Quilt Challenge Day 1

I'm a scroller. You know how people post food and silly pictures and challenges and every little detail of their lives on social media? Well, this is my form of social media. The (I don't know, maybe 7?) people who come by.... you're my social media. I mean I have Pinterest and Instagram and, of course, Facebook. But Instagram is for when I'm stuck waiting and there are no old magazines from three years ago. Facebook is my grape vine, but I read with dubious interest. Pinterest, well, that's my game. However, I can play only so much, you know?

So, the reason for this post. A quilt friend did this ten day challenge of posting one or two quilt pictures every day. Just for fun, I suppose. A sort of online quilt show, if you will. Anyway, she actually named me as the next challenger. Now, how do you go about ignoring something like that? She named me! Okay, okay. I'm in. Here's what I posted. 

And there we are, the beginning of something I may not be completely committed to. 

Quilt Challenge Day 1

Thank you, Mary Coco.

I'll start with a quilt in progress. These are the first six rows of the Bernina Sugaridoo quilt along. Over 6,000 people from around the world are participating, so it's in pretty good company. I'm using indigos I've collected for a while, off whites and a touch of mustard. (Yes, momma, mustard.)

 

 

Pin It Weekly #313

Hello Pinners! Meet some new friends. Introducing Toni Hall, who has a board titled "I Think I Can" and I love it. Here's why...

Not that I crochet, but I think I could. Maybe not well, however. :) Buzzin Bumble is a blogger who has some interesting pins and posts that you might want to check out. Lara is the author of Crafted Applique': New Possibilities. I do not have it, but I will look into it. Isn't this just the cutest cover? I bet that sweet camper is inside!

She has a board called Polaroid Quilts that I had to look into. What an interesting concept. It's a whole thing. Have you heard of these quilts before? I have not. Where have I been? 

After leaving that rabbit hole, I visited the NW Quilting Expo. I was there a while, too. It's amazing I get anything done! BTW, whoever keeps up their Pinterest does a fabulous job. There are way more boards and pins than I expected.

Wash your hands and wear your mask.

Baton Rouge MQG November meeting

I am still playing catch-up for last week. The BRMQG had its November meeting with several show and share ideas. Also, a treat for me, the president brought in a guest from Germany. Bridget and Marquita met in an airport. One had a quilt sticker on her luggage and the other saw it. Of course, they struck up a conversation.

Yvonne's take on a women
in history challenge

 Bridget decided to attend the Houston Quilt Fest and contacted Marquita (they've kept in touch) and the two decided to make a road trip. One from overseas, the other from Louisiana. Awesome, right? 

Also, Marquita has a long-arm and invited Bridget to spend a few extra days at her house and quilt some of her tops. Bridget obliged and came to our modern meeting. 

Sharon's butterfly quilt, made for a friend

Isn't this a great story? I love that quilters are so caring and giving. 
Anyway, the story spoke right to me. You know I approached Bridget after the meeting. She showed me some photos of her work and we "chatted." Another five minutes and I'd have asked her to send them to me so I could share them with you. (I'm perhaps a little bold.) 

The top that Bridget completed while
in BR...or maybe Marquita's

Bridget's sampler quilt

 But I didn't have those five minutes and there was a bit of a language barrier. Bridget speaks English with an accent, but I hear with a country girl, Cajun ear. We made it work, but we struggled. And laughed. Besides I was trying to see as much of her work as the few minutes allowed. I didn't get to the request. There I was, flipping pictures on her phone, asking way too many questions, and then asking her to repeat it. Because, you know, I'm a nut. Do you think she left thinking she was lucky to get away from a fanatical, raving lunatic? (No, really. I read the paragraph. I think I'd be scared of me.)

Lori's most recent finish

Lori's block for a new quilt

Wouldn't you have loved to be there? Even knowing there was a lunatic in the house? 

Pitfalls of Quilting

I know, I know. How can anyone who loves quilts and quilting admit the downside? Well, sometimes we just have to be honest with ourselves. Plus, there's that possibility that if we admit to the faults, we can work to correct or fix them.

 Besides, it just makes for a different kind of post. Here goes...a list of (some) pitfalls to being a quilter:

1. the cost. Somehow every quilter I know, including myself, has spent unspeakable amounts of money building a stash.
2. the space. Who doesn't want a dedicated sewing room? It is a luxury that took me years to attain. In fact, it wasn't until our empty nest years that we finally built the studio. One room becomes two rooms which then becomes a separate, sometimes larger, building. Fabric and machines and worktables all have a big footprint when it comes to storage and work areas.
3. the time. Quilting's rewards far exceed the time it takes to make each quilt. While it may take us away from other duties or family, we certainly do revel in its joy. Nevertheless, it demands a great deal of time and energy.
   
4. the competition. Quilting can become something that we use to measure ourselves against others. I'm not a competitive person, but I do occasionally compare my work to others. I find that most comparisons come in little things: stitches, points, applique. Of course, competition can be good: it pushes us to learn, improve, be bold. 

I'm guessing there are other pitfalls. Can you add to my list? I'm curious what you might add because, really, who's working terribly hard on this idea of quilting having some negatives? 

GSQA Pursuit of Excellence class

Meet Paula (in the pink shirt)
POE teacher

On Saturday I spent my day in Lafayette with the members of Quilter's Guild Acadienne (QGA) and ladies from the Gulf States Quilt Association (GSQA) who had promised to come, learn and return with new techniques, information and associations to their home guilds. 

As a new circuit teacher, I've been wanting to meet some of the members of GSQA. I had planned to attend a meeting last month but there was that whole "spend 13 days in Cabrini hospital" episode and missed my opportunity. Since I'd also hedged my bets a little and signed up for the Pursuit of Excellence (POE) class, I decided to go for it. 

Meet Renee, great helper  and quick notes presenter

I saw and met several people, but there was little time for meet and greet, except during lunch. But I'd been foolish and brought that &^$#% new Singer (purchased for traveling to classes) and we fought I struggled all morning. I won but was quite far behind the crowd and that's never the way I roll. I decided had to catch up first, then wolfed down ate most of my salad so I could move on with the class.

In the end I came home with one finished project, this little trash bag, and some blocks. The other project is a Cathedral Window shortcut that is really cute. I hope to find time to make a large bag using this shortcut. The idea was not necessarily to finish anything but to learn the techniques and practice enough that we could demonstrate the process to our own guilds. 

Also, I won a door prize, which is always fun. It's these books and a pack of the cards, which will make great thank you notes. 

Sewing curved seams should have been no biggie as I've sewn lots of those. However, it's been a long while and I discovered that there's a way to sew Drunkard's Path block so that they lie down without clipping the curves. The trick (I hate to admit) is to SLOW DOWN. I scream those two words because it's what I had to do in my head the entire time. Oh yes, I dialed down the machine speed, but my hands and head were not in sync. Anyway that's another story. 

I have decided that I like this crew of quilters. (Who has met a quilty bunch and NOT liked them? Impossible, I say!) Someone please give them warning that they will see more of me. And they will be my friends. Honestly, Saturday was much too soon.

So what about you? When and where was your last quilt class? What did you learn? 

Lots of quilty love...

Baton Rouge MQG June meeting

Lori's quilt

As I've mentioned in the past, the first Monday of the month is a wild quilt ride. Literally so at one point because I drive to Baton Rouge for the Modern Quilt Guild meeting which begins at 6 p.m. and lasts at least two hours. 

Marquita's quillt

So last Monday (it's really been a whole week?) I found myself on the I-10 bridge trying to get into Baton Rouge at 5 p.m. Okay so maybe the "wild" part does not happen while sitting on the bridge. 

Still, it's pretty crazy to be fighting traffic to go into the city at that time of day, right?

Actually a small quilt

Another small quilt by the same maker

I became so enthralled with some of the goings-on that I forgot to take pictures. Nevertheless, I captured quite a few of the show and share quilts. 

Mom of a mom

and daughter team.

Now I still haven't learned all the names, I missed the last two meetings, and Monday we had four guests from Lafayette, so my muddled brain was really fighting to keep up. 

Interesting side note: a couple of months ago we had a drawing for some quilt blocks. To have a chance at winning, we had to put a block in the pot. (I made a block but missed the meeting.) 

Belinda and her tied quilt

Glen, I am thrilled that I was at this meeting, and
 got to see your quilt, because I love this quilt!

Glen, who blogs at Quilts and Dogs, really wanted to win those blocks, but Luck was not her friend. So she turned things around and made some blocks for herself. That's her quilt on the right above. Glen,  What a brilliant idea to make the pieces larger but still maintain the shapes and overall look of the quilt.

And that about covers it. I thoroughly enjoyed the meeting. Don't you agree that it's worth fighting the I-10 bridge? 

Sunday Quilt Inspiration -- Houston IQS {page 8}

These are the last of the Houston photos that I have. Well, those that are good enough to consider sharing. I'm not even sure just what I have here.

Life Stories Told Through My Quilts 

Family Reunion by Barbara Ann McCraw

Big Blue by Barbara Ann McCraw

Trip to the End of the World

Voyage en Namibie by Bridgit Didier 

Mount Fitz Roy by Rita Dijkstra

 Landscape Quilts 

Sunset Splendor by Barbara Triscari

 Fire in the Stone by Kimberly Lacy

And Yet She Persisted by Rachel Derstine

Antelope Canyon by Vicki Bonhoff

Lava by Marilyn Lone

 Hanging out to dry by Vicki Conley

See the Dawn in Wuling, Taiwan by Yueh-Yua Yang

Traylor Shaft by Anne Moats

 Classical Quilts in Modern Style from Brigitte Morganroth - Retrospective 

Big Bang by Brigitte Morganroth

Folklore by Brigitte Morganroth

Berg und Tal by Brigitte Morganroth

Jahresringe II by Brigitte Morganroth

Viewpoints 9: Living Planet 

Energies by Diane Wright

Full Steam Ahead by Alicia Merrett

 Rising Stars: Jill Kerttula

Virginia Beach by Jill Kerttula

Urban Voyeur: DC Crane by Jill Kerttula

Sidewalk 2 by Jill Kerttula

I didn't know that a quilter or anyone who wants to curate a group of quilts can suggest a collection to display. I kept wondering why there were so many small display, meaning displays of only a few (8-10) quilts. Or why a grouping of quilts by one artist. 

Hmm, interesting concept. I liked being able to walk into a "gallery" and know right away that all of the quilts had been made by one quilter or quickly realizing the theme or concept. What do you think about this idea of many small collections rather than only a few large categories? What would you like to see curated?