Quilt Retreat

The new blogger is impossible to use. 

Today I just wanted to share a few projects that I am working on.  I didn't get to that disappearing hourglass crazy eight quilt like I wanted to at Quilt Retreat.  But, I did get some other projects done.  We stopped at a wonderful quilt shop in Lodi called Village Creek Quilt Shop. See the link below.  And we dined at Fitz's on the Lake.  It was a beautiful day and we sat outside.  The food was excellent and I highly recommend eating there.  The views are beautiful over looking the lake.  So I am trying to post this and the new Blogger is not working for me.  Stay tuned... I may have to move to another blog place. 

So disappointed.

 Fitz's on the Lake

Village Creek Quilt Shop

This is the kit I bought at the shop and made it at retreat 

Easy quilt pattern. Now it needs borders.

 

 

 

 

 

This is the start to a scrappy quilt Chris is making for her bed.

Retreat at Cattail Retreat in Poynette

One of my very most favorite things to do is quilt with my quilter friends.  So the past few years I have been setting up quilt retreats for us.  We started going to a place on Green Lake. It was a cute little house that slept 6.  It had beautiful windows overlooking the lake.  And we didn't have to do any cooking.
Then last year I checked out another quilt retreat that was a bit closer and much larger.  It actually sleeps 8.  So I booked it.  We really loved it there.  So much space and they have design walls and ironing stations.  The work room was soooo bright.  So I decided to make another retreat for this October. 2020.  Then she was running a summer special so I booked another one for August.  There are 4 of us going in August.  It's going to be perfect.  And after being home for so long it will be nice to get away.


When I go to retreats my quilting has my undivided attention. I can get soooo much done.  I am getting some fabrics cut up to work on a quilt at retreat next month.  This is what I hope to accomplish.  Sorry these photos are not the best.  I got them off the internet. I'm thinking I'm going to make mine black with bright batiks.  But, I like the white too. And here is a great tutorial on how to make this block.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a124Y6Ho51o

http://www.cattailretreat.com

Just a quick note and Alex Anderson

Hi Everyone!!  I hope all of you are doing well.  I'm missing my guild meetings and my photography meetings but, I am keeping busy.  Being semi retired is so much fun!!

I just wanted to share some info with you.  There are so many good you tube videos on quilting.  I just wanted to share one with you.  Remember those Snowball blocks I talked about in the last post.  I thought you might want to watch this video by Alex Anderson. She does some talking at the beginning but, the info that is coming is very good.  Love watching her videos.

https://youtu.be/gNWcr6VNGKo

I'm still working on my snowball blocks.  But, I have 30 done so far. I'm putting this away til winter.  I'm still working on Runaround Bags.

Here is a runaround bag I made for my friend Joyce.  I printed her dog pictures on fabric after I manipulated them in my software to make them fun. 

This is Max

Princess Anya 

More Runaround Bags.  I think I'm addicted!!  See my facebook page for more about them or to 

order one message or email me.  Facebook page is Laura Krasinski's Art on the Run. 

Working on a few fun projects 6.5"

So it's Labor Day weekend and we are heading up north.  My son's birthday is tomorrow and we are going to celebrate with him on Saturday. Both my kids will be there and my grandson.  FUN!!

Next week I will be going back to work and I'm so excited about that.  I miss my friends!

In getting ready for the weekend I cut up some fabric for some projects.  Ben Franklin in Oconomowoc is having a quilt along.  We are making Snowball blocks.. I can do those... Very excited to make a scrappy quilt.  I have never made a scrappy quilt before.  So here is what I have so far and what I cut up to make some squares.

Blocks I have done so far and may make the 9 patch into a snowball. 

6.5 " blocks and 2.5"blocks for the corners.

The next projects I'm working on a Runaround Bags. I cut up kits for a few with a zipper 

to match.  I hope to get these done this weekend.  And then I might reopen my Etsy shop.  

                                 

Here are the 2 I have made so far.  They are so cute and fun. 

Photography....my other love.

During this time with the staying at home order I have been staying at home.  Making masks and working on Quilting projects.  But, lucky for me I can get out to the parks to walk and take photos.  If you know me at all you know I love photography.  So today instead of quilting I'm just going to share some of my favorite photos that I have taken in the last year.  Seems like a good time just for photos!!   Not in any particular order.  Some from Arizona and some from nearby.  You can visit my facebook page for more photos.  Laura Krasinski Photography
Have a excellent weekend!!

Killdeer in Menomonee Falls 

Killdeer in Menomonee Falls 

Lake Pleasant Area in Arizona 

Salt River Horse 

Bobcat in dads yard.

Bobcat by dad's in Surprise, AZ 

Superstition Mountain in the background.  Salt River horse. 

Mom and Gosslings in Menomonee Falls 

Red Bellied Woodpecker at Fox Brook 

Yellow Rumped Warbler 

Friends at the Salt River in Az. 

Playing in the Salt River 

Trumpeter Swan in the Fox River 

Part of a Band on the Salt River 

A beauty. 

Stash and Store

I want to share a quick trick I used at Quilt Retreat in February.  

I bought this Stash and Store and I 

was doing a lot of chain piecing.  I was using a scissors and cutting between every piece until I cam up with this.  Sorry about the background noise. 

Projects While at Home and Abroad

Today is April 28th.  It is the 40th day for me staying at home.  I really started March 12 but, I had to go to work a couple mornings that following week.  I'm keeping busy.  Spending everyday with my grandson which is awesome. I feel bad for families who have to be apart from their grandkids and kids during this time.  Most of the festivals have been cancelled or postponed for the summer.  No Fireworks at the lakefront either.  It's going to be a difficult 2020. Enough about that. 

 I wanted to show a brilliant idea my friend Jen came up with.  There is as you know a lack of elastic right now. Jen and I used to run 5K's together and during the colder days you would wear a "MUFF". They are made of a stretchy polyester fabric and covered your mouth and nose  She decided to cut one up in 1" increments and then cut that 1" strip into 4 pieces.  They work perfectly for the masks.  And they are less likely to rub and hurt your ears after wearing them for hours. So I decided to cut up one of my muffs and make some masks for my office.  So here is what I did.  

My Muff cutting 1" strips from the top down. 

Muff cut. The pieces roll up on their own. 

Masks waiting for pleats to be added. 

 My next project was a 10 minutes table runner.  In reality it takes about 20 minutes.  I laugh at my friend who tells me it takes her 2 hours.  It's a fun project using 2 pieces of fabric. I found a good tutorial here.  This fabric was from one of the Wednesday night lives from The Quilted Cow on Facebook.  http://www.animblethimble.com/ten-minute-table-runner-pattern-and-pics.htm

So Mike and I took a 3 day trip to our house up north.  From one house to another as to not infecting or taking anything with us.  I took my Red S Featherweight machine along and a few projects.  These are the 2 Runaround Bags I made.  They were quick and easy and I plan on making more.  What a great gift for a friend or family member.  Throw your license, money and your credit card into the bag with a comb and off you go.  I used to carry huge purses.  I haven't in years.  I love these little purses!!  Here is a picture of the Pattern by Lazy Girl.  I'm not experienced in making bags. Especially bags with zippers. This was the ultimate easy bag.  The zipper was put on with my Featherweight and the regular foot that it usually has on it.  You have to try it!  I'm looking forward to getting in my stash and finding some coordinating fabrics to make a few more. 

The bag is 7" X 9" 

Front of the bag.  On this one I decided to use the same fabric above and below the zipper. 

Here is the back of the bag. See the nice big pocket you can put your phone in? 

Here are my 2 flavors of Runaround Bags.  

A quilt I made years ago.  It's called Look to The Cross. I added the words to the photo of it. Just a reminder to Trust in God during these very trying times. He is in control. 

Resizing Your Pattern

So I just wanted to touch base with you on how to resize your paper pattern.

There is a handy dandy scale thing called the Quilters Assistant Proportional Scale.

So I take the pattern and measure it and this pattern is 13" X 16" I want the longest side to be 26".
So I am going to line the 16 mark ( on the inside) to the 26 mark ( on the outside)
Then look at the Enlargement window.  So it shows I will take it to Fed Ex or wherever you have enlargements made and tell them I want it enlarged 165%  Some of the people don't understand and so just tell them you want the long side 26".  I tell them to make a copy of a mirror image as well. This is what I will use for the pattern.  It has to be reversed because of the way I use Steam a Seam 2 lite.  So there you have it.  Email me if you have any questions.  I'm off to Fed Ex.

Here is my pattern. 

This is the tool I use to find out how much to enlarge my pattern. 

Short side of my pattern is 13"  The long side is 16"