WISQ June 2013

       Quilt group was at Adele’s in June;

my favorite night of the month for chatting, laughing and sharing our quilting habits.

Charity quilt from the Nickel quilt patterns.  Love this easy, but fun block.  Looks good scrappy too.

Thanks to Cathy this one is done.

Two more charity quilts for Project Linus from Karen.  Is your stash used up yet, Karen??

More quilts.  Aren’t these beauties?  I believe the bottom one was a stash buster pattern from Glad Creations in Minneapolis.

 

Goodies from the MN Quilt Show:  a cute fabric bundle and two patterns from This and That.

I always love a surprise when I look at the back of a quilt, and these from Cathy did not disappoint.

Like having two. . . two. . . two quilts in one.

Happy summer,

Minnesota Quilt Show

June is here.  It’s that time of year for sunshine, gardening, outdoor dining, . . . well not quite yet in Minnesota.  Sadly, we’ve had no spring and summer is slow to come.  But one thing we can always count on is the Minnesota Quilt Show.  It’s held during the second week of June, which is very convenient for those of us who are in education — or those of us who are retired (I won’t say any names you lucky ones).

This year the show is being held in Duluth, our favorite location.  We all headed up on Wednesday to spend some time on the shores of Lake Superior.  The first thing we did when we arrived was to eat of course.  We headed to the Duluth Grill (on Guy’s Triple D list).  Let me tell you, it did not disappoint.  The four of us each ordered a different entree and shared: pasty (a Northern MN favorite), ratatouille, fish tacos and smoked salmon salad.  OMG – top mine off with slightly sweetened raspberry iced tea and it was Nirvana.  If you take a look at our photo, you’ll discover our little secret.  We all bought the Duluth Grill Cookbook.  Those of you who know me know that I really needed a cookbook!!  Hmm, I think I’ll be making a bunch of pasties soon.

We stayed at the Suites Hotel at Waterfront Plaza.  I know, the outside of the building looks a little scary, but wow was our room great.  We had a complete apartment – two bedrooms, two baths, a main room with a fireplace, full kitchen and dining space, and a whirlpool.  We were over the moon when we saw it.  This place used to be a hardware warehouse but now is totally renovated into a beautiful hotel.

After having our wine and shopping a bit, we spent Wednesday night watching season one of Downton Abbey.  After episode four we all retired while visions of quilts danced in our heads.  More tomorrow on the Show itself.  But here’s a preview.  This was one of my favorite quilts:

 

Stay tuned,

Spring Quilt

36 degrees, cloudy and gray, snow on the ground. If you’re like me, and most Minnesotans,  you’re sick of having winter in spring.  Come on already, Mother Nature!  Let’s move on.  I need sun and warmth and tulips blooming.

I saw this free quilt pattern from Moda on Bonnie Hunter’s Quiltville Facebook Page and it gave me a glimpse  of spring.  I had a vision of this as a tablecloth on my picnic table with my red dishes and a bouquet of flowers.  Sigh.

It’s called Glamping= glamour + camping.  Designed by Mary Jane Butters.

Click here: http://www.unitednotions.com/fp_glamping.pdf

or here for the  Glamping pdf with all the instructions for free.

Maybe if we all make one of these quilts and chant “Winter, winter, go away. Come again another day.  Quilting friends just want to play” (and be warm, wear sandals, and eat outside) it’ll work and spring will have finally sprung!

If you haven’t already, “like” Bonnie Hunter’s Quiltville facebook page.  So much inspiration!

Dixie Diary Block 3

Here it is.  Dixie Diary block 3.  I’m loving the pink and brown combination.

Here’s one with the applique center.

A 12″ version with a 1″ frame, set on point by Sandi Brothers.  Don’t you love that cute little star?

Check out Barbara Brackman’s Civil War Blog  for more  block information and a little inspiration.

Dixie Diary Block 2

I recently posted the Inspiration Quilt for this block of the month series.  I included the link for block 1.  Here’s block 2 from Barbara Brackman, the first lady of quilt history.  You can applique a heart or star in the center of each block – or not.  It’s a really beautiful quilt and did I mention the patterns are free?

Green Quilts in Honor of St. Paddy

Jour de Semaine Charges by Gyöngyi Váradi, seen at the Hungarian Patchwork Society. Featured in the magazine Magic patch n° 90 – Jeux de couleurs (France)

Get more information on this gorgeous quilt at the Quilt Inspiration blog.

Improvisational quilt from Sarah Looking In .

from the Michigan State University Museum Collections

Green and White Applique with Trees
Maker Unknown
Provenance unknown
c1900
Cotton
86” x 86”
MSUM 2010:124.7
Photo by Pearl Yee Wong, all rights reserved Michigan State University Museum

. . .  and a few freebies to celebrate.

Check out a vintage shamrock block from the Kansas City Star.

From Sew Hooked a paper pieced shamrock quilt.  Thanks to With Hearts and Hands for passing this along.

In honor of St. Patrick, I offer you this Irish blessing:

 May you always have…
Walls for the winds
A roof for the rain
Quilts to warm you
Laughter to cheer you
Those you love near you
And all your heart might desire. 

Inspiration Quilt

Album Quilt attributed to

Margaret English Wood Dodge

DAR Museum

Barbara Brackman is doing a Dixie Diary block of the month based on this beautiful album quilt.  Take a look at block 1, Her Flag Flying, and get the pattern.

WISQ March 2013

I’m back!  I’ve been overly occupied by my real life job – darn it having to work  – that I’ve neglected my real, real life of quilting.  At first it seemed a little embarrassing to admit I’ve haven’t posted on my blog for over a year.   But on the other hand, it seems just too sad for me to abandon it.  So I’m starting up again where I left off.  Yay!

My BQFs (best quilting friends) and I met for our monthly heart-to-heart talks, laughs, and of course SHOW AND TELL.  A picture’s worth a thousand words, especially in the quilting world.  So here it is.  March 2013 show and tell:

Cindy

Block of the Month from Quilted Treasures: Laurie Smith pattern

Love this back: Prairie Paisley II by Minnich & Simpson

Knitted hat for the new grandbaby-to-be

. . .  and a diaper bag

Pottery Barn look-alike quilt, tied not quilted

Sue

Beautiful! Which Christmas did you say this was for?

Laptop bag: oops, a little too small but gorgeous anyway

Modeling the sweat fabric perfect robe

Claudia

Our embroidery diva did it for Halloween

Nice work Claudia

Shirley

 Fun block. How many of these did you make?

Piece of a crazy quilt from Grandma.

Karen

Gift from Cindy (conundrum, does this belong in Cindy’s section or Karen’s)

Inside with lost of pockets for quilting stuff

Charity quilt

Charity quilt

Charity quilt

Absolutely gorgeous log cabin, another of my favs of the night

Cathy

Charity quilt, block from Nickel Quilts

Egyptian cats (you read it right)

Halloween fun

Devil’s Tower bag

Mary Beth

Baby quilt, girl or boy would you say?

Table topper 1

Table topper 2

Another charity quilt

Jan (me!)

Latest BOM, not a huge pink and brown fan but this is gonna be one gorgeous quilt (stay tuned)

Reteaching myself how to crochet

Okay Mary Beth, give the quilt back now, it’s time to go home

Joanne’s Quilt on the Machine

I’m using a panto called Plumage:

Hope to finish it this weekend,

Jo Morton Fabric Lust

Love Jo Morton fabric.  Always have.  But now she has a new line called Bridgeport that I love, love, love!  It’s got to be my favorite to date.  Lots of black with red and tan; my favorite colors.  Oh, and did I tell you there’s a paisley?  Yummy.

Head over to  Andover Fabrics  to check out the whole collection.  I pretty sure I’m going to have to get the whole line this time.  You know, one of those fat quarter stacks that you just have to fondle and play with.

Another bonus is a free pattern from Andover called a Box of Chocolates.  You can get it at the Andover website. There’s lots of other patterns to check out too.

Or download it here: Bridgeport

Luckily I still have a gift certificate to my local quilt shop.  May have to make a visit there today.  I’d have to pick the paisley as my favorite.  Which one do you like best?