I just completed a top for a wedding. They registered for sheets and towels in Neutrals, so I mad a neutrals quilt. It was from McCalls Aug. 2007, called White Chocolate. It came out just beautiful. Now it just needs to be quilted. I have the backing and batting washed and pre-shrunk. I can start this weekend. I must take it to the guild for show and tell first.

Here goes...

This is one block. Alex says, "Don't forget to add white".

Here is the whole top. and one of the whoe quilt so you can see the border with the cornerstones.

I guess the order is not as I planned, but you get the idea.

It was fun to do. I always wanted to do a neutral quilt and th is was the perfect quilt for it.

Donna, LEH, NJ

I won a ribbon

My quilt was a table topper entered in the Miscellaneous category. One prize for each category. The ribbons were delightful sunflowers for the show theme Field of Seams.

A Wordy Report From a National Quilt Show ... the 2009 National Quilt Association Show in Columbus, Ohio

Spent a few hours at the 40th National Quilting Association Show in Columbus, Ohio this afternoon and did my bit to stimulate the economy. Came home with one kit from Sewbatik's booth (that guy's stuff is absolutely irresistible in person), some threads from Superior Threads booth and some foundation piecing papers for tiny Christmas tree ornaments in classic quilt block patterns. (There was a brief power outage for a few minutes while I was in the Sewbatik booth so that's why I had plenty of time to browse among his kits.)

The quilt show featured rows of red and white quilts that were yummy to look at. They used the idea that the 40th show was the "ruby anniversary" and invited people to send in their red and white quilts so the range from traditional to contemporary was quite exciting to see ... everything from classic embroidered redwork to glitter and glitz on small wallhangings.

After looking at the Best of Show quilts I looked around for the new Master Quilter display. I asked a white glove lady to point me to the Master Quilter exhibit and she told me that they don't always have a new Master Quilter each year .... that some years there is no one who has earned the designation. I had previously seen Ted Storm's exhibit and last year it was Sharon Schamber's but there was no new Master Quilter for 2009.

The number of dealers trying to sell longarm or mid-arm quilting machines was rather amazing .... everyone from the "biggies" (Gammill, APQS, etc.) to machines that looked like they were built in someone's garage. Therefore price ranges must be all over the place too.

The Gammill guy had a cool set up .... black fabric on one longarm machine with gold metallic thread and a computerized system stitching a very elegant feather pattern. Oh, my goodness! I teased him and said "Now that's a real killer of a set-up you have there, you have the George Clooney sex appeal factor working for you." and he just grinned at me. "Does it make your heart go pitty-pat?" he said. I said, "Not today." and walked on. LOL

Judy in Ohio

Charity Comfort Quilts

The Quilting Bee that I belong to in our community had an art and craft show yesterday. Our group displayed their charity project for this year - tied comfort quilts for the local veterans' hospital. Wish I could figure out how to post a picture as they made a very nice showing. We're a small group, just eight ladies, but managed to each make a few from our stashes. It is a pleasure to know that we can support our veterans and show how much we appreciate what they have done for all of us.

Margaret from Long Island, NY
(where we've had so much rain that golf at Bethpage had to be cancelled because the course looked more like a swimming pool)

Sampler Quilts

I'm looking for a book or articles about the history of sampler quilts. Not "how to" or directions for making, but when that type might have begun, changes through the years, reasons for making, etc. Anything interesting about samplers. Thank you. Harriet

Relay Quilt

The t-shirt quilt I made for the silent auction at Relay for Life is done and hanging at the library. I'll try to add a picture so you can see it. The ribbons have the names of 10 people from my town who have had an impact on my life. After losing my 53 yr old Aunt to breast cancer I needed to do something positive towards a cure and this quilt was the answer. I felt she was sitting on my shoulder the whole time encouraging me to finish and not give up.

The teal ribbon is for my neighbor and friend Marilyn Peters who taught kindergarten for 51 years here in our town. She was amazing and Ovarian cancer took her just a month after her diagnosis. She is missed!

Shelli

Quilt back from the long arm quilter

The woman who did my long arm quilting on DD's quilt did a great job. Since there were cabbage roses in the fabric she quilted cabbage roses in it all over. It was a bit more expensive than I was hoping for, but, worth it.
($117.00) in case inquiring minds want to know. This included an extra charge of $7.00 for the light pink thread I wanted.
I am happy with the results.
Since it is for her birthday, not until October, I'm going to put it away for a bit so I can finish up 2 baby quilts.
Sara in Fla.