New Project??

Hello Everyone,

I know we all are working on multiple projects at any given time. I am just like everyone else. It seems like I am always thinking ahead.

I have been collecting dotty fabric for quite some time now. It appears that I now have them in every color way possible.

This is just a glimpse into what I have in my stash.

Darks, lights, different color backgrounds from red to blue. Saved up for one special project.

The cover quilt on this Spring, 2006 issue of Quilts and More.

It is called Dotty Stars and is by Piece O Cake designs. I just love it!!

You can really see the variations in the background colors here. What do you think of this project?? I know I may not get to it in the immediate future. But I will get to it! In the meantime, I can continue to add to the dots in my collection.

And since I just got back from the new AQS show in Lancaster, I had no problem in adding to my stash while there. There will be more on that in some posts later this week. Now I just have to find a place to put it all!!

Until Next Time...

New Project??

Hexagon Progress

Hello Everyone,

I thought you might like to see my progress on my hexagons! My hand piecing is going slow as of late. Unfortunately, other things are getting in the way of me actually sitting down to relax. But since the last time I have posted this, I think I have managed two more new GFG blocks.

They really do look quite nice. I do enjoy the hand piecing. I just wish I had more time these days.

You can see the multitude of colors that I have. I love using the 1930s fabrics. I think it will make the quilt feel "old fashioned". My stash has no shortage of these either.

So my system for doing these is totally scrappy. But I like it to be a controlled scrappy. I am trying to keep an even amount of each color when making these blocks. Right now I have six different color categories green, orange, yellow, pink, blue, and purple. These are definitely the softer shades of the 1930s prints. No reds will go into this quilt. The look I am going for is more "feminine".

This is the way that I usually keep them, in a stack with their own color grouping. I find that it helps me to keep track of which color I should do next. The color groupings are done by using the outer ring as the primary color.

Right now I have 27 blocks made. By my calculation, I need a total of 96. So I have a long way to go. They will all have white hexagons separating them. Very traditional. That is what I like. So, having no illusions, this quilt will take me some time to complete.

Until Next Time...

Hexagon Progress

942!

Hello Everyone,

I bet you are all wanting an update on our pillowcase count for the Hole In the Wall Gang Kids Camp? Well, we are getting there. The picture below is just 2 months worth of pillowcases from all of you wonderful bloggers, from all over the world.

113 for 2 months!! Thank you all. So you are probably wondering what the 942 title is of this post?

942 is the total tally of pillowcases our guild has collected/made. The other guild that is participating has made the TOTAL collection around 1500!! Wow!! We are almost at the 2000 goal.

So if you are all wondering if you can still send some pillowcases, the answer is YES!! Just comment here or send me an e-mail, and I will get you my address. We have until the first week in May. They extended the deadline!! YAY!!

Don't forget the FREE pillowcase pattern in my sidebar. A big, big, big thank you to all who have donated their time and talent to such a wonderful charity.

Oh and one more thing, is anyone going to the AQS Lancaster Quilt show this week?? I will be there on Friday and Saturday! Drop me a line and let me know!

And don't forget if you have an account on Facebook, sign up to be a Fan on my Facebook Fan page. Just visit my sidebar.

Until Next Time...

942!

Winners!

Hello Everyone,

Thank you to all who entered the Selvage Quilt Book Giveaway! For those of you who are now following Karen's blog, I know you won't be disappointed.

So now onto the winners. Good old Random Number Generator picked the following...

So #7 was Karen of Quilts... Etc. Congratulations Karen!!

And #98 was Colourdujour! Congratulations!!

Ladies, just e-mail me your addresses and I will get them off to Karen so that she can mail out your books!!

Until Next Time...

Winners!

Beauty

Hello Everyone,

I hope you all had a spectacular weekend. I sure did!! Mother Nature really took care of us with lots of sun and spring warmth. So we took advantage of that and got out everyday to do something fun.

Yesterday we went down to the Connecticut shoreline to Rocky Neck State park where we walked along the beach and went for a hike in the woods. I wanted to share with you some of the beauty that I saw through my camera lens...

View of Long Island Sound.

Going through the tunnel to make our way to the trailhead.

A beautiful mossy log with some interesting fungus growing. Along the blue trail on our hike.

Looking ahead on the trail.

A burl. We saw several.

The beautiful saltwater marsh. Home to many different species of animals.

I hope you have enjoyed this beautiful hike with me. Don't forget to enter the giveaway, today is the last day! And a special thanks to all of you who took advantage of the National Quilting Day Sale in my shop!!

Oh and one other detail... I started a Facebook Fan page for the shop. If you are on Facebook and would like to become a fan, just click on the Facebook box in my sidebar and join me!!

Until Next Time...

Beauty

Coffee With Kaffe Quilt - Update

Hello Everyone,

Yes, I have decided to officially call this quilt "Coffee With Kaffe". What do you think? Anyway, I have been making progress and am really loving it. So those bonus squares that I said I had, went from this...

to this....

Oh yes, just a little sneak peek. Partly because I have to get two more borders on.

But these photos should satiate your curiosity until I finish it, right? The extra added bonus is that we have had some wonderful spring like weather and I was able to do another photo shoot outside!! Thank you Mother Nature!

So one more photo...

This one is just a little sampling of some new items in the shop that are available during my 3 day National Quilting Day sale! Starting today and ending at the end of the day on Sunday the 21st. So if you want to make your own Coffee with Kaffe quilt, go check out the sale to grab up those Kona and Kaffe Fabrics.

Oh, don't forget to enter the code quilt20 to get 20% off your entire order, at checkout. Just click here to be whisked away to shop.

(books and Kona Color Cards are not included in this sale)

So have a fun time shopping and enjoy National Quilting Day!! Oh and don't forget to enter the giveaway in my previous post, if you haven't already.

Until Next Time...

Coffee With Kaffe Quilt - Update

Selvage Quilts Giveaway!!

Hello Everyone,

This is really a new area for me in some ways and I have learned a lot! I have never made a selvage quilt, but hope to someday. The quilt below belongs to my friend Karen Griska, the Selvage Quilter! Gorgeous isn't it. Before anyone asks, no this quilt is not being given away. You will have to read through the post to find out all about the giveaway.

The picture below is Karen. She is truly a lovely lady and quite talented. Not to mention a wealth of knowledge when it comes to selvages! Today, I had the honor of interviewing her for my latest Podcast! This Podcast is just chock full of great information on everything selvages. You can click here to listen or download it from iTunes, just search for Jackie's Quilting Chronicles. This podcast you can actually view pictures of things that were discussed. So if you are sitting at your computer or have an iPod with a screen or iPhone, you will be able to see the images as we discuss them.

Okay, so onto the giveaway!! In honor of this very special podcast, Karen is graciously giving away 2 autographed copies of her book!!

Yes, you guessed it, there are a few rules, but they are easy peasy.

1. Leave a comment here for 1 entry.

2. Become a follower of Karen's blog and let me know in a second comment. If you are already a follower, just say so. While you are there tell her I said hello!

3. Blog about it and then come back and leave me another comment letting me know.

This gives you all 3 chances to enter, do all three if you like or just one! Remember, as they say, you've got to be in it to win it!

The giveaway will end on March 22 with the winners being drawn on March 23. Good luck!! In the meantime, enjoy the podcast.

Until Next Time...

Selvage Quilts Giveaway!!

It's Here!!!!

Hello Everyone,

The highly anticipated NEW Kaffe book is in the house!!

You can purchase it here and here. The best part is that it is 15% off!! Hurry, only a few in stock. I know you will love it!

Until Next Time...

It's Here!!!!

A Little Bit of Coffee and Kaffe Makes Everything Better

Hello Everyone,

First I want to thank everyone for their wonderful suggestions for border options on my Molita quilt. I have finally read through all of them and am anxious to finish this quilt. Thank you!! Now onto my regularly scheduled post...

I may not be a coffee drinker, but this kind of coffee, Kona that is, makes everything better. Couple that with some Kaffe Fassett prints and you have one quilt that is making my heart sing. Here are the beginnings of this wonderful new project. It is the Weed Whacker pattern from Bonnie.

It consists of 2" strips and 3.5 inch squares. This is something that we all have available to us, right?

The best part of this whole quilt is that Tina taught us all at the retreat last weekend. About half of the 50+ people attending the retreat participated in this project. For pictures of everyone's quilt tops just go here to Tina's blog. She did a fabulous job. You can see her presentation board behind her. This was a quick project to do and sometimes we all need this, something quick. I knew that I did and enjoyed every minute of putting this one together. Thank you, Tina!!

I was so excited about finishing this one that I couldn't stop. So now that I have the body of this top together, I just had to take it outside on this very mild, 60 degree, sunny day and do a photo shoot.

I really love how the Kona Coffee works with the Kaffe prints that I chose.

It looks wonderful in the sun. But, it feels good to be in the sun anyway! Although if you take a close look at some of the photos you can still see snow on the ground.

So here is the whole body of the quilt. I say body because there were some "bonus" pieces that were made in the process of piecing the quilt top that will be added as part of the border. So stay tuned for more. This is not done yet.

The next picture is to prove that winter is not yet gone, but spring really wants to come along soon.

Do you believe it?? These are in my own garden bed. Daffodils are poking their heads through and I am loving it!!

Until Next Time...

A Little Bit of Coffee and Kaffe Makes Everything Better

Quilting With a Friend

Hello Everyone,

This past weekend I was invited to a wonderful quilting retreat in Rhode Island. My friend Tina of Seaside Stitches invited me and I was just so excited!! I was able to meet her for the first time. She is such a wonderful friendly, and talented lady who has the most charming family!

I also met a ton of new and terrific talented quilting ladies. They were all so much fun and very welcoming. Thank you all for having me at your retreat! Too much fun!

Here we are together, Tina on the left, me on the right! You can see that we worked on our Star Crazy BOM.

Here you can see my 30s and Kaffe blocks. Behind them you can see Tina's beautiful batik blocks.

Tina is all caught up through March. I am totally caught up through February. But remember I am doing 2 versions simultaneously. I hope to have the March blocks done before the end of March. Cross your fingers!!

Here is another shot of my blocks! The only two blocks that are missing from the photos are the Irish Chain block in the Kaffe and Kona Charcoal. But rest assured, I did complete them. I just forgot to take a photo.

Please go visit Tina's blog, I know you will love it. She is a very creative soul and a great teacher too. She taught us at the retreat!! The next post will show you the quilt that she taught.

Also of note, please go to see Victoria at Bumble Beans. She is requesting house blocks be made for charity quilts and she needs your help. To join in just click here.

Once you are done at Victoria's, go here to get your Kona Color Card. They are going fast!

Until Next Time...

Quilting With a Friend

Border Suggestions Needed... Please

Hello Everyone,

So here is a little throw back to the past for me, otherwise known as a UFO or WIP. The following quilt top I pieced as a sample for a class I was teaching at the LQS about 5 years ago.

I had purchased the lovely molitas from Carol in Panama. At the time, I was unaware she was a quilter but admired all the molas and molitas she had for sale. Admired really isn't a good word, loved is more like it. Sorry she no longer sells them. Anyway they worked out perfect as focal points in this quilt.

I purchased 4 different floral molitas in different colors and just love them equally.

I used Michael Miller Fairy Frosts to frame them up.

Trying to follow the ROYGBIV, but with lights and darks. I did the best I could. Yes, some colors are missing.

The final flower. Now for the big question.

Here is the quilt top. The problem being I don't have a border on it. All these years I have not quilted this top because I just can't decide what to do about the border. So I would love to invite you all to give me any suggestions you might have. I have thought of a small inner border of color then black. Also, black with a colorful piano keys border. But I guess I am not too sure. So I would love to hear your thoughts!

Until Next Time...

Border Suggestions Needed... Please