A Happy Ending!

It is so lovely to be on another ' Kim Journey'. This little treasure below is part of All Brights - a long story, but a lovely one. Many years ago I had these orphan blocks - Christine was doing the same quilt. I thought I'd never finish mine, so I gave them to her - too pretty to sit in a cupboard for years.

Not too long after, Christine showed this quilt on her blog and I thought - oh, my goodness, how beautiful - it made me a little sad I had given the blocks away, but I was so happy Christine had made good use of them!

A very short time later the mailman arrived at the door with this parcel - tears ran down my face as I opened it and I had to breath deep. I decided to knit an edge for it and not surprisingly I have called the quilt 'True Friendship'. Dear Mum, nearly 92, now cuddles up under it in this cold weather . Thanks, Christine - thanks, Kim!

Another journey started - the very first block of Stars & Sprigs. I'm keeping Janet of Quiltslott company - now that's a hard act to follow, lol! Oh, to be in such company. I have chosen to make this one in reproduction fabrics with a vintage white background and French General fabric for the background to the stars.

Thanks to Pam for giving this opportunity to share Kim's work - I've just got a feeling there will be lots of others to join us!

Happy weekend!

Hugs - Lurline♥

Glorious Hearts and Flowers

When I purchased a copy of Kaffe's book Quilt Romance (published 2009), I couldn't wait to start on Kim McLeans stunning Hearts and Flowers Quilt.

 Kim McLeans Hearts and Flowers Quilt

Featured in Kaffe's book QUILT ROMANCE (pg 14)

photograph used with permission

I decided I wanted to make Kim's quilt using only Amy Butler Love fabrics (though one of Kaffe's shot cottons did creep in there).

Due to the very hectic nature of Amy's stunning fabrics, I did adapt Kim's quilt a little, however kept the main design elements the same.

This quilt was pretty quick to make and very satisfying, though I have yet to quilt it!

One of the aspects I love about Kim's quilts is the amount of fussy cutting you can do, bringing out fun little elements in the fabrics being used...

If you don't own a copy of Kaffe's Quilt Romance book it is worth loaning from the library...Kim McLean is the featured artist in the book and it is well worth a read.

Yea! Package has Arrived!

Hi all,

My package from Glorious Color has arrived. This is only a portion of the fabric you receive in their starter pack, there are 3 more folds of fabric in each of the ones showing. Because Kaffe Fassett is so outside the box for me I am sticking rather closely to the pattern and even ordered the lite green polka dot background fabric to insure I have the same color "look" of this quilt.

Thanks Kim for your good suggestions on Michelle's post. I am a little nervous about starting the cutting of this beautiful fabric also, but I feel like a kid with a brand new box of sharp crayons and I can hardly wait to start on this beautiful quilt.

Note the front and center brown fabric with the blue dots, I am so glad this fabric was in the starter pack so I also can have a brown cow with blue dots-the thing that made me decide to start this quilt.

Happy Stitching...

Cheri

As promised..

Here are my blocks that I have stitched so far....

bye for now
Christine

Hello, my name is Michele, and I'm terrified!

Thank you Pam for starting this blog. I have adored Kim McLean's work since the first time I saw her Ark quilt in a US quilt magazine. It was sometime later, at the Houston festival, that I saw her Tiles quilt, and, of course, her Roebuck Revisited. I was also fortunate to be at festival the year Kaffe had his first quilt book out, and a related special exhibit of his quilts. Wow. So, now, I've finally purchased a McLean pattern (Roseville) and collected a staggering amount of Kaffe/Jacobs/Mably fabric, and I find myself frozen with panic over cutting into these gorgeous prints. I've studied Kim's originals on Glorious Color minutely, and repeatedly, along with drooling for months over Janet, and Cathy's amazing creations using the very same fabrics.............but, I'm finding it very difficult to begin with that first block. I'm not afraid of color, and choosing fabrics for each block is my very favorite part of the process, yet something about these large, wild, prints has got me hesitant. I just need to take a deep breath and tell myself that reality can go hang! Heretofore, leaves should be green, and animals are NEVER blue, except...............they can be if I want 'em to. I'm afraid of being WRONG. That's my embarassing secret, ladies. I don't want to make a mistake.

Okay, that's enough introductory whining. I'll shut up and get something together to show you all before posting again. If anyone else has experienced these sorts of feelings about reproducing Kim/Kaffe's work, I would be grateful to hear about it. Otherwise, you all please keep up your inspirational posts, with your lovely photos, and I hope to be a "working" part of the group soon. (If I only had a Valium!)  Michele

Kim Mclean quilt

Hi all

Some of you are asking about the quilt top I had in my previous post.
The original is called " Sarah Evan's Applique Quilt 1806" and from memory Kim called her version " Old Bright"
The pattern is in the book " The Fabric of Society" by Dr. Annette Gero with patterns by Kim Mclean, I don't think it is available as a pattern only.

Hope this helps.

Christine

Here's a look

at my squirrel panel from Kim's Roseville Album pattern...

I've been prepping berries too. ; )


Piecefully, Pam

A Kim McLean quilt top

Hi all

I thought I share a quilt top with you and tell you a bit about it, our group had the pleasure some years ago to have Kim come and do a class with our group at the Gold Coast Queensland/Australia.
The finished quilt top was appliqued and pieced by a friend Denise Lawson who sadly passed away nearly three years ago.
Her daughter came to visit our group a few weeks back and would like to learn to hand quilt so she can finish her Mum's quilt, seeing the top made me get my blocks out and start sewing them again. I have finished more then I thought and did eight today, will post a picture of my blocks in the next few days.

Happy stitching
Christine

I started choosing the fabrics for my next block. A bit of a challenge! So much going on but isn't that the norm for this quilt?
so tell me what do you think???? the colors/fabrics work ?
AS you can see I chose a different color for the inside of my basket when I found this piece today I knew it was the right one.
Heres a tip when tracing this basket out I wish I would have folded the freezer paper in half and traced one side, then cut out the centers so they would be exactly the same . NO I am not doing it over!

here is the big flower/leaf I had tried first something about it was just wrong to me, thought it may be interesting for you to see.
I will save this piece and maybe make circles from it or leaves for another block.

A parade of blocks

I'm going great guns on the Stars and Sprigs blocks. I've been getting one a night done and I'm getting closer the the end each week.

I think I'm speeding up when it comes to choosing the fabrics. To keep it interesting I've played around with the colours and values. Some are moody, some are pastel and some are bright and colourful. It's colouring in fun.
cheers, Janet

Applique Heaven

Whenever I make a Kim McLean quilt, I always feel that I am in applique heaven! I generally use the needleturn method to applique, it is so very therapeutic to sit quietly at the end of a busy day with fabric and needle in hand (under a good light, of course!).

Kim's patterns are so satisfying with all their beautiful curves and shapes and colours. These snippets of applique are from Kim's gorgeous Flower Pots pattern that I began last year and I'm yet to finish, just the circles border to go!.

I love being able to fussy cut some of the fabrics for the applique...don't these butterflies wings look fun cut from some of Kaffe Fassett's stunning fabrics? (These butterflies were visiting my garden one fine morning!!).

Like Janet I haven't begun the Roseville Album yet, but hope to get to it very soon. Thanks to Pam for initiating this blog, the inspiration found here already is enough to get me started!

Six Lollys

Here are the first 6 Lollys that I did. The sashing is temporary. I sewed these blocks together so I could travel with the semi-top to do show and tell.

Isn't this

ExCiTiNg?!?!?! I am SEW thrilled and tickled with the interest and support this little blog has been receiving. Welcome everyone!!!  Please, keep the enthusiasm and interest coming!  Spread the word! : )

BIG thanks must go out to Janet, Kathie, Liza and, of course, Kim for helping me to make this blog a reality!!! I would never have imagined such a thing a year ago.

One year ago, this month, I began stitching Kim's Flower Pots design. I was taken with her wonderful wonky pattern and had a blast stitching those bold shapes. I am currently getting ready to machine quilt my completed top. Wish me luck!?

Meanwhile, I have begun a new sewing journey with Kim's just released Roseville Album. For me, it's a bit more challenging than Flower Pots, but I am loving every stitch I make. And, isn't that what it's all about...?!

For those who have asked, the Roseville Album pattern (or a kit) can be purchased through the Glorious Color website. Their link is on the sidebar of this blog. Stars and Sprigs is due for release in September. So, keep an eye out for that one also! ; )

And, no. I am not affiliated with Liza, Glorious Color or Kim McLean. I am just a regular quilter person who happened to connect with others while sewing Kim's designs, and look, here we are...!

This is a picture of my finished Flower Pots quilt top.

Next, perhaps a photo of my Roseville Album squirrel panel...?!

Thanks for allowing me to share this journey with you.  I appreciate your time, and look forward to hearing from you as you stitch too.

Piecefully, Pam

Hello

Thank you for letting me join and I hope this will make me take time to sew on both my Kim McLean quilts.

I still have to go and buy the background for the Roseville quilt and decide if I use repros or Kaffe style print.

cheers
Christine

Lollys

I hope I do this right. I have never done a blog post before. Here are two of my Lollypop Tree blocks. I am sewing number 12 now and I still love working on this pattern. It is so simple to stitch. If I could make fabric choices faster, I would probably be done by now.
Liza

I had a hard time deciding on what type of fabrics to use, finally I chose to use all reproduction fabrics for my Roseville Album. When I am working on an applique quilt I store the fabrics I use in a basket. I just like keeping it all together. I am sure I will be adding to this basket over the next few months :)
thought you might like to see the fabrics I will be using doesn't it make you smile!!!
Here are my first two blocks.


I am really looking forward to seeing everyones blocks for this quilt, its all about the fabrics right?
Please share the blocks in progress as well, we all love seeing photos!
kathie

My current obsession

I have the pattern for the Roseville Album quilt, I just need to clone myself if I want to start stitching it. Maybe I'll weaken when I start seeing the blocks made up by the others.

The only reason I haven't started it yet is because I have some blinkers on so I can focus on getting my other Kim McLean patterns done. I do have a little problem with UFO's.

I've been stitching away on this pattern of Kim's that I've had called Stars and Sprigs that's not available for purchase just yet. I decided to tackle a border before all the blocks are done just to mix it up a bit.

Here's where I'm at right now. Having it up on the wall in the sewing room is very motivating, I love this pattern so much and I'm having too much fun with it to switch projects just yet.

Thanks Pam for hosting this new and exciting blog! I can't wait to see what comes up in terms of fabrics and colours.
Janet

Where to begin?

Hello, and thank you for coming by. : ) I have recently begun stitching Kim McLean's Roseville Album quilt design. It seemed like a good idea to start a blog to chronicle this new adventure.

Other stitchers have expressed an interest in joining this endeavor too, so...sew here goes! Welcome to all.

There are some who love the design, but don't have the time to sew this intricate quilt right now. That's alright. You may wish to simply follow along. Feel free.

Perhaps you are ready to begin work on this quilt design, but you want to do it by machine instead of hand applique. That's fine too. There's room here for everyone. You may choose whichever technique work best for you at the time.

This is my very first venture being an administrator of a Group Blog. Please be patient with me, and one another as this space evolves. Meanwhile, let's mingle and get to know each other. We can share ideas, information, photos and the love of quilting, applique and Kim McLean designs! I look forward to sharing this journey with you!

Piecefully, Pam