Where are the lazy, hazey days of summer?

How is it possible that it has been two months (less one day) since my last post? And summer is coming to an end, it was 55 degrees this morning. I was tempted to put socks on!

What has been keeping me so busy you might ask? Along with my usual jobs, I have been teaching twice a week at a local quilt shop. In addition I've been putting in lots of extra hours at the computer at the Volvo Club's new website. The integration of our database to the new software of the site has been less than smooth. In fact for the first time in 25 yrs of this job I seriously thought about if I could make up the income with more quilting.

We did have one lovely week off in the Finger Lakes. We visited wineries, breweries, quilt shops, yarn shops, took a cruise on Seneca Lake and stayed in a charming B&B.

See you soon, I am off to the studio to quilt!

Baltimore Album - Amazing

I recently had the pleasure of quilting an amazing example of a Baltimore Album Quilt 96" square. This was a four year project of Rhoda Bushnell, a customer of mine. She call this her mourning quilt as she made it in the months and years following her husband death. Here is the kicker, its not hers! She was hired to make it for a friends daughter in AZ. I sure hope she charged enough, not that you ever could. Enjoy the show!

This is the center block

More of the center top

Side view of center block

Corner of center block

One of four wreath blocks surrounding the center

a second wreath block

Cornucopias in each corner

Center block flanked by four large baskets, this is one

Last row, notice- no borders.

Last but not least, the back.

Socks!

After much trepidation I finally got the courage to make a pair of socks. They are about an inch too long but hey, finished is better than perfect! I have already started another pair, hopefully they will fit better.

My First Zentangle Quilt

Lat month I took a class from Pat Ferguson at MQX on Zentangle. I have been playing a bit and finally decided to put my needle to cloth. Here are my results. I love it! The Zentangle tile is on the left and my quilt, enlarged 200% from the tile is on the right.

MQX

Third Place Small Wholecloth

My expression does not do justice to my excitement at winning this ribbon. Do you think David could have taken another picture? or waited for a smile? He claims he was focused on the quilt, I guess it could be worse.

A visit to Old Sturbridge Village

On our way to MQX quilt show in Providence, RI we took an extra couple days and visited Old Sturbridge Village. It had been at least 30 yrs. since our last visit and in our early marriage we were members (courtesy of my parents) and visited often. Thankfully it has not changed much. Life in the 1830s seemed like a pleasant time to be alive. Between wars, technology was advancing, for the first time people had leisure time as there were machines to do some of the labor of the past. If you are ever passing by be sure to plan a visit, well worth your time.

As you approach the village

The village green

The sawmill

Oxen at rest

The blacksmith shop

The manor house, opposite end of the green from the church

Stopping for a chat

David, checking the map of the grounds.

Spring!

Well, by the calendar anyway, yesterday we had more snow... and not just flurries either. Shoveling is getting old!


Not much new here, I finished the One Block Wonder quilt and my customer was here to pick it up before I got it unpinned. So no new pictures, but she loves it, whew!

Last week I took a bus trip to the AQS Lancaster, PA quilt show. Up at 4AM back home at 11:45. Looong day....
The quilts were amazing, the vendors plentiful, the company outstanding. Here is a picture of some of my loot.

First thing I purchased this wonderful basket to carry all my stuff. I found a new presser foot for my Featherweight machine, and belts for same and a treadle. A couple new books, one on piecing and one on Zentangle. A bunch of new stencils, not pictured, and a very cool powdered fusible product. I have already used that on on my damaged wholecloth.
And last but not least a piece of George Washington fabric for my mother. She has a "thing" for George. How many have a George wall in their home? Nuff said.