greatest show....well

Thursday I went to the Mid-Altantic Quilt Show in Hampton VA with members of my guild. You can check out fellow bloggers' sites A Little of This and a Littleof Pat and Averett Lady Nana to get some more information and opinions.

It was fun but like Pat I was a little disappointed with the quilts this time. It seemed that there were so many little quilts and wall hanging and not so many large bed-sized quilts. This was a nice hand quilted wall hanging that I saw.

There weren't as many traditional quilts as I had hoped since I favor traditional...but that is just my taste. I was particularly interested in the handquilted ones...not too many of course...but a couple that I saw were very well done with such fine, even stitches. One thing I noticed was that there were many quilts done with black at the show. The second picture in this section shows just a portion of a quilt that won a blue ribbon for best use of embellishments...note that it is done on black.

I did get inspired to put together the bags of yo-yos that I was given by a friend...curiously, the ones I have are purples too!!!

It was a wonderful day, though, with my friends...I'll post some more show pictures in a later blog but for today I am going to work on my own quilting!

wonderful program

This evening I attended a program sponsored by a local historical society about the Underground Railroad and Quilts presented by three women from A Stitch in Time Quilt Guild in Dover, DE. They combined storytelling and song and used quilts to illustrate their story. They showed traditional quilt blocks and quilts of their own design. They also had some very old quilts.

My pictures aren't the greatest. There was a large crowd so I really couldn't get any pictures of them while they were presenting but I did get a few snapshots of their quilts.

I have also been posting about my Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt...thought I might give you a preview of one of the flowers. Most of the flowers are in the top now and I am getting ready to fill in the edges with more of the white. Much more is done than shows in this picture!!

Well, it's late and I'm tired....hubby and I spent most of the day getting ready to get our taxes done on Tuesday....I hate all the paperwork sorting!!! ....and dreading the bad news from the accountant!!!! I guess I'll get ready for bed.

Still hangin' in there

I haven't posted for a few days...I spent the past weekend at my son's babysitting so mom and dad could go away. I love my grandchildren but even taking care of one really poops me out! I had a lovely time though and wouldn't give it up for the world.

I do want to share a picture of some vintage fabric I found at the hospital thrift shop last week. It is 36" wide and about 2 yds long. I only paid one dollar! I don't know what I will do with it yet but just couldn't pass it up.

I'm still working on my Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt. It does take time since it is all by hand but I enjoy the handwork so much. I am arranging the flowers in a way that is different from the patterns I usually find. I like the way it is coming together but the edges will be a challenge. I'll address that when the time comes. I tend to not follow patterns and often design as I go so who know what will happen. I like traditional quilting but still have to do my own thing.

My rule: IF YOU OBEY ALL THE RULES YOU'LL MISS ALL THE FUN!! I should probably put that on my blog heading ...it hangs on my wall.

Thinking of spring

Can spring be just around the corner? I hope so. Yesterday two flower catalogs came in the mail...set me to dreaming.

Then today the temperature was in the mid 60s which added to my spring fever. So we spent a good deal of time out of doors, walking, checking out the new trees we planted last year, and enjoying the sunshine. We turned off the heat and opened the windows! Needless to say, I didn't get much quilting done. But I am working on my Grandmother's Flower Garden so I am in the spring mood. I prewashed some of the fabric I bought recently and got it ready to store. Unfortunately, one piece of dark red seemed to bleed so I soaked it in vinegar water...maybe that will help. It's in the dryer now...we'll see.

hi ho hi ho

It's off to work I go...yes, another day at the bookstore.

Yesterday, at our guild meeting my secret sister gave me the cutest little stuffed animal! I didn't get his cute little eyes in the picture but he does sit nicely on my antique child's rocker.

We're getting a little snow here today but it is mostly supposed to be slush...and gone tomorrow. That is one thing I love about DE...we have the four seasons but not the bitter cold that lasts and lasts!

Door prizes

I promised a little gift to those who commented about attending my virtual tea party. I have decided to send out two gifts. Each person will receive 1/2 yd of a teapot fabric by Timeless Treasures and another little surprise tucked inside!

The lucky guests are Linda B from Fiber Fabrications and Susan from Hanging on by a Needle and Thread. Be sure to visit their blogs!!

Tomorrow is our guild meeting and I will be taking the project I made for our Australian fat quarter challenge. The fabric was so pretty, I struggled for ages about what pattern to make. I chose several but could not bring myself to cut the fabric into small pieces. We were told we could make anything we wanted from the fabric so I decided to make a tote bag. First is a picture of the fabric then a picture of the tote. The brown fabric is from the Elm Creek line - Elizabeth's Collection by Jennifer Chiaverini. The inside is the same fabric.

I'm pooped after working today so I guess I won't get much quilting done...but I will definitely do some...can't go a day without!