Friday, May 17, 2013

My new tattoo



So while everyone else was getting ready for Quilt Market...I quietly got this:

I had been wanting a sewing themed tattoo for a long time...I spent months looking at photos of tattoos and trying to figure out exactly what I wanted. Finally my BFF suggested I have it wrap around my wrist...and BAM that was it...100% what I wanted! I just needed her to spell it out for me.

I had it done at Oshkosh Tattoo in Oshkosh WI.  I went in with 3 different photos of vintage sewing machines and they drew it up for me. From the moment I looked down and saw the sharpie lines on my wrist I knew it was perfect.

It wraps around my wrist like a bracelet...and I'm totally excited about it.

Have a great weekend everyone!!

- Kat :)

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

I got to meet Tula Pink!!!!

 A few months ago I had the opportunity to meet Tula Pink at an event at my local quilt shop. Below is my recap of that event, which was amazing!!!!!

I woke up full of anticipation...today I'm going to meet Tula Pink!!
The work day seemed to take forever..time crawled by slowly as I waited to 6:30 to arrive. I had purchased my ticket for the meet n greet event at Patched Works months ago.  The date had been circled on my calender for soo long I couldn't believe it was actually here.

I picked out the perfect outfit (must look cute in the photo), and I packed my camera and a notebook. I didn't have any specific questions that I wanted to ask. I just wanted to meet her and hear all about her creative process.

She started off by telling us all about how she became a fabric designer. Her first job was as a graphic artist for museum and then she worked in the music industry before becoming a fabric designer.

Tula explaining how she creates fabric designs.

She explained how she chooses the colors for  her designs, and the process of sending those colors to the fabric mill.


Tula talked about how designing a fabric is a business and how she works hard to help the local shop owners.

She told us about her new line of thread with Aurifil. 

Of course she brought lots of show and tell with her. Tula sews all of her samples herself. She said that she spends about 6 hours a day sewing. Just look at all those amazing pillows.






All of Tula's quilts are quilted by the amazing Angela Walters. Tula spoke very highly of Angela..and praised her work. Tula said that your relationship with your longarmer is very important. She and Angela both sign the quilts under the binding. I love that idea.


I could have listened to Tula's stories for days. And, as a big fan of Angela Walters' work, I could have stared at all of the quilts for weeks.  Tula was funny and she has this amazing outlook on the business of quilting. She would totally make a great mentor.

I met Tula Pink!!!!!


Happy Sewing everyone!  - Kat  :)

Sunday, February 24, 2013

Monkeying around

I made this quilt for a friend's son who's turning one soon. It went together super fast and I just think it's the cutest thing. I used fleece for the back..and I'm sooo in love with the look of the quilted fleece that I just might use fleece for all my backs from now on.
Free motion quilting
Love the Monkey!

Free motion quilting
Giraffe!!

Free motion quilting

Free motion quilting
Back of quilt.

Free motion quilting
My new favorite.

Happy Sewing!
 - Kat  :)

About Me

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I love all things crafty! Visit my website www.calicocali.com for tutorials, longarm quilting, svg designs, embroidery designs, nail decals, notions and more. Let’s Be Friends! Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/calicocalidesigns/ Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/calicocalidesigns/ Subscribe to our Youtube channel so that you don’t miss out on any of our fun tutorials! I hope you love our designs as much as I enjoy creating them. Happy Sewing Everyone!!! – Kat 🙂