Chasing Grankids

It's a busy week with grankids coming and going - Aleece is staying all week, Rowan is here Monday thru Wednesday, then Delainey comes Friday & Saturday as we take Aleece home to KC and visit the American Girl Store. Having one grankid at a time makes for leisurely quiet conversations and cuddling in front of the TV, but when there are two or more together, the laughter never stops. I love listening in on their late night whisperings about their friends, parents, and life in general. It's a unique perspective as a granparent - one I cherish. So, all week, I'm trying to work early and play all afternoon, but there's a long list of to-do's at the shop. The kids have volunteered to carry boxes upstairs to earn some money for snacks at the swimming pool this afternoon. They better go early as it's supposed to hit 105 here today. I can't send them home scorched! 

KT Winner

Congrats to deblong of Ulysses, KS. You're the winner of our trilogy of patriotic patterns. Please send your mailing address to lynne@ktquilts.com to claim your prize. Thanks to everyone for your suggestions of fabulous fireworks displays. I'm making my list...

KT Web Store

I'm adding new kits to the webstore every day - Icicle Stars, Skipping Stones, Signs of Fall and several Mini Table Treats to name a few. Go to ktquilts.com to see all of our books, patterns, precuts and kits. I'm learning more about our website this summer and will be introducing new features as I can. What would you like to see on our website?

Just For You Gift Bag

Our new pattern this month for KT Stash Society is a gift bag for the holidays. How special to "wrap" a present in a quilted bag that can be used all year through. It's a great size (12"x14"x2") for carrying all your necessities - a tablet, books, magazines, paperwork. Adjustable tie straps make it very versatile. Our layered patchwork technique makes it fast & easier enough to make several!

Comment this week about oneof your favorite KT projects - past, present or future - to win a Just For You Gift Bag pattern.  Talk to you soon!

Happy Birthday America!

KT Winner

Congratulations to Kathy in GA - you're the winner of last week's KT giveaway. I really appreciate all your help in suggesting themes for new Mini Table Treats. Watch this fall for a few new designs.

Sweet Pea

Thanks for all the positive comments on the Through the Year wall quilt with button-ons. I've had several emails inquiring about when the fabric & pattern would be ready. Ship date for fabric is October, so I guess I better have the pattern done before then, as well.  Watch here for giveaways. To be the first on your block to have a piece of Sweet Pea - or any KT collection - sign up for our KT Collector's Club. You'll receive (6) fat quarters, a mini charm and a pattern from our KT Stash Society series about a month before the fabric hits the shops for just $25 - including shipping! Email me at the shop at lynne@ktquilts.com to sign up.

Fireworks

Ok, if you've known me very long, I'm sure you've heard the story of my birth day on July 5th. My Dad tells that during the family's fireworks display on the 4th, my Mom went into labor and he had to quit shooting off fireworks to take her to the hospital. Such a sacrifice! For years I heard that the whole town was lighting up the sky just to celebrate my birthday. Finding out that wasn't the case was like finding out about Santa. Oh well, I still LOVE fireworks. I have a bucket list started on some of the best fireworks displays in the country that I want to experience before I've had too many more birthdays. Any suggestions? Comment here and win a few of my favorite red/tan/blue patterns.

A Wave to Old Glory  features layered patchwork for easy wavy stripes.

Picnic Plaid is simply pieced 9-patches with a red plaid bias strip  stitched
on as you quilt through all the layers.  Fast & easy for picnic fun.

One of 3 seasonal variations in our Frayed Edges, Too booklet that's all plaids cut on the bias
with no batting for the softest, cuddliest throw ever!

Exciting week at KT Bernina Quilt Shop & Emporium

Last week was an exciting time at at KT Bernina.  I crashed Lynne's quilt program,  welcomed a busload of 52 enthusiastic quilters from Grand Island, NE, and ten more from Wakefield, KS.  In my spare time I was able to service a serger and a couple sewing machines and set up some new displays for the store.

Silver Needles Quilt Guild

Lynne was invited by Silver Needles to do her quilt presentation and, of course, I was needed to hold up the quilts for all to see.  Since I had a captive audience I jumped at the chance to promote KT Bernina Quilt Shop and Emporium.  I brought along the Bernina 550 QE sewing machine and showcased the 710 sewing machine with the Bernina Stitch Regulator.  It was fun watching thequilter's try out freemotion BSR quilting.  

A flock of wool bird pincushons landed at the store.

Harvest table with needful things

Welcoming the Grand Island Quilters

Bernina University

Looking forward to an entertaining and educational conference attending Bernina U in San Francisco,CA this weekend.  Planning to take advantage of the many classes and presentations showcasing what's new and exciting with Bernina. Stay tuned for a recap of my adventure!

Sneak Peek

KT Winner

Congratulations to Laurie from TX. You're the winner of the Icicle Stars booklet. Thanks to you and everyone for commenting. I enjoyed hearing about all of your favorite summer adventures - at home and travelling. I love anywhere near the water where it's cooler than Kansas. No vacation for me this summer, though. The store is keeping us busy and the grankids are coming and going over the next few weeks. At least it's a good excuse to go to the pool and eat ice cream!

Sneak Peek

KT's newest fabric line, Sweet Pea, debuted at Spring Market in Portland. Here's a first look. For our fall collection, we have rich shades of green, pumpkin, brown, navy, red, gold & tan. The tan with multi-colored dots is my absolute favorite print in this line - I'll be using that as a background ALOT! Really like the navy medium print - it also comes in red, green and tan tone-on-tones.

The project for Sweet Pea is Through the Year. It continues our theme from the Changing Seasons HB runner that offers 14" quilted squares to button on for the seasons. Mix and match any of our toppers to button on a pillow, the runner or our new wall quilt. With the double churn dash background, it's great on it's own, too!

44" sq. wall quilt with buttons

Fall Harvest Topper 14" sq.

Happy Birthday America topper 14" sq.

Joy of the Season topper 14" sq.

Bloomin' Basket topper 14" sq.

I'm always looking for suggestions for additonal toppers for pillows, the runner and wall quilt. What motif would you like to decorate your home? Comment here to win a bag full of scrap strips & squares leftover from these projects. Be the first on your block to own some Sweet Pea!

Guest Post By Robert

Welcome to KT Bernina.  

Our adventure started in November when Lynne called Bernina USA in Aurora, IL. to locate a service tech to work on her machines.  They informed her that they were looking for a service representative in our area. Did she know anyone that might be interested?  When I came home from work that night she told me "What a Deal I have for you".  And so the journey began. We filled out forms, rearranged the entire KT Studio and travelled to Aurora, IL for service & business classes in Feb. By the end of March, we opened the doors of KT Bernina Quilt Shop & Emporium amidst unseasonable cold & snow. Our Grand Opening was the end of April during our local Shop Hop. We were officially in business.

It's been alot of work but also alot of fun setting up displays, finding unique items of interest to quilters and meeting all the quilters who stop by the store. We'd love to see you soon!

Come test drive a quality Bernina sewing machine at KT Bernina

KT Bernina Quilt Shop & Emporium Store Hours

Tuesday, Thursday, Friday - 10-5pm.

Wednesday - 10-7pm.

Saturday - 10-3pm.

Traveling? Call ahead and we'll meet you at the shop! 785-488-2120.

For after-hours assistance, call Robert at 785-488-6214. 

Catching Up

Winner

First of all, sorry for the delay in posting the winner of the Starry Kisses charm & pattern from 2 weeks ago. How time flies when you're out of town and playing with quilters! Congratulations to sue (comment #51) - you're the winner this week. Please send your mailing address to ktquilts2@twinvalley.net and we'll mail out your goodies this week. Just a note to those of you who comment on the blog. If you add your email address to your profile, I can notify you directly when you win and you can respond from there. We've had several unclaimed giveaways because the winners don't come back to check and see if they'd won. It's also difficult to identify someone just by their first name. I just hate for someone to miss out on winning. Just a thought.

Cape Girardeau, MO

My grandson, Cooper (12-almost-13), and I visited the quilt guild in Cape Girardeau, MO last week and had a delightful time with Chris, Lynore and their wonderful bunch of ladies. They were my test group for teaching Icicle Kisses and the fabric arrived at the local shop, The Golden Needle, during the class. I was intrigued and inspired, as usual, with the quilters' stories of how their lives are enriched by quilting and the bonds made with other quilters. Great group of ladies. Thanks for having us. Cooper helped unload, load, hold up quilts, pack up quilts, sell product and kept me company for several days.In return, we visited the Arch in St. Louis on the way home and shopped, shopped, shopped. Here's a sample of the "sick" shoes & t-shirt he found on sale for under $10 for both!

Scored some great deals!

Cool Guy

Memorial Arch in St. Louis, MO

 Prairie Lavender Farm

Just a few miles from Bennington is a unique commercial endeavor - a lavender farm. This creative family has turned a hobby into a thriving business, growing over 25 varieties of Lavender and processing it into creams, lotions, balms, sprays, candles and dried arrangements. Each year during peak flowering season, we enjoy a sneak peak into their operation during a lively open house. There are tours of the property, music, demonstrations and refreshments (lavender lemonade, ice cream and other delicacies) in addition to their gift shop. Mom & I enjoyed a lavender lemonade and shopped for lightly scented candles and sachets. I brought home a a lavender candle for each of the ladies at our KT Retreat this weekend. How fun!

Prairie Lavender Farm Open House

Lavender Fields

Lavender Lemonade & fresh bundle to hang & dry

Icicle Stars

We just received our boxes of Icicle Kisses fabric and are already cutting yardage for the Icicle Stars kits. Watch for them on our website soon. This week, our blog winner will receive an Icicle Stars pattern, so comment here on your favorite summer festival or destination for a chance to win.

KT Bernina

Check in during the week for Robert's new contribution to my blog, sharing pictures of the store and information on Bernina sewing machines and products. He will be presenting the program to the local quilt guild Monday night - stay tuned.

Eldreth Pottery Pendant Winner

Congrats to BizyStitches - you're the winner of the pottery pendant. Pick your preference - red basket block or blue bee skep - and let me know along with your mailing address. Thanks to everyone who commented on their favorite collectibles. Just a note - not everything in the cubby was purchased on my trip. The cubby was the find so I could load it up with junk I already had.

Icicle Kisses is Here!

I can't believe it's time to think about Christmas quilting already! We both know if we don't make a plan now, it won't be done before the holidays. So now is the time to pick up the new Icicle Kisses fabric and precuts for a a couple of great new projects, both easy enough to make several for gifts and one for yourself! Icicle Stars simplifies a classic star block with our signature layered patchwork technique, making more perfect blocks with less work. By layering different sizes of triangles on squares and rectangles, star points and trees are created with a fun texture and primitive appeal. For a scrappy look, start with a Jelly Roll; for blocks with a consistent background fabric, choose fat 1/8's and 1/4's.

This 72" square lap quilt pattern also includes instructions for a 3-star runner. If you love the ease of charm quilts, check out our Starry Kisses quilt. I actually used a template (although I'm sometimes allergic to the "T" word) to make a 4 pointed star that's as easy as sewing a quarter square triangle block. An Icicle Kisses charm pack and 2 fabrics is all you need for this 32" sq. wall quilt. Perfect for gift-giving!

Ready for a Christmas giveaway? Share what kinds of projects you like to make for family & friends. Win an Starry Kisses pattern & charm to start you on the way to holiday stitching.