Penny Patch Quilt Top Finish

This was such a fun quilt to stitch together!

 Where did the snow go?  One week ago, we were battling frozen pipes.  I love New England weather.

Thank you Rachel for sharing this quilt pattern!

Linking up with Amanda Jean's finish it up Friday.
Kathy

Quilting Book Circa 1977

I love quilting books.  I love books, in general, but my growing collection of quilting books is quite special to me.  We scooped up this classic quilt book at my mother-in-law's house (Jean, by the way is one very talented lady who does it all...quilts, crochets, knits, etc., etc.!).

I can remember when I wanted a bedroom like this (how about that orange shag carpet?).

 Who does this red bird remind you of?

There are some "new-fashioned" quilt patterns in this book.

Isn't this lovely?

I am putting this one on my "to-do" list.

I am sure Mrs. Arthur Woodburn would approve of the modern new-fashioned quilt community!

 And I can't even begin to tell you how much fun we had looking at Vanna White's crochet book from the same period!

Kathy

Quilting Kasey's Kerchief Quilt

One of my informal quilting goals for 2014 is to improve my quilting.   I have started to work on quilting this one:

It is made from the scarves that our beloved dog Kasey collected over the years from her "spa" visits.  

 Straight lines on the quilting machine (Sweet 16) are kind of tricky.  I have been practicing with both the ruler and without.

 Slowly making progress and having fun!

Linking up with Lee's Freshly Pieced WIP Wednesday and Lorna's Let's Bee Social!

Kathy

Progress on Penny Patch Quilt

In response to the cold and often dreary weather of late, a bright, happy quilt seemed to be in order.  When I began my quilting adventure in early 2012 I had very little color and pattern selection confidence (an area still needing improvement in my repertoire).  I tended to purchase a lot of fabric lines for a project and trust that the designer would educate me.  The first fat quarter bundle to come home was Good Fortune by Kate Spain.  As it has a special place in my quilting memories, it has been sitting on the shelf waiting for the right project.

I think I found the right project.  I am sure you have seen the Penny Patch Quilt-Along by Rachel at Stitched in Color and all the lovely finished quilts that have been appearing in blogs and on Flickr.  I bravely untied the FQ bundle and pulled out some Kona white, ash and pansy.

 It was a lovely Sunday afternoon cutting this up to yield these piles.

Over a few nights, I had completed 60 4-Penny Patch blocks.  It makes me happy to see how little trimming was needed.

 Now, I had 120 6.5" blocks to arrange.

 Using my design floor, and after playing for a couple of hours with block placement, I think this will work fine.

What do you know, the primary color just happens to be orchid.   How very trendy of me!

Linking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced WIP Wednesday and Lorna's Let's Bee Social at Sew Fresh Quilts.
Kathy

Dr. Who and Chalk Fabric Bags - Why Not?

It was just few days before Christmas and I was really, really, really busy.  But not too busy as I was still viewing quilting blogs (for relaxation).  I happened upon the Dr. Who Quilt Along (that, by the way, has been going on all year...really, Kathy...where have you been?).  I know NOTHING about Dr. Who except that my niece is a huge fan.  This I cannot resist.

Being a clueless Aunt, I corresponded with the very helpful Soma at Whims and Fancies who set me on the right path.  I have been doing quite a bit of paper piecing lately as part of the T-Shirt Quilt finish, so I had some momentum.  Right after Christmas I started on these blocks.

 The Tardis.

K-9

What to do with two paper pieced Dr. Who blocks?  Make a book bag of course.

For her sister I just had to use some chalkboard fabric (sorry, did not get a picture of the table runner I made with this material) to make her a book bag:

Happy New Year gifts for my two lovely nieces!   Linking up with Amanda Jean's finish it up Friday party.

Kathy

Hello 2014!

2013 was a busy, fun year for KayakQuilting.  Doing these collages made me realize how much I actually finished.  First the quilts:

 and some pillows...

 and some bags, table runners and one more pillow!

Wishing you and yours all the best in 2014!  And let the sewing fun continue!
Kathy

PS Linking up with Play Crafts Year in Review linky party!

So Many Gifts

It's getting to the end of the holiday season.  I'm ready to clean my house of pine needles and empty the refrigerator of turkey and ham leftovers.  But as I do, I have added to my overflowing portfolio of special memories culminating with an amazing New Years Eve in Boston celebrating First Night, swing dancing with the Boston Symphony Swing Orchestra and even a few minutes of fame being interviewed by a Boston TV news broadcast ("Were you at all concerned about coming into Boston for First Night?" ).

Of course the greatest gifts of this holiday season are those memories with family and friends...but I dare say I did manage to score many lovely, thoughtful Christmas gifts!   Yeah!  For example, my dear friend Tracey and her family (who were the recipient of one of my first quilts) gave me this book:

OK, so have you read this book?  Amazing.  Highly recommend.  I know all of us quilters hope that someday we will create a quilt that will mean as much as the Keeping Quilt means to the author's family.  (So many tears when I first read this...oh and did I mention that my friend's family includes two beautiful adopted Russian children...read the book for this connection.)

I am one lucky girl.