Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Sweet and Delicious



So sweet and delicious to indulge in applique once again.  I'm back working on my Civil War Bride quilt and about halfway finished block ten.  This will be my fifth block of twenty.  The stems and strawberries have been appliqued and now I'm working on the berry tops and leaves.


Prepped and ready to go are thirty 1930's Klosjes.  That also finishes up the last of my background fabric, but I have been on the lookout and was successful in finding other fabrics that match nicely.  So, I am still aiming for 500.


Hanging among the tablecloths was this long since forgotten cross-stitch, of quilt blocks, from 1996.  A pleasant surprise, but I really don't know what I would do with it other then hang it back in the closet.


My Sewing Chair
Polka-Dot Girls

I can't tell you how long I have been working on this block, but it sure felt good to finish it up over Christmas along with my last two Ring in the New! blocks.


December

I will honor Christmas in my heart,
and try to keep it all the year.
Charles Dickens



November

How bountiful is the good earth.



I am a little overdue for a One Flower Wednesday report, but I have been working on my garden, every Wednesday at teatime and now have 43 flowers joined together. 

As I piece my flowers together I continually change my thread to match the colour of the darker of the two flowers I am joining together.  This way, I don't have to worry about that odd stitch that makes its way to the top of the quilt being noticeable.  Does anyone else change thread colours as they go along?

Last Saturday, at Sew Saturday, I spent the day working on my Confetti doll quilt.  I just love the diamonds and squares pattern and as each row is added the more I love it.  About three more rows to go, then the center will be finished. 

And, speaking of doll quilts, I ordered three of Kathleen Tracy's books; Prairie Children and Their Quilts, Remembering Adelia and her soon to be released book, The Civil War Sewing Circle.  The first two books have arrived and I like what I see.  It is going to be a fun year of little quilts.

Until next time.....happy quilting!

Karen


32 comments:

Crispy said...

Goodness you have been busy Karen!! I love all your projects. My cross stitching things just hang out in the closet too :0)

Crispy

Dolores said...

Looks like you are keeping busy. It's nice to have different things to work on so one doesn't get bored.
Love the cross stitch. Perhaps you can make it into a small wall hanging? Or just frame it.

Terry said...

Love the cross stitch quilt blocks! You should frame it or make it into a wall quilt or something! It's too pretty to hide away! Nice to see a block from the Polka Dot Girls too! :0)

Teresa Rawson said...

Wow! You've been busy! Glad to see you are working on the bride...I loved that block! Your stitcheries are so pretty. They can be a nice break from piecing and applique! Your Klosjes project is inspiring me to find my meager start. I don't know if I could do 500...

In stitches,
Teresa :o)

Gail said...

So much lovely, and completed work! You are keeping busy during the long winter. I'm doing a few super-small hexies as tree ornaments for this December and the more I do the more I want to do a quilt! I think your one flower Wednesday's have inspired me. I just CAN NOT start yet another project right now.

sunny said...

My, aren't you the busy girl? I love your flower garden. Is that all from one line of fabric, or are you using scraps? Especially love the Teatime stitchery, too.

Satu said...

Many beautiful things going on there... I wait when I have enough time to start Civil War Bride... so far collected fabrics for it and appliqued some pieces for block one.

Raewyn said...

At the risk of sounding repetitive - wow you have been busy!! Your projects are all so lovely - I'm looking forward to seeing your 30's klosjes, and your flower garden is looking GREAT!!! I just have one fine grey thread that I seem to be able to use for all my colours in my hexie garden, there's just one very dark brown that I think I should have used a darker thread for. Have a great week.

Yvette said...

Oh I just love all of the eye candy on your post. Everything is right up my alley.

Marieke said...

Wow, what a great post: you have been busy. Great fabric for the klosjes: love to see them sewn together. Beautiful stitcheries! And what a great looking flowerbed. Love the colours you use. And no, I only use one colour of thread, blueish, so it's hard to see at all. ;-) And what a great applique: love the strawberrys!

Quiltpassion.blogspot.com said...

What a lovely things you show in your post. The applique is gorgeous and the Sewing Chair...!!!
I love your flowers, they are stunning!
Greetings, Cisca

Saskia said...

O, a lot to read, Love it! I had the same thought as some of the other lady's. Make the cross stitch into a little quilt with it as center piece.
You are going to be busy with the klosjes. Have to start working on them soon too. But first is first. I'm going to work on my flowergarden this evening.

Anonymous said...

hi karen,
I admire your productivity and not only that,it is all done so beautifully. Look at those preped klosjes.... almost a shame to take them up to sew....
cheers!
tineke

Melody said...

Wow, you have been so busy and it is all beautiful. Your flower garden quilt is looking fabulous.

Marion B. said...

Like the others said, you've been busy. And that pile of klosjes to be is super!

ps; I think my resent quilt will take still a month and then I'll work at my flower garden again..... :-)

katrien said...

What a lovely projects.

Monique said...

Lovely post Karen! And how sweet your flowers are!

Gerda Hartman said...

Wow, you show a lot of lovely projects. It is a pity that a day has only 24 hours.

Eileen said...

Everything is soo BEAUTIFUL Karen. Love your Hexie quilt

Carrie P. said...

Well, you have and will be very busy for a while. Yummy strawberries.
I have not worked on any flowers in a while. I really want to sit down and sew all the ones I made last year together. Yours are beautiful.

Kate said...

Hi Karen....You have been busy,,,I love the cross stitch blocks...Please do something with it ..it is too nice to stay in hiding...Your flowers are looking great too...No,,,I don't change my colour thread,,,just use a neutral one,but i do know what you mean about the occasional stitch popping up.Take care...Kate

Bozena Wojtaszek said...

Oh Karen, what a feast for the eyes! It seems that you don't waste any single minute.
And your strawberries make me hungry :)

Funoldhag said...

As always, you have posted some wonderful projects. Anxious to see your Ring in the New stitchery together - and the Civil War blocks are beautiful! Enjoy, Karen. Carol

LuAnn said...

Your hexagon quilt is an inspiration. I should also get back to my POTC blocks - yours are beautiful.

Wendy said...

You certainly are making progress on your hexagons flowers. I really like your embroidery as well. I ventured into an embroidery project myself recently and got my mom involved too. Such fun.

Cathi said...

You've really been busy! Your flowers look lovely, and the fabrics for your klosjes are SO pretty!

Paula said...

Karen it is nice to see you working on CWB again. (And I was actually preparing my strawberries block when I had to rush to Iceland to attend my mother). I love your cross stitch block, How about using it as a center piece in a quilt? Your flower garden is beautiful and growing fast, I use neutral thread. Thank you for sharing all the lovely things you are doing, so much inspiration.

Happy stitching
Paula

ozgrkdn said...

Hi, sweet and delicious projects,I like cross-stitch everytime.Have a nice day from Izmir:))

Jane in Cumbria said...

Lovely to see the Strawberry block in progress. I really must start my third block. You inspire me!
Why don't you use the stitched quiltblocks as the centre of a quilt? Could be fun! A very old antique Welsh quilt has a stitched centre, and it is a lovely combination with fabrics. Just a thought...

Anne-Mettes Oaser said...

Dear Karen.
You sure have been busy and have been sewing a lot. So much lovely stuff to show us.
Yes, I do like you. I always change the thread to match the darkest fabric and I also keep the darkest fabric closest to me, when sewing, this also helps you not to see the threads.

Just One More Thing said...

Wow congratulations on all your progress. Thank you for answering my question-- my e-mail address is carolbowen3@live.com I love the idea of the One Flower Wednesday -- thanks for hosting:)

Nata said...

Wow, ich staune immer über die Größe der Decken!
So groß wird meine bestimmt nicht werden.....

Viele Grüße!!