The First Wildlife Quilt............................

 This quilt I made in the Fall of 2016.  When I received these t shirts from my cousin she wanted a t shirt quilt for Christmas.  She was cleaning out a closet and found all these wildlife shirts that her son collected.  She ask him what to do with them and he said to donate them to Goodwill.  She didn't have the heart to get rid of them so I offered to make her a t shirt quilt out of them.  They were awesome.  Quilt a few of these shirts had metallic in them which made them really stand out.  It was hard to decide what to cut off if the shirt was to large.  Some of them wrapped around the side of the shirt which made it even larger but I got it to work.  For the sashing I used the Stonehenge material with browns, teals, blues and golds.  Worked beautiful.

I have so many pictures of this quilt because the t shirts were so large it turned out to be a King size quilt. It was hard to pick just a few to show.  I hope you still can see how beautiful it turned out.

Her son really, really liked it and was glad his mom didn't donate the shirts.

I guess I can say keep all t shirts.  You never know how beautiful a t shirt quilt can turn out.         Keep stitchin'   Connie

Sorry can't figure out how to group the pictures!

Striped Quilt.............

Another quilt I made and wanted to share with you.  This one was made with different color of stripes.  The way you cut and sew them together makes this block.  You can lay these out anyway to create your own quilt.  I used leftover material for the surrounding borders.

So get your striped material out and start cutting.  See what you can come up with.

Keep stitchin'
Connie

A Very Special T Shirt Quilt

I want to share a very special t shirt quilt that I was asked to be a part of.

About six months ago I was asked if I could make a t shirt quilt for a special person in Colorado who had passed away.  When I make these t shirt quilts it always is a surprised the different shirts that I come across.  Everyone has there own personality, there own likes and you wonder what the story is behind each t shirt.

This individual loved music so that's what I used for sashing in between the t shirts. His favorite color was yellow so the borders were yellow with some black in it.  There were four t shirts that I couldn't add to the front so I put a row of these shirts on the back.  I couldn't just leave them off cause they mean't something to him also I'm sure.




The quilting was done with the pattern "city windows" (I hope that's right) through all the t shirts except the teal t shirt below which is his picture. This one I chose to just stitch in the ditch around the picture.

   The T shirt quilt will be a wonderful memory of this individuals life.

I was glad they asked me to be a part of it.

So try something new or just finish a project you've got on the shelf.  Till next time.

Keep Stitchin'
Connie

So colorful and lots of spools of thread...................

Hi everyone,

This morning I wanted to share a wall hanging that I made with a charm pack I purchased.  This charm pack had a variety of colors and when you look at a sewing room you see this in your thread collection. With this in mind I decided to make a wall hanging with spools of thread. The outside is material that is just fun with sewing notions and has all the colors that I choose to use in the spools.  This was a fast and very easy quilt to make.

So get out your sewing machine and try it!  Have fun choosing your colors.

Until next time,
Keep Stitchin,
Connie

Beautiful Butterflies and Dragonflies......................

This has to be one of my favorite quilts that I've made.  The center is a panel that I purchased.  Then for several months I would purchase fabric that would go with the panel till I thought I had enough.  This happens when you don't have a particular pattern to follow but anyone can do it.  I had seen this quilt made up in a quilt store but figured I could figure it out without a pattern.


It was mainly using 2 1/2" strips which was easy to cut.  Then a solid piece for the appliqued butterflies and dragonflies.  These appliqued pieces were done with the blanket stitch on my sewing machine.  They were cut out of another piece of material that had the same butterflies and dragonflies but in a small version.


This was a fun quilt to sew and I love the bright colors.  Sure reminds you of summer.




So pick a panel and design your own quilt.  Try it its not as hard as it might looks.

Till next time,
Keep Stitchin'

Connie

Looking through the window.............

                                                                                                                                                                    Love this quilt.......

I want to share with you a couple of panels that I purchased to try the pattern "Attic Window."  I watched a tutorial on this with Jenny Doan from Missouri Star Quilt Company.  I would suggest that if you're interested in trying this be sure to watch this tutorial.  It wasn't hard at all.

With this panel I used camouflaged material for the border.  I framed it out with just a small strip of black fabric and using a brown and light tan for the casings of the window.   I really like how it turned out.

This Attic Window was the first one I made.  I learned on this one with a panel that has eyes you need to watch how you cut the panel in blocks.  As you see in the Santa Claus's face you can hardly see the eyes.This is because the quarter inch seam takes most the eyes out.  So when I did the deers I figured that in with cutting more off the top and bottom to make sure the eyes were towards the center of the block. Hoping that makes sense and if you watched the tutorial it probably does make sense.  This is the only pattern of Attic Windows I will use on panels now.  Love it!

There are many panels out there now that can use this pattern.  Many flowers, trees, landscapes, birds, and animal panels.  It's endless.

So go to the internet or your local quilt shop and see what kind of panel you can find to try this technique.  I'm sure you'll fall in love with it also.

So keep stitchin'
until next time,

Connie

Kitchen Because it came with the house.............Licence Plate

Again it is a hot and windy day in Kansas.  Around 93 degrees today and been that temperature most all week.  Wheat harvest is beginning and soybean planting is almost over in the surrounding area.

Wanted to share with you a wall hanging that I did.  This was from a towel that I seen and didn't want to use it as a towel but really liked the saying so decided to cut it up and use it for a wall hanging.  I just picked matching colors and did a log cabin around the outside of it.  I quilted it in the ditch to finish it off.  This shows you that you don't always have to make pieced blocks for a wall hanging.   You can almost convert anything to a piece of art.  Use your imagination.

Something else I wanted to share with you is my licence plate for the front of my car.  "Warning! Quilter on the Move!  You'd be surprised how many people notice that I'm a quilter and it strikes up a conversation.  Then I also can drive through Sonic and get asked if I could help alter a piece of clothing.  My son looks for the licence plate on the road and knows he needs to wave!  No excuse to ignore Mother now.  HA HA

Well until next time.  Stay cool and keep on stitchin!

Connie

Mirror Mirror

Happy Memorial Day to Everyone!

We've had quite a bit of rain here in Kansas.  I think they someone said that whole state just this month has had over 54 inches of rain.  To tell you the truth I'm glad to finally see the sunshine yesterday and they say part of today.  Friday I spent the whole day in the basement vacuuming up water that had come in from the cracks in the floor.  Not much you can do about that with out tearing up the floor and starting over.  I'm sure not going to do that right now.  More rain is forecasted for the next 3 days!  Again all I can say is "Gloom!"  I know in July we'll wish we could have some rain.  Never happy it seems but moderation would be nice.

Anyway back to my favorite subject "Quilting."  This is a quilt I sewed called "Mirror Mirror" by Cozy Quilt Designs.  The Designer is Georgette Dell'Orco.  It is designed for a Baby, Large Throw, Twin, Queen and also a King size bed.  Either size you make it is designed to use various amounts of printed fat quarters. From each fat quarter you will cut strips of different sizes to create the blocks.  I used bulk fabric for my strips. You will also need background fabric and of course your borders, backing and binding. The pattern has different ways of putting this block together for different designs.  It was a fun quilt to sew.

I sewed this quilt for a display at "Kessler Kreations" in Hillsboro, Ks.  Stop in and see it sometime if you're in the area.

Hope you enjoyed this quilt.  Get your creative juices going and try something new!

Until the next time,
Happy Stitchin'

Connie

"Entwined"

Today I choose to talk about this quilt "Entwined."

This is a quilt that I made with 2 1/2" strips interlocking blocks that I cut from scraps that I had in my stash.  I used the colors that I picked to make 2 different blocks, but being the same colors but opposite of each other.

The designer is Marilyn Foreman, www.quiltmoments.com by Quilt Moments.

This block looks comlex but really if you take your time anyone can do it. You can create a completely different look by using different backgrounds, borders and even your own scraps.  You can use strips, fat quarters or yardage your choice.

Wanted to try something totally different with 2 1/2" strips.  Think I accomplished it!!  I'm happy.

So step out of your box and try something challenging.  You'll feel good!

Happy Stitchin,

Connie

A little Christmas spirit of giving...........................

It's been a long time but now I hope I can stay on task and post more frequently.  A lot has happened since my last post but the biggest change is I'm officially retired now.   Then I had issues with my blog and I couldn't log in to post but now I finally got that figured out.  So lets get started and try to catch up.

Every year at Christmas time I donate a quilt to a local hospital to give to a Christmas or New Years baby.  This has been so rewarding for me to know its going to a precious little one and will be wrapped in love even if I don't know who it goes to.  This was the third quilt that I've donated and hope to continue giving during this holiday. The hospital every year sends me a Thank You card and several times has even included a picture of the baby wrapped in it.  Means a lot to me.  Anyway I enjoyed making this little giraffe quilt for either a boy or girl.

Hope you like this little quilt and more to come.

Be sure to come back and visit me and in the mean time,

Keep Stitchin,

Connie

Barn Quilts

I don't seem to blog as much as I like.  One thing that is holding me back is I'm remodeling my sewing room and things are really hard to fine let alone sew.  So hopefully I'll get back to being organized and start sewing again.

Wanted to share another couple of Barn Quilts that I have completed.  This is additive!  My sister and I have set up classes to show how to paint a Barn Quilt and have had a good response.  We're hoping to have quite a few registered here in our county so it will bring tourists.  This is an up and coming thing now spread throughout the USA and we want to be part of it.  Other counties in Kansas are really big right now.  Check out your library and see if you can find books on Barn Quilts and read about them, how they got started and where some of them are.  You can also find alot of Barn Quilts on "Pinterest" if you are a follower there.  I have quite a few under a board "Barn Quilts" in my Pinterest section.  Check it out!

This one to the right I put a dark blue border around the outside to make it stand out.  I have a picture with the border but its laying down and doesn't show it off as well as this one.

I hope to get these 2 barn quilts hung this weekend and then after I get the wheelbarrow decorated for Fall time I'll show you the finished picture.

I hope you enjoyed my pictures and want to go and do some research on "Barn Quilts."  Even my sons have noticed them and tell me where to look for them.  They wouldn't even have thought anything about them if I wouldn't be painting them. They don't have to be hanging on a barn.  I have mine on my chicken/garage shed.  Some people are hanging them in a patio area, side of a front door, on a garden shed, any building.  So watch the side of the road and see if you can find any!  You'll be excited if you do find one or two along your road trip.

So either keep painting if you're painting these or keep stitchin, which I hope to be soon.

Connie

Here Puppy Where Are You.....................

Well I decided to sew something other than a quilt.  I had seen this pattern for an apron on one of my little shop hops that I did not long ago.  Thought it was so cute. So bought the pattern and made it for my 3 year old Granddaughter, Mariah.  She just loves to play in her kitchen and wear an apron.  The pattern is from Cotton Ginnys called Cute Friends.  The pattern has the puppy pattern which I made, a bumble bee and a lady.  I thought the puppy pattern was so cute and it went with Mariah and she loves her puppies.

Along with giving her the apron I had bought a Mommy and Daughter Cookbook to try there cooking skills out. She loves to help Grandma in her kitchen so why not have her own apron and cookbook. Well here's to trying something different. I really enjoyed making it and it went pretty fast. So look at patterns and see what you can make! Keep on stitchin, Connie

Chopsticks

This quilt was really a fun quilt to make.  The name of it is “Chopsticks” designed by Julie Herman of Jaybird Quilts.  It consists of large and small triangles weaving a festive Asian flair with this crisscross.  This could be a very scrappy quilt if you’d like to get rid of scraps.  Here I used ¾ yard of 7 different fabrics and then black and white to frame the triangles in some cases.   It is using the 12” creative grid Equilateral 60 degree triangle ruler.  The ruler number is CGRT12560 if you wish to look for it.   If you do not want to purchase the ruler there are template patterns provided in the pattern.

I apologize for the picture.  I’m doing some changing in my sewing room which doesn’t allow me to lay it flat on the floor.  Also the edging of the quilt needs to be cut so there’s only ½ a triangle and without my cutting table again it makes it hard to do this step.

Well on to the next project!  Wonder what that might be….

Until next time, keep stitchin!

Connie

Barn Quilt...........................

Took an interesting class last weekend that involved quilting.  Well maybe not quilting like with a sewing machine and material but another kind of quilting.  The latest fad in Kansas now is Barn Quilts.  Barn Quilts can be painted on the actual barn but most of them are painted on a board any size you want to paint.  If you're really interested in this go to your library and check out the book "Barn Quilts and the American Quilt Trail Movement" by Suzi Parron w/ Donna Sue Groves.  It has a few USA states with different barn quilts and pictures to go along with the stories.  It's a fun book to read and look at the pictures.

So making a Barn Quilt is simply transferring a pattern from paper to the board.   Just like if you were designing a quilt block.  Then taping off and painting the squares.  It does take a little time to do especially the taping off for painting and then waiting for your paint to dry in between coats.  Depends on your pattern if simple or complicated.  I sure enjoyed the class and want to make more of these.

I mentioned hanging them on a barn but some people don't have barns!  I'm going to hang mine on a chicken house and then I have an entry way on my house and I'm going to hang another one on the outside of it.  It seems that a few people are starting to put them somewhere on there house.  In the book, I mentioned at the beginning, it shows them hanging signs and hanging on fences.  Cool ideas.

So check into it!  It is a lot of fun and then watch when you go on trips to see if you can find any BARN QUILTS!

My barn quilt hanging outdoors!

In the mean time, keep on stitchin,

Connie

Purple Wave

This quilt turned out awesome.  I received this pattern and material from the quilt shop I sew for.  I thought there is no way I can do this.  Taking the challenge I decided to try it.  The pattern name is "Torque" by Jessica J. E. Smith.  It includes full color instructions and shows you how to put it together for 5 different sizes.  I was reading through the instructions and I was overwhelmed.  So I decided just start and make one set of blocks and go from there.  So now I have all these blocks on my table, 18 of each, some big blocks and some small blocks.  Finally got all the pieces sewed together and starting arranging the blocks to look like the pattern called for.  Thank goodness for a flannel board.  I don't think I would have been successful in getting it put together right if I wouldn't have had one.  I did 1/2 the quilt at a time than the other half and sewed it all down the middle to finish it.  Was I surprised when I laid it out on the floor and everything worked!  I was so scared that I'd have to rip apart because I got one or more blocks going the wrong way.  I apologize for the wrinkles but you get the idea.

I wouldn't suggest this type of quilt for a beginner.  I'm not sure I will make another one in the near future but will probably try different colors sometime.  I really loved the purples.  It was hard to give it up all the time I spent on it but knew that going into it.  Oh well sometime I'll brave it again and try it.

If you've made one of these let me know what you thought.  Would love to hear from you.

In the mean time,
Keep Stitchin,

Connie

Anyone can color on the floor now - You Can't Resist....................................

Found this chalkboard fabric and thought it would make awesome presents for Birthday, Christmas, etc.  This is chalkboard fabric that you lay on the floor and give them sidewalk chalk and let them color away when they can't go outside.  Then you can just wipe it off with a wet cloth and start over.  I'm giving this one away for a Birthday present and the 2nd one I'm giving away to my granddaughter for Christmas.  I tried the new way of making borders by doing it the potholder and tablecloth way.  This is the new cottage (House) ruler that you see and hear about now.  Check it out it is really neat how it works.

Want to buy some more of this fabric and make potholders to set on a table and then write on them.  Maybe a wall hanging of things to do or your grocery list.  Reminders for the rest of the week.  Even thought about doing some little wall hangings for my grandchildren to hang on there walls for notes.  The ideas are endless.

So keep on stitchin'
Connie

Pillowcases made SEW EASY!!!!

Some more Christmas presents that I have been working on.  These pillowcases are for each of my grandchildren.  They are so fast it's unbelievable.   I've got a present to go in each of the pillowcases and this is going to be the wrapping paper and I will tie it together with a matching ribbon.  Not sure if they make camo ribbon or not but am going to try and find some.  For instants the ladybug pillowcase will hold the ladybug quilt I made. The blue turtle pillowcases has a set of Blue Turtle books and a rolling turtle toy hard carved.

If you'd like to see how these pillowcases are made go to "You Tube."  There are several tutorials on how to make them.  Just watch and see how easy they are.  Mine was made with all the material in a tube made out of the band (edge).

So watch a tutorial and find the material you like and try one!  Bet you'll end up making more than one.

Note:  The pillowcases have been given to each of the grandkids now and everyone of them were so excited.  My 2 year old granddaughter, Mariah just loved her turtle pillowcase and it can hardly be removed to wash it.  She reminds me that its her turtles.

Keep Stitchin'
Connie

Thinking about mom..........................

Here's a quilt that I made in 2006 for my mother, Enola. She was in the Alzheimer's wing at the Villa. I thought she needed a pretty quilt to go on her bed. This quilt made me think of her because she always had beautiful flowers and would spend many hours in the garden.  The only problem was she didn't want to use it cause she didn't want to mess it up. Hum! So it was never used it sat in her closet.  I got it back when she passed away this year. So now when I see it I think of her.

Love you Mom and miss you.

Keep Stitchin'
Connie

It's Ladybug Time...................................

My latest project has been a quilt for one of my granddaughters for Christmas.  This pattern was so much fun to make.  All blocks were made from my stash that I had already.  Since the pattern had lady bugs and a flower I decided to go with a summer theme. In the center of each block represents something about summer.  There are flip flops, butterflies, bugs, birdhouses and worms.  I thought she'd get a kick out of all the insects.

I just love this flower and I'm sure I'll incorporate it into other quilts some day.

Lady bugs have small beads for eyes and there antennas are embroidered with black thread.  I will add eyes and antennas when I get it back from the quilter.

I framed my quilt with a small black border and another larger border of red.  My big border I used just left over pieces from the quilt to make it look scrappy.  I hope she likes it.

Off to the quilter now.

keep on stitchin,
Connie

A New Look ............................................

Things seem to get in my road and I don't get to blog as much as I would like.  Its not that I haven't been sewing I just don't get to sew as often as I like.  Things are going to change starting today.  More posts are going to be made so stay in touch.

I've been sewing in my basement and it felt like a basement, dark.  I've added some lighting and my newest item I've added is a cutting table.  In one of my earlier posts I showed you my Murphy table that stashed away in one of my cabinets at the other house. Well my son wasn't using it, he now rents the house from me, so I ask if I could have it.  He needed the storage so I got my table. 

I now have a BIG cutting table and finally have some place to cut, lay things out and still have room for more.  Just love it.  Went to a cabinet shop and purchased some ready made cabinets to put under the table.  Now I have even more storage with drawers and shelves. To my surprise some of the cabinets are empty. 
 

There is even room under the table for my 2 1/2 year old granddaughter, Mariah to have a house to play in.  You will find her taking her babies and books in the secret hiding place.  If you listen close you might even hear her sing.

This is where she is stashing her things so Grandma can't put them away. :)










 Anyway as you can see in the picture I now have a big cutting table, big ironing board and a big table to set my sewing machine on.  It is so nice to have all this room.  I'm really enjoying sewing again.  What a difference it makes.

I've still got a few more things I want to do with the space but had to brag a little about what I got.

Keep on stitchin'
Connie