Free shipping from Hancock's of Paducah

I got an e-mail from Hancock's of Paducah today and they are offering free shipping on orders until October 8th, 2008. For any U.S. orders over over $29.99 and any international orders over $79.99 you just have to enter the code "FREESHIP" in the source code field during checkout. I've ordered fabric from them before and they are a pretty good source. Check them out at http://www.hancocks-paducah.com/

Leaf Quilt

My cat quilt is actually on hold for the time being since I don't need to have it finished until early December. I'm currently working on a quilt for a friend that I will be going down to visit at the end of October. We've been friends for quite a long time and she took quite seriously ill this past summer. She was having some serious heart issues that they were trying to isolate the cause. Fortunately it turned out to be a virus that caused her heart problems so she doesn't have any permanent damage but it will take her anywhere from 6 - 12 months to fully recover from this so call virus. Unfortunately at this point in time they can't determine which one it is because too much time has passed and there are not enough anti bodies in her system to make a proper diagnosis.

So I'm planning on a visit towards the end of October and I have decided to make her a lap quilt to keep her warm and cosy during the coming fall and winter months. Here is what the front looks like. I have actually started the quilting on it. The back is just a nice dark green batik.

Goodies in the Mail

Today I had a some nice fabrics arrive in the mail. A couple of my favorite places to shop on line are Web Fabrics http://www.webfabrics.net/servlet/StoreFront and eQuilter http://equilter.com/cgi-bin/webc.cgi/st_search.html?p_func=new&start=1 .


These came from eQuilter. Not sure what they will be used for. I couldn't resist the kitties and they will all eventually find a use, but for now they will go into my stash.

The other order was from Web Fabrics, some of which was just some basic black fabric and a border for another quilt. But the one that I was waiting was a Moda Marble called Deep Pond, lower right. It's to go with the other fabrics pictured below that I'm going to use to make a Ricky Tims' Convergence quilt. The fabric in the middle was one that I got on my trip to Hawaii. Now my only decision is which of the two orange fabrics to select? Any opinions out there?



Option 1 - regular orange batik

Option 2 - Orange batik with metalic vines

Cat Quilt for a Friend

My first quilt that I decided to make this summer is going to be a Christmas present for a dear friend who has been a great help during this past year while I've been recovering from my surgery. She loves cats and has 2 furries herself so I decided to make a cat lap quilt for her.

I really liked the various cat fabrics that I selected for her quilt but I wished I had selected something else for the frames between the squares because the paws fabric actually has made the quilt a bit too busy. But once it was put together I wasn't about to rip it all apart so it will be a busy cat quilt. I know that she will still love it, but looking at it some more I wish I had gone with a turquoise frame.

So now I have to get the back put together and then I can start quilting. I should have plenty of time to get it done for early December.

York Heritage Quilters Guild Meeting

Today I attended my first meeting of the York Heritage Quilters Guild http://www.yhqg.org/

The guest speaker was Sherri Hisey http://www.bordercreekstation.com/ and her work I would classify as more traditional in style, especially when it comes to her colour choices. She had some interesting designs that I would love to have seen in non traditional fabrics.

The guild also had a "Show and Tell" at the end and there were some interesting pieces. I managed to get a few pictures but unfortunately when they hang them up for display they don't include a tag with the name of the quilt or the quilt maker, just a number. I didn't have pen and paper to take down the info when they made the presentation, so thanks to the ladies for sharing and I wish I could give you a personal credit for your work.

Paper piecing

baby quilt

spiral design

table runner sampler

table runner sampler in blue

fans

Take a closer look at this quilt, it has embellishments of ribbon and glass lamp work beads.

Hawaiian Inspiration

I want to share some pictures of some lovely quilts that we saw at Kapaia Stitchery in Kauai this past spring. This store was a quilter's paradise with gorgeous fabrics including beautiful Hawaiian prints that you never see back home and a great staff ready to help and answer any of your questions. Between the great ladies at this store and Joe and Kent of Two Guys in Hawaiian Shirts I was inspired and encouraged to take up quilting once again.

Traditional Hawaiian Quilt

Honas (Sea Turtles)

Passion Flower

Sunshine Pineapple

Spouting Horn

Napali Coast

My return to quilting

After spending time reading some very interesting blogs I've decided to start my own blog, partly to share with others the things that I'm doing and partly as a way to keep track of my journey in making quilts.

I've just recently been able to return to sewing after having to stop a few years ago due to issues with carpal tunnel syndrome as a result from working on computers for most of my life. I finally had the surgery on my right hand this past January and unfortunately it was botched which initially resulted in my having to go for many months of physiotherapy. By the time May rolled around my hand was still in not good shape and I was heading on vacation with my best friend and roommate Bernice to Hawaii for her special celebration birthday vacation. We were going to be on the island of Kauai for 10 days on a quilting vacation and then off to San Francisco for 7 days. We were going take a traditional Hawaiian hand quilting session at a local fabric store called Kapaia Stitchery as well as do some machine quilting with "Two Guys in Hawaiian Shirts" who provide all the supplies, machines and even lessons if you need them. Check Joe & Kent's site out at http://www.quiltinparadise.com/

Well I was a bit concerned since my hand still wasn't the best, but I figured I'm going to go and enjoy myself in paradise and see what happens. Well we had a wonderful vacation and I actually enjoyed the quilting that I did even with my bum hand. Here is a picture of the traditional Hawaiian hand quilting, it's pillow size and it's an orchid design. This is only the applique part and I have yet to do the actual hand quilting. I think that will be a winter project.

Then at Joe and Kent's we would spend either a morning or an afternoon quilting and then have the other part of the day to enjoy paradise. Bernice made a beautiful Hawaiian floral lap quilt but I wasn't ready to tackle something that large so I decided to make some place mats and a table runner. I was very please with how they turned and and we have actually used them on several occasions when we have hosted dinner parties.

So after such a wonderful experience I was bound and determined to get my hand better so that I could get back to quilting on a much broader level. So when I returned the physiotherapy was ramped up and I am pleased to say that by mid August I was finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Then when I went back to see the surgeon in early September my hand had recovered about 90 - 95% and with a bit more physio I should be good to go and I will not need any additional surgery. This was great news to say the least.

Over the next week or so I will post a few more things that I have done in the last few months to get my blog caught up to where I am at this point in my quilting and then it will be an on going journal. As for the two kitties Fergie and Jordie they love to help and supervise in the making of my quilts so they had to get recognition in the naming of my blog. I was originally going to call it "Quilting with Cats" but that name was already taken so I opted for "Felines and Fibre Arts".