My Lonestar Quilt top!

Somehow my lonestar did not get on the blog...but I did get 2 of the same....I guess it is hopeless with me and the computer!

Rainy Day...again!

Hi dear quilters....

It is already nearing Thanksgiving, and I am soooo behind. It has been way too long since I have written....this time of year not much goes on except quilting. It is too wet and cold to work in the yard. The fish are supposed to be sleeping, except today I noticed about half of them were near the top and looking for food. They have a long wait till May, or if they are lucky, maybe April. I miss seeing them and feeding their happy little mugs. The Goatgirls seem fine....when I try feeding them, they are good at knocking the scoop out of my hand and wasting their food. We fixed their shelter to try to waterproof it a bit more. But since they are critters, I have to remember that they are probably pretty warm even in the rainy weather. I fixed their house with some nice clean straw, which they promptly dragged outside onto the grass.! Goats are silly litle critters...but I am definitely attached to them.

I taught a couple classes recently...one my Asian pattern, or I should say a pattern designed with Asian fabric in mind...but anything would work. The girls did a great job. One new quilter got her top all pieced in the one day class. Then, my mystery quilt was great fun, with 11 gals all hanging out and piecing. We did some funky techniques and the girls put their own blocks together in their own way. I love to teach things like that...no pattern, and no plan. I know it can drive some people coo coo....but that is my favorite way to work.

I also did a couple more Freddy style pieces...bright colors, of course. I will post my last one, and get the others done, so I can post them, as well. My patterns are for sale, and even some of my quilts. I should post some of them, so you can see what is available.

I hope you all are having a great fall, and thinking about Thanksgiving. My brother and his wife will visit us....other than that, we have no family near by. You should feel very happy and blessed if you have a big family to share Thanksgiving with this year.

My goal is to get busy and dig out a whole big section of the studio. I plan to put in a rack to hold several rolls of batting. It is getting way out of hand...all the batting, not to mention all the scraps. I have to get busy and donate some more. I use some of the off-cuts for wall-hangings and small projects. I want to make a few more lone stars....I think I have a bee in my bonnet for lone stars right now!

Freddy and Gwen are sending more quilts for a new book, so that will keep me busy. I have been trimming 1 1/2" selveges from fabric to use in a selvage quilt. Freddy inspired me to finish one. I have been collecting for a few years, and better get busy. I did do one block.

Well, not much other news. Just have to get busy and plan classes for next quarter at the local shops. Of course, machine quilting will be one class. I have some other ideas, like maybe lone stars!

Will try to be more faithful with the blogging...and trying to figure out if someone writes me. I am having a hard time figuring out the Facebook thing. I just don't have enough hours in the day to do all that computer stuff! Have a great week, and I will write later....Judy

Fun with Freddy Moran

Freddy teaching at Aunt Mary's.

Freddy's string quilt..it is fabulous!!
Me with Freddy! I plan to use this green leaf as an inspiration for my challenge quilt. I took lots of leaf pix at Fred Meijer Garden Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Hi at last......where does the time go?? Too much work to do and not enough time. We have been trying to get all the winter chores done...getting the fish ready for bed and the goats a little better shelter for the winter. I think everything is pretty well battened down for now. We have even had several good frosts...scraping the car windows type frosts....which I don't like, but that means spring is just around several corners!

What a great time we had with Freddy Moran when she came to teach at Aunt Mary's Quilt Shop. Freddy was her usual sparkling and fun self. We had three days to play with lots of techniques from her new book, Freddy and Gwen Collaborate Again. In fact, Gwen is with Freddy now in CA where they are creating some wonderful new quilts for another book....maybe string quilts or who knows what wonderful surprises they will come up with. They will surely have fun in the process.

I made a whole lone star quilt, as well as parts to two other quilts. I am working with a lot of orange in one, and can't wait to get that one done. I found the most fabulous Michael Miller fabric with oranges and polka dots...what a find!!! It will be perfect for a border...I wasn't planning much of a border originally, but this is too good to pass up, and will look fun and happy in the quilt.

Now I want to make about 3 more lone stars. I have the fabric already picked out, and it is from my stash...even better.

Freddy inspired me to apply to teach at Asilomar, which I must get busy and do. There are always those pesky deadlines to deal with. I would also like to apply to teach at The Road to California. That would be great fun I think. So, I have to get on the ball and get going. There is also a Machine Quilting show on the east coast I would like to try for, and now they are going to have a show in Portland....MQX. Check it out on the web.

Well, time is a flying by, and I have to get into the studio...shame on me for not writing sooner, it just seems like finding time for everything is getting harder and harder. I am hoping that after vacation, Quiltfest, and Freddy, things will even out and my old routine will return. I hope you all are finding time for everything, especially creating some new quilts. This year I hope to get at some projects that have been in utero for some years! I will post some pix from my recent activities....have a great day! judy

LaConner Quiltfest 2009

Beautiful seacape...not sure of the artist...but is was spectacular!

Kathy McNeil's sea otter quilt....so cute. This is just a detail!

A detail of Anna Fustino's Fisherman's widows quilt. Partly painted and beautifully pieced!
Check out her book....Simply Stunning Woven Quilts

This quilt was truly unbelievable...the last name of the artist was Thom. What a masterpiece!

Well, the show is over! We had a smashing success at the 2009 Quiltfest in La Conner. We are soooo blessed to have this great museum in our midst here in the Pacific Northwest. There are only a dozen or so such museums in the whole country

The quilts on display were fabulous and certainly gave each viewer plenty of inspiration and enjoyment. These quilts had all been ribbon winners in a juried show, guild show, or regional fair. There were some by Kathy McNeil.... I especially love her monkeys and the sea otters. Then some great comtemorary type quilts that were ablaze in color and texture with threadwork and other embellishments. One seascape was especially fun and loaded with embellishments and such.

Not to mention the two with geckos or lizards....I am not a biologist! But suffice it to say, the beadwork was truly unbelievable. Next year we will be celebrating applique. If you get the chance to take classes or come see the show, you must come!

I was privileged to teach 2 classes at Quiltfest this year....one on weaving fabric/collage, and another called Bag of Tricks, with some fun things and products to try when making contemporary/art type quilts.

The vendors had the usual wonderful array of goodies....marbled fabric, beads, Hawaiian and other applique, and fabric, of course. Even the weather cooperated.

I can't wait for next year!

SuSan Reidel was our show chair, and her wonderful husband prepared a yummy lunch for the vendors, volunteers, and students....just so we wouldn't starve! Cheesecake anyone???

Check out the LaConner Quilt and Textile Museum website for next year...they are already beginning to post things for that show. In the meantime, happy quilting.

And even more excitement!! Freddy Moran is coming to town. She will be at Aunt Mary's Quilt shop teaching and inspiring us with her colorful and whimsical style. Welcome, Freddy!

Back From Michigan and Arkansas

The Grand Hotel on Mackinaw Island.

Ken and Judy by the lake...Huron.

THe 5 mile long Mackinaw Bridge.
Lumberman's Monument

WOW!! how can it be that September is gone and Oct. is nearly half way gone as well. It seems like we just left for our big trip to Michigan and Arkansas, and here we are home again with noses to the grindstone. (By the way, there is a city in the "thumb" of Michigan called Grindstone City...or was....my I have a picture of my mom sitting on a huge grindstone in about 1940 or so!) Just some trivia. The grindstone is hard to push, with all those quilts hanging onto it!

Have a quilt to finish today, one of my first customers from 12 years ago, and very cute baby quilt from Bekah Lynch in Houston....she does the most phenomenal applique, and then another Freddy quilt....Freddy will be at Aunt Mary's Quilt shop next week for 3 days...yeah!!

Our trip was great...even the reunion for my hubby's 50th highschool...Grand Rapids Creston High School. How did we get this old?? There were almost 100 returning grads and spouses...finished off with a fabulous fireworks, too. It was interesting to see how all those young lives turned out. We felt so blessed to still be alive and well, and have had such a great life all those 50 years.

A trip to Traverse City, Mackinaw City, and Mackinaw Island, of course.....just reliving old time places we like to visit. It looks pretty much the same. Mackinaw Island is always fun for walking, and the weather was absolutely fabulous. I had to pick a few rocks from the lake and bring them home for my pond and stream. I love the Great Lakes. The water is always so blue in the North part of the state. We had to go to East Tawas where I spent lots of time as a kid, camping and then visiting from our cabin later. We now have no cabin...the new owners have torn it down and it is a bare lot. It was sad to see, since we built the cabin when I was just a wee kid! And brick by brick...using old Saginaw bricks...I remember chipping off all the old mortar. They were free! I even brought a couple home one trip..heavy to carry and get up on the check through for hand carry. (The days before 9-11) No trip to our old cabin area would be complete without a stop at the AuSable River and Lumberman's Monument. THey also had some information about the CCC camps. My dad served when he was a young guy before he met my mom. That was interesting to see.

Had fun visiting friends and family in Saginaw, a depressing town with all the lack of work, and a downtown that is virtually empty. It could be such a great town...right on the river and beautiful old mansions from the lumber era of Michigan.

After visiting in Michigan, we headed for Arkansas, to see my sister-in-law. I had been asked to do a trunk show for her Northwest Arkansas guild and then a workshop...what fun!!

And what a great group of talented gals, too. Actually several men were in attendance, too. Well, I had not been in Arkansas for any length of time before, so it was interesting. Lots of trees, and some rolling hills. Had to stop at Lamberts, house of throwed rolls on the way down...I had eaten there once before and had to take my hubby. It is fun, just watch for flying rolls!! You better hope for an extra stomach to hold all that food, too.

We had great weather, and lots of fun. But now it is time to get back to work. I actually started to get a little bored near the end...not when I was in the quilting mode in Arkansas. I guess I will have to find something to do for handwork. I never really like handwork too much, but I mayhave to give in and try to find something that I will enjoy.

In Grand Rapids Sue Spargo was doing a workshop, and then, when I got to Arkansas, there she was again. I don't do that kind of work, but it sure is beautiful, and the wools are great colors.

Guess I better go check the applesauce...my hubby picked the remaining apples from our trees, so I have been making a batch of applesauce every morning. Hope you and yours are enjoying this beautiful fall. We have already had a few frosts. I will write about our big Quiltfest at the LaConner museum next time. Have a great day!! Judy

runaway goats and horses!... BON VOYAGE

Well, after moving day, chasing fish around a pond, what more could we have loose? I think I told you about the ducks....that was one exciting adventure chasing 16 ducks into a cage so they could go back home where they belonged......then a week later, coming home from church...there it was!

A tree leaning on the hood of my poor old Suburban. Thankfully, no damage to the car, but the tree is now firewood. We don't have many trees in our yard, proper. They are all down in the pasture and around the perimeter. So, even tho this was just a scrub alder, I hated to see it go. It had grown about 20-30 feet tall just since we moved in about 7 years ago. ....not to be outdone, out of the corner of my eye are 2 horses running around our back yard and orchard. It seems the neighbors' horses had escaped their fenced in pasture. I bet they had some tummy ache after eating all those apples and plums.!! It was quite a trick to lure them back inside so we could re-attach the fencing. Let's see, missing goats??? Well, after the horses were put back....then the neighbors goats got out...seems they finally chewed their way through 10 feet of blackberry hedge and into the neighbor's garden....home again.....let's see, I don't think we have any more critters that can escape for the moment. I certainly hope not, as we leave in an hour for Michigan.

Hopefully, that will be a most uneventful trip...just fun visiting family, friends and old familar places. I am looking forward to seeing Mackinaw Island again...one of my favorite place. I also want to see if a new cabin was re-built on our old cabin site. Last time the whole cabin was gone, and all that was left was a bare lot. It was quite sad to see.

Since I am doing a trunk show and class in Arkansas at a guild, we are lugging lots of quilts. With our up-grade to first class, we can each take 2 suitcases, so that helps with all the quilting stuff. Well, I guess I will have to write when I get back and post some pictures of the sights we see....hope you all have a great beginning of this fall season. It is hard to believe it is already September. I will sadly miss Innovations this year. That is all for now...but will write when I get back....judy

PS...the pictures are of the run-away ducks....my attempt at landscaping around the pond, and from the Ricky Tims seminar....me with Ricky and Libby Leman....they are so gracious about their work and pictures. What a fun 3 days that was. (Got saddlesore, for sure!!)

Moving Day and more!

Hi friends! It has been way too long since I have written you on my blog. Too many things seem to have gotten in the way of my getting time to write. But here goes....

The pond project took lots of time in the past month. We finally got the liner in and the fish moved. It was much easier than I thought. With the help of several friends, we rolled out the liner, lined it up side to side and front to back on the ground...each took a spot and walked it right over the hole and dropped it in. There you have it, the liner was in!! Of course, nothing goes right the first time...the liner was fine, but the koi toilets (bottom drains) ended up leaking. When I checked the water level the first morning after adding some water, it had gone down quite a bit....oh, no....a problem...We finally figured out we had a leak, so had to drain all the water, take out the koi toilets, and re-seal them....we added lots more silicon sealer, and tried again. This time the water didn't leak! YEah....

It took several days to get the pond about half full, and thanks to our neighbors letting us use their water and ours, we got the pond full enough to add the fish...

My hubby's boss lent us his waders and a special net for catch and release....it worked really slick and didn't hurt the fish. It was a great rubber net. THe waders were amazing..you don't get one bit wet. What an amazing invention. So I caught the fish and hubby ran them over to the new pond and dropped them in. Surprise!! There were two new fish in the pond that we had never seen....a baby catfish about 3" long and a little butterfly fish, that I hope is a koi. We cannot figure how they got in there....maybe the butterfly is a baby from eggs the fish laid, but the catfish is another story. We only have one catfish in the pond and he is about 1 foot long and 3 years old...what a mystery. I named the baby catfish SPike, and the little orange butterfly is Pee Wee. They come up and try to hold their own eating food with the big fish.

Well, we have been busy working around the edges of the pond, and trying to figure out about the waterfalls and stream. It is still a big job to come, but we are so happy to just have the fish moved for now. By November we will no longer be feeding the fish, and they will begin to hibernate till spring. For now it is such fun to watch them. I think they are growing already in their new home. I posted pictures from the big move. Next time I will write about the RIcky Tims' Seminar, and the case of the missing ducks....till then....have fun in your neck of the woods...judy