Winter Days in Shades of Taupe heading off to HMQS !

Last week Winter Days in Shades of Taupe

was Finally finished!!

Taking longer than expected - I hit a quilting block!

Just wasn't sure how I wanted to quilt it ….

 so it sat on my sewing machine for months!

The dilemma 

when an embroidered quilt is quilted some times the 

quilting takes away from the embroidery.

Wanting to showcase the hand embroidery stitches

and the beautiful Japanese Taupe fabrics

I decided to quilt each block separately,

instead of the feather motif in the border -

which was the original plan.

Here is an example of one block

I'm happy with the results…

the quilting gave me a chance to practice

my feathers and other motifs, and it did not

take away from the beauty of the fabrics

I created the unique quilt label by

using a few of the embroidery motifs,

taking pieces of each and rearranging them,

the wording was printed off the computer,

and using a light bock the design 

was transferred onto the fabric

and hand embroidered! 

Notice the addition to the finish date!!

the quilt was actually all done and quilting started…

but then that pesky quilty block happened

so instead of picking out my "4"

I just added the "5"!

Works for me!!

Lesson learned: Don't finish the Label before the Quilt!!

Now she is off to Utah for the

Home Machine Quilting Show!

EXCITING News from Paducah ….!

Ok just PINCH me ….

Last night I received a text from my friend Linda…

she is at the awards ceremony when ….

the announcement was made….

Funky Garden on Red

WON

a THIRD place ribbon!!!

in the category:

BED QUILTS: Home Machine Quilted 

sponsored by AccuQuilt

just PINCH me ….

am I dreaming??

Way back in 2007 my sister and I 

went to the Paducah show,

and I can remember thinking…

"WOW,  what would it be like 

to have a quilt accepted into this show?

Wouldn't that be Something!"

Never in my wildest dreams 

did I think one of my quilts would ever be there …. 

and win a ribbon!!!

OMG!

I was on Cloud Nine just know my

quilt was accepted into the show!

My 2007 trip to Paducah was a 

Christmas gift from my husband! 

(Yup he's a keeper!)

Karen and I had so much fun!

taking a class from Jane Sassamen

sadly eight years later - 

this project from  Jane's class is 

STILL in an unfinished project bin!!! UGH!

We met Eleanor Burns

on opening day of her shop

"Quilt in a Day"

Funny story: 

Karen and I are in the shop and it was 

SO unbelievably warm and crowded,

we looked at each other and said at the same time

"Why is it so crowded in here?"

a very politely irritated lady in front of us turned around

gave us dagger eyes and very dryly said:

"Well it is Opening Day"

needless to say we were slightly embarrassed,

scurried to the door and

as we exited the shop we bumped into (literally)

Eleanor Burns!!

(she was very gracious!!)

We went to Metropolis to see Superman

Ricky Tim's brought his Show Horse!

And I fell in LOVE with…

Hawaiian Quilts

Kula Garden by Satuko Kato

 and Japanese Taupe Fabrics

It was a fabulous trip that will never be forgotten…

and now my Funky Garden Quilt is there 

hanging around with the Big Girls (and Boys) of quilting…

OMG

Pinch ME!

Dreams do come true!

MQX East 2015 favorites … In no particular order!

The MQX 2015 show was wonderful!

Lots of eye candy!

Especially nice was the special exhibit by

"Sew Kind of Wonderful"

just love Jenny Pedigo's style of quilting

The Cathy Wiggens exhibit

"Evolution of an Artist - Fifteen years of Quilting"

was outstanding!

What Cathy can do with leather is just mind boggling!

Sadly no pictures as my phone lost charge

Here are a few of my favorites….

for no particular reason except they made me smile!

9 Patch Windmill by Birgit Schueller of Germany

features 1" squares, 9 sets of gradating values, 9 colors

arranged in different 9 patch block settings.

Love how the quilting reminds me of my

Spirograph drawing set I had as a kid!

The BEST of SHOW!!

"Free Falling"

by Kathie Beltz of Greenfield NH

quilted by Mara Novak

from a Deb Tucker design

Kathy caught the essence of falling Maple leaves

the quilting by Mara Novak 

was just outstanding and brought this quilt to life.

"Happy Daze"

by Marty Young of Barton VT

using a Sue Garmen pattern and

lots of bright fun fabrics

this quilt no only made me smile

it made me Laugh!

I LOVED this quilt - it had such a Happy vibe!

will definitely have to put this one

on my quilty bucket list!

and the quilting by Flo Verge was… 

outstanding!

a Swoon pattern in SILK!!

Absolutely BEAUTIFUL

with incredible quilting

sadly I forgot to take a picture of the name card

so I can not give credit where credit is due.

But trust me it was a Beauty!!

Because the ocean has a special place in my heart

the beach is my "happy place"!

This quilt just sang to me!

"The End of the Line"

by Joanne Baeth of Bonanza OR

Inspired by the Oregon Coast and her fishermen husband and son

Joanne created and quilted this lovely piece on her Bernina!

Okay! that's my favorites from MQX!

Hope you enjoyed the show!!

Happy Quilting, Janet

Silver City Raffle Quilt wins a Ribbon at MQX!!

Congratulations to the Silver City Quilt Guild

their raffle quilt "Caribbean Breeze"

won a second place ribbon at MQX

in the Quilts Among Friends Category!!

The quilt is BIG! 

110 inches x 110 inches Big!

It is a paper pieced pineapple log cabin style quilt,

made by members of SCQG

and quilted by 

Dora Dorval

and 

Mary Ann Zonenshine

of

"Mad About Quilts"

Fabulous job done by all!

I think I'll buy a few extra raffle tickets!

Because after all who wouldn't want to win

an Award Winning Quilt!!!!

Hawaiian Quilting with Nancy Lee Chong!

Last week I had the privilege of meeting Nancy Lee Chong,

co-owner of Pacific Rim Quilt Company.

Quilter's by the Sea of Portsmouth R.I. invited her to give an evening lecture and two workshops.

The evening lecture was both informative and inspirational …

This is the first quilt Nancy ever made!

It is a queen size!

Yes - you heard me ….

she was a non-quilter before beginning this beauty!

Here she is (sorry the picture is not the best)

with her Hawaiian Baltimore Album style quilt!

It was just lovely.

The next day was the "Hawaiian Appliqué" class which was fabulous!

Here is my "Plumeria"

It is a 20 inch block all positioned and pinned - ready for basting.

We learned all the tips and tricks to make a queen size!

The pattern "Rainbow over Lana'i (pineapple) (84" x84") 

came home with me for the future!!!

Wouldn't it look just spectacular in a deep blue / green!!??

I have made two other Hawaiian style quilts,

Horseshoe Crabs and Sand dollars

Blue Hibiscus (pattern by Pacific Rim Quilt Co.)

but there is nothing like taking a class from a master!

Nancy Lee Chong is a master for sure!

Rhododendron Needlers 2015 Quilt Show

The Rhododendron Quilt Guild always has a wonderful quilt show!

This year I entered my "Funky Garden on Red"

and to my surprised she won!

Best of Show for Machine Quilting

First Place Applique Bed

and a Vendors Choice Ribbon!

OMG!

Next week she is off to PADUCAH!

Pinch Me!!

The Over All ~BEST of SHOW~  

was absolutely STUNNING!

"Afternoon Delight" by Bryn Macy Wood

a Sue Garmen pattern

The workmanship was just outstanding

Here are a few close ups 

the quilt measures 88" x 88" 

and the 9 patches are one inch squares!!

A few of my favorites in no particular order!

 "Spring Tranquility" by Diane Piechowski

Loved the soft color palette

she quilted it at my favorite long arm rental space

Mad About Quilts in Mansfield Ma

"Flowers, Birds and Bugs" by Esther OConnell
this applique quilt was inspired by William Morris' art
Each bock had a little Bug hidden in the leaves!

"Flower Garden" by Evelyn McStowe
Evelyn is a sweetie!
Love her choice of Kaffee Fasset Fabrics
for the flowers.

"Happy Bird Houses" by Deborah McManus
Some quilt just make you smile and this is one of them!
This whimsical piece was just the cutest!

"As the River Flows"
was a challenge among friends
each was given a piece of blue river fabric
and they had to design a panel with the
river running through it!
A very impressive display!

"Boston Strong" by Abby Sullivan

Of course this quilt hit my heart,
since my daughter was there that day.

She was an Athletic Training student
volunteering as part of the medical team
at the finish line.
She is now on to grad school at
Texas A&M Corpus Christi!

I did have her jacket and id badge framed for her

Happy to say that Abby's "Boston Strong" Quilt
will hang on display at the Spaulding Rehabilitation Center
in Boston - where many of the marathon survivors
went for treatment and recovery.
Thank you Abby


One more Cutie Quilt!

"Doggie Daycare" by Sarah Brewin
another quilt that just makes you Smile!

Great Show RNQG!

Parasol Girl Block 2 done!

This week I finished by second block

of my Parasol Girl Quilt 

This is a sweet little block to make!

Next one is in shades of blue!

Traveling to Paducah ….

Not me!

But my Quilt is!!!

Yup received the awesome news the other day that

my quilt "Funky Garden on Red"

was accepted into the AQS Quilt Week in Paducah!

Way back in 2007 my sister and I went to the Paducah Quilt show …

it was a surprise birthday present from my husband!

(Yes he is definitely a keeper!)

I remember walking through looking at all of the

beautiful quilts thinking ….

"Boy wouldn't it be something to have a quilt displayed here"

Yup it's something alright!

SO although I won't see her hanging in Paducah,

just knowing she's there is thrill enough for me!