BHM Quiltfest, part 2

Round 2 for the Birmingham biennial show

African Bars designed and made by Judy Cloe garnered a first place ribbon in the Original Art category

This tree wall hanging was made by friend Loretta.

Striking with the black background!  "I'll Fly Away"  Jeannine Till Brown   Bed Pieced Duet

"Casting Shadow" by Gerry Moody   Bed Pieced Duet

"Little Pink Houses" by Susan Ramey Cleveland  2nd Place Ribbon "Wall Applique Duet"

I love 30's fabrics!  Too fuzzy to read probably  Called "Square Dance" and is a pattern from Kim Brackett called "Feed Sacks"  in Scrap Basket Surprises.  I have the book so only took a portion of the quilt.

This quilt was given the NQA Award of Merit by the judge of the show.  Called "A-MAZE-ING" by its maker Susan Reeves.

I liked the on point set and the stars in the sashing but have no other information.  Sorry about that.

BHM Quiltfest 2015, part 1

I have tried to take a picture of the quilt and the notecard on them though I don't know if you will be able to read them without a magnifying glass. The show booklet gives just the basket information-- Category Number, Name, who pieced it and who quilted it. The "fun" comments, who designed it or pattern source or what led them to make the quilt was applied to the quilt. By "fun" I mean the woman who made a quilt for her first granddaughter in early 2000's but sadly was still waiting for the receipient. That might mean that she has only grandsons or no grands yet. Another that tickled me was "I started (fill in the blank) Block of the Month and it took 10 years" or words to that effect. Who hasn't done something like that? Another was a comment about the color scheme---quilt was crimson red and white AKA University of Alabama colors---she was an Auburn fan and the quilt was called "Color Blind". That one might be in the 2nd (or 3rd) batch as I don't know how many Blogspot will let me post.


I may not be able to remember the pattern source or read the cards either but I'll do my best to give credit to the maker and the pattern source.  The fact that they are "backwards" in the computer folder to how I took them is a little confusing!  LOL.

A Cozy Quilt Pattern called Milky Way by Lura Campbell.  Strip pieced, she said

Celtic Soltice--one of those Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilts with a billion pieces.  I think a mystery quilt. The maker Stephanie Newman said it was a BH pattern.

Carol Dye, the maker of "Zippers" had two quilts made in this pattern, the other with a chocolate brown background.  This was a light gray.  Source not given but I think maybe M'liss Rae Hawley has it in one of the fat quarter books OR Missouri Star Quilt Company see HERE

Here's that "Color Blind" quilt I mentioned by Lorrie Thomas

There were three Farmers Wife Sampler quilts hung together.  One picture was far too fuzzy to share.  That and my camera battery died so I had to use the phone camera to take some of these.  This had a lot of polka dots and bright fabrics in it.  Honorable Mention ribbon for Lorrie Thomas.

Another FWS but I didn't get the card picture taken and can't figure it out from the show book.  Sorry about that.

This one is called "Martha's Joy" by Gail Dunn.  1st place ribbon for Bed Pieced Duet.  Features some fantastic cross stitch squares

This one followed Bonnie Hunter's example of using men's shirts for the fabrics.  Lorrie Thomas "Blue Heaven"

wondering where I've been?

LOL, I've been wondering the same thing--just what have I been doing with my time in the last 10 days since I posted?  It has rushed on by, somehow.

I'm still committed to walking though this week I had to take two days off due to quilting functions.  ( I'll tell you about that later. ) I've been alternating  6 or 7 laps though one day recently I did 8 rounds for 2.2 miles.  My watch battery died and I had forgotten to click off a lap.  LOL,  I lived.  I come home and walk Oscar in spite of how many laps I've gone.  The watch just verifies that I am keeping up the pace of 0.28 miles per lap in 5 minutes or less.

It has been quite warm and up in the mid 90's for a week with high 60's-low 70's for overnight "lows".   Next week they say high 90's and up to 100 is possible.  Oh, boy!  In years past I used to get out there around 6 a.m. and try to beat the sun.  Not possible now.  You see, when I cannot get to sleep until after 1, 2 (and like last night 3 a.m---ugh!),  there is no way I can get out there any earlier than 7:30, 8 in the morning.   It doesn't help that some of the sun break is gone with the Public Works Dept. taking so many of the trees down but this is a good thing for the residents in the long run.   Turns out they are building a new community center that I assume will replace the old house that is used as the Senior Center.   I see workers out there quite often and will watch this progress.

This past Monday Jane, Aline and I went to the guild sew-in.  The city workers that displaced us the entire month of May from the place we meet are STILL working on the building, tearing up the restrooms apparently.  The President tracked down another venue but they must have events scheduled in the later part of the week so it went on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday instead.  They had a lively bunch of line dancers when we got there but it only lasted an hour.  I sorta missed the music when it stopped, LOL.  We just planned on going the one day as I had a list of mile long of things to do on Tuesday--errands and things at home.

I took my little Hexagon Merry Go Round project and got a little bit of it done but have not touched it since returning home other than to un-pack my stuff a couple days later.   Some of the girls were working on pillowcases as there is a community service project to provid them for the girls at Big Oak Ranch.  Sarah also had kits for cute little Fold-up Fabric Needle Holders from Crafty Lady Lindsay's blog.   I didn't get too far with THAT either and want to replace the felt part with another darker color that I know I have here at home.  Actually, Sarah used two layers so it formed another smaller pocket, I think anyway.  The one she had done was really cute!

So what's been happening?

• I shot most of a Thursday afternoon a week ago at the gastroenterologist's office.  Enough time as elapsed that I get to have a repeat colonscopy.  I think they forgot about me as I was the absolute last patient to leave the place and the appt was for 1:45.
• Tuesday I was busy checking little jobs off the list.  
• Wednesday was the play in the kitchen day and I had to overcome a moment of madness and talk myself out of making zucchini muffins or bread and just put the gratings in the freezer for a cooler day.  My neighbors have a garden this year and I know those zukes are going nuts as I've seen the vines.  I will have to help out with the bounty, LOL.  Some home grown tomatoes were most appreciated too.
• Thursday turned into update the computer day.  That danged desktop is such a pain compared to the tablet I use.  Takes forever for the stuff in the background to finish up whatever it is doing and open a page, email, program.  Drives me nuts!  
• Friday, laundry and a little house straightening and a few more errands.  I've got to re-do the casing on  a pair of shorts and kept forgetting to pick up the elastic I needed for the jobs.  That and watch batteries.  Well, not anymore, LOL.  Now to fix the pants so I can wear them.  Kinda fun getting back into my old clothes or some I've not been able to wear but hung on to "just in case". 

Today Jane's husband Hugh had offered to drive us over to the Birmingham Quiltfest 2015 show.  It had started on Friday but today was better for their schedules.  I'll write up another post or two tomorrow to share some pictures with you.  Lord knows, I am not personally getting any sewing done.  I am such a slug though a more space organized one lately, LOL.

This is what we saw when we arrived though Jane and I did hop out of the car to take the pictures as we were leaving.   Rather than let this be a totally picture-less post I hope you enjoy seeing their quilt covered mobile!  I think I've got the photos all uploaded from camera and the phone camera and edited to share.  Silly me did not think about replacing the battery with the recharged one before I grabbed it so I had to finish taking the last row of quilt favorites with the backup method.  

We saw friends from here in Calhoun County from various other groups and from Friendship Quilters too but they are in a nearby county so expected that.  Good show and good selection of vendors.  I got a couple of dark blue fat quarters and some white on white yardage for the Disappearing 4 patch I want to do with pals Norma and Cher, long distance sew-in next weekend.  Oh, and a small Kaleido-Ruler from Marti Michell that a vendor from Vicksburg, MS had.  She said Marti will be teaching a class at their quiltfest event.  We had lunch in Pelham at Applebee's before coming home.  Oscar was stuck in the house in his crate as it had looked like rain/storms which freaks him out.  I felt guilty about it but figured better safe than sorry.  Of course, any rain that might have come evaporated in the heat, no doubt.

It being Father's Day tomorrow let me pass on greetings to my dad.  I love and appreciate you so much.    I barely got to say "hi" last Sunday when Mom picked up so will try to call.

I'm going to get on my jammies and hope that sleep does not elude me again tonight.  I'm tired-------

Meeting day

Another 2nd Tuesday rolled around and that means it is time for Bama Belles to meet.   Shawnee dropped by and introduced us to a friend named Linda from the next county north of us.  However, she had to take off as they were doing Vacation Bible School at the church catty corner to where we meet.  Off to tie dye t-shirts she said.  Linda has been making some gorgeous crazy patch stockings for her family members and working on one for her new son-in-law.   It was good to have her come visit with us for the day!

Lois and Aline each had a quilt to pin so the pinning table was hopping with Jane's help.  Bev and Beverly were each doing hand work.  I finally got that little Merry-Go-Round Hexie table topper cut out since cutting was NOT happening at home!

Lois had several quilts ready to turn in.  Some we know the names, some we don't---as usual.  She stumps me!  What can I say?


This one I DO know as a disappearing something or other from Missouri Star Quilt Company.  I had to look to verify which one as there are several on their you tube tutorial pages.  Disappearing Hourglass #1 as I see there is now a 2nd variation.  I think that this is probably my favorite version of the Disappearing blocks.  Well, other than Disappearing 4 patch.  I will do this one some day.

Next, a Twin Sisters from Eleanor Burns' Quilts Through the Seasons.   You get two blocks with reversed color ways with this method so I always thought it might be a fun matching game for a child to do with their quilt.

She got me with this one and maybe she will come up with the real name.  I think it sort of looks like 4 T's. Though the green does chain through the block, normally you don't see an hour glass type deal in the center.

Lois thought this might be a Jacob's Ladder variation possibly something from Bonnie Hunter.   I know she has done others that she spotted in her column Addicted to Scraps in "Quiltmaker" magazine. Could be!

This one is called "Rolling Fields" designed by Legacy Patterns.  I know that this is one that Bev, Teresa and Lois teamed up to do at the last sewing day.  I see bits of stuff in there from my 2 1/2 inch strip stash.  We were pooling our resources so not surprising.

This one is "Fiddlesticks" from Teacher's Pet, one of her fat quarter quickie patterns.  Lois did one up in pretty blues.

This bright and fun quilt is one that Aline made.    The quilting stitch adds some texture to the blocks too. I hope that shows up in the picture.

We went to Cracker Barrel for lunch.  I got back home a little after one, I think.   Oscar probably thought "not a minute too soon."  I gave him a choice of inside (meaning IN his crate) or outside (meaning in the fenced back yard).  He would not budge out of his bed so I thought he decided "in".  I hate keeping him confined like that but he cannot be roaming around the house if I am not home.  The gates won't stop him if he knocks it over.

I had to laugh at him yesterday afternoon.  I had gone outside and inadverently locked myself out.  No big deal as DJ had put an action plan in place should this happen.  I was outside and Oscar knew it but was not coming back in as soon as he thought I should.  When I finally opened the door, out he comes, flopping down on the carport for tummy rubs.  Then he runs over to the car thinking we are going for a ride.  Flops again.  All the while I am "Oscar Lee, get back here" and having visions that he is going to continue to run down the drive and the lane without his leash.  I walk, I do NOT run!  Third flop and roll was his undoing as I caught him and could pick him to carry him back in the house.

Speaking of walking.  it might be paying off a bit.  The girls, independently of each other, kept telling me "you have really lost some weight".  They just saw me two weeks ago, some of them.  The scale isn't barely moving at this point, gain and lose the same two lbs. repeatedly but maybe it is toning up a bit??  I've been gradually losing since Feb. 2014 too.  I've been alternating 6 laps (1.68 miles) one day, 7 (1.96 miles) the next and still going 6 days out of 7.   Oscar walks add another mile to the day's totals.   He is starting to whine at the door so I best get my walking shoes on and take him for a spin.

Till next time-------

this and that

I think I know what I may piece next--this little quilt kit from Connecting Threads that using their Hampton Hues line though I bought more of the chevron piece to be sure to have plenty of binding, the width I want it to be.  The pattern "Merry-Go-Round" included in the kit is by Terry Atkinson, one of my favorite designers.  Should be fun to try.  My fellow Atkinson Designs nut, Norma already made her version for a guild challenge and beat me done!  I have not been rewarded yet if it remains a kit after purchase last fall.

I am not sure why I am so fascinated by hexagons lately!  It might be because I have my version of Thimble Blossoms "Juggle" sitting on the loveseat and I look at it often and think about making another one but bigger.  It might be because I have Marti Michell's Six is for Hexagon sitting on my coffee table.  Inner City catches my eye but so does Millwheel and I still cannot find my Texas Trellis mega pattern either!  She has a neat way of doing Seven Sisters too---where you use a larger and smaller 60 degree equilateral triangle rather than a traditional method.  I hope this shows up on the borrowed image below from this link  https://www.pinterest.com/pin/268527196504370198/       I might get brave and try it, LOL---someday.  Hexagons, the bigger the better IMHO.

 

I was still digging for treasure yesterday.  I dug out the hiding dark blues from the bins on the sewing room shelving.  I tried to combine it with the container that houses Massachusetts Cross and Crown, a Marsha McCloskey design from her book On to Square Two.  (It is the cover quilt actually).   With two pieces of larger yardage, I could not get the thing closed.  Some went back where I found it but I am hoping that some cutting for the proposed Blue and Light Disappearing 4 Patch (D4P) will make some room in there!!

I think I told you about this being a pass around quilt with one of my small quilt groups in central IL.  It was like a trip back in time digging around in the box!  16 friends participated in this round.  Some are no longer with us.  The year was 1993 into 1994.  Yes, this is an ancient UFO but I have others that are older!  This was the section that I completed and sent around with my travel box.

You see the little notes on the blocks.  Those and the directions I sent to the group suggested several different ways one might do the half square triangles (HST) and quarter square triangles (QST) including the Fons and Porter directions for QST's.  I had templates made, sent along an EZ angle ruler for the HSTs which I used a lot at that time.  The static thing on there was when I used it for my beloved Road to Oklahoma quilt, another pass around project that remains a top.   I had totally forgotten about that speed grid marker thing but I may give that some attention.

 It is a similar type thing to that recent demonstration at the JOY guild  by the gals at P. S. Goin' Sewin'.  (Shannon had developed a template for making the squares and HSTs required to make a 6 inch finished Jewel Box block or any other combo.  You could use two layer cake sections to get started.)   Somewhere around here I have some block making templates that I picked up in Paducah during the AQS show years ago.   I think with all my foundation piecing stuff along with some foundation stamps that Boline's at Indian Creek used to sell (B-N area vendor).  I'm going to have to go treasure hunting----again!  I think I know where it might be but getting at it is the problem.  Who makes a closet with one itty bitty door instead of bi-folds, for Pete's sake?   Just try to get at anything in the way back of the closet--I dare ya!

It looks like I have 74 or 75 blocks done.  These are nine inch blocks.  The sashing bits are two inch finished.  I think I know what it is those bags but didn't want to dig through them---ugh!  Part of the reason why the container wouldn't close, those things.

As I was looking through the blocks and counting, several had "Mom" written on the back in the seam allowances.  I counted 5 and had asked for 3 or 4.  That blue fabric is sort of a joke between Mom and I.  It was once a sundress I had made to wear.  Loosely fitting, my mom got to looking at it for the yardage as the print went so well with something she had been making.  She got the dress!

I should also tell you that this is a case of history repeating itself.  This Young Man's Fancy was made by my great-grandmom and passed on to me by my materal grandmother.  The family story is that Great-Grandmom had always wanted to make this quilt and years later she made it in two colors, a soft blue and a print.  It has faded a good bit so it almost looks like a whole cloth quilt but the picture below might show it a bit better as it is used in the borders.
Well, apparently she ran out of that print fabric and word is, my grandmother had to give up her dress that was made from that same print in order for it to be completed.  You know how full skirted those used to be.   It was hand quilted by a local church group in Nebraska.

This was something else that I discovered stuck up on the shelves.  I sort of remember putting it there but the origin is a little fuzzy.  Lois will have to help me remember BUT I think 6 or 7 of the BOM packets came from Linda C in a box she mailed to Lois.  I took them as I knew I had a packet here at home from the Friendship Guild sew-in packets or library or some such thing.  It is the 2004 Hancock's Quilter's Sampler Party.   I had put my packet in one of my notebooks the other day so dug it out and dug through the bag these were in to organize the rest in its own notebook.  Turns out there are 3 blocks completed and another that just needs the sections joined.   I found the missing ones on ebay.  No way will I find the fabrics they used for framing the blocks and doing the borders but eventually this can be finished in some manner.  I like the green and peach even though it is probably a little dated.  Think a kid will care?

It's time to think about lunch and I have an errand to run.  Oscar is outside at the present while Skyler already had his second "treat" bite and settled back on his kitchen chair.   I will hate to see how much white belly fur is covering the chair pad!

That's it for today's note---thx for stopping by to see me!

busy day

It has been a busy Monday!

• I took the day off from lap walking as I had agreed to follow the neighbor to drop off the car and bring Robert home.  However, Glynda had an unexpected cancellation in the shop schedule.  I was up and dressed anyway but depending on when they get the call, I may run him to pick it up. 
•  I received the articles I needed to complete the guild newsletter, finished that up, emailed it off and posted it on our website.  
• I'm on the 2nd load of wash now.
• Got my hair cut.  Glynda did a bit more layering so we'll see how that goes.   It is fine if it takes some of the heaviness out especially around my face.   I just know that curly/wavy headed might be the way to go as once my head gets sweaty, it turns into a version of it anyway, LOL.
• Walked Oscar twice with one or two more runs scheduled.
• Got groceries, concentrating on more fruits and veggies
• Got busy in the kitchen prepping veggies and made another pot of iced tea.  Drink a lot of that when it is this warm and humid, decaf though

I am trying to get more fit.  That's why the walking laps.  Since the 14th of June walking 6 days out of 7 I walked just shy of 30 miles.  Add in the dog trips in the lane average of 3 times a day--sometimes 4 or 5--add another 20 miles.  WOW!  No wonder my joints are wondering "what's up?"  The weight has stabilized, I guess.  I am not losing as much as staying in a holding pattern but hopefully that will move the needle the correct direction soon so I don't get discouraged.

I keep a raw veggie tray at the ready for the afternoon hunger fade. There are some cukes sliced in vinegar in the fridge too.  I don't like broccoli raw so much so that gets a teeny taste of some Feta Dill dressing when I do eat it.  I love those halo oranges--seedless, easily peeled.  Kiwis and apples are good too.  I got a mango at the store and think I need a lesson on cubing those or what to look for when you buy them as it was a mushy mess!  They had advertised cantaloupes for a good price but there were none available today.  I still want one though.  They had berries but still a little high, I thought.

I also nuked a couple ears of sweet corn, snapped and steamed some green beans and made a bowl of guacamole.  Avocados are good for you but those tortilla chips not so much, LOL.  I like it on wraps though.  I'll try to behave.   Fish tacos would have been good!  Too bad I didn't think of that sooner.  There is a good recipe for those on Taste of Home Fish Tacos with Avocado Sauce though I left out the hot stuff.  DJ even liked them.

 The critters are staying to stay cool though Skyler has since moved to the front door.  There is a good bit of cloud cover and we won't see much sun till it gets below the tree line.  I think he is waiting for the neighborhood cat to come strolling by.

Oscar is up and down, in and out.  I could do without doggie backside on my arm and leg but yes, I love you too.

The view as I came back up the hall.  What sillies!  Four eyes checking out my every move, LOL.

On the quilting front, or rather "thinking about quilting" front yesterday:

• I got a "wrap 'em" sized Treasure Amidst the Bric a Brac drawn up in EQ but eliminated a couple pieces I don't think need to be in the periphery of the quilt.
• I spent entirely too much time going through my notebooks looking for something I have either loaned out or misplaced.  Donna Poster's Mega Pattern for Texas Trellis.   I wanted to compare that pattern with how Marti Michell does it in her Hexagon book. 

Still, looking through the notebooks locates other fun things that I have saved or patterns I have bought/downloaded/been gifted with by quilting friends.

• I wanted to show Bev the Terry Atkinson clipping of a yo-yo quilt since she is making them.  
• I found two cool star blocks that might go in my Farmer's Wife Inspired Sampler once resized or would make a good donation quilt idea.   I'll show those down the line as one has more than one name, this one for the fabric. I think. 
•  There is a printout for a cool intertwining squares and rectangles called "Movement in Squares".  That one is free if you want it.   
• There is a screen shot I printed out of my Kindle copy of Camille Roskelley's Simply Retro for her "Framed" pattern which uses layer cakes.  I have one that I got with Christmas money several years ago searching for the right pattern.  Maybe this would work?  
• I like one called "Sweet Life" too but that takes fat quarters.   
• The Big EZ pattern from Bloom Creek.  
• A section of Braid my mom sent me  using a technique in Fons and Porter Scrap Quilt Magazine, fall 2011 that uses half hexies.  Great!  I've got one of those which is why I was looking for that Texas Trellis.  
• Stitchery stuff that Maggie sent me recently, etc etc.   

It's all in its own notebook now---inspirations file.  I had planned on searching for and cutting any dark blue and white on white bits hiding in the sewing room today but so far that hasn't happened.  Laundry, errands, kitchen details have taken precedence.  Maybe tomorrow.  Maybe later tonight.  There is the timer for the dryer.

THX for stopping by------