Retreating in Florida

KT Favorites II Scrap Winner

 Congratulations to Babareeba! You're the winner of the huge pile of KT Fav II scraps. We'd love to see a picture of what you do with them. Actually, anyone out there that wants to send a picture of a KT project, please send it my way via ktquilts2@twinvalley.net. I'd love to have a monthly showcase of quilts made by you.

Five & Dime/Loose Change Tutorial on Missouri Star Quilt Co

OMG! There are few times in my life when this expression really fits, but this is definitely one of them. I visited Jenny Doan of Missouri Star Quilt Co. a couple months ago to show her my Loose Change book and Five & Dime Ruler. We shot a video, laughed alot, had lunch and planned a retreat for March of this year. I came home to concentrate on preparations for market. October and November passed and the holidays are upon us. Robert and I decided to close the store the week between Christmas and New Year's for inventory and wished our employees a Happy New Year. The kids and grankids descended upon us to celebrate on the 27-28th of December. After the dust settled on the 29th, Robert pulled out his iPad to check his emails. There were hundreds of orders for books & rulers from the Missiouri Star tutorial that had gone online on the Dec 27, unbeknownst to us. Again, OMG! We had no employees, MSQC needed more rulers and books ASAP, and our ruler supplier was also closed for the holidays. Long story short, orders kept pouring in each day, and Robert had a minor panic attack, but the rulers have arrived and orders are shipping as fast as we can get them to the post office. By the end of this week, Robert and his exhausted but hearty crew (Linda & Jamie) will breath a sigh of relief and raise a glass to all of you quilters. If you've placed an order recently, thank you for your patience and understanding. If you haven't seen the tutorial yet, check it out at Missouri Star Quilt Co. 

Great Girlfriend Getaway

Pam Buda and I are off to St. Augustine, Florida to teach at a week long retreat with 43 lovely ladies next week. Wish you all could come with us for some much needed sun and fun this winter. I'll be teaching my Windmills on the Plains quilt, below, featuring a Jelly Roll from KT Favorites II. Pam's quilt is a beautifully pieced two-color pinwheel from her Pin Money collection. Maybe September would work better foryou for a little retreat to Mackinaw City, MI. Check out the details at both of our websites - ktquilts.com and heartspunquilts.com. Do you have a destination you'd love to visit and spend a week quilting ? Let us know and we'll put it on our bucket list.

Windmills on the Plains pattern - $7.95 at ktquilts.com

Sweet Pea Scrap Giveaway

Are you planning a project for 2014 that could use an infusion of KT 's Sweet Pea? Here's your chance! Joy got just a little carried away cutting 5" chunks from leftover scrap strips and I ended up with a knee high pile that needs a good home. Comment here on somewhere you'd like to visit for a quilting retreat by Wed. Jan. 28th. I've got my sunscreen packed. See you in a couple weeks!

Happy New Year!

Have you made your list of New Year's Promise to yourself? 

        I've enjoyed reading on the blogs about quilters selecting a word or phrase for the year instead of making resolutions. My phrase would be "Have more fun!" Although I enjoy what I do, it's always great fun to just hang out and sew with friends, no deadline, no cooking, no pressure. It clears the head, fills the soul, and inspires the mind. Who doesn't want more of that? Sooooo, here's a look at my promises to myself:
       * Finish xyz projects
       * Start abc projects
       * Buy new fabric collections/precuts/patterns
        * Make time to sew and play more with my quilting friends at a retreat
                - Great Girlfriend Getaways with Pam Buda of Heartspun Quilts
                - Weekend retreat with Jenny Doan of Missouri Star Quilt Co
                - Kansas Troubles Retreats at the KT Bernina Quilt Shop & Emporium

Whew! Lots to do this year! To help you get started on a new project, we're giving away some KT Favorites II leftovers. Interested?

There are more than 300 scrappy squares of all 40 KT Fav II prints
that are about 5" x 2 to 5" chunks. So fun to add to a charm quilt!

Here's the pile stacked vertically on our Hearts to You quilt, just in time for Valentine's Day this year. The charm quilt in the back by Heartspun Quilts, Summer's End, would be perfect for a pile of scrap squares like this!

So here's the deal. Just comment here about your New Year's promise to yourself and you could win this whole pile of squares to get you on your way to another wonderful quilt for 2014. Deadline: Wednesday, Jan. 15th. 

KT Quilt Contest Finalists

KT Quilt Contest

I was delighted and honored when The Old Country Store in Lancaster, PA invited me to showcase my quilts in their museum this past year. I was able to stop in and visit the store/museum as Pam Buda and I made our way to Brimfield, MA to the antique & textile show this past May. We were both so impressed by the professional displays, the wonderful finds in the gift shop and the cheerful staff in the shop. I was looking forward to returning later in the summer for a special book signing event at the museum, but my father-in-law's passing prevented me from attending. I stayed in close contact with the staff into the fall, excited to see the quilts entered in the KT Quilt Contest sponsored by The Old Country Store. Alas, with much sadness, we heard just a couple days before the winners were chosen that the store had closed it's doors. No winner was officially declared, but I'd like to share all of the finalists quilts with you here to show just how incredibly difficult that job would have been! Congrats to all of you and your beautiful quilts. I am awed by the talent and vision of all the entries. Great job ladies, one and all! Thanks so much for the gracious emails from each of you. Enjoy!

Allison Evrard
Simply stunning stars and scraps!
Great use of a border stripe to pull it all together.

Cindy Kostyak
What a delightful version of Cathedral windows. It shines like stained glass!

Cindy Thompson
I love the combo of log cabin and scrappy squares/strips -
too clever and not a bit wasted!

Gina Blanchard
Truly gorgeous applique is enhanced even further with intricate piecing
and soft scallops to frame it. Beautiful job!

Katy Hoess
Pieced and appliqued blocks blend beautifully to create
a perfectly balanced country cozy quilt.  

Kim Loar
Can you say CRAZY? The detail on this quilt is incredible!
What a work of love and patience.

Penny Lewis
What a fun collection of stars in a unique setting -
so interesting to discover all the differences - great job!

Rose Bullen
LOVE the appliqued medallion surrounded by simple pieced blocks that make it shine.
The half square border finishes it off perfectly!

Veronica Longobardi
What a cheery holiday quilt - love the basket of holly!
Really cool pieced stars married to appliqued vines in the corners!

Sandra Thurston
What a great idea for a Jelly Roll!
Love the twinkly movement and cool pattern.

 Thanks again to all 10 of the KT Quilt Contest finalists. I am humbled that you would choose KT fabrics to make such glorious quilts!

Check in Friday for our first giveaway of 2014!

Lynne

Endings and Beginnings

Merry Christmas!

I hope you all had a lovely holiday with family and friends. Robert and I spent a very quiet, very calm Christmas Day at home alone watching a marathon of movies and baking cookies. It's time well spent recharging for the arrival of chaos at our house very soon. Santa is coming on Saturday when the kids/grankids are ready after hectic holiday schedules to relax and spend the night upstairs at the retreat space. I finally dragged the Christmas tree out today, wrapped some presents and hummed a carol or two while trying to figure out the last minute grocery list. Everyone's pitching in for an eat-all-night buffet full of our favorites. 

KT Winner

Congrats to Nancy E (quilt4fun1@gmail.com) for commenting. You're the winner of the KT Christmas bundle. Please send your address and we'll get it packed up for you.

Endings

It's been quite a year here at KTQ - new store front, new Bernina dealers, KT retreats reopening and lots of new quilting friends. In just a few months, we've rearranged/expanded the store 3 times, moved my office twice and built a wall upstairs in the retreat space. Jamie Swanson, our general-all-around cleaning/maintenance/building/painting diva, has spent the last couple weeks leading the charge to get this place back to shipshape before New Year's. She's sucked up gallons of sheetrock dust, sanded and painted walls & ceilings, ripped up carpet and moved a ton of furniture/bookcases from upstairs to downstairs and back again. Now, I'm finally moving into my NEW office, sorting thru piles of quilting books, magazines and vintage fabric swatches, trying to organize my life for the new year. The fun part is about to begin, bringing in some of my favorite things to decorate my very own space. We're installing a shelf about a foot down from the ceiling all around the room to hold the fat 1/8 bundles of fabric from each of my collections and assorted sewing needfuls.

Beginnings

2014 is full of new adventures - Pam Buda and I are off to St. Augustine, Fl for a week long quilting retreat in January, then to Mackinaw Island in September. I'm partnering up with Jenny Doan of Missouri Star Quilt Co. for a 3-day retreat the end of March in Salina, KS with more in the works. I'm also delighted to be included in the all-star list of quilters speaking at the Nancy's Notions Sewing Weekend in May. As for what's coming in fabric next year, we're stitching up quilts for KT's 2014 Christmas line, Holly Wishes, I just edited a new line of fabric for Spring Market (Paisley Park), and I'm digging thru old quilts for inspiration for next fall's new collection. As the year unfolds, I can share more fun surprises, but for now, let's just say it's gonna be another busy one, for sure! I hope you can take some time and join me along the way.

Watch here for the ten finalists'quilts from The Old Country Store KT Quilt Contest on New Year's Day along with a great giveaway to kick off 2014. Enjoy the rest of your year!

Let's Celebrate the Holidays!

Holiday Open House at KT Bernina

Join us this Saturday, Dec.14th, for specials on KT Christmas fabrics, patterns, kits (25% off) and decor (40% off). We'll be there from 10am to 3pm to share a cookie and jolly holiday smiles. See you then!

KT Winner

Congratulations to Paula A. - you're the winner of the Bees Knees pattern & ruler. I hope you enjoy the fast & easy layered patchwork technique for a simple but really cool quilt. Please email your mailing address to lynne@ktquilts.com. I wasn't sure about the Honeycomb hexagons at first, but have found them to be great fun to play with. We'll have more fun with Honeycombs in our new book this spring! See if first here!

Christmas Magic

Our Blog Blowout for December is a magical trio of Christmas patterns just for you - or a quilting friend. It's not too late to make a small quilt or pillow topper for that hard-to-buy-for special person in your life.

Holiday Ties uses easy 4-patch piecing to create bow ties with just a little
layered patchwork square stitched on top while you're quilting!

Our December Star pillow topper is great for the holidays but wonderful in any colorway to match your
home decor for all year enjoyment. 14" square to button diagonally over an 18" covered pillow.

Christmas J-O-Y begins with just 3 Layer Cake squares for the ornaments and their trim utilizing the
pinked edge as a design element. It's a quick project anyone on your list is sure to love.

All 3 Christmas patterns are just $9.99 total on the KT webstore at this link: Christmas-Trio-of-Bonus-Patterns. Offer expires December 24th.

Oh My! We Have a Giveaway!

I totally forgot to include the fat 1/8 bundle of KT Christmas fabrics from over the years. 40 different prints from more than half a dozen Christmas lines - too fun! Comment here for a chance to win by December 20th.

Thanks so much to all of you who follow my blog, send words of support & encouragement and enjoy quilting as much as I do. I love to travel and meet quilters all over the country. Hope to see you sometime soon! Or, come visit us at the KT Retreat! Check availability on our website at KT Retreats.

Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and a Wonderful New Year to you all!
Lynne

KT's Layered Patchwork

The Bees Knees

Think it's too late to make a quilt for someone special on your Christmas list? Not with our Layered Patchwork technique! Check out this video from Quilt Market taken by Fat Quarter Shop to see how easy it can be.      Fat Quarter Shop Designer Tidbits - Kansas Troubles Quilters

Here's our newest pattern, The Bees Knees, layering a Honeycomb (Moda's new hexagon precut) with a Layer Cake in 2 ways. First, Sweet as Honey...

Sweet as Honey is a 66" x 75" lap quilt featuring a KT Layer Cake, Honeycomb
plus 2 fabrics for borders - less than $100!

              Check out how easy it is to layer, stitch, cut & sew your way to a lap size quilt in a day!

The top row shows how to layer & cut for the Sweet as Honey quilt.
The bottom row is a sample block from The Bee's Knees - so simple!
Our KT Honeycomb Ruler is (shown bottom right) makes both quilts even faster!

The Bee's Knees lap quilt 66" x 74" features a Layer Cake, Honeycomb,
2 tan fat quarters & border fabric - done! 

Comment by Nov. 31st to win a KT Honeycomb Ruler & The Bee's Knees pattern! Share your plans for Thanksgiving - or your perfect Thanksgiving ever.

Happy Turkey Day to All!
Lynne

Old Country Store Contest

Giveaway Winner

The winner of our KT Favorites II Layer Cake & Eye of the Storm pattern is ledamewood (Comment #30). Thanks to everyone who shared their Halloween stories. We just received the precuts for KT Fav II at the store and should be getting the yardage in just a couple weeks. Watch for it in your local quilt shop! Good news, Bad news.  I love that this line will be a basic for KT - it will be available for a couple years to the quilt shops to coordinate with all KT lines. That's the good news. The bad news is, if you're hoping to snag a KT Fav II precut from charm to mini charm, Layer Cake to Jelly Roll, Honeybun to Honeycomb, now is your only chance. The precuts are only made once when the fabric is originally printed, so don't delay! Two of each should work!

Kansas Troubles Quilt Contest at The Old Country Store

The Old Country Store in Lancaster Co., PA is selecting the winner of the Kansas Troubles Quilters quilt contest this week! Don't miss your chance to vote for your favorite. The quilts are truly wonderful - each and every one a treasure - the workmanship is awesome and ya gotta love the fabric choices! Go to Kansas Troubles Quilt Contest to see the quilts & vote before Thursday. I can't wait to see who wins all the awesome prizes! A big Thank-You to Jan Mast & her staff at The Old Country Store for taking such good care of my quilts this year. Wish I'd been able to stop in again. It's a great store and the area is so much fun!

Shopping in Illinois

My buddy, Pam Buda of Heartspun Quilts, along with Tara Lynn Darr (author of Simply Charming & Cozy Quilts fame) & Docia Fuller (former owner of The Quilt Merchant), all met me in Arthur/Arcola, IL last weekend for a couple days of girlfriend time while we antique shopped at some of the best Early American antiques around. I found a few new treasures that could show up as KT fabric in the future.

Notice a trend here? I happen to love mid-1800's fabrics to reproduce for KTQ. Yum!

I've always wanted a lightning rod arrow with the stained glass. This one came with a stand so I can display it inside, safe from the Kansas winds. A shoe last with a handmade bird/strawberry emery, star pincushion and needle keep with the sizes stitched into it are some of the other needful things I acquired on this trip. 

More giveaways next week. Stay tuned!