Quilted Dinner in Houston

I just returned from the Quilt Market in Houston, Texas. The weather was 10/15 degrees warmer than what I left at home. I prefer warmer tempts, so I was a happy camper to start with. I made note of all the trends (nothing really new) and the upcoming fabric collections (I like the Studio E’s collections).

The real purpose of my trip was to see the Quilt Show – especially the exhibits. As the Quilt Festival has now begun I am able to announce that I have an entry in “What’s for Dinner” exhibit. It is the second time I have enter something in more than my local guild show, which is an excellent way to start showing your quilts, but this is the first time I have been accepted.  It is a real boost for the ego.

The premise of the ‘What’s for Dinner’ is to create a placemat featuring a meal of your choice in fabric. I chose a young child’s meal of Mac & Cheese, green peas, and watermelon slices. Spill milk completes the meal. I made fabric tubes and inserted pipe cleaners so they would bend for the mac & cheese. The peas were made of felted wool balls over dyed to the correct color and the watermelon seeds are beads.

There were many wonderful meals presented. I hope you enjoy the pictures of some of the meals.

 

Rummage Sale

 

The ladies society for the local hospital hosts a rummage sale each year. The proceeds funds various health related items in our hospital and county. The event is free or one can buy the ‘early bird’ ticket for a small fee, which allows entry one hour before the official opening. This event has taken place for 76 years. Each year it seems larger than the last. It currently is held at the Equestrian Center which has a huge arena and several barns.  The large arena hosts the electronics, furniture, kitchen ware, linens, and vintage items. Everyone attends; people do come from an hour or more away.

Of course my husband had a list of tools he wanted to look for. I did not have a list; my job was to limit the number of items my husband would want to bring home.  I was wandering in the vintage area and saw 2 treadle sewing machines. One was a Singer which had a sold sticker on it. The other was a Pfaff.  The Pfaff stand and table looked to be in very good condition but the wood cover was locked so we could not see the machine itself. The key was missing and no could open it with any tools available there; this is likely why it had not yet been sold.

I took a leap of faith and said I would take it as is. The outer appearance looked in such good condition I could only hope the machine would be also.  I paid the $50. and we loaded it in the van.

My husband has placed it in the basement for the time being. He found a tool to open the cover without damaging the wood cover.  My faith was rewarded. The machine can be a treadle; but the machine and cover can be lifted out of the table to be portable. The machine has a hand crank in its portable mode. I did an internet search and the serial number places the machine to have been made in Mannheim Germany in 1905. In the coming months we will clean and polish and place it in a place of honor in our home.

Old time Qulting

A neighboring town is on the National Historic Register. It was founded before the revolutionary war. With such a history it is not surprising that the town is proud to show off each year with a Colonial theme Autumn Fair.  Vendors with handmade crafts fill the open park areas and several historic homes are open for tours.

 

My local quilt guild was founded in this 'village' in 1982. We now meet in another nearby town but the ties to the village are still strong. Each year our quilt guild demonstrates the art of quilting over the 3 day fair. We raffle a quilt especially made for this event.  A large share of the proceeds from this quilt supports a one room school house. The school house has a living history program for 4th graders in our and surrounding counties. Children are encouraged to dress the part of students in the 1900's style and experience lessons on a slate board. No computers in this classroom.

 

The picture is me sitting at the quilt frame demonstrating on a quilt which will be donated later. It is not the raffle quilt.