Christmas Quilt Show

I know I am late getting my quilt up, but better late than never.  Christmas quilts are  my absolute favorite, they are my favorite to make and to look at.  I couldn't decide which one to post and finally decided to go with the last one that I finished.  It is a stitchery pattern from Crabapple Hill, Snowman A-Z.  It took me almost two years to get all of the blocks done, but I had a great time doing it.  The one thing I wish I had done differently is buy more of the border fabric to use as the backing fabric.  I love my candy cane inner border and binding.   

The Truck Fairy Came

My DH had been talking about getting either a new truck or a new car for the last few weeks.  I really didn't think that he would get either one for a while.  DH doesn't like to spend money.  However after looking at only one truck he decided to purchase it.  I couldn't believe it.  It was  a great deal, a 2011 with only 7,000 miles for a great price.  I was told him that he would never get a deal like that again and he should definitely take it.  It rides great, and DH looks pretty happy with it.

Reconnected

I have been out of computer range for most of the last two weeks.  That sounds really strange in this day but it is true.  I was out of town unexpectectedly for my Uncle's funeral the week before Thanksgiving.  I was at my mom's house and she doesn't have Internet access, which is not necessarily a bad thing.  This was my mom's only brother, he had been sick for the last few months. so his death wasn't totally unexpected.  It was a chance for the family to get together, a sad chance.   We haven't all been together since my dad died three years ago.  Here I am with my mom, my brother, (who looks just like my dad). and my niece.  My great niece was trying to sneak into the photo, that is her bow that you can see in the lower right.  It was a sad time but great to see everyone.  My uncle was a WWII veteran  and had a military funeral.  I did ok, until they played Amazing Grace and a member of each branch of the service came in a saluted the casket.  Amazing Grace played on  the bagpipes always makes me cry there is just something about it. 
After coming back from the funeral, I was only home for two days before heading up to our cabin for Thanksgiving.  It was great to be away from everything for a few days but I did wonder what was going on in blog land.  Hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

What I bought in Houston

 As you know I was lucky enough a few weeks ago to travel to Houston with my three best friends, Becky, Krisie, and Pat.  It was the best time, I am still telling everyone about it.  Yesterday I was going through my purchases again and realized that I hadn't posted about them.  First, I can't even hardly to begin Spree, I am so glad that I had the opportunity to go.  We got there just as they were letting people in, didn't even have to wait in line.  Becky and I wanted to head to Moda, it wasn't hard to figure out where the were, all you had to do was look for the huge, and I do mean huge crowd.  I knew exactly what I wanted, the new Primitive Gatherings Christmas line.  I managed to make my way to the front and ask a fat quarter bundle.    Luckily they still had them!!  I got my bundle and my Moda collectors item bag and then when exploring to see what else I could find.  There was so much to look at, I was in quilter's heaven.  I could have bought much more than I did, but I had given myself a budget.  ( I only went over  little!!!!)

The new books were very tempting, however I only bought one, the new one from Edyta Sitar, Reasons for Quilts. It is a wonderful book and one that I would recommend to any quilter. The patterns are absolutely out of this world and the stories that go with each pattern are wonderful to read.





Here is my Primitive Gatherings bundle, plus a bundle called Serenity.

Before going to Spree we headed to Painted Pony, I had heard of this shop from Pat but wasn't prepared for all of the great fabrics and patterns they had.  I bought some great fabric for a vest and a pattern.  It is now cut out but not made yet, have to find some lining for it.  I also got a few fat quarters of some diawabo fabrics  for my Snow Day's stitchery that I am working on.  Can't wait to cut into those pretties. 



Diawabo fat quarters

Now I need to get busy and finish some projects.

New Stitchery project

I always have some type of hand work project going, usually stitchery or applique.  A couple of weeks ago I dug out the Snow Days pattern by Crab Apple Hill Designs.  I purchased the pattern last winter and put it aside.  I know that none of you would ever do that!!  During the summer I found the fabric that I wanted to use for the background of all of the stitchery blocks, it is barely off white with tone on tone swirls. The swirls look like snow blowing in the wind.  I am using one of my new favorite tools to mark the blocks off, the Frixon Pens from Pilot.  I think I am in love with these pens, I have them in blue, black and red.  They are absolutely wonderful for marking patterns off.  It leaves a fine line and if you don't cover it up, all you have to do is iron it out.  What could be easier? 

I am also using one of my other new favorites, Cosmo thread.  My friend Kristie had some of this thread last year but with my stock of DMC I wasn't going to buy any, even though it is really nice.  I did decide that I wanted to use the recommended thread for this project.  The color is really unusual, it is called Seasons and is a greenish, greyish, brown if that makes since.  You can see the first block that I have completed below.  The light isn't great, will try to take another photo or wait and show block #2. 

Blogger's Quilt Festival

I always look forward to seeing all of the wonderful quilts and reading the stories about them in the Bloggers Quilt Festival.    This is my snowman stitchery quilt that I just finished.  I purchased the fabric two years ago while on Christmas break.  I usually go shopping with my friends Becky and Kristie sometime during our winter break.  Kristie and I  both saw this pattern and fell in love with it.  I have to admit it took me a while to get going on it, but once I did I couldn't wait to finish it.  I love the way Leisa quilted it.  I should have taken a better picture of the quilting, she put snowflakes all through it. I had debated on if I should let my mom hand quilt it or let Leisa machine quilt it.  Nothing against my mom, but I love what Leisa did.  The only thing I have left to do is make a label for it.

Going to Market

Last Thursday my friend Kristie and I flew to Houston for the Quilt Market.  It was our "first time".  (I hope it isn't my last).  We were there to help out our friend Pat Wys of Silver Thimble Quilt Co,  she was there to promote her new book, Spotlight on Neutrals, and her new pattern Glory Garden.  On Friday, Kristie, Becky, Pat, and BJ headed to the market floor to start working on the booth.  As I said this was my first trip and first time setting up a booth, everything was there waiting for us.  It didn't take us long to get going. (when you have two current media specialist, and one retired media specialist there was lots of years experience setting up book fairs, this wasn't that different).  After getting the booth started, we took a break to help Pat out at School House.  Kristie, BJ,  and I were quilt holders, Becky was the flyer lady and Pat did a great job talking about her neutral book and quilts.  There was lots of positive response. 



After School House, finishing up the booth.



Pat and BJ in the finished booth, ready to sell, sell, sell.

After getting the booth all ready to go, we made a trip out to Painted Pony.  More on that tomorrow.