KONA Blog Hop, Here I come...

Did you see all the great Kona projects?   We are certainly off to a great start with this hop.  I am so glad that I had the chance to join in. 

Thank you so much to Carol At "Just Let Me Quilt"   and  Madame Samm for all their hard work on this hop. These two worked hard through the holidays to make this all happen for us.

NOTE:   2 EXTRA DAYS WERE ADDED....YEAH!!

You know, when I fist signed up I was not sure what to make.  You see, I love applique, and coming up with something different.  Solids are always a problem for me.  I feel I have to have prints in somewhere. Anywhere! All growing up things were plain, so I just have to add prints (still have a hard time with  big, bold, bright prints though)

Then one day while Christmas shopping up in Paducah, KY.  I stopped at Hancock's to check out their Kona fabrics.  I came across these fabrics, and it came to me right away

:  

I was born in Pennsylvania and am PA Dutch.  I grew up around the Amish and Mennonite.  In fact, my best friends were Mennonite.  Anyway, I figured, what better way to show off the Kona fabrics, but to make an Amish scene.  

Out came the paper and pencil.  I came up with this to start:

Amish are very plain people.  They where plain dark cloths.  The women always fave a bonnet on, for they feel if something happens to them without a head covering, God will not accept them  They always have aprons on unless they are going to town, or church services. (Church services are shared in each others home followed by a meal)  None of their cloths have buttons, they feel that is a pleasure and not a necessity.  So they use pins, snaps and suspenders to keep pants up.  (also no zippers).  The children have chores starting at a very young age.  They also do not believe in giving fancy gifts.  For Birthdays and Christmas, they are given gifts of necessity.  Boys get tools to save for when they get older.  Girls, they have their hope chest that they fill. (or cloths)   Now, I did learn that PA Amish, is different than the OH, IL, KY, and TN.  It seems as each state has a different order.  So Since I was in PA, I know more of their order and ways.  Children under 4 do get certain toys.  The boys cannot have cars or trucks with rubber, and girls cannot have faces on their dolls.  But they do have swings, wagons, skateboards, roller skates, etc.  When driving through Lancaster County, it is not unusual to see an Amish Buggy with kids on roller skates or a skate board, holding onto the back.

OK, I am sure you are tired of reading, you did not stop by  for a History lesson on Amish.  Let me just end by saying that I am proud to have them as friends.

OK, now back to what I made....I took light green and light blue Kona fabrics and joined them to represent the sky and grass.  I had no idea at this time as to how big I was making anything so I made this a 20 inch square:

I made my patterns from my drawings and then used my 5 inch Kona squares to make my applique.  I appliqued them on by machine using monofilament thread.  That is when I cut it down to 16" X 17"  in size.  

I layered and quilted by machine.  I made horizontal lines for the sky and vertical lines for the grass.  I wanted to keep it simple for that is what Amish is.  So here is a picture of my "Stikken"  (Quilt).

I loved working with the Kona fabrics, but feel it would have looked better with printed grass and clouds.  But, it was fun to make, it brought back many memories.  Since we moved to TN we have gotten many Amish friends down here.  But I will always remember where I came from.  

Now, come join me, I poured you a cup of "koffee", 

(want melk or suiker?)  

                                                

Lets check out all the rest of the projects that were posted today. 

January 8

Stitchin’ By The Lake

That’s Sew Julie

Living With Purpose

Nini’s Patchwork Blog

Quilts My Way

Quilt Matters

Hay, we are having so much fun that 2 extra days were added!
 Don't stop now, 
Come join me, here is the rest of the Kona Schedule:

January 9

Ridge Top Quilts

Marjorie’s Busy Corner

A Stitch In Time

Freemotion by the River

Everyone Deserves A Quilt

January 10

Life in the Scrapatch

Vroomans Quilts

Bumbleberry Stitches

Upstairs Hobby Room

Sew Many Yarns

Easy Patchwork

Beaquilter

January 13

Creatin’ In The Sticks

Meadowbrook

Cathy’s Chatter

Selina Quilts

Sew Fresh Quilts

The Sassy Quilter

January 14

Sew Me Something Good

Sew Peace to Peace

Quilting Prolifically

Linda D. (shown on Just Let Me Quilt)

In The Boon Docks

The Cosmic Quilter

January 15

Thimblemouse & Spouse

Daisy Days

My Addiction to Quilting

Mountain Mist Designs

Hill Valley Quilter

Malini’s Quilts

Englating

January 16

I Piece 2-Mary

A Reformed Heath’n

From This To That

A Quilting Sheep

CeLynn’s Sunflower Patch

Robin’s Fabric Nest

Quilted Delights

January 17

Why-Knot-Kwilt

Words & Stitches

Marla’s Crafts

Lisa In Port Hope

Transitions for Meee

One English Teacher

Debby Kratovil Quilts

January 20

More Stars in Comanche

Buzzing and Bumbling

Quilting Quietly

Grammie Q’s

The Quilted Cat

The Quilting Queen Online

Lauraluvsloons

Sew Incredibly Crazy

January 21

Just Sew Sue

Pigtales and Quilts

Miss Priss Quilts

Charlottes Creation

Childlike Fascination

Renee Luvs Quilting

Cherry Blossoms

Sew We Quilt

Hope you enjoyed my Amish scene,

HAPPY QUILTING EVERYONE!

To get special designed quilts or to see my gallery, check out my site at: http://janesquilting.com