Fusible Batting

Today was my first attempt using a fusible batting. I fused my version of Ann Champion's award winning rolling snowball block featured in the July/August 2009 edition of Quiltmaker Magazine. Although Ann used 56 11" finished blocks, I reduced my templates and used 64 9" finished blocks. I also used thirties reproduction fabrics like Ann did in her quilt, I'm going to hand quilt this one it make take forever.

Clint Malarchuk - Fluery

Merry Christmas quilters, readers, and hockey fans. Hope everyone is having a great holiday. We had very special visitors from Nevada. Clint Malarchuk and his family had dinner at our house. How is this possible???? It's easy when he marries into the family! Clint is pictured with his wife Joanie ( our niece ) and daughter Dallyn. Come back soon! Clint's OFFICIAL website can be found here http://www.malarchuk.com/. Follow him on twitter at http://twitter.com/cmalarchuk because his exciting new book Fluery will be coming out soon.

Cheri Meineke-Johnson

The applique class I took with Cheri Meineke-Johnson (pictured above right) was my absolute favorite at the quilt show in Houston. If you ever have a chance to take a class with her it is well worth it. I knew absolutely nothing about applique and I thought I would never ever even want to try. Cheri's class was so much fun that as soon as I got home I adapted my Autumn Jewel tea china pattern into templates, got out my freezer paper, ironed and starched and before long I was doing a decent applique with a #10 straw needle. Who knew it would be such fun. I tried using the YLI silk thread that Cheri recommended but I couldn't get the hang of it. So far cotton thread is working just fine. When I get better at it, I'll try the silk thread again. Check out my progress and I'll keep you posted.

Machine quilting

After much inner debate I finally decided to bite the bullet and attempt to machine quilt on my beloved Janome Heart Sewing Machine. After using a walking foot to do the "plowing" or rows on my altered Dunkard Path blocks with a John Deere theme; I dropped the feed dogs and took off with the free motion. It truly does get easier after a little practice. I was able to keep my stitches pretty much the same length by using my turtle govenor and going slower than usual. No expensive stitch regulator for me! I will try this again.

Flavin Glover - Patchwork into Log

I took several classes at the Houston Quilt Show. Below are pictures of the caribbean theme quilt top I'm still working on from Flavin Glover's class called Patchwork into Log. Flavin intergrates Log Cabin logs with traditional patchwork block patterns.

My favorite vintage quilt at Houston Quilt Show

Here is a picture of a stunning vintage quilt at the Houston Quilt Show. It's a Around the World with Log Cabin Blocks. The quilter is unknown.

The Quilted Crowgirls at the Market

What fun KK and I had in Houston last Saturday night at the Gala on the Green partying with our friends Deidre, Leonie, Julie and Helen from Australia. Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi. Deidre and Leonie of Tasmania or Tassie as they call it are The Quiltedcrowgirls their store can be viewed at http://www.thequiltedcrow.com.au/

Stripping with Eleanor Burns

One of my favorite duties of being a Quilt Angel at the 35 Annual International Quilt Show in Houston Texas was being teachers pet for Eleanor's Lecture celebrating 30 years of Quilt in a Day and I got to strip with Eleanor Burns.

Flying Gosh

Four years ago when our son Christopher died suddenly at age 20 I could hardly bare it. Unable to deal with his loss I gave most of his belongings to charity. My bff KK intercepted some of his clothing and gave them back to me earlier this year. I am calling his memorial quilt Flying Gosh. The heaven headed flying geese blocks were made with his t shirts and shorts. This quilt was made possible by a wise friend that stored Chris's clothes for three years. Thanks KK.

Breaking Dishes

This is my bff KK we have been friends for almost 40 years. She inspired me to quilt. This is a quilt I made for her that I named Breaking Dishes.

Medina County Fair Jackpot Quilt Block Contest

Judge it for yourselves, comments welcome, however be nice... it's been a long day.

Yes, my pretty block with curves came in last at the Medina County Quilt Show. This was a money prize and I was sure I was going to win after seeing that none of the competition had even attempted curves. The judges remarks state that my block has poor stitching, poor tension, poor thread color choice, poor seam allowance, poor handling of bulk, poor junctions, poor points, poor curves, poor grain and use of fabric... in addition the judge claims that my work has major errors and is distorted. When I picked up the block this afternoon I asked if the Medina County Fair used a certified quilt judge. "Of course not" said the smug lady from the Medina County Quilt Guild "that would cost too much".

Medina County Fair

My niece Julie and her son Jacob visit the bee keeping exhibit with me at the Medina County Fair. My nephew Jacob is ready to be recruited we need all the bees we can get.

South Texas Democrats

The Medina County Fair was this weekend. As always I was happy to see my Democratic friends from Lytle. Democrats are a rare breed in this part of the country we tend to stick together.

Tarpley Labor Day Parade

Daughter & grand daughter visited with us LaborDay weekend. What fun! We attended the Tarpley Texas Volunteer Fire Dept. Labor Day Parade. My favorite was the truck complete with it's own sheet metal rain cloud, drum simulating thunder and splattering us with water guns. We Hill Country Texans have been desperate for rain for two years now. We even got some rain after that rain dance.

Prayer Blankets

Our church St Stanislaus in Bandera and its mission St Victors in Lakehills, Texas both have prayer blanket ministries. The blankets are mostly small, usually less than a fabric length squared. They are prayerfully made, blessed, then distributed my ministers of the sick and bereavement. They come with a little booklet that says, "You are covered with prayer" on the front, and sometimes a hand beaded rosary if the person is Catholic made by "His Holy Face Chaplet Makers" also from St. Stans. It took me two weeks but I made 24 blankets with a portion of my stash. I like to put crosses on mine, but everyone makes them different. I Still have some organization to do in my beloved sewing room but now..... I think I have some room for some new fat quarters.

Folding my stash.

Encourage me. I have begun to reorganize my stash. The goal is to make two dozen prayer blankets for church, and put the rest of the fabric behind closed doors in the tiny closet in my sewing room. This is what I accomplished yesterday.

My summer reading list.

Holy Cross Festival

Maria Rothe and me (left) clowning around at the Holy Cross Festival in D'Hanis, Texas.

Little Boston Terrier Patchwork Dog

Here are pictures of the patchwork Boston Terrier I made for my granddaughter and her Boston pet dog Harley.

What do you collect????

Fireking!!

I also like to collect -

Wooden spools!

Crazy Daisy Pyrex Bowls

You can tell what era a girl married by the color of her Pyrex bowls.