Finished hosta quilt

I've been working on the machine quilting of my hosta quilt. I quilted in veins on each of the leaves in 100 weight silk threads to match each of the leaves. Here's a detailed picture of a couple of the leaves.

I did a stipple stitch on the pieced background.

Next, I did a curvy in and out design for the mulch.

I finished the edges with a facing. Directions are on Grace Knowles blog http://www.barnyardchatter.wordpress.com/

I've said this before, her directions are precise and clear, and the results are great.

Here's a picture of the finished quilt.

Fresh Air

No quilting today. I decided that getting fresh air constitutes more than walking from the car to a quilt show. So, with this in mind, I went outside with garden tools in hand and weeded 2 gardens. As I was weeding, I found the Lilies of the Valley and they were in bloom. That was the scent I smelled as I got closer to them. The Irises and Peonies are in bud and should be blooming soon.

It gave me great satisfaction in getting this done. I put if off for way too long.

Tomorrow, I'll quilt.

New Work in Progress

I started working on a hosta plant quilt. I started by taking a photo and enlarging it.

I trace over the key elements then posterize it on the computer.

I use this enlarged picture to trace onto freezer paper for my templates. I used my hand-dyed fabrics for the the leaves. I painted starch onto seam allowances and pressed back onto the freezer paper. Then, removing the paper, I appliqued the units together with invisible thread and blind-hem stitch onto stabilizer.

The right half

and the left half.

The pieced background for the hosta was a rail fence block irregularly cut.

I added a piece of fabric to the bottom for the mulch. I like to do a pieced background to add extra interest.

Then I added the hosta to the background and blind-hem stitched it to the background.

Needless to say, this was not done in one day. It took over a week working on it daily. Decisions on how to machine quilt need to be made. I'll have to give this some thought.

Will keep you informed on my progress.

"A World of Quilts" Quilt Show

Saturday, I went to the Northern Star Quilt Guild's annual quilt show. It's one of the local shows I enjoy going to. I went with Eda, Carol and Marie and the first vendor we hit was Jane Davila's booth "Flourish". She has the best art quilt supplies. Her web site is www.countryquilter.com . I found some new products and restocked on ones that were low or used up.

Next stop was "Batik Tambal" web site www.batiktambal.com , where I had to buy another tjap.

Many stops at other vendors, then finally went to see the quilts.

I was very impressed with the "Best of Show" quilts. There were 2, one for large quilts, won by Diane J. Evans called "Pieces of Dreams

and one for small hangings by Deborah J. Bein called "Reel Life" Mona's Party.

Both were original designs.

This was the first time I saw a show with 2 "Best of Show" quilts. I'm still undecided as to whether I like that idea. Shouldn't "Best of Show" be the best of the show and not shared with another quilt. Share your thoughts in the comment section at the end of this entry. I'd really like your thoughts.

Below are some other quilts I really liked, as you can see my tastes run to landscape quilts.

"Acoma Ladders by Barbara Browner Schiller won 2nd place in Art-Pictural catagory. A lot of applique and thread painting. I thought it was beautifully executed.

"Sonoran Spring" by Georgia Heller is a photo image with thread painting to accentuate the picture. She won a 2nd place ribbon in the Special Techniques catagory.

"Succulent Succulents" by Norma Schlager is a photo manipulated transfer. She won an honorable mention in the Special Techniques catagory.

Well----- with all my purchases, I can't wait to get into my studio to play.

New Baby

Tuesday evening at 7:50pm, my nephew and his wife had a baby boy, Dylan Robert, 8lbs 7oz and 20 3/4" long. He's such a cutie. Okay, I'm prejudiced, but he really is.

Everyone is doing fine and are glad to be home.

Tuesday is my local guild meeting. We have topped at 150 members (fire code regulation) and have a waiting list. Its such a friendly and supportive group, I'm glad to be a member. For a look at our guild go to www.wvqg.com .

There was a quilt show meeting for our upcoming show in May, 2010. I know, its far away, but it takes a lot of planning. I'm the display chair (in charge of orgainizing the order in which the quilts are hung). We've been making backdrops for the quilts over the years, and hopefully this year will finish them up.

The budget passed------ now the ball's in my court.

Tomorrow am going to the Northern Star Quilters Guild Show in Somers, NY.