Umm...what happened to blogger?

What happened to blogger?
I have been so busy, I haven't even been able to get on here for over a month!
Hopefully I will be able to continue blogging now?
Keep on Quilting!
Kevin the Quilter

Happy Belated Mother's Day.......

Happy belated Mother's Day to all of you who are....

or take the role of Mother in one way or other.

My Mother's Day was spent with my most precious Mama!

So thankful for my wonderful mother, and my

wonderful sister who is also a 

wonderful mother.

It was the first time we were able to be in church

together since the quarantine.

Nothing makes my Momma happier than

having her children and grandchildren in church with her.

Mom won "eldest" mother at church.

And, no, she doesn't care that anyone knows that.

She is beyond happy to be where she is, and

is thankful she can do what she can do

at 79 years of age.

Mom and Dad's pastors are so very nice.

Isn't the orchid beautiful?

Almost as pretty as my Momma!

We all had a nice meal together after church.

Pardon my glazed expression! LOLOLOL

I was delirious with happiness!

The happy recipients of Mother's Day goodies.

It was a big day for my niece, (aka Sugar Doll) also!

We celebrated her college graduation!

She graduated with her 

Bachelor's of Agribusiness:  Animal Science

degree and is headed to the University of Missouri,

College of Veterinarian Medicine.

Lilly Mae is volunteering to be Sugar Doll's first patient

while she is using her brand new stethoscope.

We couldn't be anymore proud of her!

Do you all recognize this girl?

Abby got her summer "do"......

She went in as Abigail the Golden Doodle and came out as

Zsa Zsa the Poodle!

Oh my!  NEVER AGAIN!

I know she is comfortable, but, if a new "do"

can change your attitude.....it certainly has this gal's!

HIGH! MAINTENANCE! LOLOLOLOL

Mother Mabelle is back to her coop doing her

normal chicken duties, like eating bugs

and laying eggs.

Here are the 4 baby chicks she hatched out.

They are thriving.

At this point, I believe 2 are hens, and 2 are roosters.....

to be continued......

Lil' Bubs who is almost as tall as me now has been

incubating his own chicken's eggs.

He has had great success......

a chip off this ole' block! LOLOLOL

I'm really proud of him too!

Well......I thought my Featherweight, Miss Bev, had bit the dust.

Enter my Super hero Dad!

I couldn't get the foot pedal to work at all....

Leave it to my Father, Mr. Fix It........

Miss Bev was up and running in literally 5 minutes!

Sheeeeeesh!  I wish I had inherited some of my dad's 

know how when it comes to fixing things!

And, if this isn't a great site!

Momma is helping me piece a quilt for my sister!

I think it is so special that Mom's hand and name

will be on this quilt!  My sister will be so excited!

You all KNOW I always participate in my friend

Lori's Doll Quilt Swap.

I got this idea from an antique quilt I found on social media.

No name to attribute it to.

Here is a close up of it.

I really enjoyed making this for my swap partner

Pat in Wisconsin.

And, this is the beautiful little quilt I received from

Linda in Virginia.

DELICIOUS!
I love the butterscotch and chocolate colors!

It has already been hung in my home....

right outside the entrance to my studio, next to 

the doll quilt I received from Cecile

last year!

Thanks Lori for hosting another great Doll Quilt Swap!

Linking to:

2020 Humble Quilts Exchange: Linky Party

Thanks for all of your encouragement and support!

Stay safe in these uncertain times!

Keep on Quilting!
Kevin the Quilter

Mother Mabelle Check-in 11

Mother Mabelle Check-in 11

Mother Mabelle hatched out her chicks!

Hatching recap!

Thanks for coming along with me on this journey

during this turbulent time in history!

Keep on Quilting!
Kevin the Quilter

Mother Mabelle Check-in 10

Mother Mabelle Check-in 10

The eggs are hatching!

The eggs are hatching!

2 days earlier than expected!

Mother Mabelle is such a good Mama!

Excuse my shrill voice as I share my excitement

with you all!

I will give everyone an update tomorrow on

how the hatch went!

Keep on Quilting!

Kevin the Quilter

Mother Mabelle Check-in 9

Mother Mabelle Check-in 9

We are getting closer folks!

Thanks for joining me on this journey!

Thanks for all of your encouragement and support!
Keep on Quilting!

Kevin the Quilter

Mother Mabelle Check-in 8

Mother Mabelle Check-in 8

Hey Quilters!
I hope you have been enjoying this departure from the norm?

I try to answer some of the questions that have come in

about eggs.

If you have a question, don't hesitate to ask it!
Less than a week for Mother Mabelle's clutch to hatch!
Thanks for all of your encouragement and support!
Keep on Quilting!
Kevin the Quilter

Mother Mabelle Check-in 7

Mother Mabelle Check-in 7

Mother Mabelle was moved today.

Not that it makes a difference, she is such a committed sitter.

She gets off the nest at night, and gets her a drink, and a bite to eat,

and to relieve herself.

Almost 1 week till the hatch if all goes as planned!

Today I share more about eggs and an update on King Tut.

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

Mother Mabelle Check-in 6

Mother Mabelle Check-in 6

It's been a few days since we last checked in.

Answering some questions about a hen laying eggs today.

If you have questions about eggs, this is the week to ask!

I will try to answer your questions!

Who knew a Mama Hen could stir up such interest?

I hope she is briefly taking your mind off of other things!
Thanks so much for your encouragement and support!
Keep on Quilting!
Kevin the Quilter

Mother Mabelle Check-in 5

Mother Mabelle Check-in 5.

Candling the eggs!

No.........I am NOT turning this into a poultry blog.

I am loving that many of you are fascinated by

my chickens and this bringing forth of new life

during a really trying time.

Enjoy!

Keep on Quilting!
Kevin the Quilter

Mother Mabelle Check-in 4

Mother Mabelle Check-in 4

Hope you all have a blessed day!

Keep on Quilting!
Kevin the Quilter

Mother Mabelle Check-in 3

Check-in 3 with Mother Mabelle.

I am so happy she is bringing some joy

to you all!

Keep on Quilting!
Kevin the Quilter

Mother Mabelle Check In #2

Hey Quilters!

Thanks again for all of your concern and support over yesterday's blog post.

Here is the second installment of check-ins with Mother Mabelle.

If you have any questions, I will try my best to answer them in the video check ins.

Just to give you all a little background.....
I wanted to do something for my quilting friends that would bring joy and something positive during this awkward time in history.  And who doesn't think baby chicks are one of the cutest things ever????  Mother Mabelle is a Black Austrolorp, broody hen that has sat on eggs before and has proven to be a very good sitter when it comes to hatching eggs.  She has even sat the required 28 days and hatched a duck for me......it only takes a chicken 21 days to hatch.  Hopefully you will enjoy these little Check Ins with Mother Mabelle, and it will give you something to smile about?


Mother Mabelle Check In #2

Thanks for all of your encouragement and support!
Stay well and stay safe!
Keep on Quilting!
Kevin the Quilter

Thanks for understanding.......

Hey Quilters..........

What a bizarre time we are living in!

I want to thank those of you who have been checking in on me, and being genuinely concerned about my well being.  I love ya'll!

In brief, I have been working.  The flights are empty, usually 20 passengers or less.
I wear a mask, and try to disinfect everything I will come into contact with on the plane, and
in my hotel room.  I have cut my flying back due to vacation I originally had planned at this time.
As many of you may know, I had trunk shows, lectures, and workshops scheduled throughout Tennessee and North Carolina that were forced to be cancelled.  We will look at rescheduling those if and when we return to a new normal?

I wanted to catch you all up very briefly......

 I am sure we are all sewing more than usual during this quarantine?

I participated in Edyta Sitar's mystery from

Laundry Basket Quilts.

I enjoyed her format of making a different

type of block each day.

She named the quilt, "California."

I worked from my personal scraps.

I still have to add borders to mine.

I am thinking smaller pink inner border,

and larger navy border?

What do you think?

My friend Pam has allowed me to help her organize her

resource center.

Pictured above is a 50 gallon trash can full of various scraps!

I have been organizing a little each day, and am

almost done now.

She is going to be shocked at the variety she has

in her scraps!

This is a lot of fun for me, helping someone realize

their potential through their scraps.

Spring has brought beauty amidst despair.

Abigail Rose turned 1 year old on February 4th!

Can you believe she is already 1 year old???

What a beautiful mess she is!

And, Lilly Mae turned 3 years old on April 16th.

Unbelievable!  She has turned into such a little

love bug despite her rocky start of being a tried

and true booger!

Using up those frozen berries from summer in pies.

This is a blueberry pie......ummm......

no, I haven't stepped on a scale!

  Sadly, we lost my mom's last sister, our beloved

Aunt Flossie Sue in late February.

Her death was not Covid19 related.

Many family members were able to come for the 

funeral before the quarantine began.

Regrettably, my aunt's passing threw my mother into

a depression that affected her mind.

My family was able to get Mom the help she needed,

and I am happy to report, Mom is doing much better now.

My sister and I are doing the very best we can in taking care

of our parents during this time.  I have to say how much

I appreciate my sister.  She has been awesome.

Also, I! MISS! MY! FAMILY!

You all know how close we are, and this 

quarantine is making it hard.

We are obeying social distancing, and using

video calling as much as possible.

On another note.......I pray all of you are staying safe.

If you or anyone you know has suffered a loss at this point in time,

 regardless of the virus, I extend my most heartfelt condolences, and 

pray for you during this time of loss.

I cannot imagine going through a loss, and not being

able to hold a funeral the way you would like to.

I am sure that adds additional pain, and I am just

so sorry.

I am happy I have been able to help many of my

quilting friends in Scrap Club hosted by Kevin the Quilter

by providing eggs.  My ladies are laying up a storm

as they usually do during the Spring.

I wanted to be able to share something POSITIVE

during this time with my quilters in Scrap Club,

and I would like to extend this to all of you here as well.

I have already shared a previous video with them that was 

not recorded, but, it is not too late for you all

to share in the fun.

I have a broody hen that is wanting to hatch out

some eggs, so I gave her some eggs I selected

for egg color and breed for her to sit upon.

So far, so good........but, you never know....

she may change her mind and not sit til

the end.......

Enjoy this first check in with Mother Mabelle below.

Again, I want to thank all of those who have checked in on me.

I promise to get back to blogging more regularly.

Thanks for all of the encouragement!
Stay well, and stay safe!

Keep on Quilting!
Kevin the Quilter

Trying Times.........

Hey Quilting Friends!

2020 has been a monster of a year thus far for me....and we are only 3 months in!
We have recently entered some very trying times.
I want to thank those of you who have personally reached out to me,
checking on my well being.  I am so thankful for you all!
I don't know what I would do without friends like you!
I am safe from the corona virus as of this post.  Air travel is
such a mess right now.  I truly feel it would be in the best interest
of everyone, to discontinue domestic air travel for a short period of time.  Please understand,
that's my opinion.  I promise you all a "ketchup" post as soon as I am able.
Most of my speaking and teaching engagements over the next few months will be cancelled due to the CDC guidelines for social gatherings at this time.  Anything we can
do to curb this virus is a good thing.  I promise we will make up dates as soon as can be determined.
Thanks for your continued patience.  I truly haven't meant to go so long between
posts.  Life happens.  You ALL are so important to me.  I want you all to remain safe and prudent
during these unprecedented times.  And, most of all......
Keep on Quilting!

Love to you all!
Thanks for all of the encouragement!
Kevin the Quilter

Blog Abandonment.......At last, a reference from Kevin the Quilter!

OK......yeah......
It's been quite a while since last I posted here.
I promise you I am not a redneck that leaves his Christmas lights up
all year round.  Now.....if you do that......that's your business......I don't.

When my blogging pal Joy emailed me about abandoning my blog....
well, I suppose that was the jolt I needed to sit down (with what little time I have)
and post something!  Thanks Joy!

Big news!

Come visit me at Quilt Con in Austin!

I will be working in booth 404,

the Homestead Hearth/Sara J Designs booth!

I would love to meet you!

Christmas Recap 

I thank God for my family!

We had a wonderful Christmas together!

These little girls did too!

It wasn't the same without

Sophia opening up her presents this year.

Momma and Daddy are like little kids on Christmas morning!

Sis and her delicious Red Velvet Cake!

I was so happy to be able to visit my Aunt Flossie Sue

in her nursing home.

I gave her this flannel quilt I had made

and she absolutely loved it!

Giving quilts at Christmas time is so joyful.

WORKING WORKING WORKING

As you all know, I take the last part of the year off using my vacation time.

When January rolls around, I am back at it.......but, this year......

after being based in Chicago for 19 years, I changed my base to Denver!

My seniority moved up quite and bit, and I am being reunited with old

flight attendant friends.

 Runway ready.......Airport runway that is.....

 Commuting friends......

Seriously, how could you not like this smiley guy!

I hadn't seen this gal in at least 15 years!

I am surprised we recognized each other!

You never know what you will find when

cleaning the plane..........YUCK!

My friend Sam and I completed another

year of recurrent training.......so we are good

to fly another year now.

On a sad note.....I did lose a very good flight attendant

friend.  Many of my flight attendant friends and I 

attended his services and placed roses on his casket.

So very sad.

February is birthday 

month around here!

Mom got some chocolate covered strawberries

from my friend Mike.  She LOVES these things!

Bubs is 16!

How can that be?

Mom is still 29 and holding......

It's so awesome they share the same birthday!

I can't believe how big he is getting.......he has always

wanted to be as tall as me......and he is almost there!

And Sugar Doll is interviewing at Veterinary Schools!

She has done so well with her studies.

Her birthday is later this month........

Some sewing.......

There has been a lot of hotel sewing for me.....

especially with the piecing of blocks for

Bonnie Hunter's Quiltville Mystery

Frolic!

This was pretty intense piecing.

 Her quilts are always so nice and scrappy!

Catching you all up!

Hope to do a better job blogging!

Thanks for all of your encouragement!

Keep on Quilting!
Kevin the Quilter

Merry Christmas!

Blessed Christmas Greetings

to one and all,

from Kevin the Quilter!

Keep on Quilting in 2020!

My Stop for the Holiday Favorites Blog Hop....

To all Quilters in all corners of the world!

And, a big ole' Merry Christmas from

East Central Missouri in the Heartland

of the United States of America!

Home of Kevin the Quilter,

and the Quilt Cave.

Welcome one and all

to my blog and 

to the final stop,

 my stop,

during the......

Special thanks specifically to my friend Lori of

Humble Quilts for organizing this event,

and to all of the wonderful bloggers

who have contributed

to this

festive read throughout

the Christmas season.

I know I have enjoyed reading each and every blog

post from the following bloggers:

Dec 9- Lori, https://humblequilts.blogspot.com/

Dec 10 Katy, https://katyquilts.net/

Dec 11  Beth, https://lovelaughquilt.blogspot.com/

Dec 12 Diane, https://www.butterflythreadsquilting.com/ 

Dec 13 - Kyle,  http://kyleredente.blogspot.com/

Dec 14  Kelly,  http://pinkadotquilts.blogspot.com/

Dec 15  Juliann, https://chasingstories.wordpress.com/

Dec 16   Sue, https://suehoover.blogspot.com/

Dec 17  Lizzy,  https://gone2thebeach.blogspot.com/

Dec 18 Barb, https://funwithbarbandmary.blogspot.com/

Dec  19 Judy, https://smallquiltsanddollquilts.blogspot.com/

Dec 20-  Kevin, http://kevinthequilter.blogspot.com/

Truthfully, there is nothing I can share

with you all that my fellow bloggers

haven't already shared

in their own

beautiful way.

However, in retrospect,

I have come up with some of my

own personal Holiday Favorites

that I would like to share with you all.

My family has ALWAYS been

close and celebrated Christmas

together.

This photo is of a 2-3 year old

Kevin the Quilter

along with my sis

and my maternal Grandma.

Notice the tinsel tree?

Music has ALWAYS been a huge part

of the Christmas season 

for me and my family.

Listening to old records,

singing in Church,

performing in Christmas plays

and Handel's Messiah,

music is ALWAYS present

during this time of year.

I know several people who don't

like listening to Christmas music

 for various reasons.

As for me, I think it is some of the

happiest, and most beautiful music

ever made.  I would gladly listen to it

at most any point in the year!  LOL

And, my beautiful mother always

sings a song she made up....

"Christmastime is secret time...."

She has sang this to my

family for years, or

any time she goes shopping

or starts wrapping presents.

It's always fun taking my

parents (on the right)

 Christmas shopping.

This year, we ran into

my aunt and uncle

on the left.

Can you believe my

mom and uncle are twins?

As for decorating here at

the Quilt Cave......

I used to be quite elaborate.....

This was at the old house,

circa 2014.

 I still decorate to an extent.

The nativity is a huge part of my

Christmas Celebration.

As far as decorating with quilts....

well, that has been happening

in my family for quite some time.

As most of you know,
I come from a family of quilters.

Giving and receiving quilts at

Christmastime is a part of my heritage.

I received this beautiful quilt for

Christmas when I was

12 years old in 1986 from my

Aunt Mae.  She had a profound influence

upon me in the quilting and cooking

departments.

I certainly didn't receive my "scrappy"

quilt gene from her though and you

can tell that from this gorgeous quilt

above.

"I came from a time when we had to

make due with EVERYTHING,

and if I don't HAVE to now,

Ima notta gonna!" Aunt Mae

She always told me this when

we talked about her quilt

making adventures.

This is the

 guest room at the Quilt Cave.

I love decorating with this quilt

as it reads more "winter" than

Christmas.

Even if a quilt is not necessarily

classified as a "Christmas quilt,"

simply by adding jolly

pillows, and a

jolly pup.....

et voila.......

instant Christmas cheer!

This quilt hung over

the railing

has special meaning

as it is the very first quilt

I ever made for myself!

I used Bonnie Hunter's

"Talkin' Turkey" pattern, and

Bonnie herself signed the label

for me!

Mr. and Mrs. Chicken

keep watch over the

Christmas trees while

sitting atop a piece of an antique

quilt a friend gave to me.

It is sized perfectly for this table.

The sleigh at the bottom

has been used to keep

Christmas cards as

they are received

for many years now.

Vintage Santa salt and pepper

shakers that were my Aunt Mae's,

adorn the table this time of year.

I also love sending and receiving

vintage Christmas cards.

Baking while decorating

and wrapping gifts occur

 this time of year.

This is fresh Apple Danish

made the easy way with

refrigerator crescent rolls

and fresh, homemade

apple butter.

Cooking hearty, savory meals

with rosemary fills the house

with the aroma of hearth

and home.

A quilted tree skirt courtesy

of a good quilting friend

is the perfect finishing touch

for this Christmas tree.

Over sized ornaments

hung on door knobs

dress up even the most

over looked yet regularly

used objects.

Thanks to Cousin Phyllis,

my grandma's treadle sewing

machine is decorated this

Christmas.

(The treadle belonged to my

maternal grandmother who is

pictured with me and my sis

when we were small children above.)

A woolen stocking

atop antique quilts

on a quilt rack proclaims

"Christmas is near!"

Old wreaths hung in place

with twine from hay bales

are in various locations

around the outdoors here

at the Quilt Cave.

As for Christmas Eve....

we must hear Dad read the

true Christmas story to us.

As for Christmas Day....

It is NEVER complete

without a slice of

homemade Red Velvet Cake.

Boxed cake mix will NEVER do!

This is genuine homemade

all the way...usually

by my Sis.

And, Christmas Day

is definitely not

complete without

MY FAMILY!

And, nothing.......

NOTHING...

can ever replace my favorite 

holiday memories I have in my

heart this time of year.

In closing, I would like to share with you

one of my more popular tutorials....... 

"Oh, Christmas Tree"

Mini Quilt

I am going to share the pattern I came up with

for these great little holiday presents.

I hope you enjoy it, and make some for your

friends this Christmas season.

They are quick, easy, AND.....

they use up the smallest of bits in your scraps!

You can create a mini quilt like I have or

you could insert some insulbright to make them into potholders.

There are a ton of different ways to embellish

or display them.

I hope you enjoy this mini tutorial

and whip some up for your quilty friends this

Christmas!

You all KNOW I am NOT high tech!

Fortunately, this little project isn't either.

There is no pdf,

so, just jot down the measurements.

For each "Oh, Christmas Tree"

mini quilt

you will need the following.....

working from your smallest bits of scraps......

For the Christmas tree.....

1: 1.5" square of yellow (star)

1:  1.5" square of brown (trunk)

14: 1.5" squares of green (branches)

For the background.....

I used neutrals, but, you can use any color...

(I probably wouldn't use green though! LOL)

2: 1.5" x 8.5" strips

4:  1.5" x 4" strips

2:  1.5" x 3.5" strips

2:  1.5" x 3" strips

2:  1.5" x 2.5" strips

2:  1.5" x 2" strips

Each tree block will be roughly 

8.5" wide x 8.25" height
before quilting.
Lay out block before assembling. 

Assembly:

These are your top and bottom rows.

2nd row from top.....the star

3rd row

4th row......isn't this fun?

5th row

6th row using up all those bits of green

7th row.....the trunk

You can strip piece 1.5" strips if you would like.

I just enjoyed working from the very

bottom of the scrap chain using 

little bits.

Do what works best for you, but, 

use variety!

Sew strips together in the proper order.

Here I sewed two strips together at a time.....

And before long.......

TAAAAAAA DAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!

A cute litte Christmas tree block you can have fun with.

To finish mine, I cut a 10" square of backing fabric,

and a 10" square of batting

then I stitched in the ditch on each of them.

Squared them up, and then

I used 1: 2.25" strip width of fabric to 

bind each little quilt.

ENJOY!!!!!!

Merry Christmas!
Let me know if you make some!

Thanks for visiting me during the

Holiday Favorites

Blog Hop!

Thanks for all of the encouragement!

Keep on Quilting!

Kevin the Quilter