AAQG Show Part 2

The Austin Area Quilt Guild held their show on September 17-19, 2010 in Austin, TX at the Palmer Events Center.  It was entitled, "Changing Gears".  There were 400 quilts and 70 vendors.

This fabric reads, BLAH BLAH BLAH.  There are alphabet beads sewn on the front and back with political sayings of the day.  Bail Out, Bi Partisan, Shovel Ready, etc.

These small quilts were from a exhibit by the Studio Art Quilt Associates, www.saqa.com.  They have online auctions for small art quilts.  Read the rules carefully before bidding.  On Monday, the price of the quilts are quite high and drop to $75 each on Friday.  There is an auction starting 9/27/10 and 10/4/10.

We were asked to vote on our favorite doll.  "Cassie, the Goat Roper" with her sassy red hair in boots and spurs got my vote.

I like a traditional quilt with a special twist.  The quilt below is an attic window, but has one or two buttons attached for each picture in the window and could double as an I Spy Quilt.

I think that I hit the limit for photos, so more tomorrow.

Austin Area Quilt Guild Show

My Best Quilting Friend, Judith and I took a road trip to Austin, TX to see the Austin Area Quilt Guild Show.  On the way, We visited three wonderful quilt shops.  I took a lot of pictures, so I'll spread them out over several posts.

First, We visited Stitch Haven in Brenham, TX.

This is the front of the shop in quilt form, isn't it cute.

I found a few things that I needed.  I have large fingers, so I love these leather thimbles to sew on bindings and buttons.

Then we headed to Giddings, TX to visit All Around The Block.  From the outside, it may appear small, but it goes back and over several rooms.  Lots and lots of goodies.  I had to take a close up of the scissors on the shutters.

Of course, I found a few more things to take home with me.

The cupcake and sprinkles fabric is to make a "Less Than a Yard Dash Table Runner".  It is a free pattern over at honeybeequiltstore.com.  Fast and easy, check it out.  The stripe and brown border are to make a zig zag quilt without triangles.  The tutorial is by Crazy Mom Quilts , but links to beesquarefabrics.blogspot.com/2009/03/how-to-make-zig-zag-quilt-without.html.  I hope that I am doing this right.

We had lunch at Reba's and for our last shop of the day, Gerline's Quilt Shop.  Both in Giddings, TX.

This is a kit from Gerline's that will be mailed to me to make the Sidelights pattern below.

It was time to get ourselves to Austin, TX and the Embassy Suites just down the street from the Palmer Event Center.

We had a courtesy van to the Quilt Show and back.  Threadgill's Restaurant was a block away.  We never took our car out of valet parking.  The Embassy provided a wonderful breakfast buffet each morning.  We were so pampered.  A look at the quilts and my additional purchases at the show tomorrow.

Quilt Retreat Part 4

I have finally joined a Quilting Bee.  We have a whooping three members at this time.  Our Bee is new and should grow with time.  We meet from 5-8pm, once a month, between my work and home.  It was a perfect fit for me.  All three members were at the Retreat last week.

Night Divas Bee

At the last retreat, we played strip poker with 2 1/2" black and white strips.  We had a blast.  It didn't hurt that my BQF and myself, each won one of the jackpots. 

At this retreat, we had a contest using the black and white strips that we had won last Spring.  Below are the entries.

The three quilts were judged. Olivia quilt, checkerboard quilt (complete with a pocket on the back for the checkers and ties.) and tablerunner (Note initials, LMS).

And the purses and totes were judged and then an overall winner was chosen.

First Place Quilt: Olivia Quilt by Jackie

First Place Purse:  Top Left w/Blue trim by Marty

Overall Winner:  Black and White Purse w/ Pink Bow by Polly (bottom middle)

We played strip poker with Christmas strips this retreat and I won two Jackpots.  We are talking about another contest, I may have to enter this time.

BQ Quilt and Retreat Part 3

I spent three days with 23 talented quilters.  I thought you might like to see what some of them were working on.

Note the Black and White and Pink machine cover.  Jackie made it at the retreat after looking at one brought by one of the ladies . 

Isn't this pretty.  The white blocks are hand embroidery by the quilter.

This is a little blurry, but I wanted you to see the lovely batiks.  We had Sally Schneider as a speaker at our August Guild meeting.  This was her workshop the next day.

This is the BQ Quilt I worked on.  I finished the center on Saturday afternoon, then decided it was time for a change.  It still needs three borders.

This is my BQF, Judith, she decided to spend the weekend working on her stump work.  It is exquisite, I'll have to get a better picture for you.

Ruth had some issues with her machine and decided to hand quilt awhile.

This is what Ruth was quilting, isn't it awesome.

Selvedges sewn to prequilted fabric.  These are going into an item or two for the Guild Shop at our Quilt Show in April, 2011. A tote bag or machine cover were some ideas tossed around.

Red Barn Retreat Part 2

I spent last weekend at a quilting retreat in Coldsprings, TX.  We stayed at the Red Barn where we were treated to six wonderful meals.  Homemade bread is served at each meal as biscuits, rolls, buns, etc.  The table decorations change for each meal.  Below are pictures of one or two of the tables from each meal. 

Friday Dinner, before mats.

Friday Dinner

Saturday Breakfast

Saturday Lunch

Saturday Dinner

                                                              Sunday Breakfast

                                                                Sunday Lunch

At the end of our stay, we are offered a book for $5 that contains a large group picture, small group pictures and all of the recipes that we were served during the retreat.  Some of the ladies collect signatures from the other 23 guest in their book.  This purchase is optional.