Vermont Quilt Festival

Last weekend, my husband and I took a weekend away and went to the Vermont Quilt Festival.  This was my first visit and I really enjoyed it.  I will go back again, just not every year.  Maybe every other year.  I also didn't take any classes.  I don't like going into those types of situations on my own and my husband doesn't sew.  :)  We just walked around and enjoyed the quilts and the shopping.

There were some beautiful quilts and I took some pictures but there were a lot of women getting in my way and I was getting irritated so I stopped taking pictures.  Hopefully my pictures will orient okay here on blogger.  They are fine on my camera but they downloaded to my computer all sideways.  There was also an antique quilt exhibit there but no photographing allowed.

Lots of vendor shopping too.  But I held back.  I don't know why.  Now that I'm home, there were some things that I wish I did get but I can order them online if I really want them.

On the way up, we stopped at Country Treasures in Chester, VT.  I picked up some yardage for backing and binding for a project I'm working on, some 1/2 yard ME fabrics and a handful of FQs.  I also got a scrap bag of "Happy" which made me happy!

Okay, onto the quilt festival...

First up - Best In Show.  It was very pretty and all hand quilted.  It's called Feathers Aglow by Judith Thompson.  I loved the colors she used.  Right up my alley.

Next - Budding Baskets by Linda West.  It won a 2nd place red ribbon and a button but I cut off the button in one picture and tried to zoom in on this picture to read it but I can't make it out so I'm not sure what the button was for.

This next one is cool - What to do with All Those Scraps! by Wendy Thomspon.  It's a scrap apple foundation pieced top.   The top has 4,070 pieces of scraps in it!  The pieces were so small.  AMAZING.

Here's another one with tiny little pieces - Jake by Susan Cane.  7,200 1" squares are in this bad boy.  Some people have a LOT of patience!

Now THIS one is my favorite and way too cool! - Come And Follow Me by Dominique Ehrmann.  It's 3D!  And took her 2 years to complete.  It won a 2nd place red ribbon and a Judge's Choice button.

Here are a few sideways views.

And a close-up of the quilt center. 

I wonder how she displays this quilt at home?

I didn't buy much at the show.  Some FQs and some wool.  I have NO IDEA why I bought the wool.  I don't work with wool.  Never have.  But something told me I needed to get it.  It had to have been the colors.  I've never seen the brighter colors in the wool.  Just what I like.  Happy and bright.  I'll find something to make out of them.

That was the Vermont Quilt Festival in a nutshell.  I had a good time and I will go back.

Enjoy your day!
Jen

Jelly Roll Sampler - Block Nine

Here's my block 9.  I got it done yesterday.  One more thing off my To Do list; which seems to be growing and not getting any shorter.

And here are all nine together.

Three more blocks to go.  It seems to be coming together.  I think the next block I'll try and make it without the background fabric (solid white).  The one block with no white in it at all (first row, second one) kind of sticks out now.  Maybe I'll do the last three with no background fabric if I can help it.

I've decided on my backing fabric.  I just need to decide on my outer border fabric.  I'm thinking the blue with the strawberries on it.  There isn't much out there to chose from.  Very little and those that are available, I really don't like.  I haven't even used those particular fabric strips in my blocks yet.

I do have a little show and tell from the Vermont Quilt Festival that I went to last weekend.  I just need to get them all downloaded.  If you're interested, I'll post them!  :)

Enjoy your day!
Jen

Seeing Spots

My cousins are participating in the Avon Breast Cancer walk this October and they are having fundraisers all summer long to come up with the money in order to participate.

Their next big fundraiser is a motorcycle run and they are looking for raffles prizes/donations and they asked me if I would be willing to create something for donation.  Well of course!

I needed something quick and I was thinking potholders and some kitchen towels but I decided on a tote.  It's so cute!  I want one for myself just like it!!  It can be used as an everyday tote, day out diaper bag.. whatever!  I combined a few bag pattern ideas and came up with this...

And the lining... nice sideways picture.  Sorry!

I did a pocket in the round so there's a bunch of pockets to hold all kinds of stuff.  I did the lining in pink to keep with the breast cancer ribbon color.  I really like how it came out.

Tomorrow Chris and I are off to Vermont Quilt Festival.  I'm very excited!!  I've never been.  We have plans to do a little fabric shopping along the way and Saturday we're going to go to the show.

Have a great weekend!
Jen

Daisy Cottage Quilting

Sharon has started a new adventure - online shopping!  WOOHOO!  We all love fabric shopping.  Well, head on over and check out her new online store.  Her logo is adorable.  I just love it! 

Happy Monday!

Jen :)

Friday Night Sew In - Results

I didn't get as much done as I would have liked.  I had a little person very curious as to what I was doing... no matter how much Daddy was supposed to keep an eye on her for me.

So.  This is what I got done.  Block eight for the Jelly Roll Sampler.  I really like how this one came out.  I really do.  I changed the center 9 patch a bit.  I think Kim did the same which is probably where I got my inspiration from.  I really didn't like the look of this block to begin with.  I thought it was very busy looking.  I changed 4 of the strip pieced blocks to 4 solid and I really like it.

The other thing I got done were a couple of pillowcases for Amelia.  Cute.  I love the yellow Birdie fabric.  I got my inspiration from Twiddletails.  She made the same pillowcases and I knew Amelia would love them.  I tried a new pillowcase tutorial which I really, really like!  No raw edges anywhere and EASY to do!  None of this "burrito" folding or what-have-you.

I really wanted to get the borders on Amelia's quilt but it was so hot in the house.  The AC was slow to get going and I just didn't feel like messing anything up so I stopped after getting the pillowcases done and jumped into the shower to cool off.

Okay, Amelia really wants to go outside and splash in her pool so I must be going.  Have a great day!
Jen :)

Friday Night Sew In - Are you ready?

Today is the monthly Friday Night Sew In.  What are you going to be working on?  I had all kinds of plans to make it a Friday Afternoon and Night Sew In but plans have changed.  Amelia was supposed to be in New Hampshire with my in-laws this weekend but now she's home so I know I won't get any sewing done in the afternoon.  I MAY get a little in during the evening hours.

So with that said, I have long list but we'll see what will get done.  My list goes like this...

• put the final borders on Amelia's quilt and get it ready for quilting
• get the 8th block together for the JRS.  I have everything cut.  Just need to piece it
• make a few pillowcases for Amelia.  I have the fabric all washed and a few are cut and ready.  I have fabric for 3 sets for her
• start my pin cushion for my swap.  Ugh.  That one is giving me a headache.  The requirement was for a "fancy" pin cushion but I'm not really fancy.  I have a few ideas to make a few FUN pin cushions.  I hope that will pass with my partner. 
• start a Schnibbles.  I haven't made one yet but I have my pattern picked out and my charm squares
• finish cutting fabric for a quilt that I started back in January

If I can get the first two done off my list, I will be happy.  :)

Have fun sewing!
Jen :)

FQS Designer Mystery BOM - Block One

On the first day month of Christmas, my true love gave to meeeeeee....

Block One of the FQS Designer Mystery BOM!

CUTE!  And I didn't sweat those tiny HSTs!  Because I was sweatin' them when I was reading the cutting instructions.  But it all came together nicely.  Even my little bows and ribbons are all lining up.  Super proud of that.  LOL!  It's the little things that make me happy.

Now to wait patiently for block two...

Enjoy your day!
Jen :)

Summer Purse/Tote Swap Finished

My purse swap is done and I love it!  It's just so cute!!  My (secret) swap partner loves modern/contemporary fabrics and loves the color purple.  Well, purple wasn't meant to be but I think these are a good compromise.

Bloom & Grow by My Mind's Eye for Riley Blake Designs.  I seriously did not notice the birds in the fabric until I started making the purse.

And the lining...

This is the pattern I used.  I love all these websites.  They have very cute patterns and embroidery designs and EASY.  Easy is #1 in my book! 

I'm going to make a few extras for the purse but the main part is done.  Now I can focus a little bit on other things before going back to getting my swap done. 

Enjoy your day!
Jen :)

Sharing

I've been making progress on Punkie's quilt so I thought I would share it with you.  I have 4 more sashing rows to attach, one more bottom row to do (I shorted myself one block - need to fix that) and then put on the borders.  It's going to be HUGE!  But I love how it's going to cover her entire bed to the boxspring.  That's what I like.  :)

And here's a close up of the top three completed rows.

Amelia is very excited to get this quilt.  I was working on it a few nights ago and she asked me if she could kiss it.  And I think I'm going to have plenty of fabric left over so that I can make a couple of pillow shams to match.

Enjoy your day!
Jen 

Friday Night Sew-In

June 18th is the date this month.  I missed the last two but I'm going to join this one.  I'm sure I'll have plenty to work on by then.

C'mon and join us!  It will be fun!

Jen  :)

Jelly Roll Sampler - Block Seven

Here's block 7 for my JRS.  Cute.  I like it but it could have used a bit more contrast.  I'm trying to use each strip at least once before I go back and use a repeat.  I'm running low on my darker stuff.  I take a great crooked picture, don't I??

Here are all 7 blocks put together.  This is going to be one colorful quilt top.  Giving it to Punkie for sure.  I'm don't know if I like them all together.

Enjoy your day!
Jen