Sunday, November 24, 2013

SOME PROJECTS AND A TRIP

Before leaving on a trip to Florida for Thanksgiving, I was working on a few projects for Christmas.  I'm putting them on this blog because I'm pretty sure these people do NOT read my blog.

The first one is going to be a table runner for one of my DILs.  The picture to the right of the cut out fabric is from one of Jo Morton's books and I'm just making one of the blocks which will be in the middle of the table runner .  On each side, she wants me to make a design that copies one of Frank Lloyd Wright's window (she majored in architecture in college). I'm not sure how I will do that yet, but I'll try it.


Next, are three things I made for Abby's dolls:

Nightgown for Gracie

Red hooded cape for Gracie

Sling to carry dolls on her hip.
My sister came to Pensacola on her way to visit my cousin in southern Florida and yesterday we went to see the Pensacola light house.


In the museum, I found some quilts in one of the bedrooms.




We both actually climbed to the top of the lighthouse!!!  I didn't think I would do it, but we got started and there were places we could stop to catch our breath, so before we knew it we had climbed up all 177 of the steps!!  And were very proud of ourselves!


I hope you have a good weekend!

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

WHERE DID LAST WEEK GO?

My goal last week was to finish quilting my GD's quilt so I could take it to my guild meeting on Monday and then send it to my GD.  Well, I had problems with my sewing machine, so on Friday I took it to be serviced thinking it would take about a week.  I decided to make a new purse with the pattern and fabric I bought in Oregon last summer at BJ's Quilt Shop since I could use my Featherweight.  It is so nice to have a "back up" sewing machine!  


I really liked the purse when I saw their sample hanging in the shop and the directions were quite complicated, but I got it finished in time for church on Sunday!


Both sides look the same, so it is confusing.  I keep getting into the wrong pocket.  There is a zippered pocket and an outer pocket with a snap on each side.


Inside there is a pocket for my cell phone and two other pockets.  I still haven't gotten everything organized yet.


While we were in Oregon, I found this "toy" ironing board at a garage sale (where else?) and couldn't resist.  DH refinished it for me.


Yesterday I made an ironing board cover for it since we will be taking Abby's Christmas and birthday gifts with us when we go to her house for Thanksgiving.


View of the top.  Now we just have to find a toy iron for it!


Oh, my sewing machine was fixed by Saturday, so I went and picked it up.  It seems to be working fine, but I had to re-prioritize my quilting and some other items will come before my GD's quilt.

Hoping for no sewing machine problems for all during this busy time of year.

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

MORE WONDERFUL QUILTS!

Here are some more quilts from the International Festival of Quilts in Houston, TX.  I just wish I had taken my better camera, but at least you can get a pretty good idea of some of the quilts that I liked best.  There were so many and my battery ran down.  In fact my phone went totally dead.  Lesson learned - bring better camera.

Log Cabin Quilt - hand quilted.

Friends of Baltimore - Amazing!!
 

Texas Gold - one of my favorites!
 The description of these next two quilts was too blurry to read unfortunately, so I don't know their names.

This was intriguing - the fabric was folded in each square to make roses.




Milady - another of my favorites!


My First Trip to Baltimore


Nite Owl


This quilt won an award

This quilt was all pieced with what looked like 1/2" pieces!!

Placemat quilt which was part of a special exhibit.

Another award winning quilt


Gorgeous!!


It would have taken days to really study all the quilts to see how they were made, etc. and I only had a few hours, but it was a wonderful few  hours!  I hope you enjoyed a glimpse of the festival.

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

INTERNATIONAL QUILT FESTIVAL IN HOUSTON

I had always wanted to go to the International Quilt Festival in Houston, but it never seemed to work out, but THIS YEAR, I decided to make it happen.  I signed up for a bus (same day) trip for this weekend. I left the house about 5:45 AM and got home at 9:15 PM.  We arrived at the convention center about 10:10 AM and had until 4:00 PM to see everything.  

I got the pink bag along with my ticket and a show pin along with the price I paid for the bus ride.  The first few pictures are the things I bought from vendors.  


Some fabrics from Primitive Gatherings.

A Buggy Barn Calendar, new quilting gloves and a pattern.

Thera-Glove (support hose for your hands).  Maybe these will help with the tingling and numbness.
OK.  Now on to the quilts!  First of all, the "BEST OF SHOW" Quilt.  I don't know if you can read the description in the picture under the quilt, but it was based on a picture taken at the Dallas Arboretum last December.  We saw this boat when we went there with some friends!



I hope you enjoy seeing some of the quilts that I liked best.  I didn't always take a picture of the description because I couldn't always get a good view of it.  Sorry about that.


Universal Ties



The 16-patches were bought in an antique shop and I love how  this was put together.



A Petite Heirloom



The original baby quilt
I really liked this old baby quilt and the reproduction of it above.  It is the kind of thing that is fun to do.  \




I will post more amazing quilt pictures tomorrow.