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Friday, May 8, 2015

A Trip to Old Town Spring

Yesterday was a beautiful, sunny day in South Texas.  After being stuck in the house for about three weeks with allergies/bronchitis, I was ready to escape.  Haven't been that sick in years.  I told my DH that I was going to crack a rib, pop out an eyeball or have an aneurysm.  I might do all three, so just explain it to the EMTs when they got here.

So, my Son and I decided to take a trip to Old Town Spring.  There is a great Quilt Shop there, GRS Creations, with the most precuts I have ever seen in one shop.  Lots of fabric, too.



Then, I had to visit my other favorite shop, Lana Williams Gallery.  It is full of mixed media paintings and creations.  No photos allowed, but the whole shop is full of eye candy.  I own an awesome painting by Lana Williams and several custom made iron wall pieces made by her son-in-law.  It is on Preston Avenue in Old Town Spring, Spring, TX.



Time for lunch, so we headed a couple of blocks over to Wunsche Brothers Café.  This is what we found.  Not good.  Was looking forward to a chicken fried steak with cream gravy and lots of veggies.



 
Was told that Wunsche had a fire last month.  The website says closed permanently. So sad.
Wunsche is described as a haunted eatery since 1902.
 
Fortunately, I know about another fun eating place a few blocks in the other direction.  Hyde's Café, 26608 Keith St., Spring, TX.
 
 
About seventeen of us descended on Hyde's about the same time, so it took a while for our order to come, but it was good.  I had catfish and zucchini sticks and my Son had his traditional cheeseburger and onion rings.  I  think they can look forward to a lot of extra business this summer due to the closing of Wunsche. They may have to hire more cooks.
 
As we were leaving Old Town Spring, I spotted this sign and just had to take a picture.
 
Spirit Quest Home of Spring Ghost Tours
 
 
With our stomachs full, we left Old Town Spring and drove down 2920 about a mile to the Antique Gallery.   There are hundreds of individually stocked booths in an air conditioned building.  Air conditioning is always a plus in Texas.  It was 85 degrees yesterday.  Hot, humid summer days are on the way.  We spent several hours checking out all the goodies.
 
Antique Gallery Entrance


It was a FUN day and I enjoyed some time with my Son.  He is 23 yrs. old with a girlfriend and job, so I consider this a gift, with Mother's Day just a few days away.



Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Divas' Contribution to the Tin Can Raffle

As I mentioned in the last post, The West Houston Quilters Guild had its 2015 Show in March.  Each Bee is asked to contribute an item to the Tin Can Raffle.  We call it a different name each time, but I always remember the original.  Each item is numbered and matched with a lidded can, with a slit in the top, for tickets.  After buying your tickets, you only place one in the can matching the item that you want to win. 

The Monday Night Divas Bee created a beautiful quilt to donate to the raffle.  We were each given a piece of focus fabric by our Beekeeper, Carol B.  Each month, a Diva demonstrated a technique and used it to create a 12.5 inch block.  Our second block could be any pattern.  These demos fulfilled our educational requirements for the Bee.  In the end, we had 20 finished blocks for our quilt.  Connie S. designed the top on her computer to get us started.   Carol B. put together the top.  Carol S. did the custom quilting in butterflies, pearls and wings.  I added a 3/8" binding, a hanging sleeve and label to the back. 


 
The quilt just back from being quilted by Carol S.

 
We were blown away. The quilting was free, so I never expected such a beautiful custom job.
 

 
This is after I added the binding and a close up of the awesome quilting.



Friday, May 1, 2015

2015 WHQG Show


As you can tell, I am a little behind in my blog posts.  I was so busy getting my four quilts ready for the West Houston Quilters Guild Show in March and time just got away from me.  Besides finishing the quilts, there were labels and covers for the labels, sewing on hanging sleeves, making drawstring pillowcases with clear windows to hold the quilt picture and information and filling out the paperwork for each quilt.  It had been six years since I had entered a show.  It is kind of like getting pregnant again, you forget how bad it feels to have the judges nitpick your hard work to pieces.  However, I love my quilts and I am the only one that has to be pleased.



 
"Diva Keys"
This was a strip exchange by the Monday Night Divas Bee.  Key to My Heart Pattern.  Quilted in sewing & quilting notions.
 

 
"Eclectic Mail"
Pattern that I saw at the Missouri Star Quilt Shop site. Made with the Tim Holtz line called Eclectic Elements.

 
"Sea Turtles"
Take Five Pattern.  Quilted in Sea Turtles.


"Texas Wildflowers Behind Barbed Wire"
Texas Wildflower fabric quilted with Barbed Wire Pattern.