Loads of work to be done...

First of all, congratulations to Gwen (comment #5). You're the winner of a KT Harvest Moon strip bundle - just as soon as I sort thru the 50 lb. box! In the meantime, I have lots to do to prepare for pictures for the new book, Loose Change, in a couple weeks. Here's what Robert and I did over the weekend with a little help from the grandsons altho they spent more time in the sand pile and pond.

 We used the old cedar fence posts that had enclosed the pasture for over 60 years as a perimeter around our big shade tree to hide the bare patch of dirt and cover the roots. I started out wanting an 8 foot diameter. We ended up with over 20 feet. Bigger is better. It really did need to be bigger to not be dwarfed by the tree but our little bags of potting soil just weren't going to fill it. Sooo...

 the guy dumped a load of dirt this morning to fill my little planter. Guess someone has a job to do this weekend. It's gonna take alot of plants to fill it, too. Anyone up for dirty fingernails in exchange for some fat quarters???

This is really more my speed of gardening - a half wind-burned plant in a cut-out chair. I water it every morning and it's still thirsty. Oh well...the best looking things in my garden are the succelents that are thriving in this extremely hot, dry weather.

I have an old chicken feeder full of chicks 'n hens, aloe and other dry-loving plants. They're loving this weather!

Let me know this week if you have any handy gardening tips about dry, windy, hot conditions and how to keep things looking perky. Someone will walk away with the July KT Stash pattern, Holiday Ties, and some scraps to get you started. Until then, stay cool. LMH

Finally back in the groove

Yes, I'm still alive and kicking. Thanks for wondering. Returned home from CO (where my iPad wouldn't let me blog easily except at McDonald's) on Sunday evening to take a breath and was greeted at the door a day early by my two grandsons, Cooper (11) and Rowan (9). So, we hit the ground running Monday morning trying to pack a whole summer's worth of fun in a week. Swimming, fishing, exploring, painting, shopping, eating, landscaping, rearranging furniture - they've been really good help to have around. I can vacuum or plant twice as fast when they're moving furniture and hauling dirt/digging holes for me. And they think it's great fun! Of course, the reward is going to the pool or a trip to DQ for ice cream. Totally worth it to me. However, their pullout bed is in my sewing room so it's hard to get to my computer thru all the water guns, shoes, clothes and wet towels. I love having them here, but glad I'm a Gramma and not a full time Mom anymore. Whew!

The ladies in Grand Junction, CO at the guild and at Quilters' Corner Quilt Shop were a blast to hang out with last week. Here are a few pictures of the variations on my Square Pegs quilt...

It's an hour later and I realized I shot video instead of still camera shots. So sorry ladies. We had such a great variety of fabrics - bright kid prints to plaids, KT to batiks. All very cool. I downloaded a program to convert a still photo from a video but it will take a while to master it. Geez, technology makes me feel dumb.

The second workshop was Just a Little Loopy using a charm pack and a Honey Bun. By simply centering a HB strip across the center of a 5" charm square and stitching close to the pinked edges, you create a rail fence block. How easy is that? We used the extra HB strips to make a loopy border, pillow and decorate the top of a quilted bag. Three projects from 1 Honey Bun! The ladies were delighted and did a great job. I always enjoy my trips to Grand Junction. Thanks again for inviting me!

I'm announcing the giveaway for this week a little late so be sure to comment soon. A Harvest Moon scrap bundle will be yours if you comment by Monday night. I'll announce the winner on Tuesday - promise.

Busy week

It's been a busy couple of weeks around here. First, Bennington's annual rodeo closed the whole block of downtown for a day of fun activities for the kids - turtle races, dunk tank, peddle tractor pull and pony rides. Here's 6 yr-old Delainey enjoying her first encounter with a horse, acting like a seasoned cowgirl - Yeehaw! note the KT studio in the background.



Then, this last weekend was the Smoky Hill River Festival, the most fun that happens in Salina each year. For just a $10 button, our whole brood gathers for a weekend of live music, fine arts, unique crafts and more food than we can sample in 3days. My daughter, Nicole, and I enjoy checking out all the inspiring art, especially the jewelry and art created with found and vintage objects - too cool! Even 8 yr-old Aleece looks forward to choosing a special piece after examining all the options in every booth. This year, she selected a beautifully made blown glass flower. She even asked the artist for his card so she could keep it with her treasure. I'll share a pic when her Mom sends one. Some of the other offerings...



Pottery of all shapes and sizes,


Delicate looking glass sculptures, (it didn't take us very long to look in this booth with all the breakables)


Tattoo art on boxes and signs,


And a 3-d framed piece that pointed out looked just like one of my quilts. She has a discerning eye and is a budding artist, for sure.

Besides all the wonderful art and food, the whole park is decorated with giant installations difficult to capture in a picture, and local art teachers who work with their students to wrap trees and paint the sidewalks. The whole experience is awesome.



Watch tomorrow for last week's winner and a new giveaway.

Making a path to the Post Office

 I'm delighted that we've sent out over 5 dozen Twinkly Stars patterns to all of you blog readers so far that sent in a stamped envelope. I've been getting the mail, opening the envelopes, stuffing the included envelopes with a pattern and heading back to the Post Office. Even Gwen, our postmaster, noticed how often I was trekking back and forth. How fun was that! I'm counting it as my exercise for the day. Thanks to everyone who celebrated with us.

Hmmm...I think I forgot something in last week's post. Maybe a new giveaway for the week? Duh! Sorry about that. This week, I think we'll offer the 3 new patterns from last year's Stash Society that are now available to everyone - Squared, Scrap Baskets and Pickets & Petals. Squared is a traditional square-in-a-square block x 3 with not-so-traditional raw edge plaid triangles sewn into the border seam and buttoned down. Very fun table topper or wall quilt for everyday.

Scrap Baskets make good use of all those little strips you've been collecting for just the right project. Pieced log-cabin style baskets have fused bias handles for the perfect finishing touch.

Pickets & petals is a fun way to celebrate spring with blooms peeking over the neighbor's fence. Simply pieced 9-patches create the flowers with raw edge stems and leaves over a strippy picket fence. Clusters of buttons are tied to the flower centers for a fun touch.

All of these patterns are also available on our website now at ktquilts.com. Have you checked out the new June newsletter with a delicious Macaroon cookie recipe, a patriotic flag quilt to make for the 4th of July and a sneak peek at the new Harvest Moon project? 

I'll be in Grand Junction, CO all next week for a program and workshops. I hope to blog from the road - we'll see how that works for me. Until then, have a great beginning of summer week.

Lynne

Happy Memorial Day to All!

Congratulations to Joey Ritenour. You're the winner of the Holiday Medley scrap bundle. We'll stick a Twinkly Stars pattern in, too, so you won't need to bother sending an envelope. Enjoy!

Lois and I are busily stitching on the last few projects for the new book, Loose Change, due out in Aug/Sept. In addition to our popular Five & Dime quilt, we've added over a dozen other projects that are easily done in a weekend or less. Everything needs to be stitched, quilted, bound and photographed by the first of July, then patterns written and edited and the book put together to make it to the printer on time. It's been challenging, but loads of fun to figure out all the different ways to slice, stitch and rearrange Layer Cake, charm and mini charm squares for fast and fun quilts.

We all have those requests from friends and relatives to make a quilt for a graduation, birthday, wedding, grankids, etc. But we also know not everyone is quilt worthy :). Meaning, why hand applique or hand quilt a quilt that will be used and abused, but also loved for every stitch. Just because you start with precuts and raw edge stitching doesn't mean the quilt isn't wonderful. It's the perfect way to introduce someone to our world of quilts and how to take care of them without worrying they might undo many hours of your time. In fact, my kids and grankids love the dimension and primitive nature of my quilts. They claim they're not afraid to use them instead of putting them away in a plastic bag (egads!) in the closet. I made a more intricate quilt for my parents' 40th wedding anniversary. It's still in the linen closet where Mom is "saving it for good". She's 78 for heaven's sake! Better get it out and throw it on the bed now! Every other quilt I've given her is out and being used and enjoyed because they're raw edge "everyday" quilts. Geez, Mom!  Anyway, my point is, I prefer to make "hairloom" quilts instead of heirlooms. Those you're not afraid to let the grankids use to make a fort or sleep on the porch with the dog. Those that are part of family memories and not a faint memory because they're saved in a closet somewhere. So, we'll be talking about the book alot between now and August. Don't be surprised if there's a big giveaway later this summer. Keep watching!

Post Market Normal

The chaos of preparing for market is over and we're done unloading the cars. The computer is limping along even though the monitor is shutting down of it's own accord so we're still working thru that little issue with loads of patterns to print and new KT Stash Society patterns going out this week. Tech support is coming this afternoon, so I'm trying to keep the faith.

Congratulations to MoeWest - you're the winner of the Harvest Moon fat 1/8's! Enjoy.

 This week, we'll give away another bundle of Holiday Medley scraps. The fabric is arriving in shops now so it's the perfect time to pick a project and buy the extra yardage needed. I hope to be back on a Tuesday timetable again, so watch for your name next week.

There's always something wonderful happening at market and this year is no exception. My friend and fellow designer Pam Buda's (Heartspun Quilts) new fabric line for Marcus Brothers was very well received and Connie Huddleson's (Starry Pines Designs) The Red Chair BOM was a hit. Their support and encouragement over the years has kept me going and I treasure their friendships. We were able to celebrate Connie's birthday Saturday night at Jack's Stack BBQ in KC with several other friends. So much good food and fun!

As for KT, we were once again named one of the top 3 best-sellers in fabric shops for the 6th year in a row according to Fab Shop magazine. Laurie Harsh of Fab Shop Network publishes a magazine for retailers to help them keep up with all the newest trends and does a survey each year of hundreds of quilt shop owners. Top-ranked again were batiks, then the Dr. Suess collection, then KT. I am humbled and honored to be among some of the top names in the industry. Makes the madness all worthwhile. To celebrate, we're offering a FREE Twinkly Stars charm pattern (retail value $6.50) to anyone who sends a stamped (65 cents), self-addressed, 5x7 envelope before June 1st. Wahoo! Holiday Medley charm packs and fabric are in your local quilt shop now.

Robert took a few pictures at market of the booth that will provide a little peek at what's coming up with Harvest Moon, Stash Society and the new Loose Change book. From the left, Spell It Out mini table treats, Loose Change (Harvest Moon hanging; 6 projects on the drying rack), Pickets & Petals, Scrap Baskets and Squared (previous Stash patterns now available to everyone), charm patterns New Moon and Twinkly Stars, Seasons of the Moon changeable wall quilt with 4 quilted center squares, Harvest Moon and Pinwheels mini table treats, Holiday Ties July Stash project, A Wave to Old Glory June Stash, 25 Yard Dash August Stash and Harvest Moon lap quilt. Over the glider is our Merry, Wish, Joy Christmas star quilt.

I've learned over the years to include some comfy seating in my booth since we live there for 3 days. My "new" red glider was just right. A glow from the fireplace and a string of porch lights offered warm ambiance for a fall themed setting. The floor cloth is several years old but still in great shape. Beach Garden Quilts made it for me with my own fabric - I love it!

Moda always requests a picture of the designers - one serious and one for fun. This year, our creative leader, Lissa Alexander, had us wear a mustache (my stash) as a marketing promo. Hilarious!

That's me, second from the left, between Leisl of Olivier & S and Jesse Jung of Lauren & Jesse Jung designs who are brand new designers for Moda and won a best booth award - congrats to mother and daughter. Pat Sloan, also new to Moda, is next to Jesse and Lisa Bongean of Primitive Gatherings is behind me. What good sports! It's so much fun to catch up with everyone and see what's new.

Have a great holiday weekend. We'll talk next week. Lynne

Happy Mother's Day!

A belated Happy Mother's Day to all of you. I had a lovely evening with my 3 sons and their families on Saturday. Smoked brisket, corn on the cob, Brian's famous potato salad and brownie sundaes with strawberries & fudge sauce were on the menu. I came home with 3 beautiful plants - funny how they all think alike even though they swear they weren't shopping together. Bets were taken on how long I can keep the orchid alive. It's not really fair since I'm leaving for market in a day or two. Oh well, I'll enjoy it while I can. Any hints out there?

Cooper, 11, came out to spend the night Friday and "help" me get ready for market. Actually, he finished painting the glider, carried alot of stuff and provided entertainment. We explored the farm and found some cool yard art for a later project and hung out fishing. He caught a pretty good channel cat - about 2 pounds - with a squished snake he found in the road. His mother was none too happy with either of us when he came home with a snake head on a necklace. :) It's good to be the Gramma.

Congratulations to Marie for winning the Harvest Moon mini charm pack. I love that Moda is cutting the smaller charms, too. They've been fun to play with. Here's one of my new favorite blocks using a charm and mini charm with raw edge applique.

This is called Seasons of the Moon because it has a blank center with 4 different moon themed squares to change for the seasons. The block surrounding the center is a simple bias square with a mini charm square stitched on one side. Fast and easy.

This week, we'll be offering a dozen assorted fat 1/8's of Harvest Moon - after I get back from market. I'll try to blog while I'm gone, but several other Moda designers do a great job if you want to keep up with market happenings - Moda Lissa, Angela Yosten and Pat Sloan will all be blogging.

Have a great week,
Lynne