Kristin Shields Quiltmaker

Witch Hat?

Halloween Summer continues with this quilt that started life many years ago in a challenge put forth by Tonya Ricucci, Halloween quilter extraordinare!  Every October I would get out the bin and try to finish by Halloween, but never did. I got tired of seeing that bin this June, so I got it out and finished the sucker.  I sent it off to Tracy Mertes for quilting and forgot about it.  Thus, it was a very nice surprise when she called last week to tell me it was finished.  I requested to have it done by the guild show this Saturday so I should have known.  Anyhoo, I'm so pleased with it! Everything is made with liberated piecing.  The face idea came from Tonya and the hats were my idea.  The quilting is loads of fun. I gave Tracy free reign, but did suggest some words would be nice, and spider webs with spiders.  I think she did a great job!

The back was also fun to put together from lots of Halloween odds and ends and a panel that I like, but didn't have a plan for.  Luckily, with a quilt that's meant to be used, the back will get seen lots.  As you can see, this is quite a bit bigger than I usually do, which is why it had to go off for quilting.  I think that's all for the Halloween quilts for now, but boy, when October rolls around I'll be so happy that these are done!

Sweet and Simple Owls

Here's another old work in progress finally finished!  This one started several years ago.  It must have been not too long after Tonya Ricucci's Word Play Quilts book came out.  I love this owl print and I wanted to highlight it.  I also wanted to hand quilt.  Remember, this was several years ago.  I started having some hand issues and the hand quilting was really bothering me.

I took a few years off of my old way of hand quilting (with a rocking motion).  I tried big stitch quilting without a hoop for a while, but recently I got back into the hand quilting as I mentioned in the previous post.  My new method is working well for me and it didn't take long to finish this one.  Actually, I have been hand quilting everyday for the past couple of months and enjoying it immensely.  Unfortunately, my knitting has taken a hit, but you can't have everything!  All of this quilting is done free hand.  I hate taking the time to mark and I hate having to deal with leftover lines.  Sometimes I'll do a little scratch across the fabric with my needle tip, but mostly I just wing it.  The more you do it the easier it becomes.  I'd love to know, have you tried free hand quilting?

Spooky Town (aka Halloween in July!)

I have been on a mission for the last several weeks to finish a whole lot of half finished projects that have filled the drawers so much I couldn't fit anything else in!  It's been interesting.  It feels a bit like an excavation and I am unearthing many things I forgot I had.  This piece was finished just to use up some of the massive bin of Halloween prints I've collected.  I had the one house on the left that was made in a class demo.  I decided to add two more and some words.  Spooky Town just came to me for no apparent reason, but I like it!  

I used up some leftover large triangles that were saved from another Halloween top that is now at the quilter's.  I used some in the sky over the houses and the rest were sewn together and cut up for the border of the Spooky Town block.  Determined to use up even the smallest pieces, I made a string border.

But that wasn't all!  I still had way too many scraps, so I made scrappy blocks and cut them with my 9.5 inch ruler to make the back.  This quilt is pretty heavy and with the pieced backing it was also a bit tricky to quilt.  I knew this would be a class sample and I can't afford to get everything professionally quilted, so I soldiered on and did a swirl pattern myself.  In the next few days I'll be posting more of what I've been doing the last couple of weeks.  I count at least 6 finishes, plus some other bindings.  I still have more WIP's, but it feels like progress has been made. I am finding it hard to concentrate on new work at the moment, so I want to wipe the slate clean over the summer and get back to business in the fall.

The best part about this quilt, was that after I finished hand sewing the binding, I took it back to my dark studio and discovered these eyes looking at me!  I had to laugh because I had no idea the fabric was glow in the dark.  Very cool, although I wish I'd used the eyes in the windows of the houses.

To Boston with Love

Just this morning I found out about two efforts to collect quilty type things for Boston.  This one, fabric flags for To Boston with Love, was started by the Vancouver Modern Quilt  Guild.  I've added a button to the blog for quick reference.  You can also click here.  If you'd like to join in, please check out the requirements.  They need to be received by May 21 in Boston, so best to work quickly.  Luckily, there is no batting or quilting, so these really can be done in an hour or so.  Check out the Flickr group for more ideas.

I went right to my cutting table which was full of scraps in the requested bright and cheery colors.  

I started making tiny letters.

Put them together with some curvy angles.

Made a couple of little strips sets.

Put it all together with a slightly curved border.

I added the top binding for hanging and was done!

The back could be plain, but I decided to applique a heart with my name.  All the better to show through when the sun is shining.

There is talk that these flags will be displayed at a prominent Boston landmark for a special Memorial Day event.  That would be really cool.  I'm just really glad to be sending some love in the best way I know how.  I grew up just outside of Boston, a couple of towns away from all the chaos.  My husband's family still lives there and we have friends there as well.  

The other effort I found out about this morning has been organized by the Boston Modern Quilt Guild.  They are collecting quilt blocks which need to be postmarked by May 24th.  Here's the direct link for instructions.  I have added a button for this one as well.  The Flickr group for this one is here.

I will be collecting flags and quilt blocks from locals.  Just comment or email me for info on how to get them to me.  I will ship them off in time.  I need the flags by May 12 and the blocks by May 21.  

Happy Inauguration Day!

I got the Obama quilt done last night and it's mostly hand quilted.  I only used the machine for quilting in the ditch around the blue borders of the flag.  

The backing fabric is a hoot.  I found this print at Greenbaum's in Salem, OR and it's just perfect for this!

I signed up online for the Inaugural festivities and got this nice invitation in the mail.  Something to keep with the quilt!

Here are the specs:  

• cotton quilting fabrics
• Tuscany silk batting
• Cotton embroidery threads for quilting.  Usually I use 2 strands, but sometimes just one.  Some of the threads were hand dyed with indigo.

Give me an "O"...

Give me a "B".  You may have seen some of the Obama quilts that were inspired  by his first election and inauguration.  A little internet search leads to lots of images and some good websites about political quilts in general.  There's even a book about some of them!  I was also surprised to find this blog post by Lazy Gal Tonya that I had forgotten about.  The DVD series, Why Quilts Matter, has an episode on the history of political quilts.  That whole series is wonderful, by the way.  I convinced our guild to buy it for our guild library. 

I decided to jump on the band wagon, even though a political quilt may seem out of character for me.  I started my Obama way back in 2008, intending to have it done for the first inauguration, but something made me put it on hold and I just recently got it out again to finish.  

Perhaps I put it off thinking that he might have a second term and I wanted to be sure it would all go into one quilt.  I remember thinking originally that I would have more words in the border:  Yes We Can and Change and so on.  Those words didn't seem quite right this time around.  A few weeks ago I had been making the stars to go around the border when I decided I needed some dates.  

The central panel is a marvelous print alternating an excerpt of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I have a dream" speech with an excerpt of the Declaration of Independence.   

This quilt combines some machine quilting and some hand quilting.  I plan to have it done by Monday.  I will post a photo then!

Eat. Breathe. Quilt.

Way back in early July, during Quilter's Affair, I was fortunate to attend the Quilter's Picnic in the Park with some fabulous friends.  We had the most fun time!  Tonya, Jessica and Sarah made the evening amazing.  We had a yummy dinner, a hand quilting without a hoop demonstration by Tonya, and lots of laughs.  Thanks gals for a great evening!

Look who I got to meet!

Finally, Lazy Gal Tonya and I are in the same place!  It was so great to meet her- like old friends.  We had a nice dinner at Los Agaves Mexican Restaurant and then attended the Gee's Bend quilter presentation.  While waiting in line I did a mini show and tell and of course, we had to get a photo of this quilt, Love Always, our collaboration.  Tonya made the letters and sent them to me and I made the rest.  

I've got more to share, but it will have to wait.  Two more long days ahead.  See ya! 

Hope for June

This is my June quilt for AAQI.  It will be sent in next week.  My May quilts are posted with pictures now: Through the Window I, II, III, IV.  Zoom is still for sale, but Ginger's Garden is Sale Pending- woohoo!  Check out my $1000 Promise page to keep up with me and my quilts.  

Biggest news though is that the June auction is on-going.  Please head over and bid on one of these fabulous quilts!  Also, the Quilts for Sale page is busting with gorgeous little quilts.  All proceeds are going for Alzheimer's research.  AAQI is attempting to have this month be the biggest month for sales of quilts.  Please make that happen.  If you buy one now, or have ever bought or donated a quilt to AAQI, please tell me about it in the comments!  In this post I showed a couple of the lovelies I scored from AAQI earlier this year.

In other news, it's my talented sister's birthday today!  Happy Birthday Cheryl!  You should see her latest glass art.  Cheryl's hares, birds and other animals shine with personality and these necklaces are a fantastic addition to her Etsy offerings.  

Now I'm off to take in the warm weather that finally rolled into Central Oregon, just in time for the Heaven Can Wait walk tomorrow.  I'll be walking with my Undercover Quilter friends!  I'll be back here soon with lots of stuff I've been working on lately.

A little stash enhancement never hurt anyone!

Last week was spring break here.  Both the kids had the week off.  Hubby was working, but not traveling, so we were all at home.  We had nixed a little Oregon vacation with the trailer, mainly due to our heavy travel schedule for the summer.  And a good thing, the weather's been classic Central Oregon "spring"- snow, hail, sleet, rain, wind and brilliant sunshine in small doses.  Anyway, with a totally free week, I had visions of staying home and sewing for hours on end- always a fantasy for me!  As the days went on, each one was filled to the max with time with friends which was fantastic, but not the week I had envisioned.  I have lots of stuff to post about, but I need to take photos and get them organized.  So, we'll start with these as they are easiest!  

On Thursday, I had a wonderful day out with my friend, Erin.  We had both won gift certificates at our guild meetings last year to Homestead Quilts, a store about 45 minutes from Bend.  We kept putting off the drive due to distance and weather.  Finally, we got to go and it was great.  The store was much bigger and well stocked that the last time I'd been there 4-5 years ago.  I stocked up on solids there.  I can always use more solids and these are the Moda Bella solids that I particularly like.  Today is Erin's birthday!  A big shout out Happy Birthday to her!

Yesterday was the Fiber Market Day in Prineville.  I went over by myself this time and didn't even buy any fiber.  I got some locally made soap and hand lotion.  Then went to The Quilt Shack in Prineville.  It's a small shop and had some nice stuff, but I didn't end up buying anything there.  On the way home I stopped in Redmond at one of my favorite quilt shops, Material Girl Fabrics, which sadly doesn't have a website.  Leslie has a fantastic assortment of contemporary prints.  It always makes me happy to walk in the door there.  I got the wonderful Alexander Henry Halloween prints above.  Plans for these include the Halloween/Christmas mash-up blocks that Tonya is looking for.  If you don't know what that means, you can read about it on UnRuly Quilting.  By the way, Tonya is coming to the Sisters Quilt Show this year!  Woohoo!  We've already made plans to get together.  It'll be great to meet after all these years.

Material Girl Fabrics also had the MoMo owls and Route 66 prints.  I've been collecting owl prints for a while now and have quite a few. I just love the Route 66 print with the retro cars and maps.  I've been to many of those places, but don't have plans for that fabric yet.  The last one is a street map of Paris that I bought on Etsy from Uberstitch.  This summer will be my first trip ever there and I already know I'm going to love it and will need to make a quilt.  I'll post more about the crafty pleasures of the week soon!