Patriot Squares Quilt

Or something like that.  I haven't quite decided on the name, but here's another quilt I've recently finished.  It took me a long time to finish this one, but at least I did finish!  (I started in February of '07 - you can see it in progress here and here.

Before I get to it, let's get caught up with everything else I've been working on.  Readers of the Ao4 Digest know I've made new collars and leashes (here and here) for the boys, as well as a new puffy quilt.  At that last link, you can see the Patriot Squares Quilt about half-way down.  

In that photo, my Guide Dog for the Color Blind and I were discussing what fabric to use for the binding.  Or rather, I had picked the medium blue with the WWII military characters on it for the binding - and he didn't like it.  Sigh.  If I'm going to task him to do a job, I should be prepared to accept what he comes up with ... so I asked him, and he opted for the darker blue with stars.  

I liked the medium blue over in some of the blocks on the right side of the quilt here;
Dave liked the darker blue with stars in the lower left.

In all honesty, his choice really DOES tie everything together much better. (Thank you, Dave!)

How about a look at the whole quilt?

Patriot Squares.  And my hubby's feet.

It's so wide that my husband had to use tongs to hold it up, as "extenders". The Kansas wind didn't really help out, so I ended up shooting more pix inside.

Let's go in for a close-up!

That star print is what Dave chose for the binding. He's really good at his job, isn't he? The medium blue didn't have that "Ta-da!" factor.

Here's a look at the back, and the GORGEOUS quilting:

Quilting by my friend Donna!

My friend Donna is a long-arm quilter and did the quilting for me. Didn't she do a wonderful job?!?! Ironically, she's the one who also led our on-line group through piecing the quilt back in '07! Interesting that she'd end up quilting mine! I think she said the name of the quilting pattern is "popcorn", but it reminded me of fleurs-de-lis. In a way. OK, really - use your imagination!

Donna, thank you so much for helping make this quilt come alive! The quilting adds such a great dimension to it!

The Patriot Squares quilt is for my husband - who is not a square, but is definitely a patriot! ☺

Thanks for reading!


PS:  This post had been deleted by Blogger and not restored.  I'm reposting.  I'm very thankful it appeared and did not disappear in my Google Reader!

Where Was I?

Oh, my. It's been quite a while, hasn't it? And I've put off resuming the blog because I didn't quite know how to start back up again, which only made starting worse. So... I'm just jumping back in. Ready to get started? Let's go see what I've been doing!

I just finished binding this little blue and white table runner this morning, so I thought it would be nice to start with it:

Sweet, isn't it? I have one just like it that I haven't quilted yet. The last time I made this runner, I did two in blue and white and ended up giving both away. I really think I need to keep one this time.

I love blue and white.

Here's a look at one of the corners:

I had forgotten how to bind a corner with an angle larger than 90 degrees. I found the tute at this link to be very helpful!

So, that's the latest; I have a bunch of finished projects to show you and about a million things in the works. I'll be back with those soon. In the meantime...



... it really does look nice on my dining room table, doesn't it?

Thanks for reading!

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.

Iditarod Bound!

Brevity is not my strong suit, but I'll try to set this up as simply and quickly as possible. For me. :) My friend Bonnie (or Bonz) contacted me about a fund-raiser she is holding for Blake Freking's Iditarod run. (Blake will be running an all-Siberian Husky team!) If I would be willing to contribute one of my bags (YES!), Bonz would send me some of the fabric she designed! What a COOL opportunity! I jumped at it!

The auction will start SOON on eBay - I promise to post about it here, on the Ao4 Digest and on FaceBook, so you'll be sure to know when it starts... and can bid on it! Without further ado, let's get to the bag!

From Deeve Bag for Iditarod/Blake Freking Fund-Raiser

It's a Deeve Bag with a coordinating Hold the Phone! Bag. I paired Bonnie's fabric up with a red, deep red, black and white homespun plaid. The strap of the Deeve is a re-purposed, new leash; the strap of the HTP! Bag is a re-purposed, new "little dog" leash, complete with the hook! I used a big, bold, black button to secure the bag.

How about a closer look at the HTP! Bag?

From Deeve Bag for Iditarod/Blake Freking Fund-Raiser

Bright red snowflakes accent the top of the bag, and appliquéd strips of the plaid homespun round it out. I embellished with a few glass beads and a sweet pewter paw print charm.

Here's the back of the HTP! Bag:

From Deeve Bag for Iditarod/Blake Freking Fund-Raiser

Note how the plaid wraps all around! Sort of like... leashes tangling you up when you're trying to walk a few Sibes. :) (Not that my angels would do that...!) You can also get a good look at the leash hardware in that shot!

I put a few surprises in the Deeve Bag itself - like a key fob:

From Deeve Bag for Iditarod/Blake Freking Fund-Raiser

I couldn't resist singling out one of those darling play-bowing huskies! Oh - and how do you like the chipped nail polish? A nice touch, don't you think? I really like it.

And how about a glasses case?

From Deeve Bag for Iditarod/Blake Freking Fund-Raiser

The outside is the larger scale husky print; the inside is the red homespun!

Let's take another look at the Deeve itself!

From Deeve Bag for Iditarod/Blake Freking Fund-Raiser

Not THE Deeve. The Deeve Bag. Sorry.

From Deeve Bag for Iditarod/Blake Freking Fund-Raiser

I quilted in a glistening white - and decided to call this "snow drift quilting". LOL. Use your imagination! :) How about a look inside?

From Deeve Bag for Iditarod/Blake Freking Fund-Raiser

TONS of room to carry everything! And two spacious pockets for your keys, lip balm, photos of your huskies, ETC! Have I mentioned I currently carry a Deeve Bag? It holds more than you can imagine!

And now... one more look at the Deeve. And the husky it was named for: Dave.

From Deeve Bag for Iditarod/Blake Freking Fund-Raiser

Again, I will let everyone know when the fund-raiser starts - please check here, on the Ao4 Digest or on FB. Let's help Blake Freking run the Iditarod! Auction starting soon on eBay. Siberian Husky not included.

Thank you for reading - and Bonz, thanks for the incredible opportunity!

PS: For more views of the bag, or to enlarge any of the photos, please visit the Picasa album I set up. The link is under each of the photos, or you may click here.

I've Got the Blues

Not really. I just thought it would be a catchy title! I've been so busy in the Studio, I once again am behind on blogging. Let's get right down to business!

I was contacted by Janet in Maryland about making her a couple of bags. She asked a Z Bag that I had on hand at one point - and was that still available!?!? YES! Love it! It's one of my very favorite bags, with fave fabs designed by a fave ... designer. Laurel Burch. She was interested in purchasing that and a Super Shopper. :)

Here's a look at the Z Bag:

And a close-up of the Hold the Phone! Bag:

Aren't the fabs just the BEST?!?! Let's look inside:

This bag has two pockets, and two different linings. Here is the other pocket:

I seriously ♥ this bag and everything about it!!!

Janet had also seen a blue fabric on my site and asked it that was available for her Super Shopper. It certainly was, and I thought it would be awesome in that bag! I tried pairing it with all sorts of other fabs, but they over-shadowed it. Then my trusty Guide Dog for the Color Blind inspired me - why not try black and white?

Perfect! They really let the blue take the spotlight - providing a great accent, but not taking center stage! Here's a look at the finished bag:

Aren't the black and whites the coolest? I've been wanting to use them with something in a Super Shopper for a long time - this was a GREAT opportunity! Here's the back:

How about a close-up?

That shows the quilting (done in a black to grey to white variegated thread) and the detail along the top of the exterior pockets. Here's the top of the bag:

Doesn't the lining look cute, popped up like that? Here's a look inside:

Two good-sized pockets in another black and white, and the lining in the blue. One of the pockets is sectioned into two parts.

This bag was a blast to make - loved playing with the black and whites! And I am so happy to find a good home for the Z Bag! Janet, I hope you're happy with your new bags and will enjoy using them! Thanks so much for your order!

Next post - a very special bag for a very special fund-raiser! Please stay tuned!

And, as always, thank you for reading!