Persimson dreams challenge 2 Seasons - recap

When this challenge came up, the 80s girl in me decided to do a rainbow project.  Then I lost focus and decided it didn't really fit the challenge.

I finally got this project finished along with a St. Paddy's day runner.  And yes, I did lay them on a snowbank for a picture.

It's a simple little wall hanging that the guys at work have started to use as a Karen meter.  LOL!

Persimson Dreams Challenge 6 - A Goose in the Monkey Wrench

I was soooo excited about this challenge.  I've been wanting to create the monster churn dash in the Simpy Retro book by Camille Roskelley.  It totally fit the bill for this challenge!  I did modify it to include borders and flying geese.

I am in love with how this turned out!

I did the quilting myself and I'm happy as a beginner with how it turned out.  I love how I see the churn dash on the back.

I'm calling this my Big Daddy quilt, in loving memory of our friend Lynn who passed away last week. I was wrapped up in it on the way to his celebration of life, finishing the binding.

The quilt measures 44x44 and will be a great addition to my work office wall.

Shop Hop - Day 1

Late yesterday, I decided I would join the Quilter's Fun Run - it was very sunny but windy and chilly day.  I love driving our Subaru Forester on sunny days.  I feel like I'm in a warm and toasty terrarium. 

Besides the free fabric at the end, I love going on Shop Hops, because I love driving in the NE Iowa country side.  Somehow the rolling hills of fields and towns bring me a sense of peace and calm.  Plus I never know what's going to be around the next bend in the road - no camels this trip but there were buffalo and lamas.
 
The city I work in made it an easy jog to the Osage and Decorah shops.  Tonight I will hit the Charles City and New Hampton shops.  And Saturday morning I will make it to the Waverly and Cedar Falls shops.

Like most times when I go on a hop, I have a plan.  Only certain kinds of prints from each store to go in the sampler projects I'm working on.  Of course Debbie's had some super cute Paris fabric right as I walked in.  I feel for it hard.  I found a cute bag pattern I've been wanting and I walked out with my 4 30's fat quarters and a new bag project.

At the Red-Roxy Quilt Co. my plan was to pick up some more bag patterns - they carry several of the Pink Sands Design patterns and I love them.  Lucky for me they had 2 I was looking for so I picked them up and a sale fabric for one of the bags.

As for the rest of the shops - I'm not sure what treasures I'll find but I know they'll be something good.

~ Karen

pictures of my treasures will come later .... I got home late and wanted to spend time with the family.

Persimon Dreams challenge 5 - Through the Eyes of a Child

Wow this challenge was a tough one for me!

Our kids have 4 legs and well while they do create art with their toys, I just wasn't feeling it for a quilt project.  I contacted a few friends and they sent some amazing art work - but again I just wasn't feeling it.

Then I had an ah ha moment  -  a couple of years ago my brother, his two boys (high schoolers) and I went on an adventure.





 We ended up eating at a pizza place that had paper lined tables with crayons.  Let the doodling begin....

Nephew Nathan - Lots of ideas!

Nephew Jordan - Love the flames!  He made them look soooo Easy!

And my brother - I always knew he was talented - he whipped these out so fast - the picture quality doesn't do them justice.

 

As you can see I had a lot to choose from!  I finally decided to go with this one.... my head exploded with all of the things I could use.

The reason I choose this one was the legs/feet - they cracked me up!  I did decide to leave off the fight with the older brother - ah the joy of siblings!  Reminded me of my brother and I at that age.

I LOVE how this turned out - even the background is adding dimension to the piece.  It looks like flames coming out the nose and bottom looks like tall grass.  The teeth gave me a struggle - I thought I was going to use a zipper but I couldn't find any that looked right.  Then I found the bling on a roll and thought she could use a chrome grill.  The head is made of batting, the shapes are felt/wool and the body is a ribbon.


The piece finished at 11x14 and I ended up framing it because I wanted to add it to my gallery wall.  I ended up using applique and embroidery on this piece.