Autumn Day on the old Planation

Sully Plantation in Northern Virginia holds an annual Quilt show each September. It is an outdoor event on the remaining grounds of the historic site. Quilts are displayed, vendors reunited and local guilds host. Children's activies are available with an emphasis on living and quilting in the 'olden days'. Tours are given through the historic 18th century house.

The show is held rain or shine so you know there were a lot of prayers for good wealther. The wealther was perfect. Everyone enjoyed the lovely day.

Late afternoon came and the families and quilters left for home. The staff and vendors packed up their tents and wares and drove away. The home became quiet again, the grounds bare, only the cars on the nearby highway to break the silence. For a few hours the laughter of children and oohs of adults brought the old grounds alive again.

Labor Day Weekend

Can you believe summer is over already? How quickly time goes by each year. I made a promise to myself that I would thoroughly clean my sewing room this summer. Thin out the magazines, pull selves from the walls, well you get the idea. It didn't happen. Big surprise, right.

But I did accomplish some things this summer. I had the surgery for my bum knee. That was a good thing. Knowing that I would be lay up so to speak for a while, I prepared several projects for hand work. I now have several quilts with binding and three small projects that needed hand quilting completed. Later this summer when I was moving around again, I went to work at my long arm Tin Lizzie. Several quilts are no longer in the UFO pile waiting.

This weekend as we celebrate Labor Day, I used the time to put in some labor. I completed a Holiday wall-hanging I have had planned for a couple of years. As the darkness descended I put in the last stitches on the top. Tomorrow I will load it up on the long arm machine. No last minute stitches the night before Christmas.

I will taken a leap of faith this year and entered the world of vending at major quilt shows. Two shows are this month. One is a 'one day show' in this region, the other is the Mancuso Pennsylvania show the 17 -20th of Sept. If you are in the region try to attend. It sounds like it will be a terrific show. I will show you the 'Labor Day' quilt.

Maybe I will get the sewing room cleaned for the Holidays.

Wow

A couple of days ago I posted on my facebook that I had been accepted to vendor at two major shows. In the last two days I have amazed at the response I have gotten from people. Happy news is always welcomed weather it is yours or someone else's. It warms the heart.

For those of us over...30, its is always surprising the vastness and speed of technology. I have connected with high school friends and the childhood neighbors.

So, thank you for the warm wishes. I hope to see you at the Pennsylvania show and Houston Festival. Stop by a say "Hi".

A New Generation

Recently I taught a small group of young ladies (10 years) how to sew a tote bag. The bag had a nine-patch front and was lined. I could and did make a sample in a couple of hours. The class consisted of two sessions of three hours each. We needed every minute.

This class was no exception to any other class I have taught or been a student of, young or old. One student hasn't any experience at all. She needs extra time to be shown the basics of the sewing machine and sewing tools. Do not misunderstand, I am not criticizing, she simply hasn't experience.

Another student has experience and is usually two steps ahead of the rest of the class. Sometimes this can be fortunate as she may help another student if the need arises.

I find it interesting that all students have "strenghts. It may be an eye for color, natural ability at the machine, or a strong desire. What is interesting is which "strenghts" lies with which person. The student that may need extra help may have the strong desire. She will not give up. The speedy student may have the eye for color.

By the end of the first session they have doubts about this project. Sewing a straight line is harder than they thought. The frustration of ripping seams apart when one square is sewn backwards shows in long sighs.

The end of the class results in completed tote bags. The pride shows in their faces. Showing-off their tote bags to all who will look: they talk of plans to make more bags for family and friends.

So begins another generation of sewers and quilters.

Well, I am recovered from knee surgery. Just about. A simple procedure but I hobbled around for a while. Still can not get on my knees so someone else will have too clean to the shower for a while yet. Gee I won't mind that.

I did plan ahead for the down time I would have recovering. I had 2 quilts ready for hand sewing the bindings, and several small wall hanging ready for hand quilting. I read a couple of books too. I should be this organized all the time I would accomplish so much more, maybe I would have fewer UFO's. But then I wouldn't be a true quilter without UFO's, right?

I have resolved to make better use of the time left this summer. Time goes by too quickly to say tomorrow is another day.

Welcome All,

Try the free download pattern for your "Daily Fruits and Veggies" table runner. http://www.box.net/files#0:f:29226792

This pattern will make up beautifly with wonderful fabrics featuring fruits and vegetables that are now available. The pattern features a table runner but also try one block to create a place mat.

Enjoy the summers bounty all year long.

Spring Market in Pittsburgh

Well, that was exciting. I have never been to Pittsburgh before and I drove 4 hours to get there. I have never cared for city driving before. I sure was glad to have the GPS to guide me. Once there it was easy to drive to the covention center and back to my hotel.

Pittsburgh has a wonderful convention center. It is next to the river and a train bridge runs across the river. You can almost reach out and touch it. Yet you cannot hear it inside the center.

Market is always exciting with the colors, new items unveiling, and anticipation in the air. I thought there were fewer booths than fall market but that is usually true of spring. I noticed several new vendors at this market. It is a brave soul who sets up here for their first market, not knowing what to expect.

People were shopping though. I thought that the fabric collections this season were exceptionally good. Every manufacturer had several 'must haves'. Hoffman's Red Hots, Maywood's black and gold paisley, and too many more to mention. I also heard several authors speak about their new books.

Lesley Riley has a new book 'Fabulous Fabric Art with Lutradur'; very interesting how she has used a product usually used for something else and adapted it for textile art. It can be a cross-over for Art,quilts, or scrapbooks. That's why it got my attention.

I think the months to come will challenge us to choose from the many wonderful fabrics and notions that will be available to us. Keep stitching.