Raggedy & Friends on Display

When Michele, owner of The Running Stitch…my not-so-local quilt shop (65 miles away)…asked if she could display my Raggedy & Friends quilt in her shop for the month of August, I replied with a resounding, “Of course!”  So earlier this week, Mr. PQ, Mac and I made the trek to Ottawa not only to visit the shop but to also show her my recently completed A Primitive Garden quilt which you can see here.

The shop just recently moved to larger premises and not only do they carry a wide selection of fabric, notions, books and everything else to tickle a quilter’s fancy, they are also a Bernina dealer.

This is what greets you as you enter the shop.  Can you see my Raggedy & Friends quilt hanging behind the check out counter?

To the right are the notions, books and Berninas on display.

And to the left is the fabric.  Oops!  There’s my Primitive Garden quilt on the cutting table!  It’s going to be on display and featured in the shop during the month of October.

And more fabric…

A closer look at Raggedy & Friends here…

And here…

And speaking of Raggedy & Friends, I’d like to share with you some photos of completed first blocks from all around the world.

Marimosty from France.  Bonjour!

Paula from Spain.  Hola!

Mary from the US.  Howdy!

Claire from Canada.  Hi!

And Jeannine from France.  Bonjour!

Thanks so much for sharing.  You all make my heart sing!

And remember, Block 2 of Raggedy & Friends will be released on Friday, the 20th of August.  See you then!

Happy stitching!

Kaaren ♥

A Finish!

When I first saw this quilt advertised as a BOM from Primitive Gatherings in one of the quilting magazines, it was love at first sight and knew I just had to join in!  I started working on it almost two years ago and the flimsy was put away in a plastic container for more than a year,  waiting for me to decide as to whether I’d add the four appliquéd borders that are a part of the original design.

Because the appliquéd elements are made with hand dyed wools, the quilt cannot be washed and I doubt that I would take the chance of having it dry cleaned either.  This would mean that the only alternative would be to hang it and there aren`t too many walls in our home large enough to accommodate a full-sized quilt, which ultimately helped in my decision making.

About a month ago, I threw caution to the wind, added a border and handed it over to my friend and longarm quilter extraordinaire, Nancy, and told her to “have at it!”   I think this is either the fourth or fifth quilt that Nancy has quilted for me and not once have I been disappointed.  Everything is done free motion and the quilting designs are her own.  She is truly an amazing quilting artist.

The quilt is called A Primitive Garden and is designed by Lisa Bongean.  Here it is, quilted and bound.

In all honesty, the photos do not do it justice. 

All the elements are hand appliquéd in the most rich, soft and yummy hand dyed woolens that I have ever worked with.

More close ups of random blocks.

Can you see the incredible quilting?

Each block is quilted differently.

The detail that Lisa incorporates into her designs is amazing.

It gave me great pleasure to be able to finally stitch my initials and year onto the back of this quilt.  Can you make them out in the bottom left corner?  The idea for this came to me from a 1923 Grandmother’s Flower Garden quilt that I have in my collection.  You really have to search for the initials and year and I thought that perhaps someone in the future might experience the same ‘eureka’ moment that I did when I discovered those on the antique quilt stitched subtly onto the backing.

All that remains is to find the proper hardware with which to hang it!

Happy stitching!

Kaaren ♥

A Happy Hooker!

I have always had an appreciation for all things that are created by hand, perhaps because that was my job as an artist.  If you have been reading my blog for any length of time, then you know that I have always had a love affair with quilts and vowed that when I retired, I would learn to make my own quilts to go along with the antique ones that I managed to collect over time.  I have happily been doing that for the past three years and loving every minute of it!

But, there is also something else that I’ve always had a burning desire to learn to do.  “What is that?” you might ask. 

I want to be a hooker! 

How hard can it possibly be?  Heck, if I taught myself how to quilt then I can certainly teach myself how to hook…right?  I’ve been told that I’m a fairly quick study and that I pick things up easily so I decided that if I don’t give it a go now, then I might never have another chance to live the dream.

So with Mr. PQ’s full support, we set out for Montpelier, Vermont on Friday morning.

Two hours later, we arrived in downtown Montpelier.  Can you see the golden roof of the state Senate dome way off in the background?

Five miles out of town, we pulled up in front of Green Mountain Hooked Rugs, an incredible full service shop…a hooker’s paradise!

The shop is owned by Stephanie Ashworth-Krauss, a fourth generation, award-winning hooker.

I had spoken with Stephanie on the phone and had made arrangements that we meet at her shop on Friday morning in order for her to show me the basic fundamentals and to also purchase the supplies I’d need to start hooking.

I love wool and love working with wool.  When I opened the door, this is what greeted me.

My heart started to beat a little faster because everywhere I looked…

Mountains upon mountains of wool!

Do you see the rug draped over the stand in front of the rocking chair?  That’s one of Stephanie’s WIP’s, and it’s also what I practiced on.  The runner on the floor was hooked by Stephanie’s Mom.  Amazing, huh?

And more bolts of wool to make my head spin.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

After my mini lesson, here’s what came home with me…

A lap frame…

A wool cutter and the backing and pattern for my first rug…

And a hook, of course!  After all, how can I be a hooker without a hook?

Did you notice my first loops?  My new journey has begun.

After bidding Stephanie adieu, Mr. PQ, Mac, our Westie and I headed off.  We spent the next two days shopping and taking in the sights in Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine and made our leisurely way back on Sunday.  By the time we arrived home,  I was too tired to hook  *wink* but I did some stripping instead…with my new wool cutter… in order to be ready to start in later today.

So needless to say, I’m a happy hooker…or is that hooker-in-training?

Happy stitching…and hooking!

Kaaren ♥

First Friday Freebie #12

This month marks the One Year Anniversary of my First Friday Freebies.  I can’t believe that a year has gone by already.  Wow!

Next to pincushions, I L-O-V-E needlecases.  Or maybe now needlecases have overtaken my pincushion madness?   But that’s what happens when the word “ONE” does not exist in “one’s” vocabulary.  *wink*  Two…or more…of something you love is better than one…right?

If you guessed that this month’s FFF is a needlecase, you’re right.  Here is my Huswif Needlecase,  fastened shut with a vintage button.

And now I’ll s-l-o-w-l-y reveal the inside…

And a little more…

Ta da!  A needlecase stitched in my favorite sampler style!

I ♥ needlecases and I hope you do too!  I’ve been using this one every day since I made it.  It has two deep pockets and a scissor holder and needle/pin keep both made from wool.

You may download the PDF file which includes the photos, line drawings and instructions HERE.

Thanks to all of you for making this past year so special.  I’ve had loads of fun coming up with these designs.  I hope you’ve enjoyed making them as much as I did.

Happy stitching!

Kaaren ♥

Wool Crazy Pincushion Round Robin & Winner

First of all I’d like to say that I’m probably the biggest winner of all because of all your warm and generous comments.  They mean a lot and I am truly grateful for your support.  I usually reply to all of your comments individually but because of the numbers, I’ve chosen instead to give you all a group hug here for taking part.

Well my buddy Mr. Random Generator did his thing and came up with number 89 who happens to be Sandy, an anonymous reader whose email address begins with “scj”.  From Sandy’s comment, it looks like she started out like many of us in that she enjoys reading blogs but hasn’t officially jumped in as yet.  Let me assure you Sandy that it’s only a matter of time before you take the plunge.  *wink*  I will be contacting you shortly for your snail mail information.

A few weeks back Brenda from Pumpkin Patch Primitives asked me if I would be interested in joining a Wool Crazy pincushion round robin.  It took me about three seconds to respond with an overwhelming, “F-O-R S-U-R-E!”

Depending upon the parameters set out by the hostess of the RR, briefly, here’s the way it works.  In this instance there are four of us participating.  Each of us each makes our own pincushion base, chooses a theme and then appliqués the first design on it.  Next, we send it on to the next participant who then, following the theme,  adds her design.  This continues until all four participants have added something to each of the four pincushions.  Fun, huh?Here’s how I did mine.  First, I laid out some batting.  I then went to my wool scrap bin and selected some bits and pieces and randomly laid them out.

When I was pleased with the layout, I then pinned the pieces to the batting.

Because I had decided to make mine round, I decided to use a bread plate as a template.   Then, using my rotary cutter, I cut out the design.

Here’s the result.

I then basted all the raw edges and around the perimeter to hold the individual pieces in place. 

Although fall is my favorite season, I decided to go with a summer theme and my inspiration came from the Echinacea, or purple cone flowers, that are growing profusely in my garden.

And of course I had to add a butterfly.

Later today it will be sent off to Michele who will then add her handiwork to it.  From there, Michele will send it on to Sandi who will then send it to Brenda for it’s final stop before coming home to me.

Upon it’s return, I will then assemble it into a pincushion.  I can’t wait to see what all these talented ladies add to it. 

Now how cool is that! 

Happy stitching!

Kaaren ♥