QUILT MARKET FAVORITES

I took my camera to the market, but unfortunately I did not take many pictures.  I was only there for a few days, and I had an agenda to get completed.  It was a very successful market. I'm excited for the new fabrics to arrive and I purchased several different patterns to make and showcase.

I was able to meet up with some quilting friends.

Linda and I ran into the International Quilt Market Insta-cam.

Just prior to catching the shuttle back to the airport, I ran through the quilts on display and took a few photos of some of my favorites.... :-)  (Please keep in mind there are probably 100 or more quilts being showcased at the market, and I only had time to view about a quarter of them).

QUILTING BEE: Family Style

Twice each year, my cousin Linda and I try and get together for a little family style quilting bee.  In the past, I've gone to her home or she has came to my home, and we spend our time together sewing. (See this post of past quilting retreat).  I have to confess that I rather go to her house, as she has a  sewing room to die for and she feeds me like a queen! (Its a win, win for me!!)

This year, we decided to meet at a half way point between our houses in Missoula, Montana! I packed the car with my sewing machine, bolts of fabric and other essentials to get through the weekend; and hit the road! 

Linda did some research and found a hotel that accommodates people like us....quilters!

Ruby's Inn & Convention Center

We stayed two nights at Ruby's Inn on Reserve Street.  While its an older establishment, the accommodations were PERFECT and we couldn't ask for better hospitality. 

Our room was large enough to host two KING size beds, and we still had plenty of room to set up our sewing stations.

The manager of the hotel even offered and delivered a banquet table to our room for our sewing machines.  We set up the ironing board and transformed a small dining table into our cutting station. 

By 5 p.m., we were set up and anxious to get started.  

A quick mug shot to capture the memory...and we hit the ground running!  

To be continued...

BLOCK PARTY: VIII

I completed the last block in the American Heritage Quilt!  

I was so excited that I immediately laid out all the blocks and started piecing them together. It did not take long to discover that the quilt top did not look right.  It was not squaring up!  No matter how many times I measured, I was an inch off on one side of the width AND an inch off on one side of the length.  There was no way I was going to sew on the borders until I fixed the problem.  I have put in a lot of time and energy into this kit, and I want it to be perfect. Thank goodness for seam rippers.  I disassembled the quilt top and measured each one of the blocks for accuracy; and by the fifth block, I found the culprit.  Block IV!

Lord knows what my mental state of mind was when I assembled this block, but I can tell you that it was put together while I was recovering from a broken leg AND probably on strong pain medication.  Word of advise:  Do not operate machinery (including sewing machines) when using strong pain medication!

After several hours of ripping and sewing, I fixed the problem and reassembled the quilt top. I am just about finished sewing on the borders, but I am not going to share until the top is complete!  Sew....stay tuned!      

M.I.A.

This past week I was M.I.A. (i.e. missing in action) in the blogging world.  No particular reason, but I had absolutely nothing to post onto the blog. I drew a blank and I couldn't get my creative juices flowing. It was a normal week.  I did my normal weekly routine, but I just could not come up with anything to share. I was able to put in a few hours of sewing, but I didn't want to blog any of the projects until I got them finished.

                                

I did have a visitor the entire week. Krawl stayed with us while our daughter, Katie, was on vacation.

I spent several hours mending the quilt my son's dog chose to use as a chew toy.  Luckily, I had a few left-over scraps in my stash to patch the back and quilt top.  There were three places to fix, and the first two areas I mended went without a hitch; but the last piece (the biggest, of course) gave me nothing but grief.  I'd sew it together, rip it out, and start all over again.  The  outer border is made out of a plaid fabric, and I was trying match the lines when sewing on the patch. The lines never would match up, but I did the best I could.  

The quilt is now mended and heading back to Chicago. 

  

BLOCK PARTY Part IV

I finished another block to my American Heritage quilt.   I'm getting them done, slowly but surely.  I think this block would be awesome in a quilt on its own.  Very patriotic.

MOTHER'S DAY SALE

MOTHER'S DAY SALE

 30% off on all Charm Packs/5" squares @ www.myfabricobsession.com

 Hurry, as the sale ends May 14th.

APPLE OF MY EYE

Yesterday, I came home to find a package at the front door.  New fabric arrived!!  Here is just a sample of a few of the prints that are offered in this line of fabric.

Riley Blakes:  Apple of My Eye by the Quilted Fish.  

This fabric is so adorable!
An array of coordinating fabrics in turquoise, red, pink, yellow and white.  

I'll be selling pre-cuts @ www.myfabricobsession.com.   Check it out!!

QUILT RETREAT

Besides meeting monthly, my quilt group gets together once a year for a little overnight retreat.  One year, we spend the weekend in Walla Walla (Washington) touring local quilt shops and wine tasting! This year we decided to stay close and work on a project.  Merry graciously let us all use her condo at Schweitzer Ski Resort in Sandpoint, Idaho.

While there was still a lot of snow on the ground, the weather was fabulous and the scenery was beautiful!

Each of us was responsible for bringing food for a particular meal.  I brought baked spaghetti for dinner and some cupcakes for a late night treat.

Since the girls liked my Traveling Tote bag so much, I made up a kit for each of them, and we spent our time together sewing our bags.

(Hi Merry!)

Besides spending several hours sewing, we talked about each of our families, ate some wonderful food, soaked in the hot tub, watched a movie, and had a GREAT time!  

And best of all, we each came home with a new travel tote bag!

(P.S.  Thanks Merry for your gracious hospitality!)

MONDAY MADNESS: Favorites

Whether I am sewing by machine or by hand, these are a few of my favorite "MUST HAVES"!  I wouldn't sew without them!

My true left handed Gingher scissors!  I have threatened my children's (and hubby's) lives if I catch them using my scissors.   

I also have several pairs of  4" embroidery scissors throughout my house and sewing baskets.

Bernina Walking Foot!!! 

1"x6" Non Skid Ruler

Metler Silk Finish cotton thread 

Pilot Frixion Heat Sensitive Disappearing Ink pens 

Leather thimble

Big Eye Quilting needles

Everyone has their favorite quilting/sewing treasures.  What are yours?