What happens when you go on a quilt store field trip

     Our guild went to the Quilt Farm in Boston, NY for a field trip. 

Out to the Boston Hills!

Yes, I bought fabric- not a ton. When I got home, I saw a funny sight in my husband's mini van. I got closer and saw a lot of leaves-inside. 

I opened the back and saw a ginko tree. 

It is replacing the mutant dawn redwood cut down in the spring. So, when you go out fabric shopping, you never know what awaits you!

Another one on its way!

     I longarmed the Starcross quilt just in time because a request for a comfort quilt came. I hurriedly made a pocket for the tote bag, a card, washed the quilt, bagged it and delivered it to the daughter of the woman going to treatment.

The back

The back detail 

Battling the wind, I had to turn the quilt sideways

Quilting detail

After washing. I never take the quilt out to be photographed after washing to keep it pristine for people undergoing treatments.

Inspiration to last the winter

     One of my favorite places on the planet is around Old Forge, NY in the Adirondacks (ADK). Every summer, my whole family rents a big house in August for one week. The water lilies and marshes are my favorite. I long to do landscape quilts, but have to experiment because I personally do not like fused, raw edge applique. My daughter, the now chemistry professor (how did that happen? I needed a tutor for gen. chem.), had a few days mid semester break and asked if I wanted to go with her to Old Forge for 4 days. The weather forecast looked too good to be true as gray and wet is known to happen that week after Columbus day. 
     It was absolutely breathtaking- the blue sky. the leaves, the temperature, could not get any better. I took more pictures of landscapes and leaves and maybe they will inspire me enough to get over the technical humps of making a landscape quilt. Just a few of the photos- I took 60.
   I also made it to the Crazy Moose Quilt Shop in Inlet and did some damage to my wallet.

Sewing, not quilting

     I am a quilter. I love to sew flat things. I understand that. When it comes to garment sewing or accessories, beads of sweat break out. It is difficult for me to follow word directions with either no or not clear pictures and working 3D. 
     I needed to make a present for my neighbor (who authored the book I illustrated) for her 50th birthday party tomorrow. She writes from home and I see her outside when the weather is good with her iPad. I searched for a patterns for a cover or sleeve for it when she travels. I looked at a lot of them, but settled on a flap covered pocket. I used the bag pattern from here, http://howaboutorange.blogspot.com/2012/06/free-sewing-tutorial-geek-chic-ipad.html
but did not use the handles or clasp idea. This pattern was a sample from a book. I had a lot of trouble understanding what to do. I made a practice one first that I could use myself. Wow, did I make a lot of mistakes because the directions were sketchy to me. For the most important part of sewing the lining to the outside was lacking because it said to look in the book at techniques. I ripped the lining so many times, I had to cut a new one. Finally I got it together and it fit my iPad with the hard case. I used Soft and Stable instead of fusible fleece. Quickly, I made another one while it was still in my head. Not fun, but I finished it. My friend Elizabeth, from my guild, would have taken one look at the picture and figured the whole thing out. I have to use a couple of most disliked words I know "trial and error."

Two bags made

First one a bit snug and the flap looked funky

Has two front pockets

Case open

A little bigger and flap looks better

     My granddaughter, who thinks I can sew anything, demanded I make a sleeping bag for her Peppa Pig. Yikes, lots of trial and errors and a pretty lopsided bag for the Pig. I feel the deep need to do some piecing, anything.

    

Kenmore Quilters Show

     I proudly belong to the Kenmore Quilters, a guild of about 40 fabulous quilters. Our triennial show was this past weekend. This time, I collected all the quilts at my house, photographed them quickly, and laid out the show on paper, assigning every quilt a specific place, bagging each one, labeled where it was to go. I think this made the show pretty cohesive and gave a strong presentation. It was a ton of work. We had a boutique, an incredible tea room, some vendors, fabric pool, and 57 baskets to raffle. 
    I took photos of all the quilts and their labels and will share only some of them here.

This is where you would walk in.
We chose a strong quilt to view there. The woman getting in the wheelchair entered 10 quilts, despite the fact she had a stroke and lost the use of her right arm and ability to walk.

To the left of the entrance

To the right, accessories

The big winner was the one we picked to view upon entering

Super cool origami shirts of Hawaiian fabric 

Look what you can do with the exploding square block!

One of my favorites, it was also viewer's choice

A better shot of my mystery quilt than before

Paper pieced chickadees among the blocks

Super tiny paper piecing of bees among blocks