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

Reads and Seeds

Last year I started reading Jennifer Chiaverini's Elm Creek Quilt novels. I'm almost finished The Runaway Quilt. The fourth book in the series. I must say, this is my favourite, so far.

Gaillardia Oranges & Lemons

Gaillardia Arizona Sun

Lots of rain over the past couple of weeks and the garden is growing like a weed. Last year I searched for a perennial that would take the place of annuals and bloom all season. After thumbing through seed catalogs, I came up with the perfect plants. Arizona Sun and Oranges & Lemons Gaillardia. They bloom all summer and you can see them a mile away. I sowed the seed directly in the ground last year and just as summer officially arrived this year, the Gaillardia are in full bloom.

Country Calendar June

Country Calendar July

Can you believe it is July already? Only five blocks to go and then I can piece together my Country Calendar quilt. Have you ever visited Ellie's Quiltplace? Designer of the Country Calendar BOM. Ellen designs and sells her own patterns. I enjoy reading Ellen's blog and seeing all her wonderful hand quilted project. Very inspiring.

Freebie stitchery anyone....

Hats of Plenty

Two more Tiny Baskets completed. Ten to go!

Years before I started to quilt, I was purchasing Miniature Quilts magazines. My plan, back then, was to only make miniature quilts. But, when the time came to start quilting, I didn't think it was such a good idea to start with something so small. My first encounter with anything mini, was last year when I started hand piecing Dear Jane blocks. It is said that anything less then 36 inches is considered a miniature. So, I guess I have made a few miniatures already. But when I think of miniatures, I'm thinking much smaller then 36 inches.

So, time to start reading my miniature quilt books and give it a go. I would like to make the mini's by hand. My concern is quilting them. I don't think I could comfortably quilt without a hoop. My 14 inch quilting hoop (which I love) from Quilters Woodwork, may be too large for miniatures. They do sell a 10 inch hoop. Or, I could baste false sides to the miniature quilt and still use my 14 inch hoop. Where there's a will, there's a way!

Until next week.....happy quilting!

Karen

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

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.

Busy Fingers

Spring is not the best of seasons.

Cold and flu are two good reasons;

wind and rain and other sorrow,

warm today and cold tomorrow.

~Author Unknown

There is some truth in that. But, I think Spring is one of the best seasons. Everything comes to life in the garden and I get to see Mrs. Scott Elliot Columbine again. Now, close your eyes and breathe deeply. Can you smell it?

Dwarf Korean Lilac

Oh yes, Spring IS one of the best seasons!

What I have been working on . . . . .

The Buffet, Veranda Views

Count Your Blessings, Polka-Dot Girls

and Love Apples, Red Delicious

Back in January, I prepared lots of hexagons to make Karen's Flower Garden. I stitched together a few flowers at that time and then was sidetracked with other projects. Well, I am back at it and have completed eighteen of ninety-six flowers. I will try not to get sidetracked again (LOL) and see how far I get over the summer.

Before you go . . . . .

Are you familiar with The Rabbit Factory? They are a Canadian quilt pattern company and I think you will like what you see. Also, check out their blog and request a copy of the (first) free applique pattern.

Until next week.....happy quilting!

Karen