3-D Pinwheels!

Today, I thought I'd share with you a long-time UFO (unfinished object) that I've finally wrapped up.  This one is 3-D Pinwheels.

I led an on-line group through how to make this quite a few years ago, quilted it a year or two ago, and just now got the binding on.  I can't find the exact tutorial I used to learn the method, but another can be found at this link; it's a fun and easy pattern!  The "blades" of the pinwheels are actually prairie points.

Here are a few close-ups:

As you can see, I added in a bunch of buttons - I think I used about 5 or 6 different colors.  I didn't feel like my quilting was "enough" and the buttons added yet another dimension.  My FaceBook friends helped me make the decision, and I think it was a great one!

The fabric is a very lightweight woven cotton - sort of a madras plaid with a huge floral over it.  I bought it maybe back in '89 or '90?  I remember my quilting mentor asking if I was SURE I wanted to work with something like that and I assured her that yes, I was sure!  I was a sucker for the colors.  The fact that it took this long for me to use it and the words I used while using it are an indicator that I probably should have listened to her.  LOL!  But hey, I still think it's gorgeous fabric!

Let's have a look at the back:

I used on of the same white-on-whites as I used on the front. I know ... it's hard to tell, but I used two different background fabrics on the front, as backgrounds for the pinwheels, making a 9-patch pattern.  Check it out in the photo at the top of this post.  It's way too subtle. Oh well.

Here's a close-up of the back, just so you can see the print:

I quilted it using a jewel-toned variegated thread by YLI - and tied the buttons on with the same.

It's good to finish up another UFO.  It would be seriously embarrassing to tell you how many more there are in the stack -- but I will get to them!

Thanks for reading!




PS:  I've edited yesterday's post to include a link to the pattern I used for the table runner.

Christmas Scrappy Table Runner

I'm pretty happy now with the name Patriot Squares for the quilt I showed you yesterday.  (The post is gone; hopefully Blogger will bring it back!)  This one needs some work, though.  I mean, yes, it's for Christmas, yes, it's scrappy, and yes, it's a table runner ... but what's creative about that name?  Nothing.  I'm working on it!

Now that I've bored you to tears, let's have a look:

It's another one that I did with an on-line group.

How about a close-up?

This one has many of the same fabrics from my Christmas Wonder! These runners have been great at helping me reduce my "stash"!

I quilted in a nice, warm golden-brown using a free-motion meandering style on the "body" of the quilt, and some outline stitching around the borders.

Here's the back:

Sweet! Not sure who this is for - or any of the runners, for that matter! I'm thinking potential Christmas presents!

Thanks for reading!


PS:  Late note:  The pattern I followed for this table runner can be found at this link.  ...not that I exactly followed the pattern, but that was my starting point!

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.