Field Trip!

I had a block included in Quiltmaker’s 100 Blocks, Vol.7’ issue this spring. A friend of mine, Renelda Peldunas Harter, also had a block in the issue. We used the opportunity to visit with several quilt shops in our region.  Visiting the shops was great fun. It was the first time I had been to a couple of the shops and they were wonderful in atmosphere and quality.

 

We each gave a talk at the shop about the blocks we had designed. We spoke of what inspired us, how we design – paper or digital, or both- and the construction the featured block. We brought samples of the featured block, a quilt, and other quilts of interest from past block entries.

 

We encouraged the attendees to try their own design process and perhaps enter them into fairs or magazines. You never know when or where the next great trend may come from.

 

The Shops we visited:

Capital Quilts, Gaithersburg, Maryland

Patches Quilting & Sewing, Mt. Airy, Maryland

Seminole Sampler, Catonsville, Maryland

The Scrappy Apple, Winchester, Virginia

Quilts for Grandson

I had the pleasure of seeing my first grandchild graduate from high school last week. All the family – parents, grandparents, and his Aunt told stories of memories (actions) of his childhood. His younger sister took great pleasure in these embarrassing stories until her Aunt reminded her that in four years it would be her turn to be embarrassed.

 

I have made several quilts for him (my grandson) though the years. The first item was his christening gown and then an heirloom quality quilt to match. The next quilt featured cars and trucks with yo-yos for the wheels; it was dragged on the floor for several years.

 

This year I made a wall hanging of Boy Scout fabric in honor of his Eagle Scout achievement.  This summer I will be busy making a bed covering long enough for those dorm beds. We are very proud of him as you can tell. Congrats to all graduates and their families.

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.