Monday, April 7, 2014

The Saga of the Design Wall



 So, what is a design wall?  Well, first of all, you know that a quilter needs his/her space, right?  I have taken over all of what once was a dining room and a big room in the basement.  Why?  Because a quilter has a bunch of stuff.  This stuff is not all fabric.  It is sewing machines, cutting boards, big tables to hold quilts as they are being quilted, other big tables to provide space for making quilt sandwiches (not a food group), and for me, an area by the laundry room downstairs for my dyeing studio (yes, we call them all our studios).
My dining room sewing table, design wall behind.
So, in my dining room where I have my sewing machine and big quilting table, I decided I needed a design wall.  A design wall is a place where you can put up blocks you have made and easily move them around to make the quilt design, hence design wall.  The blocks have to stick and be easily moved around, so I went on a quest to find out what people made design walls of.  What I found out was that blocks stick magically to batting, so the outside of my wall I made of batting.  For the inside, I went to Menards and bought two one-inch sheets of insulation.  So, since my wall was a standard height, I took the insulation and covered it, only to find out that "standard" is not standard, you have floors and rugs and ceiling treatments that make when you cover the "standard", you get a bit of a tight fit, as below:
About a six inch gap!




Curved away from the wall!



Should be flat against the wall!


So, down to the cutting board, remove the spray-basted batting and do what I should have done in the first place, measure and cut the board to the proper height.   Well, I almost got it right; styrofoam is hard to cut with a kitchen knife so what you can't see is that there is a gap and the board is a bit wonky, but I am happy!

I now have my design wall in my design studio and am as happy as punch!







Thursday, April 3, 2014

What is my Super Power? And, what am I going to give away?

I haven't been around much lately.  I have had camera and time issues, but I am back and commit to you I will post as often as I have something interesting to say.  Frankly, I have several posts I want to do stored up in my brain.  I will get them down on electronic media in the very near future.  I almost said down on paper, but we don't use paper much anymore, do we???

I am also participating in the SuperPower Blog Hop.  I really am happy to share my superpower, but you will have to wait to let me expose it!!!  Here is the schedule and my day (Sew Golden a Chance) is Tuesday April 15.... OH NO, that is TAX DAY!!!!  Well, I hope everyone is done with their taxes so that they can be seeing what superpower is in the stitching hop.  Hope to see you then!


FRIDAY APRIL 11

MONDAY APRIL 14

TUESDAY APRIL 15

WEDNESDAY APRIL 16

THURSDAY APRIL 17

FRIDAY APRIL 18

MONDAY APRIL 21

Thursday, March 6, 2014

Creatology, the winner of my Kona Snow, wrote:

Hello Kay:
Thank you sew very much.  I received your package today.  This Moda Snow Jelly Roll is fabulous!  I am honored to be the recipient. 
Blogging has been such a blissful journey for me.  Finding like-minded souls and an incredible amount of inspiration is amazing to me. 
Thank you sincerely…sherry

 So, betcha can't wait to find out what is next...  Well, it has to do with my Superpower, and yes, another blog hop where I will reveal just what my Superpower is!
Now this is going to be a fun hop because everyone is going to reveal their superpower on the day of their hop!  So, mine is a secret until then.

Please join me on this great hop.  All my followers, new and old (age never counts) will be eligible for another great drawing that is all about my super power.  

I will be posting what I have been doing as soon as my husband gets back from a business trip.  He took my precious camera with him.  So, I will have a lot to post soon!  Love always, Kay

Thursday, February 20, 2014

We have a winner...

Drum Roll, Please!!!




Number 40!

Hi, You were the 40th person to comment on my blog during the “Hugs and Kisses” Blog Hop.  Random Number Generator picked #40 and that is Createology. 

You win a jelly roll of Kona Snow.  To claim your prize, please send me your snail mail address…  thanks again for following me.  I sent you an email also.

Thanks to all the new followers.  I will do my best to make all of my posts interesting and relevant.

love always, Kay




Tuesday, February 18, 2014

My Day is finally here!

For the Hugs and Kisses Blog Hop that is...

And here is the block I made.  I made it to match a quilt top that I finished this month.  First the block:
I think this will be a coordinating pillow.
To match my Dogs and Cats Companions quilt (fabric by Laurel Birch)...



And be sure to visit the rest of the blog hop on today (see the list below):

Feb 18th


Lady Lana

Lady Judy

Lady Shanna

Lady Amanda

Lady Kay

Everyone who follows me today will have a special chance to win a gift of a jelly roll of pure Kona Snow.  Just jot me a message below to let me know you followed me and I will enter your name into the basket!

Monday, February 10, 2014

Happy Mom (and Grandma)

Smiling Mom and Grandma!
 Have you ever seen such a happy camper?  I am smiling like there is no tomorrow...  Well, I had the most wonderful weekend.
My son Tony, Jackson, Me and Kathy (my daughter Andee is taking the picture).

I got to spend Sunday afternoon with my wonderful son, daughter, daughter in law, and grandson.  I treasure every moment I spend with them.


We went to a children's play area by my house (too cold for outside) and Jackson just had a ball (quite literally)!!!  


Also, my stepdaughter (on the right) competed in varsity gymnastics at South, while only 12 years old.  This picture was in the Star/Tribune, the Minneapolis paper on Friday, itsn't it neat?  She and a friend were jumping past each other on the uneven parallel bars.

A wonderful weekend...  love always, Kay

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

February Goal, A Lovely Year of Finishes, PRACTICE

ALYoF2014
Well, it is February, and as usual I am behind in my BOMs and other things that I need to work on, well need is a strong word, want to work on is better.  I told myself I would not get behind this year, but now I am taking a dyeing class and it takes me a day to get ready for class and then a day to wash and sort the fabric that I dyed.  No complaints, mind you, but the class is taking a lot of time.

Aurifil January BOM
So, for my Lovely Year of Finishes February goal, I am going to complete my February Globetrotting BOM, my Aurifil BOM, and catch up on my FMQ class with Leah Day, the Building Blocks BOM.
Globetrotting January BOM

Now, frankly, the FMQ with Leah Day is the most important to me.  I really need to do this free motion stuff to where I am satisfied.  I have tops to quilt and I have plans for an entry in May to a show, but if I can't get the FMQ I am sunk.  So, I need to practice, practice, practice.  That is a goal, but not a visible one, so I will do the visible and then also do the practice to get better.  Love always, Kay

Peek-A-Who Blog Hop & Give Away

Welcome to the Peek-A-Who blog hop, hosted by Marian at Seams To Be Sew ! And we have great giveaways! See the rafflecopter at the end o...