This is Some Vacation! 3

I had the first week of MOPS for the school year while Mom was here so she went along with me.  My helper mom this year is my MIL and both our moms are friends so they enjoyed the morning together.

I had 3 kids in the room that day and reminded them that my “name” at MOPS is Mrs. M— and that “this one” will be our helper in the room each time and she is also Mrs. M–.   The kids were surprised!!  My MIL isn’t thrilled to be called that so we call her Grandma M as that is what I’m used to calling her.  To add more intrigue, I introduced my mom and they were so surprised that MY mom was there from so far away and that the other one was my husband’s mom.  It was fun!

One evening we went to the PC Quilt Guild meeting.  It was an extra-special speaker that night and whereas most months we may only have 1 or 2 guests, this time my mom was one of 18 visitors to our guild!  Many, many of my guild friends (members at this one and members at the other one I’m in) were thrilled to meet her and introduced themselves.

Mom & I even had show & tell to share!  I prepared this embroidery for her to work on and she brought it back all done!  I still need to do piecing of trees for the border and quilt it for a table runner.

She does beautiful work!  I couldn’t see a pencil line of the pattern left!  I’m not sure how she did all this of white & gray floss on white fabric!

And I got her to initial it!  🙂

~~
The second Sunday she was here was an open day for Miss K and we all met in the middle for a wonderful dinner!

Once again, mom was the charmer and attracted the attention of the owner of the restaurant!  He came to our table and welcomed us, shaking mom’s hand and then giving her a light kiss on her head when he left.  After we had finished our meals (well, as much as we could eat and had packed up our leftovers!), Mom & I visited with the owner again.  Soon our waitress came to our table with a full serving of their dessert beignets compliments of Mr. Vitalie!  Beignets with marshmallow cream and a chocolate swirl for dipping!  We were sure our stomachs had not one more inch of space but warm beignets fit in there just right!

We brought home some leftovers and mom would heat a few each day for her mid-morning snack.  🙂  Of course, she made me have one too!  Maybe my next “meal” there will be just an order of beignets!  ♥

Read Full Post »

Local Quilt Shows

I am a member at 2 local quilt guilds and both of them had guild shows this year.  One weekend and then the next.  I gave more of my time and resources the first weekend to the smaller guild and where I attend more regularly.

Here are some photos from the first weekend ~

Beginning of set-up.  We rent a church gymnasium and then have quilt hanging poles and all the system to make the show a go in a gym!  These workers are so smart and speedy.  I need to get trained to help out for next time, I guess.

I’m guessing there were about 4 more rows than the 5 you see here.  Quilts are able to hang on both sides of a rod across the top that is covered in clean fabric.  I appreciate the good care the quilts are given with this display.

Here are some quilts I liked and could get photos —

 

 

The smaller quilts are pinned to a carpeted wall or displayed on a table.

This guild offers a challenge area for each show and here is a photo of all the quilts entered in the challenge.
I thought there were 10 entries but maybe just these 7 I got in my photo.

Here is a collage of the quilts I took to show —

Top Row L to R: My signature quilt from 2009 of guild members and some quilting friends. Infiniband Encased is made for a hanging in JP’s room. My scalloped Christmas tree skirt. Bottom Row is me with my challenge piece and K’s signature quilt from her high school graduation.

 

I spent most of the first day there.  In the morning, I was a white glove volunteer… keeping an eye open all around and letting others see the backs of quilts if they wanted.  I had 2 of my quilts appraised in the early afternoon.  The ladies in the guild are so sweet to hang out with for the day!

I didn’t take many photos at the other show with limited time and I took the same quilts for display.

Beautiful wool applique blocks above

I liked seeing the contrast of lights & darks in this quilt as well as the lovely feather quilting.

I decided in the middle of these shows that whenever it randomly happens that both shows are in the same year, I’ll only participate in one.  Both had different rules for entry of quilts, neither followed the rules, and it was another plate I didn’t need to spin during harvest!

But meanwhile… I love quilts and seeing what others are making locally without the big time of an international show.

Read Full Post »

Art Gallery

I was honored to be asked to enter and then super-excited and shocked to be accepted to show one of my quilts in a local art gallery.  The fall special exhibit was entitled, “Farms & Barns 11”.  (I assume eleventh year with this special theme in the fall.)

 

A beautiful town ~~ this was on my way home after I set-up my quilt.

The acceptance letter also let me know there would be an opening reception of the special exhibit in just a few weeks.  I kindly told P that he would “get” to be my arm candy that night!  (His comment while driving away was along the lines of there went 2 hours of his life that he’d never get back.)

My guild friend that suggested I enter the show was at the opening reception and we were able to chat and I met her friend and her husband.  She is so sweet & kind to support me so much like this!

My in-laws came and were thrilled to have their quilt on display.  This is the first time I’ve had the chance to have a photo with my FIL and his quilt.  (the least blurry photo)

All the other exhibitors showed various forms of paintings or digital photographs.  My piece was the only one not for sale and I assume most of the other exhibitors had not made such a personal piece but have their pieces offered for sale on a regular basis.   I felt my work was out of place and it was displayed away from the other works but I was still happy to have my work there.  It was the best lighting the quilt has ever been shown in which thrilled me to see the quilting textures enhanced.

P & me….

This was heading back to the main floor after we looked at children’s art work displayed in the basement.

I sent the gallery director jpegs to print out of 2 of the labels on the back.  Hopefully no one was touching to read the back of the quilt so these 2 frames had information about the quilt.

FIL was curious about my selfie so I showed him an example…. and we got the 2 of us!  😉

Waiting for time to pass and letting MIL rest instead of standing.

I hope I can get more advance notice for future special exhibits and be able to create for another gallery show.  It is a beautiful gallery!

Read Full Post »

Guild UFOs

This year for one of the quilt guilds, we have a UFO challenge.  Before our first meeting of the year (March b/c Feb we were snowed-in), we filled in a form with 5 UFOs we’d like to complete this year.  (UnFinishedObject… in this case, a quilt)   I wanted to participate but have clearly told myself that it may not be something I can accomplish every 2 months.

The program chair collected the forms as we arrived and then randomly pulled a number during her report.  This month (to start in March and bring to the meeting in May) is number 5.

I checked my form at home that night and my #5 is the only one that I put on the list that isn’t started.  Nadda.  I have pattern.  I have the fabrics.  I have the reason I want it.  Not started.

In 2 weeks, I have colored in the black & white pattern and cut pieces for 3 of the 4 accent colors.  Enough cutting to get my will power going so I’m eager to squeeze in work on this.

Outside the Box — pattern and a few pages of the “pattern from hell” and the most complicated one I have ever seen!!

I got a bum deal on the pattern.  Found the pattern and fabrics at a booth at a quilt show.  Looked over the pattern in my room that night and thought – what a nightmare!  Once home, I looked online for ways other people had made the quilt and found not. much.  Then I found the pattern writer and her website.  It is a download purchase so I assume in color.  And $2 less than I paid for the black & white at the show.  😦    I’ve tossed & turned about giving another $10 for the color pattern but one evening just colored A, B, C, and D fabrics with colored pencils for the cutting and assembly pages.  All will be well.

The cutting is 1 piece at a time.  Slow.  But steady and all has gone great so far.  The cut pieces are sorted per instructions into the 4 bags as I go.  Maybe but still no betting… it will be a top at least by the May meeting.  Hoping it is a good planting week and I can feed the men and get to the meeting.  I’ll take as much as I have finished.

The background is a light aqua from Kaffe and the 4 accent fabrics.  Who knows what color shows on your monitor.  It will be a large wallhanging…whenever finished.

I’m calling this project Number 5 (#5) for now for many reasons.  UFO list item #5, for our child #5’s room are a few things.

Read Full Post »

Mini Quilted Stockings

Part of the Christmas meeting at one of the quilt guilds I attend was a stocking exchange.  We were given the pattern earlier and were to make a stocking and add up to $10 of goodies inside.

I made this:

At the meeting, all the stockings were laid out on a table.  So cute!!

We had numbers drawn out of a “hat” (ie box) and got to choose a stocking in order.  About 25 or so members played along and had made stockings.  I was pleased that #6 chose my stocking.  I had added in a set of good pins, hand needles, and filled the toe with Dove chocolates.  🙂  (I went over the limit…)

I had #17 and there were still all lovely stockings left.  One was bigger than the others and I thought I’d choose that one but then found this blue one.  🙂

Inside the stocking was a charm pack of red & white fabrics with winter prints… snowmen, etc.  Cute!  And I know who made it so that is extra-special.  (I don’t know many in this group but they are always nice to me.)

We had a potluck supper and a short meeting where we got to see the guild’s raffle quilt.  Let me know if you want tickets.  🙂   The drawing for the quilt will be October 2015 at our guild quilt show.

Read Full Post »

Guild – Amish Program

This month’s guild program was by Klaudeen Hansen…

Yes, THIS one!  She edits/assembles the quilts for the calenders for AQS every year.  I have at least 10 yrs of these.  Most are well used; I keep one in my sewing room and jot down what I’m working on and sometimes notes of what is happening with the kids or the farm or the weather.  I hope they are enjoyed in years to come.  She had the new 2013 ones so I am all ready for a new year.  (Yes, it is OK with me to skip fall & winter if we have to be done with summer in another month.)

She shared her knowledge of Amish quilts with us and also brought along her trunk show of Amish quilts.

First a slide show.  Can you believe this photo above and the one below are from the back of the dark room to the slide on the screen?!  Love the camera!!  The quilting on this quilt is stunning!  Glad I could capture it a bit in this photo.

I’m seriously not sure how this fits in besides it is solid fabrics.  But… maybe her daughter made it?  I was too frantic grabbing my camera before she changed the slide, I think.   🙂  Very funny!

Above is a page of her own Amish style quilts.  Click the photo to see them in a better size.

This one missed the collage page.  I love the layout of the off-center log cabin.

Above — from show & tell.  Some guild quilts and some are Klaudeen’s.  The wonky stars (bottom left) was a good example for the class she was teaching for the guild on Tuesday.

Klaudeen showed this quilt and my friend, Patti, & I loved it!!  The colors seem a bit off here… hot pink & neon green with the black!!  🙂   Patti got the pattern so we both want to  make one of these.  Look out show & tell!  (well, give us a few months…)  I have my fabrics already (I got Kona cottons) and I chose not to go with the neon look.  But of course, PINK is there.

The quilting —

The fun back! —

I will miss the other guild this month so we’ll see you next month for more guild meetings!

Read Full Post »

June Workshop & Guild

The June guild day at my local guild included an all-day workshop… taught by yours truly!

I had 10 students after a few dropped out or didn’t show that day.   I was pleased how well everyone did and how far they progressed on their quilt tops.

I just took a few photos while they worked. Then after the program, those that had stayed, showed their pieces as a group.  I love this!

The program was great!  Here are a few photos.  (I was sitting in the back… hard to get good ones.)

A lot of the backs of her quilts were just as stunning as the fronts!  Very fun to see her work.

Read Full Post »

April Guild

These are the only photos I took during the program but I like this simple layout and she had the smaller ones for examples in other colors.  Love the little pinwheels in the sashings!   I think I’ll work on this pattern …. another day!  😉

From show & tell —

Her (in turquoise) SECOND Farmer’s Wife quilt in less than 12 months (can we say high-strung??).  This is from fabrics given to her when someone’s (M. W-F.) mother died.  The quilt is for the granddaughter of the lady that died.  How sweet is that????  I love this!  The back has a LARGE applique design, too.  Beautiful!   And I know the daughter who gave the fabrics from church.  🙂

In lieu of a tshirt quilt, Miss InPink, was asked to make a quilt from…

dance costumes!!

OIY!!!

And then cranked out this stunner in just a few weeks!!  The costume pieces are shiny & glittery.  We all loved the fabrics she added.  It is sooo pretty!!

And this old top, recently quilted…. we were all gasping….

and then she said the strip-pieced sections are cheater-cloth!!  None of us believed it.  Very pretty!!

Hoping to have an online garage sale of stuff from my sewing room this weekend.   Stay tuned!! 😉

Read Full Post »

January Guild

I’ll try to catch you up a bit…. I’m surprised at how bothered I continue to be with my back.  It was a week on Wednesday and I’ve been to the chiropractor 3 times and today had my massage.  Tomorrow must be better!! 🙂

Monday night I helped with the guild program on how to take your quilt to your long-arm quilter.   I didn’t have anyone there to be my photographer but I do have some photos from show & tell.  (The guts of the program will be in my brochure and on my business site…. later.  🙂   Those were my thoughts to include there but I just hadn’t stopped to write it out!)  I feel like I made some good contacts as well.

I missed the whole story to this 1930’s quilt but somehow (easily) she got the top and then finished it.

Lynda had finished her Round Robin and I had helped on this one so it was great to see!

Ann completed these lovely trees!

The committee showed the group the completed raffle quilt so now the ticket committee can get to work!  Yeah – they loved it!!  🙂

IRL, I finished a customer quilt and the tshirt quilt is loaded.  I hope to get a lot of the quilting done on that this weekend.  We are forecast to get a LOAD of snow tomorrow so at least one day (probably Saturday too) will be good days at home.

Read Full Post »

October Guild

Monday night was my usual (closest) guild meeting.  I came home charged & energized so had to take quite a while to settle before sleep came to me.

Pam Buda gave the program on “making do” along the lines of the pioneer women who had a limited supply of fabric.  They often had to “make do” with what they had even if the colors weren’t all the same as originally planned.  Honestly, doing this would make me CRAZY but I’m considering it.

Needing not one new thing, I came home with her Journey One of the Prairie Women’s Sewing Circle.  There are patterns for 7 quilts, a pincushion, and prairie stories to go with each pattern.

(photo from her website)

Here are some photos from her program:

We had a great show & tell as usual!  One of my dye class students was there with her daughter and the fabrics they have dyed!  I was so thrilled to meet her daughter.

The mom is piecing these blocks with the daughter’s dyed fabrics.  I think this is a super way to showcase the gorgeous fabrics.

Read Full Post »