String Star Workshop with Kevin the Quilter

 Just look at these smiling faces.....mine included!

The Happy Hearts Quilt Guild in

Salem, Illinois hosted me for my "String Star" workshop.

I! LOVE! THIS! GROUP!

This group of quilters couldn't be nicer, and I have 

thoroughly enjoyed my visits with them

the past couple of years.

There is a fellow "rooster" that quilts in this group!

It was a pleasure meeting you!

What a pleasure it was sharing the joys of string piecing fun

with them........just look!

Yummy recycled shirting strings....

A wonderful workshop venue.....

Show us your strings quilters!

Make a large diamond template from

telephone book pages, and sew down your strings.

Add the strings on one by one.....

Pick a color, any color.....

All different varieties of colors!

Diamonds coming together.......

but, first...........

LUNCH TIME!

What a wonderful array of 

salads and desserts were made!

DELICIOUS!

And then, back to work after lunch......

and before long......

STARS WERE BEING MADE!!!!!

And look at Crystal's........ready for quilting!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE her string pieced

borders, don't you????

AMAZEBALLS job Crystal!

I just can't express how much fun I had with all

of these quilters!

THANK YOU HAPPY HEARTS QUILT GUILD!

  What a wonderful group

you all have there in Salem, IL!

And, I would be remiss if I didn't share this pic I took with Tere.

Tere was instrumental in organizing this workshop.

However, she fell ill right before it, and was unable to make it

to the workshop.  I couldn't leave the area without making

a stop to visit with her!

Thanks Tere, and my prayers are with you for a quick

recovery!

In other news...........

I recently participated in 

Humble Quilts

Doll Quilt Swap.

This is my 4th year to take part in it.

I just finished the doll quilt I made, and it is on

it's way to it's recipient in Oregon.

THIS is the quilt I received from Vicki in Nebraska!

I! LOVE! IT!

Vicki took a personal approach from her home state

and made this "Laws' O' Massey" quilt.

She also included the pattern, a great card, and

some Nebraska fabric to boot!

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU VICKI!

And........you all know.........

Lilly Mae had her first birthday this past week!

It is so hard to believe she is already 1 year old!

She had a wonderful day, starting with a "Puppaccino"

from Starbucks with her sissy Sophia Annabella.

LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL

EYEBALLS!

Needless to say, she thoroughly enjoyed her

birthday cookie and had a great day!

Could that face get any cuter?????

CHICKEN PIC!

Meet Henny Penny!

Henny Penny is a sweet little

White Faced Black Spanish Bantam hen.

She was the tiniest little chick when I got her

and was frightened of EVERYTHING!

Thus, the reason for her name......but,

once she matured, she realized I was a good guy

and will even fly upon my shoulder now when 

I am in the coop with her.

She is such a pretty little bird, and a layer of

little white eggs.

In closing.......

I was able to reconnect with one of my most favorite

flight attendants in the world, Linda.

We hadn't flown together in 10 years!

Life happens!  

It was a joy catching up with her.

I want to thank those of you who individually

contacted me about my well-being

 concerning the recent horrific incident in the air.

I really appreciate your concern, and feel really loved.

Please remember those who were affected by this tragedy.

Until next time,

Thanks for all of the encouragement!

Keep on Quilting!

Kevin the Quilter

Catching you all up.........

Sorry for a by gone week of no blogging.......

Perhaps the following photos will catch you all up to speed?

As I am sure with you all, life can sometimes be quite busy!

Antique Mall Find!

Isn't this fun?

How many of you have one of these?

I was able to spend Easter Sunday with my amazing family!

Easter Service, and then an amazing meal at my sister's home.

I was able to spend Easter night with my parents

and the next morning I woke to this........

My Dad's (almost) world famous Egg Sandwich!

My dad doesn't do a lot of cooking, but, he sure knows 

how to make an excellent egg sandwich!

Eggs compliments of my ladies.

Just ask my growing nephew Lil' Bubs

how good they are!

YUM! YUM!

I had a nice visit with the 

Piece Mill Quilters

in West St. Louis County.

This group is small and exclusive.

What major talents lie within this group!

It was so much fun sharing with them!

Thanks for the invite Candy!

Remember Barb's Churndash swap????

May I introduce to you.......

"The Virgin Churndash"

Named so because I have never before made

a Churndash Quilt, and also for the amount

of muslin used in this quilt!

I was able to use 65 of the 66 blocks received in this amazing

swap!  The 66th block will be used for my label on the back.

Thank to everyone who participated!

It is really great when you have a vision, and it follows through,

And thanks again to Barb for hosting this swap!

I was majorly outside my "comfort zone" using such

large pieces of muslin as the setting for this quilt.

However, it IS scrappy, as there are several different

shades of muslin used.  I know it is hard to tell in the photo.

There is a quilting design planned to use up all of those

open spaces!

And in honor of Barb and her swap.......

She had a wonderful idea in her reply on my last blog post....

A chicken pic in each of my blog posts to introduce the flocks to you!

This is Lex!

Lex is an Old English Blue Bantam rooster.

He is EVERYTHING you want in a good rooster.

He manages his hens and coop so well without

being aggressive toward me.

I love his slate gray coloring, along with his gorgeous

red wattles and comb....and that black beak is to die for!
I actually have a quilt in the works to

honor him and his coloration.

In other chicken news......

Here is a size comparison of two different chickens that

are essentially the same age.... 2-3 weeks old.

On the left is a breed that is new to me......"Sapphire Gem."

On the right is a "Cornish Cross" meat breed chicken.

Isn't it amazing the size comparison?

I stumbled upon 14 of the cornish cross on clearance

and bought them to try them out.  These meat birds will

be ready for harvest in a few short weeks.

I have long wanted to raise my own food, and here is

the chance I was given.

The Sapphire Gem is an Eastern European breed that 

is docile, and lays well.  She will be added to my

laying flock of hens.

Thanks to my friend Mike for modeling the chickens for me! LOL

Springtime is blooming here in Missouri.

It is coming upon a year since the loss of my Gracie Lu.

There are so many memories of her, but, I love this

yard plaque I have to honor her.

Thanks again for all of your support during my season of

loss this time last year.

And........it will soon be Lilly Mae's 1st Birthday!

Oh yes!  She will have a party!

I wish you call could come help celebrate!

I just have to share this picture taken a few days ago

when I was able to take my parents on a road trip

to Mark Twain Lake, here in Missouri.

We had a great day visiting with my Aunt and Uncle

who own a plot near the lake.

Always take time to cherish those you love.

In closing,.......I would like to share a warning with you all.

I was placed on the drug "Lisinopril" a couple of years ago for blood pressure.

My mother had been placed on this same drug, and suffered an allergic

reaction very early on.  Her lip swelled, and she was immediately

taken off of the drug.

While my parents were visiting me here at the Quilt Cave this past week,

I suffered an allergic reaction after 2 years of taking this same drug.

My throat began to swell shut.

All I can say, is I am so thankful my parents were here with me.

I was rushed to the ER and everything is fine now.

I am NOT seeking sympathy here, rather,

I share this for those of you who may be on this same

drug for blood pressure, or diabetes to beware.

I had no warning that this was going to happen.

Through my experience, I hope I am able to keep this

from happening to you.

Take care of yourselves!

I am off to share my "String Star" workshop with the

Happy Hearts Quilt Guild in Salem, Illinois tomorrow!

Thanks for all of the encouragement!

Keep on Quilting!

Kevin the Quilter