Wow! It's been a while, but not too much happened. Just after I finished my whole cloth quilt, I drove to Wisconsin and visited my family and friends for a couple of weeks. It was a relaxing visit and a quilt show, to boot! Week two, I drove my brother, sister-in-law, and sister to Grand Rapids, Michigan for the AQS show. The hotel was extraordinary, really old, and beautiful.(Although it had old plumbing and very little hot water) It was also attached to the venue! We never took the car out of the very expensive parking ramp. There were eating joints within easy walking distance, too. A lot of the show quilts were also in Paducah, which was a bummer, but we enjoyed all the guild exhibits and the vendors, making it worth the trip. I can't put all the pictures in this post, but can show you my favorites and some hotel pictures. Get a snack and a drink, go to the bathroom and settle in...there are loads of pictures.
Our view from the room.
One half of the front façade was covered with plants and flowers.
The other side had lovely pots of colorful plants and flowers.
The lobby had some shops and two restaurants.
Hotel (with flags) and street
The grand entrance to the older part of the hotel.
Balcony all around with a grand staircase in the center.
The Gerald and Betty Ford dining room.
Posing in the lobby.
Here is a photo of my purchases from the show.
And now, the show!! I have a zillion pictures, but chose a sampling of what we saw.
The best of show was awesome. Japanese maker, so a thousand little pieces to explore. The quilt was made with vignettes with smaller bits sewn between to hold it all together. So fun to look at up close.
Bigger parts with small and smaller bits sewn between them. All hand stitched and quilted.
Just, Wow!
No huge crowds to jockey with, and nice, wide aisles.
This vendor stuck out among the rest. The most brilliantly colorful booth.
Quilt samples from the instructors showcasing all different techniques.
More vendors with exotic offerings.
There were many exhibits from guild challenges on display.
The SAQA art quilts.
AND NOW! Things I liked best
Part of a progressive triptych challenge
here's looking at you
Oooo! The colors!
I love circles...
Awesome hand applique
The ceiling is woven!
Satisfying my monkey fetish
The transparency is wonderful
Looks like a photo!
Pieced!!
great use of color
Thread painting on steroids
I really like this piece.
Simple but exciting
More circle love
The color of her wrinkles caught my eye.
This quilt was huge! I love the flowers and the attention to the feathers.
The fabric choices are perfect
A more interesting temperature quilt treatment.
The quilting on this 'Grass' quilt is perfect!! Be sure to zoom in.
See what I mean? All hand done.
My viewer's choice: Try Tri again, by Cheryl See of Missouri
Teeny tiny triangles with embroidery embellishments
The tiny buttons were an added surprise
Japanese maker...of course. Just look at that edge finish!
English paper pieced. Loads of fussy cut pieces.
From the roaring twenties challenge.
The presidential quilts exhibit
More presidential quilts.
I like the construction method used here. Very clever.
Just too cute...
Wow! Perfect points. The flying geese sashing is a nice touch.
Another giant quilt of giant flowers. All raw edge applique, then washed to fray the edges.
I think it looks like a rustic millifiore.
Another temperature quilt using tumblers!
A beautiful Janet Stone alphabet and sheep quilt.
Tribute to Kobe Bryant
Beautiful hexi quilt done in taupes. The applique and quilting were stunning.
More giant flowers!! I need to make one of these...
My sister (sitting at the left)) bought me the pattern for the bunny quilt. I have already been combing my stash for bunny clothes...
All good things must come to an end. The ride home was slowed by long stretches of road construction and traffic congestion, adding a new level of stress for the driver (me). I didn't go anywhere the next day. I needed a day out of the car. So far, I had driven over 1000 miles!!
There was a trip to DeForest to see my good friend and enjoy some reminiscing and down-time. We went to a supper club ( a Wisconsin staple, usually Mom and Pop with a bar and dining room) where I had my first brandy old fashion sweet drink, the beverage of choice for most Wisconsinites. It was yummy! No wonder people like them.
Libations for three thirsty gals.
Don't you love drinks with maraschino cherries?
My friend has two mild mannered cats that were happy to sit and listen to us chat and laugh.
Later in the week, my son and his family, my daughter and I went to Darien to put flowers on my parent's grave. I miss them. It's sobering to think I am one of the four oldest of this branch of the Parker family tree. My grandparents, great uncles and aunts and my aunt are all buried here. Darien holds fond memories of all of them and my cousins, having Summer fun and holiday meals.
The drive home was peppered with stretches of construction and one really long detour through the cornfields of Illinois. I'm done traveling for a while and back to my quilting and repairing. This is the first finished repair. The customer was really pleased with the finished project. I re-sewed a whole lot of applique that had come loose or fell off. The edge needed help, too.
It took a while to get things put away and cleaned up. My new cutting mat came from Martelli that I bought at the show, and is now gracing my cutting table top. Perfect to cut out a new quilt, and trim a couple of ones I just finished.
A guild member made this quilt top from a Heart-to Heart kit and asked me if I would finish it.
I quilted it with butterflies to compliment the focus fabric.
I just happened to have the same fabric in my stash to use for the backing!! It pays to have a huge stash.
Remember this? I finally sewed together my quilt-as-you-go project and got it bound and done!
The sashing doesn't always match up, but I'm over it. This is the back. Cool, huh?
I used this striped fabric for the binding. The label says "Never again" for the name. ha ha
I cut out and have started making blocks for my new quilt project. The fabrics are this year's Wisconsin shop-hop line. The pattern is supposed to look like athletic socks.
The guild had it's annual yard sale after a brief business meeting the day after I got home.
This was a huge sale with many participants. All the sellers did well and the members went home happy and with some new-old stuff. I bought 2 yards of fabric for $2 and a vintage quilt for $20!! I'll post a photo next time.
My friend Sarah uncovering her tables and getting ready to sell
I got my hair cut pretty short when I got home.
Penny was happy to have me back and made herself comfortable while I unpacked my suitcase.
She gets a haircut this week!
This is a one inch across piece of candy from a shop in Grand Rapids. My sister knows I like monkeys, so she got it for me. It looked too cute to eat, but I succumbed. Dark chocolate, after all...
