Sunday, December 8, 2024

2024 Bloggers Color Challenge - December

December - Marigold Wag Swordtail (Gold)

December's Block Pattern

Here is my version.

And here is the entire year's worth of blocks. Share a link to yours in the comments.

Come back next month for the finish!

This background fabric is a wideback that I have available on my website.

and check-out the featured Blogger -Textile Time Travels - Sandra Starley - Utah Quilt Appraiser

#2024MonthlyColorChallenge

Friday, November 8, 2024

2024 Bloggers Color Challenge - November

November - Gourami (Teal)

November's Block Pattern

Here is my version.

TIP: With each pinwheel, when pressed---fan out those center seams

This background fabric is a wideback that I have available on my website.

and check-out the featured Blogger - Sewing with Katie

#2024MonthlyColorChallenge

Monday, October 28, 2024

Sew Pink - Bosom Buddy and Project Bags

Excited to be partnering with byAnnie for the #SewPink initiative. Thanks for stopping by!

Breast Cancer awareness hits close to home --my mother is a survivor of almost 20 years now. She detected her own lump just before being scheduled for a mammogram which ultimately confirmed she had breast cancer. After a successful mastectomy and ONCOTYPE test which indicated no further IV chemo or radiation treatments necessary, I'm so grateful to still have her in my life. Bone density did became an issue, so there are ongoing consequences to also be aware of and mind. In a few days I'm connecting with her on a road trip and will end up back at my house where she'll spend the winter with us. I'm looking forward to many sew days together.

This bosom buddy project from Patterns by Annie is a free download -- just log into their website and join the free class for all the information. Or you can purchase a pack of 10 for a fun event with friends.

Here are some step outs from the one I made for a dear friend who recently had her implants removed. This works for anyone who has had surgery around their chest where a seat belt might cut across a healing incision or might otherwise give comfort.

Patterns by Annie graciously sent the Soft and Stable for me to use on this project.

My friend loves hearts and the color blue ....so these fabrics worked out perfectly.
Blue Fabric - Hearts Fabric

A few of the tools that helped me, included a chalk wheel, disappearing ink marking pen, Aurifil thread, Karen Kay Buckley's perfect circles for marking and then trimming the corners, my Pink ergonomic rotary cutter and Clover's seam ripper. Many of these notions can be found in my shop.

Once completed, I added my newly arrived woven logo label by hand. Ideally I would have added this before sewing it all together.

How does it work you ask? Here is a step by step process for adding it to your seat belt.

Are you making one? Don't forget to post your picture at the monthly photo contest. Check out prior submissions and winners here.

I couldn't stop with just one project in doing some fun things with Patterns by Annie. I had their vinyl product and decided to make the Project Bags 2.0 pattern--all four sizes. Soft and Stable is used too, so it was a perfect project.

I chose black/white dots and a burgundy batik --these are my logo colors! Each one is different. These dot fabrics are available here, including Tula Pink's Pom Poms, Maywood Studio's 13 Going on Thirty and Michael Miller's Pinhead. I used Riley Blake's Hush Hush Measure Up on the lower section of the three larger bags.

I had already received my woven labels, so for these I was able to attach them to an element of the bag before assembly was complete. My first projects using them! So excited!! The small one got stitched onto the main body, visible through the vinyl. The other three I stitched onto the front of the bottom border before sewing into the bag.

The dots made it fairly easy to sew the quilting lines on my domestic machine.

Once I got to the part to sew on top of the vinyl, I did switch to a machine that has a teflon foot.

I also decided to use my cotton webbing for the handles. These images show them before I added the Zipper Pulls.

To finish the top stitching ends, I used an Easy-Threading needle and a Poke-A-Dots sticky thimble to bury the threads. This minimizes the over stitching to start/finish the binding. Both are available here.

Complete!

Back-side

I've got limited quantities of Breast Cancer Awareness Pre-Cut Fabrics.

****HOW ABOUT SOME GIVEAWAYS?****

I designed a pattern for the Positively Pink collection and called it Positive Attitude.

Use code SEWPINK through October 31, 2024 for a free download or physical pattern (pay ship or include in larger order to avoid shipping too).

alternate colorway using Christa Watson's Stitchy Collection by Benartex

Comment below on what fabrics you'd choose to make any of these projects with and make a purchase from my online shop (mention in check-out comments which project) or stop at the shop in person (10/28 or 10/29; closed 10/30-11/2 shipping will resume 11/3) and mention this blog post with an interest in making these projects. You will receive 1/2 yd of Soft and Stable and a roll of vinyl sufficient (if interested) in making all four Project Bags 2.0 or sufficient Soft and Stable to make the Bosom Buddy. Available while limited supplies last. Thanks to byAnnie for their generous contributions of these products.

Find me on Instagram at marlene.kissedquilts or on Facebook at KISSedQuilts. Would love a follow on any of my social media.

Thanks so much to the team at byAnnie for including me in this Sew Pink event. May we all take accountability for our own health and take proactive evaluative steps i.e. screenings, for those things that are not in our control.

Some of the things I've been personally doing, include trying to correct my autoimmune conditions. If you've been following me on Instagram you've seen my Prolon postings (check story highlights for the journey). Prolonging your life through autophagy cycles feels amazing! I've just completed 13 rounds. A round is 5 days ....then wait for 25 days before you do the next round. Doing 3 consecutive rounds (over 3 months) extends your life by 2.5 years. Get your 5-day plan here at a discount (affiliate link) or any other products they have developed to help prolong your life. Autophagy renews you .... at a cellular level!

I've got one Prolon bottle for the first person who mentions it at check-out in their order. These work perfect for mixing your L-Drink on days 2-5.

The #SewPink Initiative was created by ByAnnie.com LLC to raise awareness for breast cancer throughout the year. Efforts culminate in an annual blog hop during October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month to promote self-care, awareness, early detection and support for those affected by breast cancer.

To learn more and see the calendar of events visit: https://www.ByAnnie.com/SewPINK

To find screenings available near you:

Have you stopped in at the other participant's blogs?

Click here for daily links.

Wednesday, October 23, 2024

WSQ Spokane Entries and 24 Karat Rondure's Final Show

In this year's WSQ - Spokane Quilt Show - Art from the Heart - I entered five quilts.

The pin (right) is given to the first 100 entrants. Unfortunately I didn't get one :( It is pretty cool though.

Given the theme of the show, I thought about quilts I've made with hearts in it ...and chose to enter these.

Love is in the Air -- this is a paper pieced heart (Wings of Love design by RaNae Miller) that I then did a french applique technique (stuffed) to apply it to the 'sky' and then put it in the sandwich and custom quilted it to look like a balloon floating up into the sky. I used all Island Batik fabrics. It is one of my favorite small pieces.

The Together Quilt -- a moda Stitch Pink initiative from 2021 by A Quilting Life, Sherri McConnell using Sincerely Yours fabrics - some available here. I started with a layer cake and sashing and background fabrics. I decided to split the layer cake into two colorways (red/pink and salmon/purple) and still have the salmon/purple colorway to play with! This made it a bit tricky in terms of using the pattern, but that is a type of challenge that I love! Quilted with Pieces of my Heart pantograph (hand guided). Super happy with the result.

This quilt just hasn't been seen locally much since it was on tour for several years when it got held onto during C* so it could continue its originally anticipated tour.

First Class - my interpretation of the "Ain't Nothin' but a Hound Dog' song, originally recorded by Peacock Records and later recorded by Elvis. This was included in the curated collection by

Donna Marcinkowski DeSoto and compiled into a book published by Schroeder --available here. Thanks to Karen P. for the use of her dog die (actual profile of one of her dogs) and Linda R. for connecting me with real peacock feathers. There are Liberty of London peacock fabrics used too in the hat. I found the bunny tail on the road during one of my walks.

This quilt won a ribbon at our county fair last year, so I decided to put it into a bigger show. I was disappointed that they didn't pin it right, so it ended up being folded under on the bottom.

Spirit Butterfly - This features the Spirit Rhythm collection from Island Batik by Jayme Crowe of Bella Nonna Designs. She also designed the Boondoggle rulers used to cut this diamond like shape. The Spirit Butterfly pattern is available.

Here is the whole quilt:

I think it would be great made up with Free Spirit - Kaffe Fasset fabrics. Here (right above) is the original that I collaborated with Verlie W. to make ..we called it Fly Free.

The final quilt to share with you is 24 Karat Rondure. This is a collaboration with Nancy C.

This quilt design started in a reverse design (left). During the 2011 McCalls Quilt Design Star Challenge, Round 1 issued traditional blocks – Arrowhead and Shoo-fly – and we were challenged to create something using just the two blocks. I skewed them on the golden ratio creating this feeling like you’re looking into an opulent dome.

The original version felt like an ‘old dome’, but my husband came up with the word Rondure ….it is the French word for graceful sphere. Cock your head to one side and see how it changes your perspective.

You’ll find more versions at the hashtag #rondurequilt. You can also get the Rondure pattern at KISSed Quilts.

After making several original versions, my friend Nancy was interested in making the first inverted version. Together we curated Jinny Beyer fabrics. Nancy made the center portion. Years went by and I did the borders A few more years went by and I started quilting it. Another year or so to complete it and finally do the binding. It was then ready for show! Nancy named it 24 Karat Rondure for the 24 blue gems.

This quilt has been on the show circuit for the past 2 years. This is likely its final show outing and it came home with some pretty ribbons!

So, here is where 24 Karat Rondure has been the last two years:

2022
AQS - Daytona Beach - juried in
AQS - Branson - juried in
AQS - Paducah - juried in
AQS - Grand Rapids - juried in
AQS - Des Moines - juried in

2023
Road to California - juried in
Greenville, SC Quilt Fest - juried in
Spring Fling - Odessa, WA - People's Choice
Minnesota Quilt Show - 1st Place in category
Pacific International Quilt Fest - juried in
Lincoln County WA Fair - Superintendent's Award - Large Quilts
Pennsylvania National Quilt Fest - juried in, Awarded Best Interpretation of Theme, Innovative
WSQ Spokane - 2nd Place in category

WSQ Spokane - Category: Machine Quilted, Freehand, Duo, Large category

Here are the 1st and 3rd place ribbons in the same category:

Other results included:

I quilted this one for Laura S. She entered "Forever Yours" in the General, Novelty, or Combination of Techniques category and received a 1st Place Ribbon. Congrats! And thanks for entrusting this beauty with me for the quilting.