International Quilt Show, Rosemont IL

How lucky am I that I moved just in time to attend the Rosemont IL International Quilt Show.  Well there have to be some perks to moving to the frozen tundra, right?!  Saturday's temps were in the low 30's and Sunday we had freezing rain!  Yuck!

What was even nicer was that The King dropped me off at the door so no parking fees or a walk from the parking garage in the freezing temps.  However, the parking fees might have been cheaper than the money he might have spent at the Outlet mall that was just a block away.  As it turns out he didn't spend a dime!  Mark that on your calendars; he IS the King of shopping!  I can assure you though that I made up for it at the Quilt Show.

I posted on FaceBook along with this picture "Look what Gregg bought me and he isn't even here! I'm a good shopper for him though. I got the floor model. Get to bring it home with me this afternoon after the show is over." 

I have officially been banned from purchasing anything else that is remotely large or weighs over 10 pounds.  First of all, the table barely fit in the back of the Escape.  I had to move my seat all the way up and rode home with my knees in the glovebox compartment (a small price I had to pay for it.  lol).  Then William and the King had to maneuver it around the turn of the stairs.  We finally had to stand it up on it's end.   And then up the flight of stairs to my studio.  It took all three of us to heave it up each step.  But we did it and I'm so happy with it.  

I was pretty good about my purchases until the afternoon.  I started out in the Market area first and that's when I bought the floor model of the sewing table.  It's a Tracey's Table.  I've admired them for a good number of years and finally bit the bullet and bought one.  Since I purchased the floor model, I get an even better deal than the "Show Special" that was listed.  I only purchased 2 fat quarters after that.

Then I went to drool over the quilts.  I'll show my drool worthy photos tomorrow.  Ok, maybe one or two for now.  

After that I went back to the Market area.  I really was ready to leave but I couldn't leave without my table and I couldn't pick it up until 4:00 when it was close to time for the show to be over.  What to do.... well, go through the Market area again.  This time I didn't fare so well.  I bought a panel of barns, more fat quarters, renewed my subscription on my magazine and bought another subscription (I got a totebag for doing such... like I need another bag), and bought some paper you put in your printer and that adheres to your background fabric so you don't have to trace your handwork.  It just melts away in cold water.  I'm going to try it out and then post about it later.

Quilt Guild Thursday

I used to post about Quilt Guild Tuesday when I went to the Brownwood TX Quilters Guild but now I'm going to the DeKalb County Quilters Guild so my posts will be Quilt Guild Thursday.  I was pretty excited to finally get to attend one of their meetings.  And I was especially excited to finally meet my new friend Julie.  Julie reached out to me when I posted on their Facebook page that I was moving to DeKalb way back in November.  She and I have been corresponding via Facebook ever since.  She was a delight to meet.

The evening program was presented by Nancy Baker titled "Life Happens and Quilts Result!".  Nancy presented a trunk show of wonderful quilts from humble beginnings to award winning beauties.  She shared her inspirations, spiritual journey, and creative path spanning 18 years on her quilting journey.  Nancy showed contemporary art quilts from small to large that radiated with curves and color. Absolutely stunning and inspiring!

Nancy Baker

Her hand dyed fabric, 4 simple squares pieced in a large 4-patch results in a stunning quilt.

This quilt above was actually 4 different pieces of fabric dyed and cut into a triangle and then pieced in hour glass style block.  Then array lines (navy squiggly) are appliqued.

Again, a hand dyed square, pieced in a 4-patch and then four 4-patches set together.

An up-close of the dyed fabric (she actually took the color OUT of this one).

This quilt was a Stack n Whack challenge.

This was her focus fabric that she "stacked n whacked".

The back of the quilt was just as fabulous as the front.

I didn't feel quite as "at home" at the meeting as I'm used to but I'm sure that will come with time.  I sure miss my friends in the Brownwood Quilters Guild though.

And yes, I'm still sorting and organizing and dealing with unpacking stuff.  Do you think I'll ever be able to post without saying that.  I can tell you it won't be anytime soon.  :(  Saturday I'm off to Chicago to the International Quilt Show in Rosemont IL  WHOO HOO!!!

Sue Spargo Lecture

Whoo Hoo, I scored two birds with one stone on Tuesday.  First I was invited to attend the Prairie Star Quilters Guild that meets in St. Charles, IL and second, their program was a Sue Spargo Lecture. What a lucky girl I am!   But, oops, I missed Tips, Tricks, and Tuts Tuesday this week.  I'll catch you with it next Tuesday.

Sue was very interesting to hear her story.  I could listen to her talk on and on forever.  I love her accent.  She was raised in South Africa (I think that's what she said... at least I know it's Africa!  Sorry I didn't take a pen and paper for notes and I'm going from memory.  Now that's a scary story in itself.)  Anyway, what's even more interesting than her story is her AMAZING work.  Her quilts are a true work of art.  She does some really neat things with all sorts of fabrics, embellishments, ribbons, and threads.  Here are a few of the pictures I took.

You can also visit her website or her FB Page and see more.  

Sadly or luckily, depending on your prospective, I didn't buy a single thing.  I resisted the temptation.  For one thing, it involves the four letter "H" word... that would be "hand" work.  I don't seem to have enough hours in my day as it is.... and Second.... I don't have all the junk treasures I currently own unpacked yet and am still trying to figure out creative ways to store what I do have.

About the Guild.... I'll definitely go back.  It's only a 35-40 minute drive and they have some great programs on the agenda.  I'm really looking forward to that.... and meeting up with my new friend Elvira (who invited me to go in the first place).  She's a fellow longarm-er too.

I'm also linking up with Lorna at Sew Fresh Quilts on her Let's Bee Social link up party.  

National Quilting Day

Well I should have known there would be a National Quilting Day.  After all there is a National Whatever days for just about everything.  But how did I miss this all these years and how did I miss this yesterday?  As usual, I'm a day late and lots of dollars short.  It's the story of my life.

If you're interested, you can read about National Quilting Day here.  There's even a Facebook page for it, but they call it Worldwide Quilting Day.  You can go "like" their page here.

Ironically, I didn't quilt a single stitch on National Quilt Day.  I might have if I had known about it.... But does it count that I went to 4 quilt shops on National Quilt Day?  If you recall from yesterday's post, I went on a shop hop.  Sooo... what did you do on National Quilt Day?  Were you in the loop and knew about it or were you out with me?

Fat Quarter and Sassy Shop Hop

I attended my first Illinois Shop Hop today.  It was the "Fat Quarter and Sassy Shop Hop" and you can read about it here.  I got a late start in the day.  I worked on .... you guessed it... unpacking more boxes until about noon and then the King insisted I get out and go check some of the shops out.  So we did.....

My first stop was a shop I visited on my first trip to Illinois back in December.  It's called Stitchin on State in Hampshire.  I only purchased 2 fat quarters.

My second stop was a little shop called Sew Generously in St. Charles.  It was a nice little shop but not really my style.  It was all "modern" fabrics and bright and cheery.   They are a Bernina dealer though so that was good to know.  I didn't buy anything there.  WHAT!!!  The King couldn't believe it.  I don't think I've ever been to a fabric shop that I didn't buy something...  I was kinda in a funk and nothing was speaking to me yet.

My third shop was a neat quilt shop called Prairie Quilts Shop in Batavia.  It was a nice shop too.  They had lots of novelty type fabrics, only a few reproduction type fabrics and quite a few blenders.  I met the owner, Bonita as I was paying and had a nice chat with her.  She told me about a longarm guild so I'm going to check that out the next time they meet.  I did buy an embroidery pattern there.

My final stop for the day was Prairie Stitches Quilt Shoppe in Oswego.  Now that's my kind of quilt shop.  Lots and lots of reproductions plus a good mix of other things too.  Friendly staff too.  I must of gotten out of my "funk" an I made up for not buying much of anything at the others.  If you purchased 5 fat quarters you got a free pattern; so of course I had to buy 5.  I also bought 2 yards of the Americana eagle fabric.

And I bought a pre-cut applique kit.  I'm going to make the kit for a wall hanging in my dining room I think... someday...

Tomorrow the King wants to go to a Home and Garden Show in Naperville.  He says there are a couple of quilt shops on the way that are in the Fat Quarter and Sassy Shop Hop so I'm sure I'll have more adventures to report back on.  

HOW MANY BOXES GIVEAWAY WINNER

It was fun to see all of your guesses as to how many boxes the packers packed up.  Someone commented that it would depend on the size of the boxes.  Which is true.  When we moved from Little Rock AR to Brownwood TX, we had almost the same number of boxes.  However, we had way more stuff in Brownwood (bigger house so you fill it up) and they used smaller boxes in Little Rock so it seemed like.  These packers used much larger boxes.  I have very few "book boxes" (small boxes).  By using larger boxes, it also made them heavier and fewer that I could move myself.  I had to depend on The King or William to do my lifting for me.  I don't like that!  The next move I'll request they use more small book boxes as I'm sure I won't have William's help (at least I hope he has his own place by then).  I also told the King he needed to plan at least a week's vacation starting when the moving truck pulls away.  I'm not unpacking another house full of boxes by myself again!  I know, make my words sweet as I'll probably have to eat them in a few years.

Ok, back to the number of boxes.....

Allison left me this comment:

"Oh fun! We moved about two years ago and our boxes numbered into the 500s- but we're a family of five with tons of kids' stuff. I would guess 270. Remember to check under the truck- we left stuff in the storage cubby under the truck when unloading and it took them a few months to get the stuff back to us! Good luck!"

She was soooo close.... There were 272 boxes that the packers packed up.  That didn't count what I might have already had in a box of some sort (basket, tote, cardboard box, etc).  The movers put 450 additional stickers on those "boxes" plus a various other things like furniture, large tools,, etc. That's a lot of junk stuff to deal with!  

Allison be watching for an email from me.  Hope you have a great weekend.  Me.... I'm off to unpack another box or two.... and find the giveaway bag that I put in a safe place so it wouldn't get lost.... oh and maybe take in a local shop hop that's going on this weekend.  I think I deserve some retail therapy for my hard work the last few weeks.

The Queenie Is Back

Hip, Hip, Hooray!  The Queenie is back in service!  And the Queen is so happy!

As you can see in the background, I still have boxes but the numbers are getting smaller.  Now what to do with all the stuff that is no longer in a box but still needs a place to call home.    I'm pretty much through with the boxes in the main part of the house.  I still have a sea of boxes in the basement and in the garage.  

I commented to William that I was missing a couple of boxes of fabric.  He wanted to know how I would ever know if it's all here or not.  Haha William... but I do know!  So while in the basement I unpacked this box 

Laying in the top of the box were the King's extension cords he uses out in the garage and some bungee straps and ratchet straps.... ok, it's kinda like tools.... and laying right on top of my fabric!  REALLY???   I was NOT a happy Queen!

One box of fabric found... labeled garage... wonder what the others are labeled?...

These boxes are on the left side of the basement still waiting to be unpacked....

And these boxes are on the right..... still waiting to be unpacked too....

Someday... maybe someday....  (sigh!!)

But for now, Queenie is Back working and The Queen is ready to get back to sewing and quilting.

Tips, Tricks, and Tuts Tuesday - Quilt Backing Yardage

It's been a few weeks since I've posted on Tips, Tricks, and Tuts Tuesday.  It's hard to give you Tips, Tricks, and Tuts when you don't have a studio or sewing machine or anything else accessible to create said Tips, Tricks, and Tuts.  I still don't have a very put together studio but I'm getting there.... slowly...

A few weeks ago I talked about Quilt Backings here.  But what about how much yardage to buy for a solid quilt backing.  I have several customers who contact me by text. or email, or phone and ask how much yardage to buy if their quilt is whatever by whatever.  I'm very happy to figure their backing yardage as I know it won't come up short when it's time to bring it to me to quilt.  However, for those of you who don't call me or don't bring me your quilts, this chart of Quilt backing yardage will come in handy.  I found it quite some time ago on Moda's Bake Shop Blog but when I went back to it, I couldn't find it anymore.

I hope this Tips, Tricks, and Tuts Tuesday helps you in some way this week.  I am so anxious to get my studio put back together and am almost ready to share it with you.  Be watching for photos soon.

I'm linking up with Lorna at Sew Fresh Quilts on her Let's Bee Social post.  Go check out some of the links and see what others are up to.