Work in Progress

My current quilt is made of browns and double pinks reproduction fabrics.  I only have 3.5 blocks to complete and then I can start assembling. I've decided to make it more scrappy.  However, to qualify specifically as a scrap quilt (in a specific quilt show), 75 different fabrics are required.  Oh darn!  Now I have to go my local quilt store to purchase a few more fat quarters.  LOL!

To view some absolute wonderful WOWs, feel free to visit Esther's Blog.

Grand Rapids AQS Quilt Show Entry

Oh Boy!  AQS is coming again to Michigan! I was pleasantly surprised that my quilt "Sunshine Sherbet" was accepted to be shown in Grand Rapids this August.  Here's a sneak peak:

Hand pieced and hand quilted.

Quilt was mailed yesterday to Paducah and then will be shipped north to Grand Rapids for the show which runs August 14 - 17, 20013 (Wed. thru Sat.). Last year's show was wonderful with many exquisite quilts, special showings and great vendors. A friend and I drove more than two hours to attend, and it was well worth the drive. The show was well attended, and it may be busier this year as the word is out.

I haven't been able to attend the Paducah show in Kentucky so it is exciting for many of us to have AQS coming to Michigan!

Wear your most comfortable walking shoes or bring bandaids. Trust me. Nobody is going to be looking at your feet.

Design Wall Monday

Playing with my blocks on my design wall.  Anxious to have them completed so I can start assembling.  In order to speed up the process (so I can start other quilts sooner), I switched from hand piecing to machine piecing.  I decided it doesn't really matter to anyone if it is hand or machine pieced.  Of the above two blocks, can anyone tell the difference?  I can't once both blocks were pressed.  By the way the one on the far right is machine pieced.

I was hoping to have only two more blocks to complete this week, but I decided there were a few blocks that did not appeal to me.  They reminded me of bullseyes so I shall be redoing the center fabrics.

This Tuesday posting is a day late.  To see some really pretty already posted quilts this week, please stop by at Patchwork Times.

Design Wall Monday

All the participants in Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times motivate me to keep moving forward with my quilt that is on my make-shift design wall.

This week I accomplished cutting out all the background fabric squares and triangles.  I completed one more churn dash block.  As you can see, I only have four (4) more blocks to go before I can proceed on  stitching them together.

Beginning to consider different border options.  A little bit of stitching and cutting here and there adds up.

Design Wall Monday

July1, 2013

Last week was my first participation Patchwork Times Design Wall Monday which is graciously hosted by Judy.

This week I should title my post "Design FLOOR Monday" as the above image is laid out on the floor and not on my new quick and easy design wall.  The reason is that I do not yet have my background fabric washed or alternate squares cut.  Therefore, I laid the dark fabric on the floor and put a few of the finished blocks on top.  I am happy with my intended affect.  A few more churn dash blocks need to be hand pieced.

A few days ago I attended the NQA Quilt Show in Columbus.  It was wonderful and motivating.  I plan to set aside time to get more stitching accomplished.  If interested in seeing some of the awesome quilts, see previous post or click here.

Have a safe, happy 4th of July!

NQA Quilt Show 2013

Awesome!

Over-the-top quilt show hosted by the National Quilters Association in Columbus, Ohio!  So many breath-taking beautiful quilts on display.  

Here are a few of my favorites in no particular order which include some award winners, honorable mention, and quilts that just appealed to me.  

My amateur photos do not do these quilts justice.  To see better photographs of all quilts, I recommend you purchase the DVD and/or CD from NQA directly.   

It was my first time in attendance.  I rate this show 5 stars!  Show was organized and quilts were well displayed.  I hope to return next year.

Thank you in advance for not pinning these images on Pinterest.

It was my first time entering a show and traveling out-of-state to a large national quilt show which was an adventure in itself.  

It is commonly known that quilters are the nicest people, and I found that to be so very true.  By pure chance, at the preview dinner, I sat with a group of ladies from Long Island in New York.  One of the ladies, Judy, was awarded the NQA Certified Teacher of the Year award!  She has been teaching for 20 years.  Her classes are quite popular and taught through community education.

Design Wall Monday

Such a coincidence that today I discovered Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times.  Just yesterday, I  put up a make-shift design wall in my basement.  My motivation was that I wanted to lay out my current blocks for placement purposes.

To make the wall, I used what I had on hand which was a flannel-backed vinyl tablecloth that we previously used for picnics.  To hang tablecloth, I used T-pins that are mostly used for home dec sewing.  

I inserted (anywhere that I could) the pins in the wood just above my concrete basement walls. 

The tablecloth and blocks are lightweight that the pins hold it!  No holes in the wall and design wall easily removed.  

What a difference it makes to see your blocks vertical on a wall versus viewing them on the floor.  The credit for this inexpensive and simple design wall goes to Marianne Fons.  Please click on her name for the 3-minute video.  It's worth watching!

In regards to my current quilt project, all blocks are being handpieced.  I am using Civil War era reproduction fabrics in browns and pinks.  Seventy-five percent (75%) of the blocks are completed.  I hope to do some handpiecing on the other blocks while I am away on my quilting travel adventure this week in Columbus, Ohio at the 2013 National Quilting Association Show.

NQA show pictures will be posted later this week.