Quilt Show Day

Yesterday we set up for our quilt show. There was a huge storm and it was hot and sticky.



Sara, Kathy, Robin and Carolyn

We had to wait for the men to set up the poles to hang the quilts.

The quilts were stacked and ready to be judged. I was a scribe and will do a post about judging, it was real interesting.

A red and white quilt!

I thought this quilter was very clever. She made a New York Beauty and used New York City fabric for the border, it was very cool!




Best of Show

My friend, Suzanne won Best of Show again! She won 2 years ago too. As you can see it is a really pretty quilt.

Getting ready for opening day, will post some more pictures later. If you are nearby and want to come the show is open today from 10 until 7 and tomorrow from 9 until 4. For more information go to Penn Oaks Quilters .

Kelly

Who Knew?

Apparently this is the year of the snake?  As read my morning blogs I saw on Barbara Brackman's Blog  a whole bunch of really cool snake quilts. I am not sure I would make them because I have not mastered curves....something I would love to be able to do.

Yesterday Cheryl, Christine, Terry and myself went for a walk on the Struble Trail. Look what we found....a snake eating a frog! Terry got a picture with her iphone. I guess it is the year of the snake. Does anyone know what kind of snake it is?

This has been a no sewing kind of week. Between the nice weather, getting things ready for the quilt show and real life I have nothing to show. Maybe next week....

Kelly

Friday Is The Big Day!!!

No, not the Royal Wedding, the first day of the Penn Oaks Quilt Show!! I spent last night adding a sleeve or 2 to some quilts that didn't have one.

A blog I read called Stitched In Color wrote an interesting post that has really taken off. Who knew there was such angst in the quilting/sewing community? If you get a chance take a look and let me know what you think.

It is going to be 83 here today!! Get outside and enjoy the sunshine.

Kelly

Caitlin's Birthday

Jim and Caitlin

My daughter Caitlin turned 28 on Saturday. She is the baby. We celebrated Easter and her birthday together.

Maddy and her dido wrapping the presents and signing the card for her mommy.

She even helped make and frost the cake.

Mom mom did something wrong because the whole thing was falling apart. Not to worry Jim brought a Red Velvet Cheese cake from the Cheese Cake Factory.

The kids had their Easter Egg hunt....as you can see the sugar is taking effect......




Mary



Dylan



Johnson



Krista

Finally the sun came out and we all enjoyed a beautiful day! Happy birthday to my girl!

Kelly



Gardens

This is what my husband bought me 4 years ago for my 50th birthday. I was so excited, much better than diamonds or anything else. A Gator is a gardener's best friend.

I throw all my weeds in the woods. Pushing a wheel barrel, up hill filled with weeds, this far away makes for a very long day.

Wednesday it is was 82 degrees. I didn't have a lot of time to  work, so I picked a small garden to feel like I got something accomplished.

 This scary thing is called Angel's Trumpet.

A  toad kept me company....

Finished in about 45 minutes. Lavender, poppies and some transplanted daylilies, along with Johnson's geraniums and coreopsis. The plant in the pot is a pink mandeville. It made it through the winter...not sure how.

Later on the little munchkins dyed their eggs....outside!

They had a great time!

Kelly

Coffee or Tea and Me

This was my entry for the Penn Oaks Challenge last night. Our theme was Coffee or Tea and Me.

This is Pat's entry and she won Best Interpretation. Isn't it amazing?

Marian used embroidery for this cute runner.

Suzanne's wool table topper.

Elaine's play on words, what a great idea!

Marti's bright and cheery table runner that is going in her kitchen.


I didn't get as many pictures as I wanted. The best of show was won by Kathy and I will try and get a picture of it at the quilt show.

Our guild is moving yet again to another spot. It seems like nobody wants us! Do any of you out there have trouble find a meeting place?

Kelly

Ahhhh Spring

One of the things I miss the most about my kids being little is no more little league. All 3 of my boys played so we had a good 15 years of it. Now my grandson, Griffin is playing and it is so wonderful. The missed catches, running past the bases and watching the airplanes go by when they are playing in right field is just some of the fun.

Little brother Elliot, complete with stick in hand.....don't they always find a pointy one?

Tonight is Penn Oaks Guild night. We are hanging our challenge "Coffee or Tea and Me". I can't wait to see what everyone has created. We always get a good turnout. Come back tomorrow and I will post pictures.

I am bring a snack...Toffee Squares

This is an awesome Bed and Breakfast, called Angel of the Sea, that also has a cookbook. If you ever go down the shore, come to Cape May, NJ and stay here! I think it may be impossible during the summer but it is very cool. Lots of Victorian things and a great breakfast, just steps from the beach.

I will share the recipe with you.

Toffee Squares

1 c butter (not a diet dessert!) 1 c br sugar

1 egg yolk                               1 tsp vanilla

2 c flour                                  1/4 tsp salt

1-1/2 c of chocolate chips      1/2 c nuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 350. Combine butter, sugar, egg yolk and br sugar.

Blend in flour and salt.

Spread dough in greased 9x13 pan and bake 20-25 minutes or until lightly brown.

Immediately pour chocolate chips on top until soft and spread evenly over entire pan. Sprinkle with nuts. Cut bars while still warm. Enjoy!

Kelly

Penn Oaks Sewing

I love the colors and pattern of this fabric

The one guild I belong to, Penn Oaks Quilters has a little shop called The Acorn Shop at the quilt show. Members are asked to donate or make things to put in the shop that helps to fund our programs.
I decided to make some things that I hope will sell, if not I have some gifts ready to go. Everyone needs a little zip bag to keep things in right?



Just the right size for lib balm, comb and sunscreen





Remember cassettes?




Perfect for classes...seam ripper, smalls scissors, needles etc.



For those days that you need a little lipstick on the go!

The quilt show will be held April 29 and April 30. For more information go to Penn Oaks Quilters . If you are coming to the show be sure to let me know.

Kelly

Christine's Challenge

Christine, my friend gave me some fabric from miscellaneous kits from way back in the day.... She has the same fabrics.......

Game on.....

Kelly

We're A Little Bit Country

Last night I took my husband, Bob to a Trace Adkins Concert for his birthday. He really likes country music and I sort of like it. He likes to say "it paints a picture". I will say it was great and Trace's baritone voice is unbelievable. I didn't know anyone's voice could get that low! I may have become a convert.

One of our favorite songs is called You're Gonna Miss This . Even if you don't like country I think you will enjoy this song, especially if you have children.

PS: Marie Osmond is coming soon.....I think we will skip that one!

Kelly

Blogging Friends

One of the absolute best things about blogging, are the friends you make near and far. I am an admirer and fan of Janet from Quiltsalott. Recently she did a post about the inking she did on some blocks, holy cow they are amzazing. I love everything she does, wait until you see the header on her blog, it will give you an idea of what she does. Go and check it out. She even does HAND QUILTING!!!

All of the following blocks are from the various books by Elly Sienkiewicz.

We email back and forth and I told her I would post my few inked blocks on a Baltimore Album that is still in the block stage. This particular block was made in memory of my niece, Kelly Garza who died when she was 14 months old. The angel is a little scary looking but the Catholic school penmanship has served me well! I am happy with the way the banner looks and it was not hard to do at all.

I love this little detail as well. Overall I think the block is a little too heavy feeling with that dark green.

This block has inked little tendrils, what was I thinking with this horrible color combination?

The cherries look like little cannon balls. I stuffed them a bit too much and it distorted the block some.

Oh my! lessons learned about color....I do like the design of this block but again not the fabrics. This was made during a snow storm in 1996, we got 3 feet of snow. I think I got the whole block sewn during that day.

Instead of inking, embroidery was used with silk thread. Some of the folded roses are silk fabric.

The only thing I can say, I was trying different techniques.

I really dislike the ruched rose and the dark roses on the side don't help it at all. The leaves have inked thorns on them, I do like how they look realistic.

Ugh!

The first block I ever appliqued and it is not too bad.

I do love this block and reverse applique is so fun.

I think the fabric shop must have stocked a lot of Hoffman fabrics.

I can remember thinking I needed to add some gold.......

Yes you can just stop in the middle of one of the most simple blocks and never finish it!

Some things I learned are:

Use a good quality background fabric....I did not.

Be sure you like metallics in your fabric....I do not.

Only put colors in that you really like....I did not.

If your cherries look like cannon balls, stop after the first one, don't keep going...I did not.

Learn from it and move on...I did!

Kelly