November Quilt Update

Welcome to the Monthly Update.  What does that mean?  Well, it's just little ol me trying to recap what took place during the month so that I can keep track.  I kind of use it like a journal.  Please sit back and enjoy a peek into a month of my life.

Any links that you click in this post will open in a DIFFERENT window, allowing you to continue reading this without losing the page.

The previous 2017 monthly update links are located at the end of this entry.  I hope that you make it that far.

Goals:

Garden Party (GP) - quilted and bound - 

Midnight Flight (MF) - blocks made
BOM (blue) quilted and bound -
BOM (Thimbleberries)  quilted and bound -
BOM (pink) quilted and bound -

1st  -   November has arrived and along with it comes that dreaded sense of urgency that the year is coming to an and and there is still just oh so much I haven't accomplished.  Toss in looming gifts and I can say with all honesty that I can feel the stress rising.  The question is, "Can I keep it at bay?"  I say that I'm going to each year, but somehow it comes creeping in.  Another attempt will be made so bear with me as I try to say, "Oh well, it'll get finished next year."  (And now we can all sit down and laugh together."

On Ringo Lake - Clue 1 - Bonnie Hunter - Mystery Quilt

I do not know how this happened but Thanksgiving has come and gone (?????) and Black Friday is here.  That means it's the day for Bonnie Hunter's Reader Appreciation mystery to begin!  This year it is entitled On Ringo Lake and I am in love with the colors.

First thing, I peek and see the clue and that's it for the morning as my house is literally full of bodies --- they are EVERYWHERE.  Hahahahaha --- that kind of sounds bad doesn't it?  It's the truth though.  This picture only show a few of them.

Once they are all dressed and out the door to shop and/or drive home, I get a few minutes to dart to the studio and see if I have strips that will play well this week.  Thank goodness for Bonnie's Scrap User's System.

Pioneer Days on the Way Home from Retreat

On the way home from retreat, Mister stops at a Pioneer Days event just off the highway.  It is such a great time and you can read all about it AND watch them fire the cannons by clicking on THIS LINK. 

The purpose of this post is to share what we see there that is fiber related.  One booth has stacks and stacks of quilts surrounded by sock monkeys EVERYWHERE.  I'm not kidding.  All shapes and sizes.  It also is completely ringed by home canned good.  WOW.

Brazos House - The Retreat To Remember

(Note:  If you didn't see the previous post on this retreat, please click HERE so you are all caught up and know what we are talking about.)

We are READY!  Well, at least we think so.  Our first passenger has arrived at the gate and is ready to check in.  Others soon follow shortly behind and our ground crew is hard at work getting everyone where they need to be.

Trip to Sew Krazee Quilt Shop in Granbury

Jen needs white felt and I have a birthday gift certificate burning a hole in my pocket.  That means a trip to Granbury is in order.  I rarely leave the retreat center during our time there but today is an exception.  What can I find with my present?

Garlic Knot Exchange

Waaaaay back in August, Ana suggested doing a Garlic Knot block exchange in the Facebook group.  I gave her thumbs up and away it went.  The pattern is by Bonnie Hunter, only we sized it up and chose to use red/green/white for Christmas.

When what to our shocked eyes should appear, but 30 people signed up and ready within 24 hours.  Exchange closed and away we went.

8/7  I am in Abilene for a few days and this seems like as good a place as any to get a start on these blocks.  I cut, cut, cut - starting with strips just like we are supposed to.

Brazos House - The Retreat To Remember - 24 Hours of Preparations

It's super early on a Wednesday morning and my sweetheart is dropping me at Brazos House.  I have the house all to myself and it's oh so quiet.  Outside the birds are singing along with the distant sound of bleating goats.  Life is good.

First things first, into the closet I go.  I have sooo much to unload and set up especially since I have had packages sent here all month and the boxes are piled up in the closet too.  Time to get busy.

Barbara Hartman - Transcendent Quilting

Our next stop on the Cross Timbers Artists' Studio Tour is at the home of Barbara Hartman.  I have my fingers crossed that it will not be busy here either and we will get a chance to really spend some quality time together.  My wish is granted and when we arrive, we are the only ones touring.  I am able to hand over the cheese from Richard Gatti and watch as she lights up when she realizes what it is.  How fun.  She then takes us into the front room where her quilt (that I JUST saw in Houston) is proudly being displayed.  It is entitled Autumn Evening and won the blue ribbon for Art-Naturescapes.  Woohoo.  I did take a picture of it while there but held onto it hoping to use it in this post as today has been planned since October.  All the stars aligned and I am able to take another picture with her in it.  Perfect.  I ask if I can touch it as no one gets to do that at Festival.  She gives permission for them all to be touched, turned over, and thoroughly learned from.  I am in heaven.

Lake Trail Studio Handwovens Tour

At the end of last month, we discovered the  Huffhines Art Trails Festival and met Richard and Gloria Gatti.  It was such a treat and they invited us to tour their studio today.  Ya'll know I am not one to turn an opportunity like that down so after a quick breakfast at home, we are on the road up to Double Oak.  They are part of the Artist's Studio Tour that is taking place in the Cross Timbers area and I have my fingers cross that if we get there right when it starts, we will have some time without crowds around.  It works and ours is the lone car in the driveway.  Let's go learn about weaving.

The entrance to the studio is at the back of the house where a wonderful garden and greenhouse occupy space on the property.  Oooooh, I wish.  As we walk up to the door, many of their products are displayed for sale.  It is those dish towels that I am really after.  I have wanted one every since Huffhines.

Houston!!! Year Two Day 3

And just like that, it is our last morning here.  Goodness but that time flew by.  We are already talking next year though and that makes my heart sing.  Debi has joined us for breakfast and we are literally chomping at the bit for the show to open.  Why is time standing so still?

Okay, that's it.  We can't take it anymore and it's time to walk over there.  A quick picture by the elevators and we miss not one, but two different ones and have to wait again.  Two more minutes killed.  Yeah, we are just that good.

Houston!!! Year Two Day 2

Although the clouds are hanging a bit low this morning, it's time to get up and get moving.  We have shopping to do and quilts to see.  It's gonna be a FULL day of fun and joy to our eyes.

Houston International Quilt Festival - Eye Candy #3

This is post 3 of 3 on this years Houston Quilt Festival.  If you missed the first two, please go check them out.

First up is Diamond Effervescence by Beth Nufer and Clem Buzick of Brookings, Oregon.  "The inspiration was the silk fabric.  The background fabric is a gradated cotton sateen.  I wanted to incorporate the two fabrics together."  I think they did a great job and as I stood looking at it closely, I love the way the neutrals play together going from light to darker and back to lighter.  The piecing is wonderful but the dots, oh the dots are just magnificent.

Houston International Quilt Festival - Eye Candy #2

This is post 2 of 3.  Please check the blog for the others if you wish to see all the quilts that I captured.

Let's start with the winner of the Founders' Award.  This is called Fantastic! and is by Junk Fujiwara of Narashino, Chiba, Japan.  Junko writes, "I began this work to celebrate the birth of my first granddaughter four years ago.  I was excited I made 16 blocks, especially with the flowers that I love.  I used a lot of cloth.  By combining small pieces, the leaves and flowers all look different."  It is outstanding to look at and four years just makes my mouth fall open.  I don't think I have enough years left to do something like this.

Houston International Quilt Festival - Eye Candy #1

I took way more pictures at festival this year than last so am posting the eye candy a bit differently.  They will use 3 posts and not be included in the daily journal other than through a link.  Please check on the regular post to see all the fun we had today.  Here's your LINK.

Now, onto the eye candy and please remember that I am not going to spotlight very many of the blue ribbon quilts unless I am absolutely in love with them.  I keep this blog to remember the things that really touched me in one way or another and am happy to share it with you.  These are my loves.

The big winner of $12.500 from Handi-Quilter is this lovely sampler by Janet Stone of Overland Park, Kansas entitled Garden Variety Sampler.  She says, "This quilt is a nod to my love of antique samplers.  The layout was loosely inspired by a page from an antique children's book by Walter Crane from 1878 entitled The Baby's Bouquet.  The color palette was inspired by the beautiful Japanese taupe quilts.  This is number 17 in my "Alphabet Quilt" series."  The techniques are machine piecing and applique, fused applique, hand embellishment and I absolutely am drawn to it.  The details are just tremendous.

Houston!!! Year Two Day 1

It's NOVEMBER!  That means the time for Houston's International Quilt Festival has arrived.  When tickets are purchased a year in advance, waiting for this seems to take forever and I'm thrilled that today is the day.  Lydia arrives at my house by 5:30 a.m. and within 10 minutes we are off and on our way.

It's nice to reconnect along the way and share what has been happening in our lives.  I so love this time together and for the chance to help one another out.  I am wondering if we will get a view of a beautiful sunrise but my hopes are dashed as the clouds are just too thick this morning.  A couple of hours into our trip, this is the best that happens for us.  I'll take it.