GSQA Show

Today I had the wonderful opportunity to attend the Gulf States Quilt Association (GQSA) show, "Charmingly Southern" in Slidell.  We boarded the small charter bus at 7 a.m. and took off with a couple of stops along the way to increase our numbers. Imagine the chatter and laughter as we played games and visited.

Photo from GSQA flyer by Ilaine Hartman.

Although we were there for only the day, I managed to see every quilt and even had a little time left over to sew in the community sewing.  We sewed strips together that will later be cut into blocks and made into charity quilts.


I only wish my camera were working as the quilts were stunning and I'd have loved to post at least a few.    I'm hopeful that I will get a few later from kind friends.  In the meantime, enjoy their website at http://gulfstatesquilting.org/index.html

I did pick up a few goodies and won a few prizes.  I'll share those later, for now I need some rest......my feet are tired!
Happy Quilting,
Mary

Congratulations Winners!

For those of you who have been participating in the Quilting Gallery Blog Hop Party I am happy to announce that  #23 Linda V. won the Fleur de Lis Quilts giveaway.  Linda answered my email this morning, and I've promised to send her prizes which are posted here  on Monday.  

What she doesn't know is that because her comment noted how much she loves vintage patterns, I've decided to add another vintage pattern to her winnings!  This one is already packed up with her other items.  I hope she likes it.

Most of my weekend has been spent working on a special project for our living area.  We have a large window seat that has not been used very much for various reasons, but now that there are so many of us, someone generally ends up sitting on that uncomfortable seat.  I decided that it's time to make a cushion for it.  
little did I think it would involve so much work.  I've made small cushions before, but this baby is 108 inches long and has a funny shape because the bow window has five separate window units, meaning there are five different angles.  Oh, making the pattern was easy.  It's cutting into that expensive fabric that's difficult!  But it's cut and some stitches are in, so there's no going back now.  Hopefully I'll have photos of the completed project on my next post.
Besides working on this sewing project, I've been working a bit in the yard and garden.  The strawberries are driving us crazy. 

I've made about 20 pints of strawberry preserves or strawberry syrup (for pancakes) but as you can see, there are more strawberries waiting for the pot.  They'll have to wait till tomorrow, but if I'm late getting to the computer, it's the strawberry jam that's delayed me.  
Welcome to the new followers from the blog hop party.  I hope you find something of interest here.  And to everyone, please leave a comment and let us know what is keeping you busy this weekend.  You might also congratulate Linda on her win. (hint, hint)
Happy quilting,
Mary

This post is my 198th.  Since Fleur de Lis Quilts blog is about to see it's 200th post, I think there's cause for a celebration.  What do you think?  What should I consider in the way of prizes?  

Some of my ideas for prizes: 

• die cut fabric blocks
• fleur de lis applique
• gift certificate from my Etsy shop
• fat quarters

I'll use rafflecopter.com again because it's a fabulous way to hold a giveaway.  It just makes so much sense to go the easy route!

Leave a comment letting me know what you think!  If you have an idea for something different, please make the recommendation.....I'll consider it!

Happy Quilting,

Mary

Leaf Me Alone

What a sad pun in that title, but yeah, that's what I want....time to get this quilt done!  I did manage to meet my goal of loading it on the longarm.  I spent some time last night trying to figure out how to quilt this one.  

It's the first time I've made a tumbler and also the first time I've used a one-block pattern, so I figured I needed to come up with something that would look good but also not bore me to death.  Remember that I'm ADD in a bad way, so I have to think ahead.

I came up with this design but by this morning I knew it wouldn't make the cut.  First, it would be difficult to travel from one block to the next without eventually having to cross over a line, and second, I just don't think "boy" with this design.  So by the time I was up and showered, I'd decided to redraft a quilting design.  

I was jumping ahead of myself, anyway.  I still had to finish putting strips together. And let's not forget the pressing.  That took some time because the seams didn't want to cooperate.  I think it's because I included some baize, a cotton with a nubby texture and loose weave, and balzarine, which is a thin, almost gauzy cotton.  Those fabrics come from my mom's stash, although I really can't imagine what she would have done with them.  They aren't really meant for clothing and the balzarine is almost too thin for quilting.  I decided to use it anyway, since I'd promised to use some of mom's fabrics and because they happen to be just the right colors for this quilt.

In the end, I managed to get the quilt loaded on the machine and actually made a run or two of quilting.  I finally decided to include leaves, swirls and stippling.  I got pretty creative with the leaves, didn't I?  Check out that leaf right in the middle of this photo.  The one with the points.  I think it may be an oak leaf but I'm not sure.  It just happened.  In fact, my favorite leaves were mostly just happy accidents: while trying to make one leaf, I'd get mixed up and go the wrong way only to discover that it works!  Don't you just love when that happens?  What's your creativity up to today?  

And lastly, it's almost the end of the giveaway.  Midnight is the cut off, so if you haven't entered yet, you'd better click here to enter!

Happy weekend and happy quilting,

Mary