They're all back home!!

I received an e-mail the other day from Mary at The Rabbit's Lair letting me know she was finished with all my models.  I picked them up yesterday and have spent hours bonding with them. 

I have quilts to snuggle under.  Christmas Memories by Blackbird Designs is one of my favorites.

More tote bags than I'll ever use.  Guess what everyone on my Christmas list will get this year?

And a few wool pieces.

I have no children but expect loaning your quilted treasures is probably somewhat like sending your child off to summer camp.  You hope everyone likes him, hope everyone takes care of him, and are so happy to see him when he comes home. 

............back to fondling my "new" treasures!

Knoxville Link and Basket Progress

Shortly after I published my last post, I visited the Blogger help website and read the instructions (imagine that!) and found I had an older version of the software.  I quickly updated and am now able to post photos anywhere I want. 

Here is a link where you can see the winning quilts from the AQS show in Knoxville.  Be sure you scroll through all the pages in the Guild Challenge Area.  Knoxville Quilts

While I was away, I took a lot of projects to work on.  Problem was that I didn't bring enough supplies.....1, yes 1, needle; 2 straight pins; and 2 spools of thread.  Quite frankly, I wouldn't have had those supplies had it not been for the wonderful little applique travel case my friend Rheba gave me several years ago. 

It is just the right size to hold the little basket blocks I'm working on.  Speaking of the little baskets, I have now finished 20.  291 seems like even more than ever!!

They are fun to make and some day I WILL have 100!!  I envy those of you with more than me. 

I'm now on a hunt for fabric.  I want to make the feature quilt from Blackbird Designs' "Home Sweet Home" book.  I am looking for the cream with green stripe homespun that is used in the alternate blocks.  Anyone know where I could snag a couple of yards? 

Have a great weekend and try to stay cool! (or warm for those of you who are enjoying the fall)

   

My First AQS Show

Last week hubby and I headed east to Knoxville, Tennessee, to visit our first American Quilt Society (AQS) show. Before the show, we visited Dollywood in Pigeon Forge and the Smokies (along with about a million - or so it seemed - of our fellow citizens). We were in the Smokies in March and actually stood by frozen waterfalls. No such luck this time!

The show was wonderful. So much beauty and inspiration. I would love to post photos but it's against the rules to post photos without permission. I'm sure the winning quilts will be posted soon. I'll keep an eye out for them and let you know when they are on line.

Knoxville is a very old and very friendly city. We took a bus/boat tour of the city and were amazed at the beauty and history. I would highly recommend the tour to anyone who visits the city. .....and this particular tour stopped at a chocolate factory. Yummm.....

No show would be complete without vendors and this show was no exception. The pre-show publicity touted 400 vendors and after walking the aisles all day on Saturday I can tell you that there must have been AT LEAST 400 vendors. Boy was I pooped! Photos throughout this post are photos of some of the things I couldn't live without. I am still trying to figure out this blogging thing and can't seem to make the photos end up where I want them so you are getting them where they landed!

The first photo is of the new much discussed book on Australian quilts. A friend (thanks Raquel!) loaned me her copy and I knew I HAD to have my own. Shipping from Australia is quite expensive so the $145 I paid for the book was a steal. I also bought four other titles from the same vendor: Quilting Books Unlimited. http://www.qbu.com/

Of course, you can't visit a show without buying at least a gadget and fat quarter!

Knoxville will host the show again next year. After that, it may stay at Knoxville or move back to Nashville. No one knows.

Next time I will show you what I worked on while we were gone. Hint: I don't know exactly what I was thinking----1 needle and 2 spools of thread and a bunch of projects, several books to read, a pattern to prepare for applique, EQ7 to upload on my laptop----just how much time DID I think I'd spend lounging in the room?!

Here comes the bride, here comes the bride

OK - you were supposed to imagine music as you read the title. The bride is ready and waiting to walk down the aisle. Alas, where is her groom? Notice her right hand is empty and open waiting for her sweetie. I haven't decided whether I will include him or not.

I've started on #5 (the block with the grapes). Quickly realized that purple must be my least favorite color because I could find only a few scraps. That meant a shopping trip but it was a success. I now have 5 fat quarters of purple (among other purchases) so will be able to make some pretty grapes.

Have a great week!

Civil War Bride Pattern and The Best Husband Ever

Several people have e-mailed and asked me about The Civil War Bride Quilt pattern so I thought I'd post an update. The pattern is available through Threadbear for $40. Threadbear is located in Australia http://www.threadbear.com.au/quiltpatterns.php but Corliss, the shop owner, has it set up so ordering is easy and painless through paypal. I know a couple of shops in the US are offering this as a block of the month. Homestead Hearth in Mexico MO http://www.homesteadhearth.com/ and Common Threads Quilting in Waxahatchie TX http://commonthreadsquilting.com/.



Now on to the real reason for my post. I have the best husband in the world. The other day I spent an afternoon with a friend playing in fabric. I thought that was the best day ever until I got home and found these waiting for me.


Included was the nicest card thanking me for all I do. Recently my husband was diagnosed with malignant melanoma. His doctor removed all the cancer but left quite a hole in his back. Yes -- his back.......guess who got to clean and bandage him every day. That task probably sounds like it would be easy but tell that to someone like me who is a total whimp when it comes to blood.

Anyway, hope you have a great day. I am almost finished with my bride block and will post it soon.

Trick or Treat Baskets

When I got my copy of this book, I knew I HAD to make the Trick or Treat basket quilt. It's been calling my name for several months and I finally have time to listen. So, yesterday I started pulling fabric. At first I thought I'd use pastels, then thought I'd use reproductions, then thought I'd use contemporary fabrics, then asked my husband what he thought......and decided to go with my first inclination which was to follow the pattern. For those who know me, you know following the pattern is not in my nature but the quilt Alma and Barb designed is just too perfect.


Here are some of the fabrics I pulled.

Next, I decided I'd better make at least one block to be sure I really, really would enjoy making the quilt. Did I mention the quilt has 291 basket blocks?

I hope you are having a great 4th. I'm off to work on my basket quilt. Only 290 left........

Civil War Bride Quilt Block #2

I'm on a roll now! I don't know about you but the first block is always the most difficult. When I start a new applique quilt I am busy auditioning fabric trying to find the look I want. Of course, it probably doesn't help that I have to pull every piece of fabric out of the closet and rebond with each piece! Do you ever look at a piece of fabric and remember when and where you bought it? I do. For example, I remember buying the pink and green piece I used for leaves in this block at The Quilted Moose in Gretna, Nebraska. http://www.quiltedmooseonline.com