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

Halloween Fun

A friend and I recently had lunch. We brought show and tell and she brought her Vintage Spool Happy Hauntings quilt. You can see a picture at Vintage Spool's website www.thevintagespool.com/store/products/details/?product=438 We both love vintage Halloween. I have been collecting Halloween fabric off and on for several years. I pulled a sampling of what I have and thought you might like to see some of my collection.

Some are bright and whimsical.


Some with cute witches dancing and bats flying.



And some ever so creepy! Yikes!!

Civil War Bride or Bird of Paradise Quilt

The Civil War Bride quilt is an interpretation of a quilt in the American Folk Art Museum in New York City, c 1858-1863. The top was made during the Civil War period and is thought to be an unfinished wedding quilt. A female figure is appliqued in one block but the block next to her is almost empty which leads experts to believe the maker had planned to include a groom but for some reason did not. Their theory is supported by newspaper templates, including one of a male figure, that were found with the quilt top.

I decided to use contemporary fabrics for my quilt. I am using Moda's Verna by Kate Spain and Eva by Basic Gray. I also am using some Anna Maria Horner, Kaffe Fassett and Amy Butler fabrics. My background is white with small white swirls in it.

If you'd like to follow everyone's progress as they make this quilt, you can join the Civil War Bride Quilt group on Yahoo. You can also follow along on this blog http://www.thecivilwarbridequilt.blogspot.com/