Tablerunners, Tablerunners, and more Tablerunners....

I love how easily my house can be decorated simply with a homemade table runner. I have three now and probably better stop until I need more for fall. They are lovely. Not because I made them, but the fabric and patterns really are creative.

I haven't been very busy creating lately. I have been busy researching all of the latest fabrics and what people are making with them. There are some wonderful frilly ruffled dresses, bags, pillows, etc. I find it all inspiring to make more than just quilts or table runners. However, I have promised myself that I would finish all of the things that I have started. So, that means that I still have to finish the nine-patch and hourglass quilt, and two other quilts. Oh, and the retro apron that I started last week. What to do, what to do.....

The Pattern Basket... Beginning

Today I managed to get all of the flowers done, and the first border sewn on. Next I have to maked the pieced border using the rest of the charm squares that were in the kit. I really like the way this is turning out and I think it will look beautiful on the entryway table. A nice way to welcome my husband home from work tomorrow.
I also received the muslin I ordered in the mail today so I can get back to work on the nine-patch and hourglass pattern I was working on a week ago. I ordered a retro scrap bag that came with the perfect fabric to add to it, and some Heather Bailey Fresh Cut fabric! Yeah, I have been trying to find an online store that sells it still, and now I don't have to. Now that I see it in person I am not sure what to make with it though. Any ideas? I would love some inspiring comments please?!

Beginning the Retro Apron....

I found these left over 5" squares from a previous project and decided that I would go ahead and try making the patchwork apron in this book. I really want to buy the Fresh Squeezed charm pack and the accent fabric, but I can't wait! These are lovely fabrics, well loved and used in a two other projects, so I figure the leftovers deserve to be used up.


I realized that when I began to sew the rows together, I had sewn two blocks in the wrong order, whoops! I fixed it and it is right now. My only complaint about this pattern is that the pattern pieces in the book are on both sides of the paper. So, if I want to make more than one apron in the book, which I do, then I have to go to the store and get some tissue paper to make an extra pattern. I will have to work more on this later. In the mean time, I am going to finish quilting a quilt that I started about 1 1/2 years ago and do the binding on another quilt. Good things will happen!

Fabric Obsessions....

Do you ever find yourself up at 10 o'clock at night with an idea that will not go away? That is what happened to me on Friday. I became completely obsessed with figuring out a way to make a bag using this extremely romantic fabric. I love the big flowers and the pink and green, so divine. Yes, those are my two favorite colors together. I have wondered when I was going to grow out of this phase. I don't think it is going to go away. When I belonged to a quilt guild in Ketchikan, AK, one of my friends would tease me about it. Everything I made had those two colors in it. I didn't even have to try, it just happened. Or if someone else made a quilt with pink and green, I would ooh and ahh and say I have to make that pattern. This friend would just say, "I wonder why Karen, it has pink and green in it!" I do make things using other colors, but it always comes back to these. I am still trying to work on a second bag with the leftovers.

Great Quilting States...

I have a question for quilters here in the United States. I would like to know which state you think is the most popular quilt state? I think it is Washington, maybe Iowa. But, I don't want to live in either one of those places, so if you could give me your opinion based on personal experience, I would like to know.

p.s. Tina, I haven't received an email from you about your mailing address. Let me know so that I can mail you your Tri-Recs rulers.

Happy Quilting!

My Creative Space...

Not well decorated, but it is all space just for me! I don't have to worry about cleaning up when I am done. The room is all the way at the back of the house, so I am disturbing any one with the sound of my machine. I have really enjoyed having my own room for all of my crafts. So this is the Quilt Room.
I went to the quilt get together last night and the ladies were all so nice. They oohed and ahhhed over the fabric, projects and patterns that I brought with me. I actually finished the binding on the tablerunner in the above picture and it is on my kitchen table. It is so cheerful and I love the bright colors. My next project is also a table runner. I guess I like table runners. You never can have too many.

Quilting.....

I am actually going to get this project done today! You know, blogging is kind of like getting to quilt with my friends. I miss that so much. After we left Ketchikan, AK I never found another group of ladies to quilt with. There wasn't a quilt store, guild or even a quilting bee in Vermillion, SD where we moved to next. Now we are in Vero Beach, FL and tonight I finally get to quilt with other quilters! Yeah, I am so excited. I don't know what to bring to work on. The main idea is to go and make friends so I don't want to work on anything to difficult. So maybe I will bring things to cut for future projects. I get to sew at home so I wont feel like I am missing out on anything. Thanks for helping me to think it through.