Kim Diehl Class

Before I tell you all about my Kim Diehl class, let me clarify something. It was brought to my attention that maybe I had a bad marriage without romance in it. That is not the impression that I intended to leave by my last post. Actually, Randy and I have an excellent relationship. Oh, we have had our ups and downs through the years, as does any marriage. I think that is how you grow and come closer. We don't have the traditional kind of romance in our marriage though, you know, like gifts of candy, flowers and candlelight dinners. That is just not us. We are romantic in unusual ways, but it works for us. Like Randy finally had a night off last night, when I got home from my class, we went out to dinner for our anniversary. We didn't go to a nice, romantic, sit-down restaurant. We grabbed a couple of burgers from our favorite place, some fries and a couple of milkshakes. We then went to the tiny little airport in our town, sat in our car ate our dinner and enjoyed some time just for the two of us. Just simple things to add to the deep bond of our 31 years together. You see, the airport is a special place for us. Randy has a private pilot's license, he owned an airplane at the time that we met and our first date was a ride in that airplane. So it was a nice romantic evening for us, remembering when we fell in love!

Now on to the quilt class. It was soooooooo much fun! I learned a great deal. I have always loved applique, but hand applique was something that I couldn't get the hang of and I'm way to slow at it. The way Kim taught us looks like hand done, but so much faster, done with your machine. She uses freezer paper, so you have finished edges. I see lots of applique in my future now. :~) There are so many quilts out there that I have wanted to make but, the applique has always scared me away. Well, not anymore!!! If you have the chance to take a class from her, I encourage you to do so. If not, at least get her books and learn her way of doing it. She is the nicest person, very friendly, funny and gives one on one time if you need it. I have been a fan of hers for a long time, I have all 3 of her books and I never realized that she lived just 30 miles from me! I knew that she lived in Idaho, but I didn't know that it was near my little corner of Idaho. ;~)

This is what we were working on. It is from her "Simple Seasons" book. She showed us how to do the big stitch quilting with perle cotton. So glad that I went!! She is doing a class today on one of her quilts from her next book, I sure wish that I had been able to go to that one too!
Here is how far I got on mine. I hope to have it done for this Halloween, but the hand quilting may take me awhile. I am going to work on it today, inbetween loads of laundry.




This is a picture of a quilt that she is working on for her next book, "Simple Comforts", due to be out in April 09. She said that it will be a book of all lap quilts.



Hugs&Stitches, Julia

Winter Swap

Blogger is driving me insane!!!!! I have tried 3 times to do this post. But, it is not letting me upload my pictures. AAAARRRRGGGHHHHH!!!! I'll try once more. YEA!!! So far so good.

We had a wonderful Christmas. Here is our youngest son with his ISPY quilt. Thanks again to Nines for the adoption quotes. He loves it!!!


My Mom and Dad with the quilt that I made for them. It will go on their queen size bed. Mom wants me to make matching pillow shams, I have never made any ot those yet, do any of you have any hints and tips for me? This fabric is from Connecting Threads, Victorian Parlor. I like it, but I am not sure if I would use their fabric again for another project. It was a little lower thread count and it tended to fray along the edges when I was working with it. Not bad enough to make the seams weak, just really messy. Another issue, I ordered it from the internet and the color of the darker print, they called navy, which was what I wanted and when it came it seemed more of a charcoal color to me. What do you think?



I have been busy this past week getting my Winter Swap done. The package is the only picture that I will show until my partner receives it. I sent it out Jan 7. I had so much fun designing and making this. I will definitely sign up for the next swap. I can't wait until my partner gets it. Almost more exciting than Christmas presents.



Speaking of Christmas, I always just ask for money, then I can get what I really want, also my Hubby hates to shop, so it makes it a lot easier for him too. So far, I have purchased these 4 books.
The new one by Kim Diehl is just outstanding. I want to make every quilt in it and the recipes all sound wonderful. I have been wanting the Prairie Children book since it came out and I was able to find it on sale for half price. I want to make all of those too! My 5 year old granddaughter wants all of them for her baby dolls too! I guess I had better get busy. vbs

Christmas decorations are down, I have replaced them with my snowmen. I LOVE snowmen!!! This is a picture of a little wall hanging that I made last year.

I must get walking now. A couple of years ago, I lost 35 lbs. I would like to lose about 20 more, this is the year!!!

100th Post Giveaway!!!

This is my 100th post! Keeping in tradition with most other bloggers, I am having a giveaway to celebrate! Plus I have been cleaning out my stash closet.

This little bundle of goodies told me that it wanted to go live with someone that might actually make it! ;~)

Here is your chance to win a fat quarter bundle of the Thimbleberries cover story, "Snow Bird".


Leave a comment and you will be entered into the drawing! I will pick a winner on Friday evening, Dec 19. I will post the winner on Saturday morning. Good Luck to all! All of you who never leave me comments, this is your chance to introduce yourselves! :~) I would love to hear from you.

Hugs&Stitches, Julia

UFO Progress

I have the first round of little stars done! Now I am on to the big stars. I love star designs in quilts, but I am getting a little tired of making them. :~) I think that my next project is going to be something a bit easier to piece. Then I can move on back to the stars that I love so much!

I am really liking the way that this is turning out.


I have my bread made, Randy is working nights this week, Ethan is home from school and my errands are all done. I am hoping to spend the rest of the afternoon and evening making the big stars, which finish at 9 inches. I should finish cleaning my house, but I am going to take a break from cleaning and do some stitching therapy!

Hugs&Stitches, Julia

Apron

One of my dear friends celebrated a birthday last week. I met her through my guild last year. She has been such a blessing and inspiration in my life. How grateful I am that our paths have crossed! :~)

I made her an apron,

hot pad to match

and this fun little pincushion.

This little pincushion is really easy to make. I just went to my scrap basket, pulled out some 2 1/2 inch strips, rolled them up real tight and tied a little ribbon around them.

The pattern for the apron was Butterick See&Sew #B5125. I just drew up the hot pad pattern using a favorite one of mine.

The weather here today is divine! Ethan has some friends over to play, my window is open and I can hear the sounds of children's laughter! I spent the morning at a friends house helping her to put a quilt together. I should be out walking, but I am doing some more spring cleaning instead. :~)

Hugs&Stitches, Jul♥a

Charity Quilts and Ironing Board

As per Libby's request, I am showing you what my ironing board looks like right now. Pretty good for a change. She is having a fun little contest/giveaway, check it out. All you have to do it show us your ironing board. Hers is quite interesting to say the least. lol





Here is what I have been up to when I have had a chance to get in my sewing room this past week. I don't like to let my scraps get out of control, so when my small bin gets full I make some quick string quilts for charity. I was showing these to my hubby and was telling him that by making several of these a year it helped to justify all of the ones I make for ourselves. Besides it lets me do what I love and I am helping to share all that I have been so generously blessed with.
The pink one has some quilt squares with some trapunto type embroidery designs that I designed and digitized with my embroidery software. I sell these in my ebay store. I think that they add some fun dimension to a quilt. Here is a close-up of one of them.

In the pic of my ironing board there is some more string blocks for another lap sized quilt. On the bookcase in that same picture there is 2 more flimsies ready for quilting. These were all made from scraps and will be for charity.

My granddaughter thinks that every girl quilt I make should be for her! :o)

I would like to know what kind of batting you all use? Do you use a different batt in your charity quilts than you use in those for gifts or yourself?

Have a Great Quilty Day!!!!!