Quilt Show Report - page 3

Here's the last set of pictures from the Quilt show. I photograph quilts that inspire me to create, although I love intricate mariner's compasses and applique, I have no plans to do them anytime soon, so I can enjoy them but I don't take pictures.

This quilt and the one below were part of the membership challenge which was to use a recognizable piece of the challenge fabric and then make a quilt that was predominately red and green. "Challenging Leaves" by Leona Broers (yes, I wrote it down).
"Apple of my Eye" by Mary Ellen Lemen, I love the gradations of the fabrics.


"Hen Party Fever" by Elaine Colvin. Inspiration for this quilt was "Jungle Fever" by Karen Montgomery. 112" x 112"


"Second Hand Pajamas" by Dorothy LeBoeuf. Designed using thrift store fabrics. 67" x 68"


"Putting on the Glitz" by Sim Wisser - a group quilt for an auction. Pattern is from the book "Weekend Wonders" by Pamela Mostek. 65" x 75"

Can you tell I'm attracted to quilts with squares and circles, and scrappy fabrics?

Quilt Show Report - page 2

Quilt Show programs usually don't list the quilts that are in "special exhibits" and this was true for the Quilter's Anonymous Show, so I don't have the makers names for these quilts. They are from the "Featured Satellite Group" - The Stash Busters. All the following quilts were made using 4-patch blocks created by the Stack n Whack method. Such variety and interesting settings. I'm itching to try one.


This was a fairly large quilt, probably double bed size , and on the left you can see the original fabric.

Quilt Show Report

I went on a fun excursion today to the Quilters Anonymous show held in Monroe, Washington with 3 friends. I've attended this show almost every year I've lived in Washington, and it's interesting to see the different trends each year. My general impression was that there were very few "art" quilts, and many more large quilts than I usually see. I attribute this to the large numbers of professional machine quilters in the area, people are more willing to piece a large quilt if they can have someone else machine quilt it. (Just my theory, no study to prove the validity of it).

The last row I went down, was one I had skipped earlier as it had seemed a little crowded, and here were my 3 favorite quilts of the show all grouped together.

I know there are many different opinions about whether or not to post pictures taken at shows. I always try to make sure I have the maker's name, and if anyone contacts me and asks me to remove their work I will quickly do it. Click on the picture if you want a larger image.

"In Flanders Field" by Joyce Hornecker. This was made from a pattern by Carol Morrisey. 39" x 28"

"Flowers of Provence" by Linda Simmons. Inspired by a painting (so I'm guessing an original design). Hand pieced, hand appliqued, hand quilted. 40" x 50"

"Ice Fishing" by Nancy Schlosser. This was made by a pattern by Changing Tides LLC based on the artwork of Barbara Lavallee. Machine pieced, machine appliqued and machine quilted. 39" x 57". I'm familiar with Barbara's prints, and this is a great depiction. Wonderful fabric choices and the stitching on the fur ruffs gives it great texture.

Quilt Group Monday

Our monthly quilt group meeting was postponed last week because of snow, but we were all there today.  Here’s some of the Show and Tell

Ann brought this gorgeous flannel quilt, “just trying to use up some scraps”

Vicki has a new grandbaby.  Isn’t this a bright and fun quilt.

Pam showed her small appliqué.

Georgi managed to hide behind her fun child’s quilt.

Georgi also made this baby quilt, flannel with a satin binding.

Laurie’s quilt is still in progress, but the top is done.

Sunday Roundup

While the snow drifts down (it’s melting immediately)… Yesterday we went to Seattle to spend the day with Kim and celebrate Dave’s birthday.

Such happy??? faces

Look, I’ve got seedlings! Milo is about to get a squirt from the water bottle. They are in the laundry room and this year I am keeping the room a little warmer which I think helped the quick germination. I have to keep the door closed to keep the cats out and the loads of wash help keep it nice and humid in there.

This is the new Gemma Beret I’m working on, and yes Milo is helping here too, he was all over everything I was doing this morning, now he’s hiding somewhere sleeping it off.

Current status of the baby sweater. The back is complete and I’ve knit a few inches of the front.

Experimenting

We had some snow last Monday and I took these pictures but never downloaded them from my camera. I am experimenting with 2 new programs. The first is a picture editor called Irfanview. Seems good for quick editing, with a couple of clicks I cropped, color corrected and resized these pictures.

And I’m also trying Windows Live Writer for this blog post. It has a few fun things like different frames for your picture. The above one is “Instant Photo” and this one has a drop shadow. Also you can easily move your text around your pictures.

For those of you who read this blog through a feed, there was a strange post from me yesterday, it was just Windows Live Writer getting my blog.

Karen Surprise

I'm an OK cook. I hate trying to come up with what to cook and I'd much prefer if someone else did the work, but I'll do my job. Once in a while I get "creative" and make something without a recipe, just using what I have on hand. These dinners are called "Karen Surprise" in our house. Sometimes they come out tasty, sometimes awful, but Dave is generally good about eating anything.

I was at a loss yesterday of what to cook for dinner, and had the TV on. Rachael Ray was making her version of Shepard's Pie, stuffing everything back into the potato skin. I didn't have any potatoes, but I was intrigued with the meat mixture she made and it inspired this Karen's Surprise which got a rave review, and I'm trying to write it down so I can remember it for next time.

Odd item in this recipe is Dried Shitake Mushrooms. Dave was doing the Costco run one day and came home with these, think bag the size of a family size bag of potato chips. I'm sure any old mushrooms that you have on hand, either fresh or canned, would be a fine substitute, but I've got to use up that big bag.

Karen's Surprise Stroganoff

1 can beef broth
1 cup dried shitake mushrooms
1 lb ground beef
1 cup diced onions
1 cup diced red pepper
salt & pepper
1 tbsp margarine
2 tbsp flour
large splash, about 1/4 cup soy sauce
small splash, about 2 tbsp worchester sauce
1 tbsp dijon mustard
1/2 cup sour cream

Soak the mushrooms in some of the beef broth while gathering other ingredients and starting to brown the ground beef. Add in the onion and red pepper, cook to soften. When the beef and veggies are cooked, create a hole in the center of the pan to melt the margarine, then add the flour and stir the roue (this is what Rachael did). Once together you can just stir it into the meat mixture. Add the soaked mushrooms and broth and the rest of the can of beef broth. Stir while it thickens. Add the rest of the ingredients, except the sour cream. At this point I let it simmer for a while to "blend the flavors" and soften the mushrooms more. Just before serving add the sour cream, then serve over cooked noodles.

Voila!

If anyone tries this, I'd love to hear about it!

Owl

Owl
12" x 14"

A quick (to put together) project that's been on my mind for several weeks. This started off inspired from this owl, then I sketched my own, can't remember where I saw similar eyes. The background is one of my hand dyed fabrics, the owl made from fused batiks. I'm really pleased with the outcome, maybe a slightly lighter background would have been better.

I was planning to "unveil" this first at my quilt group this morning, but it's been snowing so I'm doubting that I'll brave the roads.

Quilts!

The quilt top is done, I was struggling with motivation, it just wasn't inspiring me anymore, but now that it's all together I like it again. I added some lighter blue fabrics to create interest. I think the glowing in the picture is actually a sun beam hitting those fabrics, they seem to stick out in the picture much more than they do in real life.

Kitten quilt, you are doing it right ( for those of you who don't speak LOL)

Seeds

I received my order of seeds from Renee's Garden. These will be planted indoors now and grown under the Jump Start Grow light I bought last year. I particularly wanted to try Globe Amaranth and my local store didn't have any seeds so I placed the order. I was also intrigued with Color Fountain Cleome. Then of course Zinnias, Cosmos and Statice to hopefully create fun bouquets. I've also picked up a bag of dahlia bulbs from Costco so if things grow well I could have a colorful summer. I have plans to create a new cut flower area, some of the beds I had them in last year lost sun late in the summer which was a great disappointment.

Cloth, Paper, Scissors Magazine

***edited 3/18/09 the picture I had in this post has either been deleted, or access to it changed so just follow the link to the web site to see.

The March/April issue of Cloth, Paper, Scissor magazine has a lot of interesting articles, I was particularly enamored with the work of Martha Lent, in particular these dress pieces.

I uploaded this image directly from the web and can't seem to get it smaller, so enjoy the detail. And go to her blog, lots of great stuff. She shows the pages from the magazine article.

Unfortunately

Unfortunately I haven't been doing anything blog worthy this week, but I found this cute photo this morning.

Then I read Diane's Going to Pieces Blog and she talked about a game where you Google the phrase "Unfortunately (insert your name here)" and see what you get.

Unfortunately, Karen didn't get to sing, but she got her fill of dances.

Unfortunately, Karen had ridden for awhile on a tire going flat

Unfortunately, Karen knew very little about the competitive crafts industry

unfortunately! karen said the queen looks like a limousine bee.

Unfortunately, Karen's ex-boyfriend, Rossi, is getting out of jail and he wants his Ducatti, his .44 Magnum and his sixty grand back.

Unfortunately Karen seems to have picked up a bit of a cold from the whole experience

Unfortunately, Karen seems to have become obsessed with her role in the band and how she thinks she has the hardest job in the band.

Unfortunately, Karen had misread the tide table so we ended up slopping out to the boat through mangrove swamps, ankle deep in lukewarm

These other Karen's have a much more exciting life.