WHAT KEEPS ME BUSY

 It's mid-August and I am knee deep in projects and "must-do" activities. Just so you don't think traveling quilt teachers just show up, ready to teach well-rehearsed classes, take a look at what I am doing.

PACKING FOR HOUSTON: yes, packing and shipping has to happen for me in August as I will be away for almost two weeks in September, teaching on back-to-back cruises. Before I can pack I have to prepare kits, get handouts copied, gather supplies for class, find and pack the class samples, lots of preparation is required:

Love the table surface my Bernina Q20 provides for class preparation

Boxes in various sizes stacked everywhere

Kit preparation for Western Sun

I have 6 classes and 2 Lectures in Houston and that requires a lot of quilts. Recently I gathered up all the class sample quilts and did a "dry run" in my large suitcase to be sure they will all fit. It would be expensive to have to ship quilts too. Fortunately, they fit:

Next week I am teaching two classes in Colorado Springs and giving a lecture. Those classes needed Kits and Handouts prepared. I am ready. Here is stuff for Colorado Springs, the Cruises, and the box on the floor is packed for Houston:

Recently I offered a variety of quilts for sale. Several of those were bought so that involved boxing and shipping some of those, meeting with people for pickup here, and updating the blog posts:

Before all this started I began quilting Diamond Jubilee. It is still in progress and I am eager to get back to it:

Quilting in the paisley center hasn't been decided yet

Something different is going in the red backgrounds, just haven't decided what yet

The back shows the quilting better

This next project was started YEARS AGO and is on my bucket list to finish. When the design wall opened up I got back to this, I call it TEXAS STAR, still a long way to go. For more information on this see BUCKET LIST QUILT # 3: 

There is always a Leader/Ender project underway, here are a few at the same time in case I get bored. The 3" Old Italian Blocks are my SUMMER SEW A LONG :

With school back in session we had our two local grandkids for a two-night sleepover two weeks ago. And this week Oliver came for a quick visit--he is 17 months old now. So you know those events keep us busy:
            

Oliver and PopPop

Stella 10 and Sam almost 7

So, lest you think I have nothing to do, here is peek at my world. My kids think I am "retired"--HA! Not yet.

Let's quilt,

Barbara

SUNDAY LARGER QUILTS FOR SALE

 Last week I offered 10 small quilts for sale. Find that post HERE. Today there are larger quilts available for new homes.

Is there such a thing as TOO MANY QUILTS? Why, yes, there is. When the shelves are stacked full it's time to lighten the load. Here are a variety of quilts for sale, medium throw to bed size. Some are past class samples, some are original designs, some are patterns I tried out, some are just ready to find a new home.

Priced to move, most less than 5 cents a square inch. Shipping is extra. Payment can be cash, PayPal, or check (if I know you). I hope you find something you like. Comment below if you see something you want or send an email, easy to do through the link in my profile.

Here are 7 LARGER QUILTS  CLICK ON PHOTOS TO ENLARGE:

1. HUMMINGBIRD HOLLOW: 73" X 92", started by the late Janet Noever, a friend who planned hundreds of quilts in her long life. Machine pieced and quilted by me. Bed quilt or hanging. Includes hanging sleeve. $350

 

2. JANET'S HAPPY VILLAGE: 44.5" x 78.5" another started by the late Janet Noever. I completed it with machine piecing and quilting. A great kids quilt. The panel reads "HOME IS WHERE YOUR STORY BEGINS". Includes hanging sleeve. $250  SOLD

The BACK is almost as fun as the front:

3. AFTERNOON DELIGHT IN Red White and Blue: 47.5" x 67". Sampler blocks for Afternoon Delight year long quilt instruction. Machine pieced, raw edge applique, needle turn hand applique, substantial Ruler Work machine quilting, free motion machine quilting. Includes hanging sleeve. $300 SOLD

Detail shot:

4. HALF LOG CABIN:  60" x 76". One of my early quilts, 1995, machine pieced by me, hand quilted by a friend. A little minor fading on one corner, see detail. Includes hanging sleeve. $250 

detail of hand quilting and shows minor fading on the edge

5. PANDEMIC PARADOX:  47" x 47" My COVID Quilt. The words around the borders say "If Viruses were NEON GREEN, then all could quickly see, Who to Avoid -- this COVID Mess, and we would all be Free!" Just a fun project during the pandemic, using some of my favorite Batik fabrics and one pesky NEON GREEN in each group. Original Design. Machine pieced, needle turn hand appliqued, machine quilted with Ruler Work. This quilt has never been on display. Includes hanging sleeve. $150 

6. BITCOIN:  64" X 64". Totally scrappy quilt, pattern by Bonnie Hunter. Machine pieced and quilted by me. Great kids quilt or sofa throw or picnic quilt. $175.  SOLD

7. SPELLBOUND:  64" x 81". While this quilt looks simple it took a lot of time to make, cutting specific fabrics specific lengths and in 3 different widths. Pattern by Calico Carriage Quilt Designs, fabrics are blue and white Shibori dyed designs. Machine pieced by me. A wide variety of Ruler Work machine quilting designs were used by me for the quilting.  Includes a hanging sleeve. $375 SOLD

Detail shot

PLEASE SHARE THIS POST with everyone you know who might be interested. It is very easy to SHARE using the icons at the bottom of this post:

That's it for SALE QUILTS for a while. I am working on several new projects at the moment.

Let's quilt.

Barbara

SUNDAY QUILTS FOR SALE

 Is there such a thing as TOO MANY QUILTS? Why, yes, there is. When the shelves are stacked full it's time to lighten the load. Here are a variety of quilts for sale, mostly small to medium. Some are past class samples, some are original designs, some are patterns I tried out, some are just ready to find a new home.

Priced to move, most less than 5 cents a square inch. Shipping is extra. Payment can be cash, PayPal, or check (if I know you). I hope you find something you like. Comment below if you see something you want or send an email, easy to do through the link in my profile.

Here are 10 SMALL QUILTS   CLICK ON PHOTOS TO ENLARGE: 

1. KISSES AND HUGS: 44" X 58", machine pieced and quilted by me. A great kids quilt, $100 SOLD

                                            

2. TUMBLING BLOCKS: 21" X 26.5", machine pieced and quilted by me. Table topper or hanging, $35

3. LEMOYNE STAR SAMPLER: 30.5" X 37" , machine pieced, hand and machine quilted by me,  original design. Baby quilt, table topper or hanging, $75

                                                    

4. PURPLE AND RED GAMEBOARD:  34" X 34", machine pieced and quilted with lots of Ruler Work by me. Table topper or hanging, $75

                                                    

5. TEAL AND RUST STAR SAMPLER: 31" X 46", machine pieced and quilted by me, original design. Throw, hanging, table topper. $75  SOLD

6. BABY 9 PATCHES: 33" X 33", machine pieced and quilted by me. Baby quilt, hanging or topper. $75

SOLD

7. COBBLESTONES: 40" X 48", machine pieced and quilted by me, original design. Baby quilt, hanging or topper. $100 SOLD

The back is fun too: 

8. ITALIAN SHOO FLY #1, 31.5" X 39", machine pieced and quilted by me. Original design created for my first Blog Sew-a-Long. Table topper, hanging. $65

9. 9 PATCHALONG 2.0: 49" X 49", machine pieced and quilted by me as a sampler of quilting designs. Throw, kid quilt, good to keep in the car. $50

10. BLUE ADVENTURELAND: 56" X 56", machine pieced and quilted by me. Kid quilt, throw, picnic quilt, keep in the car. $100

PLEASE SHARE THIS POST with everyone you know who might be interested. It is very easy to SHARE using the icons at the bottom of this post:

Next week I will offer some larger quilts. 

Let's quilt.

Barbara

LAUREL RIDGE -- MONTH 8

 Laurel Ridge is the 2025 Block of the Month quilt designed by Lynn Wilder exclusively for The Quilt Show.  Star Members have FREE access to the patterns starting January 1, 2025. Made in two colorways, the complete patterns are excellent. You will love making this quilt. Lynn supports the pattern instructions with Videos too. 

This month we make the "Cat's Cradle" block, 32 of them. Making half square triangle blocks in units of 8 make these very fast and easy:

The only cutting change I made is my usual one: I upped the size of the pink triangles to 3.5" squares and the large background triangles I cut from 6" squares. I prefer to "trim to perfection".

This does mean I had to trim the pieced half of the block so the large background triangle fits correctly:

Using a Half Square Triangle ruler, I placed the 1/4" diagonal line on the center spot where the pink triangles cross the yellow triangle. The 5.5" line on the ruler is at the bottom of the triangle, and I can see that the HST square will be in 1/4" on both points--very important.

When sewing the large background triangle to the pieced half of the block, you want to "cross the X"--this will insure your middle is perfect:

With blocks as easy as these, I usually prepare all the pieces needed, following the excellent cutting instructions in the pattern. Then I work on these as "leader/ender" units while working on other projects. The pieces are made over time, then it is a simple matter to complete the blocks with the sewn parts. 

If I just want to make these 32 blocks immediately, I use a different ongoing project as my "leader/ender". My 3" Old Italian blocks are perfect for this task. See the instructions here: Summer Sew A Long:

Next month we move on to Nine Patch Stars, the blocks with the most pieces.

Let's quilt.

Barbara

SIDE TRIP VACATION TO PHILADELPHIA

 After my recent teaching trip to Easton MD, read about that here: Bayside Quilter of the Eastern Shore, I was able to take a vacation to my hometown, Philadelphia, with two old friends.

We left Easton and took a one hour drive to Chestertown, MD, where I met up with a great quilter friend I met 3 years ago teaching for the Virginia Consortium of Quilters. Read about that trip here: VCQ 2022.

Betty Dietz has a cute little quilt shop/store called Dream Castle Quilt Studio in the lovely town of Chestertown. It was so fun to meet up with her there, we picked up right where we left off, 3 years ago. Quilty friends are like that:

Betty Dietz and I in her shop

Look what I bought from Betty. An antique top, a bit tattered in places, but the price was right and it's a great selection of old fabrics, some pre-1900. My plan is to replicate this one in the future:

Another treat? In her lobby there is a brand new pastry shop, Brian's Best Pastries--it was his very first day, a soft opening. We can all testify to how GOOD those pastries are--worth a trip to Chestertown for these goodies alone:

Charles "Brian" Bennet, another Philadelphia native

Check him out next time you're in the area

Then it was on to Philadelphia, a city I haven't been to in at least 10 years, about a two hour drive from Chestertown. It is where I grew up, in the house my dad was born in. Judy and I met in 7th grade and have been friends ever since, she was my maid of honor almost 50 years ago.

Judy and Mark moved to a high rise condo in Center City 9 years ago and love their life there. The views from their 25th floor are breathtaking. I couldn't stop looking at all the sights. And at night there were people in many neighborhoods celebrating the 11th of July! Take a look at these views:

In the first photo, way in the distance, about center near the horizon, is a water tower. It's 10 miles away, in Burholme Park, less than 3 miles from my family home. Amazing to see it from so far away.

City life involves walking, right up my alley. Friday night we walked to a Mexican type restaurant for dinner. The food was good, my guacamole is better, find my recipe here: Guacamole ATX. Our meals:

Grilled Shrimp Soft Tacos

Mushroom Tacos

Mahi Fish Tacos

We walked past the Eastern State Penitentiary, no longer used as a prison, special events are held there:

The next morning Mark and I walked to Whole Foods early to pick up things for breakfast. I kept taking pictures:

After breakfast we walked to Reading Terminal Market, a must stop place for me. About a 1.3 miles from their building, we passed lots of famous places and I took lots of photos:

Skyline image

The Free Library, we have Ben Franklin to thank for libraries

I like that grid pattern, looks like quilting designs

Lots of public parks with water features for families to enjoy

City Hall in one direction

The Art Museum in the other direction

Judy and Mark at the famous LOVE statue in LOVE Park

The plaque 

Dilworth Park near City Hall 

This was cool--this camera is being broadcast to several countries around the world. We saw Dublin, Ireland, Cartagena Columbia, and Poland. This guy showed us you have to do something engaging to get the curious onlookers to respond--he had us all doing the Macarena! When people around the world joined us it was so special! It's a small world sometimes.

William Penn laid out the city in 1682. Each block is 1/8 mile long so 8 blocks is a mile. It's easy to know that going from 21st street to 12th street will be 1 1/8 miles. And the streets were really that straight. I learned that in 4th grade. 

Reading Terminal Market--I LOVE this place! It was the only thing I really had to do on this trip. So many different kinds of foods, some I have to have, like a Soft Pretzel, somethings I could never find in Huntsville, AL, and just sights, sounds and smells to overwhelm the senses:

Octopus, squid, eels, etc.

My FIRST STOP

Yummy!

So many cheeses

Who knew you can buy Kangaroo or Ostrich or Alligator meat?

Nothing to see here--we didn't buy any sweets though it was tempting

Mark got chicken for the Chicken Fricassee he was preparing for dinner so we hustled back home. Judy and I had a visit to make that afternoon so after a shower and a quick lunch we were off.

The day before I left home I was notified my sister had a stroke and was in the hospital. The good news is it was fairly mild and she was moved from ICU to Acute Care to the Rehab center in a matter of days. We drove the one hour to see her in the Rehab center. She is doing well, her daughters are a big help, and she is home by the time you read this. We visited for an hour, I got to talk with my nieces a bit and then my sister needed to sleep so we headed back to Center City.

Just to keep this a little "quilty" here is a fiber art piece that hangs in the lobby of Judy's building, with no signage of attribution to the artist, which is really too bad:

Good friends are worth their weight in gold and Judy is that friend for me. We love each other and I know there isn't anything she wouldn't do for me. We had a great meal Mark prepared for us, drank a bottle of Prosecco and talked about so many things, the past, the future, life in general. Good times.

The only bad part was my 6:30 am flight Sunday morning. We got up at 4 am, left the house at 4:25 and I was dropped off at 4:45 am. The airport was hopping! I was surprised, expecting nothing to be open. It took about 30 minutes to get my bags checked in and through Security, thank you TSA Pre-Check. Every food place was open and had long lines. I had my protein shake, banana and one remaining pretzel and I was good. Traveling mercies were with me on both the flight to Atlanta and then home, so I was back home by 1 pm, unpacking and doing laundry. 

All in all, it was a full trip and I enjoyed it. 

Let's quilt.