Thursday, April 4, 2013

First day of Expo, and meeting up with bloggers

Today was the first of three days of the Sewing & Quilting Expo in Schaumburg, IL. I am working all three days in the Quilts of Valor booth.  I only had a chance to see part of the show today.  I took some pictures to show you some of what the show has to offer.  They had several of our local chapter of Quilts of Valor quilts hanging.


local Quilts of Valor quilt

local Quilts of Valor quilt

does this one look familiar to you?  it should, I showed it in February

local Quilts of Valor quilt

local Quilts of Valor quilt

local Quilts of Valor quilt

local Quilts of Valor quilt

local Quilts of Valor quilt
 There were also some different challenge quilt and quilts from McCall's Quilting magazine that were shown.

My Scrappy Love by Sharon Moran.  these HST's were only 1"


Scraps I Couldn't Bear to Toss by Gina Thackara


In A Spin by Caroll Ivy


Pinwheel Baskets by Kathy Mankelwitz

close up of the hand quilting and embellishments

Jacob's Ladder by JoAnn Rasch


X-Factor (Hidden Spools) by Alice Zeman


Sharon's Original Scrap Sampler by Sharon Moran


Celebrating Freedom by Lynn Lister


Crazy Dazies by Audrey Heirs

The House that Kaffe Built by Kathryn Patterson

up close of the houses and quilting


Heritage Stars by Sherri Bain Driver & Friends


America the Beautiful by Lynn Lister (designer) and Beth Hayes (maker)


Avian Audience by Judy Loope


Yellow Brick Road by Phyllis Manley and Barn Wall by Marcia Knopp


Sunflower Serenade by Marlene Shea

In the Limelight by Gail Eberle


For Alex: Love Mom by Leona Harden


March of the Loggerhead Turtles by Karin Tauber

up close of embellishments


Since I was there to help work the Quilts of Valor booth, I also wanted to show some pictures of our booth and what we were doing.  We are sharing a booth with Marianne Fons (she will arrive tomorrow), and we also had the 'Make & Take' booth from 2-5pm, for more sewing.  Anyone who wants to make a string block to be put into a Quilts of Valor quilt, are welcome at either booth.

Quilts of Valor in Marianne Fon's booth

some area and state leaders of Quilts of Valor chapters

Our 'Opportunity' quilt and it's maker

We will be using the Make & Take booth each day from 2-5pm.  Here are shots during our time today.

Make & Take, Quilts of Valor style

ironing seams

preparing blocks

sewing machines getting a workout

some of today's finished blocks

It is always nice to finally get to meet ladies that you have corresponded with in blogland.   Today, I got to meet up with, not one, but TWO of these ladies.  Victoria Findlay Wolfe is a featured guest at the Expo.  Victoria's blog is Victoria Findlay Wolfe Quilts (formerly Bumblebeans).  I purchased her book, 15 Minutes of Play. 

signed copy

I also got to meet a fabulous long arm quilter, Lisa Sipes, from That Crazy Quilty Girl blog.  I've followed both of these ladies blogs for quite a while now, and Lisa even follows mine. 

Lisa Sipes, me & Victoria Findlay Wolfe
All in all, it was a great day!  I even got to check out a few of the vendors booths.  Sewing, fabric, and QUILTERS, what's not to love!?!

If you will be attending this Expo, stop by the Quilts of Valor booth, across from 'The Spot', and say 'Hi!'

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Progress, NewFO's and Dog update

This has been a busy month for me.  Here are some of my projects that I've made progress on, or, have started in the month of March.

Sarah's quilt top finished

I designed the borders for Sarah's quilt top and added them early in the month, so that I could hand the quilt (and backing) over to the long arm quilter.  This is the first quilt that I've ever paid someone to quilt for me.  SCARY to turn it over to someone else.

Sarah's 'quilted' quilt (needs binding)

up close of machine quilting by Julie

up close of back of quilt, showing Julie's quilting
I love the circles that Julie did on this quilt.  I love the movement that it added to the quilt.  Hubby and I didn't want it 'over quilted' as this will be a bed quilt, not a show piece.  Yes, hubby even chatted with Julie about the quilting when I handed the top over to her.  It is so nice to have a hubby that understands and appreciates the process of making a quilt.  This quilt just needs to have the binding made and attached.  I'll have to do this in April, since I'll give this to my in-laws to take to Sarah.  Oh yea, the top was pieced on 2 different hand cranks, the center was pieced on my Singer Spartan, and the borders and backing were pieced on the machine shown above, my Singer 99 hand crank.

At my small guild, we learned English paper piecing (the proper way).  This is the hexie flower that I made.  I'll be doing more of this in the future (when I get around to cutting out some fabrics).

my first (proper) hexie
 I also learned how to make pillowcases in March.  The first one was made for my son's girlfriend.  Marilyn helped me, and surged the seams.

Krystal's pillowcase
I also made 2 more pillowcases (different method) for Rene', my BFF's daughter.  Rene' loves butterflies and purple.

Rene's first pillowcase

Rene's second pillowcase
I am also keeping up with my Harry Potter, The Project of Doom blocks.  In March, I finished Weeks #4-9.  I made 2 of each block.


Week #4
Week #5

Week #6
Week #7
Week #8
Week #9
My small quilt guild has a 'box' exchange going on.  Each month, we get someone else's 'box' and make a block for them.  In March, I had Thelma's box.  She wants 9 patch blocks, in blue.  I used her fabrics.  Since I made them the day before Easter, I chose a panel of religious fabric that she had in her box and fussy cut the pieces.  I made 4 blocks, instead of just one block.

Thelma's block #1

Thelma's block #2

Thelma's block #3

Thelma's block #4


The only machine that I've sewn on this month is my 1925 Singer 99 hand crank.
1925 singer 99 hand crank sewing machine
Also, in March, I started hand quilting on Fat Cats in the City.

Fat Cats in the City quilt
I'm already on the 4th block of this quilt.  I'm hoping to have this quilt, quilted and bound before the end of the month, so that I can hand deliver it to Betty.  I've been quilting on this during commercials, while watching Dancing With the Stars and Castle. 

Barbara, over at Cat Patches, has a NewFO Challenge each month.  I'll be linking up with her.


Update on my dog, Padfoot.  Padfoot is doing great!  We are so glad.  She is recovering quickly, so far.  Thanks for all of your well wishes for her.