Houston International Quilt Show

I've always wanted to go to Houston to the BIG quilt show. Last year we didn't travel too much because I had knee surgery in July, so by November I was ready to go somewhere. We went to Houston for a long weekend, and I got to see the show. The quilts were indescribable and the 1100 vendors had everything a quilter could want and lots of things you didn't even know you wanted or needed. The highlight was a class that I took from Melinda Bula. I had first seen her work in 2008 when I went to Asilomar, and it is exquisite. It is fused flowers and she outlines for you each piece of fabric and the colors (from her hand dyed fabric) that you use to construct the blossom. I finished laying out and fusing mine when I returned home, and a picture of it is here. However, now, in March 2014 when I started to do the thread painting on it, things are not going so well. The stitching is slipping and I can't figure out the cause. More to come as I play with trying to get this finished.

A Long Cold Snowy Winter

It's been a long time since I posted to this blog. It is not like I haven't had time because it's March 3rd and it has been the coldest, snowiest winter in many a year. Lots of days inside sewing, knitting, watching TV and not doing the things I should like clean and exercise. So I will try to catch up with some of the sewing projects that I can remember from the last posting. I am going to post several pictures. The first is a quilt that I made from a Jelly Roll and some yardage of the French General line called Esprit de Noel. The pattern is a granny square. The second and third are two redwork/bluework wall hangings from Bird Brain Designs. The Snowman Doorstop is also from Bird Brain Designs, and I have a Santa Doorstop to complete later. I really loved making these, and I love the outcome. I don't have pictures of them, but I made 4 tablerunners from Christmas/Winter charm squares.

Knitting

A snowy January and February led to mitten knitting. A friend from the quilt guild was kind enough to teach me how to make colorwork mittens. They look more difficult and impressive than they are. It is really fun and I completed three pair. Here is a picture.