Thursday, February 27, 2020

Quilt Con 2020

Recently, I had an opportunity to attend QuiltCon 2020 in Austin--what an eye opening event!  I attended the first Austin QuiltCon several years ago--much smaller event than the massive International Quilt Festival in Houston.  My friend, who came with me, is a novice quilter and she was in over load after about two hours!


Here we are!  Time to get oriented--


First, we pick up these unique bags--yes, "Keep Austin Quilty" instead of "Keep Austin Weird"


I said that I wasn't buying anything--well, that went out the window as soon as I spied these
wonderful quilt kits--I don't usually buy kits--BUT.....
I found these at Making Memories Quilt Shop Booth
Star Storm Quilt and Smudge kits 

designed 



Oh, oh, the yarns!! OMGoodness--I couldn't resist these two! 
This is just one of the shops available for your pleasure--Threads and Ewe


And another kits that caught my eye--"A Stitch a Day"--
how I wish I could do this one!

Best of Show--"Starring You" by Peter R Byrne, Toronto Canada


Left is detail of quilting; right is back of quilt
His "CityScapes" garnered him another ribbon for best of frameless quilting--first
man in QuiltCon to win



One of the exhibits was Charity Quilts and here are four that were accepted


The colors were absolutely eye popping in many of the quilts---


And the quilting!!  Ah, so elaborate in so many--while others used straight lines for their accent


Several had used hand embroidery on the top to give depth











You can see all the winners and other quilts here 
QuiltCon 2021 will be held in Atlanta--you just might see me there......


Tuesday, February 25, 2020

Sunday Morning Coming Down

It was a cool Sunday morning--and we are attending Cowboy Church
in Luckenbach, Texas.
The service is held in the old dance hall where there is no AC or heat

Although the music was warm and uplifting, we don our
jackets and gloves to celebrate this day of love.
The musicians were guests from Missouri--
Ronnie and Mary Beth Truitti, Steila Trudel and
our own Spirit Band member Kelly Luker

Look what we have to warm our fannies--these wonderful hand stitched
1930's quilts!  The benches are cold to the tuss and we welcome the
comfort of these handmade quilts

Wish I knew the pattern name

This quilt was color coordinated and pattern of stars was unusual in my knowledge
Love love this cowboy church and the celebration we share each Sunday
soon, it will be hot and we'll want for those comfy quilts again--


Sunday, February 23, 2020

Treadling, Treadling, Treadling

Pictures are worth 1000 words--
hence, below, my treadling events.
From fiber to yarn
singles and plied




Still treadling--lots of this 8 ounces yet to spin!

 I've been itching to spin this well aged fiber
 Lovely fiber! 


It's spinning beautifully!!

Friday, February 21, 2020

UFOS = WIPs

 There were pieces of red, white and blue languishing in my UFO pile--finally, I picked up my courage and tackled it and Finished!  Well, sort of--it still needs backing with some quilting and binding.  I feel good that I got this far.

Here is a handspun scarf that also lingered in my stash--it was all knitted from this fiber I spun in 2018--all it needed was to block and weave in the tail ends.  Why do I let these things just wait and wait to be finished!  I blocked this lovely scarf, wove in the tails and it will be given as a gift.


Okay, these little critters were finished before Christmas and I gave them to
my weaver friends--there were 10 lambs/ewes and 10 llamas--
this is what I have left in my flock.  I found them on Ravelry last summer--
don't remember what merchant--bad I know!  
I knitted the sweaters for the guys--some from handspun.
Now, they just roam on my desk.


Wednesday, February 19, 2020

Handspinning.............Revolves

Since I'm in the process of de-stashing my fibers--spending time each day to spin at least a few
yards when possible.
Here is a cute video that shows revolution in spinning...
Enjoy!!

It's Time--

 It’s time to think about greeting cards I’ll send out this year.  Most years, if I’m not feeling pressed, I’ll create my own cards.  One ye...