Virginia Quilt Museum

I’m not used to so much talking – 4 hours with Regan on Friday and another 4 with Judy K. on the bus to and from the VQM. Plus, talking to so many quilting friends while visiting the Dayton market, Patchwork Plus and the reception at VQM. I consider myself an introvert. I think that is one reason I like this blogging thing. I have time to think of what I will say in my posts and comments. A real conversation requires me to be on my toes and think fast. Not always an easy thing for us introverts. I can’t stay in my comfortable place all the time and I do love getting together with others. Okay, enough of that – the Virginia Quilt Museum-

The VQM is in the Warren-Sipe House (built in 1856) in Harrisonburg located in the Shenandoah Valley. I should have taken some photos of the mountains, but I was too busy talking. ;o)

No photographs of the quilts were allowed, but I encourage you to go to Carolyn’s website and look around. I think you will get a sense of her energy and wit.

Look at some of these lovelies in the museum collection-

Here is my practice block for the Dear Jane raffle quilt. All ready for stitching-

Thanks Cheryl for telling me about the Pam Buda applique tutorial and Bea for this interesting DJ blog - That Quilt. I mostly followed Pam’s method, but I thought Anina's way was very creative. I just didn’t think I could use her method with the starched fabric. I think I’m ready to try the real block – not even going to stitch the practice one first. It was getting to this point that had me nervous. It isn’t perfect, but I can live with that. I think I will make a reverse of this block – red on yellow – and use it for my sampler quilt.

I won Lori’s quilt giveaway! Summer started off right for me!

A Special Visitor

I had such a wonderful time with Regan today! She is as warm and fun in person as she is online. I showed her many of my quilts, some works in progress and my sewing room. After lunch, we headed out to The Quilt Patch in Fairfax. Regan purchased a pair of Machingers gloves and I purchased Kim Diehl’s new book Simple Graces. Regan and I have very similar quilting styles and we both like to cook, bake and preserve. She brought me these jars of salsa and sweet pickle relish. I can already tell you the salsa is yummy – just the right amount of heat (Regan, I want your recipe!). I gave her a jar of tomato sauce and my extra copy of the Ball Blue Book of Preserving.

Thanks to all of you who left comments of advice and encouragement on my last post. I guess I did sound very panicked. I now feel ready to start this little Dear Jane block and will let you know how it goes.

I hope you have a great weekend. I'll be on a bus trip to the Virginia Quilt Museum tomorrow to see Carolyn Lynch's exhibit "Articles of Merit Not Listed". Sounds interesting!

What was I thinking?

The Springfield chapter of Quilters Unlimited has started making the 2014 QU Show Raffle Quilt. The ladies on the committee have designed a quilt using Dear Jane blocks with batik fabrics. I believe there will be an appliqué border. At our last meeting I signed up to do B7 World Series. I don’t know what I was thinking. My appliqué skills are just okay. I saw a few finished blocks at our end of year luncheon – they are so small – 4 ½ inches! What was I thinking? I just received my kit and, as usual, Judy B. has included great instructions, but it’s up to me what method I use. She also referenced two websites – Dear Jane in the 30th Year of her Journey and Sharon's Dear Jane Pages. Oh, and I have to complete the block in 2 weeks! I plan to do a practice block. I know many quilters use silk thread to appliqué – do you recommend it? This fabric has been starched. Is there a particular method you suggest? Do you know of a good online tutorial? I looked at my books and I don’t have anything on hand appliqué. Do you know of a book on the subject? I welcome your advice.

Just Scrap Quilts

Amy was very humble about her quilts when I asked if I could post their photos on my blog – “these are just scrap quilts nothing special”. Oh, but I do think they are special. Look how she combined this Kaffe Fassett fabric with the repos in “Leftovers from Trade”. I LOVE IT! 

Amy's quilt made me think of this quilt I made for my oldest son a few years ago. He doesn’t like it because it is heavily quilted. I’m just not happy with my fabric choices, but I think it is perfectly comfortable and in the winter when I’m really cold at night this is the quilt I grab.

Here is a peek at Triangles. See this post for a little background. Friday evening I was thinking I needed more light calicos and as luck would have it, on Saturday I found some at my neighbors’ yard sale! I think most of the calicos I’m using are from the 70’s and 80’s. I’m tossing in some current day dots, plaids and strips. I’m showing two photos because I don’t think the third diagonal row of hst from the top looks good. It’s too bright. I think the calico was really a modern one from Joann’s. It might have been okay with something else, but the blue I paired it with was too bright. So I’m going with my replacement.

I’m so excited. I just signed up for Quiltmaking by Hand with Jinny Beyer at her studio in Great Falls. I recently decided I wanted to learn to piece by hand and who better to learn from than Jinny. I tried to get in her class in April, but they fill up quickly. She usually has 18-20 students! I didn’t know there was so much interest in handpiecing. Maybe the interest is more in Jinny! My class is in August.

Last Friday my youngest son took a friend to her prom. It was his first dance and I was surprised to hear that he was the one talking her into dancing!

It’s a quiet week here, which is good. I’m expecting a visit from Regan of Floating on a Quilted Cloud on Friday. She is in Virginia for her grandson’s graduation. I have some cleaning and straightening up to do. Long neglected because of recent activities. I’m so looking forward to meeting Regan.

Here is another of Amy's quilts-

Show Quilts II

Yesterday afternoon I dropped my daughter off at a hotel in Northwest DC where she will receive an orientation today and be off to Japan at 6AM on Saturday. Sigh…why do they have to leave!?! I want her to be independent and I want her to leave. I’m tired of her stuff lying around and lights on in the middle of the night. But I can’t help worrying about her. This is where quilt therapy comes to the rescue.

I’m working on a couple of projects – the hexies and Triangle quilt with the calicos. The hexies would be boring to show again and I’m not ready to share the Triangle blocks so here are some more show quilts. Yes, I will milk this for as long as I can! ; o )

Enjoy-

Tana’s quilt has an antique feel. Love the bold stars and fabrics.

This one has a lot of movement-

Don’t see too many pineapples-

Lina has appliquéd these beautiful flowers to linen and hand quilted it with YLI jean thread. A lot of show attendees lingered over this quilt. The pattern, designed by Kim McLean, can be ordered at Glorious Color. She contributed to the Glorious Applique blog while making this quilt. Lina also posted through flickr.

Ann is a pattern designer and Bloomers is one of her designs – so sweet. Love the scalloped border. I just noticed last night that Ann designed the cover quilt for the most recent (July/August 2011) issue of McCall’s Quilting. Another charming design – Congratulations, Ann! Her website is Gingham Girls. 

Jo designed this quilt on Electric Quilt for a contest by QuiltMaker magazine. It won!

Congratulations, Jo!

Show Quilts

The show is over and it was a success. It was fun, but I’m glad to free of the responsibility. I enjoyed meeting a lot of new people and getting to know others better.

This gorgeous quilt made by Kathy was one you saw as soon as you walked in the doors. Kathy is a teacher and long arm quilter for The Quilt Patch in Fairfax.

These cheery quilts showcase Sue’s creative designs-

Suzie didn’t piece the center of this quilt, but she added the border, which is perfect for it-

Susanne’s quilt, also one you saw as soon as you walked in, is just made up of squares. What an impact. Small squares in a large quilt and scrappy - love it!

We expected a long line down the sidewalk on Friday and Saturday, but were pleasantly surprised to find one on Sunday, too. Saturday afternoon was a little slow due, I think, to the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure that always coincides with our show.

See my string quilt - right in the center of the photo.

The raffle quilts. The one on the left is for the Virginia Quilt Museum and the drawing isn't until 2012. The one on the right was raffled off on Sunday. It was made by the Reston chapter of Quilters Unlimited. Some very talented ladies.

I did well with my purchases on Friday – only picked up some needles, a Sewline pencil and Synthrapol for that turquoise hand-dye I want to use with my crumb blocks. Oh, and I also found some items for my Featherweight – bobbins, a ¼” foot, belt and light bulb. All of that fit into my apron pockets, but Saturday I weakened at Schoolhouse Quilt Shoppe. Judie Rothermel had bundles of fat quarters that were very well priced and I loved the fabrics. I could say one fit in my pocket, but not the other, which had 27 FQs from the Heritage Center. I took some handwork with me Sunday to keep me away from the vendors. I was busy during the show – training volunteers and the like, but had plenty of time between shifts to see the quilts and shop.

I was a little worried Saturday morning as I drove to the show. I felt more tired than I had the night before. I did okay and rested on the couch Saturday evening and got a good nights’ sleep. I think taking handwork (kept me off my feet) and a big thermos of tea helped me through Sunday. I felt great on Monday and spent the day catching up on things around the house. Monday was the only evening we would all be together before my daughter goes to Japan so we went out for a family meal at one of our favorite restaurants – Mike’s American Grill.

I hope to catch up on all my favorite blogs soon.