Category: Karla’s Corner (Page 7 of 8)

Step into Karla’s Corner for a peek into her thoughts, her favorite shops, her adventures in fabric, quilt, and merchandise design and more!

This special corner is filled with all kinds of creative thoughts, ideas, family traditions, favorite things, magazine reviews and a whole lot more!

Family Traditions

See the Wild Goose Chase quilt under the Christmas tree and learn about the Geese-a-Layin’ family tradition.

Summer, Winter, and Beach Quilts

See Karla’s favorite quilts for all kinds of occasions, locations, and seasons.

Favorites

Karla’s Corner is where you’ll find her favorite shops, books, quilts, magazine reviews, and more. You’ll also get favorite tool reviews and

The World of Design in Karla’s Corner

Additionally, you’ll learn more about Karla’s adventure into fabric and merchandise designs. See the quilts she designs for Hoffman California Fabrics.

See the process from sketches to fabrics and sketches to quilts. Find fabric collections and different colorways in Karla’s Corner.

Moreover, get a peek into the fabrics designed especially for Karla’s quilt patterns and matching merchandise, too!

Sundry

See quilt show reviews, gifted quilts, guild challenges, quilt retreat memories, inspirational posts, family memorials and more in the Sundry section.

Warning – Controversial Topic Ahead

February 28, 2017 / The Bee

Caution, controversial weather ahead.

Fair warning, the photo you are about to see is likely to produce a strong reaction. The controversial topic of which I speak is…snow. I’m not exactly sure why, but where I live, this topic is a love/hate one!

It’s sure to be a hot topic soon!

Learn more about MERRY HERE

Now, I’ll give you my take on it. It’s not a controversial topic at all. I think snow is magical and lovely. When you look up into the falling snow, it’s as though the sky is alive. I can’t help myself from twirling in it, watching it floating down from heaven.

Image of Water Colours Quilt in the snow. — Water Colours – This background fabric is one of my all-time favorites. It’s how the bottom of a pool looks when you’re swimming laps! I love the contrast of winter and summer shown in this photo.

Where I live, snow isn’t a given. Oftentimes, we get ice or sleet while every county around use gets the snow. That said, the weather forecasters must make a huge to-do about incoming snow at LEAST three times before we actually get any real amounts!

Note, that it doesn’t count as real snow unless the ground is completely covered. It is BEST for Photographing Quilts! (<See my Pinterest board.)

Therefore, shout it out with a “Let it snow” sign! Super fast and easy, this is made using a Brother Scan N Cut on a pre-made plaque from Michael’s . The shadow your see in the bottom corner is the top of my Singer treadle. The treadle faces out north window. When it snows, I sit at the treadle and piece together a scrappy tumbler quilt. Therefore, this might take a decade or more to complete at this rate!

There’s another window I’d like to share with you:

Image of Bear Quilt — ***Black Bear Jam*** pattern by McKenna Ryan

This is a McKenna Ryan design/kit I just had to have to commemorate the black bear visit we had in our yard last summer. Click on “It’s a Bear Out There” to see the scratches and markings we found (and bear paw quilt blocks). McKenna’s bear was lighter in color, so I darkened him with a piece of Stonehenge fabric so he’d look more like our buddy. He sported a santa hat by design which I changed out to my favorite color and edged it with the ribbed edge of a wool sweater I inherited in my late mother-in-law’s fabric stash. I call it Black Bear Jam because we believe he was marking the area next to our crabapple tree. Consequently, I made my bear-enthusiast neighbors a jar of Black Bear Jam for Christmas out of those crabapples.

Sew… BEAR with me (too many puns?): Let It SNOW!

Thank you for taking your time to read this. Please share it with your friends, Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram!

See more Winter Quilts fun! For a fun winter activity, read Walking in a Winter Wonderland and Quilt Author Meets Hallmark Christmas Movies.

A Love Note from Johnny to June

February 13, 2017 / The Bee

One of my favorite love notes was one written by Johnny Cash to June Carter.

Firstly, as far as love notes go, this one stands the test of time. Certainly not without it’s tragedies, the love between Johnny and June eventually prevailed.

Here’s what Johnny penned:

Hey June,
That’s really nice. You’ve got a way with words and a way
with me as well.
The fire and excitement may be gone now that we don’t go out there and sing them anymore, but the ring of fire still burns around you and I, keeping our love hotter than a pepper sprout.
Love John

Then, in response to reading Johnny’s words, here are some Valentine crafts designed just for fun.

Image of Love Notes woolie — Love Notes Woolie

Wool Applique

This little wool applique features three little hearts on a soft vine music note. (Get it? Hearts, music note.) It’s tiny and made from scraps of beige, taupe, and three pinks. It hangs from heavy metal “key”.

Quilted Wall Hanging

Image of Love Notes quilt and punch needle

Here, this mini heart quilted wall hanging is shown lying on a soft layer of snow with Love Notes Mini Punch Needle.

It’s fun to take little squares to make shapes. A heart is easy. Since there is no pattern needed, just determined the size of squares you want and start designing. You might use lefterover squares from other projects! So doing, this is an easy, quick project.

Note: Since making this, I developed a method of how to audition the VALUE of fabrics by using BOTH sides. Consequently, I would now reconsider some of my fabric values! Learn about The Tricky Traits of Value HERE !

Punch Needle Embroidery

Lastly, this punch needle is set in a miniature wooden frame. It’s an open envelope with a heart coming out of it. Tiny punch needle designs are a great activity to do in between larger, more involved quilt projects. Click HERE to learn more.

So, I think of June and Johnny each year when I decorate with these little joys.

Share your love this Valentine’s Day and know that you are loved.

In conclusion, remember this: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16.

So please share my blog with your friends, on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest– every chance you get–I appreciate your love and support!

Not Your Typical Christmas Goose

December 19, 2016 / The Bee

Twelve Days of Christmas

Learn the real meaning of the twelve days of Christmas, Kiefner style!

At Kiefner Christmas at the farm, any newcomer (boyfriend, girlfriend, lucky friend) is a “goose”. We search for these geese all year, prodding the nieces and nephews to find an unsuspecting goose to bring to the farm for Kiefner Christmas.

While we make out this tradition to be a little scarier than it actually is, so far no one has become a cooked goose!

Pop teaching the geese how to get down!

Each year, Pop (my husband’s father) describes the origin of the Christmas carol, “The Twelve Days of Christmas” and the secret meanings behind each of the symbols for the 12 days. (This year, niece Elizabeth helped him with that.) The carol was a way for the Roman Catholics to secretly teach and reinforce their faith at a time when they were not permitted to openly confess. Click here to see the full description of the hidden meaning of this well-known carol.

In short, the meanings are as follows:

Partridge in a Pear Tree – The True Love of Jesus Christ

Two Turtle Doves – Old and New Testaments

Three French Hens – Faith, Hope, and Love

Four Calling Birds – The gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John

Five Gold Rings – First five books of the Old Testament which tell of man’s fall into sin and God’s plan for redemption through His son.

Six Geese a Laying – Six days of creation.

Seven Swans a Swimming – Seven gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Eight Maids a Milking – The Beatitudes

Nine Ladies Dancing – The Fruits of the Spirit

Ten Lords a Leaping – The Ten Commandments

Eleven Pipers Piping – Eleven faithful Apostles

Twelve Drummers Drumming – The twelve points of belief in The Apostles Creed.

So with each verse we add motions to the song, with our special new geese flapping their wings and squatting for”Geese a Laying”. The three sons are always the “Lords a Leaping” and everyone joins in on all the rest. Click here to see the last verse of this banner-year’s Kiefner version of “The Twelve Days of Christmas” with a whopping FOUR geese-a-laying!

After we parade into the field to cut the tree (we actually watch Kent and Barry do the hard work), we file back to the house for caroling led by Luanne at the piano and AFTER the performance and congrats to our new geese, we open gifts and eat Luanne’s delicious chili or soup.

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See more quilts, wool and punch needle on my website, Creative Bee Studios!

Please share and pin! Thanks so much, Karla

A Christmas Passed.

December 3, 2016 / The Bee

All of a sudden your Christmas Traditions aren’t traditions anymore!

In a moment (it seems) our family has grown up and Christmas Traditions aren’t the norm anymore.

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

All of a sudden your Christmas Traditions aren’t traditions anymore!

Note: since I first wrote this post in 2016, there have been many wonderful changes to our Christmas experiences. I’ll update that towards the end. But as you’ll read the original post, I was lamenting the changes of that time – not realizing that change can be exciting and good:

It happens in a flash. They tell you it will. You know it will. You even know at the time that it is…and then, all of a sudden, you know it DID. Therefore, it seems, Christmas traditions evolve.

Family dynamics change. All of those years of anticipation and child-like joy about the holidays are over. (They actually had been for several years.) I think I was just pretending and hanging on to them as long as I could.

I am a traditional kind of gal who loves to recreate the same experiences every year, like:

new jammies on Christmas Eve
the same Christmas Eve dinner
Saint Lucia bread on Christmas morning
attending the same candlelight service
listening to the same Christmas music each year
watching Christmas movies

Now, for the first time in thirteen years, neither of my girls will be singing for our Christmas Eve service at church. They won’t be here on Christmas Eve.

This Christmas Eve it will be just us and the baby in the manger. No cooking all day, keeping it warm while hurrying to and from the first service, home to have Christmas dinner with family and rush back to church for the candlelight performance. No prayers in the pews for healthy voices and calm nerves. It’s just us this year for Christmas Eve.

Traditional changes.

I’m sure many of you know what I’m talking about. You’ve been there! Maybe you have a new round of grand-kiddos to share the excitement?

Change happens and so do Christmas traditions. I mean, let’s face it, my Saint Lucia bread hadn’t risen right since we moved to our new house, ten years ago! It actually became a tradition to laugh about the candle-lit flatbread with gooey orange icing and dried cranberries we had every Christmas morning!

The St. Lucia wake-up:

Our girls would sleep in their white American Girl pioneer gowns and bonnets. In the wee morning hours they would put crowns on their heads, tiptoe into the kitchen and make us a treat. They would wake us with singing, a chocolate-y coffee-like drink, and Christmas cookies on a tray. It was sweet, if not so tasty!

So it’ll be a quiet Christmas Eve, but a beautiful one, I know. There’s nothing like singing Silent Night by candlelight in our filled, beautiful church. Then on Christmas Day, our oldest will fly in from New York, the youngest and her boyfriend will pick her up at the airport, drive a few hours and our celebration with family will begin. We will have a new menu, new music, and some new people…and I think some new jammies will still be in order!

Christmas Traditions — One year they sang outside the mall for the Salvation Army ringers at Elsa and Anna.

Image of Paige in Christmas Traditions — Paige performed in Miracle on 34th Street in Rochester, NY

Image of Jacq in Christmas show — Jacquelyn performed for Myer Dinner Theatre’s Christmas show.

UPDATE: It’s 2020 and boy, have things changed! I’ve loosened up a lot on our traditions and this year is like no other! Our girls are 28 and 24. AND we have a son-in-law! A few constants in our Christmas experience are family gatherngs, carols, hymns, Silent Night by candlelight, adult jammies and celebrating the Christ-child born to save us all. And Christmas quilts…

Image of Noelle Quilt — Noelle Quilt Pattern

Thank you for following my blog. Blessing to each of you this Christmas and throughout the new year.

To 2022 and beyond! More than 50 quilt patterns that use BOTH beautiful sides PLUS fabric designs and more!

One Sophisticated Lady

November 19, 2016 / The Bee

See how to make a baby quilt using a phone app and cutting machine!

This is a baby quilt for a classy baby’s room! It’s a personalized one, made for a friend’s grandbaby.

Firstly, I got a text from a friend to see if I would make a quilt for her grandbaby. She sent me pictures of the most beautiful baby’s room I’d ever seen!

A personalized baby quilt.

Next, when she commissioned me to make a baby quilt, she sent photos of the baby’s room.

However, the grandmother had no specific ideas in mind for the quilt, other than to go with the theme of a somewhat “grown-up” room.

Let the fabric do the talking.

The grandbaby girl’s room is painted a very pretty taupe and pearl in large, horizontal stripes. There are some accents in soft pink and a large gold monogram on the wall.

While milling around Hancocks, I found their collection of Moda Fabrics‘ Grunge–which I LOVE! They read as a solid, but are anything but boring and feel, oh, so good! It wasn’t long before I had the pearl and taupe picked out and down the aisle a little further, I found this soft pink with a little touch of gold. I sent a pic to my friend and the project began.

A design wall is helpful!

When I got home I looked at many baby quilt designs and decided on using large half-squares because I wanted to try to keep the cost down as much as possible. After viewing many variations, I started making half-square triangle blocks and just placing them on the design wall, moving them around to see different patterns emerge. I eventually came up with a pattern I liked and filled-out the quilt with blocks as needed.

Add a monogram to the baby quilt with a phone app!

Now I had planned to use a monogram similar to the one in the baby’s room as a focal point for the quilt, but not being terribly experienced at using my ScanNCut2, I was also a little apprehensive. I was super excited to find the exact monogram on my phone’s Monogram It app!

Turns out, it was so easy to send this design from my phone to my computer and then to my ScanNCut2, I could hardly contain myself!

I cut the fabric, fused with HeatNBond Ultrahold and pressed it to the quilt. (Normally you aren’t supposed to sew through the Ultra, but I quilted around the edges of it to make sure it stood up to washings. I choose the Ultra instead of HeatNBond Lite because I wanted to be certain the fabric wouldn’t fray.)

I added an embroider label, quilted and bound the quilt as usual. I included a Shout Color Catcher with washing instructions for the momma.

This quilt was fun to make and I am really excited about the world of possibilities of using the ScanNCut2 in my future quilting and design work!

Let me say here that I am fortunate because from the start of this project, my friend said she totally trusted my judgement and

whatever I wanted to make would be great–not all projects allow you that freedom to let the design come together.

Next time I’ll make this quilt using BOTH beautiful sides of fabric!

SHOP patterns, quilter tee shirts and more!

This is NOT paper piecing.

November 11, 2016 / The Bee

See the incredible work which won the Houston Quilt Festival!

Wow!

Many heartfelt congratulations to Cynthia England for her Handiquilter’s Best of Show at Houston International Quilt Festival!

The last couple of years my friend Nancy and I would search the AQS Paducah show book to see if our “buddies” from England Design were going to be there and we were disappointed to see they were not. I can see now that Cynthia has been a bit busy.

BEST OF SHOW
Cynthia England

Considering this quilt, Reflections of Cape Town, has 8400 pieces, I can see why she was no longer making hundreds of butterflies to demo her technique in her show booth!

I have to say, though, we didn’t just search out the England Design booth to enjoy browsing through her patterns and studying her large masterpieces on display, we liked to visit our “England friends” each year–and they remembered us from year to year. While I can’t think of any vendors who weren’t friendly, these folks were just a little extra special.

Now I’m wishing I had spent a little more effort looking up what Cynthia was up to because I understand that this is her THIRD Best of Show in Houston!

So, what does this mean for me? It’s time to get out that half-finished, “aging”, England Design kit that I bought years ago and work it up! This little beauty is called Old Grist Mill. Cynthia’s technique is called Picture Piecing and you work on the front of the fabric and there are no papers to tear out of your finished product. For the record, I don’t have a problem with paper piecing, once I get past those first two pieces (blush), but this method is a little more forgiving, and I do appreciate that!

Old Grist Mill
by Cynthia England

Go to Cynthia’s gallery to see all of her wonderful quilts!

There’s one thing I remember about the England Design booth in Paducah: you walked out of the booth knowing and remembering ONE thing: This is NOT paper piecing.

Have you ever tried this method? Tell my about your experience with making landscape or picture quilts.

Image of Punch Needle — Black Kitty Punch Needle

Where, oh, where is my little black kitty?

October 31, 2016 / The Bee

Punch yourself a little black kitty with punch needle embroidery.

Where, oh, where could he be?

It’s Halloween night and our little black kitty is missing. His name is Mungojerrie.

Black Kitty Punch Needle
by Karla Kiefner

He and his sister, Rumpleteazer (our vet loves us), were named after the notorious couple of cats in the Broadway musical, Cats.

Mungojerrie is known to be on “WalkAbout” for several days at a time, but I always like to keep him near on Halloween night. There’s just something about black cats. He is small with a bobbed tail (he was born that way and it seems to affect his balance when he’s circling around to lay down).

The black cat in this punch needle is looking at the full, harvest moon.

Deep into the darkness peering,

long I stood there, wondering

fearing,

Doubting, dreaming dreams

no moral ever dared to dream before. Edgar Allan Poe

Tell me about your latest fall project.

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Through the Chicken Wire…

October 19, 2016 / The Bee

Look through the chicken wire at the local fair for quilts and punch needle.

Vintage Fun Cross-stitch by Nancy Kester, Quilted by Karla Kiefner

There are county fairs all over our beautiful country each year–this one just happens to be in the Show-Me state.

The district fair is where you can show off your talent for growing plants, making quilts, raising livestock, crashing cars, grooming little ones (baby contests), singing, creating recipes, rooster crowing, showing livestock, hen clucking, antique-tractor pulling, barrel racing, juggling, doing magic tricks, and eating of things which are fried!

Not all things shown at the fair are kept out of reach, but many small animals like rabbits, guinea pigs, and poultry, as well as hand-made items like small quilts, embroidery, tatting, and crochet, are kept from wandering hands by the prolific use of chicken wire.

Sunflower Tile Punch Needle Embroidery

For over 155 years, people have gathered at this fair to eat, socialize, and kick back, and share the product of their skills. There are concerts and contests almost every night. We (and our faithful friends and family) have spent many a year cheering our hearts out at the Heartland Idol contest in which our daughter was determined to compete. Plus, there’s the Little Miss SEMO Karaoke contest, pageants, mother/daughter look-alike contests, and a field full of carnival rides and games.

The fair kicks off with a parade through town, ending at the fairgrounds and even the local schools often schedule half-days during the fair so the kids can enjoy the fun.

One of my favorite places at the SEMO District Fair is inside the Arena building where the quilts and other hand-work are displayed, along with a touching display which honor our local men and women of our military who gave their all, along-side our guild’s display of Quilts of Valor. My second fave is the Trinity Men’s Club stand where many of our church members work diligently each year, including my friend, Nancy, who stitched the Vintage Fun quilt shown above.

My Bella Piastrella takes a blue ribbon.

Of course, its always fun to win a little something–a ribbon from the fair makes the effort more fun and the promise of a smidgen of cash ($23 this year) to come in the mail makes it all the more sweet.

So next time a fair opens up near your town, take the time to check it out. Check out the barrel races or the strolling magician and treat yourself to a good ole fried turkey leg–and remember, go see what you can see…through the chicken wire.

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One Sweet Retreat

September 5, 2016 / The Bee

Take a look at our sweet quilt retreat in the woods.

This sweet retreat includes summer breezes, floating skies, lazy days…butterflies.

This is a retreat – by the numbers!

Image of Creek at the Sweet Retreat — One Sweet Retreat

First, we have one hunting cabin. Add twelve ladies. Next, throw in three feather-weight, one Brother, two Janome, and one New Home sewing machines. Furthermore, we had three Scan N Cut machines working away.

In addition, some gals brought handwork to stitch. There is fabric everywhere along with thread, pins, needles, fusible, vinyl and food!

What more could a quilter want?

Perhaps a few deer out the window.

While some gals worked on their sewing machines and some day-trippers brought handwork, many of us worked on final details for the local quilt. Our River Heritage Quilt Guild quilt show was less than a month away. Definitely, there were bindings and labels being stitched. Surprisingly, some quilts were just getting started!

What seemed to a few like a road to nowhere turned into a swell time for us all!

Nearly everyone got some kind of monogram as we were testing our wits against our new Brother Scan N Cut machines. and realizing the possibilities.

Simply put, we were busy from dawn unto late in the night.

Of course, a sweet retreat must involve food.

In addition to the laughter, sharing, and world problems being solved at this sweet retreat, there was a fair amount of food involved. And one sweet treat involved a practical joke.

With a recent experience regarding a visit from a bear, one quilter planted this “bear scat” near my car.

I thought I’d bring some bear scar to scare; instead it was really bear scat to share.
Lynnore

See It’s a Bear Out There!

Bear Droppings

2 cups milk chocolate chips
1 Tbsp shortening
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup slivered almonds
In double boiler over simmering water, melt the chocolate chips and shortening until smooth. Remove from heat; stir in raisins and almonds. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto waxed paper. Chill until ready to serve.

My answer to the bear trickery was a bear paw quilt made with Kaffe and Moda Grunge. See It’s a Bear Out There for the full bear tale.

This little getaway was a fun and beautiful way to transition from the heat of the summer to the cooler temps ahead.

It was a sweet retreat.

Enjoy your quilting journey!

Sweet Dreams…of You

August 25, 2016 / The Bee

A Tracing of Patsy Cline’s Signature on “Always”

Patsy Cline’s signature hides in this memorabilia quilt.

Back in Baby’s Arms

I Fall To Pieces

Walkin’ After Midnight

She’s Got You

Leavin’ on Your Mind

Crazy

Faded Love

Honky Tonk Merry-go-round

True Love

Just a Closer Walk with Thee

Blue Moon of Kentucky

Ahhhh, Patsy Cline. A legendary sound born out of illness. Vocal perfection, untrained. A voice silenced too soon. Patsy didn’t have an easy or long life. But she left us with an incredible style of songs only she could sing. She had a way of making each song hers, even though she didn’t write a single one. She had a way of singing that told her fans she knew what she was singing about.

This past June, my youngest daughter was honored to play the role of Patsy in the musical, Always…Patsy Cline.

Two characters, three wigs, six shows, eight costumes, and twenty-seven songs each night made for a tiring but satisfying two weeks of performances. Her dad and I saw seven performances and I would still go every week if I could.

Photo by Kenn Stilson

Even after seven shows, I never tired of Patsy’s songs, her spunky band, the Bodacious Bobcats, and her lovely friend, penpal, and biggest fan, Louise. I think it was the character Louise who made the character of Patsy seem so real.

Walkin’ After Midnight Photo by Kenn Stilson Click for link to video.

Because there are no recordings of the show, I made Jacq a small quilt to keep the memories alive, but, to be honest, it was probably a work of mourning for me as much as it was accomplishment for her because I didn’t want the show to end!

The white boot and fringe represent one of her favorite of eight costumes and the stationary card with a “P” appliqued on the front has a tracing of Patsy’s signature and familiar closing, “Love Always”.

“Just a Closer Walk with Thee” Photo by Kenn Stilson

For a small quilted hanging like this, a little swirly quilting and glitz go a long way.

I know Jacq learned so much from this opportunity to play the role of this American legend. I know I will cherish watching her do it…always.

Patsy and Louise played by Jacquelyn Kiefner and Holly Lynn

Jacquelyn Kiefner, The Conservatory of Theatre and Dance

“Always”

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