Red and Red White Blue

In my last post, I said that I would share more about the Warwick Guild show.  I'm very proud to say that I was awarded a Second Place red ribbon for Moonlit Night. 

Overall the show was terrific!  Our guild has so many talented quilters!  I spent most of the show helping Allan from the Quilt Basket.  I played with the Handiquilter Sweet Sixteen, the sit down longarm machine, and chatted with everyone that passed by on the way to see the quilts.

Over Memorial Day weekend, we were at our house in PA, so I pulled out Star Struck that I blogged about here.  I'll try to remember to take pictures next time.     I remember last year over Memorial Day and July 4th (before I started this blog)  I worked on Quilts Of Valor projects.   I guess it's my way of honoring those who served or are currently in the military, the best way I know how. 

 Yesterday, still in a patriotic mood, I pulled out the leftover Red, White, Blue pinwheels from this quilt.  This is my design wall after I laid them up sort of randomly with some squares of the leftover fabric.  I will see what I can come up with. It doesn't look like much yet, does it? 

It's a nice coincidence that the quilt I just took off the frame is patriotic looking too.  This is Jean's quilt for her granddaughter.  Don't you think it's a great idea for a QOV donation quilt? 

Bloggers' Quilt Festival, Spring 2012

It's Bloggers' Quilt Festival time! 

 Hello to everyone stopping by from Amy's Creative Side.  

Today I am very happy to enter
 Batik Beauty. 

 I have blogged about this quilt several times before but I'm very proud to show it again with a 

 Blue Ribbon hanging on it!

Batik Beauty

I began this quilt in October at a Warwick Valley Quilters Guild (Warwick, NY) workshop,  It was  taught by Linda J. Hahn, of Frog Hollow Designs, using her New York Beauty Simplified book.
 I used batik scraps or pieces I picked up here and there because I really like the color and pattern.  It was pieced and assembled except for the border, so I decided to finished it to enter in our guild show. The curved border was a last minute decision and a new technique for me.  I'm so happy with how it turned out.
 The show was this past weekend and I'm thrilled that it was chosen by the judges for a First Place award!

This picture shows the quilting a little.  I used my Handiquilter Fusion 

with Superior So Fine thread.  It's a combination of freehand and ruler assisted quilting.

I must say that I really loved the whole process of making this wall hanging.
In the class, I learned about paper and curved piecing  and enjoyed the ladies in the group.
 I truly enjoyed the cutting, folding and sewing of the fabrics, playing around with the color placement and layout, dreaming up the quilting designs, and of course the quilting itself.   I even liked making and sewing on the biased binding on the curved border.  It's so nice that every once in a while I finish something of my own and feel really good about the whole process and the end result.  An award just makes it feel even better!

I'm happy to share Batik Beauty for the Bloggers Festival.
 Thank you for stopping by and letting me show and tell.
 I have more to say about our guild show but I'll save that for the next post.

Thank you Amy for hosting this terrific event 

and thank you to all the bloggers sharing their wonderful quilts. 

 I have been looking and getting so inspired! Hope you are too.

Susan

May Mania

So much has been going on in May since I last posted. Here's a recap.

On the 4th, I was very lucky to take a Cathedral Stars class with Bonnie Hunter in Kingston, NY.  I was so excited to meet her!! She's terrific!   The day before class I quilted and bound my Orca Bay Mystery so I could bring it in to class for show and tell.

This is what I made in class  and currently have on my design wall.  I am using Christmas fabrics but I think they are too busy. So yesterday, when I finally got back to work on them, I stayed with more tone on tone neutrals for the four patches.
 

On the 6th, I went to the show in Somers and saw Bonnie's lecture!  I enjoyed seeing her quilts in person, they are even better than the pictures in her books.  She kept everyone enthralled with her amazing quilts and terrific personality.

View of the Somers show

This next picture is of a store sample I quilted recently for the Quilt Basket,

  they had it on display in their booth at the show.   It was featured on the store blog as well.  

I finished Moonlit Night just in time to turn in on the 8th, the guild show drop off day.   Judging is  tomorrow and the show is the 19th and 20th. 

 I volunteered that day and saw so many beautiful quilts coming in, it's going to be a great show.

In between all this quilting activity, I made a special dress for my daughter Emily!  Her high school Junior Prom was Saturday night!  I haven't made anything like this in years.  It was interesting to sew and everyone loved it.  

Also, I recently started to work 1- 2  days a week at The Happy Quilter! 

  I'm so "happy" this opportunity came my way. I will continue my quilting business on the days at home.     The owner, staff, and customers have been very welcoming.  And I get to play with fabric and talk quilting all day! 

 Thanks for taking the time to visit!  Hope everyone enjoyed Mother's Day!
Linking with Judy at Patchwork Times, I'm sure there are some interesting projects there today as always.

Quilting for a Show

 Batik Beauty is finished! 

 Only some labels and it's ready for the Warwick Guild show.  This is the first time trying a curved border and bias binding.  I'm so happy with the results.   #11 on my UFO Challenge list is now checked off. 

 

 Also, this is the most quilting I've ever done on one piece.   I like my quilts soft and cuddly, but a wall hanging (it measures 50" x 50") can be a little stiff and full of thread.  

Moonlit Night is the other quilt I entered in the show.  Still on the frame but almost finished and ready for binding.  I must say, I love this quilt! It was on my design wall for months and months while I worked on other projects but I didn't mind because I love the fabric (Moda's Luna Notte) and the pattern (Nice Day by Carrie Nelson).  This is # 9 on my list.  So I'm really working out of order.

A few other sewing and quilting related things are going on here

 but I'll save them for another post when I have more time to write. 

Today I'm linking with Patchwork Times, Small Blog Meet and Quilting by the River Tuesday's.  

Many thanks to everyone who wrote such encouraging comments last week!  I truly appreciate it.

Susan