Kari's Pieceful Chit Chat

Madame Samm has announced the winners! 

Congratulations to Marsha & Laqueria!

Read my comment to learn about the sale price on the Clearly Perfect Angles for any wonderful follower!

Kari

Please be patient with me!  Not getting a new blog posted has been niggling at me (I didn't even get a Christmas card sent this year, yikes!), but it's not like I haven't been busy........

The manuscript for my next book is due this week and let's just say, I've been burning the midnight oil.  The fun part, i.e. sewing, is done so this has been my view for the last, oh so many days.

Last week I had somebody feeling a little sorry for me, so he offered to cut apart some chained pieces.  Believe me, every little bit of help was welcome.

I'm feeling a little better about checking in with you, but I need to get back to the task at hand.  I promise, I'll write something a little more interesting in a few weeks.

Kari

Oh yeah, I should probably mention the name of my book.  It's published  by Martingale and is titled, "The Whole Quilt and Caboodle".  I hope you will like it!

Zoom, zoom, zoom goes my sewing machine.  My January manuscript deadline has been slowly creeping up on me...but when I think about throwing in all the Christmas activities my stress level goes thru the roof.  Yikes, there's so much to get done.   So, here's a peek into what I've been doing.

First of all, check out the January/February issue of" Fons and Porter's Love of Quilting" magazine.  I have a fun quilt, called "Pansy Patch",  featured in the SEW Easy section.  Riley Blake Designs  generously provided the fabric for this project.  Thanks!

Talking about fabric, I am so impressed with this flannel fabric from Maywood.  The line is called "Woolies" and looks like, well... wool.  I had the hardest time deciding which color way I wanted use.  The book project is called, "Dear Sir:", so I ended up going with creams, blues and grays.  I can't wait to do this one.

The quilts I just finished piecing today use the yummy fabric from Blue Hill Fabrics I showed you in another post.  I'm really pleased with the projects.  I'm only showing a snippet...you'll have to wait for the book to come out to see everything!

I discovered that you can work and play at the same time.  Okay, truthfully, this was more play than work, but I had really good intentions.   Eight designers got together here in Minnesota for our very own retreat.  This is a group shot one night when we went out for dinner.

From left to right: Celine (Perkins Dry Goods), Lori (Allison Designs), Terri (Whimsicals), Gudrun (GE Designs), Susan K.(The Quilt Branch)  , Susan N. (Prairie Sky Quilting), me, and Susan M. (Suzn Quilts).

Gudrun is famous for her Chocolate Martinis.  Let's just say they were too good and what goes on at retreat stays at retreat. Sounds pretty salacious, doesn't it?  Really though....a bunch of quilt designers don't get too wild and crazy   :-)

Here are couple candid shots.  Susan M. and Celine always smiling.

My silly roommates, Terri and Gudrun.  What a hoot!

Here's more fun sewing news... I say "news" because this is my daughter-in-law cutting and sewing her very first dress.  She did a great job and it was fun having her show interest in sewing.  Maybe someday even a quilt?!?!?

And of course, a person can always use a little extra help....

Kendall helping me

and Grandpa.

My sewing machine has cooled and the iron is heated...back to work...zoom, zoom!

Kari

Yep, yesterday was good...

My tongue didn't get tied up too many times during my radio interview with Pat Sloan.  If you missed it, you can listen to it by just clicking on the logo below....

 My oldest son's review:  "Nice job.  You sound very Minnesotan".  Well, sure, ya betcha I dooo... Uff da!

Look what was on my doorstep.  

A whole box of Blue Hill Fabrics from the line, "Sarah's Stash".  I cannot wait to start this new book project!  Yum.

When I am at market I just can't get past the Dovo scissors booth.  I love, love, love their products. Okay, so I don't love them...but REALLY LIKE them!   I got these for different applique projects.

Just a little note that I will be running a Black Friday (well, really Friday thru Monday) Sale. 

Clearly Perfect Angles and all patterns will be 50% off and anyone spending $50.00 or more will be in  a drawing to win my book,

"Just around the Corner, Quilts with Easy Mitered Borders".

 Jump over to SewCalGal for a look at more sale specials.

 Martingale/That Patchwork Place also has a sale running....

 Tomorrow will be a good day too....my family starts arriving for a long weekend...can't wait!

Wishing all of you a very blessed Thanksgiving!

Kari

I am so looking forward to chatting with Pat this coming

Monday, Novemember 21st!

The show is live at 4:00pm Eastern/3:00 Central,

but you can also listen to a taped podcast.

Please join in the fun by clicking on the logo below.

It was a quick trip to market, but oh so fun!

Of course, it was a business trip, so let's start there...

I had the pleasure to teach a Take and Teach class sponsored by Martingale/That Patchwork Place.  It was a packed room!  Hopefully the shops will use their project for doing technique demonstrations for  the book, "Just around the Corner"!

I should also give a shout-out to Red Rooster who provided the fabric for the kits and Pfaff for providing the sewing machines...Thank you!!

With the class behind me I had the luxury (yes, luxury!) of walking the floor and just looking, and looking, and looking!  Talk about sensory overload.  I felt very good about finding new fabrics for my next book.  I can't wait to get my hands on them!!

The weather was just beautiful.  Karen and I took a little break on the patio outside the convention center. 

Here are a few views of the park across the street from the convention center.

I was horrible about taking pictures this time.  I wish I had a group shot of a very fun and relaxing dinner with friends, Gudrun and Yvonne (GE Designs) and Terri and Tom (Whimsicals).  I'm afraid our laughter got a little loud....sorry fellow diners!

After one long day on our feet, Karen and I enjoyed a glass of wine while oogling an, oh so glorious impulse buy.  Would you believe it if I told you we went back for more the next day???

All in all...I'd say it was one of my best fall markets on many different fronts.  Totally recharged and inspired!

As I was strolling the aisles at market, my son and his wife were running a half-marathon.  This is mile 10...Don't they look fresh and happy?  I'm so in awe you guys did this and proud of your tenacity while training. 

Kari

Market is just a little over a week away and there are things to do!  BUT.... the whole family was home this weekend and it was so wonderful!  And guess what?  This post won't have anything to do with quilting.  I know, kind of unusual considering my business and time of year.  I just wanted to give you a glimpse at the fun we had this weekend and my priorities! 

Of course, it pretty much revolved around our little granddaughter, Kendall.  Grandpa was definetly her favorite and she was his shadow all weekend.

I'm not sure how many books he read this weekend,  but she loooooves to read so there were plenty....Along with a few variations of the same  one.

"Swing. Swing."  "Wheee"  We heard that from the time she got up in the morning until it got dark out.  I like this picture because she had the giggles and I can still hear her.

I think this one is funny because Kendall put her arms around each of us (but notice who she wanted to have hold her).

She is not so sure about her Halloween costume, so Mom & Dad have been "practicing" with her being an elephant.

Here's Mom showing her how it's done (it got a little silly around here...I love it when everyone is laughing).

Grandpa was even having a hard time convincing her....

The boys thought it was a perfect weekend:  they went duck and goose hunting in the mornings, pheasant hunting one afternoon and walleye fishing the next.  Throw in a few football games and they claim it was Minnesota at its best.

Talking about the "best"...I made THE best apple crisp ever!  Sinful I'm tellin' ya!  Enjoy the recipe...

Preheat oven to 350°.

In a saucepan combine:

          1 C sugar

          1 C water

          1/2 tsp cinnamon

          1/2 tsp nutmeg

Boil until makes syrup (don't forget to stir it)

While making syrup, place cut apples in bottom of 9" x 13" pan (use as many as you want, but a pretty thick layer can handle the syrup).

Make topping

          2 C brown sugar

          1 1/2 C flour

          1 C oatmeal

          1 C butter - cut into above

Pour syrup over apples and then add topping.

Bake for about 45 minutes (may be more depending on the size of apples) or until apples are tender. Serve warm with ice cream or whipped cream.

As I am typing this, the name reminded me of a free pattern of mine called "Acorn Crisp".   

If you like it,  go to this link for the instructions.

Whew,  I'm so glad I worked some quilting in here....

I'm hoping you all are enjoying your priorities!!

Kari

When I was in grade school each year we had to take the Iowa Basics test.  Anyone else remember those?  Well, I have been to Iowa several times in the last couple weeks and there was nothing basic about it.  At least to me.

I was so honored to be the speaker at the Pella Guild's 25th anniversary banquet.  The theme was "Name that Tune". 

Aren't the table decorations so very clever?

These are just a few of the many quilts that were entered in their challenge.  Wow!  Some very talented ladies belong to this guild.

There were many laughs and even some interesting, fun songs that were sung. 

The next morning a group met at a beautiful church to work on my mystery class, "Our Town".

Once again, I was impressed with their abilities and how very welcoming and gracious they all were.  And the food...excellent.   Thank you Pella, for a wonderful time!!!

The next week was sooooo very far from normal. I flew into Des Moines to be a guest host on the PBS TV show, "Love of Quilting" with Mary Fons.

The first day I got to hang out at the studio.  Not only was I with Mary, but I got to visit with her mom, Marianne, the publisher and editors of Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting magazine and all the talented people working on the show.

Here is a peek behind the scenes...

This is one of the first things you see on the set...the famous "tips table".

Look at all the cameras.  There were a total of 5...talk about intimidating.

Here sweetheart Nancy Mahoney was working on her segment with the stag manager, Cindy, and camera operators.

I found the control room really fascinating!

Here are just a couple shots from different angles.

You can see what is on the teleprompter if you look at the screen on the left side.

And look closely at this monitor!  My quilt, Fall's Finery, was a cover quilt a few years ago AND it has been on a poster on the set for quite awhile.  How fun!!

The next day it was my turn to tape a segment (you will just have to wait to see what it was about...stay tuned).  I was shown into a dressing room...just made me giggle....and no, there was no star on the door.

Peg is a wonderfully kind makeup lady.  She was always right there to make sure you didn't have any broccoli in your teeth or hair out of place.

I couldn't help but ask Marianne to take a picture on the set by the Fall's Finery poster.  She is so nice and...funny!  It was because of her stopping by my booth at market many years ago and encouraging me to submit a quilt to the magazine that New Leaf Stitches got off the ground.  Although I have never asked anyone for an autograph, I did ask her to sign the cover of the magazine.  Thank you Marianne for all you have done for the quilting industry!

Each night we were treated to a wonderful dinner.  As we were getting ready to leave the last night I realized I didn't have a picture with Mary so we quickly had this one snapped.  If you haven't seen Mary's show "Quilty", you need to.  I loved the energy of this beautiful, talented young woman.  Keep your eye on her!!

I was in Iowa so much you would think I was running for a political office... you can be sure that will never happen!

Now this is totally random, and has nothing to do with Iowa...

It was fun to look thru the new issue of "Quilt Sampler" and find a picture with my pillow, "Winter Blooms" in it.  I love it made up in the nautical colors!   Quilt Lover's Hangout is a fabulous quilt shop that has been so very good to me.  If you are ever in the Ft. Myers area it is a must-see shop.

Well, I better get back to work...the first project is due at the end of the week for my new book.

Thanks for stopping by.  Kari

 Sorry about the picture sizes...I saved them at 5" & for some reason they got tiny...me and technology...ugh!

Thank you everyone who took part in the virtual book tour over the last week!  I so appreciate the kind comments everyone left and an even bigger thank you goes out to the guest bloggers!

If, after reading about the book each day, you still want to hear more, please visit these book reviews.  It is really nice to get such great feedback!

I Have a Notion

Generation Q Magazine

Now, I bet you are ready to see who won.  So check it out below and make sure to go to the host's website to learn how to go about receiving your prize!

Wishing you joy in whatever may be "just around the corner".  Kari