Challenges

My quilt group is the best! After the project I showed you yesterday, we had a June Challenge! This time, a table runner! OK... the quilt I did as the Christmas Wonder table topper was actually supposed to be a full-sized quilt, but I knew I wouldn't be able to complete that, so I scaled down to the table topper! And it wasn't exactly put out as a Christmas theme and ... I'm sure there are other rules I broke, too -- oh, probably borders ☺ -- but, hey! No one has called the Quilt Police on me yet! Well, so ... a table runner! Very cute one at that.

The original idea was for a Patriotic Runner - check it out here! I loved it, but I pictured it in Christmas fabs, too! Then I realized I had some blue Christmas fabric I had been saving that would be perfect! So ... both patriotic colors and Christmas-themed!!! Yea! Here's my start:

The fabrics are by the late Laurel Burch. I just love her saturated colors and playful approach to design!

I really did start out following the pattern, but I wanted all of my stripes to be red and white. I auditioned both ways (the pattern author mixed some blue in there) and went with just the red and white. Here's the top, prequilting:

I like it, but it needed something sort of "stopping" everything. Or framing it. No, not a border. Heaven forbid. ☺ I knew I could tie it all together with that blue - and opted to bind in that. So here it is, after quilting and binding:

It works!

It might be a Christmas gift for someone. But ... it looks sooooo at home on my dining room table, doesn't it? And each year, I decorate one Christmas tree just with patriotic ornaments ... and ... umm ... I was born on the Fourth of July ... and OH, I just haven't decided yet.

How about a close up?

I quilted in a lovely variegated golden brown thread. I think it adds to the richness. Here's the back!

I just free-handed the waves; I like the movement it adds.

So that's it. I'm still working on the July challenge. Yes, I know it's August. I broke the rules this time, too, and am making mine a tad larger. And Christmasy. I'll keep you posted.

Thanks for the inspiration, Fiber Wizards! And thank you for reading!

Christmas Wonder

Umm... I'm not sure. Where have I been? At least I changed the header photo. What do you all think? Let me know.

In the meantime, you know the little table-topper I showed you last time? All quilted now and waiting to be given away to someone. Here's a look:

And the label!

Not sure who the recipient will be yet; a family member or special friend!

Many thanks to the Fiber Wizards for a fun project to make "together". Through cyber-space. :) And thank you for reading!

Wow, Look! A New Post!

Hi everyone! I'm out here, really I am. After I finished the bag for the fund-raiser that I showed you on my last post, I started blitzing on a quilt for a family member. (More on that another time.) I realized, as I quilted away, how little time I had for projects like that - and that everything in the Studio other than bag orders had been pushed aside. No time for trying new bag designs, making a quilt for a friend, or trying a new technique! And, frankly, I was having a hard time keeping up with orders. Something had to give ... and so I've stopped taking orders.

I'll still post pix and change the blog over to show you what I'm working on - but it will be my own personal "stuff". :) Gifts for family and friends, experiments, some of my old projects I haven't shown you yet - and maybe a few garden and pup pix thrown in. So I'll be making quilts and the occasional bag, but strictly for fun.

It was a very difficult decision to shut down "Bags by KZK", but it was for the best. I will still kick in a bag for the occasional fund-raiser or give-away, but won't take in orders. Most of you will understand and I thank you for that. I hope you'll still stop by the blog to see what's going on.

In the meantime, here's a peek at what I'm working on right now:

Thanks for reading!

PS: I've gone to comment moderation. I'm sorry if this inconveniences anyone other than the Chinese spammers.