How Old?

Happy Blogoversary to me!

I can't believe it has been a year already. Each post a joy to write and every comment received, as special as the first. Thank you for all the wonderful comments over the past year. And, a special thank you to my Followers. I always enjoy visiting your blogs. Sadly, when I click on some of your pictures, it does not display a link. It may be that you do not have a blog, but if you do, get that link on there so I can come visit! Also, to my Other Followers, I know you are there and I thank you.

Blogging does keep me focused on my quilting, so my journey will continue. Because my quilting time is limited and I prefer to quilt by hand, I will never accomplish in a week, what many bloggers do. But that's okay. I enjoy the slow, steady pace and the contentment each stitch brings. It's food for the soul. I hope I will continue to have the pleasure of your company and the chance to meet others along the way.

A Tisket A Tasket June Basket

Until next week.....happy quilting!

Karen

And the Cross-Stitch Patterns go to.....

Terry

of

Terry's Treasures

Congratulations Terry! I just need your mailing address and the patterns will be on there way.

Fowl Play and a Giveaway

Look what I found tucked away, from my cross-stitching days, the patterns for Raspberry Homecoming and Blueberry Homecoming. I wonder what attracted me to them? Maybe all the pretty quilts hanging on the line. I would love to pass the patterns on to someone that cross-stitches and loves quilts. If you are interested, just leave a comment (saying so) on this post, before midnight, Saturday June 27 to be entered in the draw. I will post the winner on Monday June 29.

Found some more freebies!

Hearts 'n Stars , Southern Lights, Sprinkles and Dizzy Clovers are continuous line -stitching patterns, for long-arm or hand quilting.

All finished my Fowl Play Veranda Views block.

My garden is perennial , but I could not resist potting up some annuals.

Recently, I went curtain rod shopping to find a nice rod (with clips) to display my quilts on. Whoever came up with that idea is a clever one. My quilts are currently piled (neatly) on a chair, a chair that I would so love to sit on again. One rod, with pretty cream flowers on the ends, caught my eye. The problem now is finding wall space. I also love the idea of a Quilt Ladder. They can be any size and easily moved about the house. Time to get the tool box out and build me a ladder!

Four more Tiny Baskets are complete!

A Quilter's Journey Back in Time continues and I get more and more excited with each new block. Last week I pieced together Grandpa's Chickens. This one was great practice for when I start hand piecing my Postage Stamp quilt. The squares in Grandpa's Chickens measure a little over half an inch, so I shouldn't have a problem with my 1-inch Postage Stamp squares.

Well, I'm heading over to Lillian's Cupboard to copy down the recipe for Rhubarb and Friends Cobbler. Lillian always has something tasty in her cupboard.

Until next week.....happy quilting!

Karen

Hooked on Rugs

"Hooked rug - a little rug for your hearthstone."

The English Dictionary of 1810

Rug hooking is a craft where rugs are made by pulling loops of yarn or wool fabric through a stiff woven base such as burlap or linen. The loops are pulled through the backing material with a crochet-type hook mounted in a handle (usually wood) for leverage.

My Hooked Rug

Like quilting, rug hooking goes way back. I made my floral rug in 1994. Supplies were hard to find and expensive. Today it is easy to find rug hooking supplies, but the expensive part hasn't changed. If you would like to try rug hooking, kits are the way to go. They come with hook, stamped pattern and precut strips of wool fabric. And, you can use your quilting hoop to hold your project taught.

Sources and inspiration

Deanne Fitzpatrick Rug Hooking Studio

The Woolen Needle

Let's Hook Rugs

Folk and Fibre

I also have an update for you, about last weeks posting, Applique Freebies. A new block has been added to the Sally Post Floral Sampler. That makes fifteen blocks now available for download.

Until next week.....happy quilting!

Karen

A Little of This and That

My May A Tisket A Tasket basket is all finished. The June basket was posted on Friday and I can't wait to get going on that one. Because my baskets are all different colours, I am having a hard time picturing sashing. I'm not sure if it should be all the same fabric or a mix of fabric and colours and what colour? I just don't know.

In My Garden

Butterfly Peony

Country Calendar is such a sweet BOM. One day I would like to do the applique version. I'm not sure what was going on as I stitched my May block, but stitching a straight line was out of the question.

Started appliqueing my Tiny Baskets. These are the first four of twenty. I'm just going to make this quilt up as I go along.

Until next week.....happy quilting!

Karen

My First Quilt

According to my collection of quilting magazines, my interest in quilting began in 1993. During the summer of 1995, I signed up for an evening quilting class, offered through the school board. I can't say for sure, but I think it cost around $25.00 for about eight lessons.

This is the only quilting class I have ever taken. Once a week I would receive an instruction sheet for that weeks block. The teacher would then demonstrate how to piece the block. At home, you would piece your block together, and then bring it with you to the next class.

My favourite block to make was the Drunkard's Path. As I pieced together my Attic Window block, I thought it would be cute to have a cat looking out. It was this little guy that got me hooked on applique. When it came time to baste my quilt, I was so excited; I stayed up until 3 o'clock in the morning to finish basting.

All went well until the last class. Because we ran out of time our lesson on hand quilting and binding was cut short. Once home, I was unable to stitch through all three layers of fabric. I even tried doing one stitch at a time, but it looked awful. So, I packed my Sampler quilt away.

I did make two other quilts after that, which I almost forgot about. They are in the cedar chest at my parent's house. I believe I tied both of them. One day, I must dig them out and quilt them properly. Maybe find them a nice home. I continued to purchase quilting magazines and thought about my Sampler quilt. But, that was the end of my quilting until 2003.

My sister and I attended the Sewing & Needlework Festival, in Toronto, the Fall of 2003. I was having strong urges to quilt again. That day, I purchased a brand new sewing machine and started building my stash. I had lots of quilting books to read over the winter. Spring of 2004, I prepared a quilt sandwich and spent many an hour practicing hand quilting in the garden. Hand quilting of my Sampler quilt began the summer of 2004 and continued on and off until it was completed January 9, 2005.

I regret not making my quilt sandwich years sooner than I did. Giving up is not an option for me anymore. I truly believe you can do anything, if you really want to. My quilting journey may have started twice, but the end is nowhere in sight!

Until next week.....happy quilting!

Karen

Applique Freebies

I was visiting Friendship Threads and Nadine is working on a sampler quilt (1854) called, Sally Post Floral Sampler. It is free to download and very pretty. This was first posted in 2008 and I am not sure if new blocks are still being added. I guess you would just have to watch and see. It was up to fourteen blocks when I downloaded. If not, you can purchase the whole pattern. But, I think you could make a really nice quilt out of the free blocks. Also, if you like 1930's patterns, you may wish to download the Magic Vine pattern.