Meet Kate Conklin

Once upon a time, I was in the right place at the right time (which actually hardly ever happens to me), and I had the privilege of getting to help Kate (Kate Conklin Designs) proofread a pattern.

Kate is from Australia, is a wife and mother of two young children, a speech-language pathologist (like moi) and now a quilt designer.   Kate's patterns are available on her blog, 

The pattern that I got to test is called Fairy Hearts and features fairy fabric from an Australian fabric designer, Saffron Craig.  

You can purchase a kit for Kate's Fairy Hearts quilt on Saffron's blog.  

 And here are some sneak peeks at my version:

I thought about purchasing some pink fabrics to make a really girly Valentine's Day type of quilt, but then decided to just use from my stash and go for a different look (fabric-wise) from Kate's original quilt.  These are from Jennifer Paganelli's Bell Bottoms line with white Kona Cotton.

This was my first attempt at raw edge appliqué (as I have always done it by hand).  It's quick and easy!

Kate's instructions were quite clear and there are lots of pictures to assist you, which I always find extremely helpful.  The instructions include everything from the materials and cutting to the quilting and binding. The finished quilt size is 50" x 62", and there are also instructions for making a baby quilt.  Plus, there are instructions for making a pieced back.  I've never seen that on a pattern before.

Pieced back of Fairy Hearts quilt.

 I am totally in love with Kate's pattern Charm Bracelets.  I hope you check out Kate's blog!

 

Thanks, Kate for the great opportunity!  I loved doing it!

The fabrics for my two quilting bees have arrived and both contained Kona coal, but will be very different blocks. Stayed tuned.

One of the fabrics in one of my January bees led to a fun online fabric swap between myself and Kelly (Purple Paisley Patch) after she expressed a liking for the center fabric in this block on flickr:

I sent her 1/4 yard and threw in some purple paisley-like fabric.  She was supposed to send me a Heather Bailey Pop Garden fat quarter, but today I received two Heather Bailey FQs in the mail from her:

I love them!  And isn't that a cute little card?!  I look at those adorable little birds and one word comes to mind: appliqué!  Thanks for the great fabric, Kelly.  I hope you like yours as much as I like mine!

I have next week off, and although my social calendar is rapidly filling up with lunch and coffee dates, I plan on doing some damage on my bee blocks, Sue Ross BOM, and  the quilts I owe for two different pay it forwards. I want to finish my Fairy Hearts quilt top, and  I have a few more baby quilts to make!  And I may start a Charm Bracelets quilt!  I'm also looking forward to fabric shopping and lunch with some hip quilting chicks from the Portland Modern Quilt Guild!  The amount of sewing I get done remains to be seen, but it's going to be a great week off!

With wishes, true and kind -- Joan