Happy New Year

Yes, it has been quite a bit of time since we have written but I am hopeful the new year wil change that.  I will try to post more often and to share with you the goings on at the Patch.  Yes, we are participating in the "Sketchbook Challenge" and we are excited to explore our creative side.  Perhaps you are interested and the badge will take you to the info.  Have a very happy new year!  Joey

OMG, Paducah is the Queen

Okay, everything we have done and the whole trip has arrived at the cresendo....Paducah.  The quilts are fabulous, the crowds so much fun to be with, the vendors so helpful in helping you spend your money and the quilting celebrities are too numerous to mention.  The white bubble as I refer to the Pavilion is full of quilts, vendors and friends at the LizzieB booth.  The lighting is terrific.  The quilts are QUEENS.  Everyone is better than the one you saw next to it.  The runner ups are as wonderful to view as the winners.  Each one is so special and the hours the maker has put into it is so visible.  Okay, Chicago was lovely and the quilts wonderful but we definetly saved the BEST for LAST.  I will get some pictures on tonight.  Last night the camera and computer refused to sync and so no pictures.  We saw chums from Florida and we thank Carolyn S. for the tip to go to dinner at Patti's 1800 Homestead.  The pork chop was terrific and the area lovely to view.  The mile-high pies were a sight to behold but not as good as they looked.  Here are a few pictures of the sights and flowers of Spring in the Illinois area. 

Chicago and what we thought!!!!!

Hey to all,

Yes I have been remiss in blogging but I have tons of reasons why. Chicago, Chicago, Chicago was probably the main one. I do have some very exciting news about one of my travel mates, Judie. About a month or two ago, she began a class at the Patch on a Jacket. Susan was her teacher and her's was the brightest by far with Kaffe, Amy Butler, Batiks to name a few of the fabrics. The ultimate topper was the three different colored buttons on the front of the jacket. She, of course, brought it with her and as it always happens Chicago obliged her with COLD weather. (That is another tale.) We proceeded to any early breakfast on Sunday morning at the hotel's restaurant. As luck would have it, we were placed next to Liza Prior Lucy and Kaffe Fassett. We were not your usual groupies as we didn't speak (or stare, or ask for an aurtograph or hug a complete stranger.) But lo and behold before breakfast was over, they spoke to US!!!!!! Okay, to Judie!!!!! (Thus as we now refer to him as Kaffe and Liza.) Her jacket was a hit. They spoke of her wonderful quilting and color choices. They especially liked the three different buttons. Judie is quoted as saying, "Color works, oh ye of little faith." Later that day in downtown Chicago a mannerly gentleman in the elavator admired the color and buttons. He wasn't even a quilter. The jacket has been a hit. Kathy and I are merely the jacket tag-alongs. Judie has promised to hang the jacket at the store....with small donations accepted to touch the fabric that Kaffe touched. Okay, so did Lucy. Here is a picture of Judie wrapped in it on the Architectural Tour of Chicago. (Did I mention in 30 degree weather we were boating around Chicago on the top deck. It was glorious, but a bit chilled.)

Getting back to our attendance at the IQA Show in Rosemont, we had quite a pleasant last day in a Sunday Shuffle with four teachers and hand ons project. But as Kathy stated, we have more UFOs. Here is sample of the work.

                                  

As we reflect on the Quilt Show, we are left with the following thoughts.

1. Always good to go to a Quilt Show for the inspiration it gives you.

2. Beautifully hand-dyed wool was sprinkled through out the show.

3. We all agreed on our favorite of the show being a beautiful path through the woods in a mind boogling array of green. It is called "Blazing his Own Trail" by Ann Crowl Mewer and is pictured here. We felt like this is what we had seen on our way north. The most beautiful shades of green. We kept returning to the place to view it and photog it.

4. New fabric lines from different sources and patterns to thrill our quilting minds.

5. The unusual use of stretcher-barred quilts placed together to make a beautiful wall hanging from our friends to the north.

6. Hyper quilting is still the rage. Look at this beauty.

7. There appeared in our minds to be an equal mix of traditional and art quilts.

8. Frieda Anderson of the Chicago School of Fusing made me want to DYE fabric.

We particiapted in two luncheons with two wonderfully charming presenters in David Taylor and Pam Holland. David is exceptionally talented artist who now uses fabric as his canvas. You might remember the beautiful Chickadee with the Christmnas Light on a fir branch, the Goat with a sunflower in his mouth, the girl at the window and this year's Pig.

His awards are numerous for someone who has been quilting for 9 years. He lives in Steamboat Springs, Colorado but was headed to the France after Chicago. His technique is totally done with fabric, blazing his own trail with no assistance in shading or highlighting from paints, pencils, etc. His designs are done using the applique needle turn technique and totally manupulates the fabric while quilting on his domestic machine or HG 16. Not in a frame would describe his quilting and his style. He would be wonderful to have for a seminar. His quilt artwork will be on display this summer in Colorado, at his town in the local Art Museum.

Pam Holland is an Aussie to a Tee. She is exuberant in her love of quilting and quilts. She does quilts of extreme detail and without notice she will leap into whimsy at the drop of a hat for the next quilt. Her current project is a quilt of the Bayreuth Tapestry that is housed in Ireland. She is also while traveling doing a quilt-a-week. As she states a quilt can be any size, big or small. She suggested we live outside our boxes and try new techniques to keep our loving of quilting a continuous growing experience. Her growth will never stop as she will never let it stop. Her prize winning quilt is The American Gothic. Judie was asked to be a quilt assistance and her response was "Then do I get to take it home", the room roared but she helped anyway.

The Sunday Shuffle consisted of an African Food Protector, beaded; Shadow appliquing; a Paper Purse and painting on fabric. We have two begun projects and two not yet opened projects so we are fifty-fifty in UFOs.

The next three days were spent in beautiful, welcoming Chicago at a fabulous hotel thanks to Sam, Judie's daughter. We were in the heart of everything. The city was gorgeous as the cool or should say COLD crisp air made in even prettier. Goosebumps were the size of mangos and Kathy firsts (of many like first time in Kentucky, Illinois, sun-rise, etc.) was she travel the very stylish city of Chicago in two jackets at the same time. Judie, the native Chicagoan, was still in flip-flops but long pants. Joey had to buy socks at Target to make it through the cold as well as two blouses and a leather jacket. As Kathy said, donning her knee highs, now only our thighs are cold.

We all are returning with a new appreciation for a strange neck adornment, SCARF. We almost bought some but got a grip on it. I believe cocktails were needed to bring us to reality...scarfs and Florida do not mix. Unless silk and flimsy. But do you know, there were no gloves to be found for purchase. Afterall this is Spring in Chicago. Our days were spent on tours admiring the fabulous architecture that so many have left us in Chicago, hours in the Art Museum, visits to the original Crate and Barrel (5 stories), etc. We feel both the Boat Architectural Tour and the Mini Bus Tour of the Chicago environs were equally great and we would recommend it to all. We froze on the boat but our fingers were still able to snap approximately 300 pictures among us. There was some discussion of the fact that Joey should pet a Canada Goose but thanks to Margy, I was spare a bitten finger. Just a week before she told me they are nasty birds even though they look so pretty. We have pictures to prove how close they were. Now what do you think we have left out but believe me we didn't leave it out in our visit.....the FOOD OF CHICAGO. WOW! the pizza, the Chicago dogs and Harry Carrey, flourless chocolate cake. We ate well!!!!! Uno you still number one in our books.

We are traveling today to Springfield and Judie's daughter.....then it is PADUCAH here we come!!!!!

Quilts, Quilts and Quilts

As promised more pictures of the quilts here at the show.  This is the last year here in Chicago.  They are going to Cinncinati next year. 

This is all in silks and done in the 1890s.  The shimmer was fantastic. It is courtyard steps, a log cabin variation.  I took many pictures of log cabins I saw as this is our Martin County Challenge.

Here is one from the 1930s.  No this not reproduction fabric.

It was quite effective.  Everyone likes this one.
I am sorry I don't have all the info on any of these but I do know we like pictures. 

This is a Carolina Lily pattern.  What an effective use of color.  Or is it I like Red and Green?  This is one of the Canadian exhibits.  Knocked our socks off as so many different techniques were used. 

A pretty floral that reminds us of spring and it is bursting here.   

The SHOW is HERE!!!!!!!

Okay as promised....pictures of the quilts.  There are some beauties.  We have decided to do a presentation on what we have been learning on the trip.  So keep in touch, so you can come and see more.  Here is David Taylor's piece that won on Honorable Mention.

We will share his process at the presentation.  It is unreal.  Would like to take some classes with him!!!!

Best of Show went to some tree frogs.  

More to come but I am getting tired.......see ya tomorrow.

The Journey Continues

The time in Paducah was both fun and inspiring. Just when you think that you are not interested in a particular quilt form…BAM!!!! It hits you in the face; you do want to do it. That is what the Quilt Museum does for you. It brings you to all forms of quilting and hits you in the face with why am I not doing that? I spent my time walking and thinking what is it that makes us want to make a quilt this style or that style? My answer and I truly mean my answer is that often over used but still the perfect one…..CREATIVITY. Our desire to do creative things makes for different avenues to the finished project. What do you think?



Upon leaving the quilt museum I walked the grounds and then across the parking lot and looked at the river and all the beautiful murals that the city of Paducah is doing along the levee. Hope you enjoy them.

My traveling companions thought I had gone to the fabulous but not tried Pie shop on Main Street in Paducah. But it was CLOSED and I wasn’t hungry. They are upset that I have not told you of the little mishap that happened to me….I lost the camera. Left it at the restaurant we had lunched in and when we got across the street at Hancock‘s…no camera. Judie bolted out the car to get into the store and left Kathy and I to find the camera. It was located. I thought what a nice thing for Kathy to do, until I heard her say she should have just let me take the car so she could go into Hancock’s. It is hard to separate addicts from their addiction….FABRIC. Here is the picture I took with the almost lost camera.

I believe, I forgot to talk about the fantastic display of Hollis Chatelaine and famous photographers. She does the most unbelievable pictorial quilts of people and places. The exhibit is called "Imagine Hope"AND THE PICTURES DO NOT DO THE WORK JUSTICE.

Hope for Our World

Imagine Hope strives to touch its viewers, inspiring them to get involved and make a change in the world. This quilt exhibit is comprised of 12 monochromatic textile pieces by Hollis Chatelain.

You sit in the room and feel her work, see her work and since the main emphasis was the value of water in the world you felt parched. She is able to capture in her work the feeling of the people and subjects she selects. Kathy has taken quite a few classes with her and telling me that she quilts in some instances using bright, neon thread from Superior was amazing. I think my favorite one was the forest of 4 or 5 trees which in some areas of the world is the FOREST. It made me appreciate the beauty we saw of this country from the car window. But enough about Paducah, we shall return.






The next morning we headed to Judie’s daughter, Kim and family. She lives in Springfield. Her daughter and Judie’s granddaughter, Sydney, who many of you have met (She attended a Guild Meeting and played BINGO.) was so excited to have us come that it made us feel quite special. Kim has a lovely house where we stayed for the night. She served a fabulous meal and we got to meet her boyfriend, Mike. Lance and Amy, Judie’s newlywed grandson and his wife, were there as well. They are White Sox and Cardinal Fans. Games were on but the conversation was lively. But before we got there, we had Antique Shops to visit. We got off for a bit more coffee at a McDonald’s in Perry, IL and saw a sign antique mall. It was ten or twelve miles away certainly not around the corner. The finds were wonderful and we are glad we went. The plains of Illinois were out our windows with farm after farm. The fields appear to be ready to plant or perhaps they are planted. It was 85 that day. In fact we have been in warmer weather than you have had in Florida.

Our last stop at an antique shop and I use that term loosely was

on Route 66. Kathy got to be besides her pink elephant, 

Judie got her spaceship,

and I found a candy gazebo.

                                                                                     

 How fitting. The stuff inside made my junk look like treasures. Thank God no one purchased there.

The next morning it was early rising…we had to leave Springfield by 6am. Chicago here we finally come….Kathy saw a sun rise. She wasn’t quite sure what it was but Judie and I assured her…this
happens every day.

 It was uneventful except for another lesson learned. Garman’s do not necessarily change time zones when you do. We thought us not going to arrive because the Garman said arrival was 11:10am and our class was 12noon. But low and behold the Garman was wrong and we arrived at 10am. Oh, that is because we are on Central Time and it is on Eastern Time.


Hotel checks in was good and easy. Car checks in was not. Apparently parking is a valuable commodity here in Rosemont. We decided to park at the convention center for $13.00 versus the hotel at $27.00. We decided to ask the man taking your money if it was okay to park over night. Well, it wasn’t the car had to moved and without some quick talking at the front desk, we would have paid $40.00 for that day of parking. The Front Desk Clerk helped us….we will know for sure when we get our bill. Our first lecture/lunch was fantastic with David Taylor. His work is unbelievable but that is minor compared to how he does it. The next posts will be pictures of quilts.  Forgive me, if these are unaligned.  The systems are not working correctly and WI-FI area are hard to find. 

Paducah...here we are

Good night's sleep and I can now reflect on the visit to Paducah...better known as Quilt City USA.  We are staying here in one of the numrous hotels and experiencing the town as it gets ready for the onslaught.  The Manager at the front desk told us he just arrived a few months ago but he is learning the hotel scramble that Paducah experiences.  He was funny.  But getting back to the day..a pleasant lunch, gas fill-up at $2.66 a gallon.  A quick but brief stop at Hancock of Paducah as it readys for the arrivals.  Interesting their whole system of yard cuts, etc.  They will not cut less than a half yard.  Friendly but not helpful as everyone had their assigned task.  Cut, cut, cut.  But we are not shopping for fabric,,the museum calls.  A pleasant drive there with all the flowering trees.  The dogwood is beautiful.    As you can see.  The buildings are so charming. 

The Museum is awesome.  No pictures are allowed but it is a must for anyone traveling near this area.  Th quilts are awe-inspiring and ye thjere is a feeling the swells inside you....can I be that good.  I believe all of us can!!!!  We just have to work at it.  There was a Sunflower Exhibit of their challenge.  Beautiful.  A book is out that we will have at the store.  Orange Peel is the challenge block for next year.  Now we who live with orange groves should be entering this one.  I have the paperwork. 

Hollis Chatelaine's Special Exhibit was unreal.  I will blog about this specifically later.  Must get ready to go to see Judie's daughter...Kim in Springfield.  The trek to Chicago begins again.