Cotton Quilters Guild Quilt Show (part 3)

On Saturday the Cotton Quilters Guild of Cottonport, LA, held it's annual Quilt Show. Here are a few more pics of a few of the quilts in the show.

Happy Quilting,

Mary

Big Girl Baths

Our little Maltese puppies are very darling but late last night I discovered a flea while playing with them.  One flea means a good bath is in order, so this afternoon before going into the studio to repair a vintage quilt for a friend, I gave all four Maltese a good warm bath.  

That was work, believe me, but it was also fun.  The babies had never had a bath, so they were pretty hilarious discovering water.   

Because I was worried they would get cold, I combed and dried them out.  After combing one little girl, I took this photo of the two of them side by side.  I'm sending it to Jolie, our granddaughter who hates to brush her hair.  Let's call it inspiration.  

 Aren't they just too cute now that they've had a good bath?  Mom was not very happy to discover that they don't smell like her babies, but she got over it and now that they've had dinner, everyone is happy and playful.  And white as snow.  


It won't be long before these sweeties have to go to a new home.  They are entertaining little girls and I hate to see them go, but two hours of bathing is just too much.  Cotton and Candy didn't even get brushed in that time.  That will take another hour apiece, which cuts into my sewing and quilting time.  Imagine adding two more hours to this time-consuming chore.

Since they are already five weeks, I'll have to get to work finding a suitable home for them, getting registration papers ready, and making vet appointments.  We can't keep them very long, but we certainly do enjoy caring for them while they're in our care.

Cotton Quilters Guild Quilt Show (part 2)

More quilts that were in the show!  Aren't these just fabulous?  I apologize for not being able to identify the makers and the quilt titles.  I did get a list of the quilts, but I guess I left it at the Silent Auction table.  Can you believe that I was in charge of a SILENT auction?  Is that not insane?  or funny, at the very least?  Oh well, I had fun, but I left my quilt list there.

A couple of large bed quilts.

A Louisiana scene that I liked very much.

A couple of baby quilts that won 2nd place.

Happy Quilting,

Mary

Cotton Quilters Show (part 1)

These photos are from the Cotton Quilter's Guild that began today.  What fun!!!

First Place and Overall for Machine Quilting

Don't you just love the colors in these?  Both are truly awesome quilts.  I definitely agree with the judges on these ribbons.  The workmanship is beautiful, stitches are even, and the fabrics are perfectly coordinated.  These ladies are such talented quilters and I'm so happy they are my friends and guild members.  Studying their quilts has been a pleasure and a learning experience.

First Place and Overall for Hand Quilting

I entered five quilts in the show: three placed first in their categories, one placed second and one got an honorable mention.  I'm quite satisfied, of course, to have won so many awards.  


This modern quilt in gray with touches of yellow received a blue ribbon for machine quilting in the machine pieced category.  It's based on the design from the quilt below.

Another blue ribbon for machine quilting for the hand pieced category, this quilt is the one my grandmother made over 20 years ago.  Remember the story I told about the quilt top we found in my mom's house?  The ugly quilt top?  Here it is!

Amazing, isn't it, that such an ugly duckling could become a blue ribbon winner?

But wait, the truly amazing part is that 20 years after her death, my grandmother, Volcie, won her first quilt show ribbon.  Go, Ma-ma!  

The third quilt that won a blue ribbon is the one I made for mom and dad's 50th anniversary.  I wrote about it here and here (where I have much better photos).

Look for more photos of quilts from the show in the next few days.  I took over 50 photos so it will take a while to post them all.  Of course, I won't comment on them all like I did these.  When possible, I'll include the name of the maker and quilt, but even that will be rare.  

Thanks for visiting!

Happy Quilting,
Mary

Blue brooch

When my bloggy friend, Jenclair, at Bayou Quilts and Dolls wrote about her encrusted pieces which are embroidered, I was intrigued.  She mentioned that she's interested in turning some into brooches, which I love, so I decided to give it a whirl.  My effort is not even close to the beauties she creates, but I'm not disappointed either.

She made a few suggestions when I commented and told her about my interest.  Those definitely helped, but I'm not quite as brave as she is, so my piece is not encrusted at all the way hers are.

I started with a small circle drawn on white muslin.  I embroidered simply motifs because my skills have lain dormant for many years. I really love blue, so I used a variety of blue threads.  

I've made a few beaded brooches before and like those, so I planned from early on to include beads.  I figured that if nothing else, I could cover any bad embroidery with beads.

I wasn't so disappointed in my stitches that I felt an overwhelming need to cover them, though.  So while I did couch some beads in the center of the piece, the rest of the beads encircle the embroidery.

As is my way, once I started couching beads down, I had a difficult time stopping.  I tend to drop them in even circles that get continuously larger as they are added.  By the time I get to the edge of the piece, though, I've begun piling them on.  It's necessary to go around the edge also.  

While I used mostly blue glass beads, this brooch wasn't too particular and any bead in the vial was fair game.  It just happens that there were a few purple, some green, and two or three clear beads.  I love this brooch and can barely wait to wear it on Saturday at the Quilt Show.

Dust PUPPIES????

We have these two little, white, fuzzy creatures running around the living area.  Every once in a while someone surprises one, and it emits a high pitched squeal that can be heard for miles.  Curses generally follow--human ones, then murmurs of guilt and consolation.  

Occasionally, one will wander too far under the sofa and come out covered in snippets of thread, dry grass, dust; at which point I am grateful that another week of cleaning has been accomplished.   

Naturally about the time that they became useful, they started leaking.  Isn't that the way? 

Why is it that every time I figure out a way to avoid housework, I soon discover that the object is both a solution and a problem?  

The momma dust puppy?  Well, let me tell you, she's had enough of this business of chasing them around all day.  She flips on cartoons and rolls over, asleep before the first whine for milk.

As for the king of this house.....he knows his place!

Quilt Show Info

Cotton Quilters' Guild Quilt Show


When: Saturday, October 6 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.


Where: Cottonport Museum 

220 Cottonport Ave 

Cottonport, La. 71327


What: Over 100 quilts, many for sale,


New This Year: Over 1,000 yards of 

quilting fabric at $4 per yard!!!!

Fat Quarters, quilting books, arts and 

crafts, food and homemade cakes!

Quilts remain on display through October 14

Come join the fun!