A new experience.....

Yeah, I know...........it's been a while!

June is flying by me, and so is my vacation!

I have been designing and sewing some memory quilts for my brother-in-law's family.  Sadly, his father passed away in February.  I made sure to mention to my sister that they save all of his shirts so some memory quilts could be made.  Although this process has been humbling, it has also been very inspirational, and as soon as I am done with the two memory quilts I am currently working on, I will be sharing some patterns I have come up with.  

I have been able to visit several quilting friends so far this month, and have enjoyed sharing time with them.  My friend, and AMAZEBALLS quilter, Ann of Attic Threads invited me to attend a St. Louis Modern Quilt Guild meeting.  It was interesting, and there were some folks there I enjoyed meeting.  Please stay tuned to see if I decide to join or not?  I am undecided at this point for a few different reasons.  Perhaps you all could give me some suggestions in my comments on why it is good, or not good to join a quilt guild to help me make my decision?

I was able to share some time with my quilting friend Donna.  You can read about how I met Donna here.  She gave me the coolest sticker!  I wish I had a photo to show you!!!!! OK OK OK OK.......my camera has decided to take out on me!  HORRIBLE TIMING!  My parents 50th Wedding Anniversary is in a short 3 weeks!  YIKES!  Gonna have to get that taken care of!  I can't WAIT to show you the amazing quilting Ann has done on Golden Rings!  

I have done some damage to my bank account RETAIL THERAPY in some quilt stores lately, and I can't wait to show you those items either!  I have also been blessed by the kindness of others in the form of scraps!  My mouth is literally watering thinking of all of the possibilities that can be done with them! 

I would like to share a new experience I recently had, and I DO have the photos to show you!  My quilting friend Bev offered to show me how to use her long arm quilting machine, so I JUMPED at the opportunity!  Perhaps you remember this quilt:

This quilt top was made using Tara Rebman's pattern, "Eating In Bed" found in the premier issue of Modern Quilts Unlimited magazine.

I donated this quilt to Bev's VFW group.  The group then decided to have Bev quilt it, and have a raffle fundraiser with it!  After Bev loaded the quilt, and began quilting, she invited me over to learn a few things.  I have never used a long arm quilting machine other than playing with some at various quilt shows.  It was a very interesting experience and one that made me hunger to learn more!

Here is Kevin the Quilter actually QUILTING!  

Looking rather focused I might add! 

I didn't want to mess anything up!

Bev was so kind and encouraging!

I had an absolute blast and can't WAIT to learn more from her and Ann!

(I am cracking myself up at how stern I REALLY DO look when I am focused on something! LOL)

Truth be told, I didn't do very much quilting at all.  Obviously my quilting looked different than Bev's did, and I didn't want it to effect the overall quilting.  ANYONE, and I do mean ANYONE that doesn't think quilting is an ART FORM...........well, I have one gesture for you, compliments of my father....

 A very happy Father's Day to all you dad's, grandpas, and uncles out there including mine! 

As always,

Thanks for all of the encouragement!

Kevin the Quilter

   

 

This and that.........

It was a lot of fun to participate in my first Blogger's Quilt Festival.  Please visit  THE WINNERS!  I am so impressed by all of the work presented this Spring.  Thanks Amy's Creative Side for hosting such a fun event!  And, THANK YOU to everyone who supported me and voted for my entry!

Here is my month of May in photos!

Mother's Day with my Momma and Sister!
(Sister on left, Momma on right! LOL)

My Sister and Niece's Pop Concert!

Here is my niece's friend (left), and my niece (right) singing a duet!
They sang "Changed" by Rascal Flatts.

They did a really great job, and sis' Pop Concert is always a hit!

(Sorry for the blurry photo!)

Niece's ballet recital.  "Blue Danube"
BEAUTIFUL!

I can't believe her Freshman year of high school is over!
She also just got her driver's permit!
YIKES!

In sewing news, I received this awesome mini quilt by Victoria Findlay Wolfe:

 "Playing With William Tell"
I loved being able to swap quilts with her, and couldn't be happier with this quilt she made me!


And, of course, here is the quilt I made her:

"She's Puttin' On Her Big Girl Panties"
Thank you ALL so much for your kind words regarding her!
I'd also like to thank all of you who voted for her in the Blogger's Quilt Festival!
I'd also like to thank my niece for thinking this was a fancy pot holder!  SHEEEESH!

I completed the "Taking Names" quilt top.

I was also able to complete 3 quilt tops for Quilts of Valor of Eastern Missouri.  I always love donating to QOV, or any other patriotic service organization.  When I was introduced to Dar of:

 Dar's Patchwork Garden 

(please visit her blog)

and realized the organization was in the middle of a quilt drive, I put the gears in motion!  Dar is a lovely gal who does so much good work for Quilts of Valor of Eastern Missouri.  An interesting tid-bit about this particular group is, most of their quilts are hand quilted!  Dar shared with me their need for 100 quilts for a troop that is returning home from Afghanistan this summer.  Come to find out, the troop originates from a town very close to where I grew up.  I was able to put this and that together and came up with these:

3 patriotic pillow cases to hold QOV's

  A wonky log cabin with star borders.  

The background fabric blends right in with my concrete floors  DESIGN WALL!

A patriotic tumbler with star borders.

My quilting friend Bev donated the center of this quilt.

Remember this post?

Here is what became of Lynn's fabrics she donated to me:

A quarter log cabin design that turned out very well if I do say so myself!

I will have enough of this fabric left over to do at least one more QOV.

I was also able to show it to her in person as she had requested.

These photos were taken inside due to the thunderstorms and wet weather we have been experiencing in my neck of the woods.  We have had some pretty bad flooding along the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers.  On a side note, I was working during the horrific tornado in Moore, OK, and actually was flying over it as it happened.  We were diverted thankfully. More recently we had a tornado in the greater St. Louis area.  I am praying for all of the families that lost so much during these monstrous acts of nature. Hopefully, the worst is over.

Genesis 9:11
And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood;
neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.

I am so thankful to be on vacation the entire month of June!  YIPPPEEEEEEEEEE!  And, no, I am not going anywhere! LOL  This flight attendant is staying as far away from an airport or airplane as he can for the next few weeks!

As always,

Thanks for all of the encouragement!

Have a safe summer!

Kevin the Quilter

Blogger's Quilt Festival.......VOTING...........

The voting has begun!

 

Visit the following link to view the various categories! 

 

Blogger's Quilt Festival

 

 

Please consider voting for my entry:

 

 

 

"She's Puttin' On Her Big Girl Panties"

 

# 36 in the

 

Art Quilt Category

 

MANY, MANY THANKS!

 

A special thank you to Teresa of A Quilt And A Prayer for her blogging capabilities in helping me learn how to add the Blogger's Quilt Festival button.  And, best wishes to her and her entries in her respective categories!

 

Blogger's Quilt Festival..........

If you told me 3 years ago I would be an avid quilter, I wouldn't have believed you.

If you told me a year ago I would be blogging, I wouldn't have believed you.

If you told me 6 months ago I would be entering one of my quilts into the Blogger's Quilt Festival......
well, I would have probably laughed in your face......or at least LOL'd you via social media devices!

But, alas, here I am sharing the big news that I am going to enter my latest quilt into the Blogger's Quilt Festival courtesy of Amy's Creative Side.  I admit, I have followed this particular event and oohed and ahhhhhed over the wonderful works of art various quilt bloggers have posted over the past few years.  Hopefully this year, some of you will be oohing and ahhing over my work?  Please feel free to come back, visit, and comment again and again!

I recently was asked by my new found friend, Victoria Findlay Wolfe, to participate in a quilt swap betwixt each other.  There were no specific rules other than the quilt needed to be 12x12 inches.  Any technique, any color, any style of quilt, and any type of quilting.  WOW!  That's dangerous to give me that much leeway!

I wanted the quilt to embody the following for her:
- I wanted to try something new.

- I wanted to incorporate her "made fabric" technique that she inspired me to learn.

- I wanted to make a quilt that had humor in it.

- I wanted it to be thought provoking, and have various meanings.  (i.e title, composition, literal meaning, implied meaning)

- I wanted it to represent some of the work I do with Quilts Of Valor and other donation quilts to veterans.  

So, without further adieu, 

I present to you.................

  "She's Puttin' On Her Big Girl Panties"

Quilt Specifics:

Quilt measures 12"x12"

Techniques used: made fabric, fusible applique, straight line quilting

Quilted by:  Your's truly!

Blogger's Quilt Festival Category:  Art Quilt 

Here's a little peek at the process:

I selected this image and drew a 12"x12" square in which to narrow down my design.

I drew out various design plans.

I made pattern pieces of the layout, and began "making" fabric to fit the specific pattern pieces. 

"In her satin tights, fighting for our rights, and the old red, white, and blue!!!!!!"

After the top was made, I made a decision to piece the back as well. 

Foodie alert!  Quilt sandwich!!!!!!

After appliqueing Wonder Woman's torso, I used my applique foot as a guide to sew straight line quilting throughout the various portions of the quilt. 

 Straight line quilting can provide a great effect and is easy enough for a beginning quilter to do!  

And, the signature!

I hope you enjoyed my process and more so, my entry into the Blogger's Quilt Festival?  I truly enjoyed the process of making this art quilt, and am thrilled with the results.  Perhaps I inspired YOU to make an art quilt of your very own?   Thanks for visiting, and make sure to visit ALL of the eye candy featured in the Blogger's Quilt Festival !

As always,

Thanks for all of the encouragement!

Kevin the Quilter

I'm Taking Names..............and you should too..........

If you are a faithful follower of my blog you may have heard me talking about some exciting things that were in the works?  Remember?  Huh? Huh?  Do ya????

Well, today I will be able to share something that has completely flattered and excited me!  A few weeks back, my blogging friend Kelli at Seriously..I Think It Needs Stitches was pattern testing and swapping blocks for her friend Beth at Quilting Hottie Haven for Eva Paige Quilt Designs.  I LOVED the design, and the blocks Kelli was making and receiving and told her how much I was drawn to the pattern.

Well, low and behold, I received this e-mail:

Hi Kevin,

Kelli told me this morning that you have been asking about the Taking Names pattern I have been working on. I am thrilled to let you know it is finally done and ready, but instead of selling it to you I have a proposition.

Would you be interested in making some blocks, making a whole quilt, setting them however you want, having fun with it, etc and blogging about it for me? Your blog is fun and I’d love to share this pattern with your readers.

Let me know if you are interested!

Beth

REALLY?!?!?!?!?!?!

SERIOUSLY?!?!?!?!?!

OF COURSE I'M INTERESTED!!!!!!!!!!

I did let Beth know I am a newbie blogger, and that I haven't been quilting all that long.  She had absolutely no qualms, and trusted I would make her proud!  I sure HOPE I did as I present to you my Taking Names quilt!  

I first must say, FOR SOME, I believe this pattern is best demonstrated with high contrast colors, but, I decided to experiment a bit in a different way...................

   The PDF pattern.

My YUMMY color scheme!

Lots of strips and triangles!

Triangles are coming together!

Hmmm........I see a hexagon!  

Allow me to interject at this point HOW IMPORTANT it is to FOLLOW the pattern and TRIM!!!!!!!!!!  It truly will save you a lot of frustration un-sewing!   

And, there WILL be lots'o'trimming!

Before long............

you will  have................

are you ready for it????????????

A cool Taking Names Quilt!

Due to time constraints, and work,  I was only able to get a crib quilt top completed.  This quilt will be finished and donated to a worthy cause ASAP! 

I think it turned out really cool and I loved making it!  It looks REALLY modern to me, and it's hard to distinguish a true pattern, which I personally love!  Is it a hexagon?  Are there a lot of diamonds?  Is it triangles?  The blocks (triangles) actually go together fairly quickly, and remember......YOU MUST TRIM! LOL  More photos?  Well.........alrighty then!  

Dizzy and Delicious!

Cool!

Whatta fun quilt to make!

Beth, thank you so much for this wonderful opportunity!  I have loved getting to know you during this process and I hope we will be life-long friends!  I hope I made you proud?  Kelli, thank you so much for referring me to your sassy friend, and inspiring me with the eye candy on your blog!  Have fun at quilt market in Portland and kick some stash and take some names for me!

If you are interested in obtaining this pattern, please visit Beth for the Taking Names pattern!

Happy Mother's Day (week) to my beautiful mother and sister!

Thanks for all of the encouragement!

Kevin the Quilter

AQS Paducah Quilt Show Part 2........

OK guys and gals!  Here it is........the photos you all have been waiting to see!  I will take you through the photos as I went through the show.  I will do my best to give credit to the artist, and give the name of the quilt.  PLEASE share this post with your friends that may not have been able to attend the show.  Make sure to comment at the end and share with us your favorite quilt!  Enjoy the show!  (My apologies for some of the photos being sideways, and or minimally out of focus.  The miniature quilts were behind glass and there was no way to get the lighting out of the shots.)

1st Place Large Wall Quilts - Home Machine Quilted

My Journey to Baltimore 

Lois Podolny, Tucson, AZ

 3rd Place Large Wall Quilts - Home Machine Quilted

Love-In-A-Mist

Liz Jones, Leominster, Herefordshire, UK

 1st Place Large Wall Quilts -Longarm/Midarm Machine Quilted

Poppy's Rainbow

Mark L. Sherman, Coral Springs, FL

 Fall Explosion

Alice Zweck, Mason City, IA

 More Than A Memory

Kathy McNeil, Tulalip, WA

The Piecemaker's Web

Ozark Piecemakers Quilt Guild, Springfield, MO

 1st Place Group Quilts

Friends of Baltimore

Susan H. Garman, Cynthia Clark, Pat Cotter, Jerrianne Evans, Marsha Fuller, and Georgann Wrinkle

Friendswood, TX

 Fractured Star

Linda Bergmann, Elk Grove, CA

APQS Best Longarm/Midarm Machine Workmanship Award

Adventure Awaits

Sue McCarty, Roy UT

 Twenty Twelve

Judith Putnam, Paris, TN

 Janome of America Best of Show

Fiesta Mexico

Renae Haddadin and Karen Kay Buckley, Sandy, UT

View of Fiesta Mexico from back.

 AQS Best Hand Workmanship

The Charm of Small Pink Roses

Keiko Minami, Kawanishi-shi, Japan

 Spring Gift

Junko Suzuki, Yokohama-shi, Tokyo, Japan

 With Love in the Cut Glass

Chiyoko Saijo, Ebina-shi, Kanagawa, Japan

 1st Place Bed Quilts, Home Machine Quilted

Tequila Sunrise

Jean Lohmar, Galesburg, IL

 3rd Place Bed Quilts, Home Machine Quilted

Knots of Flowers

Marilyn R. Eparvier, Byron City, MI

 1st Place Bed Quilts - 1st Entry in an AQS Paducah Contest

Heartburst

Karen Mommsen, Rice Lake WI

 1st Place Bed Quilts - Longarm/Midarm Machine Quilted

Timeless Elegance

Sharyl L. Schlieckau, Loganville, WI

 1st Place Bed Quilts - Hand Quilted

Jacobean Dream

Linda M. Roy, Knoxville, TN

 Moda Fabrics Best Wall Quilt

Charm School

Janet Stone, Overland Park, KS

 Brother International Best Wall Machine Workmanship Award

Larry

Jennifer Day, Santa Fe, NM

 Handi Quilter Best Wall Longarm/Midarm Machine Workmanship Award

Purple Iris

Monica Troy, Lemont, IL

 1st Place Small Wall Quilts, Pictorial

God's Greatest Gift To Me Was Dad

Cindy Garcia, Racine, WI

 2nd Place Small Wall Quilts, Pictorial

Boy And His Best Friend

Jennifer Day, Santa Fe, NM

 Magic Carpet Ride

Cynthia L. Vogt, Kennewick, WA

 OverJOYed

Flora Joy, Johnson City, TN

 Recollections of  My Teacher

Masako Kiya, Nerima-ku, Tokyo, Japan

 1st Place Small Wall Quilts - Home Machine Quilted

Grandma's Stellar Array

Ann L. Petersen, Surprise, AZ

 Tumbleweeds

Jan Soules, Elk Grove, CA

 Gee's Ocean

Judith Putnamn, Paris, TN

 Lifelines III:  Can Something Come From Nothing?

Ricky Tims, La Veta, CO

 Windmills

Marcia DeCamp, Palmyra, NY

 Point Me In The Right Direction

Ann McNew, Winfield, MO

(This is my good friend and long arm quilter's entry!)

 Red Licorice

Linda McGibbon, Beaverton, MI

 Judges' Recognition

Monet in Pasadena

Melinda Bula, El Dorado Hills, CA

 1st Place Small Wall Quilts - Longarm/Midarm Machine Quilted

Imperial Blooms

Diana Trato, Yuba City, CA

 1st Place Small Wall Quilts, 1st Entry in an AQS Paducah Contest

Oklahoma Windsong

Cherrie Hampton, Oklahoma City, OK

 3rd Place Small Wall Quilts, 1st Entry in an AQS Paducah Contest

Melon Melange

Leona Harden, Lilburn, GA

 2nd Place Small Wall Quilts, 1st Entry in an AQS Paducah Contest

Sunshine

Pam McIntyre, Gainesville, FL

 Positive Energy

Karen Eckmeier, Kent, CT

 A Sanctuary for Special Chickens

Kat Marie Fick & Joyce Puffinbarger, Almo, KY

 Judges' Recognition

Fantasyland

Sheila Frampton-Cooper, Van Nuys, CA

 Blue Crystal

Michiyo Fukumoto, Tokushima, Japan

 Autumn in the City

Christina Larsson, Lidingo, Sweden

 1st Place Small Wall Quilts - Hand Quilted

Baltimore Baskets

Frances Yoder, Whispering Pines, NC

 3rd Place Small Wall Quilts - Hand Quilted

Little Puzzling

Diane Lane, Wichita, KS

 The Whereabouts of a Flower

Hisako Naito, Tokushima City, Japan

 Rose Garden

Tadako Nagasawa, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Japan

 Special Exhibit

Inspired by Egypt

 Triangle Charme Quilt

Atsuko Umeki, Kitahiroshima, Hokkaido, Japan

 2nd Place Miniature Quilts

Home At Last

Kaye Koler, Amherst, OH

 1st Place Miniature Quilts

In Flanders Fields

Robin Gausebeck, Rockford, IL

 Lepidopteran #3

Caryl Bryer Fallert-Gentry, Paducah, KY

Kaffe and Karen Take Sue to New York

Jenny Chiovaro, Bacliff, TX

I realize I am missing some categories, but, I have to be honest, I was completely overwhelmed by the quality and beauty of the quilts in the show.  I did get the majority of the winners for you all to see though.  And, just so everyone knows, there was no signage about no photos being taken.  I don't want to break the law, or step on any one's toes! LOL  I hope you enjoyed the photos, and I can't wait to share with you some projects I have been working on.  Stay tuned for those next time!

As always, 

Thanks for all of the encouragement!

Kevin the Quilter