I’m really excited to be a part of the Quilting Gallery’s big St. Patty’s Day Blog Hop Party.  If this is your first time here I just want to welcome you to my blog!  I’ll just give you a quick overview of the major things that happen on here: (and yes – I will ship internationally…)

Project QUILTING

The biggest thing that happens on my blog is ‘Project QUILTING’.  To find out more about Project QUILTING click HERE.  This is actually perfect timing since the FINAL challenge of Season 3 is going to be posted this Sunday, March 18th at NOON.  There are so many great PRIZES and it’s not too late for you to have a chance to win one (or even the grand prize!).

The FINAL Challenge is POSTED!  Ziggin and Zaggin

Home Sweet Home Quilt Along

I’m also currently running a really fun Quilt Along where each block has to have either a tree, a house, or both incorporated into the block design.  16 block tutorials will be posted by different quilters by the time this quilt along is complete.  12 are already up but it wouldn’t take too long to catch up  - AND in the end you’ll have an adorable, whimsical house and tree quilt to cherish. 
Not only am I hosting a quilt along on my blog but I have become addicted with working on other quilt alongs as well.  You get to follow along as my blocks grow into quilts and find out what I had trouble with, great new tricks I’ve learned, and see what colors I decide to go with. 

Etsy

I’m an avid seller (KimsCraftyApple and TheApple)  and supporter on etsy so I do post tips/tricks/tutorials to help you on your way to be a successful etsy seller.  I also enjoy featuring great items I find on there. 

Family and Orchard

I do have separate blogs for my family and orchard (yes, I own an apple orchard) but sometimes the news is just too great I can’t help but to share it on here too!
Be sure to subscribe to my newsletter, Like me on Facebook, follow my boards on pinterest and follow me on twitter - so you don’t miss out on all the fun that happens on KimsCraftyApple.

GIVEAWAY!

So – what am I giving away? Well – I’m going to give one lucky winner $25 in credit to either (or both) of my etsy shops - KimsCraftyApple and TheApple. And it’s simple to be entered!

Required for ENTRY:  All you have to do is leave me a comment telling me which one of the fabric and textile art items in my etsy shop is your favorite:  Click HERE  Be sure to include your email in your comment so I can notify you of your prize!  If I can't get a hold of you I will redraw!

If you want to be entered more than once – these are some bonus entry options:

• subscribe to my newsletter
• Like me on Facebook (I would love it if you said 'Hi!!)
• Like Project QUILTING on Facebook
• follow my boards on pinterest 
• follow me on twitter AND tweet about this giveaway

That’s it – just let me know you’re favorite piece of mine for your entry.  If you really want my prize and are going for bonus entries – there are five opportunities for you!

***OPEN to everyone – I will ship internationally!****
The winner will be selected randomly on Sunday, March 25th.

Be sure to click on the link to see all the other AMAZING giveaways being offered with this party!  http://quiltinggallery.com/quilters-fun/quilters-blog-hop-party/

Don't miss out on the FINAL Project QUILTING Challenge:  http://kimscraftyapple.blogspot.com/2012/03/project-quilting-season-3-challenge-6.html

Photo’s of my work for the 2012 Craftstravaganza Show in St. Paul, MN


 





Yup…I make a little bit of everything…

I have to apologize for how long it has taken me to get this blog post up. I had it mostly written and then of course, didn’t save it so I lost it all. So – here’s try two (and yes, I’m saving – often – this time).

I am so in LOVE with the challenge from Crystal S of FrivolousNecessity presented to me and my readers.

I was actually just "inspired" by a photograph from a mail order catalog for a future quilt idea and thought that might be kind of fun - everyone picks their own "inspiration" ad photo from a magazine and explains how that created the idea.

~Crystal S.

In fact, I love it so much I think I’ll be making a series of quilts from ‘ad-spirations’ (well, I’ll start once apple season is over anyway…)

Here’s what we all came up with for the challenge:

Quilter 1: Marcia’s Crafty Sewing & Quilting

Denim Shirt Project

This is my entry in the Project Quilting Off Season Challenge - Catalog It! Your inspiration was to be from an ad.

I was inspired by clothes ads. Many times we thumb thru' catalogs and order clothes. Then they come in the mail and they don't fit us correctly. They just hang in our closets. Since this has happened to just about everyone I know, I decided we could all relate!

I was inspired to create a quilt from an unusable clothing item --- a denim shirt that didn't fit me!

I posted about each part of the process on my blog:

#1 Cut the shirt ---- Up Cycle this Denim Shirt
#2 The Process --- My Vacation Project Continues...
#3 The Binding --- A Fringie Raw Edge Binding
#4 Hot Pads --- Made from the Scraps
#5 Completed Project ---

Marcia Wachuta --- Marcia's Crafty Sewing and Quilting
Boscobel, Wisconsin

Quilter 2: KimsCraftyApple

Adspiration - Electrolux

Project QUILTING Catalog It Challenge Entry:

I saw an 'Electrolux' ad and used it as my inspiration for this piece. When I saw all the clothes stacked neatly I immediately thought STRIPES! I also loved the element of the circles from the washing machines in contrast to the stripes.

So, I randomly chose striped fabric (and one solid Kona piece) and made two nine patches. I cut them up with the disappearing nine patch pattern and re-pieced them once more. Then, I added a simple black border and appliquéd three circles onto the quilt.

Once that was done I used a orange thread to free motion bubble quilting onto the piece.

The function of this piece will be an oversized mug rug. I am super happy with the end result!

Approximate Dimensions: 17" x 9.5"

Created by Kim Lapacek in Poynette, WI

Quilter 3: Aunt Cindy’s Attic

Grungy T-Shirt & Jeans Quilt

I love the ad where the Fons & Porter women make a quilt with George's (one of their husbands) flannel shirts and you see him wearing a shirt with a square cut out of it.

Since seeing that I've wanted to make a flannel and jeans quilt. When I was in college (I mean, uh, middle school... because I'm not that old!) grunge was big. I had a meeting with my dorm's radio exec. board where everyone showed up in jeans, tie-dye t-shirts and flannel shirts.

Jeans are upcycled from our personal collection, as are the flannel plaid fabrics. The t-shirts are new and hand dyed by me. All that I dyed were used in the making of this quilt, much to the disappointment of my 5 year old daughter.

The pattern was based on this website: www.straw.com/equilters/library/jeans/jeans_gallbaros.html I thought it was a nice way to make a jeans quilt without just making squares. I've used a version of this method before with typical quilting fabric.

The quilt is approximately 5ft x 6ft.
Created by Aunt Cindy of Aunt Cindy's Attic, Crawfordsville, IN

To sweeten the deal for this challenge, Crystal agreed to allow everyone who enters the challenge to be put into a drawing to win a pattern of your choice from Crystals shop FrivolousNecessity.

So, I plugged 3 into the random number generator and…

Marcia is the lucky winner of a fabulous pattern from FrivolousNecessity.

Thanks to everyone for ‘Thinking Outside of the Square’ with this challenge!

I literally just walked at least a mile in crazy Virgina heat to get this post up (otherwise you’d have to wait until Tuesday). Man is it hot! AND you have to pay to use the internet at Starbucks! BUT, it was worth it when I opened up the flickr account and saw all the amazing entries! ***Also, with that said, if you notice any errors/mistakes please let me know and I’ll fix it as soon as I have internet access again – sorry in advance! – I’m doing this as fast as I can so I can join my kids in the pool!***

For those of you just tuning in you can read more about Project Quilting Here: http://kimscraftyapple.blogspot.com/2010/04/project-quilting.html

and about the third challenge of Season 1 Here:

http://kimscraftyapple.blogspot.com/2010/06/season-1-challenge-3-recycled-quilt.html

CHALLENGE WINNERS: There will be two winners for this challenge – one for the public vote and one for the ‘judged vote’ – Diane, Pam, Barb and our Guest Judge, Kris. The winner of the PUBLIC vote will win a fat quarter bundle from ButterCuppityFabrics AND a $10 gift certificate from theFatQuarterShop! The winner of the JUDGES vote will receive 4 fat quarters (their choice) from FabricAlaCarte AND a $10 gift certificate from the FatQuarterShop!

OTHER BONUSES:

A RANDOMLY Drawn Participant in this challenge will win a pdf pattern of their choice from the lovely StudioCherie’s Shop!

I will also be sending everyone their rank (somewhere between 1 and 10 – be sure you’ve emailed me {lapaceksorchard@gmail.com} your email address) and any critique’s the judges have about your creation. The top 3 will be posted on my blog this weekend.

PUBLIC WINNERS: I will also be giving out a prize to the public. You’ll find out how to WIN at the bottom of this post after you’ve checked out each of our challengers entries. I am personally excited about this weeks prize…you’ll have to get all the way to find out why!

And now here are all the entries – in no particular order…

***Please note – I have left the images smaller than I normally do as I’ve received some feedback that my blog was loading slowly – hopefully this will help that issue. I strongly URGE you to take closer looks at the project by checking out their submittals on the flickr group:http://www.flickr.com/groups/1401824@N21/

Quilter – PennyFabricArt

The Story:

I was very close to my Nana. When we visited her my son would always insist on a "4-generation hug" with Nana, my Mom, me and him. When she passed away at 98 last March I helped situate her things, and never quite got around to dropping some of those clothes at the Goodwill.
So for this challenge, I collected clothing and linens to make a family heirloom miniature.
Each star is a different generation of the women of my family. The left star is my Great Grandmother, including a rather threadbare blouse and a shirt, with a couple very cool kimono silks (the nice thing about a miniature is the pieces are small enough to just steal them from the hem!)
The top star is my Nana, with 3 shirts, 2 pairs of pants, and a piece of silk scarf. The right star is my Mom, with pieces from 2 shirts, 2 skirts and a pillow.
The bottom start is me. Instead of taking the opportunity to make mine out of my most pretty items, I chose to use everyday pieces like theirs were. Mine is 2 of my favorite t's, a blouse, and bits of my favorite silk skirt.
The lace doily is from my Great Aunt (Nana's sister), and it's floating over my son's khaki school pants. The green polka dot (which is also on the back) is from a valance that I made for my Nana a couple years ago.
I satin-stitched the binding and stitched one of my necklaces on for the border. I hung a little Celtic Knot pendant from the necklace clasp, which had been a gift to me from my DH.
We are all gardeners, so I quilted some abstract roses to encircle us in our garden.
The final piece measures 15" square, with each block measuring 5" square.

Quilter: Karen’s Crafty World

The Story:

Wow! This project was right up my crafty alley! I started with two pillow cases..one white and a flowered one. I then quilted the white case starting at the top with blue threads and then fading down to the bottom with green threads. I then used an old green button down shirt for all the greenery and the binding on the piece. I then cut up the flowered pillow case and thread painted them to the quilt. The embellishments I added were the buttons from the shirt, flower beads from a kids necklace, barrettes that my nieces were too old to wear and flowers from an artificial flower arrangement.(btw...you can't really see the shirt buttons as they are under the flower beads. I just used them to make the flower beads 'pop') The butterfly trail of beads are from a big bag of sparklies I got from the thrift store a while back. Everything I used was from stashes I already had which had been purchased from the thrift store..... Including the thread! So that means I recycled stuff that had already been recycled!
Aprox. cost for all supplies was about $2.50.
Oh, and one more thing. I know some people might turn up their noses at my thrifted supplies, but I love using recycled items in my crafts...it makes me feel so very green!

QUILTER – Kathleen Quilts

The Story:

I have recently begun to hand sew and have been wanted a place to keep everything organized. This kit has for everything needed, including two large pockets for patterns and fabric pieces. My Recycled Quilt had previous lives as a son's police academy uniform shirt, my horse show shirts and a blouse that I was planning to love on me when I lost 10 pounds (that wait is over!) Two of the embellishmenst came from the handle of a gift bag and the buttons from another old favorite shirt (stress the 'old'). Since it was okay to use new thread, I used lots!
12" x 12"
Created in Cissna Park, IL

Quilter – MoranArtandQuilts

The Story:

For our challenge quilt this week my daughter suggested I use some of our sweet little dog's things. She passed away less than two months ago and we still think we hear her and expect to see her any moment. She was with us for 12 years since she was 6 weeks old.
I used two of her blankets for the paw print and background and then various scarves and parts of clothing she wore for the applique. I embellished with her collar and photos held in place by thread in the corners. The backing and binding are from fabric I got at a thrift store.
This was really out of my comfort zone working with fabrics other than just cotton and this is my first time making a different shape quilt other than a rectangle or square. Definitely a challenge for me.
Catherine (MoranArtandQuilts)
From: Columbus, OH

Quilter: QUILTIES

The Story:

I recycled some old clothes that were in a bag to bring to Goodwill. There was a green flowered suit jacket that I had a hard time parting with, but it never did fit me right. So this way I still get to look at it. I started with a trip around the world, then added some appliques of the flowers from the jacket. My embellishments are those flowers, some silk flower leaves and little white buttons.
The quilt measures 18.5" x 23.5". It's a good size for a dolly quilt or a wall-hanging.

QUILTER: KimsCraftyApple

The Story:

There is a very long story to go with this piece. In 1996 I was in 8th grade and a member of my middle school Odyssey of the Mind Team. Part of the challenge for the skit we had to create was to paint one of the paintings from the list and incorporate it into our play. I chose to paint Water Lilies, by Claude Monet en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Claude_Monet_-_Water_Lilies.JPG. We then had to cut my painting in half and we glued it to these cardboard box contraptions so that when I 'fell through it at the museum', the boxes would flip into the new scene. Anyway, this was one of those things I could never get rid of but didn't really know what to do with it. We didn't have a corner to put it in so it was actually hanging on the wall going downstairs to our basement (which you can only see if you go to the basement).
When I saw the challenge, a few ideas ran through my mind but then I thought - converge a painting! I have a painting in my living room I wanted to do first but it turns out it's painted on some sort of board...can't sew that. Since I'm very limited on time I finally decided to give in and cut up my "Monet." I used Ricky Tims Blended Convergence technique to create this new look. It was quite a challenge to sew through the canvas - especially after all it had been through - gesso'd, painted, glued, etc. But I did it! And I'm really happy with the result - whew...I was scared to ruin this as it is definitely something I'm proud of - I was 14!

Next, I wanted to mount the painting/quilt and so I re-purposed a bulletin board frame to fit my project.

Next I had to embellish per the rules. I decided to do that with the lilies and the lily pads. Using felted wool from old sweaters, some stretchy fabric from a pink shirt I had, lace from a different shirt and buttons from yet another shirt I create some great dimension to two of the corners of the piece. Two aurora borealis pearl butterfly earrings that belonged to my mother-in-law's mother also had just the perfect touch to this piece!

Approximate Dimensions: 30 x 37

Creator: Kim Lapacek
Location: Poynette, WI

The QUILTER: SpringWaterDesigns

The STORY:

I've been meaning to make a memory quilt with my son's scout shirts and uniform components, so this challenge was a good reason to get it done.

The front, back, and binding are made from a Tiger Cub Tee shirt, Blue Cub Scout shirt, a Tan Webelos Scout shirt, Cub Scout pants, Pack Tee Shirt with motto, Boy Scout Troop Tee Shirt, Tan Boy Scout Shirt. I cut up his light blue Bear Cub Bandana, and plaid Webelos Bandana (the only ones I could find) and used them in piecing throughout.

The quilt is embellished with Scout Patches, Award Pins, Award Ribbons, and metal Bandana Slides. The finished size of this quilted wall hanging is 28" x 40". My quilt was created in Jessup MD
~ Spring Water Designs

The QUILTER: QuiltingDiva

THE STORY:

I have been saving my son's shirts since he was little. 2 of them are even little onesies. When I saw the challenge this week I just knew what I was going to do. He's 7 now and kept asking me to make him his t-shirt quilt so I whipped it up. I am not a huge fan of the actual "quilting" process so I used the front and back of the shirts and created 10" rag blocks with flannel. Most of the shirts are blank on the back, but a few have designs or words so that just added to the quilt. I knew I needed to use 3 embellishments so I attached a little lizard toy on the cozumel shirt, a bracelet my sister bought him on the "my aunt loves me" shirt and a button that fell off my sweater on the "O" of the Old Navy shirt. The quilt is so heavy with the 2 sides of the t-shirts and 2 layers of flannel!
He LOVES his new quilt and I feel so good that it is complete. I am still saving more shirts to either add to this one or make another as he grows older.
Made in Tampa, Florida.
Stacy Edell

Quilter: LoveBug Studios

The Story:

This quilt, entitled "Coming of Age" is a highly personal quilt for me, as it is made from my debutante ball gown. My mother had been keeping it in her home since 1994, and last fall she brought it to me. I don't think she envisioned me cutting it up, but she had to have suspected it would eventually end up as an art project for me. :)
To embellish the quilt I used three materials: tulle, silk flowers, and satin cording. It measures 46" square.
The original dress contained 117 yards of tulle (yes, I measured), edged with white satin cording. My mom had wrapped the dress in a sheet, which kept it fairly clean but didn't keep the white satin from turning ivory. The fact that the satin had turned (and the coating on the pearls was flaking off) helped me come to terms with cutting up this lovely dress.
I settled on a cathedral window style pattern for the blocks. I used the underskirt and sheet to make the main part of the blocks, and in the centers are silk flowers pulled from an arrangement, covered by squares of the tulle to protect them.
I removed many, many yards of the satin cording and braided 3 strands together. I used this braided cording to outline & quilt the blocks, and it is also used for the binding around the edge. I also took small pieces of it to use as the centers of the flowers.
On the original dress were these beautifull tulle roses with sequin beaded centers; I used those as embellishment around the center block, which is actually the bodice of my gown.
If you count the silk flower centers, there are exactly 17 - the age I was when I wore this dress.
When I made the first cut into this dress, I got really sad and had to step away from it for a couple of days. You have to understand how much I loved this dress when I was younger, and part of me at 17 believed I would wear this at my wedding.
My 33 year old self knows that was a silly (but endearing) idea, but that's what coming of age is all about.

This weeks randomly drawn public prize will win this lovley wristlet made by me! KimsCraftyApple! Read below on how you have seven chances to win!

SEVEN Chances to WIN!

Entry 1: REQUIRED! Leave a comment on your favorite entry and vote for your favorite on the poll on the upper left hand side of the blog. - ***MUST DO***

Optional/Additional Entries – please note – if you want to qualify for these additional entries you must leave a SEPERATE comment for each – if you already follow or are a fan, etc just leave comments saying each. If you write everything in ONE comment you only will have ONE entry…

Entry 2: Follow my blog.

Entry 3: Tweet about this fantastic contest with hashtag #PQRectangles (important or I won’t know you did it)

Entry 4: Become a Fan of Project QUILTING on Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/ProjectQUILTING

Entry 5: add my Project Quilting ‘Grab my Blinkie’ to your blog or blog about my giveaway (link your blog or post in your comment, please)

Entry 6: Head on over to KimsCraftyApple and let me know your favorite item in the store!

Entry 7: Sign up for my newsletter in the upper right corner of this page!

***Participants in project quilting ARE allowed to enter in the public poll/contest as well.***

This means you have SEVEN chances to win! I need you to write each of these entries as different comments in order to qualify you for all seven entries and include your email address. If you don’t include your email address I won’t be able to contact you when you win and I will have to choose a new winner. I will be picking the winner at 7pm on Friday, June 18th.

Did you grow up spending hours of fun imagining a new world with your paper dolls? Now here’s the perfect opportunity for your daughter, niece, or granddaughter to do the same!

A quilted 12.5” x 12.5” block is appliquéd with two adorable ‘paper dolls’. The overlapping pocket in the back (with a bit of velcro to secure it) holds the clothes that lets the child dress up their dolls - stimulating imagination and hours of fun at home or on the go. These are the perfect size to fold in half, tie up and take with!

This set includes 4 dresses, 3 hats, and 3 pairs of shoes. If you are interested in more clothing please convo me and I’ll see what I can do.

I used 'Paper Dolls' by Sherri Marquez for Windham Fabrics to help create and find inspiration from for this fabulously fun project. I’m calling these: Quilted Paper Dolls on the Go. If you have suggestions for a better name I would love to hear!

Let’s meet the dolls! (the first 7 are named after my mom and her six sisters)

Judy Joan Betty

Mary Kay Diane Peggy BarbieNatalie AnneAbby Jenny

Which doll do you think is the cutest?