Missing Catfish Re-surfaces after Four Years!

Hi all,
Well, after 4 years I am happy to report that my missing  catfish has re-appeared. 
When we moved the koi and 2 bitty 3 inch long catfish into our new pond, everything went swimmingly!
After a bit one of the catfish came up to eat with the koi.....but only one ever showed up for lunch. He slowly has grown to about 16 inches long.  (Hard to be sure, he swims pretty fast!)

Keep that net on the pond, or the fish disappear with the herons.

 See, no catfish here!

 I call this one the KOI CHOIR!

 This beautiful quilt was made by Julie Stockler from one of Kaffe's patterns.  I have only just begun mine!  I love this particular quilt made with the luscious strips from Kaffe Fassett.

One of my class-members, Marilyn,  made this beautiful hand dyed piece in class a few weeks ago
I kept scanning the water to see if number 2 catfish would ever show up.  He continued to be missing and we just assumed he had  gone to his great reward, altho he never floated to the top, as usually happens in such cases!   We never found him in the filters....he was so tiny I thought he may have gotten sucked through the system.
Well, imagine my surprise when he appeared Wednesday morning for breakfast!  He is about a foot long, not as big as his brother...but, then, he has not been eating fish food like a pig for the last 4 years.
It so exciting to see him there eating with all  gang.  I am glad there is a happy ending to that fish tale!

Fall is in the air...the evenings and mornings are cooler, and though we have had little rain, it does seem like we are  changing seasons.  Even some of my lobelia flowers are starting to die out.  I did find  the orange and yellow crocosmias I had wanted and plan to put them in the ground soon.  I can grow them really well!
Our millions of blackberries are ripening.  (I don't even like them, but guess one batch of jam won't hurt!)  Our weeds are ever present, and  the grass still needs mowing on  a regular basis. 
Coming up next weekend is the big APQW show in Tacoma.  It is a huge quilt show, and I have a little piece in the fabric  challenge.  It is always a great place for inspiration and shopping, of course.

The La Conner Quilt show comes the first weekend of October, so busy getting ready for that one, too.  I am in charge of the vendors.  It will have some spectacular quilts, too. 
In the meantime, I am busy with customer quilts, and  working on a few of my own.....hope you are all enjoying the season and finding time to see the beauty all around you.  Till later, Judy

Arkansas Here I Come!!

 Freddy's giant star quilt that I quilted for her some time back!

 This is my first lone star that I learned in Freddy's class several years ago.

 a smaller one with Laurel Burch fabric.

 One of my student's pieces in process!

 In process my scrappy Kaffe....Below is the back of the quilt!

 One of my Christmas lone stars!

 I just had a small piece of the tiger lily fabric and had to make the star to fit the background.

 One of my quilts in progress.  I started the star with bright prints, but it was too much for my fabulous French girly fabric...so I scrapped that and did the star with all blacks and whites.

 Another couple views of one of Freddy's quilts.

 My chicken lone star....so fun to make.  I made it rectangular by adding extra borders.
The orange one I think is one of my favorites....I call it Orange-a-licious....thanks to Stephie for the name.

Some exciting news for me...I have a wonderful sister-in-law....also a fabulous quilter, who has me all set to teach when I visit her in Bentonville, AR in September.  What fun that will be.
I will be teaching at the Village Quilting in Bentonville where we will be creating beautiful lone star quilts my fast and easy method.
I have taught lone stars many times, and even total beginners make beautiful lone stars!  One of the gals in my guild just brought the one she made in my class a few months ago.  It was a beauty.  Sadly, I did not have my camera for a picture.  I will post some lonestars of mine, and a few of Freddy Moran's  that I quilted for her.  I am totally addicted to lone star quilts, but mine are usually not very traditional in fabric selection and colors.  I hope many of you will join me and Barb Hamernik for the Lone Star class.  The shop has the details and supply list.  Just bring some great fabric, and don't forget the chocolate!  We will have a great time making lone star quilts.  They really are easy to make.  Most classes several gals will get the star done and often the entire background.
Don't let this quilt scare you off.
I am also working on  a couple lone stars in the modern quilt style.  Will post the parts as I progress.  I think I will save them for class as sample to show you how they go together.
See you in early September.   Judy Irish

By the way, I started with one, got going on some  more, and thought 6 is a good number, then a dozen, and why not a baker's dozen...now I am nearing 20....maybe I should go for 50....that is a good number!

Fancy Feet

Well, here I am....still missing???  Gosh, where does the time go?   I guess I have been quilting up a storm, and especially trying to finish my daddy on the motorcycle quilt.  It has been much  more challenging than I thought.  I am not sure I am totally happy with the results so far, but since it is my daddy, I have had a good time thinking about him, while collaging and quilting the piece.  I think I have finally decided to just put a very thin black binding around it.
I had thought about photo corners, in black fabric, but nixed that one...then, just facing it, but with a dry run of black binding, decided that might be the best solution.  Thankfully the museum  extended the deadline by a couple weeks, so guess I will get it done...aiming for this weekend.
Well,  a few of the Goof Balls went on  a great field trip by ferry over to Kingson, Port Gamble and Poulsbo....great quilt shops and way tooooo much fabric to tempt the eyes and wallet.
Saw lots of great Kaffe fabric, and bought a few pieces, too.
I am still teaching at the shop in Freeland, WA on Whidbey Island.  You all should make a trek there if you get the chance...also a great Chinese restaurant just as you get to the turn-off.
This week is our Shop Hop...like 60+ shops....I don't plan to go....I  like a road trip to fewer shops!  Anyway, got too many quilts to catch up on.
So, I had to post pix of my new tennies...guess I better not try to rob a bank  with those shoes on....it is a dead give-away......
Well, guess I better get back to the long-arm....working a  gorgeous modern look quilt, by my friend Dorothy.   She does beautiful quiltz.
In the mean-time, happy quilting.   jude

 Check out my fancy feet!  I love these shoes!

 One of Freddy's new quilts....reminds me of my shoes...ha...

 One of my Goofballs, Shirley made this quilt.   Borders are still in process....so beautiful.

More of Freddy's flowers.  She makes such happy quilts.

Missing Person??

Hi all...gosh, I guess I must be missing, as I have not written on my blog in forever!
I did have a great time teaching the West Sound Quilters in Port Orchard, and also brought some of my quilts for a trunk show....got to visit the fabulous shop in Port Gamble, Quilted Strait.....some really fun and funky fabrics and loads of Kaffe and Brandon fabric!
For class we did the machine quilting, weaving/collage, and the Lone Star quilt.
Then I taught at my own Guild, Camano Island Quilters right close to home.  We did the lone star quilt and many of the gals pretty nearly finished their tops. 
We  cherry on top was our BIG, over 500 quilts at the Monroe Fairgrounds....that was our guild, Quilters' Anonymous.   What a great show, and featured my dear friend Klota Underwood as the featured artist.  She is the applique queen.  I will try to get some of her quilts on my blog so you can enjoy them, too.
Now, I am getting ready for my guild in Mukilteo, the Lighthouse Quilters...In April I will teach a class and present a trunk show as well.  That will be fun...that guild is a bit on the small side, but many great and talented quilters are members.
Of course, the Kaffe Fassett, Liza Lucy, and Brandon Mably exhibit is teatured at the La Conner Quilt and Textile Museum.   I quilted most of the quilts displayed, so that makes the show extra special.  I hope many of you can stop by and see the quilts before the coming weekend, as the show will  be ending.  You don't want to miss this one!
Well, guess I will stop for now, and get some more work done...working on a beautiful floral collage made in one of Freddy's classes. 

 One of Freddy's recent star quilts!  It had a huge star in the  center with 4 stars in each corner...to big to photograph in my studio!

 

Sherry Fandrich in Nebraska makes fabulously, colorful quilts1

Me, with my dear friend Klota.

Klota made this and I qulted koi over the whole top!  See all her ribbons?

One of Klota's prize-winners...love, the black and lime green!

This one is made by Audrey in my Woodinville, WA group...she loves to do Kaffe qiults, too.  This one is Imari Plate from quilts in Sweden.  A great way to use up some scraps!

Tonite is Mukilteo Guild.....hope you are all enjoying your local guilds and quilt shows....love, jude

Travelling to Port Orchard

Hi all....just a quick note before I leave for Port Orchard to do a trunk show and teach  at the West  Sound  Quilters' Guild.  It should be great fun to meet all the members and show them how to make Lone Stars and machine quilt.  This will be a new experience, taking the ferry to Kingston and driving south to Port Orchard.  I think I can find a new quilt shop to  visit, too.
I have been finishing up some quilts this week, just today a HUGE blue diamonds of all kaffe fabric.  It goes back to Pennsylvania.  The girls at Glorious Color have been very prolific of late!
I am working on my motorcycle quilt yet, and figure it will take all of my spare time till the end of May...gotta meet the mid June deadline for entry at the La Conner Museum Quiltfestival.   It is a juried show, so may not get in anyway, but I am having fun making the quilt all the same!!

The weather has warmed up a bit, but not too many sunny days around here yet.  The fish thought it was warm enough to say hi last week, but since I can't feed them for a couple month, I had to ignore them.  I think they look even bigger! 

Working on daddy's motorcycle quilt....got a long way to go...it is just in the embryonic stage at the moment.  Trying to figure things out!  The red plaid shirt was actually my dad's real shirt!

My friend Denise took my class last week and finished this  great quilt top.  She loves aliens and space fabric!

Hope you are all having fun with your creative endeavors....will let you know all about Port Orchard when I return.   Judy

Harley Girl!

Hi all, thought I would have some fun today and post of picture of me with my Harley....from another life!  About 1986-88 I had a  Harley, actually two.   The first  Sportster I got was a nice red one, and after awhile I got the Harley Hugger.  It was  a little closer to the ground for short people!  And it was a beautiful purple bike.  I got it with engine guards, and a windshield--keeps the bugs out of your face!  What a beautiful bike.  My mom and dad used to ride in the late 30's and early 40's. Daddy had a beautiful Robin's egg blue bike, said my mom...she rode behind him on the buddy seat.  Riding gear in that day was a far cry from today.  I will have to post pictures of them on the bike.  It  also had the suicide shift on the side of the bike.   They rode with some famous people back in the day, and my dad did crazy stunts and races.  I have some fabulous old black and white pix of their biking adventures.
I got a special made black jacket with purple fringe, and chaps too.  I always wore my leathers when I rode...I didn't think road rash was a great alternative.  Even in hot weather, the leathers never got hot.  A mystery of life.  I still have my jacket.
Anyway, since I don't think I have shared this part of my life, thought I would today....well, the  Harley T-shirt quilt I have been making gave me the idea to post the pix.  Well,  guess I will get these pictures posted, and get off to work.  Today I have a great applique quilt to work on.  It is Lollipops by Kim McLean.....a friend of LIza Lucy made it, and it is gorgeous.  I actually quilted one before made by Becka.....it is a quilt I would never attempt, but  a most beautiful  collection of applique and kaffe fabric.

Me, with mommy and daddy...I let daddy sit on MY bike...ha...

Hope everyone has a agreat day...we have some hail here.  Can't wait till the warm days of spring come back.   Judy

Merry Christmas and Happy New

Greetings All.....I just noticed my last post was Dec. 8.....where have I been, and how fast does time fly!   I have been quilting, cleaning the studio....neverending....and quilting some more.  I had hoped to quilt 3 of my own pieces over Christmas, but the one with peacocks took a week on the frame, so that idea went out the window!  I am finally putting the binding on the peacocks....my tired old eyes are having fits with black binding, black backing, and black thread.....not much fun.
My helper Trish came and we put in a counter I had stashed in the barn....trying to clean up around the design wall, or as I often call it the bulletin board.   Opal says that is my problem....I have to quit thinking of that space as a bulletin board!!   It is a great design wall...two sliding boards with insulation board covered with batting....it is a total of 8 by 8 feet...trouble is that I had about 18" on each edge plastered with important stuff!  So the design wall was slowly shrinking.....now I have it all clear so I put up the newest kaffe quilt...just have to add a row on top and bottom.   I had extra blocks so decided to make it bigger.  The more to quilt, my dear!

We had a quiet Christmas at home....went to my brother's the Sunday before Christmas.  Just rain...no snow....I am thinking good thoughts that we have not one flake of snow this year, or at least any that stays on the ground.
I got the Christmas cards in the mail DEC. 24....usually it is after Jan. 1...so this year I was ahead of schedule....just finished making my annual banket pastry, and will finish it up later today.   It is  a yummy almond paste pastry.  I got the recipe from my  lovely old Dutch ladies who could cook wonderful goodies.    I have had the recipe over 25 years already...can't believe it. 
I decided to make some Christmas cut-out cookies so got the dough ready last night for cutting and baking today.  It has been a few years or more since I did cut-out cookies....too many cookies makes for too much Judy.
Well, gotta get going into town on errands...will try to post pictures of the bake shop later! 

 one of my patriotic ornaments.....I have a huge collection and my tree is covered with red, white, and blue.

 who doesn't need some pumpkin pie?

 Part of my matrushka dolls I collected from my Russian mission trips....early on I traded some m and m's for them!   I am thinking of doing a qiult!   (in my spare time!)

 I used to make mohair teddy bears....fun.

 Another kaffe quilt...headlights!

 This peacock quilt was made using Sara Nephew's  triangle ruler....super 60.....the peacock feathers took forever to quilt.

Have a wonderful few days before the new year.   I hope you get some piecing in between all the parties and foodies.....judy