KyleTheGirl - Just T-Shirt Quilts

Come Fly With Us

Posted on June 17, 2015 | by KyleTheGirl

Expect Great Things and Great Things Happen

Summer is upon us. I was panting coming up the hill from a power walk yesterday. 90 some degrees and high humidity. Drenched with sweat. So who the heck is thinking about a quilt when it’s warm!

Summer means beaches and squishing toes in the sand. Summer means playing outside and getting sweaty. Summer means air conditioning after the workout. Thank you to whoever invented air.

After a robust spring graduation season and some brief vacations, summer means we’re (in the air) and back creating masterpieces.

Many days I have to pinch myself.

Summer means continuing to grow. Summer means flying. Fly as on the wings of your trust and confidence. Fly as in our team has grown again. Welcome to our newest specialists Kesiena and Duk-Sun. Fly, as in working on 3 aviator quilts. Presents for pilots. Summer is for flying. Ask me how I know.

Kesiena is with us through the summer. Her flight mission is to soar and professionally prepare all of the t-shirts for sewing before they even hit the runway ( go in to the quilt!). This involves precision: cutting, measuring and a high degree of accuracy.

Duk-Sun’s mission is hand detailing, hand bindings and special projects including a current one: an upgrade for a customer. We’re unquilting some “old” t-shirts from an existing t-shirt quilt and replacing them with some newer shirts! We’ve got this.

A new project came from customer, Thais, a beautiful Bolivian who recently flew off to Amsterdam where she’ll be for 3 years. Her going away present to us: to make a quilt from doggy bandanas. We came up with a flight plan which she approved. We’ve got this.

We don’t expect gifts ( or applause) once the destination is reached. Today, once there and I disembarked I was transported 4 years back in time to a trip to the Provence region in the south of France. Large beautiful big fields of flowers. Sunflowers. Lavender. Yellow, purple. Fragrant. Fresh. I kept taking deep breaths.

The destination is reached. The quilt is finished. Jean is now here for it with an unexpected surprise: big, brights sunflowers that say thank you. The beauty and burst of color are uplifting.

Jean and I became friends through the quilt creation process and discovering things we have in common. We each have a child getting married, her daughter this Saturday. My son, next year.

Her wedding gift –the t-shirt quilt—is ready for the dynamic duo this Saturday. T-shirts from her daughter and fiancé intertwined into a unique wedding present.

Our mission is to soar. Come fly with us.

Cotton Anniversary

Posted on June 4, 2015 | by KyleTheGirl

I had to take a look at the list for myself. I knew about gold for the 50^th and that silver was in there somewhere, but didn’t recall – if I ever even knew — where cotton was on the wedding anniversary list. Cotton, Julie informed me is what you give for a second wedding anniversary gift. As in a t-shirt quilt that’s made out of cotton.

Julie’s quilt for husband Jeff (pictured), is made from both of their Peachtree Road Race t-shirts. Julie wanted to use as much of the shirts as possible, so the fill in around the Peachtree artwork came from what was left over. It works!

In staying with a patriotic theme, as the race is run on the 4^th of July, Julie picked out stars for the pattern that is stitched all across her quilt.

We finished it in the nick of time – at 3 pm on her anniversary day. Julie was able to give it to Jeff that evening and kind enough to email me the picture saying “He loved it”.

I sighed. Another one…gone. The new friendship with Julie and the nice Peachtree quilt gone from my life. Boo hoo (violins and sad music). Oh well, I thought. It’s not mine; and, on a positive note, she did say she was saving her sons shirts to have more t-shirt quilts made some day. Guess I just have to stop getting so emotionally attached!

If you have a special occasion coming up, just know that we’re at your service and happy to help plan a special gift for a very special occasion!

This is the list I found when I googled: http://www.hallmark.com/anniversary/ideas/anniversary-gift-ideas. Is “googled” really a verb now? Guess I’ll have to look that one up, too!

X Marks the Spot

Posted on May 9, 2015 | by KyleTheGirl

We’ve received t-shirts marked with duct tape. Sometimes lots of duct tape. X in this case does clearly mark the side of the shirt to not use, but it can sometimes be hard to remove. Especially if you’re sending them from a warm climate or they’ve been sitting in your car for awhile! Plus, the tape can remove fibers and art, leave adhesive residue, and distort the t-shirt in the process of removing it. We want to know exactly what you want, and are happy to receive them anyway you can get them to us. If you’ve already taped them, by all means send them! If you haven’t taped them, don’t. You don’t have to. For the overall health of your t-shirts, better to take a picture, print the picture and make comments on paper than to use duct tape. This can help prevent some “sticky” situations! Thanks!

Summer Orders

Posted on April 20, 2015 | by KyleTheGirl

We are now accepting orders for June completion and later.

Treasures From Afar

Posted on April 14, 2015 | by KyleTheGirl

Unique fabrics and t-shirts make up Michelle’s t-shirt quilt. Michelle brought these back with her from Africa after spending time in the Peace Corp. Mom, Katie, got them to us and we completed and shipped the quilt to Michelle in California for her birthday. When I asked Katie what Michelle thought about her present Katie replied with this picture with the words “the picture says it all”.

In your travels see if you can find a bazaar, market or local resale shop off the beaten path. Look for a t-shirt that is different or has words in another language. Hand printed or hand painted fabrics are special. You may never return to that place again and just may come across some treasures to include in your t-shirt quilt.

Graduation Orders

Posted on February 24, 2015 | by KyleTheGirl

If you’re thinking about a May graduation gift it’s not too late. We’re happy to take on your graduation quilt and can still guarantee completion by your May due date. This means whatever it takes: additional resources, planning, people, time, schedule changes to move your quilt up on the list and have it ready for your special occasion. In return, for orders received after March 1 with May deadlines a 20% escalation fee will make it happen. For orders received in April that becomes 30%.

Avoid all of that and at least get your deposit to us by March 1. Your deposit creates a reservation so that we know to expect you. Here each quilt is made to your specifications and crafted using precious time and talent. Timing matters so that your quilt can be ready for you when you need it !

Note: Starting with this info, I’m testing moving all blog entries to “Social” which you can find from the left side of the home page. This will reduce duplication as the same info is often posted in both places.

Just Chillin’

Posted on January 10, 2015 | by KyleTheGirl

About our new cover photo: it’s a picture of Candy in Illinois relaxing. We completed this quilt as a graduation present for her daughter last May. She got it to us right around the first of the year 2014 allowing plenty of time to complete it. Living in a rural area, there was a little anxiety over the delivery. It was pouring down rain the day it was delivered. But it arrived in perfect condition and on time. Quilts to be shipped are wrapped for the elements. No worries! Starting early gives us plenty of time to complete your t-shirt quilt and get it to you in time for that special occasion.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

Posted on December 25, 2014 | by KyleTheGirl

Best wishes to you and your family for a wonderful Christmas and happy holiday season.

To our dear customers: on the shoulders of your faith we have grown from one person—me—to a talented team of specialists that truly love and take pride in their work. With your continued trust we look forward to creating many more special memories for you and your loved ones in the upcoming year. Peace and may all of your wishes for 2015 come true! Kyle, Patricia, Katrina, Deborah, Ralf, Andi

Trick or Treat at Town Center Mall

Posted on October 16, 2014 | by KyleTheGirl

EVENT DATES: 10/25/2014 – 10/25/2014 – Town Center Mall, Kennesaw, GA

Happy Halloween! We’ll be there with lots of candy for trick or treaters young and old!

SAVE THE DATE! Halloween is here and Town Center at Cobb is inviting all little ghouls, goblins and bootiful princesses to come have a spooktacular time at the Kidgits Boo Bash on SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25 from 6-8pm in Center Court. You won’t want to miss all the fun! Boo Bash activities will include giveaways, a bounce house, crafts, games and more. Kidgits members can enjoy all the activities and giveaways at no cost (non-members can join for only $5)! If you aren’t a member, you can sign up beforehand at Guest Services, or at the event.

Kidgits is also teaming up with Captain McFinn to recognize October as Bully Prevention Month. A free app called The Bully Free zone will be available for download and you could win a free iPadAir. You won’t want to miss all of the fun activities and giveaway!

We will also be hosting mall-wide trick-or-treating this night from 6-8 p.m. Look for signs in participating store windows. Halloween photos will also be available for purchase in Center Court.

Please note, the mall is not hosting trick-or-treating on Friday, October 31. Our Trick-or-treat date is Saturday, October 25 from 6-8pm (same as Boo Bash).

Stay tuned for more information. It’s sure to be a howlin’ good time! We hope to see you there.

Atlanta Pride Festival

Posted on October 5, 2014 | by KyleTheGirl

We’ll be at the 44th Annual Atlanta Pride Festival Marketplace Oct. 11 – 12. The event is jam packed with entertainment and lots of activities. We’ll have finished an awesome motorcycle quilt. Here’ s the design on the back. Come on down to say hi and see the front! More info at atlantapride.org

It’s perfectly fine to bring your stash of t-shirts and get started on your order live and in person; $100 goes toward your quilt. Hope to see you there!

Author: KyleTheGirl