Asheville quilt show

I attended the Asheville (North Carolina) Quilt Show on Friday with some members of the art group I belong to.  Judy, one of our group members, just moved from Charleston to the Asheville area and invited us to stay with her while in the area.  We were thrilled when we arrived at the show to find the Best of Show ribbon on Judy's beautiful quilt.  (click photos for larger view-double click for the closest view)

Butteflies in the Garden by Peggy Garwood was awarded Best Hand Workmanship 

Lotsa Merry Berries by Niki Vick was awarded Best Machine Workmanship

Heartwood by Marge Edie. The design was taken from a wood box she made for her husband when they were married.

Exotica by Dale Williams



Fractured Peony by Linda Hallatt



Evergreen by Linda Medeiros

Golden Chrysalis by Terry Williams

Detail


Gradation by Sue Weaver

Detail showing the woven corners

Continuous Motion by Diana Ramsey.  I took a class with Carol Taylor in February on this technique so this one was of particular interest.

Crazy for Wolf Kahn by Connie Brown

Tiffalippa by Connie Brown

Jocassee Sunrise by Lynne G. Harrill

Sunset Cruise by Kathryn Weston

Everything is Hunke-Dore (Manala XII) by Jane Weaver

Aqua Luna by Brian Fackler

Detail

Jules' Poppy by Julie Simpson

This is Jerry Brummett with his quilt Our House.  He was white gloving when we arrived and proudly showed us his very first quilt which he hand quilted.  It's obvious that he is really enjoying his new hobby.

These frilly scarves are becoming all the rage and we all succumbed and bought yarn to make one.

24 Hours of LeMons

The latest 24 Hours of Lemons http://www.24hoursoflemons.com/ race was this past weekend.  Usually the South Carolina editions of the race are held at Carolina Motorsports Park in Kershaw, SC, but as a one time experience, this edition was held at Charlotte Motor Speedway.  (click photos for larger view)

The LeMons course was an odd configuration that used only a small part of the Nascar course.  It was a challenging course that all of the drivers seemed to really enjoy.




Unfortunately the accommodations at Charlotte were not as good as in Kershaw.  Most of the racers camp at the course and at Charlotte the shower facilities were a car ride away from the camping area.  Jerry and I stayed at a local Embassy Suites so we only had a few steps to our shower!

The Bee car had a good race.  They actually were on the course for the entire race - no major problems and no engine swap in the middle of the race! 

We finished in 21st place out of about 60 cars - certainly not a bad showing. 

There was some significant rain both Saturday and Sunday - in fact both days the race was ended a bit early because of the rain. 

The 2012 schedule isn't out yet, but we expect the next race to be sometime in February.

It has been quite some time since I posted because I just don't have anything interesting to post about.  I haven't been doing any quilting to speak of mainly because I still haven't organized my sewing space in the new house.

I did finish one small piece for my guild's monochromatic challenge.  There were no size requirements for the work so I decided to work small.

The paper pieced wedges are 4"

Although it's embarrassing, here are some photos of my sewing space in its current state of disarray.

I have the entire bottom floor of the new house for sewing.  My machines are set up in what used to be a family room and I am using the 2 bedrooms on this floor for fabric storage etc.

Here's one view of the fabric storage room.  I am going to get some wire drawer units from IKEA to put the actual fabric into, but haven't made the 3 hour trip up to Charlotte, NC yet to get them.  I expect the units to go around the room against the walls.

Another view of the room showing some of the boxes of fabric (and you can't see the boxes behind the boxes!)

This is the other bedroom - which Jerry is calling the cutting room.  In addition to cutting I am storing books and assorted stuff in this room.

The unit I'm using as a cutting surface is a free-standing kitchen drawer unit from IKEA.  I really like this unit and am glad I got it.

Here's one view of the sewing room.   I use my Janome 6500 almost exclusively, but didn't want my Bernina to feel left out, so I found a table on Craigslist that I'm using for the Bernina.  I initially was going to have Jerry drop the Bernina down into the table, but am reconsidering it.  I usually only use the machine with the embroidery attachment and need to have easy access to add and remove the embroidery unit. Who knows, Jerry may still figure something out for me.  He's good like that!

The design wall is opposite the sewing machines.

The only natural light in the sewing room comes from this door to the outside.  The lighting isn't ideal for sewing, but we have put natural light bulbs in the overhead fixtures which is helping a lot.

I really need to get this area organized so I can actually be productive.  Once I get my fabric storage units in place, I'm confident the rest of the room will come together (at least I hope!!)

Visiting Detroit

Jerry and I just returned from a trip to Detroit to visit family. My nephew, Chris, was having his graduation party so it made a good excuse to make the trip.

It had been about 2 years since we'd traveled up that way. Detroit isn't usually high on any one's list for a vacation!

Here's the graduate, Chris, with his family: my brother Ed, sister-in-law Terry, Chris, and his brother Eddie. (click photos for larger view)

I don't like to have my picture taken, but someone convinced my brothers and me to pose with our mother. The brother seated next to mom is Claude and Ed is standing in the back next to me.

My nephew, Claude, jr, has 3 kids. His twins are Ryan





and Cameron

and the twins' older sister Olivia. (seen here with her father)

The newest member of the family is Riggins, the 4 week old son of my nephew Kevin.



One thing I always try to do when I'm in Detroit is to have a Sanders Hot Fudge Creme Puff. I sure miss Sanders!

It's probably I good thing I don't still live in the area or I'd be eating one of these on a daily basis!

Finally finished!

Some time ago several of my quilting friends decided to make a quilt called Monterrey Medallion.  Each person chose her own colorway for the quilt so it was fun watching them take shape and seeing how each looked so different.    I got to thinking that I would like the quilt in a black and bright colorway and finally decided to make it.    It took me a while because I don't usually make anything this big.   Most of my work is wall sized.   This is the first quilt that I can actually put on a bed and have it actually fit.  I want to make matching pillow shams for it, but until I do, these Bed Bath &Beyond black shams will have to do.   I've named the quilt Stars over Monterey. 

(click photos for a larger view)  Please excuse the disorder in the bedroom.  We STILL are not completely unpacked and haven't put art work on the walls yet or anything.



She knows what she likes

The other day when the kids were here Hayden decided to pick out some quilts to put on the walls in "her" room.  We went through the pile of wall quilts waiting to find a home.  It was very interesting to watch her reactions.  She never hesitated and gave a yes or a no immediately. 

Over her bed is a quilt I made in a class with Miriam Nathan-Roberts at Asilomar.  In the class we selected a traditional block and used it in 3 different sizes.  It's called Asilomar Pinwheels. (click photos for larger view)

Hayden picked where the quilts were hung and I'm going to have to move this basket quilt.  This quilt was made for our guild's 25th anniversary challenge.  The symbol of the guild is a basket and we were supposed to make any kind of basket.



This quilt was made from a kit and was supposed to just be a circle.  I didn't want to make it exactly like the pattern so I changed it a bit.  (yes, that's a Christmas bell pull hanging next to that quilt.  She found it in a box and just had to have it to decorate her room.  She kept trying to hang it on her bed but it wouldn't stay so it ended up on the wall)

The village quilt was made in a class with Karen Eckmaier.  It was fun to do.

We haven't gotten around to putting blinds in the windows yet and the previous owners didn't leave the curtains. I hate the shades, but they keep the sun and heat out until we get what we want.