A Decade of a Project!

I thought I would just have some fun today picking on myself in your presence.

It was a mere 10 years ago that I started this project.  I fondly call it my "devil decade of a project".  This project traveled to many retreat locations.  Many times not even taken out of the car, but was along "just in case" I ran out of projects! (okay, I hear you laughing now...)  It's not that the project was hard, just time consuming (obviously!!)   What is this project you ask?.....

Let's start at the beginning.  In 2004, a lovely lady by the name of Lynette Jensen, creator of Thimbleberries, designed

Hometown Christmas by Thimbleberries 2004

Hometown Christmas patterns and the coordinating fabrics.  I was thus enticed to take part in the kits offered by Common Threads Quilt Shop.  My intention was to work on Hometown Christmas diligently as I received each portion of the quilt.  I did great at first, completing two parts of one of the segments.  I was on a roll, yes, I could see this quilt laying on my bed for the holiday season.....visions of sugarplums danced in my head.....(that's an understatement).  I'm not sure exactly where I fell off the bed wagon dreaming of this fantasy?

Once completed, this is what the quilt should look like!

What do I mean by "should" look like? I decided that enough was enough of piecing....so very unlike Lynette, I only put two borders on.  I agree that the log type border and the applique is very stunning, but.....it was time to...as my granddaughter would sing... "let it go, let it go!

So a decade later, I'm most proud to say, that it is DONE in my version and off to my quilter it goes - thanks in advance Holly of Just Spoolin Around Long Arm Quilting.

AND thanks for picking on me, with me!  It was worth the laughs!!

~hugs~ Julie

Our last retreat - bittersweet!

We spend this past weekend with some very wonderful quilting friends at our last official retreat from our recently closed quilt shop, Common Threads.  It was bittersweet as we enjoyed each other's company knowing that this would probably be the last time many of us would be together again.  The retreat has been going on for 18 years.  We appreciate everyone who has attended a Common Threads retreat over those many years.

Our workroom, all ready and waiting for our retreaters and the fun to begin!

The gals all set up, catching up with each other and quilting away.

The food was incredible!  Chef Jim and his staff treated us like queens!

Fellowship even followed us into our mealtimes, as we visited there too!

It was an awesome weekend.  One we will cherish for all time.  Thanks again everyone - we'll miss you!

"Hanging out" with some pretty cool ladies!

Twice a month, I have the wonderful opportunity to "hang out" with a bunch of very inspiring ladies, doing one of the things I love in the crafting world - stitchery.  For the most part, everyone is working on a different type of stitchery project, whether it be wool, embroidery, applique, cross stitch, hardanger or sewing on quilt bindings, all hands are busy!

JoAnn, her wonderful smile and her fun applique and stitchery

Velma (at least her hands) and her gorgeous wool applique

We talk, laugh, cry, eat, and share our lives with each other.  Everyone has a different story to tell, but our common story is that we share a love of crafting and best of all, friendship.

Carol's awesome cross stitching

Throughout the next few months, you are going to meet these ladies on a more personal level, as they share their passions with their crafts.  I'm telling you, these ladies are VERY talented and I am VERY honored to be a part of such an awesome group.  (they let me in because I bring snacks!) - all kidding aside, I get giddy for the 2nd and 4th Monday's to come on the calendar because I know what's in store.......a super great day!

Norma's wool stitchery project

Hardanger apron modeled by Judy

I can't wait for you to know these ladies too!
-Julie-

P.S.  Thanks Carol for letting us "hang out" at your house!

Join our retreat!

In the mail today, I just sent out reminders to our wonderful crafting friends about our annual fall retreat that is held at Lake Geneva Christian Center in Alexandria, MN.  This place is wonderful.  You stay in hotel type rooms, where you don't have to bring bedding or towels.  There are two queen beds and your own bathroom.  (I have nothing against going to camp, sleeping on a bunk with several other people and sharing a bathroom with several other people.  I went to summer camp as a kid, but that's just it....as a kid.  I am now a grown-up and I appreciate a softer bed and my own bathroom).  Major plus of attending this particular camp/center!

We have room if you'd like to join us.  This retreat is open to any and all crafters.  If you quilt, knit, crochet, scrapbook or anything else you'd love to do but never find the time.  (We had one gal come to our retreat one year and all she did was read and loved it!)  We'd be honored with your presence!

The retreat this fall is November 8-10, 2013.  We do have an early bird option of coming on Thursday, the 7th anytime after noon.  There are 5 "wonderful - you'd didn't have to cook" meals that start on Friday evening.  (You are on your own for meals on Thursday and Friday daytime - Alexandria has MANY options for you to choose from).

Our prices are very reasonable for the comforts of home and a great space for your creativity to flow!

Single room (your own self)  is $230 per person
Double room (sharing with one person)  is $200 per person
3 or more in a room - $175 per person
Early bird option (for work space and lodging only) $40 per person

All the above includes great lodging, 5 yummy meals, beautiful scenery to keep your creative juices flowing , 24 hour access to the work space so you can really get your projects accomplished AND we get to pamper you with fun things to say "thanks for coming"

Are you saying "where do I sign up?"  Just contact Julie at rjsatterlie@gctel.net and provide us with your     e-mail address and we will forward more information.  We ask for a $25 non-refundable deposit due upon registering, with the balance to be paid at the time of your arrival at the retreat.  We only accept cash or checks, no credit cards.

Come and have a fun weekend with us!
-Julie-

The End!

8 years ago I was approached by Ruth Gess about purchasing Common Threads Quilt Shop and I said YES!.  One year ago we made the decision to close the retail location of the quilt shop and concentrate on developing our pattern company and other interests.  This past year has been a lot of trial and error about the pattern business.  We took the idea of having our patterns become free online to any and all and to sell kits to go with these patterns on our etsy site.  We have had a great time designing and creating however we realized that we were not utilizing our building to its full potential.  We made another decision to move the design business to my house, the website portion to Katie's house and the machine quilting to Holly's house and to sell out the rest of our inventory. We had a HUGE garage sale with many, many bargains and as many people attend.  As you can see from the before and after it was a great success.  We wish to take this opportunity to THANK everyone from the bottom of our hearts for your support of our quilt shop, our patterns and our etsy shop.  None of the decisions we have made have been easy ones, we just knew that they were the right ones.  Our families have taken on new goals as well and it is with great pride and pleasure that we are able to be there to support them on their endeavors as we start new chapters in our lives.  Holly is thrilled to be at home with her quilting business and looks forward to helping you all complete your quilting projects with her beautiful Statler and freehand quilt designs.  Her new business is Just Spoolin' Around - check it out on facebook!  Katie keeps our website up to date along with her new business Out and Aboat  (we believe her office is in her car most of the time!) and I am super excited to be home with  Kaelly Studio working out new designs and completing old ones - change is good!!!

Thanks again - Julie, Holly and Katie

Before the sale - shelves and tables are filled to the brim!

After the sale - shelves and tables are bare!!

Quilting and biking?

We are fortunate to have the Central Lakes Trail system running right through our small town.  It used be the Burlington Northern railroad tracks until 1992 when it was turned into a recreational attraction. Now, what does this educational information have to do with quilting?  Our newest quilt pattern, called "Life is Beachy" reminds us of bikes on the boardwalk or biking to the beach on a hot summer day.  The pattern is super easy because it contains pre-cut layer cakes. The fabric we used, Lucy's Crab Shack by Sweetwater of Moda, has a Nantucket Island beach theme with bicycles, crabs and other beachy things.  The long arm quilting by Just by Spoolin' Around chose an all over bicycle design that fits perfect with the fabrics.  It was obvious to us, in our search for a photo shoot location, we should use our wonderful bike trail as a backdrop.  We would have chosen the beach, but with this HOT, HUMID weather we've been having the beaches are swarming with sunbathers and swimmers.

To print this pattern, click HERE.

It's Electric....

Are you intrigued by putting things together, like a puzzle for instance?  You won't be puzzled by our latest pattern.  It's Electric is connected by pinwheels, blocks, filler rectangles and borders to create a spinning project.  We've named it after the wind towers spinning around that dot our countryside and provide pleasant electricity especially for our sewing machines to work - yeah!!!  We are pleased to provide a great kit for this project at our etsy shop.  Many of the pieces are pre-cut so you can just start sewing and creating this colorful quilt. Remember to go HERE and print off the pattern for.....Free!!  You can purchase the kit HERE.

Happy Sewing - Holly, Julie and Katie

Just Spoolin' Around

Just Spoolin' Around machine quilting lives here in our studio.  Owner, Holly Thoennes (also the "ly" in Kaelly) is the quilter for all our projects.

Holly uses a Gammill Statler quilting machine.  A majority of the time she uses the computerized option which is the Statler's trademark.  For this particular project she is doing a combination of computer guided and free motion quilting, which means that she is guiding the machine, not the computer.

Speaking of this particular project, Holly is quilting our next FREE pattern - It's Electric!.  This fun pinwheel and block pattern comes from a love of creating pinwheels (so easy with the half-square sewing method or with pre-cut triangles) and easily constructed bordered blocks.  We will be sharing this new pattern in a few days, so go to the website www.kaellystudio.com and check it out.

When we are creating patterns, sometimes the fabric speaks to us with a pattern name and sometimes we find something on our travels that we think would make a fun project.  It's Electric came about by visiting family in Iowa.  We travel down Highway 75 which brings you through the hills of southern Minnesota.  The very first time we had ever seen wind towers was on this stretch of highway.  The giant propellers (and they are HUGE!) just reminded us of pinwheels each and every time we saw them, we knew that they would have be featured in some type of quilted project. (Today, there are many wind towers around the country - I can even see some from my farmhouse that are about 20 miles away!)

With Holly's busy schedule of machine quilting for Kaelly Studio, being a wife to dairy farmer hubby and Mom to 2 year old Parker, she would LOVE to transform your quilt tops into quilted projects to be used, cherished and shared with generations!  Check out examples of her work HERE on Facebook.

Happy Quilting, Julie

The cuddly flannel quilt!

Is there a season for a flannel quilt?  This is the question.  We find ourselves grabbing the cozy flannel or cuddle quilts even in the midst of the spring/summer weather.  There is just something about that soft fabric against your skin that makes it "oh so nice" as us Minnesotans would say.  You can download our new pattern, Nickel and Dime, HERE.

 You can use whatever fabrics you like.  We used a layer cake, a charm pack and  2 1/4 yards of deep hunter green marbled flannel from Holly Taylor's Shaded Oaks flannel line by Moda for our project.  You can do the same by purchasing a kit through our etsy shop HERE.  You will receive all the above for only $75 (tax included) plus shipping.  We ship next day via USPS or same day if order is placed by 10am CST.

Kit includes layer cake, charm pack and 2 1/4 yards of fabric for inner strips, border and binding.

Borders are our friends

We have a discussion from time to time about borders on quilts and what is deemed "acceptable".  The question some people struggle with: do the borders have to be the same widths on all sides.  Our answer is "no".  Sometimes you really like a quilt pattern but the size isn't right maybe you want it longer or wider.....so you change up the borders.

A perfect example is our Carry Out Geometric kit using our Carry Out pattern.  I really liked the fabric and wanted to use it in the guest bedroom in my farm house.  Since I have three daughters it was definitely decorated for a girl, the walls are painted a soft yellow.  This guestroom gets used mainly by a good friend who comes to the farm to help us out and by using the yellow, gray and black fabrics, it looks guy friendly.

The problem was that our Carry Out pattern size is 85" x 96" to fit a queen bed and I have two long twin beds.....so yep, you guessed it, I changed up the borders.  I used a wider border on the top and bottom of the quilt and narrower borders on the side.  It worked!  Yeah, the normal 85" x 96" quilt turned into a 79" x 107".  Check out the photo below!!  The fabric that we've included in both of our Carry Out kits will make either the same size borders or borders like I made.  Check them out here:  Carry Out Quilt Kit and Carry Out Geometric Quilt Kit.  (You can see a picture of the first Carry Out quilt in the previous post, it's the bright floral on the left in the pic of our booth in Minot.)

- Julie

(This blog was written by Julie about a week ago, but didn't have a picture.  We are posting this on her behalf while she's enjoying the sun in Arizona.  We're kind of jealous, but at least the weather has been really nice here too.  There may not even be any snow on the ground when Julie gets home.  Let's all cross our fingers!  -Holly and Katie)

Road tripping with Kaelly Studio

Before we get to our Minot adventure, it's time to release another pattern.  This one is meant to go with our "Fine Nines" fabric bundles.  Download our Nifty Nines pattern HERE.

We had the pleasure of attending the 20th Annual Minot Quilt Festival last weekend and what a hoot!!!  Seriously though, that was their theme this year "What a Hoot".  It was our very first quilt show with Kaelly Studio and the response couldn't have been better!

It is a 6 hour drive from where we live to Minot.  Thankfully the weather cooperated and we made good time (we even had time to stop at Hobby Lobby in Fargo on the way up).  We had the cutest back seat driver, Morton, tagging along on the trip.  He had the best seat in the house with his neck pillow and travel blanket.  We couldn't help but laugh on our way to Bismark...there were tractors and other farm implements cruising down the freeway.  We stopped in Washburn for gas and a snack and gasped when we stepped out of the car to find that it was warmer in northern North Dakota than it was in MN.

We got the booth set up in record time and enjoyed supper in the hotel restaurant.  We brought our swimsuits but couldn't even think about doing anything but crawling in bed.  Day one of our adventure proved to be exhausting.

Before we went to sleep it started snowing.  We woke up the next morning to find our car buried in a couple feet of snow.  Good thing the hotel had everything we needed.

The first day of the show was kind of slow because of the weather, but we had fun talking to the other vendors and meeting the ladies of the Minot Quilt Guild.  We even met the show mascot (well that's what I consider him), the owl!

We taught a class and our students LOVED making their Hoot Owl Towels using the Sizzix machine.

Kaelly Studio sponsored a quilt award for Best Innovative Design.  I wish I would have written down the story behind the quilt, but what I remember is a woman made this quilt for her daughter in-law who loves fashion design.  Each person, dress, and accessory is hand appliqued.

Sorry for the quality of this photo, we did our best.  Better pics in the future. :)

The second day of the show everyone was able to get out of the the snow drifts and make it to the show.  We talked with a lot of people about our pattern company and even got invited to present at a couple guild meetings.  We love traveling and teaching so we'll take any opportunity for it.

All weekend people were talking about the storm that was supposed to hit Minot on Sunday.  We had already planned to stay Sunday night if we had to, but the coordinators of the quilt show decided to close down at 1pm (instead of 3pm) so that the vendors could make it home safe.  We are SO thankful that they did this.  We were packed and left Minot before 2pm.  We were in front of the storm the whole way until we were about 30 miles from home.  We made it home safe and sound.  We hope that the other vendors, attendees, and organizers were safe too.  Thank you Minot Quilt Guild for inviting us to your festival and being our first show as Kaelly Studio.

A Quilt Story (and another free pattern)

We all have our favorite quilt, it could be one you made or one you've received as a gift. My favorite quilt is one made by my grandma, Marion Satterlie. I still remember the day she brought it to the house. She came in the house with three garbage bags, Yes garbage bags each with a quilt inside. She told my sisters and I we each could choose our quilt. I of course being the youngest got the leftover bag. As we began to open the bags my Grandma said "now these are nothing fancy, just created with some leftover scraps from my quilting projects" she then added "they are kind of like the ugliest quilt contest quilts".

When I opened my bag I found a beautiful quilt of many colors. Created with large strip cuts of fabrics sewn together. This quilt was perfect in my eyes! Even the perfect size! I could use it to cuddle up with on the couch and also use it on my bed.

This "ugliest quilt contest quilt" became my inspiration for creating the Carry Out pattern. A quilt the perfect size in my eyes created easily with large pieces of fabrics.

My intentions were to create this quilt for my daughter, Parker for her room.  I was showing the quilt to Parker, who is two years old.  I knew she approved when she saw it and said "Mommy my Twilt!".

While creating the Carry Out Pattern I decided I wanted the look of an inner border without having to measure and piece each border. Sewing on borders can become a little time consuming. My solution was to integrate the inner border into the four large block sections which make up the quilt. This way I only had to sew on the outer border using our sewing on borders technique. Check out our video on how we sew on all of our borders HERE.

The fabric used in Carry Out Floral Kit is from one of Katie and I's favorite designers, Tula Pink. I mixed two types of fabrics using traditional cotton quilting fabric and Voile fabric from her Birds and Bees line. I LOVE the feel of the Voile fabric it's almost like a silk feeling so soft to the touch! I had no trouble cutting or sewing with the Voile fabric, the only thing I suggest is to pin your fabrics when sewing them together.

I love the ease of creating the Carry Out pattern and I bet you have a few fabrics that are just too pretty to cut up! Find a few coordination fabrics and create your very own Carry Out quilt! You can use as little as 2 fabrics or up to 10 fabrics! Your creativity is endless!  OR you can purchase a kit of the fabrics we used HERE!

**Holly**

You can find our free pattern download for Carry Out HERE!

New pattern and pre-cut kits!

Our newest pattern, Lakes and Logs has been available for a couple weeks, we hope you're already working on it.  :)  We wanted to wait to post it on our blog until we got the pre-cut kits ready....well they are here!!!  We have three different pre-cut kits for this pattern.  You can download the free pattern HERE.  Click on the pictures below to purchase the kit.

This first kit is a lap size kit using Bali Pops from Hoffman fabrics and a civil war fabric by Barbara Brackman of Moda.

The pattern comes in two sizes, lap and king, so of course we had to make a king size pre-cut kit.  We used the fabric line Everlasting by Moda.

In the process of making the lap size we realized that it is the perfect size for Quilts of Valor.  So we used some amazing patriotic fabric called Old Glory Gatherings by Primitive Gatherings of Moda.  We also made a matching pillowcase.  We decided that for every lap size Quilts of Valor kit sold we will donate $25 to the Quilts of Valor.  For more information about the organization: http://www.qovf.org/

Woooo whooo! Our first kit is sold and sent!

Not even an hour after we posted our first precut kit ("To The Point" Queen Size) on our Etsy account, we sold our first one!  Julie, Holly, and I did a little happy dance in my office and almost took Etsy up on the suggestion of popping a bottle of champagne.  Alas, there was much work to be done so we decided we'd celebrate this weekend.

Our beautifully packed box was sent off today to a customer/fan out in California.  We know that this quilt will make someone VERY happy.

Side note:  I brought this quilt home and put it on my queen size bed and it is amazing.  I live in an apartment so I can't paint the walls.  The quilt really brightens up my room and makes me dream of summer.  (I would take a picture, but I want to get some matching sheets and throw pillows first.)

Pre-cut Kits

Our very first pre-cut kit is available online on our Etsy account.  Our "To the Point" kit is made up of Kona solid and Amy Butler fabric (not the same as pictured on the front of the pattern).  You don't have to do ANY cutting with this project.  Don't forget to get your free pattern at HERE.  We are planning to release our second pattern in the next few days, we're just putting the final touches on it.

To The Point

Our first pattern is FINALLY here!!!  Click the image for a FREE download that you can print!

Our favorite time of year

There have been a lot of changes happening at our design studio...with the closing of Common Threads Quilt Shop, rearranging the shop to better suit designing, and preparing for our Warehouse Sale...but one thing that will not change is our Fall Retreat.  Fall is our favorite time of year because we get to see quilters from all around MN come together at Lake Geneva Christian Camp for our annual Fall Retreat.  It is a time for us to see what everyone is up to and complete projects ourselves.  

This year was bittersweet because the quilt shop wasn't open, but that didn't mean a lack of projects for sale.  Our focus this year was Christmas projects and pillowcases.  Of course we had all the notions that everyone seems to need during a retreat...thread, rotary cutter blades, and needles.  Every year we try to raise money or have the quilters donate something for charity.  This year, we asked everyone to complete a pillowcase that will be donated to the Lone Plains Drifters Snowmobile Club's annual silent auction.  The money is donated to different charities including Toys for Tots, and The American Cancer Society.  We used an entire bolt of snowmobile fabric and completed 16 pillowcases.

 The last day of the retreat we ask everyone to show us what they worked on all weekend, this year's show and tell was amazing!

Thank you to everyone that attended our retreat this year, we'll see you next year.

Dreams can become reality

We have been so blessed by the gift of being able to pursue something we've wanted to for a long time.  We are in the final stages of getting our first pattern printed.  It's been a long time coming and yes, we are behind our scheduled goal...but the day is quickly approaching when we send an email to our publisher and our first pattern goes to print.  Here is a sneak peak of the cover. :)