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

CHANGE OF SEASON

It's that time of year when it's finally cooler and there may be some lovely leaves on the trees as the days grow shorter and the nights grow longer. It's a lovely time of year in North Alabama. This morning we even "gained" a hour as it was time to "Fall Back" with our clocks. 

Speaking of change of seasons, now that it's cooler,  it was time to put away the shorts and sports bra in favorite of yoga pants and a sweatshirt over a t-shirt.  Here is a look at what I get to see on my 6-8 mile daily walk. 

The people in this house go all out each year with their Halloween decorations, adding more scenes each year.  No other house in my large neighborhood comes close to these decorations.

It makes me smile as I go flying by: 

                                    

                                        

                                         

corner of Noel and Blair Day Lane, south Huntsville, AL

                                        

I love seeing wildlife on my walks. Rabbits, chipmunks, lots of squirrels, the occasional fox and these:

Great Blue Heron

Canadian Geese

The Canadian Geese are starting to fly in formation, honking loudly, as they plan to leave for the winter. What a sight!

I don't do much decorating myself, just a few things in the house:

    

The patchwork pumpkins were made by my dear friend Judy Murrah. I miss her all the time but especially in October, her birthday month and the month we were sure to be together again each year. 

Living Room coffee table

I do change out the quilts on our bed to my favorite "winter" quilts:

Foothills on the wall, Western Sun on the bed, and Pieces of the Past at the foot of the bed--you can see I am fond of Flying Geese

As the days get shorter, I will find a new hand sewing project to have by my cozy chair. Not sure yet what it will be...

Let's quilt.

Barbara