Ties, Needle & Thread Guild among other things..........

As promised, here are a few photos from the wonderful time I had with the Ties, Needle & Thread Guild in Glen Carbon, Illinois.  I had a wonderful time sharing my passion of quilting with this guild, and it was so nice meeting the people there!

I have lots of things to share in the back seat!

I was able to meet Heather of Peachy Pages !

Heather was so instrumental in helping me understand some items

about blogging when I first started.

It was WONDERFUL meeting you Heather!

(Heather, did you notice I didn't post the "funny" photos???? LOLOL)

And it was a pleasure meeting Judy!

Judy is the gal who made SOOOOOO many pillow cases for 

the Quilts of Valor block drive quilts from last year!

She contacted me before the meeting, and I asked her to make sure

to introduce herself to me!

Thanks again Judy for everything!

Many, many, many thanks to Marilyn and the Ties, Needle & Thread Guild for inviting me to speak!

I thoroughly enjoyed sharing with your guild!

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

I have been having SOOOOO MUCH.....

FUN WITH BARB !!!

It's been great being able to play with these modern fabrics I don't normally get to work with!

My bow tie blocks for her block swap are almost done!

HOORAY!

This layer cake is being turned into........

This easy peasy Double Slice Layer Cake Quilt

I made this quilt using the following tutorial from the Missouri Star Quilt Company..... 

This is my go to quilt when I need an easy gift, or to use up 

a layer cake....or just need to sew something!

And this was happening on the plane this past week!

This serving tray has never looked better! LOL

De-papering all of the half-square triangle units from clue #2 for...

Look Kevin! I Can Do Scrappy!

Mystery Quilt hosted by my friend Ann of 

Attic Threads & Quilts

Here is a little teaser for you all..........

Hmmm........I wonder what I am doing with all of these Kaffe prints....

along with a little Brandon Mabley thrown in there?????

Here's hoping you are enjoying this time of year!

Thanks for all of the encouragement!

Kevin the Quilter

Pets on Quilts...........

If you have read my blog for any length of time, you know I am crazy about my babies.

(They don't know they are of the canine or feline persuasion........so PLEASE don't tell them that!)

You also may be a fan of  Lily Pad Quilting and have seen the 

Pets on Quilts Show ?

Well, I would be remiss if I didn't share one of my most favorite photos of Sophia Annabella on some of the Quilts of Valor we ALL were able to make from last year's QOV block drive I hosted.

So, here is my entry in the "Dog or Pup on Quilt" category to the 

2015 Pets on Quilts Show

Here Sophia proudly protects the Quilts of Valor we all worked hard to make.

She also salutes all of the veterans who have helped shape our great nation.

THANK YOU to ALL VETERANS!

What about Gracie Lu and Valentino?

Well, they get a little camera shy at times.

Sophia is the model of my little herd.

Please go to: THIS LINK

to see all of the entries in this year's show.

You may even like to add your own entry?

I have to tell you all, I had a WONDERFUL time in Glen Carbon, IL with the Ties, Needle & Thread guild!  You can read more about that visit in an upcoming post!  

Thanks for visiting!
Thanks for all of the encouragement!

Kevin the Quilter

I'm having fun..........

I'm having some fun here folks...........


First...........

Don't forget my trunk show and lecture at the Ties, Needle, & Thread Quilt Guild in Glen Carbon, Illinois on August 18th.  E-mail me for time and venue.  I can't wait to meet the members, and talk about my passion for all aspects of quilting.

Second..........

I am going to really have some

Fun with Barb !!!!!

Did you all hear the news?

My blogging friend, Barb, is hosting her much anticipated block swap!

This will be the FIRST time I have ever participated in one, and I am 

very excited about it!  For more details, visit:

BLOCK SWAP 2015

There are still a limited number of spaces available!

I just had to get started on it!

These blocks are SOOOOOOO fun to make!

There are still a limited number of spaces available!

Come join the fun!

Another fun dress to make for the dress drive for Bolivia!

Dresses for Bolivia

hosted by Lori at Humble Quilts.

It has also been fun going through my 2.5" strips for 

Bonnie's "My Blue Heaven" class coming up in September!

I can hardly wait for this as you all know!

I have opted to not make a blue quilt.......details after the class!

And, can you see the look on these girls faces?

Yeah, they are mocking me because I gave the SAME exact look when these

3 bags of scraps were given to me by Kelly at O'Sewpersonal!!!

The scraps were left at the shop by a very talented sewer!

I will give proper credit when I have permission from her.

Lot's of goodies in these bags!

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

And believe it or not............

I even had fun at work last week!

How could I NOT when I was flying with these fun gals!

Work truly isn't work when you fly with a fun crew!

And, I was overjoyed when I ran into my long time Captain friend Linda!

We used to commute together out of St. Louis all of the time, but, she moved

to Florida after her daughter graduated high school.

It was wonderful being able to reconnect with her.

Whatever you are doing this week, I sure hope you are having fun!

Thanks for all of the encouragement!

Kevin the Quilter

Blow me over........

 Yeah, well......

You could have BLOWN ME OVER........

When my friend Bev came to see me while I was working at O'Sewpersonal this past week!

Bev with her QUILTED "Talkin' Turkey!"

Really?

She definitely surprised me with this!

Well, guess who got HIS "Talkin' Turkey" on the frame ready for quilting?????

I can't wait to have this one done!

After the quilt top was loaded, Bev started reminiscing about several of the green scraps

I used.  Many of them came from her!

Scrap quilts definitely do tell a story of our lives!

I have been cutting 10" squares out of patriotic fabrics for a service project.

The group I belong to, Perky Piecers, is making honor flight quilts for veterans.

Have you all heard about the 

Dresses for Bolivia

project my blogging friend Lori at 

Humble Quilts

is hosting?

Never in a million years did I think I would be making little dresses for little girls.

But, I have to say,blogging friends really do push you to do things you 

never thought you would?  Plus, the fact I really admire Lori for her 

humanitarian efforts through the mission trips she has made.

These little dresses are SUPER DUPER easy to make.

You could have blown me over again after I made the first one

and realized how simple they are to make!

My personal goal is to send 10 dresses to Lori.

I used 

THIS TUTORIAL

to make all of these dresses.

It has been the perfect opportunity to use up some large scale print fabrics

that don't play well in quilts.  At least not in the quilts I make. ;-)

I timed myself, and I can make one of these dresses in around an hour.

I challenge you all to please take an hour of your time and help

a little girl in Bolivia.

Please go to Dresses for Bolivia for more information.

Here's hoping you have a great week sewing something!

Thanks for all of the encouragement!

Kevin the Quilter

August....a month of celebrations.....

First things first.........

TA-DAH!!!!!!!!!!
What a celebration....literally and physically!

"Talkin' Turkey" is finally a completed top!

From start to finish of the quilt top, it took about 3 months with stops and starts.
Now to quilt it, bind it, and get it all ready for Bonnie Hunter's visit in September!
That will be a celebration getting to visit with Bonnie!

And my friend Bev finished her version as well!
You should have seen her happy dance when she finished this quilt top!
We are so excited to be able to share these quilts with Bonnie in person!
As Bev said, this is a lifetime achievement quilt to piece! LOL
CELEBRATE!


For those of you in the St. Louis area who are interested...
I will be doing a trunk show/lecture at the Ties, Needles, and Thread Guild in
the Metro East on August 18th.  If you are nearby and interested in
attending, please drop me a line on the blog or e-mail via the blog
and I will provide you with the information.
I am really looking forward to meeting with this guild!
Thanks for the invite Marilyn!

I was recently acquainted with these lovely ladies.
"The Louisville Ladies" from Louisville, KY!
We had a great time visiting at O'Sewpersonal.
They were celebrating a road trip doing the "Row by Row" Experience.
Many of them are "Bonniacs" as well!
Thanks for stopping by to visit and shop ladies!

As many of you know, August is the time to get things ready for the kiddos to head back to school. Many parents celebrate this.........I digress......

The beginning of August is also a celebration of birthdays around here!

Look who turned 9 years old?!?!?!?!
My beautiful little Sophia Annabella!
She celebrated with a delicious cookie from Treats Unleashed.
(Her name got somewhat smooshed on the cookie, but,
she had no problems eating it!)

And the whole family (minus my brother in law due to work)
was here to celebrate my dad's 75th birthday!
I am so proud to call this man my dad!
He certainly doesn't look NOR act his age!
God blessed me with a wonderful family!


We had a GREAT visit!

I recently had my bathroom floors tiled, and needed the bottom of my doors trimmed.
My dad can do just about anything.......seriously!
The house is going on the market soon!
Many of my blogging friends, and neighbors are selling their homes.
Now is the time for me to do this as well.
Not sure where I will end up right now, but, I am not going to rush into anything.

I took my beautiful momma "glopping" while the family was here...........

Oh,......glopping???????  You don't know what that means?????

Glopping = Glamorous Shopping!!!
I love taking her shopping......she just loves to!
Even though I try to dress her up like this.....she just keeps on looking at things!

It has become a tradition to play Scrabble on my great aunt's vintage
Scrabble board while the family visits.....
I usually win...........NOT THIS TIME!
Who in the world draws 5 E's??????
Evidently, I DO!!!! LOL

And, to end a day, sis, the kids, and myself took a long walk
along the Mississippi River.
I love this photo!

Here's hoping your August starts off with a celebration or two!

Thanks for all of the encouragement!

Kevin the Quilter

This week in photos......

Hey Everybody!

Here are some photos from this past week I thought you all may like to see?

My flight attendant work week took me to various locations across the U.S.

SHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!
LOL

Don't tell the passengers I work on quilt stuff while they are asleep!

Seriously, it is RARE to find an open row of seats on the plane these days.
This was a SUPER light flight with some very content and sleepy passengers.
These are some paper foundation string pieced borders for "Talkin' Turkey"
I was de-papering.

Piecing the geese together for the border.

Getting closer to finishing the "Talkin' Turkey" quilt top!

My friend Bev and I have vowed to keep on each other so we 

will have FINISHED "Talkin' Turkey" quilts to show together

when Bonnie Hunter comes to visit in September!

Bev has also allowed me to practice long arm quilting using a pantograph

on her beloved "Miss Thang!"

Remember last week I told you all about my friend Ann 

hosting a mystery quilt named in my honor?

This quilt is jelly roll friendly, but, I used scraps.

I decided I would use my niece's high school colors

and make this for her high school graduation next spring.

Here is the entire quilt cut out.

For more information on the

"Look Kevin, I Can Do Scrappy" mystery quilt

please click: HERE!

Another quilt shop friend brought me scraps!

Chris came in for a visit, and she said, "Here's this junk I promised you."

LOLOLOLOLOLOL
This is definitely NOT junk!

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! Chris!

While rifling through gadgets and gizmos I have collected,

I ran across this template I used to make my parent's 50th Wedding Anniversary Quilt.

"Golden Rings"

I will NOW be using this template to participate with Bonnie in this year's 

Leaders and Enders challenge at Quiltville!

I thought I would share with you all this afghan I crocheted for

ME!!!!!

One of the first things I ever made for myself!

Imagine that! LOLOLOLOLOLOL

I really love the size of it, and it looks great in my living room.

My friend Loretta of 

365 Days & Other Ramblings

sent me this photo on Facebook!

I really, REALLY need to get this t-shirt! LOLOLOL

What have you been working on lately?

Thanks for all of the encouragement!

Kevin the Quilter

Planting seeds.......

Planting seeds...........

Yeah, I know it is way past planting season here in Missouri........

But, it is NEVER too late to inspire others....

Help them uncover their potential.....

Allow them to discover their creativity.......

Plant seeds of creativity in others!

This time last year, the QOV Block Drive I hosted had ended, and the blocks acquired from it were being turned into quilts.  I am happy to say we are still quilting away here on those tops, and we have awarded so many quilts to deserving veterans.  I originally drafted the block drive so I could share with you all in the joy of presenting QOV's made by YOU!  The first quilts were to be presented at the River Heritage Quilt Guild at my first speaking engagement.

Thanks to all of you who donated blocks, through those presentations last year, seeds of inspiration were planted with members of the River Heritage Quilt Guild to make their OWN quilts to present this year!  How marvelous is this?  I am so proud of these quilters to do this I am absolutely busting my buttons!  From what I understand, they want to make this an annual event for their guild now!  WONDERFUL!  Many thanks to my friend Donna who shared this photo with me!  Your guild's QOVs are BEAUTIFUL!



Many of my long time blog readers know that my nephew, Curtis, (AKA Lil' Bubs) has expressed interest in sewing and quilting like his Uncle Kevin.  Recently, I was able to plant seeds of inspiration in him in various ways.....

Although it is hard for my sister to let go, she agreed to let Curtis stay with me for a few days.

While he visited, we were able to do a few things.......

I was able to take him to the 

Missouri Civil War Museum.

Curtis is a history buff, and enjoyed learning about

the Civil War in Missouri.

The museum is located at 

Jefferson Barracks National Cemetary.

Lil' Bubs was pretty much in awe  while viewing all of the 

soldier's graves.

I was able to introduce him to my award winning quilting friend Ann of

Attic Threads & Quilts, where he got to play with one of her long arm

quilting machines.  Thanks so much Ann for this wonderful opportunity!

Ann is hosting a mystery quilt named in my honor right now! LOL

I AM honored Ann!

Head over to her blog for the first clue and join in!

So, Bubs decided he wanted to make something while he was visiting me.........

Can I tell you all how much it makes my heart sing when he asks to sew something?

Planting seeds of creativity.......

Here he is using his Great Grandmother's Spartan sewing machine that 

I do all of my piecing on.

If MeeMaw could only be here to see him using it!

Curtis did an amazing job using the machine.

What did he make, you ask?????

This amazeballs pillow case!

He chose the fabrics, and did everything himself except some of the cutting.

He LOVES to hunt, and he said these fabrics were perfect for him!

I have to agree!

Dar.....if ever you need help making pillow cases.....Curtis is your man!

Curtis' ambition is to live in Alaska and be a conservationist!

He said he will take this pillow case with him when he goes!

But, for now, he will have to use it here......

it seems to be working out well for him.....

don't you think????? LOL

In other news........

My friend Lou gave the members of Perky Piecer's Quilt Guild

a tutorial on how to make these place mats.

There were many different fabrics used from Christmas to Thanksgiving.

All I have left to do on mine is bind them and I will show photos here on the blog.

Great job Lou!

My friend Vernie gave me these GORGEOUS blackberries!

The rains have really helped the berries this year.

These were turned into..................

this blackberry cobbler!

One of my summertime favorites!

I guess the duckies even need to refuel from time to time?

This was too funny at the gas station the other day!

Thanks for all of the encouragement!

Continue to plant seeds!

Kevin the Quilter