day 10 ... loud

 Today's subject was a difficult one for me. Our new life here in Texas is a quiet one, made even quieter by a rainy day. The Burtons visited this morning and while that added a great deal of happiness to my day they were not loud. After they left we ran to Patrick's office to pick up some papers he needed and the remainder of the day was spent in quiet rainy day activities. Patrick read and I pieced a quilt. The loudest thing about our day besides the occasional rumble of thunder (let me know if you figure out how to photograph that) was my sewing machine which, while it was the loudest thing in our house today, really just hums beautifully.

sewing...

My sewing room is only half set up. There are still a few boxes, some unwanted furniture and only a make shift cutting table but I am back in front of my sewing machine. I have been invited to a neighborhood baby shower. The day before I received my invitation I got an email from the hostess saying that she knows I don't really know the expectant mom but that all of the ladies on the street will be there would I please come. I of course said yes which means I need to sew. I threw together I quick quilt planning my design around the ease of quilting it. I am a terrible machine quilter. I just am. In order to machine quilt ( in free motion) one must have rhythm. I have none. So if I wanted this quilt done in time for the shower I know it had to be something that would be quilted in straight lines using my walking foot. I love the design! It is so simple and I was able to cut, piece and quilt it in two days. I am going to bind it today and then I will post a photo of the finished quilt.

quilts, quilts, quilts...

I have been neglecting my blog. I am sorry, things have been very hectic. Our house in Maryland is under contract and we are moving in 10 days!! I am taking a break from list making, phone calls and organizing for the movers to post the promised pictures of the quilts from the show.

There were quilts of every kind. The creativity and talent were both awe inspiring and a little daunting.

simple and beautiful

An amazing portrait made completely of fabric yo-yos.

The points on this quilt were perfect.

This quilt was created using lots of small pieces of fabric that were placed
on top of a larger piece of fabric. It was all then covered by
tulle and the quilting was done on top of that.

I love red and white quilts and am collecting reds for one of my own.

The focus of this year's show was Baltimore Album Quilts so applique like this were around every corner.

This hand pieced beauty was made up of approx 23,000 pieces. Can you imagine?

Wow right?

 I saw many,many beautiful quilts, each made my heart happy. This next quilt was awesome and thought provoking. With all that is happening in Haiti and the hurricanes hitting there as I walked the floor of the festival this quilt tugged at your heart. I can not get this quilt out of my mind. Painted then quilted by Hollis Chatelain this quilt brought tears to my eyes. You absolutely must click on the next to photos to see them larger. The painting is beautiful but the quilting is incredible. The quilting shows images of other children...

Amazing!!

the quilt festival

After a weekend spent running around Houston like crazy it was time for some fun. I was so excited to go to the quilt show. I have wanted to go for so long. I had my supplies all packed up the night before and I was up before the sun without complaining. On Monday and Tuesday I spent my days in classes. When I was checking in I told the woman behind the desk that it was my first show and I was more excited than a kid a Christmas. She was so sweet she gave me a ribbon for my badge and gave me lots of helpful hints to make the most of the festival.

Monday morning was the 2 for 1 Hula lesson class where we learned to cut a Hawaiian quilt. It is much like making paper snow flakes. I also learned a better way to machine applique. Yeah!

My Hawaiian quilt has palm trees on it, this one is the sample from the class. I will share a photo when I get it appliqued ( which by the way is also when it is quilted. The applique acts as the quilting. Double Yeah!)

  My practice machine applique.

On Monday afternoon I took a class that taught how to emboss bamboo quilt batting. If I did more scrap booking I would do a lot of this. It was very fun to learn but I am not sure it is something I would do a lot of. (The finished product will cover a book.)

Tuesday I took an all day class on paper piecing.  I think I am going to be hooked. Paper Piecing is a wonderful way to create very intricate quilts. I started the tree skirt in the class and I am hoping to finish it before Thanksgiving. I also bought a kit for a paper pieced quilt.  The instructor was a wonderful lady named Deb Karasik. If you interested in paper piecing, need patterns or tools or just want to see some beautiful quilts take a look at her wed site.

(tree skirt in progress)

One of the best parts of an all day class is the time they allow you to get to know the others in the class. I made a new friend. Marika came all the way from Sweden to visit the quilt festival. She quilts and is interested in starting her own fiber arts business making handbags.  Not only did we spend a day taking a class together but we were able to get together later in the week too.

Me and Marika ( taken by the valet )

Next time I will show you some of the extraordinary quilts!!!

christmas is coming

On Tuesday this rainbow of fabrics will be transformed into a Christmas tree skirt. I have been saying I wanted to make a quilted tree skirt for a very, very long time. It is just one of the classes I will be taking at the Quilt Festival.  We will be paper piecing the tree skirt, another of the things on my list of things to do/learn. The skirt top should be finished at the end of class. That means I then have to bring it home, sandwich it, quilt it and bind it. Anyone who knows me knows it takes me FOREVER to complete the quilting portion. I am hoping to have it finished in time to go under the tree this year. Wish me luck!