Ready to Explode

Ok, so I took a bit of a break for that whole holiday thing and a running of a half marathon thing (more walking than running to be honest). And then there were the children home and houseguests - so not a lot of free time for quilting - this is how I keep justifying my lack of work. I did manage a small mini christmas quilt - but we can talk about that later (oh and I finished it in January.)

Last Friday I headed down to Old City Quilts for a fabulous quilty experience! First up was a Gallery Show featuring Luke Haynes' quilts and Thomas Knauer's quilts. AMAZING! So much inspiration! Wow! As if getting to see them was not enough - we got an audience with Thomas - a meet and greet if you will. He walked us through all the quilts. The stories he told about his were all so wonderfully personal and had so many different levels, textures and intricacies. Needless to say many of them spoke to me - I got them. And now I want to make quilts like them. Deep, meaningful and right.
Ok, we will see how that goes . . . .

A few photos of inspiration  - all of them are Thomas' -

You Are Here 

Ampersand 

Quilting detail from one of his amazing Marriage Series Quilts featuring the text form the original Common Book of Prayer.

It Takes a Million Stitches to Tell You How Much I Love You

Full Circle

I have now come full circle! I have gone back to my roots if you will.
While I was away in London, an email popped into my box announcing space still available for a New York Beauties class at Lady Sew and Sew in Henley. As I had just landed and a little bleary eyed I skipped over the email until massive amounts of coffee and naps had occurred. Not my typical class - love the block but curves - I have plenty of my own and have a fear of them in blocks. However, Dawn Cameron-Dick was the teacher. I called, registered for the class and then promptly announced that I had no supplies having just gotten off a plane - come early - so they could fix me up! I did.
So why the interest? Why drop into a class on vacation without supplies? Simple - Dawn. She was my very first quilt teacher all those years ago in Brussels. She taught me to quilt when I really wanted to learn to knit and have been grateful ever since. Her words still swirl in my head as I sew, and as I teach. Totally thankful to be able to tell her in person all that she has meant to me and my craft.
It was a huge surprise for her and such a fun day. Tons of giggles and catching up. The other ladies in the class where very gracious about our catch up too - big thank you to them.
If you are ever in Henley - pop in - Lady Sew and Sew has an amazing collection of fabrics with way cool fabric lines from the Isles and Europe! Plus you never know who is teaching that day!!



Oh yea - and the curve piecing is awesome!! Fun even! Dawn has an amazing method that makes it easy! Bring on more blocks!! Who is with me?!

Best Quilty Trip . . .

ever!!! Or at least in a long time! A whole quilty trip and just quilts!

I found myself childless on the weekend of a quilt show - two words - ROAD TRIP!!!
I headed off to Hershey, Pa. to Quilt Odyssey 2014. Never been to Hershey ever, not even as a child on a field trip with school. (I grew up outside of Philadelphia).
Off I went - nothing better than a quilty road trip! I enjoyed the show - lots of great older Americana quilts from the region. Gorgeous award winners - far too many photos to share I am afraid. Loved every inspiring minute. It was a bit crowded but then again it was Saturday and it was to be expected. No issues - I can wait my turn to see and photo a quilt.
Fantastic merchants mall too - loads of familiar shops and many new ones too. And yes a few new treasures and threads jumped in my bag!
Once numb and overwhelmed with ideas swirling, I headed back east on the slow road stopping at Bird-in-Hand and Intercourse. I have always wanted to stop here since I started quilting but it was either a husband thing or 2 small boy things. Either way - nope. That day - just me and I stopped at each and every shop I could find! And I certainly never get tired if having to slow down for the Amish horse and buggies! They just make my heart sing!
Side note here - having grown up relatively nearby and spending a few days a year with elder aunties driving through the Amish Country the one thing I noticed was color. When I was little the ladies were in dark colors always - even summer. Not this time - bright solids were everywhere on the ladies and the young boys. And the clothes lines - love!
I am going to share my favorite photo of the day - a couple of young girls and boys getting water ice from Rita's. Just love it!!