Boulder Crest Quilts

A few days ago I went with a group of fellow quilters to tour Boulder Crest Retreat. Boulder Crest is for wounded military warriors and is located about an hour out of Washington D.C. It is still in the construction phrase and expects to open in the fall 2013. The area is being built entirely by donations. The land (37 acres) was given by a retired military man. The 3 cabins are being furnished by donations also, furniture, cabinets, appliances have all been given by nationally known companies. Boy scouts have worked on landscaping for eagle projects. And the local quilt groups- Waterford Quilters Guild, Joshua’s Hands, and local Bee groups- are providing quilts for beds, laps quilts, and give away quilts for children. Our tour included a nearly completed cabin. Each cabin has 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, kitchen and living area with a fireplace. They are lovely and functional for handicap needs. Each unit has lots of windows and a balcony to view the Blue Ridge foothills as well as the fishing pond on the grounds. There are big plans for this retreat. They hope to serve several hundred warriors and their families per year. Some will stay 2 nights or 2 weeks as they are able, giving the warriors a much needed break from long term recuperative strays and quality time with families. You may be sure that the local quilters will keep them well supplied with quilts.

100 Blocks Blog Tour!

Welcome to the Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks, Vol. 7 blog tour. I hope your travels have been enjoyable, at least you are not having to pay baggage fees with this tour. This issue features my block, 'Counter Spin'. Don't let the name blow you away. It's easy to make and has lots of color and layout possibilities. Her are some layout ideas. The table is very easy and a great gift idea. Row by Row is a bright and cheerful 9 block wall hanging. I have noticed that older I get the brighter my fabric choices. If you like traditional color themes then 'Pioneer' might be to your liking. The squares could be various fabrics just use one color choice to unify all the blocks. I chose brown to represent a water windmill of the old west. Have fun. Be sure to leave a comment and will be entered in the Quiltmaker's drawing for 2 great prizes. http://www.quiltmaker.com/blog

I'm in Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks magazine

What a hoot! I get to say that I’m in Quiltmaker’s 100 Blocks magazine, Vol. 7. Each issue of this magazine the completion gets tougher. The blocks are always great; these issues are terrific resource magazines for the future quilts you know. Need a gift, pull out the magazine. Check out my blog on Friday May 3 for quilt samples designed with my block. Look for it on newsstands or your favorite quilt shop on 7 May.

Turkish Needlework

Last week I gave a lecture to a local quilt guild. I hadn’t given this particular talk in several years so I was glad I still had my notes, along with all my props- needlework, scarves, and rugs. The lecture was on the needlework of Turkey. Some 20 years ago my husband had an assignment there and the entire family went with him. It was the most eventful and character building assignment we ever had during his military career. We arrived 10 days before the invasion of Kuwait and as a result we had to be vigilant of our surroundings. The events brought people of every culture together- American, British, Italians, and Turkish in a bond created by hardship. Due to this bond we all share our cultures a little more deeply than we might have otherwise have done. The needlework of the Turkish culture is ancient and beautiful. I am fortunate to have learned and collected bits and samples of them. They are samples treasure for my memories. This lecture allowed me to reconnect with those memories, good and difficut. The focus of my lecture is on Oya. Oya is the crochet trim on the edges of scarves. It conveys a woman’s thoughts or emotions thru the language of the oya. Each design of trim – be it flowers, beads, or grass sends a message. Chili pepper oya might say my marriage was unhappy from the start.

Quilt Show with Husband

My husband and I took a long weekend away from home and work. We went to Colonial Williamsburg to rest and see some friends. We slept late and had dinner out each night. We enjoyed a walk thru Colonial Williamsburg although it was very cold. An agreement was made that I would get one day for the Mid-Atlantic Quilt Show in Hampton (30 minutes south of Williamsburg). On Friday of the show we bought admittance tickets. My DH is no stranger around my quilting world; in fact he has made a few quilted items himself. Lately he has been making placemats as retirement gifts for coworkers (they must be retired military like him). We looked at the quilt exhibits but he began to get excited at the vendors area. I had a couple of small items I wanted to purchase at the vendors area and did so but my DH came out the winner of the buying game. Every time we came across patriotic fabric he had to look. He compared the bolts with his mental inventory of his own sash. At the first booth purchased he was taken back a little by the prices. But by the third booth purchase he just whipped out the credit card and picked up his yards of fabric. He returned home with more than a dozen yards of patriotic fabric to add to his sash and enjoyed the show very much.

New Year Resolutions

Every January I take an inventory of unfinished projects. I categorize them on the degrees of completion. Some only need the binding sewn on, some are waiting to be quilted, and some are packaged with fabric and pattern but not yet started. This inventory tells me 2 things, how many I have waiting and have accomplished in the previous year and what area of work I tend to neglect. Every year my goal is to complete more than I start or at least as many. Of course each year I fail – because there is always more beautiful fabric appearing calling to me to make a quilt from it. However not to sound like I don’t finish anything, I do. I do complete several quilts a year usually for business. This year I finished a several personal UFO’s that I donated to various organizations but I want to do more. Giving back to the community is my other resolution this year. The 3 years or so I have been busy and pursuing my own interests and that’s fine. I have though pushed my community work aside in doing so. This year I resolve to contribute again in that area. For me that means quilts for others. My quilt guild has a strong commitment of making quilts for others and I plan on attending the gatherings to help.

A new year with new goals. I am delighted to start this year with the annoucement of Quiltmaker Magazine re-releasing the very first issue of their popular '100 Blocks' magazine series. What a way to start the year for me! My block is # 61 named Ahoy on page 42. I love this block and have made several quilts using it. Each time I made a this quilt block I have rearranged the layout of the blocks giving the quilt a whole new look. If you have not bought yourself a copy yet hurry and do so. They are now collectibles. 100 possiable quilts to make in one magazine.