Quilted stuff, then a few flowers, and dogs....

[barnbum]

This past Wed I did a one-woman quilt show for an assisted living place--the ones who bring a bus load out to have a horse show every July. It was a two hour show with over 50 items. Here are some of the newest pieces:

This is a bargello--I call it Twist of Fall. It's sold already.

Then I made some table toppers from the same idea:

This has to be my favorite bargello--I call is Wildflower Meadow and it will never be for sale.

Although, I may make more like it.

From that came these--a doll blanket and a table topper. The smaller one sold too!

More below....

 

[barnbum]

These are my specialty--watercolor floral log cabin blocks. This is a table runner. Loved this piece!! But, so did my girlfriend. I sold it to her for $75--but it was hard to let go.

But, once I complete the longer floral bargello table runner I'm working on now, I'm making more of these and one will be a keeper! I don't usually get attached to quilted pieces--but this one was an exception!

After quilted:

And a doll quilt--it's quilted now:

There--that ought to make someone happy!

 

[barnbum]

This same person wanted to see flowers and dogs too....

It's been a rough spring--so even our wintered over geraniums are waiting....

I did manage to capture some snowdrops:

And, for those who remember the Buddy story--he's doing GREAT! Our old girl, Shimano, who has been inactive and an inconsistent eater for years--before and after Suzy died--is now more active and eating regularly. I think we have Buddy to thank for that. She took months to warm up to him, but now they seem to be pals. They romp the fields together, which makes us smile.

And there's a new horse photo in my avatar...

Request fulfilled!

 

[~Dan]

Karla, they are all so beautiful. The first quilt reminds of a water color painting, and the rest of the quilts are just beautiful (especially the wildflower one). The flower photos are amazing as well. You take photos so beautifully, and the dogs are really cute as usual. That is great to hear that both dogs are doing better, I recall following their story.

Have a safe and blessed Easter.

Dan.

 

[jacks'thunder]

OMG Karla those Bargello quilts are AMAZING!!! They, to me, feel so earthy! I feel like I see wind or water currents when I see them! Truely wonderful! I have never seen a quilt like them!

Thanks so much for sharing!( You should do a whole earth, wind, water, fire collection!!!

)

On a side note, the weather here has been so ugly and blaa. The other day I kinda wandered in circles trying to get out of my ugly weather funk. I decided to call my mom and ask her if she wanted a quilt. She said Heck yeah! So I cut up a bunch of fat quarters, put on my head phones and sewed! It was great! I finnished it by 7:30 pm( starting at 10am-ish

) It felt so good and was so calming.

Thanks again for sharing! Very beautiful!

 

[Marsha Cassada]

Beautiful quilts! You are an artist.

 

[barnbum]

Thanks, Dan. The quilting forum folks said the floral one looks like Monet.

I used that idea to pick out the binding fabric.

jack'sthunder--what a neat idea--earth/wind/fire!! That would be cool with kaleidoscopepe pattern too! I wish I could sew as fast as the ideas came!

Did you take a photo of your quilt? I'd love to see it!

Thanks, Marsha. I do not consider myself crafty at all--dreaded helping my kids decide on costumes and I can't draw a recognizable stick figure... but I do love quilting. Choosing the pattern and colors is my favorite part--then watching it come together... Now the layering and quilting I could live without!

 

[chandab]

karla,

Your quilts are stunning. And, you are a much braver quilter than I, I haven't tackled a bargello, yet; but perhaps now that I've seen your tabletopper size bargellos, I could get brave and try one that size.

here are my last two quilts (you would have thought I'd get more than 2 done being pretty much snowed in for 3 months, but I didn't):

 

[ClickMini]

LOVE!!! I just got a new sewing machine, and want to try my hand at quilting. What is the best way to learn? Can you share some good resources with me? My machine is a combo sewing/embroidery one, so I can even embroider on some of the squares! So excited to get started.

 

[chandab]

LOVE!!! I just got a new sewing machine, and want to try my hand at quilting. What is the best way to learn? Can you share some good resources with me? My machine is a combo sewing/embroidery one, so I can even embroider on some of the squares! So excited to get started.

Depends on what works best for you. I learned primarily from books, which is why I'm basically still a beginner (I live 60 miles out in the country, so not easy to get somewhere for lessons). A good starting book is "Your first quilt book (or it should be)" by Carol Doak; lots of easy to understand instructions and details. [i saw it on barnes and noble for like $15.]

Many quilt shops and fabric shops have beginners lessons (and more advanced as well), another quilter may be willing to teach you. On line, there are many resources, I have not used many of them; but did join the About quilting forum: http://forums.about.com/ab-quilting/ There are links to many resources from there. [i think there is an online quilt university, but not sure.]

Biggest advice... Start small, don't over face yourself with your first project. Start with a tablerunner, baby quilt or something else that is small. If you start with say a queen-size quilt, you might get discouraged before you finish and not want to go on with quilting. I like instant gratification, so almost all my projects are small: lap quilts, baby quilts (mostly give to charity), tabletoppers, tablerunners and a few wall hangings. I've done larger, but don't enjoy them as much, as for me they just take too long to complete.

 

[barnbum]

Chanda--love your projects--esp the colors of the one on the left! It looks antique-like!

Bargellos are really not hard--as the ladies on the quilting forum said, the hardest part is picking the 20 fabrics to use--and the order they should go in. I made at least 10 "final" decisions with that floral one. The rest is just staying organized. Everything needs to be labeled. The Fall one has rows of squares cut at 3/4" which I did NOT like at all. I never go that narrow with my table runners.

Amy---I have never taken a class, just learned from reading books, as Chanda suggested. Classes just aren't my thing--quilting is a solitary activity for me.

The Quilt in a Day books, by Eleanor Burns are great! I made my first log cabin from those and gained the confidence to play with my own ideas. Here's a great site for free patterns: http://www.quilterscache.com/QuiltBlocksGalore.html

I agree with Chanda's advice about starting small too. Years ago, I would read about how to quilt in books at a fabric store--memorize what I could (didn't have the money to buy them) and then run home to try it on a doll quilt for my daughter. I go to www.quiltingboard.com a lot and have gained much inspiration from there. There is a whole section of tutorials, too!

Good luck! It's a wonderful hobby!

 

[Reble]

Thanks for sharing, love them all.

 

[barnbum]

Finished this top today--a longer bargello table runner. I have 26 floral log cabin blocks in the works, and those will be turned into two table runners when done. Then I can make one more project before I force myself to finish the four. Since painfully finishing 15 projects a few weeks ago, I've now limited myself to four--then they must be layered, quilted, and binded before another project can start.

My horses are all sore from shots.

But I took every one for a walk today to lift their spirits. Tucker and Gypsy seem to be okay now, but poor Chloe, Mazie, and Rosie can't lift their heads to a normal level. Thank goodness they can eat fine.

Back to work tomorrow after a week off, so that greatly diminishes my quilting/horse time.

Anyway--thanks for looking.

 

[chandab]

Chanda--love your projects--esp the colors of the one on the left! It looks antique-like!

Thank you. I love the fabrics in that fabric, they are a collection from Timeless Treasures called "The Rose" or maybe just "Rose". I have more if you are interested.

 

[Marty]

Love, love, love it all! Those snowdrops are incredible

 

[kaykay]

Wow that first quilt is just stunning! I also love the one with pastels but the first one is a real eye catcher! Not sure I could have sold it LOL.

*this is why we only vaccinate in the rump. If they react its not as big of a deal as they can still move their head and neck

 

[Shari]

Your quilts are just stunning works of Art!! So Beautiful!

 

[StarRidgeAcres]

Karla, You are a true artist! I always love seeing your work. And the pics of the flowers and dogs are adorable too!

 

[barnbum]

Wow that first quilt is just stunning! I also love the one with pastels but the first one is a real eye catcher! Not sure I could have sold it LOL.

*this is why we only vaccinate in the rump. If they react its not as big of a deal as they can still move their head and neck

Thanks, Kay. I've found that the joy is really in the journey for me; once an item is done, it's pretty easy to part with. My kids (I have three now!) get first dibs on everything--if none of them want it, or want me to save it for them, it goes for sale. The money goes for more fabric and horse stuff.

I don't want to stop quilting just because everyone is full of quilts--so selling and donating are fun.

I've tried shots in hips and once Chloe couldn't walk. Danged if I can figure it out. My friend here said she has the vet give the rabies, then she keeps the others to give a week, then another week later. They are all better today. Mazie and I went for a walk and she was full of energy.

They behave better when they're sore.

Thanks, Marty, Parmela and Sheri.

 

[kaykay]

Sorry to go off topic

We dont do the hip either. We go right into that really fatty part of the butt under the tail. They may limp but at least they can eat and drink! I know OSU has now enacted a policy that no horse can be given an injection in the neck.