This is my 100th post! I never thought I would blog this long - as I am not a diary person - but this has definitely been fun! I've "met" allot of great woman all over the world! In honor of my 100th post, I'm posting a free pattern for a quilt that I designed and made for my daughter and her husband when they purchased their first home. It is foundation paper pieced and the second picture shows it framed. Click here for the free pattern!
I've been working on challenging myself to make free form quilts. It really is allot of fun. This quilt was made with fusible web and antique "cutter" quilts and lots of playing with thread. It was so fun not to have to match seams and just go for it!
I had bought a tyed quilt from Ebay probably 5 years or so ago. When I received it there were actually 2 more quilts hidden inside! It was amazing. The very first quilt is I'm guessing from the 1870's or so and hand quilted, mostly threadbare though. The second quilt was from the late 1800's or early 1900's and was tyed. This was in better condition but still a cutter. The third layer was made in the 30's, was in better condition but still I would consider it a cutter quilt. I've always wondered what I should do with these quilts. I've always hated the thought of cutting something up that someone has made, but, the way they were was definitely not useful. So in a weak moment I cut into them, saving the larger pieces that maybe can be made into a doll quilt. My Lamb Quilt is the result. I had to do allot of machine stitching to stabilize the old quilts but I think it turned out ok. I think it would look really cute in a child's room. 
Ed and I headed to Chicago Saturday for the IQS quilt show. It was a beautiful show. I didn't take any classes, but was content to look at all the beautiful quilts and of course the vendor area! I played with allot of the long arm quilting machines - they are allot of fun - but the price has always scared me off! Maybe when I win the lottery!
Ed doesn't mind going to the shows with me - and I'll tell you why. We went to the Mid-Atlantic Quilt show several years ago when it was in Williamsburg, VA and very, very crowded; you could barely move through the vendor area. I won't go into much detail here but lets just say he was inappropriately groped and not my me!
The quilt shown won the Best of Show Award- "I Ain’t No Spring Chicken" is 57” x 39” and was made by David Taylor of Steamboat Springs, CO. It really is a fun and beautiful quilt.
2600 miles and 33 hours of driving in 4 days! I am whooped. Ed and I drove from Iowa to Harrisonburg, VA to move our daughter, Kelly to Augusta, GA - in 4 days! We are crazy, but that is all the time Ed could get off from work. It was wonderful to see my girls and son-in-law and wonderful to see all the blooming trees and flowers! I love the South and can't wait to get back to living there! It is such a pretty part of the country. There is nothing like Spring time in the South. I had my fill of "good" sweet tea too!
On the drive back to Iowa, we drove by Paducah, KY and of course had to drive through the town! I had never been there before - I thought it was very pretty. On the way back to the interstate Ed had to stop and get some gas - and low and behold it must have been quilter's karma - Hancock's of Paducah was right next to the gas station! Very fun!! I was embarrassed to take pictures so I asked my husband to do it. He's so nice. I couldn't stay long, but long enough to pick up some bolt ends of Kona cotton - at $1.59 a yard. Hard to pass that up!
