Winner of the Stitches charm pack is....

Gwen, you're the winner of the first charm pack giveaway - Stitches on the Oregon Trail! Thanks so all who entered. Come back again this Charming Thursday to try, try again for the next KT fabric collection, Stitches on the Oregon Trail II. FYI - comments close at 10pm central time on Sunday nights.

I was excited to hear several of you have read the Quilters Journals or made one of the quilts. In my cleaning/sorting/organizing frenzy, I found all the parts with extra pieces for the new KT Favorites - 10 Years & Counting BOM blocks & applique (sorry, no background or borders). Tell me what you like about BOM's or what you're looking for in a BOM to win the pile by Wednesday 10pm. I'll announce the winner on Thursday. We're in purge mode, so stay tuned!

Our First Weekly Charming Thursdays Giveaway!

Ladies, here we go! Here's your chance to win a piece of KT and Moda history, right out of my personal stash. Stitches on the Oregon Trail is actually the 3rd in a series of BOM quilts (pictured above) that is based on the fictional journal of a quilter, Lily, as she writies about her journey as a homesteader in Kansas during the 1850's. Believe me, writing the chapters of her journal for each block for the quilt was much more time-consuming than piecing it! As a bonus this week, we're offering the pattern for Stitches on the Oregon Trail at 1/2 price ($11.48) from today thru Wednesday, March 2nd. Just give Robert a call at 785-488-2120 and tell him you saw it here. Go to ktquilts.com to see all 6 of the Quilters Journal quilts and the book with just the stories from all six BOM's. I'd love to hear from any of you that have made/read a Quilters Journal quilt.

Watch Sunday for the winner and tune in next week for another Charming Thursday giveaway - Stitches on the Oregon Trail II.

Pillow Talk Blog Hop Winners Announced!

Three pairs of geese visited the pond this weekend, checking out the location for spring nesting. It's a hopeful sign that warmer weather is just around the corner.

Thanks to all the quilters who commented during the Moda Pillow Talk Blog Hop. I was delighted that so many visited all the designers throughout the month. It was great peeking into the bedrooms and minds of all these lovely ladies.

The KT giveaway is a Perennials fat 1/8 bundle, which goes to Wendy from Florence, MT. Congrats Wendy! Please send your mailing address and I'll get Robert to wrap it up and ship it out for you. Alas,it just didn't seem right that so many stopped by and only one person won, so we found a couple more items to giveaway - wahoo! Sandy G with her Kansas soldier sons wins a Perennials Layer Cake - that should make getting started on her pillows a little easier. And Clydine, whose "head hits the pillow and she's out like a light" wins a Perennials charm pack and pattern! Congratulations to all the winners. Hope to see you checking back in the future for more fun.

I'm always amazed at how quickly odds and ends pile up around here, year after year, one fabric line after the next. When I asked Robert to build yet another set of shelves for storage, his solution was "just give it away!". For once, I'll take his advice, clean out some of the old and get a little more organized. Announcing - Charming Thursdays! You'll have a chance to win a KT charm pack - from the first collection of KT fabric (Stitches on the Oregon Trail) to the very latest - one a week over the next 36 weeks. At the end, there will be a GIGANTIC giveaway of the entire history of KT charm squares - one of every KT fabric printed so far - more than 1200 5" squares! So check in on Thursdays - winners announced on Sunday/Monday.

More good stuff is being uncovered every week, so stay tuned and help me get the clutter under control. What's your favorite tip for organizing/storing small scraps of fabric? It drives me nuts!

KT Studio Tour w/Piecing the Past

It feels sooo good to feel good again! Of course, 70+ degree weather in Feb. doesn't hurt either. Robert and I took a long walk around the farm, making plans to start a raised bed garden this spring. It brought back memories of helping my Gramma in her veggie garden as a child, when pulling weeds was a game and a chewy cookie right out of the oven was the reward. Oh, what a life!
Shown here is the original 30's quilt that inspired my Gramma's Vegetable Garden. Piecing the Past, our book with The KC Star, features a dozen of my vintage quilts and their modern day versions. Check the website for a special sale on this book now - just $22.95! I'm pretty sure we'll be giving away a book later in March. Watch each week for more pics of the new and old quilts in the KT Studio.

Check back Monday for an announcement 10 years in the making!
Enjoy the beautiful weather this weekend.
Lynne

Cruise Wrap-up

Here are a few of the highlights from the last couple days of the cruise - desserts were divine (my table mate is Susan Stiff from Moda - computer genuis; Lissa Alexander, Marketing Director for Moda, demonstrated some clever ways to use leftover Jelly Roll strips and several new notions; Sandy Klop of American Jane actually likes to iron for the ladies in her class; Edyta showed off several of her wonderful quilts; our cabin was much roomier than we could have imagined (even a king size bed!); Robert loved the little surprise in our room each evening. Between the lovely ladies and glorious beaches, it really is a great way work/travel/play!


Thanks again to Stitchin' Heaven Quilt Shop & Travel for a wonderful trip. Check their website for upcoming cruises and events. Next year, Bonnie of Cotton Way and Barb & Mary of Me and My Sister will entertain a whole boat load of ladies!

You still have a few days to get in on the Perennials fat 1/8 bundle giveaway from Feb. 7th's Pillow Talk Blog Hop. If you haven't been keeping up, it's not too late. This group of ladies could light up Bennington for a week from the creative energy generated when we all get together!

On the road to recovery

My last entry was a evidently a bit confusing. We returned from the cruise a little over a week ago and I was recapping with pictures, but within a couple days, I was feeling kinda puny. Thought I'd picked up a cold/bug on the plane home. As it turns out, the bug knocked me on my fanny for 5 days! Haven't been this sick in a long time. Feeling more human today so will continue with the cruise recap.

Cruise Days #4-5
Tuesday and Wednesday were spent on the islands of St. Thomas and St. Marteen with beautiful clear blue water and clean beaches. We enjoyed our days in the sun, roaming the shops and eating on the boardwalk. One of the coolest places we found was totally by accident. As we were searching for the Guavaberry liquour shop on St. Marteen (it's the only place in the world it's made), we heard music from the Canteena song from the Star Wars movies in the distance - what??? Since my twin sons are still huge Star Wars fans, we had to check it out. The creator of Yoda, Nick Foley, has a little museum and shop on the island where he sells original movie memorabilia from the Star Wars series. How cool is that!!! Scored an awesome Christmas gift and thoroughly enjoyed our visit with Nick and his wife. Still trying to get the pictures transferred from my phone to the computer - check back later.

Off to work (finally) after a week of "lounging" in bed.
We'll finish up the cruise and announce some winners tomorrow.

Cruise delayed on account of seasickness

Hope to be up and going again by Friday thru the miracle of modern pharmaceuticals. Watch for a special giveaway announcement during the cruise recap.
Lynne

Cruise Log - Days #1-3

Saturday
The first day on the ship was mind-boggling! At more than a football field long and 16 stories high, it took a while to get our bearings. The Oasis has a real park, a mall with shops and restaurants and the Boardwalk that makes you feel like you're right on the beach. We helped setup 76 Berninas for the quilters, had dinner in the formal dining room and took advantage of one of the many hot tubs on board.
Sunday was spent on the island of Nassau, Bahamas where tents full of vendors were selling everything from baskets and shells to hats, dresses and lots and lots of jewelry. Robert bought a Bahamas hat and I haggled with a guy who had a boat full of shells and starfish - $5 for both - score! He said the starfish was greenish instead of rust colored because it was just a baby. Who knew?? We enjoyed lunch at Senior Frogs and watched a dance competition that involved ballons and lots of rum. Sunday night was formal night in the dining room with several wonderful entree choices from steak and salmon to grilled chicken and shrimp. So hard to choose!
Monday was the first day of classes. My group of 22 ladies were eager to get stitchin' and didn't waste time whipping up blocks, as you can see. Many of them had never tried raw edge applique and were pleased with the quick results and laid back approach to quilting. See all the smiling faces?
More tomorrow. Hopefully I can figure out how to get pictures from my phone to my computer!

HAND QUILTING: FABRIC DESIGNER INTERVIEW - LYNNE HAGMEIER

HAND QUILTING: FABRIC DESIGNER INTERVIEW - LYNNE HAGMEIER


I'm been surfing the web today and found an interview I did with Violette Severin a couple of years ago. If you're interested in learning more about my life and how I design, she did a good job of capturing that in our visit. There are several other good bios, as well. Thanks, Violette!

Skip the snow - come cruisin' with me.

Thanks to all of you who stopped by to comment during the Pillow Talk Blog Hop. I am overwhelmed and tickled by the response! After sharing a picture of my pillow on the front porch, just had to update how the space looks today after 40 mile an hour winds last night blew snow right through our screened in porch. We've never had it blow in that much before - I still have quilts out there!

This snow storm has convinced me it's time to relive our fabulously warm quilting cruise and share some pictures with you. Our virtual cruise will begin tomorrow (Wednesday) thru Sunday. At least we can pretend we're basking in the sun on the beach!
Lynne

Moda Pillow Talk Blog Hop

We're back from our quilting cruise and ready to jump right into the middle of the Moda Designer's Pillow Talk Blog! I am so honored to be included with such a talented, fun bunch of women. Don't miss any of them!

Usually before market, when most of us are really just sitting around counting the days until we can pack up and go, there will be an email from Lissa "inviting" us to participate in yet another of her brainstorms to promote Moda fabrics and designers. Compared to last year's 350 half square triangles, the pillow idea was a breeze! What fun to see everyone's versions of their life as a wife/mom/designer in fabric. My pillow is made like many toppers I've done in the past - two 14" quilted squares buttoned diagonally over an 18" covered pillow. The front is pieced or appliqued and often begins with a leftover block to coordinate with a quilt in progress. This pillow topper incorporates the Kansas Troubles block (our company logo) that has 4 sections (my 4 kids), 24 small triangles (Robert and I are celebrating 24 years of bliss next week) and eight primitive flowers (for our 8 grankids). Several of the grankids even chose the fabric and button for their flower. I tried to use as many different prints from the 33 fabric lines I've done with Moda over the past 10 years. Thanks, Lissa, for challenging us once again.

As for KT Pillow Talk, it's pretty tame out here in the country.
Something you may not know about me? I was in the Air Force for a couple of years with my first husband and high school sweetheart, went to college for almost a decade on the G.I. Bill and earned 3 majors and 2 minors before the money ran out - Social Work/Family & Child Development, Psychology, Spanish and Sociology. I worked as a Social Worker in Child Protective Services for several years until I was widowed with 4 kids under the age of 6. I moved back to Kansas closer to family, started quilting to have adults to play with, met Robert at a Church picnic - and the rest is history!

What do I wear to bed? The softest cotton t-shirt PJ's I can find - longer for winter, sleeveless and shorter for summer. On the bed - cotton flannel sheets 9-months out of the year (to help keep my cold feet warm)with several layers of quilts to pull up to my chin or kick off in the middle of the night. My favorite bedtime comfort is a warm corn bag (heated in the microwave) at the foot of the bed. I even had to make one for Robert this year 'cause I don't share very well. He's colder as he's getting older and I'm hotter. Funny how that works - I think we were both the same temperature for about a week last year.

Who sleeps on the couch and when? Neither of us - ever. When I used to have migraines, Robert would find "extra" work that needed his attention in town at the KT studio and stay there (not too bad since he had his pick of a dozen beds). Now, when he's on call all night for the ambulance service, he stays in town. Once in a while, it's a nice break from his snoring, but I still miss his warm(er) feet.

We're both trying to eat a little healthier, so late night snacks have switched from cookies to apples, buttered popcorn to plain. Sometimes on the weekends, we'll have a little Captain Morgan with our Diet Cokes and sleep in a bit. I'm almost always up later than Robert, watching TV, catching up on emails, or reading the latest quilting magazine. He wakes up early and goes to town with his dog, Gus, hoping he doesn't wake me up in the process.

My favorite pillow used to be down/feather. Since we bought a Tempurpedic bed, the pillow of the same material works great. Our most fun pillow fights are with some of the grankids - Cooper-10, Delainey-4, Aleece-6 & Rowan-8. Now that they're all getting bigger and stronger, we've switched to throw pillows instead of bed pillows!

Thanks for stopping by KT on the Moda Pillow Talk Blog Hop. Go to ktquilts.com for a free pattern of the pillow above. Share one of your pillow talk secrets here by the end of the blog hop (Feb. 20th) for a chance to win a Perennials fat 1/8 bundle - in quilt shops now!

Be sure to visit Kate Spain's blog tomorrow at katespaindesigns.blogspot.com.