BUCKET LIST QUILT # 3

My "BUCKET LIST" of quilts I still plan to make includes a few I started years ago. This is one of those,  STAR OF TEXAS. 

I am enamored of all things TEXAS, I was probably meant to live there, but for now I want a "TEXAS" quilt:

STAR OF TEXAS was started at least 25 years ago when I saw a tiny little image in a magazine of the center square made up of many small five-pointed stars. Using graph paper and a calculator, I drafted the center using 64th's of a inch. Yes, crazy, I know, but I am a numbers person and it was fun. 

I played around with Electric Quilt--whichever early version I had then, long gone now, and got the center made. The off-white background was what I had on hand and seemed the best choice at the time.

Once the red border was added I knew the yellow-ish cream muslin center fabric was wrong. And I didn't know what I wanted to do next so I packed it away, with a big bundle of red, white, blue and gold fabrics and left it. 

About 10 years ago I tackled it again, taking off  the red borders and carefully removing the background fabric. I had created full-size paper templates of the 5 background shapes so it wasn't too hard to cut new ones and replace them with white Grunge--much better!  

Now I had this. NOTE: the red borders are just on the design wall for inspiration--they haven't been sewn in place yet. I expect to cut them down a bit:

Now that I have looked at it a few times  I know what to do next. Playing with EQ 8 I came up with this design. I did not take the time to draw the actual center star as it is made--this simply allows me to get right to playing with border ideas:

62" square

But wait. What if I want it larger? Here is another possibility:

71.5" square

For now, I will make the red and blue stars for the borders since they are definitely going to be used. They are 5" standing with the star center point at the top but 7" if I set them on point as shown in these border ideas. Does it make a difference to Texans if the star is sideways?

This one has moved up to the top of the list of quilts to make/finish.

Let's quilt,

Barbara

International Quilt Festival 2024

 Just call it "HOUSTON" and every quilter knows what you're talking about.

Travel in both directions was easy. I arrived in Houston for Market first, then to teach at Festival Monday-Wednesday. It was the 45th anniversary of Market, the Trade show open to shops, and the 50th anniversary of Festival. Quite a remarkable occasion.

Market is a good time to see the more than 1200 quilts on display. Here are just a few:

Best of Show--you have to see it to appreciate it. 17" x 18" Everything you see is stitching and fabric. Entitled STILL LIFE, it was made by Chen Jing of Bejing, China:

A detailed photograph of the front:

This photograph of the back allows viewers to see the Cats that are quilted in to this piece--they are invisible from the front: 

I saw lots of prior Block of the Month quilts from The Quilt Show. It always makes me feel good to see these quilts in shows:

Color My World by Sally Robinson Quilted by Helen Rode

A few quilts made by friends of mine:

A few favorites I just loved:

And then there are the people. I didn't get nearly enough photos of all those I hugged and was so glad to see. Here are a few:

Alex Anderson took a little tumble Saturday night, and got a black eye. She needed something to keep her occupied all day Sunday in her hotel room--she didn't bring any handwork! I brought her my Pick A Petal top and the Wonderfil threads for hand embroidery. A few stops at generous vendors and she was all set with needles and scissors. We hadn't gotten a photo the day before so this was the best we could do:  NOTE: she is all better now!

Jenny Lyon, Catherine Redford, and me

Patty Murphy with her latest new book Zero Waste Quilting

Brenda who takes such good care of me at the Hilton

My classes were full of fun, eager and interesting students who all seemed to enjoy our time together.

Disappearing Patchwork:

Slow Stitching--Hand Piecing. It was a 3 hour class that went by so fast. They were a great group of happy students:

Charming Sampler--the class was full with 25 students but quite a few hustled out to get in line for Preview Night before I could get the photo. They worked all day on lots of small blocks: 

The students were all kind in their evaluations and many already want to know what I am teaching next year. I am working on that right now and I hope to see many of them back next year. 

I was also thrilled to meet a Navy veteran who was in my first class Monday. We sort of bonded, as veterans sometimes do, and enjoyed breakfast together all week. She registered for my upcoming Two For One 5-day seminar at Empty Spools Seminar March 30-April 4, 2025. I am so proud of this class offering, LOVE to teach it and want so many to sign up for it. Don't miss this chance--here is even more info on that amazing place to learn quiltmaking: EMPTY SPOOLS--WHY YOU SHOULD ATTEND

A few more Houston photos to wrap up my week there:

I worked out for more than an hour every day in the Fitness Center, 5:30-6:30 am, usually had the place to myself:

I enjoyed an excellent breakfast every day: 

The ONE PHOTO THAT DIDN'T GET TAKEN:   My oldest friend, Judy, came to Houston with her quilter sister. Judy was my maid of honor many years ago. We arranged to have lunch on Thursday, walking to a great Vietnamese restaurant near the Convention Center. It was so good to see her again but, we forgot to get a photo. Believe me, we both look great. Next time, Judy!

Not our food but you get the idea: 

I was pleased to be invited to the annual "show and share" with the Lakeview Quilters at the Hilton Thursday night. Reconnected with several old friends and made new ones--I will be visiting them again in March 2026. I did not buy a thing so had nothing to share but loved seeing everyone else's purchases.

This wonderful antique was bought by Jenny Arkinson, daughter of the wonderful and dearly missed Sue Garman. She knew her mom would have approved of this one: 

Too soon it was time to fly home. It was my husband's birthday and I changed my flights and hotel to go home that day--the first time since 1995 I was home on his birthday. I even dressed up a bit more than I usually do on flying days:

My flight was early, we arrived at J. Alexander's an hour ahead of the reservation but they seated us right away and the birthday boy got to celebrate with a great meal. He especially loved the carrot cake:

That wraps up my travel adventures for 2024--lots on the calendar for 2025!

Let's quilt,

Barbara