Beginning and Ending

Many hours were spent in the garden last week, weeding, deadheading, removing plants, turning compost and picking veggies. The garden is showing signs of an early fall and I'm okay with that. This gardener is ready for a rest.

As summer comes closer to an end, so does the Veranda Views BOM. I have now completed the last stitchery block, Enjoy the View. It's time to select fabric to frame my blocks, as the instructions for filler blocks and cornerstones will soon be posted.

I also prepared the next two Autumn POTC blocks, but only had time to piece together one. This one I call, Autumn Sky. Nothing like a brilliant blue sky and bright fall leaves.

Yes, I have many things on the go already and lots of patterns waiting to be made, but I came across a pattern by Corliss Searcey of Threadbear and well, you know the rest. So, last week, I ordered some background fabric and eagerly await its arrival. In the meantime, I will start preparing my templates for the first couple of blocks. I must be strong and remember that this is not the only project I have on the go. For those interested, Lizzie has started a blog called, The Civil War Bride Quilt.

Until next week.....happy quilting!

Karen

Missing Link

Just to let the following Followers know, if you have a blog, your link is missing. Please go to Blogger (Manage Blogs I Follow) and add your blog link. I would so love to visit.

• Beth Hartford
• Dorothy
• Rachel D.
• Dianet Quesada
• Doina
• Tami
• QuiltChick
• lad_216
• Karen Pavone
• jenniferkathleenlee
• ipatch
• synnove75
• Barbara Bergstrom
• Isavage9
• Quilt Enthusiast
• Linda Hiatt-Wahl
• Skheezick
• jovdmey
• celeste99
• Louann
• Miriam

I know who the following Followers are, but just to let you know, your link is also missing.

• Flaming Stitches (Ethne Illingworth)
• Flat Out Quilting (Greg Bryson)
• DulcesQuilts (Viviana)
• Susis Quilts (susis_blog)
• The Rabbit Factory (Lorraine Lefort)
• Robin Hill Quilts (robinhillquilts)
• Scraps & Strings (BrendaS)
• Lavender Ridge (Linda)

I hope I didn't miss anyone. So if you have a blog, please add your link. I look forward to visiting.

Karen

Peony Bloom

I must say, I was pleasantly surprised and pretty pleased with the outcome of Peony Bloom, from the Red Delicious BOM. I was afraid my peonies would look like big red blobs, but once I started adding the stems, it magically transformed them into beautiful flowers. Patience is definitely a prerequisite if you are needle-turning this block. The petals have lots of tiny points and there is no room for error when placing them. Is anyone else, out there, attempting to needle-turn Red Delicious?

I also finished my August Country Calendar block.

And, my Morris Workshop fabric finally arrived. Isn't it beautiful?

Until next week.....happy quilting!

Karen

Too Hot to Handle

A little late, but summer has arrived and boy is it humid! I was perfectly happy with all the rain and cooler weather. Humidity does bad things to my body, making everything a challenge. So, the lawn will have to wait for a less humid day.

The garden doesn't seem to mind the change in temperature. My bean patch has plenty to offer and look at the beautiful blooms on my 'Othello' Ligularia dentata.

I left the heat and humidity outside and spent my garden time reading and hand stitching. Most of my quilting time has been spent on Peony Bloom. This Red Delicious block has been the most challenging to needle-turn applique so far. I hope to finish it this week.

I came across a very handsome free BOM the other day called, Southern Gentleman. It just started this month and goes until December 2010. You have to be sure to download the pattern each month as it will be removed the following month. And, something else pretty exciting is a new Canadian quilting magazine called, Quilter's Connection . Four issues a year starting in September.

I did a little online shopping and purchased a few pieces of Cheddar and Poison Green reproduction fabric. Normally, I lean towards darker fabric, but Cathy has inspired me to lighten up! So, I also bought some Kaffe Fassett fabric. Hmmm.....looks like I leaned towards the darker side of Kaffe Fassett.

This is my best girlfriend Louise. She gave me a charm pack called.....

So, with my new Fons & Porter Pyramid Ruler, I made this.....

Until next week.....happy quilting!

Karen

A Trip to California

My sisters recently returned from a trip to California. Upon arrival, they rented a car and headed off on an excellent adventure. Their travels took them to Malibu, Santa Monica, Santa Barbara, Morro Bay, Nipomo, Santa Maria, San Simeon, Big Sur, Carmel, Monterey, San Francisco (Golden Gate Park (Japanese Garden) and Fisherman's Wharf), Yosemite Park, Clovis, Mojave (Red Rock Canyon State Park) and other places I can't remember. So, why am I telling you this? Well, California has lots of quilt shops. That's right. Lots!

First they stopped in Santa Barbara to see Rosalind Perry. You may recognize the name, as she is the author of three books about and the granddaughter of Marie D. Webster. I am now the proud owner of A Joy Forever and Marie Webster's Garden of Quilts.

They managed to squeeze in a few quilt shops everyday. Apparently 'cleaning up' at Betty's Fabric in Santa Maria and loved Quilter's Paradise in Clovis. Top of the list was Quilter's Coop in Temecula and they also liked, Temecula Quilt Company. I'm very excited about my two new stitchery patterns. Over the River and Through the Woods by Crab-Apple Hill and Ring in the New! by Kathy Schmitz.

Look what else I got.....

Lots of reproduction fabric

and 1930's fabric

Wool swatches and other Fall coloured fabric

A lovely mix of Asian

and some Allsorts!

And I must not forget the other goodies: a Kwik Klip for basting, John James Straw Needles for applique, a Jelly Thimble, YLI Fusible Thread for applique, Cosmo embroidery thread, Fons & Porter Pyramid Ruler, Quilters Dream black batting and a Yosemite National Park T-shirt and some nice Dellagio Caramel Praline hot cocoa. The black batting will be used for a project I hope to start this winter. I've had all the fixings for it for a couple of years now and am itching to get started.

My one sister quilts, so she knows what I like and my other sister loves to paint, so she has a good eye for colour combinations. Boy was she proud of her fabric finds. They both had fun being my personal shoppers and would e-mail me pictures from their Blackberries, but not of everything! They had to save a surprise or two!

Until next week.....happy quilting!

Karen

POTC Autumn Block 1 and 2

Harvest Moon

Autumn Glow

Hand piecing has begun on Lucy Boston Patchwork of the Crosses (POTC). My quilt shall be named, Shades of Autumn. Harvest Moon and Autumn Glow are the first two of sixteen blocks, for this lap size quilt.

Until next week.....happy quilting!

Karen