Friendship Quilters Show 2014

The quilt show is done for another two years.  All the months gearing up for it, setting up, enjoying the quilts up on display and down it comes in an hours time.  We did the check in a bit differently this time, sort of self checking yourself in.   The tables were set up with half the alphabet by last name on two tables.  Donna had stacked up all the paper work by name----the receipts we kept and the cards that were actually to be pinned to the quilts.

Next we were to take them to the category number tables---100 for bed quilts, 200's for small quilts, miniatures were 400.  Lots of wall hangings so those were also separated out by sections.  

Okay, that worked out pretty well.  Jane, Aline and I stayed out of the fray in the other room and concentrated on getting the quilts piled in numerical order.  Jane and I  knew from hanging the Gadsden quilt show enough times that as soon as you have a road map of the layout (and which end of the building they were starting on) you start stacking the quilts by twos or fours.  We were ready when the runners came in with a list of 4 quilts they were to bring back with them.  I was checking them off as we went so I knew which ones had already been called for AND more importantly, picked up.  Once it left the room, not our problem, y'all stuck them somewhere in there!

The only real snafu was when a couple quilts did not show up and of course, they kept asking for them.  Another gal was later arriving but between the quiltmaker/exhibitor and one of the gals helping her, we got them all checked in just in the nick of time.  

I did not actually see the show until yesterday.  Jane had a last minute family event and I was going to drive and just hang out so I could get my quilts picked up.  I filled in for her shift at the admissions table.   Aline and I left in enough time so I could visit the Country Store, see the show and take some pictures to share with you here.  There were over a 100 quilts so this is just some of the ones that caught my eye.  I missed getting one of the top vote getters for Viewers Choice, a lovely Baltimore Album quilt that was hand quilted by our friend Gary.

This is Donna's and won Viewers Choice edging out the other quilt by just one vote!  It was a Block of the Month from the Quilt Show which year I do not know.  If you saw the video links I posted earlier, then this was one of the quilts hanging in the interview.

Brenda's Log Cabin

Miss Sally's John Deere tractor--- adorable!

Jessica's Sunshine on a Cloudy Day.  It started off life with a far less complimentary name..but I can't remember what that one was now.  I think the NEW name fits perfectly

This horrid picture in no way does Brenda's "Dear Jane" justice.  It is a wonderful quilt in person! Also shown in the TV interviews.

Peggy's President quilt--blocks made by the guild members

Jackie's Civil War Quilt

There was a series of row quilts and this is a representative one.  

One of my Facebook friend's Mary Alice made this one!  

Loretta's Halloween quilt which she designed.  She had other very inventive quilts in the show as well.

Beth's Seasons in a Row---mine stalled out with the flower row though I did do the sailboats.  Cute, huh?

I think this was one done by another FB friend Joanna----can't swear to that but I think that is the case.

I think this was Joanna's as well---isn't it striking?

Not entirely sure whose these two Carpenter's Stars belong to.  I believe the Amish appearing one is Jackie's and the yellow background one is Irene's?  (I was checking in and out and basically just saw the backs!! Also missed reading all the labels in walking through the show)

The miniature auction did not go off which was disappointing.  The guild worked hard (not me but them) and really got behind the project.  The proceeds of the auction were to go to the Lakeside Hospice and Susan B. Komen for Breast Cancer.   A guild decision will be made about how to proceed next.

 I made several blocks for the group log cabin piece though.

While not having the auction was disappointing. moving the show from November to March boosted the attendance surpassing what we had over a TWO day period two years ago by about 60 some people.  This was the third time for the quilt show so maybe word is spreading??  Also the Country Store and Opportunity Quilt seemed to be doing well.  The drawing for that won't be till July, I'm told.

Last night for take down, Aline and I headed back in to the set up room.  This time the chairman had it broken down by the quilter number we were assigned  1-35.  As the quilts were taken down, again by the armful from the runners  we checked them off the list and then put them on the sections of tables stacking by owner/exhibitor.  Once the quilter/exhibitor was satisfied that they were all there and we had them all checked off, they could go.  It was just Aline and I at first so it helped when 3rd pair of hands could help out.  Things to know for next time, right?

This is what came home to live with me.  My friend Kay made this for the Country Store and I told her when she posted a picture of it on Facebook that I would like to have the opportunity to get it!  Well, it was still available.  She has little brackets holding the sewing items on so they can actually be used.  I love it just the way it is!  It is going to be the perfect item for my newly re-done sewing room, don't you think?  

I can't get a decent picture of it and still have you see what all is on there.  I love it!

Well, I still have quilts to put away.  Once I got supper last night and got home after 7:30, I had no inclination to want to drag my 11 entries in from the car.  I need to do a little shifting around to put them away anyway as they had been sitting on top of the armoire for months, waiting for the show.  I had entered my PopStix bed quilt but I already know I am not quite ready to put it on the bed, with those summery colors.  Give me a month or two, LOL and I will finally get to actually USE that one.

Hope you enjoyed the mini version of the show!

uncharted territory

Skyler cracks me up sometimes.  I had taken several bags of shoes, hats and gloves over to the Baptist Service Center late this morning.  Once the car trunk opened up I needed to re-load but this time with my quilt show entries that had been waiting on the armoire for months in their own special pillowcases.  Since I had been gone on errands for about an hour and half, my silly kitty was practically jumping through hoops trying to get me to play with him or something.  He may have angling for treat bite #3 too--hard to tell which.

Anyway, he was leaping from pillar to post, couch to couch, bed to bed trying to get my attention.  The pets he was getting were not enough.  Then it was almost like a light bulb went off.  "hey, the top of that thing I can never get up on is open and it is even HIGHER than the dresser!"  Up he went--from the bed, to his window seat to the armoire top.  See that little dot on the wall?   There are two hollow wall anchors up there for two pictures that are now on the mantel.  Skyler was frantically pawing at both of them thinking it was a bug, that wasn't moving.  He gave up and began rolling around up there instead.

.............and rolled about some more till he decided to duck behind the curtain to take a look.   He must have thought the bed was a better bet on this cold, rainy, damp day as he is snuggled up on the throw at the end of the bed.   Look at the cute face, will ya?  He was actually sitting on my lap last night when I flopped on the couch to watch TV with the fleece throw he loves over me.  I could not believe it!  Surely he is not turning into a lap kitty?

It probably won't stay empty long as Lois already told me she had quite a few donation quilts ready to turn in and I already have 4 from our last meeting.  I'm waiting on the numbers to put on them before they get tucked away till we are ready to distribute them.

I've already been able to cross off a few items from my daily "to-do" list but there is one small thing estate related thing that I could do.  Till next time------------

Guild Quilt Show 3-8

Friendship Quilters Guild  is having our biannual quilt show on Saturday, March 8th.  The link will take you to video recorded ahead of the event featuring Donna, our quilt show chairman and Dixye, our guild president.

I know many of you in the blogging audience will not be able to go but you can see some of the featured quilts for the miniature auction and two beauties that will be hung at the show!

They did a great job on the interview!

Think Ruffles Blog Hop starting up!

Look who is all Ruffled with EXCITEMENT!!

It starts today!  I am not participating but I do know how to cheer the others on!

March 5^th

Sew Incredibly Crazy

Malini's quilts

Missouri Mel

Just Quilt It

In the Boon Docks

On the Banks of Frog Creek

Sparrow In Flight


 

March 6^th

Lily Patch Quilts

Hill Valley Quilter

Missy's Homemaking Adventure

Quilt in a not-Shell

Debby Kratovil Quilts

Quilt Doodle Designs

 QuiltnQueen


 

March 7^th

Ridge Top Quilts

Elizabeth Coughlin Designs

Just Let Me Quilt

MooseStashQuilting

Childlike Fascination

It Seams To Be Sew

Meadowbrook


 

March 10th

 

The Tilted Quilt

A Geeky Crafty Life

Constantly Quilting

Life in the Scrapatch

Pig Tales and Quilts

How arT you?

GrammieQs


 

March 11^th

Needle and Hook

Marjorie's Busy Corner

Blessings From Our Nest

Little House on the Dairy

Just One More Stitch

Creatin' in the Sticks

Just Sew Quilter


 

March 12th 

Quilted Delights

Patchwork Breeze

Sheila's quilt world

vicky myers creations

Words & Stitches

Sew Many Yarns

Sew and Sow Farm


 

March 13th

Seams To Be Sew

Tea Time Creations

Sew Peace to Peace

mila+cuatro

All Thingz Sewn

More Stars in Comanche

Stitchin' By The Lake


 

March 14^th

 

Thimblemouse and Spouse

Jane's Quilting

Bear Creek Quilting Company

Ipiece to Mary

The Quilting Queen Online

Miss Priss Quilts

Sew We Quilt

some pictures to share

As I digging around in the closet for any pair of shoes and slippers I could find to take up to the Baptist Service Center later in the week, I found a box of photos directly underneath it.  I respected my husband's privacy and he respected mine; neither of us was about to go digging around in each other's things, married or not. To be honest, it seems very odd for me to be doing it now.    A quick glance told me that this would need some sorting.

His dad was a bit of an amateur photographer so there are duplicates and similar photos.  DJ's sister had a house fire at some point and lost a lot of her memorabilia so I know I will be passing things on to DJ's niece.  His sister died in the early 90's, not long after we lost DJ's dad.  Then there are more pictures to pass on to Tracy, DJ's son.  Some I am keeping.  I got them all separated out before lunch but just picked a few to share.

The year is not marked but catch the haircut.  I think he liked this picture about as much as my dad likes the one of him with the itchy wool stockings.  He knew I had a copy of it but I told him I was not giving it back, LOL.   Think maybe 5 or 6 years old in this one??   There were some cute ones with him with a sailor hat one, playing with his dog.

A little bit older here.  Hair all spiffed back too, maybe a school picture.  Guessing more like 10 or so in this one.

This was DJ's pride and joy, 1955 Crown Vic.  He had bought the car, a year old at the time, from the estate of a young man who had died unexpectedly.  His was a little different than the color photograph in that the pink was over the white and it had a white top.  I don't think you can see the snap of it very well but by then he had a buzz cut.  I have another photo of him that looks about the same vintage that says 1958 on the side of it, making him about 21, 22 depending on just when in the year.   He also has a model of this same car that is currently sitting on the entertainment center in the living room while this picture hangs in the hallway.

Then some of us in the early years.  I can date this one easily as this was my bridesmaid dress when my sister Janet and Rich married in early April 1982.

Not sure of the year here but I do know that I had gotten an perm for some unknown reason---with natural curly wavy hair.  What was I thinking???  The fact that we are both dressed up, it had to be either his or my Christmas parties.

Unknown year here too but it was before I started cutting his hair.  (I cut it way shorter than that and no weird comb over deal.)  Obviously mine was grown out enough to pull up or back.  He always had the mustache as long as I knew him, shaving it off only once in a particularly harsh winter as it kept freezing up on him.  He was a cable TV technician and that was outside work in all kinds of weather.  The last 5 years he worked for the company was as the manager of the technicians and time just drug for him.  I do not recognize the picture above our heads or the couch or remember who might have taken it.

I know I have had our wedding pictures on here at some point so I'll skip those.    What a cutie he was in all the stages of of his life!

I've got a quick errand to run and then it is time to do some more thank you notes.

after picture

Look a little better than yesterday, LOL?

Don't worry I am not going to bore you to death every time I clean out something or move it around.  This is up to show the comparison.   I DID get it emptied out but two drawers of paper materials to sort through were just boxed up for now.  The rest contained socks and undergarments, more or less, so those are gone via trash bags.  I am probably going to call the donation truck to come get it or at least, am leaning that way.  If it does stay,  it goes on the opposite wall.   I don't need it and it would be far too easy to start  loading it up with sewing stuff.  Not good when the goal is to use what you already have.

I AM entertaining the idea of moving my office desk and file cabinet in there so I have more room  in the sewing/computer room to sew and quilt.  At first I was mulling the idea of moving the cutting/pressing table in there but then I am back to the floor constantly needing vacuuming.  I put down the laminate in here to AVOID that.  Also I would need to get more fabric to skirt the table as at present it sits in the corner of the room requiring skirting on just two sides.  A real set of bed risers would be needed.  The thread containers a new home.  Not worth it.  That is when I started thinking the desk could move---not that I want to empty it out again necessarily.  Doesn't need to be done right away, either.  My thought was that I could find a computer desk that will take up much less space--they have some used stuff at the thrift store, last time I looked.  Maybe that is an option.

I've had a busy day already:

• to the thrift store with things appropriate for re-sale
• to the bank---part of yesterday's clean up on top meant rolling up the coins in the change jars
• to the Baptist Service Center near here with his coats I had carried out last week.  I said my husband had passed away and the ladies there gave me some ideas about what else would be helpful.  I'll go back on Thursday with any of the shoes he had around the house.  Shoes and caps.  I think I know where some gloves are as well.
• to lunch---Zaxby's for some chicken that sounded good
• to the post office to mail out the boxes to the family members.  Unfortunately my little pull cart was dragging an axle as I walked in. A wheel had come off, a spring and cotter pin are totally missing.  I may need to replace this or empty out the other cart.  THAT one is loaded up with the stuff out of HIS car trunk and extraneous stuff from mine.  Mostly a wash basin full of golf balls etc.
• to Pickett's for some canned treat bites for Mr. Spoiled Rotten
• to the recycle center with the the usual stuff
• to the library and then home

Did I mention that my neighbor bought my 2002 Taurus?  When Glynda asked her son to find out what it listed for bluebook, he said something to the effect of "That might be a good car for you, Mama"  She said they called her SUV, older than my car, the Six Flags Mobile as you felt like you were riding on a roller coaster. We made a deal and I did NOT need to advertise it, wash or wax it, vacuum it out or any of that stuff.  Worth it to me.  Also the timing could not have been better as she found out her brake lines were leaking fluid within days of the purchase.  

Then the other day her husband was looking for a replacement riding lawn mower.  He found out that his was not worth repairing.  Brand new ones are pricey.  Part of their yard can be done on the tractor but not all of it.  Robert mows for a couple other women as well so he needs a mower.  Ours is a 17 year old well maintained Craftsman but I have no desire to mow our little acre.  (I tried it once when DJ had his open heart surgery back in 99 but then the neighbor did it once after that.  It was summer so the grass dried up by the time it needed it again, he was okay to do it again). Now I would consider doing the back yard with a push mower maybe but not the part that tips and tilts, the spare lot.   I said he could have it if he will mow for me this season. Actually in trying the mower out, he headed off that way to knock some of the weeks down.  The other neighbor next door had offered to help out as well and I think I will ask him to go a little over on the left property line which will make it less of a job for everyone.   Barter system.  I may need a lesson in weed whacking though.  Apparently I have three of them out there, one with a battery pack.

Tomorrow's list is started.  Keep busy, small tasks.  No desire to sew but maybe some knitting?  Baby blanket maybe to keep my hands busy in the evening?  I am going to be a great-auntie this summer after all though a wall hanging and baby quilt are  promised.   Susan at Patchwork Reflections has been helping me out behind the scenes with a pattern she had done in the past, Basketweave in a soft yellow.

And so it goes-------

another day, another little job

I think today's task better be to clear off the top of this dresser.  It never looked THAT bad when DJ was using it.  Yes, he had little stacks of this and that but he could always find what he was looking for.  Of course, as I have emptied out/emptied off other things this became a repository for stuff that does not belong.  Like my little fan and that fire extinguisher.  Well, the fire extinguisher was nearer to the bed in case of a fire and he had his golf clubs hiding behind the bedroom door rather than his car trunk when the bitter cold weather came.  I drug them to another part of the room.

All those picture frames were NOT on there either.  In earlier clearing I had found some pictures and family items that I felt should go to his various family members and packed those up yesterday.  I am not, however, mailing frames or glass stuff.  You see the end result, LOL.

There are meds to dispose of.  Also his hearing aid is on there along with some batteries.  Surely there is some place that will take those?   I'll call his service center and see.

Baby steps.  I should be writing thank you notes, and I have done a some already, but this mess is driving me a little nuts.  Address it first.