Quilts 'n things

Long time, no post!

Just a quick one.  I now have an etsy shop.  I decided that now that I am finishing quilts, I would try to sell some of them so I can keep buying fancy crafty stuff!

I am working on some new items to add to the four quilts I have up, but have been working a lot. I also talked to my dad about the possibility of putting some of his work up on the site.  Truly a Bowens adventure!

I am trying to finish my LoveBug Studios mystery quilt from last summer so I can start working on the one that starts today.  I am notorious for having multiple projects going on at the same time, but then what quilter doesn't?

I know I say this all the time, but hopefully it won't be long before I have more love to post!

Piece out!
Kris

click here to visit my etsy shop, BowensofWA

BAQS Game of Quilts challenge my second entry

Here is the second post for my other mini quilt being entered into the competition.

Because just about every wedding on Game of Thrones ends in bloodshed, I call this The End of the Wedding. I chose to do hexis for this one because it's thanks to BAQS that I learned how to do them.  There's a little trapunto in this one too, but you can't tell, even in person.


Remember, voting starts September 16, right here: http://www.badassquilterssociety.com/game-of-quilts-online-competition/

BadAss Quilters Society Game of Quilts competition!!

I've decided to really challenge myself and do not one, but two challenges for this competition!  There were two colorways to choose from and I could do one or both. I chose to do both!

Online voting is from September 16th through the 19th. I believe it's a popular vote, but you can only vote once.  So, please pass it on!! Winners to be announced on September 20th!

Here is the site: http://www.badassquilterssociety.com/game-of-quilts-online-competition/

In addition, my quilts will be on display during AQS Quiltweek in Chattanooga. SPOOL is having an exhibition to show off all the mini quilts that have taken up the challenge.  Wow! I get to be displayed during a big show!

This is Dany.  She is the Mother of Dragons.  This was the first one I planned out, but the last one I finished.  I tried some new techniques in this one: trapunto & applique of sorts.

 

I will post my other quilt in a separate blog post.

I hope you will all go over to the site to vote and that you will share the link to have your friends vote too!! Thanks in advance!

It's almost here!

Western Washington Shop Hop 2013

is ONE WEEK AWAY!!

 

(you may resume your normal browsing now)

Don't know what to do with this blog thing

I am not a very good blogger.  I enjoy reading others' blogs but I don't fancy myself a very good writer.  I don't know if it's because I don't feel like I have anything interesting to write about or because I am just lazy.  It's probably a combination of both. 

 

My poor Dear Jane quilt is currently abandoned.  I keep the 4 blocks I've finished on my design wall so I see them every time I pass.  Of course, I keep a lot of unfinished things on my design walls.  I mean, I do have one in almost every room. 




My unfinished Nancy's Fancy is in the bedroom,






 



various BOM blocks and other things are up in my sewing room







and my challenge quilt is on the one in the hall with my Janes. 



 I find that it makes it seem like I have art on the wall and it changes on a regular basis, well, kind of a regular basis.

 
I have been finding myself going through periods of anti-quilting feelings and then I will become pretty manic about it.  I'm sure there is some kind of pill for that.

 
This year, I only signed up for one BOM and one challenge quilt.  I am ahead of the game on my BOM blocks, but woefully behind on my challenge.  Since the challenge sections don't have to be done on a monthly basis, I find myself delaying their completion, using the excuse that I am planning the colors very carefully.  I still go to the monthly meetings, though and look at my competition's sections. Oh, did I forget to say that these will go on display on September 1 for a month to be voted on and the winner gets a gift certificate to my favorite quilt shop, Bayside Quilting?  Should be fun!

 

It's been almost a year since I got my longarm quilting machine, but I can't say that I've taken advantage of it.  I have worked on more recently, but have 2 that I have started on the longarm, but put them aside to finish some that were for gifts.  I just haven't put them back on.  I want to finish them, but have no idea where to go with them next.  

I have been hungrily gathering all the quilting design ideas I can get and trying to practice on my MagnaDoodle.   
 

 


My annual 2-week vacation is coming up at the end of June.  Last year, I spent it dealing with the flood that happened on my first day of vacation as a result of my washing machine overflowing.  I was very glad that I didn't have a trip planned during that time.  This year, besides hitting some Shop Hop spots, I will be trying to finish these projects and reorganize my sewing room.

I always promise to try to be better about writing, and fail. So I will just say, “See you next time!”

Piece out!

Kris 

 

I guess I don't know how to tell time. Is it tomorrow already?

Alright, smarty pants.  I know I said I would post "tomorrow" and that was over 2 months ago.

Here are the pictures I said I would post. 

These two were from the same BOM class. Guess which one I like best?

 

This is the Michael Miller Clubhouse quilt for 2011.



This one was made from the leftover fabric...

And this one...

 This year I am doing two block of the month clubs at Bayside, the Treasure Chest BOM from Quilt in a Day online, and the BOM with the quilt guild. If there is anything I know, it's over-committment!

I'll write again when I get a chance.

Piece Out!
Kris

gosh! It's been ages!

Happy New Year! My plans for the year include 2 very important resolutions: stay positive and finish what I start!  I had a couple others that I joked about on facebook, but I have already busted those wide open!  This is going to be a great year!  (See, the positive one is already taking effect!)

I haven't worked on Jane for several months because I have been dealing with other, regular-life stuff. 

I did go to Houston for the quilt festival and had a great time.  Stayed with my aunt who I haven't seen in years.  Saw my sister, my grandmother and my high-school best friend while I was there. didn't buy as much stuff as I thought I might.  I actually didn't buy much fabric at all, but I used all the cool things that I learned to make many of my Christmas gifts this year.  I am addicted to my Kaleidoscope Kreator! good times!

I have been busy this weekend trying to finish BOM projects before this year's start up on Saturday. It's the little deal I make with myself every year when I sign up for new ones. I was in three clubs last year and have almost finished the tops from two of them. I have only signed up for two clubs this year.  What will i do with all my time?  Probably make my projects in two or more colorways,like I do every year.

I will post some pictures of what I completed, but tomorrow.  I have to go catch up on my sleep now.  I'm too old to stay up on New Year's Eve anymore.  Either that or my body needs to stop waking up at 5 AM even on the weekends!

Until tomorrow!

Piece out!
Kris

Patiently Waiting Jane

Dear Jane,
Oh how excited I have been to start our journey together.  Even the preliminary “practice” blocks I have done get me swooning.  However, Jane, I will have to delay a bit more as I have over-extended myself once again.  Either that or I am just lazy.  (I am more inclined to believe the lazy part!)

I still have 20 blocks for my Michael Miller BOM (yes, I am behind) & 6 paper-pieced stars for my chain gang & 2 new blocks for the Nifty Nine Patch.  The project I am working on at work is stressing me out & occupying my brain outside of work hours. And I still haven’t finished the great sewing room migration.  My new bedroom works very well, but the sewing room looks like a tornado hit! This is in addition to normal everyday things like grocery shopping, laundry & dishes.

One piece of good news, Jane!  I no longer have all of my Saturdays full!  I only have clubs on the first & third Saturdays of the month, so next month looks really good!  Also, a good friend came over & installed my garbage disposal this week, so I am a happy camper!

I did spend some time with Dear Jane-EQ last week, so I am still familiarizing myself with that.  It’s a pretty cool program, but I wish it had all the functionality of the regular EQ programs.  I can’t edit the blocks except to change the colors.  I would like to change the rotary cutting instructions to use fewer pieces, but it won’t let me do it.

If I can get my butt in gear today & wake up, I am sure I can whip out those 20 blocks.  I think the stars will take considerably longer since I am no pro at paper-piecing, so I might leave them for next weekend.  We’ll see.  Oh, but first I have to make peanut butter banana bread for work tomorrow.  One more distraction!

I really want to get going so I will leave you here.  Dear, dear Jane.  I so look forward to seeing you again!

Piece out!

K

Today's Doin's

Well, I got three blocks done & sorted out my hair.

I usually do a practice block for my block of the month.  This one is the practice block:

 

This one is the real one:

 

This is one of the Chain Gang blocks:

 

So...now on to the hair!

This was me yesterday, before I started drinking margaritas!

 

And this is me now!

 

Bit of a change!  Now I always have to wear makeup otherwise I look washed out. Oh well, I suppose there are worse things in life.

Maybe I should change my profile pic?

Piece out!

K



Sew many projects. Sew little time

I took today off work so that I could catch up on a bunch of stuff.  It’s supposed to be a really nice day, so it would be a shame to spend the whole day inside.

I still have to finish moving all my bedroom stuff into the small bedroom & the guestroom/sewing stuff into the big bedroom.  The quest to move my sewing into a contained space is still going forth!  I finally moved all my fabric stash onto a table in the new sewing room.  It still needs to be sorted & put into the cabinets or donated to my guild.  At least I can sleep in my own bed now instead of the daybed as it’s no longer covered with the fabric from my cabinets.   

I also have many sewing projects that need to be caught up:
o   Nifty Nine Patch block of the month (club tomorrow)-I have 2 months worth to do.
o   Rosie’s Chain Gang block of the month (club next Saturday)-I have 2 months of the chain & several months of the paper-pieced stars to finish.  At least this is the last meeting of this club.
o   Michael Miller Clubhouse (third Saturday of the month) –I have 2 months of blocks (6-8 each) to catch up on.
o   Baby quilt for a friend, but I don’t have to have that for a while.  It sure would be nice to get it finished early so I don’t have to rush at the end.
o   And of course, I want to get to my Jane blocks.

 In addition, I need to do something with my hair.  It is out of control!

 So, what do I do first?  I think I will start off with breakfast & tea.  Then make my decision!

I’ll let you know what I accomplish today.

Piece out!

K

My new software's here! My new software's here!

I made an executive decision. I ordered the EQ Dear Jane software. AND IT'S HERE!

I was having a harder time drafting the blocks than I thought I would. I still would like to learn to draft the patterns myself, but I can live with myself even if I use the software. :)

What am I doing typing? I'm going to play with my new toy!!

Piece out!

K

Some like it hot, me, not so much...

Ever let your fingers get too close to the iron when pressing? How about handling those freshly pressed pieces for your block? I don't know about you, Precious, but I am tired of burning my fingerses.

 I remember a Fons & Porter episode where the girls got a tip from a hairdresser. Apparently I have been out of the hair biz too long to not know about this!



It's a glove that stylists can use when working with really hot flat or curling irons. (Not so much for the iron itself, but that hair is smokin' hot when it comes off the iron!)

Now I don't have to worry about my tender little digits! I can't wait to try it out!

BTW, I got mine on sale at Sally's Beauty Supply this week, for $6.99 minus my pro discount! Great deal!

Institute the draft! (of patterns)

OMG! Four & a half inch blocks are really small! Drafting the patterns are very challenging. Not that I am not up to that challenge...I just have to put my mind in it completely.  After drafting several & figuring out instructions, I can't wait until I can get the EQ Dear Jane!

Other ideas are flowing through my brain while I contemplate the measurements and procedures. What if I did it this way? What about this? Question is, how many times will I do the same block until I am satisfied?  I may just start doing a bunch of the easy ones so I feel like I am accomplishing something! 

I'm spending this weekend working on my house. Spring cleaning in July (now that the weather doesn't act like it's winter anymore!) I'm tired of all my sewing stuff gravitating from the dining room into the living room & even the kitchen. So I am putting a stop to it. I am switching the bedrooms around & using the big room as my sewing room. I just have to figure out how to disassemble my IKEA daybed since it won't fit through the door!

More progress next week, I hope...

Piece out!

K

UPDATE: Disassemmbled daybed with no trouble.  The cabinets on the other hand...let's just say I will need all the ibuprofen I can handle the rest of the day & tomorrow!

Pinwheel Gone Awry & Hunter's Moon

So...you know how your mind still keeps working when you are asleep at night?  Mine decided it was going to design my Jane blocks last night.  I took some of my printouts from EQ to work with me today & worked on a couple at lunch.  I did my cutting guide for Pinwheel Gone Awry & my inspiration piece, Hunter's Moon.

Since I don't like handwork, I wanted to do the Hunter's Moon using my new favorite technique of folding fabric back to make curves.  I mapped out what I was going to do and it seemed like a solid plan.  I couldn't wait to get home & start working on it!

I guess it's a good thing that I like to do a practice run on some old stash fabric before I do the real thing.  (sometimes it yields a second quilt by doing that!)   I think if I had done it as a larger block, it would have worked, or maybe I have to practice more than once?

As you can see, it's not really curvy or symmetrical.  I may try it again, before I resort to going the more traditional route for this block.

I also practiced my Pinwheels Gone Awry:

I will still be doing it in my color choice, which I think is going to be from my vast stash of batiks.  If I keep doing my practice blocks, I WILL have a second quilt (or many baby ones) before I am done!

They don't look too bad next to each other.

 

So, on we go!

Piece out!

K

Contemporary Jane or Thoroughly Modern Millie?

I have decided to join Jovita's Patchwork Atelier's Contemporary Jane group. Hurrah! For those of you who know what a Dear Jane quilt is, you know what an undertaking this is. For those of you who don't, let me piece it together (pun intended).

Jane Stickle created a quilt in the Civil War era comprised of 169 squares in the main quilt & 52 triangle blocks around the quilt for the border. Sounds like a fun project, right? Well, the blocks are only 4-1/2" square.  Smallest blocks I have ever made! People have been making “Baby Janes” for years and now it is my turn.

When I decided to join, I thought the Dear Jane book by Brenda Papadakis would have all the instructions for constructing the blocks. Not really the case. I got the only copy from my local library & started flipping through it. OMG! There are only pictures of the blocks, one at a time & Brenda’s interpretative drawings of the blocks. No cutting instructions, no sewing instructions, nothing but her sweet letters to Jane while she was interpreting the patterns. This presents either a creative opportunity or total disaster for me!

When I got home with the book yesterday, I sat down with my Electric Quilt program, rulers in hand & started my versions of some of the blocks. I worked into the wee hours of 11 o'clock (late for me) and found myself mesmerized by the scope of the project. And that’s just to draft the blocks into the program. I still have to make up my own instructions for cutting & assembling the blocks. (If I had the EQ-Dear Jane program, I wouldn't have to do this, but I am now creating my own. However, if someone wanted to get me an early Christmas present, I really wouldn't object!)

When Jane created her quilt, she hand-pieced & hand-quilted it. I am looking at ways to create the blocks in a thoroughly modern way. As I was drafting the blocks into EQ, I thought about ways to assemble them quickly and by machine. I hate handwork, so I will try to create as many of them as possible by machine. My goal is doing as little appliqué as possible! I know that I will have to do some paper piecing, but I am not excited at the prospect of building appliqué blocks. Some blocks are quite simple, but others are very challenging.

Next problem is deciding fabrics & colors. I don’t anticipate this project going very quickly, so if I buy some fabrics now and don’t buy enough; it may not still be available when I get to the lower blocks. There are pictures in the book of different quilts that contributors have made, using different themes. I could make it completely scrappy & just use stash fabrics. Maybe I will do that, but I am leaning toward doing one in shades of purple (big surprise, huh?). It looks like Jovita’s group is going in order. I may do that or I may randomly pick some squares throughout the quilt so if I run out of certain fabrics, it won’t look so funny.

Under the Willow Tree is already 4 blocks in. I will need to hurry & catch up, in between all the other projects I am working on. As with others in the group, I will try to post my methods & instructions on my blog so that I can keep up.

As I understand, many who have taken this journey find it self-revealing.  I don't know if that is what I am looking for or if I am just needing a challenge.  I may get totally bored with the project after a few weeks, but I am going to try to persevere.  I don't know who I will find in this process, but I hope she is up to the challenge.

Wish me luck!

Piece out!

K

My beautiful Gracie Lou

May I introduce to you, Miss Gracie Lou Freebush! 

This sweet petite monster is my baby.  We have been together for about 6 years.  My older cat, Jasper,

was very lonely and I knew he liked playing with younger female cats from when we lived with some friends.  So one day, I went to the Seattle Animal Shelter and she was the first one I saw.  She had just come out of surgery from being spayed so she looked a little worse for wear.  I didn't think they would let me take her since she was still recovering, so I looked around a little at the other cats.  I always came back to her.  When I approached the cage, she sat up & came right to me.  She was so sweet!  I knew I had to have her.  Here she is on our first day at home.

  Kinda scrawny-looking, huh?

Turns out that she & Jasper never really got along too well.  At least while I was around.  They probably had to show dislike while I was home, but secretly, while I was at work, I imagine that they were the best of buddies.  One of the rare times that they were seen close enough together that I could get a picture:

Jasper became very ill and about 4 years ago, had to go live on Mt Rainier (at least that's where the vet told me they were scattering his ashes).  I say hi to him every time I see the mountain.

So, Gracie has become an only cat.  Can't tell if she likes it or not...  Over the last 4 years, I have done a lot of traveling for work.  I was gone for 6-10 weeks at a time and in 2009, I spent more time in hotel rooms than I did at home (285 nights).  Gracie was a trooper, although she didn't like being in the car much.  Then again, I don't know many cats who do. 

Since I could choose whatever hotel I wanted, I only stayed in Residence Inns if possible.  At the RI in Spokane Valley, they loved my Gracie Lou as much as I did & would come in during the day when they were cleaning & play with her!  They would talk to her through the window when she would watch them take out the trash and have a smoke.  I actully think she liked it there better than she liked it at home.

But now, I don't do as much traveling and when I do, I can't take her with me.  I have to fly to my locations and can't afford to bring her, so I have to board her.  Luckily, I found a place to keep her where she gets her own "condo."  It is the coolest place!  This lady has buildings in her backyard that she has set up just for cat's comfort.  Gracie is a favorite there too. In fact, she is on their website three separate times!

She is so cute because she likes to sleep under the covers at my feet at night, especially when it's cold out.  It's hard sometimes to play with her because she doesn't always want to play when I do & vice-versa, but we manage.  When I come home after work, she greets me at the door & then heads back to the bathroom because that's usually where I am headed.  She knows me so well!  She got a little hacked off when I got rid of my futon because now there is only a chair for both of us to share & she can't stretch out when I am sitting in it.  She definitely has a personality!

I love my little, 8-pound rag-a-muffin!  Cat hair gets everywhere and she is quite demanding when she wants something, even though I can't always tell what it is, but I love her just the same.  Life would definitely be different without her.  Much less loving! 

 

Piece out!
K

My first blog

I used to think I was computer savvy, but lately, I feel like I am behind the times.  I constantly hear about blogging so I thought I would give it a try.  I don't know how often I will remember to post.  I mainly started this so I have a place to post pictures of my quilt projects and talk about what I am doing.

I have been quilting since my Aunt Cheryl taught me when I was 20.  Granted, I haven't been doing it continuously since then, but she got me started. 

My very first project was huge!  I thought it would be a great gift for the owners of the company I worked for in Houston.  I really didn't know what I was getting myself into. AND I committed to having it ready for a Christmas present.  I gave each of the salons in the company a 15" piece of fabric & told them they could do anything to it but it had to be permanent.  Boy, I didn't know anything!  I got blocks with glued on sequins, blocks that were painted, blocks that were embroidered...you get the picture.  Sewed the whole thing together, hand quilted it & bound it.   (the cutie-pie at the top holding the quilt is my baby sis)

I only finished one other quilt after that, while I lived in Houston.  One for the guy I was dating at the time.  It was very basic and handquilted.  I moved away from Houston and didn't do any sewing for a long time.  It wasn't until I moved to Washington that I really started quilting again.

I made a couple simple baby quilts and one that was beyond my skill level at the time for my then-boyfriend.  (Hmmm...giving a quilt to a boyfriend = kiss of death for relationship.  I need to remember that.)

When I started working for my current employer ten years ago, I really started getting back into it.   My friend Jude introduced me to my first Block of the Month (BOM) club and I have been doing them ever since (with a one- to two-year absence for working out of town).  I just recently finished my very first BOM from 2003-quilted & bound too!

This year, I am doing three different BOMs and looking at doing an online one as well.  I may have over-committed myself this time!  Here's one that I just finished last night.  It's called Atlantis.

I finish lots of quilt tops, but it takes me a long time to get them quilted.  I have no idea when I will get this one quilted or how I am going to do it.  All I know is that it will be very cool when I do!

I am sure I could go on forever, but I will save it for another post.  I rambled a bit here.  I guess I will get the hang of this blogging thing sooner or later!

Piece out!  (get it?)

K