Un-Paper Kitchen Towels, and a Commute

I made a commitment to myself to do a couple earth friendly, and cost cutting things for myself last year.  The first was to start bike commuting, I'd wanted a road bike for a long time but the thing is they are expensive.  I figured with gas being so high if I simply eliminated my commute I would save myself nearly $10/day, and get my workout in the process.  It has not always been easy, I have gotten quite a few flat tires, and I have wrecked a few times.  (Not in the get hurt way but in the "Oh my heck did anyone just see that?!!?" kind of way)  I do love my bike though and have never regretted the commitment, it is so much fun and only adds an additional 15 minuets to my commute.  Not to shabby!  
The other project I am going to share...

Un-paper Kitchen Towel

I kicked my paper towels out the door, (or at least to the cupboard for the few and far between times I don't want to ruin my towels ex. bacon).  I found that my family was using so many paper towels and these were the perfect solution.  I simply wash and re-use, simple, cheap, and earth friendly!
These are quick to make, and will pay for themselves in the first couple months of use!
These will make a great addition to my Sweet Fall Table Topper

I am hoping you will make a earth friendly commitment in your house as well!

A whole lot of free patterns!

This last month I made a bunch of items for Sasha K Studios by EBI Fabrics, it was a lot of fun working with them to create some items out of their fabric.  I think this whole process was as new to them as it was for me.  I wrote out those patterns and am excited to share these free patterns!  I am new to explaining thinks in written form, and and absolutely can work on a better layout, and cover...but it's free so please sew, enjoy, and share with me!  I'd love to hear some feedback on how I can improve or what I did right.   I also will be releasing more patterns, so i'd love for you to follow my blog and comment!
Here some of those free patterns are!

Framed Flower Pillow PDF









Garden Bloom Pillow PDF

           Stained Glass Pillow PDF








           

    Sweet Fall PDF

Simple Table Runner PDF

On top of these fun freebies I have 2 more to post later this week, and a fun modern queen size quilt I will be finishing up next week.  Most of my favorite projects become so because I have great friends that make them with me, so grab a few friends share away, and please let me know what you think. Thanks,   KT

Preparations for my first quilt market! EEK!

I have been working with a new fabric company, through a connection I met last fall at quilt market in Houston.  Sasha K Studio of EBI Fabric Corp. I love the collections they have so far and have been working on some projects for them to take to Spring quilt market in Pittsburg this next week.  This will be their first booth at market and I know they will have a nice display. Because I have make some really cute, and fun quilted projects for them to fill that booth with, though with the fun fabrics I had to work with, it's no wonder everything turned out so nice! Katia (designer) has some really great lines. The ones I got to play around with include Downton Lace, Maple Stories, Costa De Las Flores Caliente, and Costa De Las Flores Azure.  I am still not sure what my very favorite of them are, I really do like them all.   Here is a sneak peak at what I have been working on to take to market...

Framed Flower Pillow

free pattern!

                                                                          Stained Glass Pillow

Garden Flower Pillow

Downton Square

free pattern!

 

Scallop Pillows

Fabric Flowers

A fun carry on, or getaway bag

Yes I have cute quilt holders, no need to be jealous though because their hands are filthy! But gosh aren't they the cutest little devils!

This quilt is one of my favorites it has such a fun modern look.

It is a beginner friendly pattern and would look great in all sorts of different colors.

 Here is a fun table runner with some beautiful appliqué to make a fun table decoration.

I love a cute blanket stitch on appliqué.

 I love, love, love how this sweet quilt turned out.  It is from Sasha K Studios Maple Stories line.  Fall is my favorite season and the colors in this quilt exemplify my very favorites.  The quilting on this really looks great, it is the first time I ever tried cross hatching and I am so glad I finally gave in and tried it!  This looks great as a table topper, on a quilt ladder, or as a wall hanging I love that it is so multi-functional!

Here is a table runner in the same color wave, this was a quick(er) project and fun to piece together.  Arn't these just the cutest!  

I stayed plenty busy the last 2 months working on all of this and will have all the free patterns hopefully posted by next week.  This quilting stuff is a lot of work! 

P.S. : If you are at quilt market in Pittsburg go check out Sasha K. Studios booth and grab some of my free patterns! Thanks for looking!

-KT

P.P.S. This is a really exciting time for me, I am pretty excited to have this blog up and running, quilts going to market, and taking my quilting to the next level.  If you are checking out my blog I'd love for you to follow me and help my fun new blog spread!