Quilt Top Finished . . .

Now how to quilt it??

I think Janet O's (over at Rogue Quilter) wonderful quilting esthetic is rubbing off on me!!  I just finished this darling quilt top as a sample for the little kits I have put together. . .

. . . and since this one is going to be for me - yiks, what a concept - I thought I would play around with some FMQ.  Any ideas on how I should quilt this little cutie??

And The Winner of the $25.00 Shopping Spree Is . . .

Oh, wow, I had such a hard time trying to decide who gave me the best advise about labels on our quilts because all of the commenters gave me such great information and I truly do appreciate each and every one of you taking the time to pound out a comment!!  :-))

I had a specific goal in that I am putting together a project in which the Quilt Label will play a major role.  So, with that in mind . . .

The winner is Luba (no blog)!!  :-))

Here is what she shared:

Oh, Kris - what a great post!! I do make a label for every quilt I make (and I'm going to start making them for the small projects too) because my Aunt told me to!! I have quilt books that she's given me and others I've found at yard sales and there are so many "unknown" quilts in those books!! Some people don't realize the "value" or origin of a quilt if it doesn't have a label. YES - you should totally make labels for your mom & dad's quilts!! And, I would say - make them elaborate! You are so creative and do amazing work. I know they will be gorgeous! I just went and checked the "collaborative sampler" that my Aunt and I did together - I wish I would have been more wordy on that label. From now on, I will! And, maybe I'll start doing more than one label so it isn't so big. I've done mine hand written but I have also been using the monogram setting on my Janome to create my labels. Some day I will do them by hand too. Mine ALWAYS say... "Created With Love" by Luba - some form of my name at the time and the date. My Aunt also keeps an album of all of hers with 1-3 photos, name of the pattern, who it was for and where she lived at the time. She told me to put where I live on my labels too and I really wish I would have since I've lived in Maine, Massachusetts and now New Mexico since I started quilting. Live and learn right?! Thank you for making me think a little more about this important topic! 

Luba, please email me before you go on your spending spree!!

Again, thank you all from the bottom of my heart for all your thoughtful comments!!

It's Harvest Time!!

Oh, yum!!  Here's what's cooking at my house.

Last week I went and picked the most tasty plums from the tree of one of my friends and then this week I made Plum Jam!!  This is the first time I have done any canning in like 30 years!!  I even messed up the recipe - now how do you do that when the recipe is right in front of you??  But, alas, it turned out perfectly and now I have gifts galore!!

Today, I am trying a recipe for pear butter!!

 
A few days ago I went with a friend to pick pears from the tree of some neighbors who were just letting them fall off the tree!!  Yiks!!  They are the most delicious pears and so I hope this recipe is worthy of them!!  Stay tuned to find out!!

And remember, tonight is when I am going to choose the winner of the $25.00 shopping spree at Lavender Quilts Etsy Shop!!  I've added lots of new goodies, so drop by and see if there is anything worth a good, informational comment!!

Until later today!!  Kris

Slow Stitchin' Sunday . . .

Oh, how I love binding a quilt!!  The peace and tranquility makes for a perfect Sunday afternoon.

This ia a quilt I started this past spring when I was teaching the young women in our Church the basics of quilting.  I found out how to make this great Big Star pattern on a Youtube by Missouri Star Quilt Co.

I added the video here so you can watch it if you would like.  The star comes out to 25" and then I added the two borders making the quilt finish out at about 39" x 39".

The quilt is going to be a gift from the girls for one of their leaders.  Now, the baby was born in June, so I had to add the second border because the baby grew while my UFO did not!!  :-))

This was a fun, fun baby quilt to work on!!  And super easy and FAST!!

Saturday's Smile!!

A Fun Update

on the recipients of a couple of projects ~

A while back my friend Becky asked if I would make a small lap quilt for her Chinese student Hermione's grandmother so Hermoine could take it to China when she went home in August.   You can see the orignial post HERE.  Hermoine just sent pictures to Becky and here is Hermoine's grandmother with her new quilt ~

And here is what Hermoine told Becky about what her Grandma said about her new gift:

                         I gave the quilt to my grandma and translated those English sentences to her. 

She was so excited and she loves it. 

Also, Becky sent Hermoine home with the apron that I made up for Becky and it was a gift for Hermoine's Mom.  You can see origninal post HERE ~

Is this picture darling or what??  It is so much fun to see the rewards of our efforts!!

What is in a Quilt Label?? And a $25.00 Giveaway!!

The other day I was thinking about quilts as heirlooms.  I had pulled out this wonderful quilt that my Mom had made for me ~

This is not a very good picture of it but this quilt was given to me as a kit when I was 17 years old (almost a half century old).  My Mom and I worked on it for about one or two sessions.  If I recall, I worked on about 3-5 applique pieces on one of the flowers in one of the corners and then like most 17 year olds, I was off to more fun stuff!!

Then Christmas 1979 came around and I opened a box and inside was this incredible quilt!!  My Mom, who was NOT a seamstress by any stretch of the imagination, had appliquéd this entire quilt and then asked a bunch of women in our Church to hand quilt it!!   Needless to say, I was blown away.

This happy story has a bitter sweet ending, because my Mom is gone and the quilt has no label.

So, I decided I would reach out to my wonderful blogging community and see if you all would help me out here - What is in a label??

I decided the best way to get answers is to have a giveaway but this is not just an easy enter giveaway, I really would like some advise.  So, here is what I am asking you to do:

I would like to have you leave me an informative comment about WHY you put on a label, WHAT you usually put on your label, are your labels DIFFERENT for different types of quilts (gift quilts, utility quilts, wall hangings, wedding quilts, etc.), HOW do you make your label (handwritten, printer, stitched) or any other thoughts you would like to share about labels!!

I am sharing some of the labels I have made through the years and I have noticed most of them are so different.

And the labels on some of the quilts that I have recieved.

I was also looking at the quilt I made for my Dad many years ago.  Horror of horrors, it does NOT have a label ~

And even though, sadly, I have no children to leave this quilt to (or the quilt my Mom made for me), they SHOULD have labels!!  Would it be proper for me to make a label for the quilt my Mom made for me??  Can I go back and make a label for my Dad's love quilt??

Questions, questions, questions looking for answers, answers, answers!!

I would love if you would take the time to compose a comment that might answer some of the questions I have about labels ~ it might be worth it because I am giving away a $25.00 spending spree in my Etsy shop.  Click on the banner below to see what goodies you might chose!!

Thank you all for your help and support!!  I am going to close this giveaway on September 27, 2013 to give you time to think about your comments and leave a comment!!

Much love,
Kris

This is a WONDERFUL Youtube!!

Saturday's Smile!!

My Doll Quilt for Sharon!!

I wanted to make sure Sharon had received her quilt before I posted pictures as she still follows me :-))

Now, I live in the state of Utah.  The middle piece is cross stitch on linen and I did the cross stitch because I know this is an art form that Sharon loves.

The state emblem is the beehive, thus Utah's nickname - The Beehive State.   The beehive symbolizes industry, which is the State's motto.  The flowers in the cross stitch represent the State flower, the Sego Lily, which were used for food for the Native Americans and the pioneers when food became scare.   The heart represents how much I love being a native Utahn.  The honeycomb down in the corner represents life.

The Log Cabin block around the cross stitch represents Utah's long, strong pioneer heritage and all the wonderful old homes - many of them log cabins - that still survive and are still lived in today.

The flying geese up in the right top corner represent all our gorgeous mountains and the four seasons so much of the state enjoys.

The Courthouse Steps at the bottom left represent my great, great, great grandfather, Brigham Young. Brigham Young was a strong, hearty, powerful man that inspired his followers by his down-to-earth demeanor and through his skills as a pragmatic organizer and executive.  In many ways he was the Courthouse and the stone steps for the State of Utah during his administation as the Govenor of Utah.

And the blue print surrounding the little quilt represents the Great Salt Lake - a fond memory from my childhood days!!

I tried a little FMQ other than meandering amongst the golden flowers!!  Ha, ha, sweet Janet, don't look too close - but I sure had fun!

Sharon received  her quilt and shared with me that she really liked it!!  I sure had fun designing it and making it for her!!

Look what I Got in the Mail . . .

a darling frindship quilt from Sharon over at Vrooman's Quilts.  I have "known" Sharon for almost the entire time I have been blogging.  I started my blog in February, 2010 and Sharon started in October, 2010.  Sharon is such a dear, giving friend and I have enjoyed following her escapades through the years.

Well, Sharon and I both belonged to the Doll Quilt Swap - Sharon still does belong.  I dropped out in the spring because I had over committed myself - anyone else out there do stuff like that??  A couple of months ago I was leaving a comment on one of the darling quilts she had made for that month's Doll Quilt Swap and said I was sorry we had never had the opportunity to swap.  She emailed me back and said lets do it anyway!!

So we did and here is the darling quilt she sent to me along with her signature dolly that matches the fabrics in the quilt!!  Our "theme" was the state we live in.  As you can see, Sharon lives in New York and here is what she said about what the different blocks represent:

"Mine is a NY Beauty block and the printed stamp is something I bought at a quilt show vendor maybe 3 yrs. ago(?).   Dutchman's Puzzle is my heritage as well as where I live was settled by the Dutch.  The Hole in the Barn Door with the cabin is  certainly representative of Vroomans Quilts.  And all those apples - guess because I have been doing up so many apples, but we had a huge orchard once - even had a roadside stand where we sold produce from the farm."

So, now I have something to always remind me of my sweet friend, Sharon.  Thank you, Sharon, I love both the quilt and the little dolly!!

Here I am showing off Sharon's quilt at our first Quilt Guild meeting of the year ~

Saturday's Smile!!

Slow Stitchin' Sunday . . .

perfects a many month old UFO!!  The binding is now complete and this darling quilt will finally go to it's home just in time for the cool and snowy weather to come!!

Sue over at Summit Creek Quilts quilted it with snowflakes!!  This has been one of my most favorite quilts to work on!!  And I am happy it is going to it's new home tomorrow!!

Saturday's Smile!!

My First Week of School . . .

and what a week!!

School started Monday morning with a class on Folk Materials that meets three days a week.  Then, I gave blood down at the Student Center before my afternoon French class began.  The young man that I sat next to while waiting to give blood was in shock when I told him I was a student and not a techer!!  So cute!!

I take the bus to school and then walk and walk and walk to get to my classes.  By Wednesday night my legs and knees hurt so bad I could not sleep!!  Yiks!!  My mind keeps saying I am only 23 years old but my dang body keep reminding me I am 63!!

While on the bus and the wait between classes, I was able to get my August Hexagon Flowers for the Inchy Hexagon Flower Swap done ~

Maggie wanted Civil War reproduction fabrics for the petals and cream or tan centers.  I thought these two flowers just hit the spot!!  Hope she enjoys them!!

I am loving both of my classes and I already have the French alphabet memorized!!  It's only the end of the first week and I am exhausted!!  :-))

I also got a quilt top completed for a pattern maker, testing it for errors in the instructions!!  Wow!!  That is a new experience and one that I think I am not too apt to do again!!  But it's done and it turned out real cute.  Can't show pictures cuz it isn't my quilt.

It's that time a year too for Quilt Guilds to start up after the summer hiatus and our Guild had it's organizational meeting Tuesday morning.  I am the new Blog Mommy this coming year!!  Do any of you belong to Guilds and do your Guilds have blogs??

Hope you all had as good of a week as I have had!!

Until tomorrow!!
Kris