Friday, April 13, 2012

Don't Forget!

Please join us Monday, April 16 for APQ's  radio talk show with host Pat Sloan. I'm a little nervous since I tend to say whatever comes to mind and you can't take back "Oh crap!" on the radio! Hope you'll all be listening, or at least saying a little prayer that I don't embarass myself too much. Thanks!

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Stay tuned...

Hope you all had a wonderful Easter weekend. We celebrated 3 birthdays - my grandson, son-in-law and Dad's with food, games, egg hunts, alot of laughter and several cakes. I'm not stepping foot on the scales for a month!

Please join me next Monday afternoon on APQ radio with host Pat Sloan (4pm CST). Although the whole point is that she'll be interviewing me, Pat is joining Moda as a fabric designer this spring, so I'm excited to get to know her better. See you on the radio!

The winner of our new Merry, Wish, Joy pattern featuring the Holiday Medley KT fabric by Moda is.... Barbara (#62 comment). Congratulations and thanks for playing. I enjoyed reading all the comments about your personal Christmas decorating favorites - lots of snowmen in the mix plus Santas and homemade items. Since we only spend one day at the KT building for Christmas, usually Christmas Eve Eve (Dec. 23rd) or the weekend before, I've gotten away from decorating every square inch of the 2500 sq. ft. Instead of dozens of Santas, several Nativities and loads of ornaments on a 10' or taller tree, we hang/drape/throw Christmas quilts everywhere, set out a few special Santas, 1 Nativity and a couple of my kids favorites from their childhood - a papier mache Santa, a snow globe and a bell that plays Christmas music, to name a few. Our tree is a small 4' primitive one that stays decorated all year. We sit it up on a round coffee table with a tree skirt, heap on the presents and the grankids think it's 10 feet tall! At the cabin where we actually live day in and day out, I bring a few special Christmas items, but fill in alot with natural elements from the yard and everyday items like metal birds, vintage kitchen graters with candles and a Norfolk pine with a few paper ornaments from the kids. Very simple but it keeps me in the spirit without feeling overwhelmed about decorating.

Our giveaway this week is for the Holiday Medley charm pack & pattern, Twinkly Stars (you'll just need to wait a while until the precuts are delivered in late May). I love friendship stars but thought the tiny 1" finished squares might be a pain to piece and lay flat. By raw edge stitching a triangle on the end of 4 rectangles, then sewing them around the center square for each star, it eliminates alot of seams, adds a primitive touch of frayed edge dimension and simplifies the whole process.

Just one charm pack and a couple additional fabrics is all you need to add this bright spot to your holiday decorating scheme. It's easy enough to make several for gifts! Available on our website soon.

See you all next week,
Lynne

Thursday, April 5, 2012

It's Christmas!

After getting another bug exterminated on my computer, I'm so far behind I thought it was only April, but it's looking alot like Christmas around here! Last week (whenever) I showed a block I'm using for my daughter's 30th birthday quilt. I got about half of the blocks sewn up at Pam's (Buda of Heartspun Quilts) while retreating so the rest just need to be done this summer so I can give it to her before she turns 31 (hey, she'll be 30 all year). The inspiration for the block came from my new quilt, Merry, Wish, Joy featuring Holiday Medley, the new KT Christmas line, due in quilt shops in June. Get a sneak peek now on the KT website under Fabric/Fabric Collections or thru the link above. 
The double star block is created just like the one in the previous blog post - a simple 9-patch background with triangles and squares (cut on the bias) raw edge stitched on top, then the 9-patch is sewn together as usual. It makes an intricate looking block without any stress or hassle and is big on primitive charm. This takes a fat 1/8 bundle of the new fabric collection plus sashing and borders. The Merry, Wish, Joy applique in the borders is inspired by the sashing fabric that has holiday words and phrases. There's also a 3-block runner that goes together so quickly, it would make great gifts. Too fun!

Comment here about your favorite Christmas decorating scheme by next Monday night (oh, btw, I'm switching to posting on Tuesdays for the giveaways) and I'll announce the winner of a free Merry, Wish, Joy pattern via random number generator on Tuesday. Watch all month for more Christmas-themed giveaways - fabric, charms, patterns and more!

Monday, March 26, 2012

On the Road

I'm treating myself to a retreat after spending a delightful weekend in Oshkosh, WI at the Fox Valley Technical College Sewing & Quilting Expo. Twenty ladies joined me for a Five & Dime class on Friday, I shared my quilting story thru a trunk show of quilts at a dinner with over 200 women Friday evening, then gave 5- 1 hour presentations on Precuts, Raw Edge Applique, Fabric Design & Inspiration and more on Sat. I was so tired of listening to myself talk that the 3 hour drive to my friend, Pam's, house was a quiet blessing on Sunday.

While here, I'm working on a quilt for my daughter, Nicole's, 30th b'day (last October). It's the same block I'm featuring in the new Holiday Medley Christmas fabric due in June. Just cutting today, but here's a look. It's a simple 9-patch with raw edge appliquéd squares and triangles to create the double star effect. 30 stars, 90 different KT fabrics.




She'll love it!

Oh yes, today's winner of the trio of charm patterns is......KrisD. Please send your mailing address and I'll send your patterns when i return home next week.
Thanks for stopping by,
Lynne

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Location:Mokena, ILL

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Happy First Day of Spring!

I've been so busy packing for my trip to Oshkosh, WI to teach this weekend that I missed posting yesterday. For those of you who stopped by, so sorry. The random number generator picked a bigger number this week - #59 - so that means Carol is the lucky winner of the 3-pack of KT Stash patterns. Please email your address and be patient since I won't be home to send your patterns until April. Thanks to everyone for your delightful critter and grandkid stories. Definitely got a chuckle out of them.

This week's goodies up for grabs - 3 of our most popular charm patterns, KT Classic Charm, Prairie Medley and Wildflower Baskets - all just perfect for spring stitching!





There might even be a few charm squares thrown in to get you started.

Gotta run. Lots of packing to finish. Update next Monday. Check back for a sneak peek at the April KT Stash project.

Know of any good antique stores between Kansas and WI?

Monday, March 12, 2012

Spring is in the air

Congratulations to ILUVMYBUGS, winner of the Bloomin' Pinwheels pattern/scraps this week. So, does the "bugs" in your name refer to VW cars or does it refer to crawly bugs? Just wonderin'.

I've had the best time traveling the past few weeks to Hesston, Kansas, Belleville, Kansas and Bartlesville, Oklahoma for programs and workshops. Such welcoming, enthusiastic ladies at every stop. I enjoy hearing their stories, seeing their quilts and answering questions of all sorts. Hanging out for an afternoon of quilting is always a blast because we get to know the ladies a little better and see how tickled they are with the fast results of our raw edge applique workshops. Is this the best job in the world or what?! Thanks to all of you who have been so warm and supportive in my travels.

On Tuesday, March 13, 7pm. I'll be sharing my quilts in a trunk show for Linda, owner of Sunflower Quilt Shop in Hiawatha, Kansas. We're expecting a good crowd at the Fisher Community Center, 203 E. Iowa St.  Join us if you can!  Call Linda for information at 785-742-4343.

The following week, March 23-24, I'll be in Oshkosh, WI for their 11th Annual Sewing & Quilting Expo at Fox Valley Technical College. I'll be teaching at a college - how cool is that!!! A few of the other instructors are Rhonda Horvath of Ragspun Quilts (I love her raggy appliques in KT fabrics); Mary Sorensen teaching fine hand applique; Renee Shedivy with crazy quilting and Jan Krueger with her Fireside Cuddle Quilt. I'll be teaching my Five and Dime quilt on Friday, a trunk show presentation Friday evening and 5 1-hour programs on Saturday. It's a brand new experience for me and I can't wait! Get the scoop here.

On a personal note, last weekend, a couple of the grandsons were here exploring the surrounding woods with the dog, Gus. In one section of trees, my grown up boys have set up a paint ball course with barrels, piles of railroad ties and other fortifications against enemy attack. The little boys enjoy playing there with their Nerf guns, hiding in spots where no one else can go. Well, one hiding spot is inside a 4' round barrel with a cone-shaped roof that has about a 12" hole in it. The boys have filled the bottom with straw and claimed it as their hideout. When Cooper (11 years old and impulsive) started to climb in, Gus went wild barking at him. Rowan (9 years old, level-headed and wise beyond his years) remarked, "I wouldn't get in there without looking first, Cooper." When Coop looked into the barrel - with one leg already hanging inside - he noticed the object of Gus' warning - a skunk. It didn't take him very long to jump down from the barrel. Rowan remarked, "He can move pretty fast!" Gus found the opening at the base of the barrel, we covered it with a brick and called Grampa B (my Dad) to come shoot the skunk. It's been hanging out under my front porch, stinking up the whole neighborhood and had to go. While waiting for Grampa, the boys insisted on beating on the side of the barrel to incite the skunk to spray, then complain about the putrid smell and do it again and again. Really? I'm pretty sure a couple of girls wouldn't go there. Grampa B came, shot the skunk and was proclaimed the hero of the day. We thought the problem was solved. A couple of nights later, Robert and I were overcome with the stench of skunk from behind the cabin. Guess all the relatives came for a wake. There's been no sign of any skunks since. Just another day "in the wild", as Delainey likes to call our little patch of country.

Okay, enough of the grankid stories, let's move on to the giveaway of the week. How about one of each of this year's new KT Stash Society patterns - Snow, Hearts to You and Bloomin' Pinwheels?





Comment here by Sunday 10pm for a chance to win all three. Tell me a story about your grankids - or pesky varmints at your house. Hope to see you at one of my upcoming events this spring.


Monday, March 5, 2012

#20's a winner!

Our handy dandy random number generator picked #20 out of the hat today, so congratulations to Judy - you're the winner of the Sandhill Plums bundle. Have fun and share the results with us.

A new KT Stash Society participating shop this year is Country Fabrics in Brainerd, MN. Brenda leads the group with enthusiasm and inspiration for her ladies. Here are a few of their completed January projects -



Don't ya just love all the different fabrics and color combinations? I thought this runner would be great for summer in red/tan/blue - now I know I have to do it! Thanks to all of Brenda's ladies for sharing their Snow projects. I'd love to know their names - and what they named their quilts, too. Please send photos of your Stash group anytime. We'd enjoy seeing what you're doing.

This week's giveaway is the new KT Stash Society March project - Bloomin' Pinwheels - plus a few fabrics to get you started. Traditionally pieced pinwheels in 2 sizes create a colorful accent for spring. A little raw edge applique for leaves/stems and button embellishment turn some of the pinwheels into spring's first blooms.

Comment here by Sunday 10pm. for a shot at winning the pattern and some parts and pieces laying around :).

I'm off to Bartlesville, OK for a program and workshop on Friday. Hopefully, we'll have some industrious ladies with blocks to share.
See ya,
Lynne