Monday, October 26, 2015

Photos as of late.......

My apologies to those who have messaged me, and haven't received a reply from me yet!

I am in a backlog, and you can only guess the reason why.........

This move has consumed my life!!!!

Although I am very happy that I sold my home, it encourages my thinking that my next home will be my last.  Moving has not been my favorite activity, and it has taken up a lot of my free time.  Not one stitch has been sewn in a couple of weeks!  YIKES!  That is except sewing bindings and labels. As I am preparing for some Quilts of Valor presentations in Kansas City next month.......

I had a dream the other night that I was getting ready to present the Quilts of Valor, and I had left home without them 4 hours away........I was frantic when I awoke.......thank God it was only a dream! This pretty much is the story of my life these days.........living in a home where everything is gone, and trying to find it in the other place I am moving to during my transition.

However, I would like to share some photos that have been taken lately.......
from other people's phones first........



 Is this not hilarious?
My friend Debby came into Osewpersonal one day last week, and brought me  
"MUNCH!"
Debby is a super talented sewer, and she had brought in a shop sample
that I started playing with, and I said it would make a good pillow......
Well.......here she came in the next day with "MUNCH!"
Thanks Debby!!!!!
Munch is going to be my mascot now! LOL

My friend Danielle brought to my attention she had taken this photo.....
#kevinthequiltersgroupies
LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL
These gals are true friends at the shop.....
I love when they come in to visit with me!
I couldn't help but crack up when Danielle shared this with me though!

My mother's family reunion was held last week...here are a few photos
I took at it........

It's hard to believe my mom only has 3 siblings left.
There were 12 children in her family.

Better watch out what these guys have to say!
You will definitely get an ear full!

My cousin Kim with my  beautiful momma.

My beautiful cousin Carrie and me.

This little guy is such a love bug hanging onto my momma!
This is Victor, Carrie's little boy.

Me and my sis.

Here's my family!
Hey look!  We are all actually smiling!

And look who it is!!!!
Cousin Phyllis!!!!!
And guess what she was blessed to receive?????

Holy camoly!  What a great Craigslist find!!!!
A White Singer Featherweight!
Phyllis is smitten and in love!
She has named her June in honor of her mother.
Congrats Phyllis on such a wonderful acquisition!
I can't wait to sew along with you and June soon!

After the reunion, I drove my mom and dad back home with me
so they could help me with some things around the house......


Here dad is getting some work done.............


IN MY CHICKEN COOP!
Can you believe it?  My dad is 75 years old, and I came in the back yard to find
him inside the coop!  We had to detach this section in order to move it......
I surely hope I am limber enough to do things like this when I am 75!!!!
I love my family! 

Well, folks, I am about to embark on the next chapter of my life......
I am almost done with my move, and the closing for this house is scheduled for Nov 5th.....
I am READY to have some fun with friends in Houston at the International Quilt Festival!
Please come speak to me if you see me there!
Thanks for all of the encouragement!
Kevin the Quilter

 

Thursday, October 15, 2015

Movin' out......



What do you all think of this photo?
Aside from "salida" which means "exit" coming out the side of my head......

A flight attendant friend took this photo for me before our day started, mainly because she was in disbelief that I travel with a sewing machine.  But, I kind of liked it, and it sums up....well, most of my life!  And for those of you who are going to ask, "Can you use your sewing machine while flying?"......the answer is: OF COURSE NOT!  First off, I would be fired for doing things other than my normal flight attendant duties, and second, there are no power sources aboard our aircraft that would allow me to plug in Miss Bev.

I have to apologize here...........

I know it has been over a week since my last post, but......

After you see some of the following photos in this post, hopefully, you will forgive me..........

I HAVE BEEN BUSY PURGING!

Lord have mercy!  I never realized I had kept so much stuff throughout my life!

My first adventure in garment sewing thanks to Home Economics........
Circa 1987
Notice the animals going the wrong way?

My first temporary tags and brochure from my first brand new car....
Circa 1995
I always thought I would keep this first new car forever.......it didn't happen.

 Love letters from my high school girlfriend Leah, who lived 2 hours from me.
Circa 1990-1992
Really?

Notes passed in the hall during Middle School!?!?!?!
Circa 1985-1988
Ummm....I really don't care if Missy and Chuck made bad grades on 
their earth science tests anymore?

Quilting Design Doodling in Chemistry Class
Circa 1990
Even then I was thinking of textures!

Am I a sentimental sap or what????
It actually has felt really good purging a lot of this stuff during my move.
I have kept a handful of goodies that my niece and nephew can
throw in the trash pile after I am gone, but, hopefully they will at least
get a good chuckle out of them?


I have been blessed by some very good friends to have a 
"home in transition" until I find my next house.
You know who you are, and I am beyond thankful for all of the kindnesses
you have bestowed upon me!


In the meantime........

Many thanks to my friends Bev and Joanie who made a ton of binding from 3 donated jelly rolls
from the QOV block drive.......these will be used up in no time...

because.....

Quilts of Valor are being quilted and completed for the upcoming presentations in Kansas City!

Remember......
November 12th

in the morning,

and the

in the evening.


Clue #4 has come out for my friend Ann's

Mystery Quilt

I plugged away on this clue while laying over in Boston last week.

In between packing and moving, I needed a couple hour break one day to regroup.
I found a new to me antique mall, and I felt as though I 
was being given a helping hand.....or hands.....





Throw your hands up in the air!!!!
Well, better not throw these hands in the air!!!!
They may break!

Other sites I saw at the antique mall.....


 Not sure if these are actually "madder red" prints, but, that is what was 
advertised on this quilt top.


Humming birds are making a comeback!

This quilt was visually stunning!
I loved the colors and make-do attitude of it, but, 
at almost $200, it was way out of budget for me.
Sorry it is so out of focus!

However.....

This handy dandy travel iron DID come home with me!
It works beautifully!
I thought of you Randy!  LOL
It is perfect for taking along with me when I travel!

Friends, Family, and Quilters........
This blog may be a little bare over the next few weeks as my move is going to take up a lot of my time.  Please don't leave me!  I must be out of this house by November 5th.  I am also going to the International Quilt Festival in Houston Oct 28th - Nov 1st.  I hope to see many of you there?  If by chance you are there, and you recognize me.....don't hesitate to come introduce yourself to me!

As always,
Thanks for ALL of the encouragement!
Kevin the Quilter

Sunday, October 4, 2015

Whole Lotta Packin' Goin' On............

Hey everyone out there in blogland!

Hope your October is off to a very good start!

I am still on my high from last week with Bonnie Hunter of Quiltville!
It is hard to believe the time has come and gone, and a week has already past!

As many of you probably noticed from my last post,

MY HOUSE IS UNDER CONTRACT FOR SALE!!!!!

All of the major inspections have passed, and now I am just waiting for the appraisal to come through on the buyer's end.  And, a closing date in early November is planned.  I know all of you are completely baffled as to where I will be going, or what I will be doing?  I AM TOO!  But, never fear, plans are in the works for a place for me to stay during my transition.  I AM NOT, and WILL NOT rush into anything that doesn't feel right.  I do have a home in mind, I just want to get it for the right price, and if that doesn't happen, so be it.  My home is waiting for me somewhere out there.  Thanks for all of your support and kind messages regarding this transition! 

In the meantime......a whole lotta packin's goin' on!
I have really wanted this move for a while now.  Many people have asked me
if I am sad about this, since I had this home built, and my family helped
me make it a home.  My answer is.......no.
I am looking forward to my next chapter in life, and it includes a bigger
and better home with some of the amenities I don't have here.
LAND!
A COMPLETED SEWING STUDIO!
LAND!
ANIMALS!
LAND!
A BIGGER KITCHEN WHERE I CAN COOK FOR THE MASSES!
LAND!

Get the picture??

So, in the midst of this move, I am gearing up for a HUGE 
QUILTS OF VALOR 
presentation in Kansas City, Missouri!
I am REALLY looking forward to this engagement on November 12th!
I will be presenting to the 
in the morning,

and the

in the evening.

OHHHHHH!!!!!  WE ARE GONNA HAVE SO MUCH FUN!

Thanks to my friends, Kelly, Kim, Lou, Darlynn, and Ann I am getting several of the Quilts of Valor quilted from our very successful block drive I hosted on the blog last year!
I truly can't thank you quilters enough for your willingness to support our Veterans!
And thanks to all of you quilters out there that participated and sent in blocks for 
the block drive!





During last week's event with Bonnie, I was contacted via Facebook by someone
from my past!  Little did I know, a former substitute teacher I had in high school
would be a part of getting quilts done from this block drive!  She is a Bonniac too!!!!
Portia, thank you so much for volunteering to help out with the quilting of these quilts,
and thanks to your friend Pat also!  How cool is that????


And, while I was going through things, I ran across a pile of neutrals that needed taming!
These are going into Bonnie's Leader & Ender Challenge!




And I leave you with this........

I "Peanutized" myself thanks to my friend Barb of Fun with Barb!
I cracked up when I saw her version, it was too stinkin' cute!
You can "Peanutize" yourself  HERE.

Happy Fall Ya'll!
I will keep you all updated on my move!
Thanks for all of the encouragement!
Kevin the Quilter