Fall Beach Vacation

I love the beach.  My husband does not.  So, when an opportunity came my way to spend a week at Virginia Beach with 8 other professional quilt teachers, I took it.

Here is the house--what's not to love?

The kitchen has two full-size refrigerators, ovens, dishwashers, and all the things you could want in a great kitchen.  We ate two meals out and the rest of the lunches and dinners we prepared for each other--a great way to share the week and the kitchen duties.

There are two complete laundry rooms, lots of living space on each floor, each of the 8 bedrooms has an on-suite full bath, and there is an elevator--great for bringing the groceries to the 3rd floor.  I spent a little time in the indoor heated pool, walked on the beach a few mornings, and generally loved the sight of the ocean from our various sewing stations.  The lighting was excellent and I got a lot done.

The Blue Collection by  Maggie Walker

English Paper Pieced Diamonds

3" paper pieced blocks

12" String Pieced Lemoyne Star blocks

The Blue Collection applique' project is a Block of the Month I bought in 1998 and the last time I worked on it was 2005.  I am re-energized now to keep going.  My applique' skills are somewhat better now and I am really enjoying this project.  A few other small things got done and I learned a few computer skills I hoped to learn.

My outdoor shots are not so great but here you can see we were across a street from the beach:

East View

South View

 The house shots I opened with come from the Realty website--here is what it looks like when Quilters arrive.

My Last Morning shot

One of our group got up very early each morning and this is what she saw the last day of our vacation, a spectacular sunrise.  Sorry I missed it:

All in all, I had a wonderful week, met new friends and learned more about old friends.  I highly recommend a week at the beach to warm your soul!  Even in November...

Let's Quilt!

Barbara

Opposites Attract

I have a new finish for a class I am teaching this winter:

It's called "Opposites Attract" and features two colors opposite each other on the color wheel.  It's part of my "Color College" series of classes, using Becky Goldsmith's great book:  The Quilter's Practical Guide to Color.  This is my first complete machine quilting finish on the Bernina Q20--it's not the best quilting ever done but sometimes "finished is better than perfect".

In Houston I took two excellent classes on free-motion quilting.  One with Sue Nickels using a Bernina 770--great practice for using the BSR system.  The other was with Helen Godden using the Handi-Quilter Sweet 16--great practice with the sit-down longarm machine.  When I get back from the retreat I am headed to tomorrow, my plan is to find 3-5 border designs I love and master those.  Then 3-5 block motifs I love and master those.  It will be good to have a "toolbox" with my "go-to" designs at the ready.

In the meantime, I'm working away on the Stars in a Time Warp blocks--there are only 3 weeks left with new blocks coming.  Then it will be time to decide on a layout.  Each week I've made 2 blocks so the stack has grown to about 90.  I am enjoying this project quite a bit.  Here are the latest, as close as I can find in my stash:

These are Provincial prints and Sprigged Muslins, with Indiennes.

These are early Roller prints and cloud prints, more or less, probably less.


I've packed way more projects to work on at the week-long retreat than I will probably complete but it just wouldn't do to run out of projects.  Someone is bringing a Featherweight so I can do some machine work, here is string piecing:

And there must be handwork:

I started this years ago and need some help with it.  One of the Hexie Queens will be at retreat so I'm going to "Ask the Expert".

And hand applique':

The Blue Collection, by Maggie Walker.  I started this so many years ago and haven't touched it in years.  One of my applique' heroines will be at retreat and I am incredibly eager to sit by her side and learn from her.  I've packed up the 7 blocks that are done and taken the next four--way more than I can get done this week but it pays to be prepared, right?  This was one of those Block of the Month kit deals, with all the fabrics and the patterns.

I hope to be able to share some photos of the week ahead with you.  Stay tuned.

Let's quilt!

Barbara

Post-Houston Busy-Ness and Semper Fi!

First, today is the 240th Birthday of the United States Marine Corps.  I am a proud USMC veteran and send out a loud Semper Fi! to all my fellow Marines, past and present.  Those were the best four years of my life.  Not that the other years haven't been great but there is nothing better than serving my country in uniform.

Being gone for 2 weeks to Houston means life is very busy when I return.  Bills, mail, newspapers, laundry, and lots of class samples to prepare.  Here are my Winter 2016 classes at Patches & Stitches, my local quilt shop:

Leaders/Enders--make Free Quilts!  I'll teach at least 5 easy units that become great quilts as you are making other projects.  Save time, thread, and use those scraps!

The Feathered Star block--a process class, not paper-pieced, using Marsha McCloskey's book.  A beautiful center for a wonderful quilt.

Color College:  Winter Semester Opposites Attract--using the terrific book on Color by Becky Goldsmith:  The Quilter's Practical Guide to Color. I've written about it here and here.  This is the second of four classes using this book.  My design varies a bit from Becky's--come to class to find out why...

Kisses and Hugs, the Japanese X and + quilt.  This is a great project with scraps.  I've taught it several times and everyone does very well with those tricky intersections. 

I also have 3 sessions of Quiltmaking 101 from January through April. I really love teaching beginners, and trying to get them enthused about the Quiltmaking process.  My goal is to addict one of them, each class, totally and completely to Quilting--that is how my passion and the industry can continue to grow.  And I'm always successful at that goal.

Next week I have the pleasure of going to a private retreat for a small group of quilt teachers.  I have lots of projects to take, several things I want to learn on the business side of the industry and plan to relax a bit too.  Did I mention it's at a beach?  Too cold to swim in the Atlantic Ocean this time of year so the indoor pool will have to do.  More on all that when I get back.

While I was in Houston, my grand-girl, Stella LeAnne Wilkins was baptized in Huntsville.  Here are a few photos from the event.  Can't wait to see her here at Christmas!

Stella with her Mama.  

My happy husband with his grand-girl!

Let's Quilt!

Barbara 

Post Quilt Show/Pre-Houston Sewing Frenzy

The guild quilt show is over and most members are happy with it.  I've spent most of this week working on the budget, writing reports, preparing newsletter articles and other show-related stuff.

Today was a "don't leave the house" kind of day and I finished my 3rd Houston garment.  We are given fabrics, select our choice of pattern, and wear specific garments on specific days.  This really helps with packing and makes us somewhat recognizable as staff.  Here are mine:



Vintage Made Modern by Amy Barickman for RJR, pattern is Gathered Back Tunic by Indygo Junction

Zen Chic by Brigitte Heitland for Moda, pattern is Contemporary Kimono by Indygo Junction

Shimmer Wheel by Jennifer Sampou for Robert Kaufman, Contemporary Kimono by Indygo Junction--making a garment with 2.5" strips of fabric was more of a challenge than I anticipated
 

I head to Houston next week for 13 days and now that the garments are done, I can start packing.  I do a list of what I'm wearing each day--the garments are assigned so I just have to figure what blouse and slacks will go with each.  Everything I take has to do triple duty, and I don't want to forget something important. 

For fun, I made Lori DeJarnette's latest quilt-a-long, Country Roads Mystery.  Find it here.

This may just be the first real quilt I quilt on my Bernina Q20.  The center squares and perimeter triangles will be forgiving of my designs and I want to try Ruler work on the pieced blocks.  Probably after Houston...

I'm still keeping up with Stars in a Time Warp.  The Claret Red and Cadet Blue are weeks 39 and 40.  We're getting toward the end of this year-long project and I'll have to decide what to do with my stack of blocks--I made 2 each week except when I loved them, then I made 3.  I think I have 82 six-inch blocks currently.  Barbara Brackman has also provided layout ideas and I've seen some I really like, just  have to decide.  She gives so much historical information about the use of the various colors and fabric styles, it's worth a look even if you don't want to make any blocks.  Stars In a Time Warp.

There's more to do before I take off for Texas next week, house stuff, yard stuff, packing stuff, teaching, and cutting some more handwork for "down" time, not that there is very much of that.  Houston is the highlight of my year and I am getting excited already. I'm also taking 2 free motion quilting classes so have to remember to pack the required supplies for those.   I'll post when I can so stay tuned.

While I'm gone, my beautiful grand-girl, Stella, will come to town, with her folks--she is being baptized.  I'll miss her but her granddaddy hopes to get lots of time with her.  We miss her so.  She's four and half months old now, and scrumptious!

Let's Quilt! 

Barbara

Fanfare 2015 Quilt Show and Sale is Put to Bed

Best of Show:  Ode to Joy, by Ben Darby.  Ben made this to commemorate singing in the chorus for the Huntsville Symphony's presentation of Beethoven's 9th Symphony.  It is his original design with the letters coming from Word Play Quilts by Tonya Ricucci.  Ben was encouraged to join our guild and enter the show.  He is a husband, father, and engineer.  He blogs at Huntspatch Quilts.


Another successful Quilt Show and Sale is now in the history books.  It was a beautiful show, with so many wonderful quilts, our guests were very impressed, and everything went as smoothly as you could possibly hope for.  Many terrific vendors to visit added to the fun.  Set up and take down happened in record time, many hands making light work, and we were out of the Von Braun Convention Center in less than two hours--I still cannot believe that!  My co-chair, Jane and I, had the most amazing committee members and guild members stepped up when needed--it was truly a wonderful experience.

I didn't take many photos and I wish I had.  My friends will have to provide some for me.  We are making a CD of all the quilts which will be available later this year.  But a wonderful visitor who has a lovely blog, Teresa Rawson of FabricTherapy.blogspot.com attended and took many great photos.  Be sure to see her post:  Fabric Therapy.  She has just moved home to Alabama after many years in Michigan and was worried North Alabama might be a quilting desert.  I've been assuring her she'll be in good company here and was so glad she could attend.  I wish she was closer than 75 miles away but maybe she can join us from time to time.  I am very thankful for her blog, with great photos posted the same day of the show.  Enjoy her mini-tour.

The judge, Pepper Cory, gave an excellent Judge's Tour twice, where 40 people were able to get an inside look at the judging process.  She told them how difficult some of her choices were.  She was very generous with all the info she shared during the tour.  Judging is important for Validation, Celebration, and Education of our members--worth every penny!

My guild is such a joy to me, certainly a big part of "My Joyful Journey".  Here are the few photos I took.  I wish you all could have been there:

Falling Off a Log, Teresa Belyea, one of my favorites



This is mine: Antique Rose Star, mostly hand pieced and hand quilted--I may add more quilting now
 

Another of mine:  Color in Black and White--the quilter added a 2nd batt, it really needs blocking, this one is heavy

My 3rd entry:  Grandmother's Choice, patterns from Barbara Brackman's Block of the week to celebrate the Suffragist Movement of the early 1900's
 

Three Colorful Fellows, Sherrie Cahill, we have talented Art Quilters too
 

Ben shortly after being surprised with his Best of Show award

Daughter's Rejection, Lewis Harmon, made for his daughter's wedding and she didn't like it. He's keeping it.



Glacier Star, Janet Henne, wish my photo was better.  I loved her quilting.

Stash Vortex, Judy Ballance, another of my favorite quilts

Escapade, Elaine Wick Poplin, her blog is Messygoat.com, a very talented younger member of our guild

 

 

 

As sometimes happens, quilts that were entered don't get delivered and we had a few spaces to fill.  We were able to borrow a Huntsville treasure, this signature quilt that was used to support the Historic Huntsville Foundation.  It is signed by many famous people from all walks of life:  Coretta Scott King, Rosa Parks, George C. Wallace, Walter Cronkite, Buzz Aldrin, Neal Armstrong, Katherine Hepburn, Jimmy Stewart, George Burns, Bo Jackson, Joe Namath, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Carol Channing, several Supreme Court justices and a President or two, and many more.  You could stand in front of it and just say "Wow!" over and over.  What a great addition, an unexpected Special Exhibit!

We also had 3 guild members present an Artist's Studio talk, one each day, explaining their creative process and showing more of their work.  On Saturday we were happy to present a Gee's Bend talk given by two descendants of Gee's Bend Quilters, Loretta Bennett and Rueben Bendolph, Jr, both of whom live in Huntsville.  They are cousins and described their memories of quilting and family life growing up in Gee's Bend.  They brought many Gee's Bend quilts made by their mothers and grandmothers and some of Loretta's work.  It was a highlight of our show for many:

Loretta Bennett and Rueben Bendolph, Jr.

 

                                            Just a few of the Gee's Bend Quilts they shared.

Well, now I'm itching to stitch so I'm off to make 2 of last week's Stars in a Time Warp.  I teach two classes this week and our guild meeting is Thursday night, when the fun will continue with selection of Incentive Prize winners for our volunteers.  More about that later.

Let's Quilt!

Barbara