Chatbug Karen

I bit the bullet and quilted a quilt for someone other than my mom or myself. My cousin made this beautiful quilt and was brave enough to let a beginner longarm user have at it!

Picking out a quilt pattern is like picking out a diamond engagement ring, there are so many variations from which to choose. I have watched quilting videos and practiced on a dry erase board until I felt confident to put the stitches into the quilt. Big gulp!

I have this coffee table that drives me crazy. It has a glass top that is a pain to keep clean. I have made quilted table toppers for just about every season and needed one for Christmas. It saves my sanity by keeping the coffee table covered in a pretty quilt.

I found this fun pattern at the Moda Bake Shop.

All the colors work together to form a beautiful Christmas wreath. (They also hide all the sprinkles when I eat a Christmas cookie)!

I finished this quilt and got it back from the lady I hired to do the longarm quilting on it. She did a beautiful job quilting it but now that mom bought a longarm, I can quilt them myself. It is so much fun quilting on that machine! It is always better when you have your own equipment. Whether it be earring display cards, sewing machines or computers, having control over your own work is so much better.

I had the t-shirt quilt finished and put a label on the back so my friend would always know who put it together for her. I just needed to get together with her and give her the quilt! Easier said than done. We both work full time and our evenings are full of have to do stuff. On the spur of the moment, I called her last night and she said to come over. She gave me the reaction I hoped for. She really liked it.

Hubby and I have been going over to his mom’s house every 3-4 hours. She has been so sick. We ended up taking her to the ER last Thursday night. They hooked up one of those industrial pumps, at least it looked like one! and got her hydrated. After being so sick, it seemed as though she became dehydrated. We can’t have that so, hubby and I go over to make sure she is eating and drinking. She had an ultra sound on Monday and it showed nothing wrong. In fact, she is a very healthy 85 year old. After another test on Thursday, I hope they figure out what is causing her to vomit all the time. She is getting tired of not feeling well. She is a busy gal and does not like being confined to bed. Prayers are welcomed.

While visiting Meramec Caverns in Missouri, we were treated to a rare sight. There, in an enclosed case, was a quilt that had once been owned by Abraham Lincoln.

Bridgette Anne Lawson, great-great-grandmother to Roberta Jean Reser Kaczmarek, owner of the Lincoln Quilt. Bridgette was born in 1858, the daughter of Hutson Lawson and his wife whose surname was Win. Bridgette was a second cousin to Abraham Lincoln from her mother’s side of the family. She could remember attending his funeral in Springfield, IL.

The quilt was a memento sent home by Lincoln’s wife.

I can think of many things that are so different than the way they were just 50 years ago. Gone are the days of wringing clothes through the ringer of a washing machine. We use heat irons to seam carpet instead of sewing the seams by hand. Tube Bending is a method used to bend tubes for different uses. As needs arise, tube bending has been adapted for the needs of car builders, plumbing contractors, etc. Quilting has not changed much over the years. Many of the tools we use today make quilting easier but the way we pick out colors and the patterns used are the same as years ago. Many things have changed to make our lives easier. It is nice that some things stay the same.

I have several projects going but the one I am excited about for the moment is the quilt I am making for my sister. I made each block per instructions given from our local quilt guild. Each year we pick out blocks and make them from fabric of our choosing. I saw this fabric but, not having anything blue in my house, was ready to pass it by. My sister, who uses some blue in her house said she could use a blue quilt. She even offered to buy the fabric. Now, I am warning you, put on your marine binoculars because this is a blue quilt!

I don’t know if you read the post I wrote about making a 4′ x 4′ quilt block for my mom’s shed. Well, my husband thought it would be nice if we had one for our barn. He got tired of waiting for me to paint one and so he did it himself. Isn’t it pretty? We are going to have to rent a cherry picker to get it up to the point of the roof where it goes.

Last night, I attended my guild meeting at the Piecemaker’s Guild. This is a group of quilters that meets once a month. Our membership has grown to 163 members! We have wonderful speakers that are interesting to the most experienced quilter and the beginning quilter alike. Last night, Penny Haren was our speaker. I had to take a breath after she finished talking. She had a whirlwind of information. She uses a piecing technique that she invented that turns applique into an art. As stated on her website, “Her technique, Pieced Appliqué™, eliminates inset points and curves from even the most complicated blocks. Quilts and blocks that you might never have considered are now not only possible but a breeze.” She already has 4 books out for purchase and those came about in just the past two years! Her ideas are so new that the publisher wants to get the information out for users before someone copies her ideas and claims them for their own.

Her books are easy to read and full of pictures so unlike auto insurance quotes one can learn by simply following the instructions. If you have thought about quilting those beautiful blocks that have a zillion points but have been afraid, here is your chance to produce beautiful blocks the easy way. Check out Penny Haren’s website and be sure to let me know what you have created.

Penny Heron

Photos courtesy Penny Heron website

If you have time, check out my newest creation over at Winding Threads. I am having so much fun making these new slouch type bags.

I surprised myself and upgraded all my blogs to the latest wordpress version. Go me! I disabled all of my plugins before I upgraded. I am not sure if I needed to do that. Does anyone know if it is necessary? I was just playing it safe. Back up and disable plugins. That is what is ingrained in my brain.

I had to drive to South Bend today to pick up some ceramic tile for a customer. I forgot that the president was going to be in Wakarusa, Indiana today. The news said Elkhart but I think that was because they couldn’t pronounce Wakarusa. LOL Anyway, the ceramic distributor was right next to the runway at the South Bend airport. Mom and I saw the helicopters bringing President Obama back to the plane. We didn’t wait for the plane to take off because we were anxious to get to the fabric store. Priorities! While we were driving, the plane flew directly over our heads. It felt as if we were in a movie; the plane was that close.

I want to let everyone who is interested in crafts, fabric and art, know about an exciting show at the 2009 International Quilt Festival in Chicago. I will be attending and trying to maintain some willpower when it comes to buying fabric. I hope the outdoor lighting will wake me up enough to get my behind to the bus at 6:45 am.

Show Dates:
April 17-19, 2009

Location:
Donald E. Stephens Convention Center
5555 N. River Rd.
Rosemont, Illinois 60018

Hours:
April 16 (Preview Night), 5-9 p.m.
April 17 & 18: 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
April 19: 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Admission:
$10/Adults
$8/Seniors 65+ & Students
$25/Full show pass (includes Preview Night).
Preview Night ticket: $10 (no senior discount)
allows you in one additional day for free.

Children 10 and under free with paying adult.
For tour groups 45+ please contact Quilts, Inc. office.