Finshed kaleidescope pics

This quilt is ready to ship to my sister in Virginia, hope she will love it as much as I loved making it for her.

Kaleidescope finish

 The Kaleidescope quilt is finished, it is for my sister, Kathy. On my next one I will concentrate more on contrast, but I do love the overall intertwining pattern.  I have learned a lot on this first try. Lots of leftover batiks will inspire my next design.

New project- Batik kaleidescope

This is my first try at making a kaleidescope, dont have a book but have discovered some really good instructions and pictures of step by step on blogs. I had purchased these peacock colored batiks for a quilt for my sister, not knowing what I might do with them. Now I am auditioning the corner triangles to use to make the blocks intertwine. In my pic I can see that the blues arent working so back to the drawing board today with other choices.

Something is telling me that I should have used something other than batiks for my first try at this technique! But I do think it is pretty and my sister will love it.

If any of you have suggestions on my color values to use for the corners please respond. My thanks go out to Elaine Adair and Subee Sews for their inspiration.

Colleen

Oklahoma Ice Storm

Hello from the Oklahoma ice storm. We were hit by ice last week on Thursday, 5 days without power. These pics were taken before limbs started breaking from the weight of the ice. So many trees damaged and some uprooted in our town. One town 10 miles north got hit the hardest, still no power there. Many repair crews from out of state are here to help restore power, putting up new poles etc. Thank you to all who have come to our rescue. This weekend starts the great chainsaw brigade to cut all those large limbs for removal. Spring can't come soon enough for me, with all the snow and ice we have had such a wet winter. I am looking forward to see what all that winter moisture does for my garden.

Staying warm and cozy with a quilt sure does have a new meaning to all of us here!

Folk Art Sampler quilt is finished

My original design Folk Art Sampler quilt is finally finished. I chose fabrics in Sept, posted my drawing and fabrics Oct. 4. I sewed all of Oct and Nov on the blocks and applique. Had surgery Nov 24. After several months being sick, surgery and complications I feel like sewing again. Last week I started machine quilting in the ditch on my blocks and outline on appliques. Today I added the binding and the quilt is in it's place on the back of my sofa.

Many projects are ahead for 2010, praying for good health this year, day by day. I have purchased book and fabrics for an Underground Railroad quilt, beautiful jewel tone batiks for a French Braid quilt for my sister, and need to make the last quilt for my Wizard of Oz series.
 Quilting Treasures is hosting a contest with Fons and Porter magazine and I would like to enter my series of 6 quilts, one from each collection.
Happy quilting and I am looking forward to seeing your projects on the Quilters Blog.
Colleen

Furry girls in their winter sweaters

Merry Christmas with grandchildren

The Witches Castle - Merry Christmas Joe!!!

I pieced this quilt for Joe's 10th birthday and just had it machine quilted to give him at Christmas!!!
One more to make, the last of the series is There's No Place Like Home. That will be one of my projects for 2010.

Wool Applique Christmas gifts

Merry Christmas

"MERRY CHRISTMAS"

This year is not my usual Christmas season!!!  Being sick since Labor Day with flu, stomach pain and allergies, bronchitis and asthma certainly kept me from getting ready for the holidays. I had gallbladder surgery Nov 24 and added to that complications of viral pneumonia. Today is the first day I have not run a nagging low grade fever that has left me zapped.  I have been sitting in my recliner for 2 1/2 weeks doing nothing but wool applique for Christmas gifts. I have managed with help to get my house decorated for Christmas. Online shopping has been quite a blessing too since I have been on house arrest!!! I had two quilts machine quilted for gifts and they were delivered on Friday so I am quite relieved to get them back. The wool applique pieces will be given as they are, to be made into pillows after I regain my strength, right now I do not have the strength to climb the stairs to my sewing workroom. I will take some pics tomorrow and post on this blog, the applique work has been wonderful to fill my time while resting.

I wish all you great Quilting Bloggers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

Folk Art Sampler with borders and blocks

I sewed today and put the Folk Art Sampler top together. My first scrappy blocks quilt. It fits this double bed very well.

I have found design inspiration from many artists patterns and Quilter Blogs.com. I combined all my favorites along with my favorite fan block. As I study the top laid out on the bed I think I will add more applique, first I will connect the vines on my border corners and design from there.

 I have been thinking of redoing this bedroom for years. This quilt might just be my inspiration for a big project after Christmas.

I always need a project for winter

Folk Art Sampler

This week I have added the final ( I think) flowers to my basket. Also, gave my crooked basket a makeover! This is looking more like my original design, see drawing on former post.
I have been working on this applique through 2 months of being sick with all kinds of respiratory junk, asthma, flu and undiagnosed stomach issues. 2 rounds of Tamiflu. Gallbladder ultrasound no stones, scheduled for gallbladder scan Nov 20 to see if it is functioning at all. Seeing my pulmonologist Thursday.
I love doing handwork again, lets me rest while giving me something to keep me busy!
This is a big project with no deadline, unusual for me. Most of the time I put myself under pressure to finish projects. No quilting for Christmas gifts this year. I might do some small wool applique for gifts, but they are fast for me.

Borders for Folk Art quilt

Next step - work out the corners.

Also, redo the bottom of the crooked basket.

I do think I am loving this quilt!!!

Folk Art Quilt layout (maybe!!!)

I have not made a decision on my inside border corners, I think I might piece different plaids on ends of applique borders and do 6" blocks at the corners, thinking they should be dark.

We will see what tomorrow brings.

Folk art quilt flowers

I have been stitching like crazy to take my mind off losing Bridgette - does not really help but I have made considerable progress on my Folk Art quilt project.
This original design can be seen in a sketch in a former post. I am letting it speak to me as I work on it. Will it be for a bed or dining table or throw??? All I know is it will be mine. Some flowers are appliqued , some only basted. I will add something vining or bees or berries or ??????

Saying goodbye to Bridgette 4-11-1998 / 11-1-2009

Our oldest mini schnauzer Bridgette went across the Rainbow Bridge yesterday. Kidneys starting to fail again and red blood cells extremely low. She had lost a lot of weight and we knew it was time to let her relax and be with Millicent ( her sister ) I am sure Millicent is licking Bridgettes ears again as she always tried to take the best care of her little sister. Bridgette was 11 1/2 yrs old, born 3 days after our first grand daughter Abbey.

Samantha and Taffeta are visibly depressed, so I moved Bridgette's favorite bed from the den to the laundry room/kennel. They are both curled up together now, I think we will all be alright.

Folk Art quilt w/ wool applique - progress!!!

Crooked basket!!! was working with this large 48" section in my lap, now I know I should have completed the basket before appliquing to center section. Lots more stems and flowers yet to do. I have completed 2 side borders and lots of scrappy blocks, not sure where I am going with this project.

Waiting for inspiration from flowers!

Wool applique corner blocks

These blocks are the four corners for the center medallion of my new design, see sketch in an earlier post. Thinking I might add WELCOME to the pineapple design. I love my bees and birdhouse, I did use a pattern for the squirrel block but the other three are my drawings.

The tiny houndstooth neutral is some washed wool from mens pants I found at Goodwill. I would like to use it as a border for the medallion with applique vines and flowers. I could dye it myself --- oh no another addition. I do love the design process most of all it is always revolving inside my head! You can see some block examples in an earlier post.

Bloggers Quilt Festival - My favorite quilt

I am so excited to participate in the Bloggers Quilt Festival. This is my favorite of all the Wizard of Oz quilts I have made, 10 in all. This one belongs to me!!! It is the only one with fabrics from the first collection. The beginning of this famous film is so nostalgic, I added the reds to depict Dorothy's red shoes and the yellow to point the way to the Yellow Brick Road. The backing is a precious calico floral that is Auntie Em's dress. I always love making sampler blocks and the scenes were perfect for double 4 patch. Notice the cyclone in the bottom row along side Auntie Em's house and the covered bridge (arrow) in the top row showing the way to the Yellow Brick Road. This year is the 70th anniversary of The Wizard Of Oz, so I have had a real celebration making quilts for my daughter and all my grandchildren.
Amy at Park City Girls is hosting this quilt gala. Amy, I never could figure out how to link to your site to be included on your page, but am posting my favorite anyway.

New Quilting Project - day 1

I started my new project yesterday. Worked on a sample for each block except one. I did some wool felt applique, got two blocks done and am happy with them. They are not laid out in any order. Refer to my sketch to see where they will go. My favorite is the fan, it will be on a dark green flannel which will be my center medallion for my wool applique basket of flowers.
This is my first time to mix wool with my cotton piecing, I plan to overlap some vines and flowers onto the blocks. My design will most probably change.
I ordered "Simple Comforts" by Kim Diehl, it came yesterday. Hoping to expand my design with ideas from this wonderful book. I don't like to work from patterns, but there are many techniques in applique that I can apply to my design.
I am having a gall bladder ultrsound today, my babies are moving in a week, what more do I need than a very challenging quilting project. It will help fill my time and will be easy to take with me for handwork when I visit Alex and Payten. Their Mommy is my precious middle daughter, always there for me when I need her as I am for her. I will miss her most of all.