Autumn is in the Air

Autumn is in the air. It is here and the quilt season is picking up. Several areas around here are having quilt shows. The frenzy of preparing for the Houston Quilt Market and Festival is beginning. Reservations have been made for weeks if not months. Vendors are packing goods and attendees are checking weather forecasts for clothes packing. The excitment is building.

I too am attending Market and Festival. I am looking forward to what will be new in the way of fabrics and notions. I look forward to seeing the quilt exhibits and ponder how I can merge new techniques into my style. I look forward to the opportunity to expand my horizons with the thoughts of these possibilities.

Ladies who Lunch

Recently I had 'luncheon' with some former coworkers. The four of us have gone our separate ways but still keep in touch. We met at a large grocery store that has its own restaurant. I could sing the praises of this trend but that would be another blog. I will say our meals were excellent.

We talked of what we were currently doing. Our quilting and the quilting world in general. We spoke of the Houston Quilt festival - 2 of us are going this year. We even had some show and tell. I think the few people near us enjoyed this too.

'Jane' bought a quilt that her husband had chosen the fabric for, the 'Roy Rogers' collection. The quilt is inspired, her interpretation of a box television. She used fabric with a wood grain print for the television frame. Black and gray for the TV knobs and for the TV screen the focus fabric of the collection.

scatter about the 'floor' area were applique horse shoes framing vignettes of the collection fabrics The border was completed with cowboy print fabric.

What talent she has and a wonderful tribute to the memories of our youth.

Summer is Here

Summer is here with a force. Even before the offical start of summer the heat had arrived and the air conditioner was kicking into overdrive. We have been doing the usual summer stuff, such as mowing the lawn multiple times a week, cleaning the porch and watching children play now that school is out. I also have raspberry vines that have ripened all at once. But that is a blog story in its self.

One of the projects we have wanted to do for some time was tile the floor of the screened back porch. The floor was indoor/outdoor carpet from the previous owner. We had lived with it for several - make that too many years. So it became the first summer project of this year.

In the late spring my DH "beefed' up the foundation to carry the extra weight of the tile work. Then there was the stripping of the old and laying of the new sub-floor. About now you are wondering what this has to do with quilting.

Now is where my 'training' as a quilter came into the play. It's all about the color. I wanted a netural beige floor as it would help make the area look larger. A bolder color would make the room looker smaller and limit the possibilities to accessorize. I chose a large (16 inch) beige tile and a medium rose-beige grout. Too light of a grout color would blend into a monotone floor and too dark would be all you would notice.

I decided not to lay the tile in a straight horizontal layout but an off-set like brick work. It is much more interesting. After a few days of very hard and dirty work, we have a new tiled floor. After a fresh coat of paint of the half walls, we are pleased with the results.

Again, you might ask what this has to do with quilting; the answer is - probably not much. It took time away from my sewing room but I needed the exercise. I think I have gained confidence in my quilting years to know I can try new things. Color theory has taught me to choose and balance colors for the results I want. In this case, my result was a relaxing area to sit and enjoy a summer morning with a cup of tea.

Spring Market

I haven't been here in more than a month! It's been a busy month. Classes to teach, quilts to make. All of this preparation has been leading up to Quilt Spring Market.

I'm pleased to say that one quilt I made appeared at the Windham Fabrics booth. It was a real treat to hear that it would be traveling to shops across the country as a sample.

Spring Market was very sucessful for all I think. The manfactors had wonderful products and the shops owners seem pleased and willing to shop. Windham's Paisley Panache, Baltimore Album, and Gettysburg collections are sure to please all. The partnership with Jenny Haskins produced "When Flowers Dream" a romantic collection.

Robin Pandoph had three collections showing at market. I should get that much work done in a time period. Currently available is Beach House, a fade pastel collection. Fancy Hill Farm is a holiday collection which will be available in June. Lastly, Rue Saint Germain will be available in September and I can't wait.

I saw an equal variety of civil war reproductions, bright batiks and Asians. #30's era reproductions are making a comeback. Several companies had new collections.

Terra Cotta

I thought I would write my blog about a recent visit to the National Geographic museum to see the Terra Cotta Warrior exhibit. It was a wondrous experience. I spent the day with my daughter and grandchildren on a chilly but sunny spring day.

The Emperor who created the project was both a genius and mad. Really, mad! He conquered and united China. He also thought that doses of Mercury would extend his life. It didn't.

The exhibit was entirely about the clay figures. Not just the soldiers but musicians, entertainers, horses, and water birds (swans, etc.). All life size. Well not all, as it happens life size horses in clay are too big to fire. They fall apart.

There wasn't a bit of cloth anywhere. But there was a design or two engraved into building bricks that would make great quilting lines.

Spring has arrived

Today was my quilt guild's monthly bee. We have meetings every month but on the 4th Wednesday of the month we meet at a member's home for an old fashion bee. We bring something to work on as we talk of quilt guild business, accomplishments, disappointments, and children. Today we did all that and more.

The sun was shinning today, it has most of this week. Spring has finally arrived and the daffodils are blooming and the grass is turning green again. It has been a hard winter as it has for most of the country. Lots of snow and ice. We had to cancel several guild events due to weather. We are so happy to see the sun again. It rejuvenates us as it does the earth.

Part of the renewed energy is reflected in planning this year's 'raffle' quilt. The design has been decided and now we are collecting fabric to make the top. Members are volunteering to work on the committee and dates discussed on when to meet.

The lunch break is called and we gather, in this case, to a hearty soup courtesy of our hostess. Side dishes have been bought by us and recipes are shared. Before we know it is time to return to our respective home's, rich with plans and memories. We look forward to the next bee to share life with friends.

Mid-Atlantic Quilt show

Last weekend I went to the Mid-Atlantic Quilt show in Hampton, Virginia. I go almost every year. The show is a Mansuco production that has held for many years. I go almost every year. The quilt exhibits were top quality. The quilts were beautiful to look at, to admire the fine stitches, and maybe to learn something from. While I did not take any classes this year there are classes to meet every need.

Dozens of vendors were there. Batik and many types of fabrics were available. Notions of every kind were there to stock up on and more types of rulers than I have ever seen. I bought some lovely specially threads.

One trend I noticed was the number of 'raffle quilts' from regional quilt guilds and groups. There must have been a half dozen or more. I was impressed with the number of course but also with the beauty and quality of these opportunity quilts. I spent has much money on these quilts as I spent on the vendors. Knowing that I not only have a chance, slight as it may be, to win the quilt, it is also knowing that I am helping a charitable group and helping a neighboring quilt group.