Summer has flown!

This dragon fly accidentally ended up in my swimming pool this summer. One of my grandchildren picked it up with a finger and passed it to me. It sat on my finger for 5 minutes or more until it was dry enough to fly away. My youngest daughter photographed it – she’s a great photographer. But now, summer has flown away like the dragon fly did.

Me and My KOI

This is my quilt KOI, hanging at the Pacific International Quilt Festival last week. I won the “Best Use of Embellishment” in the traditional category. I am a repeat winner of this award as I won it for my quilt, “21st Century Rings – A Wedding Celebration,” and it must have been in 2001 because my youngest daughter married that year. (Everyone thought I made the quilt for her – but I didn’t!)

I was also one of five fashion designers to participate in a fashion show on Friday night at 7:30 pm at PIQF. Karen Boutte put this show together and did a fabulous job getting wonderful models in those small sizes that Fairfield and Bernina require to participate in their shows. We really had a great time!

 

Student’s work from Quilter’s Retreat, Fortuna, CA – also May 2011

Susan came to Quilter's Retreat with her daughter, Laurie. They both worked feverishly on their quilts and had all the blocks ready to sew together by the end of the week. Somehow I neglected to photographs their quilts and was delighted when Laurie sent me this snapshot of her mother's quilt. Isn't it great? Very "Wild & Crazy."

Student’s work from May 2011

A great project finished in record time. This vest was created by my hostess, Shirley. Her husband Clyde collects cars and restores them.

Leaving on the Emerald Princess for the Baltic Sea!

I was invited by good friend, Yvonne Porcella, to room with her on the Emerald Princess ship where she will be teaching several workshops while we are at sea. (That’s amusing because I have been told that we are never out of sight of land!)

Anyway, I look forward to telling you all about it when I get home and taking photos of lots of design ideas to utilize in my quilts and garments.

Dixie McBride’s “Quilters’ Escape” the best retreat in the West!

Just home from Fortuna – a sweet little town south of Eureka!
Don’t know how I missed this over the past 8 years, but I was lucky enough to be on the teaching staff this, Dixie’s 9th year.
The conference center (county built, owned, and operated) looks like a private lodge. The staff was simply the best I have ever experienced – from Debby who ran the place to the catering company who provided the best food (much better than Asilomar!) I’ve ever had at an event with quilters.

Of course, I had the best students – including 5 (I think) from the town of Hayfork, CA. Four days of beauty, helping 11 students create their own “Wild and Crazy” quilt.

You be the judge – I want you to look at the quilts they created!

Here is the quilt, COWBOYS!

Let me know if you like this!

My latest quilt!

COWBOYS!! My new little quilt!

Just hot off the sewing machine, this quilt will be auctioned off at the 2012 Quilt Fest in Tacoma, WA. This is an annual event of the non-profit Association Pacific West Quilters. If you haven’ t been to this show and/or aren’t a member, you need to join and attend!

I love these women who run this show – they are the cream of the crop in my book!

Valley of the Mist Quilt Guild, Temecula, CA

Wow! I have really been getting around lately. This last week I was honored to present my “Past and Present Involvementt with the Color Red,” and my “Reverse Machine Appliqué Eight-Pointed Star” workshop. The workshop was last Saturday in old town at a cute shop, The Quilters Coop. It was the same weekend of their Rod Run, a yearly event in old town. Any of you who want to check out a great quilt shop should let your husbands know about the Rod Run. I enjoyed seeing all the souped-up hot rods that were parked literally everywhere.

Back in Merced after 11 years!

Recently was invited back to the Merced guild – it was the year 2000 when I taught a vest class there. Three of the women bought their vests to the guild meeting to show me and they were beautiful!

I’ll post the photos next time.