Catching up/year end 2014

The day job keeps me so busy. Traveling is fun, the job is too (most days!). But blogging has taken a back seat to Instagram (follow me: kheliwud). BUT as this is my way of journaling my exploits, here is a catch-up since the last post:

I quilted for hire (3 for this lady, a sweet friend of mine!)

This is also for a dear friend, May Chappell, and this quilt went to Quilt Market (more photos and read about it here) in Houston!:

I made a Brickyard by Bearhug Quiltworks 

(great pattern, goes really fast, designed by yet another awesome friend!)

 I made a leglamp pillow for my son (matches one of his tattoos), from this source

Lunch bags from this awesome tutorial

Made 6 sew together bags (4 shown here)

Did some low-water immersion dyeing

Hosted a private FMQ class (and had so much fun with these ladies!)

Did some Christmas presents form this tutorial (May Chappell ROCKS!)

Joined this mini quilt swap:

 

And quilted the TMQG QuiltCon 2015 quilt:

I am off until Jan 2, so more sewing is happening! 

I hope you have been enjoying a wonderful Holiday Season and I hope all the best for you, and for Peace on Earth in 2015!

Don't forget to check out my Free Motion Tips tab. Feel free to email any FMQ questions as well, I love to help!

reconnecting

Bonnie and I grew up attending the same church. There was a slight age difference, she is 3 years ahead of me, that when you are younger seems greater.
Our parents have remained connected, but life happened and we each grew up going our own ways.
Last year, at a local quilt show, we ran into each other. "I didn't know you quilted!" we both said. And we were delighted to start talking quilting. We exchanged email addresses with a promise to get together.

Life happened again, her mother fell into ill-health, her father passed away.
We ran into each other (yes, at another quilt show!) and again, promised to get together. Well, this time, we kept the promise to each other.

Last Sunday, I paid her a visit (we only live 15-20 minutes apart!). I arrived, and when I next looked at a clock, I had been there 4 and a half hours!

I feel like I have been given a huge gift! It is so great to reconnect and feel the love and the commonalities of deep friendship.

We talked quilting, of course! Bonnie has been sewing and quilting like me, but she had taken the plunge and purchased a sit-down long-arm, an HQ Sweet 16.

She invited me to play on it.

Ya'll (as we say in here in the South), that machine ROCKS!

Bonnie also shared with me, her summer hobby, marquetry. Look at this beauty:

She quilts with wood!!!

What a great Sunday!

 Neat coincident: she and her husband attended an event this week, and met my husband.

New Project

I am making this quilt:

With these fabrics:

It is going to be gorgeous on my king-sized bed!

So, While I am finishing up the FMQ on a contemporary piece, I am feeling a little traditional. And the class is being taught at my LQS by a fabulous quilter, dear friend and all-around nice lady! Last night was our first class where we planned our fabric arrangement and cut the star fabrics out. We have homework to finish before the class next week. This is a challenge for me, taking my time! Normally I would plow through and whip the quilt out! But, no, I want to slow down, take my time, soak up Ellen's (that my teacher!) knowledge and really get into the process. It is a gift to myself. It is also recharging to spend a few hours with fellow quilters and friends. That is also a gift to myself!

I will post my progress on this one.

Excitement amid all this heat!

No more FMQ to show, yet. But I learned something exciting tonight. My dear home LQS, Sewingly Yours will be the host of the newly minted Triad Modern Quilt Guild!!!

As of today, looks like we will meet the second Tuesday of each month, beginning in September. Ohhhhh so excited! Thank you ANGIE, for getting this going!

A confession

my name is kelly and I love blogs.

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Scrap therapy part 1

I have been sewing the scraps I worked so hard to sort and trim. Having them ready makes it easier and convenient to use them up. Here is the first project I am using them on:

This is not a 'true' charm quilt. 
Charm quilts are not supposed to have more than 1 piece of each fabric. 
I can't stand the thought of trashing half (nor do I have enough for a second quilt) so I guess this is a double charm. 
Another instance of me bucking the system. 

A non-quilt related thingie - but fun!

Do you love IKEA? I do, and am glad there is one in Charlotte I can visit yearly. This is a fun swedish furniture name generator inspired by IKEA.

Here is mine!

Tee Hee!