TA-DAH..................

Well, folks, it's time..............





Time for the big reveal.........................





What is it going to be???????????????????????





HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM??????????








This weeks installment on my blog will reveal........................

my parent's golden anniversary double wedding ring quilt!

Sorry to those of you who may have thought I know of a way to make millions.  But, I do have to admit something.  When it comes to parents, I hit the jackpot!  I have been blessed with two of the most loving, caring, nurturing, encouraging, AMAZE-BALLS parents in the world!  This quilt top is not perfect, neither am I.  But, I know my parents will love it regardless of it's flaws, just as they love me, regardless of mine.  It truly has been a labor of love.  I cannot wait for my quilter, Ann, to work her "mad skills" on it.  

More photos?  Did someone say they wanted to see more photos?????

Well, alrighty then!

TA-DAH!!!!!!!

Bum-bum-ba-BUM!!!!!

(Imagine trumpets playing a fanfare!)

(Insert Olympic theme music)....this was truly a marathon quilt making session!

What am I calling it?  I never thought I would be naming quilts, but, alas, I shall!  I will call this quilt.........

"GOLDEN RINGS"

Yeah, I know, I know, very original.  Well, there are a few reasons I am calling it this, not only for the obvious reasons.  Mom and Dad's wedding rings are both golden.  It IS after all, my parent's Golden Anniversary for which I made this quilt.  And, I love the song "Golden Ring" by George Jones, and Tammy Wynette.   (Even though the song does NOT depict my parents nuptials!)  (I can't help that I am a little bit country!)

A song?  Did someone want to hear the song?

I love classic country music!  OH!  Hey! I DID reveal something about myself!

It's been a long work week for me.  Six days of flying, and I am so ready to enjoy being home for a few days.  I have some Quilt of Valor projects I am working on.  And.................

 this box of goodies from Alycia were waiting for me when I got home!

Thanks again Alycia for my little get away last week, AND for this box of scraps!  I really, really appreciate it!  You will be seeing these again in some kind of quilt, sometime soon!

Don't forget to visit Alycia's blog for the QOV block drive she is hosting!

http://www.alyciaquilts.blogspot.com/2013/01/a-qov-block-drive.html

I love hearing from you all!

Thanks for all of the encouragement!  

Kevin the Quilter

A nice little getaway......

I hope you all have had a great week since last I posted?  OK, a week and two days!  I have a good reason for it though........I didn't "Breakaway" like Kelly Clarkson suggests in her song, but, I did GETAWAY!

It all started EARLY Saturday morning in St. Louis, Missouri......

I got on a plane, and when I landed......

.....this was my view in Denver, Colorado! When I see mountains like these, I just want to start singing "AMERICA, the Beautiful!"

For those of you who don't know, I have been a flight attendant for 12 years, and from time to time take advantage of my travel benefits when I am not working.  I had the wonderful opportunity of attending the International Quilt Show in Houston last fall, and was able to meet some wonderful people there.  One of the amazing people I met was..................

Alycia of http://www.alyciaquilts.blogspot.com/

(By the way, did you know the "i" is silent in her name?)

Have you ever met someone and became instant friends?  Someone that "gets it?"  And what I mean by that is someone that isn't pretentious, has some common sense, and is an incredible human being?  Well, that's the way I felt about Alycia.  Also, being a guy that quilts, I get my fair share of sneers from other quilters, and quilt shop owners and employees.......no sneering from Alycia!  I have followed her blog for quite some time, and am always in amazement of the wonderful work she does for Quilts of Valor.  Truly, she is an angel on earth!

Anywho, we established rapport, and a few weeks back, she invited me to play with her in her scraps.  The goal?  Make a starting point for Bonnie Hunter's scrap user's system.  Alycia has been blessed by the goodness (scraps) of others, and was wanting to organize some of them into Bonnie's method.  I "flew" at the chance to help!  

At this point, let me remark that Alycia has an AMAZING family.  Her husband Kelly couldn't have been more hospitable during my day long visit.  He's a pretty dog gone good cookin' cowboy too!  And her three sons are some of the nicest, well-mannered young men I have ever met.

(I HAD to visit the horses while I was there!)

Alycia and I were able to work most of Saturday cutting her scraps into strips.  We talked, laughed, shared ideas and projects, and..................

       by the end of the day we had probably cut about 40 yards of fabric into strips!  This is just a sampling of them!

If you haven't visited Alycia's blog, please do!  http://www.alyciaquilts.blogspot.com/ She is currently hosting a block drive for Quilts of Valor, and there is an amazing prize in store for someone who participates!

Thanks Alycia for a WONDERFUL day!  I thoroughly enjoyed my visit, and look forward to visiting again!

Next week there will be a big reveal in store for everyone.......what will it be?  Will I be revealing my latest project?  Interesting facts about myself?  The way to make $1 million dollars?  Stay tuned........

Thanks for all of the encouragement!

Kevin the Quilter 

My little helper......

I have felt kind of lost this past week....

Well, I mean since the big finale of the Easy Street mystery quilt, I haven't had clues to look forward to, or playing with different fabrics?  And it was such a needed get away from some current projects......you know we all need them!  I so appreciate the many friends I have made through my Easy Street endeavor, and I hope to keep this blog going at the very least weekly if not more.

Perhaps some of you recall this post?
 http://www.kevinthequilter.blogspot.com/2012/12/on-december-afternoon.html 

Well, here is an update of that project.  I am chugging right along on it.

C'mon!  You all knew I was going to make my parents a double wedding ring for their 50th wedding anniversary?  RIGHT?????  I am using Eleanor Burns method, and so far so good.  Yes, there is some interfacing showing in some spots under the arcs, but, hey, I am only human, and I KNOW my parents will love it!  I am still needing to add the corners, and connect everything together.  Why the black background?  I LOVE contrast, and I cannot follow the "norm".......usually.  Plus, black is my mother's favorite color, and mine too!  I think it is going to be a cool finish for me, and I can't wait to complete it and get it quilted for their big day this year!

I am not only a fan of Bonnie Hunter, but, I also am a fan of Eleanor Burns.  Her patterns are very easy to follow, and plus, she is an absolute delight!  I was fortunate enough to be able to meet her at the International Quilt Show in Houston this past fall.  I watch her videos all of the time for inspiration, or if I just need to relax.

You can find many of Eleanor Burns' videos here:
http://quiltinaday.com/theater/library.html

But, I digress.....onto my current project and my little helper..........

This is my little helper, Sophia Annabella!  She is my 6 year old Boston Terrier, and she LOVES helping me with whatever I am doing (especially if I am in the kitchen.)  I am a Boston Terrier fanatic by the way.  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the breed, and I even have a room dedicated for all of  my Boston Terrier acquisitions.  (That post will be sometime in the future!)

Sophia posing for her close up!  (Hi Ginger!)

So here is my little update for the week in the blogosphere.  I am looking forward to a little get away next week, but, there will be more on that after it takes place!  Let's just say, I am SUPER excited about it!

Thanks for all of the encouragement!

Kevin the Quilter

Many firsts.......

FIRST, allow me to wish each and every single one of you a happy and prosperous New Year! (Yes, I ate my black eyed peas!)  It is so hard to believe how quickly time flies!  It surely didn't when I was a child, but, that is probably a good thing?

You may ask where I have been?  Why has it taken me so long to post an update to my blog?  Well, you see, Bonnie Hunter over at http://www.quiltville.com/ promised a rapid fire finish for her mystery quilt Easy Street http://quiltville.blogspot.com/p/easy-street-mystery.html She WASN'T kidding!

So, I have locked myself away, night and day, busily completing this...........

I couldn't be happier with the color scheme I chose!

OK, so, Easy Street wasn't so "easy" for me in the end due to all of the matching of seams.  I am still pretty new to quilting, and if the "Quilt Police" are viewing this, it may be a good time to turn your heads.  You see, I am guilty of...........chopping a few geese beaks off!  I would NEVER show those photos!  They are too gruesome and graphic!

 So, how about one of the whole quilt?

This quilt top will be donated to Quilts of Valor via Alycia at http://www.alyciaquilts.blogspot.com/

This was the first:

-Mystery Quilt I have ever participated in.

-Bonnie Hunter pattern I have ever made.

-quilt top I have ever made in a time frame of a little over a month.

-time using the Easy Angle Ruler and Companion Angle Ruler.

-quilt I ever made set on point.

-quilt I ever made with 2000+ pieces.

-quilt I ever made wearing glasses.........

Did I not mention I had to be rushed to the eye doctor due to piecing overload?

JUST KIDDING!  I'M KIDDING!  I'M KIDDING!

I can't believe how much better I can see now.  Who knew a 38 year old man didn't know he couldn't see?  OK, so I am blaming my beak"less" geese on my eyes!  That's my story and I am sticking to it!  

Thanks Bonnie for an incredible first mystery quilt for me!  I look forward to making many more of your patterns and using your scrap users system.  I would also like to thank the many, many quilt bloggers who have shown such kindness to me during this process.  I hope to keep this blog going as I create other works of art.  I have LOVED seeing everyone's progress on their Easy Street mystery quilt, and you can too, right here: http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2013/01/mystery-monday-link-up-jan-7th.html

My final thoughts?

It was Ms. Peacock, in the dining room, with the dagger!

Thanks for all of your encouragement!

Kevin the Quilter

Merry Christmas to all..........

I have a question for you? 

When you unwrap a gift, be it Christmas, birthday, or special occasion, do you gingerly take your time preserving the paper as best you can, or do you bust into the gift like a 5 year old?

I remember when I was very young, my family always got the biggest kick out of watching us kids opening Christmas presents like a tornado.  Bows and wrapping paper flying everywhere!  I also remember when I was about 8 years old watching my great aunt open her Christmas gifts with such care.  When she FINALLY got her gift unwrapped, you could hardly tell the wrapping paper had even been used!  She would then in turn save the wrapping, and reuse it for future Christmas gifts.  (This is also one of the women who had a profound influence upon me concerning quilting!)  I decided right then and there, I would become a Christmas wrap "scrapper."

Here is the proof! 

This box contains years and years of recycled gift wrap!  It probably dates back at least 20 years!  It is chocked full of beautiful Christmas gift wrap in various shades and designs.  It's fairly heavy, and it is where I shop for gift wrap when I need it!

  Here is a little deeper in the box.......

And, deeper still............

Am I alone here?  Surely I am not the only one that does this?  PLEASE tell me I am not the only one that does this!  LOL  And all the while I am wrapping, or sewing these days, this is what I am listening to..........

Vintage Christmas albums played on my Grandmother's old stereo!

Here are three of my favorites from my childhood.

OK, so now for some serious business.......





http://quiltville.blogspot.com/p/easy-street-mystery.html



It was Clue #5 for Easy Street on Friday, and the minute I got the clue, I was down in my sewing room working on it, and finishing it in record time!

  This..........

turned into these!

There has been some discussion on Bonnie Hunter's Quiltville blog about the name of these units, but, I suggested they be called "Up on the Housetop" blocks considering it is almost Christmas! 

 Hmmmmmm????????  I wonder?????

I will be travelling to my parent's home for Christmas and will be gone for the next few days.  So I would like to extend my most heartfelt gratitude for every blogger/quilter I have encountered so far along my blogging journey.  I hope you all have the Merriest of Christmas'!

Thanks for all of the encouragement!

Kevin the Quilter

Merry Christmas!









Whew.........

This sure was a busy, BUSY week!  Let me see if I can recap briefly:

Attending my sister's annual Madrigal Dinner!

And you all thought I could just sew quilts!  LOL

This was my niece's first appearance in the performance as she is a freshman in high school.  My sis is a high school choral director and works so hard on this performance.  It is ALWAYS wonderful!

Computer Problems = 1 1/2 days on the phone with incompetent customer service!

(Problems are finally resolved!)

Cooking and cleaning for a neighborhood Christmas Party!

Christmas Tree and Christmas Cat in the office.

AND

Clue #4 in Bonnie Hunter's online mystery quilt at Quiltville called Easy Street!

http://quiltville.blogspot.com/p/easy-street-mystery.html

Yes, this is the version of the game I played growing up!

Somehow I fit in making all of the required units this week, and here they are!

The Easy Angle Ruler strikes again!  OK, well, I used it again! LOL

You can view other's progress here:
http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2012/12/mystery-monday-link-up-part-4.html

I can't wait to see everything come together with this quilt!  Bonnie promised those of us participating in this online mystery quilt there will be no flying geese units next week.  Hmmmmmm...............I wonder what that sassy little scrapper is up to???? 

Thanks to all of you who have interacted with me during this new experience.  It's been great so far!

Thanks for all of the encouragement!

Kevin the Quilter

Merry Christmas!

I must be doing something right.....

Was anyone else wondering what the key to Easy Street is?  I know I was!  And then, it hit me!  I thought to myself, and I said, "Self.....you KNOW the key to easy street is............"

 

 

 

OK, so, maybe Annie, isn't the key to this Easy Street Mystery?  But, every time I say those words, "Easy Street" I immediately think of the song from the Broadway Musical Annie.  I think I have every word memorized from my childhood, and more recently from my niece's.  I am pretty sure she watched it every day for full year?

 

http://quiltville.blogspot.com/p/easy-street-mystery.html

 

I have been enjoying my journey on this "Easy Street" thus far.  I think the key to THIS Easy Street Mystery is the Easy Angle Ruler!  I am so pleased Bonnie Hunter of Quiltville introduced me to it through this online mystery quilt.  SO far, the measurements have been very accurate with the Easy Angle Ruler, and SO far everything has fit together beautifully!  Here are the results of step #3:

  Love that Easy Angle Ruler!

All units for #3 completed awaiting a trim.

 

 



 I have loved seeing and interacting with many of the participants of this mystery quilt.  Keep up the good work everyone!  http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2012/12/mystery-monday-link-up-part-3.html

 

Thanks for all of the encouragement!

Kevin the Quilter

 



 MERRY CHRISTMAS!