Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Quilt Market Roller Coaster

We rolled in late Sunday night from Quilt Market in Kansas City.  It is now Tuesday night, and I'm still tired!

The entire experience was a cross between Christmas morning with a five-year-old sense of excitement and a crazy, wild-and-free feeling like Woodstock for Quilters!  My brain was (and still is) on overload.  So many beautiful things, too many for one cerebral cortex to process.

Here is a brief glimpse into the roller coaster of emotions from my first Quilt Market.

I was thrilled to cross the Mississippi River for the first time...
My fingers were crossed the whole time that we didn't come face-to-face with one those infamous Kansas tornadoes!  Thankfully, we didn't.

Sometimes, Market seemed a bit frightening...
Even a wee bit spooky...
But, just around the corner was a friendly little fella...
He had a little group of friends that were very laid back...
As a matter of fact, they invited me in and made me feel right at home...
I was humbled as I attended a lecture presented by Marti Michell...
Giddy when I realized I was standing right behind Eleanor Burns...
And just plain star-struck when Amy Butler agreed to pose for a photo with me!
Such an awesome four days!!!  I am so glad to be home with my family and my own pillow, but I have to admit...I am having Market Withdrawal.

So long, Kansas City!

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

And The Winner Is...

I must admit my photography skills are not the best.  Regardless, I hope you are able to enjoy a few photos of the winners from the Miami Valley Quilt Guild Show from last weekend.  These are not all of the winners, just the ones I was able to get through the crowds to see.  Nothing can replace seeing these works of art in person, however.  Just remarkable.  

This first one was part of a Joann's challenge.  Beautiful to look at, but the quilt maker said the fabric was not fun to work with.  ;)
 This next winner is a gorgeous whole cloth quilt with an angel motif.
 This quilt won for best pieced quilt.
This was made by Maria Elkins, a national award winner.  This was a personal challenge to herself, to make the entire wall hanging with NO PINS!  Just a fabric glue stick!  Amazing!




See what I mean by the crowds of people?  :)  This won Best In Show, and for very good reason.  The winner is to the right in the blue shirt.  (Didn't catch her name.)



Here is a full photo, in all its glory.  It is raw-edge appliqued, and she used her knowledge of trigonometry (TRIGONOMETRY!) to be sure her angles and shapes came out correctly.  I am such a slacker.
The Quilt-Fest continues at The Little Shop of Stitches.  We are already set up for our next show May 10-12 in South Lebanon.  Check our Facebook page for more pictures.  Then, we jet-set to Kansas City for Quilt Market!  Be sure to watch the website for our HUGE Blow-Out Sale later this month!  Happy Stitching!

Friday, May 4, 2012

Quilt Show Day and Friday Funnies

It's Quilt Show Day!  I feel like kid waiting on Christmas morning for the fun to begin!  And, I know I will be just as tired as a worn-out six-year-old later.  But, it's worth it.  An entire day of viewing, talking, and thinking QUILT!  

I will post photos later next week.  In the meantime, please enjoy some funnies at Moda Lissa's blog today.  Today's topic...Out of the mouths of babes.  Happy Friday, everyone!