Monday, May 23, 2011

Garden or Quilt? Silly question

It's finally warmed a bit, so between raindrops I am digging in the garden. I have a thistle patch driving me nuts. Make that 5 Thistle patches. I don't think there is anything known to man that will kill the Canadian Thistle. If it stayed short I might not mind it so much.  I don't mind the yellow dandelions, but don't want those fuzzy seedheads. I could get to like the thistle too, but it has fuzzy seedheads and prickers!

This is what I have been quilting for the last month. It's the traditional Irish Chain colored differently. I would date it around the late 60's or early 70's.  If I could sell it for a few hundred dollars I would. Someone donated the top to our church quilting group, so church would get the proceeds. Any takers.  This one is about 86" x 97". Our comfort quilts are usually half the size.
Also this month the church ladies got together twice to work on the raffle quilt. The blocks are in rows and I brought it home to finish. Also, I gave a lecture and workshop for a local guild and Group Therapy aka Friday Night Quilt as Desired has started up again at my house.
Sometimes it all feels so routine. Ain't that great? Some days the hardest decision I have to make is whether to quilt or to garden. Here's wishing you the same.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

And the winner is...

I wasn't a big winner but I did win a ribbon on this album quilt. I really didn't expect to win anything. I know I am good, but lots of the good local quilters enter the Crazy Quilter's show cause there are cash prizes for the winners and it is a good show.

 I call the quilt Friday Night Special, cause I worked on the top Friday nights while quilting with the girls. It's some of the best work I've done on the longarm. Quilting with templates helped alot.  I am hoping some day my freehand quilting will be as nice.  I guess I just have to keep at it.

This is the other quilt from S is for Scraps that I entered in the show. It's called Midnight Express.


Saturday was a meeting of the longarm guild. Sunday I went to the show and while there I demonstrated machine quilting (on domestic) feathers. Mark met me there  so I didn't get to enjoy the vendors like usual. Yes, that means I didn't buy a thing! Tuesday morning the church basement ladies met to work on the raffle quilt.  We were getting a bit behind and are now on track.  Tuesday night was the quilt club at the shop. The girls wore me out in the morning, keeping them all on track. Good thing I had no responsibilities Tuesday night.

We have had a cool rainy spring so I haven't worked in the garden much. I try to put in an hour or so a day when it is nice.  I think that has been only 3 or 4 times this past April.

I'm just about done with the quilt on the frame.  Someone donated a big old top their mother had made maybe in the 70's.  I put way too much work into it.  Maybe I could sell it with proceeds going to church.

I'm looking forward to the next one I quilt and I have no idea which one that will be.  My birthday is next month. Should I have a giveaway of my new book?