What a weekend!

Happy Tuesday!
So, I had huge, grand plans of accomplishing tons of stuff in the sewing zone this weekend....and then along came the creepy crud. It crept right on in and took over my life! Grrrrr!!!! However, I still managed to do this.....


Well....this I did last week for Civil War Tribute last Wednesday. I made 4 of these little buggers! I am really looking forward to seeing this quilt done. I've enjoyed the process but the excitement level is getting pretty high!





Since I wasn't feeling very well, I made all the half square triangles for the rest of my Civil War Chronicles quilt because that was mindless sewing :) I doesn't look like much in the picture but trust me....there's over 300 HST there. Now all I have left are the bazillion for the border!





I also intended to get all the sewing done for Groovy Girls on Saturday, but this stack just sat there. Tonight this is going to become 5 projects! Watch out!!!



I finished the last of the log cabin blocks and even got a couple rows together.



Plus....I spent a ton of time cleaning and organizing my sewing space...it's so nice down there I have a hard time working on stuff. For real, it's so clean and nice I just want to sit and watch movies at my sewing machine because I don't want to mess it up!!

That's all  for now, folks!

Enjoy the sunny tropical paradise we're having in S.MN!

Hope all this nice weather doesn't confuse my tulips into thinking it's time to come up!

~K

Groovy Girls Month 1 - Success!

Good Morning!

I'm pleased to report that our first ever meeting of the Groovy Girls that took place Saturday morning was a complete success! After all the time I spent making samples and demos and getting everything just perfect, I was glad the it was enjoyed and a good time for the crowd that came.

The featured project was Terry Atkinson's Stand and Stow bag. Pictured in the medium (grey print).
The free Terry Atkinson pattern was for the Monkey Business bag. Picture in the yellow floral with teal.

I had a whole display ready for the clubbies...I brought decor from my home and had everything you could need to make the projects ready and available which made shopping a breeze!

Did you know that with your club membership you receive a card for 20% off all Terry Atkinson products and stuff to make Terry Atkinson projects???? Talk about incentive to join!!

And everyone left happy and ready to start sewing their new projects!
PS: it's not too late to join! Simply register with the shop and you'll receive the free pattern you missed as well as the membership card.

Hope to see you Saturday Feb 4!

~K

Birthday Giveaway

Happy Friday, friends-

As mentioned, I have a giveaway to offer :)
I designed this pattern for my birthday party and made some extra kits to give to some of you!

So, be one of the first 10 people leave a comment and tell me about something you were given for your last birthday and a pattern and kit will be yours! Giveaway will close next Friday 1/13.

Happy posting!
~K

Groovy Girls

I've been working hard getting things ready for the first meeting of the

If you're wondering what that is...it's a club designed by Terry Atkinson. Each month there will be a different theme and free pattern created by Terry for club members only. You will learn to make all sorts of "groovy" things for you, your friends and your home. A little teaser for ya, the first month (meets this coming Saturday at 9:30) will highlight bags....it will be a ton of fun.

Under the tree

Stitcher's Club is a new club starting at the shop this year. We will be using a Glad Creation's pattern and working one step a month till we have an awesome finished quilt in a year!

I took this great picture of the bundle available for the club under my tree...

Don't you want one under yours too???

Yeah...I have a cat so most of the ornaments are a foot off the ground....

she hasn't ever bothered anything yet....YET....just trying to be safe is all :)

And here's the pattern:

Note: No curve pieces :)

I'm excited to get started on this project!!
Enjoy the day!
~K

Winter 2012 Newsletter

Good news quilting friends.....the Winter 2012 newsletter is ready for you!

Just click here to see all the new clubs and classes.

Also, did you notice how different it looks???

Yep...new logo and layout. How fun is that!

Over the next couple weeks I hope to feature some of the new clubs offered

and show you the awesome projects they will be working on.

That's all for now-

Stay warm if you're in S. Minnesota!

~K

ps: Did you read up on the big sale happening soon at the shop??

~*~ You're ALL Invited ~*~

This is an invitation to:
~*~ My Birthday Party ~*~

For my Birthday, I have reserved the classroom at the shop to host an open sewing day and you are all invited to come and sew with me (and my mom)!

Wednesday December 14

9am-9pm

Come when you can! Morning, evening or all day!

 All food / meals will be provided

PLEASE NO GIFTS...You're presence is enough...pun intended :)

Please RSVP your approximate sewing hours

so I know how many to count on for meals. You can do this by either:

1) leaving a comment on this post

2) sending me an email katie.zenk@hotmail.com

Hope to see some of you there!

~K

Happy Pumpkin Day!

Confession: I'm not a Halloween fan at all....so today like every other 10/31, I celebrate pumpkin day :)
This year I made this for Pumpkin Day...didn't get it quilted..argg!!!

And I decorated my mantle for the special day...

and even added a little pumpkin goodness to my table!

The pattern for the cute little Pumpkin wall hanging was in the October 2011 American Patchwork and Quilting magazine that looks like this:

If you decide to make it be aware...they did not include the pattern for the tag (I made my own) and I turned the 'U' upside down for the 'N' because I didn't like the one they provided :) Other than that, it was fun to make!

Be sure to pop back tomorrow for a full report of my weekend...let's just say I met someone famous, had a french horn mishap right before a concert, finished a quilt and a HUGE handwork project I've been working on.

Have a fabulous Pumpkin Day!
~K

Sandi Irish is coming to the Calico Hutch!

Sandi Irish has been quilting for over 23 years, teaching and working in a quilt shop as well as designing quilts for companies like Timeless Treasures Fabrics and doing other commissioned works. Since she prefers creating her own designs or adapting traditional quilts to her own style, launching the Irish Chain pattern company in 2003 was a natural step to take.

“Bling” with Sandi Irish

Saturday, November 5 - 11:30 till 4:30 pm

10 AM—FREE Trunk Show for general public

Her new “PINE TREE pattern is one of a set of designs in the Quilted Jewels Series cut using the diamond template set. Included in the series of patterns is “BLING”, I SPY DIAMONDS”, CHRISTMAS TREE SKIRT and QUILTED JEWEL TOTE BAGS. Sandi will demonstrate all of the Quilted Jewel Series with an emphasis on Tall Pines (24 x 56), a great addition to your home for the holidays!!

Class - $35
Kits available — $44

Call to reserve your spot and kit. 507-377-1163

Visit her website and blog!

Fall Newsletter

Good news folks, the fall newsletter is up on the website!

 Be sure to check it out because you wouldn't want to miss out on anything exciting!

Click here to scope things out.

Fall is a coming....before ya know it, the maples will start to turn and then (yay) the snow will start to fly!
~K

Just one of the many reasons why I love September!

How cool is this:

*Thank you to Moda fabrics for this pretty pretty picture*

Sew, what will you be stitching up during this month that celebrates our beautiful art?

If ya want to, send me a pictures of what you accomplish and as your works of art accumulate in my inbox, I'll post them. Who know, maybe we'll even do some sort of CRAZY AWESOME give away :)

please send them to: calicohutch@gmail.com

Get to work!
~K

Again, I receive no compensation in anything for mentioning stuff or companies in this post or on this blog. I just thought MODA made a pretty little thingy-ma-bobber for national sewing month and I wanted to share it with you :)

Here's my Hometown!

I picked up my Hometown Picnic quilt from Bonnie at the shop yesterday and boy am I super duper excited to show you my all done, completed, quilted, wonderful, beautiful, probably my new favorite quilt to veg out in front of a movie with quilt. Actually, it's not completely done, i still have the hand stitching on the binding left, but my thumb just wouldnt let me do that.

Also, thank you for the opinions, I did add a 5" border just to make a teensy bit larger for better snuggling and also to make the best use of the super cuddly Fireside (adult minky) back. Fireside is softer than minky but doesnt have the velvety, shiny look the minky does. With the border, it finished to approx. 58 x 78.

I tested it out last night and it is the perfect TV quilt.

Pattern: Picnic from the amazing book Scrapbasket Sensations by Kim Brackett
Fabric: Hometown by Sweetwater for MODA

This will become that one quilt that everyone fights over because it's so awesome!

~K

Have you Schnibbled lately?

This past weekend-before the kitchen injury-I got a lot of sewing done! Earlier in the year, I got a Schnibble all cut out and ready to sew and then found out that all the charms at the shop that were to be used in kits, were already sold. So, the pieces all got bagged up and stashed away.

Fast forward a little while and you land on last Friday when I was thinking about my sister's birthday coming up. Note: I don't have a sister and she's actually my sister-in-law but I like her a lot so I call her my sister because is just sounds so much better. She and my brother are in the process of moving to a new home closer to the rest of our family and she's really excited about her new kitchen. She's painting the cabinets and tweaking a little bit to have a more "retro" kitchen. For those of you who know her, this is right up her alley. She's also collected some depression glass plates which I think she also plans to hang on the wall.

Wouldn't ya know, this schnibble is a perfect match for her. So I dug it out, got all my ducks in a row, put my favorite color Aurifil thread in the machine and I was off to the races and before I knew it, I had this little cutie:

(Looking back, I probably shouldn't have taken the "folded" pics before this one!..Ahhh..wrinkles!!!)

~I think she's gonna love it!~

Pattern: Schnibble "Joy Luck" by Miss Rosie's Quilt Co.
Fabrics: Dream On by Urban Chic for MODA

So, have you schnibbled as of late? If not, there are a ton of the patterns and charms at the store, you may need to take on a little project :) Just think how nice your table would look with one of the darlings adorning it!

Now all that's left is the quilting and binding!
~K

Note: I am not compensated or rewarded in any way shape or form for mentioning certain products in this post.

Autumn is just around the corner!

This morning I woke up to these words coming out of the radio:
"currently in Albert Lea, it is 48 degrees." However, it is now 71 so I'm not totally sure I heard that correctly.

So, if it really were only 48 degrees out this morning, that would cause me to believe that autumn is just around the corner and I really should get my rear in gear and finish my Autumn Glory table mat I started last year. Note: because this has been so popular in the shop, kits have continued to be cut and are available.

And I also have this little guy to work up too because I think he looks like he pairs up will with the above mentioned table mat:

The pumpkin mat has also been wildly popular and is still being kitted up too. Also, for those of you on a budget, this little guy is VERY affordable!

But then there is reality....I won't be doing much of anything creative in the near future and it really makes me sad. You see, yesterday afternoon I was using my kitchen slicer/mandolin and may or may not have sliced off a portion of my thumb....my RIGHT thumb...and I'm right handed. So, until this self inflicted wound heals, I'm sorta, kinda out of commission. As my friend Michelle from the 90's TV show Full House once said, "Bummer Dude".

Have a wonderful day and remember,

Autumn is coming soon!

~K

Wild Goose Chase Shop Hop

Get your friends together and the cars gassed up because it's shop hop time!!

Wild Goose Chase Shop Hop

April 1-9

Get your passports stamped at all 11 shops and you'll receive
6 yards (12 half yard cuts) of:

click here and scroll down a ways for all the details and a list of all the shops.

Happy Hoppin!

~K

"Everybody know what time it is?"

TOOL TIME!

Bin ford tools is proud to present:
TIM the TOOLMAN TAYLOR

OK, maybe not tool time...but rather show and tell time!

When I hear the words "show and tell", I go back to elementary school. I shared some pretty awesome things. I think of birds nests, vacation pictures, one time I took my puppy and I think a chicken even made an appearance once. In the quilting world, show and tell means anything you've worked on that you want to share with others.

This lead me to this idea:

blog show and tell.

You see all of my projects and what I'm working on, but I never get to see what you all stitch up!

We all love seeing what others are working on and often get great projects from other peoples accomplishments. It's also fun to show off what you're proud of :)

Send me pictures of ANY projects you've worked on in February...not just Schnibbles. These can include anything creative, sewn, or stitched. Quilts, bags, runners, pillows, curtains, clothes, candle mats, etc..ANYTHING. You never know what is going to inspire who!

Think of all the potential shared inspiration :)

Send them to: calicohutch@gmail.com by March 15th.

Please also include the name of the pattern.

Extra cool points to those who can tell me in a comment to this post
what 90's sitcom I've quoted!

(please read the small print below)

Can't wait to see and share!

~K

SMALL PRINT
(Cool points are non-redeemable and are not used in any sort of record keeping or ranking of coolness...they aren't even tallied or kept track of. Cool points are just that...cool points and were designed to make the recipient think they have been awarded something life changing when in all reality, they've been awarded nothing...zero, zip, zilch, nada, yada yada, uff da!)