GSQA Quilt Show 2012

I entered 4 quilts into the Gulf States Quilting Association 2012 quilt show held this weekend.  Of the 4 quilts, 2 received ribbons. 
The first one is titled "A Day at the Beach".  It is a Flavin Glover pattern.  Pictured with me is Loretta Webre who did the beautiful hand-guided quilting.  This quilt won "Judge's Choice"!

My next one is "Total Eclipse" which is a Judy Neimeyer pattern.  I took her class at the GSQA seminar in March 2011.  This one received an Honorable Mention.

The 2 other quilts I entered are ones I did several years ago.  This one is "Poinsettia's".  It adorns my bed at Christmas time.

The last one is "Mardi Gras Masquerade".  It adorns my bed during Mardi Gras season.

When entering these last 2 quilts one thing I noticed is how much my quilt construction has improved since I made these 2.  I hope I am always in a position that I am learning and improving.
And last but not least, this is what I went home with!  Plus a cash prize for Judge's Choice.  All in all, a very nice weekend!

It's Been A While....

I guess I've been on a quilting hiatus.  Not intended, but the first part of the year was very busy.  I started a quilt in November, a quilt that is entirely paper pieced, and I keep putting it aside to make gift quilts. I hope to finish it this month.  But, after these 2 baby quilts I have to make a wedding quilt.   Here are 2 baby quilts I am working on now.  My go to baby quilt pattern- Baby Hearts.  The second one is made with scraps. 

 

Poodles, Poodles everywhere!

My friend Betty got a new toy poodle.  I have a 3 year old toy poodle. My poodle just loves quilts.  He thinks everyone I make is for him.  So, when I saw this french fabric it was just great for our french poodles!  If you look at the fabric closely, in the light pink and light blue fabric there is a girl walking a white french poodle.  These are small, big enough to fit the spot they sit on the couch.  Love my poodle- he's the sweetest, smartest little dog.  But, he's leaving again soon.  Most of the year he lives up in NYC with my daughter.  His new quilt will go with him. 

End of the year- 2011- Stash Report

My quilting has almost come to a halt getting ready for Christmas.  This afghan (in progress above) took almost a month of my time.  A friend commissioned me to make it (meaning I got paid!) and it took me over a month.  The good news is the recipient (another friend) absolutely loved it. 

The good news is that I used 295.5 yards of fabric this year.  The bad news is that I bought 143.25 yards.  But, my mantra this year was not to buy fabric that didn't have an immediate purpose.  I stook to that- almost!  So some that was bought was put into quilts right away.  I ended up the year using 155 yards from my stash- so not bad. 

I made 22 quilts this year.  Next year I hope to step up the level of my skill and make less- 12 or so (not counting the baby quilts for gifts of friends new grandbabies).  And I hope to work on my machine quilting skills.  I participated in Judy L's 2011 UFO Challenge and I completed 11 UFO's.  December's is still staring at me because of the above afghan.  It was great to get those done!

Merry Christmas everyone!
Used this Week: 0 yards
Used Year to Date: 295.5yards
Added this Week: 7.5 yards
Added Year to Date: 143.25 yards
Net Used for 2011: 155.25 yards

November UFO

My November UFO was my Mardi Gras Quilt.  I machine appliqued the masks and feathers.  The longarmer did a great job with a custom pattern of beads, jester hats, crowns, etc.



It's ready to go for Mardi Gras 2012!

Stash Report- October 30, 2011

Last Sunday the Stitchy Fingers quilting guild had the pleasure of showing all 13 of our Heartstring quilts at church.  The minister said a beautiful prayer and blessed the quilts.  Now they are off to the Quilts of Vallor project to go to worthy soldiers.  It was a very special and moving experience for all of us.
Nothing used this week as I am working on a large entirely paper-pieced quilt.  This will take over a month to complete.  Hopefully I will have it ready for our quilt show in April.

Used this Week: 0 yards
Used Year to Date: 277.25 yards
Added this Week: 1.5 yards
Added Year to Date: 107 yards
Net Used for 2011: 170.25 yards

Design Wall Monday

This summer I made Flavin Glover's A Day at the Beach.  It is a horizontal pictoral of a beach scene.  It is being longarmed now.  Don't have it back yet.  I love the beach, so this is one of my favorite quilts ever.  This one is mine to keep. 

 Last month one of my best friend's daughter bought a house in Destin, FL.  She loves the beach and it was her dream to work and live there.  She is a lovely, responsible girl, in her 20s.  I've watched her grow up through the years.  This is her housewarming gift.  A Day at the Beach which I modified for a throw.  While the one above is big- over 90 X 70, this one is 54 X 72.  It was a great size for me to machine quilt on my domestic machine.  I loved machine quilting this one.  I did wavy lines in the clouds, starburst lines in the sun and beach unbrellas, stitch in the ditch in the sailboats, swirls in the water and just a loopy pattern in the sand.  Hope she likes it!