Plan B

I've made some progress on my current project which I'll post about at the end, but there's been other quilty stuff going on.  Jan and I took a short road trip last weekend - stopped at five quilt shops (one in last days of liquidating - $2/yd!), attended a lecture on Amish quilts by Julie Silber and visited the Kalona Quilt and Textile Museum - not bad for a two day trip!.  The shop at left is Inspirations in Hills, Iowa - our favorite - brimming with repro's and beautiful samples.







The Kalona Quilt and Textile Museum includes two rooms of quilts - one English and one Amish.  At right is my favorite quilt from the current exhibit.  This log cabin quilt is c. 1870.  




I didn't keep up with the baby basket July block challenge from Temecula Quilt Co.  I did complete 10 blocks.  I need two more for the setting I have in mind. So, I switched leader/ender project to small pre-cut tumblers picked up at the Chicago Quilt Show - two packs of 50 tumblers (following Jan's lead, as this was her find!).  




I laid these out as they came from the package with minimal re-arranging.  Amazing how the row shrinks as it's pieced.

I finished piecing my 'Plan B' modified Oceans Wave.  My design wall leads down the hallway, so I couldn't get a straight on shot.  I need to pull out the hst I've completed for the back and get started on finishing this one up.  Thanks for stopping by!

Who's Your Neighbor?

This doesn't look like much of a quilt block.  But, join a few together and the pattern emerges.  This wasn't the placement I originally planned - a mistake in my sample block took me in a different direction.  Each of the units at left have nine combinations, so you have to know 'who's your neighbor'?  This isn't a quilt to work on while enjoying a glass of wine, but it's not really hard to keep straight.  I'm over halfway done constructing the top.  I've decided to do the original plan (inspired by an antique quilt from the Arkansas book posted about here) for the back with hst's finishing at 2.5".  The top hst's finish at 2".  I'm lovin' the chrome yellow!

Thanks to evening hours, I visited Thistle Bee Quilt Shoppe (featured in Quilt Sampler Fall/Winter 2011) in Goldsboro, NC - a great diversion from work.  The shop is almost totally repro's and has great samples.  Following are a few pics -

Ta and Da

Next weekend Jan and I are having a sew-in at my house.  We've got plenty of firewood and good movies, but we were missing a design wall.  So, after a trip to Jo-Ann's for batting (50% off coupon - Woo Hoo) and the big-box store for insulation board, we now have two 4x8 walls hanging down my hall!  As my hubby says, 'Ta and Da!'  What a treat - hoping I'm motivated to finish some projects that have been languishing in boxes (like the two in the pic at right).

Jan and I took a trip to the quilter's yesterday for drop-off/pick-up.  We stopped at two great IL quilt shops - Quilt Merchant in Winfield and Prairie Stitches in Oswego.  Prairie Stitches is a featured shop in the current Quilt Sampler.  Their quilt is on the cover - what a beauty in person! 

Docia from Quilt Merchant graciously allowed the following pics to share on the blog:  

Halloween fun

New BOM

Geoff's Mom Pattern Co - The Storyteller

Jan and I both loved this doll quilt - looks old, but is new

Never say never!  Over lunch I mentioned to Jan that I don't buy fabric for a particular project - always adding to stash.  Within an hour, I added a new project and purchased 4 yds of the following Jo Morton fabric for background.  Stay tuned!

Big Wheels Keep on Turning

August has been a busy work travel month for me.  The last two trips offered some quilt related 'off hours' activity.  I visited two quilts shops in the Atlanta area - Sweet Home Quilt Co. and Little Quilts.  Both shops graciously allowed pictures for blog posting.

Sweet Home Quilt Co.  (Hi, Melisa!) - I don't think you'll find a more inviting quilt shop.  Wouldn't you love to 'sit and stitch' on this porch?  The shop displays are charming - great tumbler quilt!

Little Quilts specializes in reproductions and is 'filled to the brim' with samples.

My trip to New Jersey last week was quite exciting - two major Mother Nature events!  The earthquake was a unique workshop distraction (including swinging window blinds).  I delayed my flight out until Saturday to take in the Maine quilt exhibit at the Lowell Quilt Museum.  Couldn't get much closer to Irene impact - I was on the last United flight leaving Hartford, CT last night - the Indiana sunshine is looking mighty fine today!  No quilt pictures allowed at the exhibit, but lots of scribbled notes taken.  I think there might be a crib and doll quilt added to my list.  Wouldn't this be the perfect quilt shop - only a block from the museum!

So, with all the travel this month, not much sewing going on.  But, Labor Day weekend plans have changed and I'm planning on a sewing retreat!  Looking back at last year's post, this is a welcomed repeat.  Anybody interested in joining me?  If you've read to the end of this travelogue and you want to sew-along, send me an email and I'll post progress over the weekend.  If not, I'll sew alone - off to do some planning! 

A Picture's Worth ...

The Quilt Merchant in Winfield, IL is a 'must see' for repro lovers - wonderful samples, eye-catching  staging, luscious fabrics, and friendly service.  This shop has been mentioned on many blogs, so probably 'old news'.  However, I have some great shots (which they were happy to have posted on the blog) - so, 'a picture's worth a thousand words'!

The quilting on the cheddar quilt was a perfect match!

 

The antique ensemble on the dress form is 'for sale'.  If you're interested, contact the shop.

This and That

I visited Common Threads Quilting in Waxahachie, TX last Saturday.  This shop was featured in Quilt Sampler, Spring/Summer 2007.  It's a great shop for repro lovers.  I wanted to take a pic of all the stacks of repro bolts, but the shop is loaded with samples.  I couldn't get a shot without intruding on someone's work.  So, I'll share pics of the front windows (sorry for the glass glare).

I did a little stash enhancement.  This first stack is from the 50% sale!  Sale fabric encourages me to step outside my zone.  Often these pieces are just what I need when pulling a quilt together late at night.  Do you find that to be true?  You pick it up because it's on sale, even though it's something you would pass up at full price, and then it's exactly the quirky piece you need!

This is my 'full price' pile. - all Judy Rothermel fabric.  The bottom two pieces are from the Civil War Tribute line and the top is from Patchwork Heritage Classics (great cheddar piece).