Calypso......New Design

10 am

I walked into the Thread Shed...

Day 3

This is what the quilt blocks looked like on the design wall:

I started playing around with the extra blocks on the table:

I like this vertical design...

So I moved all of the blocks around on the design wall:

This appeals to me.

I will continue with this lay out...

I pieced 51 more key hole blocks today.

Look what the mail man delivered today:

Extension Table for my Featherweight 221

I put it into use immediately:

Lots more surface area to work on.

CLICK HERE to find out more about the table.

One of my students made me this pincushion:

It's great when I am moving back and forth from the

design wall to the sewing machine.

I always have my pins where I need them!

Thanks Kathy.

Did you get your 2012 Quilting Arts Calendar?

It's time to turn to the month of February...

Guess who is Mr. February?

This is Gunnr, our Calendar Boy!

I just love his face...

and so did everyone at Quilting Arts Magazine!

13 Rows Pieced so far...

I need to add 2 more rows.

It is 6pm and I am quitting for the day:

There are a total of 160 key hole blocks.

I am using 105 for the Calypso quilt.

That leaves 55 leftover blocks.....I am thinking lap quilt.

More to come...

CLICK HERE to view: Part 1

CLICK HERE to view: Part 2

Cutting Directions for Blocks:

Center strips are cut 2.5 x 8.5 inches

End strips are cut 2.5 x 6.5 inches

This creates an unfinished block size: 6.5 x 12.5 inches

CLICK HERE to view My Quilts

CLICK HERE to view: Baby Quilts

CLICK HERE to view: Thermofax Screen Printing

CLICK HERE to view: Snow Dyeing

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn Kessi

Fond Memories

I traveled by train from Oregon to Idaho to attend the Bossom Buddies quilters retreat. In a small duffel bag I packed a few clothes. In a BIG suitcase I packed fabrics and quilt projects I had in progress and planned to work on. For 3 days I listened to the hum of sewing machines, dined on delectable treats, was inspired by the work of traditional and art quilters, listened to laughter, made new friends and new memories.

Click on the photos to enlarge them.....

One of my fondest memories is waking up early each morning and sewing in my jammies with my Anny Donna. My aunt lives in Idaho, I live in Oregon. She is my Quilting Guru......my Quilting Kindred Spirit. She has taught me more about life than she will ever know. I am a better person when I am with her.

My aunt is a member of the Idaho Bossom Buddies group. These talented quilters create comfort quilts for women diagnosed with breast cancer. They host several retreats each year to work on their own personal projects and spend quilty time together. I have come to know these outstanding women and have learned something from each and every one of them. I thank them for their generous spirit and creative nature.

CLICK HERE to view My Quilts

With Fond Memories,

LuAnn

Don't Leave Home Without It

There are two things I don't leave home without.......The first is my camera.

Just think, I could have missed the motorcycle riding cat in the photo above, if I didn't have my camera sitting on the seat beside me.  That is my red pick up in the background.  I was parked in town, when I heard this man talking......I thought he was talking to himself......until I leaned out my pick up window and saw the gray cat.  

Click on the photos to enlarge them and see the details.......

This cat absolutely loved riding on this big, noisy motorcycle.  I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it for myself.  I grabbed my trusty camera, jumped out of the pick up and introduced myself to the cat and his motorcycle man.  They were more than happy to pose for a few photos.  They also told me they were at McDonald's every Sunday morning for breakfast......just in case I wanted to see the motorcycle kitty again.

So remember........don't leave home without your camera!

The second thing I don't leave home without is.....my Featherweight 221 portable sewing machine.  When we are going on a trip, I always bring along my FW221.  It is small and doesn't take up a lot of precious cargo space.  I also have a narrow folding table that goes along and is a perfect work table for wherever we end up for the night during our travels.  There is always enough space to set up the table, sewing machine, I grab a table lamp from the room and I am ready for some quality sewing time.

This FW221 was made in 1959.  It is a little, lightweight workhorse.  It has the best piecing stitch of any of my sewing machines.  It is a pleasure to work on, and is so easy to bring along when we are on the road.  On this particular trip we traveled to eastern Oregon to the painted hills country.  My husband and son went on a bass fishing trip.  They fished and I sewed........all the world was in harmony.

These are the gorgeous painted hills in Oregon...........yes, this photo will make its way into a quilt someday.

These are my fishermen.  It was a great trip for all of us!

Remember that camera.........and that sewing machine.

CLICK HERE to view My Quilts

Don't Leave Home Without Them,

LuAnn