What I REALLY Learned at Market!!

So I know I have been quiet over the summer. It consisted of taking a trip home to OH where I sustained a HARD Sprain on my right ankle (sewing and driving foot). 

Then I had a procedure done to relieve trigger finger in my right hand (dominant hand). It was done with a needle inserted in my hand instead of surgically opening it up. Dr had to tear more than he had anticipated and it left more swollen and bruised and in more pain than anticipated.

I was in Ohio at the start of July which is when the Row by Row challenge started. I was able to hit up some quilt shops there and the rest when I got back to Indy and was able to turn it in fully quilted, with at least 8 rows, and with a label on July 11 at my favorite QS- Crimson Tate. My prize was 25 FQs from the fabulous Cotton & Steel line!!

And I finished the Michael Miller challenge piece to hang up. It was quilted with my fav Aurifil threads in blue and white!

There were a few other quilts I finished. One I can't show yet and another that I will write about soon.

I did finish one project that I had been slowly working on regarding Market. I got to meet and talk to and listen to discussions with a lot of influential people. There was one this that I learned from them.

Book publishers and fabric labels are more concerned with what they think "the people" want. Some people are so into having their name connected with big names that they give in to their demands and their voice and passion is lost in the process. 

Just because what you like or do doesn't fit the "norm" or what your grandma's friends like...

Just because you see things differently than others...

Just because you prefer to think outside the box...

Just because you have a passion for something that no one else can understand......

doesn't mean you are wrong!!!!

Stand up for what you believe in!! The world would be a boring place if we all thought and looked and did the exact things. This bring tears to my eyes as I write it. Do what you do no matter what others say. Shame on them for bringing you down! It is ok no not like what someone does, but don't make them feel horrible for it!!

 I was able to spend lots of time with Thomas Knauer and Lisa Sipes. Words can't express how inspirational they are to me. I learned to "Stay True to Myself!!" while I was with them. I might have things I "have" to do but that doesn't mean that you can't put your own personal spin on it and do things "your" way! This doesn't just apply to sewing but to all aspects of life. 

Try to live your life by staying true to yourself today and everyday!!

Take care and school starts Wed so I hope to be on here more!!

~Kim

PS- the sign was made using Gail Kessler's Dimples line!! She is wonderful and so is her son! 

My First Market...Part 2....With A Giveaway!

With Friday here, it mean the Convention Center would be nice and cool and that it would rain all day!! Since set-up was finished, a majority of my job was done, except for checking in for the occasional potty break. 

Someone that I KNEW that I had to meet Tula Pink. She was featuring her new fabric line. She loved my purse- actually both of them as I had a different one each day!! She was super sweet and her brother was super nice!

As I was walking around I glimpsed a convo between two amazing ladies in the industry. Kay Whitt and Amy Butler. I couldn't help but take a non-selfie selfie as I walked by.

As I strolled along, I took some pics of my favorite booths. Hopefully I can remember where each one is from....

These first ones are from Thomas' booth. He covered the walls in come lovely frabrics. 

These were from the Michael Miller booth.

I am absolutely in love with Violet Craft (above) and her paper-pieced wall hanging with the animals! Can't wait for these patterns to be released and her new fabric line is beautiful!!

One of my fabric booths was from my gal pal Sara Lawson. She is know for her bag patterns and she has a line of fabric coming out next month focused around her home city of Chicago. It was all so pretty!!

The Robert Kaufman Booth also had some very pretty things!

 NEED to make this pattern

Yet another pattern I love!

Moda

Ghastlies

I don't remember where I saw the following quilt but it was at a machine dealer's booth and it was beauteous!!

After a long day of walking and meeting people and walking some more Friday ended on a wonderful note. 

Today's giveaway is from the wonderful people at Swatch Buddies who teamed up with the BadAss Quilters Society to make customized Swatch Buddies. These are great to use when you are needing to keep track of the fabrics you are using or just know what you have where. 

I got to pose for a picture with them too!!

So today you can win this package of Swatch Buddies. All you have to do is leave a comment with your go-to thread brand!! This give-a-way will end Sunday at noon EST.

Have a great day and sew on!!

~Kim

The Madrona Challenge

I am a member of the IQG (Indianapolis Quilt Guild) and I joined them in a Modrona Road challenge. We were given some FQs of Madrona and told to make something from them. I loved these prints and was excited about using them. I thumbed through some books and found something I had to use. I opened up my Share Workshop for Quilters and there was the dream garden diamonds quilt. 

Isn't it pretty?? 

Here is the fabric I started with.  

I love how the burnt gold makes the colors POP and I got the cornflower blue (color as truck and barn) to use as the background. The piecing was outrageous. Final count was 314 squares and 142 rectangles!!

The plan for all of this was to take it home over the holidays to Ohio so that I had something to work on. 

Plan definitely worked and I was able to get the top completely done before we left!!

Good thing I have a tall husband! I had a ton of triangles left over so I sewed a few together and made a pillow top. 

And now a few words about the pattern and book. The book is very straight-forward and gives 60+ blocks focusing on different shapes. There are also a bunch of projects to go with the blocks. Not just quilts but table runners, a clock, and a body pillow. 

The pattern is only 2 pages long and has pictures for the steps. Very easy to follow, especially if you have worked with HSTs before. Would be a good project for an experienced beginner to try out. 

And now back to the quilt. 

I had all these neat ideas about quilting it. Then I realized that it was due at the end of January and I didn't want to do too much. I ended up stitching in the ditch around the squares and the diamond-like shape. I used a golden thread so that it showed up on the blue background. It came out awesome!!

I wash it and it is all comfy and warm!! I used 80/20 batting for it. 

I didn't actually have a pattern for the pillow so I just threw it together as I went. I used a 16-inch pillow form. I knew I wanted cording on it so I made some from the cornflower and used the envelope style for the background. I love it and might have to make a matching one!

Even if I don't get picked for this challenge, I love what I made and all the fabrics and colors I used!!

Have a great week and stay dry!!

~KIM