A tool challenge for QOV

I just have a few minutes between shows and found a picture for you. I probably showed it earlier, but read on.
I just got back from teaching at Nebraska State quilt conference. What a bunch of great friendly quilters. I enjoyed the other teachers too. Again I taught my Thirtysomething and Infinite Stars workshops.  They are probably my two most requested classes and I enjoy them immensely. I rarely teach a class where everyone is making the same project and the girls are always "wowed" by all the options and how easy they are to make. If your guild is looking for a program and or workshop that teaches technique not just a project, then give me a call. I'd love to visit with you.
Next I am on my way to the Machine Quilting  show in Oconomowoc WI www.MToday.com.  Quilter's Rule asked to use my tool for next year's Quilts of Valor challenge. That means I had to come up with a quilt pattern to sell that uses the tool. See the details  http://www.mqtoday.com/competitions/qriTool/2013-Rules%20&%20Form%20Complete.pdf   Keep in mind these are this year's rules, but next years will likely be the same with the exception of using my tool.

 This is the quilt I chose, but I had to add a row to bring it up to the required size for QOV.  And though this quilt is not Red, White and Blue, they can still use it. What colores will yours be?  You need not use the pattern for your challenge quilt, - just the tool. Be creative. The gals in my class in Nebraska could show you how. I could too for that matter.

Wrinkles impossible to iron out

We had a fabulous time in Pennsylvania visiting my sister and her husband and seeing the quilt shows. And I finally got Carol’s quilt back to her.  Our luggage was delayed, so she didn’t get to see it till the morning after we arrived. I’m pretty sure she was happy with it. I got it quilted in January, and finally put the binding on it last week.  Rather than ship it out ahead, I packed it in our suitcase.  That left lots of room for my purchases on our return flight.

The show was at the new convention Center in downtown Lancaster.  What a beautiful building.  And yes the quilts were beautiful too, of course.  Most of the quilts were not in a style that I would do yet I found plenty of inspiration in all of them. I'm glad I wasn't the judge. The show was spread out over 3 floors.  That was fine, but I didn’t care for the arrangement of the quilts and vendor booths.  Very scattered, in fact, I think I missed a short row.  Halfway through the day we went down the street 2 blocks to the quilt and textile Museum.  (The photo below shows the ceiling in one of the rooms, a former bank and 2 favorite quilts from the show.)  I thought it should have been called the quilt and Christmas museum.  The only textiles I saw there were quilts, but I loved the Christmas display.  I thought it would be a display of Christmas quilts but it was really rooms set up decorated for Christmas over the last century ...
The show at the Host by Quilter's Rule was small, but nice - couldn't get lost. The quilt exhibit by Mary Kerr was great. She challenged quilters to use an antique block in a 24" quilt. 6 different times. 80 of the quilts were there. I loved it, so I got her book, A Quilt Block Challenge, Vintage Revisited.  Parts of the exhibit are traveling, so if you get the chance, try to see it.  We never made it across the street to the other hotel to see the vendors or the Quilts of Valor exhibit. She decided a visit to the doctor was more important.

On Saturday, the guys took us at our request to the Train Museum in Strasburg. Then we went to Weaver's Dry Goods and Eldreth Pottery. I think we should start there next time. Maybe even next year.
Before we left, I was determined to get a good shot of our wrinkles. So we spent Sunday morning before our flight with our cameras hitting the delete button. Now, if only we could delete those wrinkles. I guess the cheapest option to minimize mine is to add a little weight to fill out my face and smooth them out a bit.

 All the hassles at the airport both going and returning were nearly enough to discourage me from flying there again.  Our flight from Milwaukee to Detroit was canceled so the airline sent us in a limousine to catch a flight out of Chicago on a different airline.  We arrived on schedule but the luggage didn't show up till 3 am.  Our return flight departed on time, but our flight out of Chicago was delayed because of thunderstorms.  The flight was changed 4 times and the gates was changed 4 times.  Even then we sat on the runway in the plane for half an hour . We arrived home about 2 ½ hours late. I guess it could’ve been worse. It could have been a business trip where I needed my luggage for a program.

A pleasant valley Sunday or Monday

Just another pleasant day down here in the valley known where I live as Skunks Misery. It's spring. I've heard the robins all week and I finally saw one this morning. The red-wing blackbirds are back to the marsh across the street and the geese have been heading north for 2 weeks. That's my definition of spring anyways.

I forgot. Last week between trips to the hospital for my neighbor I made this little top. The little ones sure go together quickly.  No wonder they are so popular. I have a spot on my sewing room wall that needs a few little quilts. This is number 2. The Whig's Rose was number 1. We have been in this house 18 years and they finally got to the top of the list. I have space for 4 and I haven't planned the next 2 yet.

This is my busy season. Now and Fall.  I have to get ready for classes coming up, especially Quilt Festival in Cincinnati in April. Also I am off to Pennsylvania on Wed. for the quilt shows in Lancaster. One by AQS and the other by Quilter's Rule. I'm really looking forward to those, cause I am not working.  It's going to be great. Or at least it better be. I need the break.

Tomorrow is comfort quilting at church. Any photos from that will have to wait till I get back from Lancaster.
Look for the next step in our mystery on Thursday as usual.  I understand I should be able to schedule the post to appear as desired. Like magic. Aren't computers fun?

PPP

PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE
I took 3 classes at the Milwaukee Machine Quilting Show in the last 3 days and that is what all three of the excellent teachers emphasized. My experience tells me they are right. To get good, you gotta practice, both on paper and at the sewing machine. I know this and tell my students this as well. It applies to both the quilting and the piecing. And yes, appliK too. I guess anything.
My problem is I wanna do it all and I should really be focusing on just a thing or two.

I took a swag class with Mindy Wylie Caspersen. Love swags. She has developed a set of tools with Quilter's Rule to make some nice swags. What's nice about them is that the set makes a variety of sizes too. I have seen several other swag templates around and I like these best. So I'll probably get them at their next Warehouse Sale in November.

I also took a classs with Dawn Cavanaugh - on Git-R-Done type borders. Some were easier than others. Good thing I liked the easy ones the most.

Jammie Wallens class was Cottontracks2. Lots of great ideas I hadn't seen before. I am anxious to try some of them, particularly on my OLD Infinite Stars quilts still unquilted from 1992! Okay, I have made a few since and they would be perfect in those too. That big star in the last post was a fairly new Infinte Star. And for those of you that don't know, that was the title of my first book.
I will be back to see the rest of the show tomorrow and shop the vendors, of course! Sew long,