Red Bird Growth Chart for Gramma's House

I completed the quilting on the Red Bird Growth Chart this week.  You can see a few more of my Quilted Growth Charts here!.  I tried a new pattern with swirls and circles that I learned from Angela Walters Craftsy Quilting class.  Although I have a flush top table for my Janome Horizon I really need a larger space.  The quilt gets hung up on the edges :(  and my quilting is a little wonky :(

I have a little more quilting to do on the red bird and the ground under his feet but wanted to get it hung before the grandchildren arrived this weekend.

I love how the border worked out!

Fun fun quilting the yellow bird!  Love his tail feathers!

I used Aurifil Thread and just love how it quilted.  I did not have any tension issues or breaks! 

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs,

Karen

Quilting Ideas?

Hi all, I'm preparing to quilt another SuseBee Growth chart tonight.

 I'm wondering if I should quilt it the same way I did the last Red Bird Growth Chart...

What do you think?

Have a blessed day.

Karen

Kim Diehl's Penny Garland - Making Progress

"The" Kim Diehl in Dansville, NY ? No Way! But yes, this was the case last fall when Kim taught for 4 days at a great little quilt shop (Material Rewards) in upstate NY.  Time for a road trip!!  Debbie, Bonnie and I got together and signed up for Kim's Penny Garland class.  Penny Garland features a wool appliqué pattern that has never been published in any of Kim's books and it's a cutie.

Above is a picture of my (work in progress) version which is a bit different from Kim's version.  The pattern calls for the center pennies to be arranged in a 9 patch fashion -- but working with my sister Michele we decided the round placement looks softer. What do you think ?

When the sewing is done -- those angled corners get trimmed off and the binding just catches the edges of the outside tongues.  It's very unique !!

The vine is made from cotton fabric using a bias tape maker.   So far it is the only cotton on the table topper -- but I must say -- a little cotton cardinal would look splendid here don't you think ?

I'm sewing the wool on with an overhand stitch and using Valdani Pearle Cotton (#12).

Only 8 more tongues to stitch -- then a few more stars, a bird and some berries.
Perfect piece for fall or Christmas - Hope to have it done by then !!

Thanks for stopping by today,
Hugs,
Karen

Unexpected Act Of Kindness! Thanks Rosie's Mom!

What a wonderful surprise!  

I found (what I thought was) a great deal on some old fabric that I've desired to own for a long time.

Side note:  You see on my Quilt Bucket List is "Quilting the Garden" by Blackbird Designs.  If you've never seen it done... You really should.  My friend Debbie Wick made it and taught it years before I was quilting.  I'm hoping she is going to teach it again this fall.  I LOVE this quilt.  Debbie's quilt wins BlueRibbons by the way....

Continuing with the surprise... I happen to visit Miss Rosie's Quilt Co blog earlier this week and stumbled upon a "Stash Sale" ( something I've never, ever considered ;)   Guess what?   there it is... Carrie is letting go of a Fat Quarter Bundle of Chelsea Boutique by Blackbird Designs.... of which many pieces were used in the original "Quilting the Garden"....  so i'm in right?  I want that FQB.  

I order it and within 3 days its on my door step... 

Oh the joy!  

But wait... Look what else is in the package.... There must be a mistake!

And that's not all...  Even more in the package... Yardage of Chelsea boutique too!

I write Carrie and ask her if there has been a mistake....wanting to pay for the extra pieces...

The crazy lady writes back and said no mistake... She loves to surprise... Can you imagine?

So here is a shout out for Miss Rosie's Quilt Co... Carrie is a Gem!

Thanks Carrie for making my week.  

Fabric Tuesday - Good To Be Back!

I've been away :(  (I was without a personal computer for two months)...  I recently acquired a used iPad and I'm hoping this works well with blogger... Lets give it a whirl!

Here is a little gem I've been working on.... "Family Estate" by Edyta Sitar.  I'm almost done.  Matter of fact my sister inspired me to restart the quilting last night. She picked hers up from the quilter yesterday and it is beautiful! 

A few weeks ago... After I stitched in the ditch and around all the appliqué with invisible thread, I started an echo quilt around the appliqué... I just DID NOT like it... So it was ripped out...  I'm kinda liking how the micro swirl quilting looks.  Do you like it?

This pattern is so much fun to make.  I took a class at A LQS "Sew Pieceful" in Campbell, NY.  Lovely ladies there and the instructor was my friend Debbie Wick.  She shares the best techniques and chooses beautiful pieces for her classes.  Love it!

Busy day at work today... Thanks for stopping by - its nice to be a part if the blogging community once again.

Hope to link up to Freemotion by the River and to Fabric Tuesday (if I can figure out how to do that with an iPad).  

Have a wonderful day all,

Karen

Work in Progress Wednesday -- You Decide !

Blue on the outside

I'm making this cute little table runner/wall hanging for a dear friend....  It's a surprise so I can't get her input -- but I know she LOVES blues and browns.

Simple, quick and fun to make from a  Bali Pop that I purchased (at a great price I must say) from my Local / Online Quilt Shop. 

I'm using a Anka's Treasures pattern from the booklet "On a Roll Again" -- there are some really great patterns in there!  I decided on the main (wide) border ... But I needed a little umph!!  What do you think?   It must be finished by the weekend !!

Blue on the inside

The borders will be applied to the long edge only, the finished piece will be 25 x 35.

Which border do you like the best ?   Blue on the outside(top), on the inside (above) or no blue at all (below)?

No Blue at all !

Thanks for stopping by - love to get your opinion !!

Hugs,
Karen

Birthday Doily Favors - Sew much fun !

Oh how I have missed you fellow bloggers!  I've been busy with fun things and not so fun things.... But tonight I decided to take a few minutes away from my work computer to share some special little favors that were made for my sister Janets's 60th birthday party!! 
It was a surprise party with many special components -- one of them being these pretty little wall hanging favors to give to each girl at the party -- there were 7 of us and we had such a blast putting these together !! See if you like....

My sister Michele picked out the doilies (at 2nd hand and antique stores), I rifled through my stash, and all of us girls had fun matching fabric with doilies !!  I love how they turned out !!  The blue and peach one was for the guest of honor -- and I did some needle turn applique behind it, so that the center would stand out!  Love how the shape of the doily matches the print on the fabric!!

The next one was our trial run -- my sister Michele loved the batik fabric -- so this one was hers.

Here are a few of the others that we did.... the one with the black background and little roses is MINE !   I just love that fabric.

On each one I used my Ink Jet printer and printed a sweet little label... I love the way they turned out.

If anyone would like a tutorial on the doily or the applique leave a comment below and I'll try to get one together.

A sweet gift, fast and easy and very special.







Check out this neat birthday cake design done by a local bakery !  Didn't they do an awesome job on this cake ?   Buttons, a little quilt to boot !!




In addition to having doily favors, my sister Michele purchased 7 beautiful antique tea pots in pinks and greens and filled them with flowers to adorn the table.   They were absolutely stunning (see below).

Thanks for stopping by - see more pictures below !

Three Sisters, Michele, Janet and  Me !!

Hugs,
Karen
PS - Linking up to Fabic Tuesdays and Linky Party Tuesday (see sidebar...)

For Sister-in-Law Kelli

A bunch of doilies

The vintage modern versions

 

Sister Michele bought antique tea pots and filled them with flowers !!

This pot was especially beautiful !