Happy Thanksgiving. . . already???

Well, Thanksgiving is already here, can anyone believe it?  I'm not sure where the last few months have gone.  I know I feel like someone pushed me off a speeding train and I am still living back in July.  I never seem to be ready for this time of year, but like it or not, I've had to get a grip and come to terms with the fact that the holidays are really here.



I thought I was actually ahead of the game for once when I was inspired in early September to work on a fall-inspired quilt.  Originally the plan was that it would be hanging in my house during the months of October and November.  Oh well, maybe next year!

I had wanted to capture a softer autumn feeling in this quilt and as I was also going through my fabric stash, I realized I rarely use orange fabrics, but I have way too many of them!  I had started cutting and using scraps for the sashing, which I foundation-pieced.  I auditioned several different options for the blocks and loved the look of scrappy Dresdens.  It took a couple of months to get it all together and completed, but I am happy with the finished look, although it still needs to be quilted.  I've titled it Tupelo Honey, partly after the Van Morrison song and partly because I started reading about Tupelo trees that grow in northwest Florida.  The honey that is produced from the tree's flowers is the gold standard that all other honey is compared to.  The trees also turn a beautiful orange color and since we don't really have traditional fall like the northern states, this is my version of fall!

So let's catch up. . . I had mentioned in my previous post that I had been notified that I had won an award at the International Quilt Festival in Houston in October.  We flew out there for several days and attended the Awards Ceremony.  I was completely taken by surprise when my quilt, Grandmother's Cabin, won first place in the Traditional Pieced category.  What an honor!  And for those of you that may not know this, they do not split up the categories in the Houston show with long arm quilted quilts and domestic machine quilted quilts, they are lumped together.  So the competition is very high, to say the least.  Some of the very best long arm quilters, whom I greatly admire, were in the same category.  Having my quilt achieve such an award is quite an honor for me, since I quilt on my home machine and never felt I could really compete with the long arm quilters.  Here are just a few of the quilts that were in the Traditional Pieced category:

Stargaze by Susan Liimatta, Wisconsin

 

 Stargaze (detail)

 White House Hexagons by Fiona Bell, Australia

 Cardinal Points by Gail Stepanek and Jan Hutchison, Illinois



Cardinal Points (detail)



 Starstruck by Carolyn Hughes & Errol A. Hughes Jr., Texas

Starstruck (detail)

Houston is always so inspiring, the number of quilts on display as well as the immense variety is overwhelming.  One of my favorite exhibits there was the Quilts de Légende Brouage 2015 exhibit by French quilters.  These quilts are pieced, appliqued and quilted entirely by hand and they are breathtaking!  All are copies of antique quilts and done in reproduction fabrics.  They are exquisite.  Of course, photos don't do them justice, but hope you enjoy some eye candy, just the same.

Somerset by Marie-Francoise Gregoire 

Somerset (detail)

Potomac by Yvonne Calvez 



Potomac (detail)

Bouquet d'ananas by Laurence & Eric Durth 

Bouquet d'ananas  (detail)

Legende by Simone Patouillard

Chesapeake by Aline Joulin 

Chesapeake (detail)

 In Memory of Ann Randoll by Martine Lanux

In Memory of Ann Randoll (detail)

 Cephee by Marie-Josephe Veteau

Cephee (detail)

 Champ de Tournesols by Gabrielle Paquin

 Champ de Tournesols (detail)

 La Bertauderie by Monique Hovette

 Wales by Aline Joulin

 Wales (detail)

 Miss Rosetta by Dominique Husson

 Miss Rosetta (detail)

 Antique Basket Quilt by Ghislaine Lucas

 Scaramouche by Dominique Husson

 Amish by Anne-Marie Uguen

 Sunburst Avec Etoiles by Louise Marie Stipon

 Jeu de Dames by Anne-Marie Uguen

 Potomac by Annick Tauzin

Potomac (detail)

Hope all of you have a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving holiday with family and friends!  Happy Quilting!



Walking on a Cloud

I am attending the AQS Paducah Quilt Show this week and was completely caught by surprise when I received an email the other night telling me that my quilt, Grandmother's Cabin, had won an award.  They didn't let on as to what my quilt had won, specifically, so I've been on pins and needles until tonight.  Sitting in the audience at this evening's awards ceremony was almost like attending the Oscars!  When the Home Machine Quilted Bed Quilts were finally announced, my heart began to race as they started with third place, then second place, then. . . .FIRST place. . .and my name was called.  It still seems surreal, as if it's all a dream.  I am so honored and grateful and overwhelmed, I still cannot believe my quilt won.

So here is a big thank you and hug to all of you who have sent out good vibes, kind and supportive words and ongoing encouragement over the last couple of years.  I appreciate all of you who take the time to read my blog, comment, and follow me on Instagram.  Your support and cheerful comments help make this day a memorable one.  This week is looking like it is going to be quite a thrill ride with all the events and things there are to do.  I will write all about it after I return home next week.

Click HERE for a short video of my interview with Bonnie Browning.

Until then, thank you all so much and Happy Quilting!

Bye Bye January!

Let's not even talk about the fact that January just blew right on by!  You know how it is, you get so completely focused on something and it seems like everything else in your life just falls by the wayside.  I lost two months, all of November and December, without one stitch at my sewing machine, so there was no way I was coming up for air until I had something to show for it this month!

Originally I had great plans to make this quilt and have it completed for Christmas 2015.  Needless to say, that did not happen and the most I had accomplished before the holidays was pulling fabrics for this quilt. 

I dipped into my stash of gorgeous florals (that I never seem to want to cut).  I wanted something that could play a background role without adding a lot of competing color.  This floral is an older Moda print, Seaside Rose, and I love how it worked with the pinks and greens.  Due to its popularity, it has been re-released and I've seen it available on several sites again (shabbyfabrics.com currently has it in stock). 

This is my own design, inspired by an antique quilt.  I added the chevron inner border (note all those Y-seams!) which repeats the small diamond shape in the stars and a large outer floral border for some feather quilting I am planning.  The smaller dark pink stars in the floral squares are appliqued.  At this time, there is no pattern available.  I am still playing around with titles for this quilt.  It reminds me of peppermint candy for some reason, so I keep coming back to the title "Peppermint & Roses."

I am really happy with how this turned out and hopefully, I will have it quilted by Christmas 2016!

Earlier in January I attended the Florida World Quilt Show in Orlando.  This is the same show that has always been in West Palm Beach until being moved this year.  I was very excited to see the show promoters moved it to Orlando, since that is almost in my backyard.  I entered my quilt, "Grandmother's Cabin" and was honored to have received an award for Best Sewing Machine Workmanship.  It was so nice to be recognized for all those long hours of free-motion quilting hundreds and hundreds of straight little grid lines!    

Following are more photos from that show for inspiration, in no particular order or preference: 

 

Moonswept by Nikki Hill St. Augustine, FL  Third Place

Winter in the Garden by Olive Gobin, longarm quilting by Ruta Hardenbrook Fruitland Park, FL 
Best Longarm Machine Workmanship

Winter in the Garden (detail)

Gradation by Kathleen Burford New Zealand

Off the Floor #1 by Gael O'Donnell New Zealand

Off the Floor #1 (detail)

Nursing Home Quilt #2 by Marge Hurst New Zealand

Nursing Home Quilt #2 (detail)

They are Bees not Flies by Jenny Hall New Zealand

Persian Dream by Ansa Breytenbach New Zealand



Persian Dream (detail)

Affairs of the Heart by Lorraine Baker New Zealand

Affairs of the Heart (detail)

 Roses for Katrina by Gail H. Smith Barrington, IL  Honorable Mention

Roses for Katrina (detail)

Humming Bee by Judith Wilson United Kingdom  Honorable Mention



Humming Bee (detail) by Judith Wilson

The Never-Ending Fame of Gustav Klimt:  The "Kiss" Revisited by Lesley Jurgens South Africa

Happy as a Clam by Rachaeldaisy Australia

Happy as a Clam (detail)

Nordstern by Claudia Scheja Germany

Lone Star Among Friends by Margarita Schuh Germany

Lone Star Among Friends (detail)

Sunkissed by Theresa Olson Jupiter, FL

Flourish on the Vine by Donna Douglass Apollo Beach, FL  Best of Show

Flourish on the Vine (detail of hand quilting)

Hopefully that makes up for my absence!  Sorry if this post has bogged down your computers and iPads!  I wanted to cram everything in while I had the time to blog.  I will be attending another large AQS quilt show at the end of February which is being held right here in my backyard in Daytona Beach, FL!  This is a first for us and quite a big deal.  I am looking forward to going and will have my Grandmother's Cabin entered in that show as well.  Stay tuned, I hope to have lots of photos to share.  Until next time. . . .Happy Quilting!