Tying Up Loose Ends.

We here at Qubee Quilts have been busy.  The sun is shining and it seems all signs of that nasty depression is gone for now.  After hearing from many of you, it seems I'm not alone and it's only seasonal.   Thank you for your continued support.  Just knowing someone out there cares and that I am not alone has really helped.

I have gotten my quilting groove back and got my butt in gear.  I'm running on all cylinders as they say.   I hope to have a few more finished goodies to share in the next few days.

Here is the Gum Wrapper Quilt finished with quilting by the talented Thomas.

Backing of Quilt

If you will remember this is the quilt and fabric that you, the readers, chose as the quilt that Qubee Quilts was going to raffle off with all the money going to AIDS Walk Kansas City.

The winner of this great quilt is Jan.

Jan, be on the look out for an E-mail from us.

Thanks to everyone who gave money for AIDS Walk Kansas City.  We could have not have done it without you.

Until next time,

Let The Sun Shine In

I would like to show you a quilt that Thomas made for a good friend of his as a graduation gift.  It's entitled "Let the Sun Shine in" and is 100% made by Thomas himself. He did have me put on the the binding for him, but I'm o.k. with saying that he made this whole quilt himself.

If you are looking for some one to quilt your quilts then Thomas is available to quilt them for you.  Please contact us at QubeeQuiltskc (at) gmail.com with questions or check the link above for more info.  Were here to help your quilt become a masterpiece.

The winner of the Put Some Charm In Your Quilts book by Connie Kauffman is Sunni.  Congratulations!

Until next time,

Curves to Quilt

Remember this quilt that I had published last February in Quilters World Magazine?  

Quilter's World Magazine: February 2011, quilt pattern "Oh Lollipop" on page 69

It has now been republished in a book from Leisure Arts called "Curves to Quilt" and is the cover quilt.

I knew nothing about this book before I saw it in Jo-Ann's as I was perusing the quilt books looking for new ideas.

You might ask, "how could I not know the book was coming out?" You see when I had the pattern published I signed a paper stating that holding company of Quilters World could use the pattern in any way they saw fit and in return I would be credited as the designer.

It's an honor to have my name in yet another book and the cover to boot.

To see my other works that have been published click on the QQ Press page.

See you at Market!!!!!

Until next time,

Feeling Blue

Depression: a mental state characterized by a pessimistic sense of inadequacy and a despondent lack of activity.

It was one year ago at the end of March that I was in the hospital with pneumonia and that along with other things have been weighing on my mind as of late.  It has gotten to the point to where I just want to come home and sleep for hours on end.  12 plus hours to be exact.  Plus, I have given up on my art of quilting.  I just don't seem to care any longer. I felt like no matter what I do I am not good enough or that no one seems to even care what happens.  When I think I have done my best people just tell me that was good, but you can do better or we need more.    It like pulling on a rubber band and seeing how long you can stretch it before it breaks.   They don't seem to realize that we all have a breaking point and I have hit mine. I have receded into myself and want to give up on the things in life that mean the most to me.  

Good thing that I have a loving person in my life that has seen the signs in my life and had the forethought to get me medical attention.  The doctor has put me on medication.  I guess I really should say upped the medication that I was already on.  My doctor also wanted me to go and see a therapist, but I am the type person that will tell them just what they want to hear and they will think that I have gotten better, when in reality I am just as bad, if not worse than I was before.  

Today I have made a breakthrough in my eyes that is.  It might just be a small one, but it is a step in the right direction.  I have taken the Salt Air by Cosmo Cricket for Moda Fabrics layer cake I've had laying around and decided that I would cut it up in hopes of making a quilt.  I still have a few more pieces that I need to cut, before I can begin sewing it into Reveille by Carrie Nelson of Miss Rosie's Quilts.  I love her patterns and I have a soft spot in my heart for her. I am glad that she is able to help me get out of my funk.

Just writing this post has also been a step in the right direction, but I guess that could go without saying.  Guess I had better get off this computer get another cup of coffee and get back to cutting out my quilt pieces while I still have the desire to do so.  Thomas told me once I have every thing cut out he would help me piece it  together.  He really does love me.

I hope that each and every one of you have a blessed and Happy Easter!!

Until next time,

Cutwork The Easy Way!

Many of you asked how my Diamond DeLuxe was able to cut out my applique leaves in my last post.  You thought it was just a sewing and embroidery machine, but it's so much more than that.  

Cutwork Needles from Inspira.

One of the newer innovations in home embroidery is cutwork needles. These specialty cutting needles along with specifically digitized designs make it possible to create beautiful cutwork or applique projects on your embroidery machine while your machine does all the fabric cutting. No scissors needed- what a treat! 

We used the  5D embroidery software to create the leave pattern then let the Diamond DeLuxe do all the cutting for us.  

If you would like to learn more about the cutwork needles from Husqvarna Viking then here is a great you tube video.  

Cutwork samples made on the embroidery machine

You may still enter the St. Patrick's Day Giveaway  until Sunday, March 25th.

Until next time,

St. Patrick's Day Giveaway

Welcome blog hop party people!!!

What do 144 fabric leaves look like, you ask?

This is 144 leaves.

I cut them out with my Diamond DeLuxe last night and it only took me 15 mins.  Think how long it would have been if I did not have this machine.  I love her. Now I need to work them up into a quilt.  I think I have enough for a few quilts.  

Is everyone getting ready for St. Patrick's day and green beer?   This house hold is ready.  Kansas City has one of the largest St. Patrick's parades in the Midwest.  We even are having a few friends come spend the night just so they might go to the Parade.     

One of us has to work and the other will be out enjoying the fun while having green beer.  I hope everyone has a great St. Patrick's day.  

I thought in honor of the day I would post a little giveaway of a book that I was asked to review.  It is entitled Put Some Charm in your Quilts by Connie Kauffman.

Pre-cuts are all the rage and Connie Kauffman brings you her own style for using them. Put Some Charm in Your Quilts has options for traditional and paper-piecing. A book totally dedicated to the use of charms and to a wide variety of project sizes, it will be the book quilters use again and again. If a gift is needed in a hurry, this is where to find it. These patterns lend themselves to any fabric or style. And best of all, quilters will likely have the fabric on hand when needed. Includes 9 charm projects with options for traditional and for paper piecing.

Jack - in - the Box 

Mystic Garden

These are two of my favorite quilts from the book and Connie makes them  super easy with detailed step by step instructions.  I might just have to make a bed runner for myself as they are becoming the rage.  Anyone else notice the awesome Moda fabric used in both the quilts?  Maybe that is why I love them so much.


If you would like to order a book for yourself you may do so over at Clotilde.


One lucky reader will win a copy of this fun book.  To enter just leave me a comment letting me know what charm pack you have laying around just waiting to be used and you could win this super cute book by Connie Kauffman.


We will randomly choose a winner here on Sunday, March 25 .  (duplicate comments will be deleted)

Click the party badge for a list of participating bloggers.  

Don't forget to join the site and sign up to have new blog post sent to your e-mail.  You may also found us on Facebook  and Twitter. Links maybe found on the right hand side.  Be on the look out for a Facebook/Twitter giveaway coming soon.  

May the luck of the Irish be with you.

Until next time,

Champagne, Dogs & A Winner

Our Sunday started with a Champagne brunch.

Week off to a good start.

We signed his adoption papers last week and were able to pick him up on Monday. 

His name is Apollo and is a Snorkie (Yorkshire Terrier Schnauzer mix).
 
The week keeps getting better.  

Then I get a speeding ticket.

My week is shot all to hell.

The winner of the $25 gift certificate from Fat Quarter Shop is 

My week can only get better from here. 

Until next time,

Craftsy Blog Tour

Welcome to another stop on Craftsy block of the month hosted by our dear friend Amy. If you remember, Zeus and I meet her a few months back when we did a little chat together.  Her link can be found under Thirteen Questions with Zeus at the top of  this page if you care to read her interview.

Zeus and I are delighted to find that she has teamed up with Craftsy to bring you a monthly block of the month series.

If you are not familiar with Craftsy (as Zeus and I were not).  Here it is in a nutshell straight from their web site:

Craftsy offers online courses about all of your favorite crafty topics – taught by amazing instructors. Craftsy courses are online, so they are available to you anytime you want for as long as you want – they have no scheduled class times, so you can enjoy them entirely on your own schedule. Each course is taught by an acclaimed instructor and consists of several hours of HD-quality video content… but Craftsy courses are much more than just video! While taking a Craftsy course, you can:

• Ask your instructor questions, upload photos, and get personalized responses
• Participate in discussions with your classmates
• Access supporting course materials – including patterns and helpful tips & tricks
• Bookmark your favorite moments in the video so that you can easily re-watch them and take notes that you can refer back to anytime

Link to Amy's Craftsy Course - you can view the course preview here, but you'll need to click "sign up" to browse the lesson chapters, discussion forum, etc). In the course chapters, you will find an intro video explaining all about the course, Craftsy, and Amy.  There are 4 great lessons so far (2 for Jan & 2 for Feb).   Lots more coming, but you will just have to sign up to find out what they are.  I have seen them and yes, you are going to want to make them.

  

Here is my favorite of Amy's blocks thus far made into a simple quilt using solids along with some sashing thrown in to brake it up.

Fat Quarter Shop has offered the chance to win a $25 gift certificate at every stop on the tour. So that's 14 chances to win!


To enter to win just leave a comment telling what your new favorite up and coming fabric is that can be found at Fat Quarter Shop coming soon page and what block of Amy's you will make with your new favorite fabric from Fat Quarter Shop.  We will randomly choose a winner here on Wednesday March 6.  (duplicate comments will be deleted)




Blog Tour Schedule:

Feb 24 - Miss Print

Feb 25 - Hoosier Toni

Feb 27 - Fresh Lemons

Feb 28 - Qubee Quilts

Feb 29 - Amy's Creative Side

Mar 2 - mon petit lyons

Mar 3 - Mel's Own Place

Mar 5 - Breakfast for Dinner

Mar 7 - Sew Paint Create

Mar 9 - SoChick

Mar 10- Spin the Bobbin

Mar 12- Diary of A Quilter

Mar 14- Ellison Lane

Mar 16- Old Red Barn Co

Until next time,

A Morning Scare

A Story:

I let Zeus out in the backyard early on Sunday morning and went put the coffee on so I might enjoy my day off.  I then check Facebook and twitter to see what I may have missed from the night before.  After doing so I go back to let Zeus back in.  Not seeing him waiting at the door like he usually is so he might go to his perch on the back of the couch and go back to sleep. I yell for him.  Nothing.  I yell louder thinking he is just playing on the side of the house where I can't see him.  I continue to yell, but nothing.  I walk around to the side of the house barefooted and that is when I see the gate had somehow been opened.  My heart skips a beat and fear starts to set in that I might never see Zeus again. I quickly run back in and put on some shoes and run out the front door yelling Zeus.  The whole time panicked and thinking the worst.  I run to the end of the drive way and nothing.  Thinking I would go and wake up our roommate Brian so he might aid in the search of Zeus and that's when I see him sitting on the front stoop looking at me with his beautiful puppy dog face and not a care in the world  It's was almost like he was saying, "What dad, I'm right here."  I then open the door and let him in and he runs to the back of the couch to lay back down and that is when I put my arms around him and start bawling while he licks up my tears.

Our baby Zeus

It's amazing how quickly they become a part of our family and touch the heart. 

The winning fabric for the Aids walk raffle quits is Urban Odyssey.  Here is a work up of the winning  fabric & pattern entitled Gum Wrapper.  

Gum Wrapper

For every $10 donation you give to AIDS walk Kansas City your name will be entered into a drawing to win this this quit.  Donation link may be found at the right sidebar.  

Until next time,

Going Gaga

Here is a little quilt that I've designed and finished just last night for a co-workers new grandson.  It's entitled Going Gaga and uses just one charm pack along with some solids.

Going Gaga

Fabric is Lollipop by Sandy Gervais and Grunge by Basic Grey both from Moda Fabrics.

Myself and 13 others will be doing a blog hop to help support Craftsy Block of the Month Series hosted by Amy Gibson of Stitchery Dickory Dock whom Zeus and I have interviewed on this blog.

Here is the schedule - mark you calendars. You won't want to miss this - There will be a chance to win a $25 gift certificate from Fat Quarter Shop EVERY SINGLE DAY!

Feb 24 - Miss Print

Feb 25 - Hoosier Toni

Feb 27 - Fresh Lemons

Feb 28 - Qubee Quilts

Feb 29 - Amy's Creative Side

Mar 2 - mon petit lyons

Mar 3 - Mel's Own Place

Mar 5 - Breakfast for Dinner

Mar 7 - Sew Paint Create

Mar 9 - SoChick

Mar 10- Spin the Bobbin

Mar 12- Diary of A Quilter

Mar 14- Ellison Lane

Mar 16- Old Red Barn Co

A huge thanks to, Fat Quarter Shop  for sponsoring the tour and offering a chance to win.  

Don't forget there is still time to vote for your favorite fabric in the raffle of the Gum Wrapper Quilt with all proceeds going to AIDS Walk Kansas City.  Voting to end on Sunday February 19th at 6am CST.

Until next time,