exception!

Linking up with Quiltville's


Since I just completed "Sapphire Stars,"
I opted to play with a different color scheme
for Bonnie's mystery this year, rather than
my usual go to patriotic color scheme I usually
make with her mystery quilts.

Aqua and Coral remain the same, 
but, for
Brown, I am substituting Grey
and for
Neutral, I am substituting Navy.

Going through the strings for 

More strings to go through......

My Accuquilt Studio makes quick work of these
strip sets.......

Coming along............

A sampling of the 9 patches made
in no time.....

Thankful for so much.....
including you all!


Thanks for all of the encouragement!
Keep on Quilting!
Kevin the Quilter






























Friday, November 17, 2017

So Much Fun, So Little Time

Ya know what quilters?

I have no idea how some people manage their time to do everything they do, AND blog????

My guess is that many are much more tech savvy than I, and can blog from their smart phone?

Me?

Well, you all know Uncle Kevin the Quilter is nothing if not technologically illiterate!
Nothing but an old outdated home desk top computer will do for me!  LOL

Anywho...........

I have had an absolute blast the past month or so!

Come see!!!!!

When last I blogged......
I hadn't come down off of my high from Scrap Club hosted by Kevin the Quilter's final reveal!
Soon after that, I headed down to Houston for the International Quilt Festival.

 Here I am at the festival with my scrappy quilting friend Roxann.
It was so much fun spending time and talking quilts with her.

 Speaking of which, she had a quilt accepted into the
Juki "In Full Bloom" contest.
What a beautiful work she has created.
All of the motifs in her quilt are her original designs!

 Lori of Humble Quilts along with myself
were accepted as the royal guard of
Barb of Fun with Barb's quilt which hung in one of the
special exhibits at the festival.
What a beautiful work you have created here Barb!
Thanks for letting me ham it up with Lori!

And while we are on the subject of Lori.....
it was my sincere pleasure getting to know her better.
We had met last year in Houston, but, she was consumed with
working for the festival with no real spare time to speak of.
This year, we were able to talk quilts, vendors, and food!
Thanks for the info on "Phoenicia" and Turkish coffee!

Lori, the enabler!
How could I pass on this amazing Boston Terrier fabric????

I got to chat with Doug Leko, the designer of the
"Simple, Folded Corners" ruler which will be used
with this year's Quiltville mystery,

And it is always fun to visit with
Victoria Findlay Wolfe.
My friend Ann was working
the Butler System vendor booth
right across the aisle from VFW!

I was able to visit the
in LaPorte, TX while in Houston.
While there, I ran into this quilter
after my own heart!
We are wearing matching shirts!

I also met Tanya that works at this quilt shop
who also follows Bonnie and Lori.
It was so nice to meet you!

My friend Jamie of Sunflower Quilts
 is the creator of "The Original Thread Cutter."
Here she is in her booth with Ann and Jamie's mom.
What a hoot they are!

I am the proud owner of one of these babies now!
Thanks Jamie!
Wow!  What a great product for a chain piecer!
I highly recommend you order one of these gadgets
for you and your quilty friends this holiday season!

And here is my loot from the festival.
All too soon it ended.
But, what a nice time I had there.

Upon my return home, it was snuggling time with
Lilly Mae!

And boy did that thread cutter come in handy
after chain piecing these!
What are these???

The beginnings of
"Carolina Chain"
from Bonnie Hunter's book
"Addicted to Scraps."

Sophia Annabella definitely approves of this quilt design
by Bonnie Hunter!

You all know there were some QOV presentations
on behalf of QOV, Eastern Missouri to commemorate
Veteran's Day.
Jean, our fearless leader is pictured with the
QOV recipients and myself.
These presentations were made at the
Stitch'N'Time Quilt Guild in
Warrenton, Missouri.
(I will be posting more photos of this event in the future.)

And I recently had my very first workshop with
the Hearts'N'Hands Quilt Guild in O'Fallon, Illinois!
What a blast these quilters were!
(More photos coming soon of this fun day!)

I am looking forward to hosting Thanksgiving Dinner with my family here at the Quilt Cave.
Blogging time will be severely limited, but, just know, I am so THANKFUL for all of you that
continue to read my blog and share your quilting lives with me!  I count it an honor and blessing to 
call you all friends.

Until next time,
Keep on Quilting!
Thanks for all of the encouragement!
Kevin the Quilter