Are You Ready for Schoolhouse?? Quilt Market #2

Hello Everyone,

As promised more market photos and market talk. The next few posts are going to come fast and furious and be mostly photos for your viewing pleasure. So the good part is less writing from me. I can really talk if given the opportunity, just ask Michelle, Laura (owners of Quilting By the Yard), and Pam.

I introduced them all to you before and here are my Quilt Market Buddies, sitting, contemplating, and finally choosing their schoolhouse selections. Some of the choices were tough. But everyone was happy here, now the end of the day we were all dragging.

So onto one of my favorite choices for this years market. Pam and I went to see Karla Alexander's and boy did she have some quilty eye candy. All the quilts in the following pictures are from her newest book Color Shuffle. It is a definite must have and I think you will see why after the photos.

Beautiful blues and greens!

Nice stripey!

Love the colorful boxes!

More cool boxes!

Some tiny boxes!

Such a neat design!

Lovely Karla showing a mini.

Great table runner.

A wonky type log cabin. Click on the pic and blow it up, you will see what I mean.

Wonky type squares.

A Halloween table runner.

Yummy watermelon colors.

This plaid is a stunner, love it!

A very modern wonky square in a square.

Woven wonder.

This one just flows.

I just love circles.

Just plain cool.

One of my faves, the cover quilt!

Finally, Pam, Karla, and I with the autographed copy of her NEW book.

This is really a must have. That was just one schoolhouse everyone. So buckle up next one coming on Sunday.

Until Next Time...

Are You Ready for Schoolhouse?? Quilt Market #2

To Market To Market.... and Other Musings

Hello Everyone,

For those of you who are regular readers of my blog most likely know that I went to Quilt Market last week and return home on Monday. I actually walked into my home at midnight. So technically I returned home on Tuesday.

So the next few posts are going to be chronicling my market adventures. Hopefully, they won't bore you to tears, but will entertain.

My friend Pam and I set off on our yearly market adventure at the hour of 5:00 am. We left my house to head to the airport to catch a flight with Southwest Airlines. The flight was pretty uneventful, but I thought the snack was quite amusing.

Don't you think so too???

The flight got us into Houston at about 11:00 am local time. We had plenty of time until registration at 3:00 so we decided to have lunch and then take a taxi to Quakertown Quilts. Well, it really was a beautiful shop and if you are ever in Houston you should go. But DON'T take a taxi! It will cost you an arm and a leg. Let's just say, we didn't have much cash to spend at the shop after the ride. It was a little bit farther than we thought from downtown.

After our return, we registered and then met up with our friends Laura and Michelle. They are from my favorite quilt shop here in CT, Quilting By the Yard. If you are ever in CT, please visit them and tell them Jackie sent you. I promise it won't disappoint.

We decided to try a restaurant that came highly recommended by the infamous PKM (Pam Kitty Morning), Guadalajara Mexican. Boy was she dead on, it was fantastic. Thank you Pam!!! Probably some of the best Mexican I have ever had. We went to the one right downtown.

After that taxi ride, I thought I could use a drink. Now for those of you who know me, I am not a drinker at all. But boy, those frozen margaritas were calling my name. Mmmm... Mmmmm... Good!

Then onto the yummy food. This was my dish. A grilled chicken breast with a yummy raspberry sauce. Some wonderful veggies and a to die for sweet potato and poblano pepper side dish.

This was Pam's dish. Not sure, but I think it was some kind of enchilada.

Laura had this dish. It looked so yummy with the crab meat on the top too.

Michelle had this dish. I think it was called the Three Amigos. One was steak, one chicken, and one fish.

And of course, you cannot go to a Mexican restaurant without some yummy chips and salsa. Some of the best I have ever had.

Sorry for the quality of these photos, they were taken with my iPhone. I left the camera back in the room.

Anyway, stay tuned for the next post. That post will feature our first day at market, Friday, October 9.

In the meantime, don't forget to check my gallery and Etsy shop for fun stuff.

Until Next Time,

To Market To Market.... and Other Musings

Blogger Quilt Festival 2009 Fall Edition

Hello Everyone,

Well I am in Houston at this time enjoying Quilt Market and will be bringing back lots of goodies to share. But while I am there I wanted to participate in Amy's Blogger Quilt Festival! So I scheduled this post and wanted to show you my favorite quilt.

I actually have two favorites. The first is a Judy Niemeyer quilt design that I completed. It is paper pieced and I just love it. Batiks were used to give this quilt a good variation in color. This quilt is also my avatar. So if you see this on any blogs it is probably mine. The pattern is called Fourth of July! This quilt top is not yet quilted, because I plan on doing some really nice custom quilting once I get it on my long arm.

The second quilt is called Fabulous! It is a strata pattern from 4th and 6th designs. I just love this one because of the colors and the effect that the strata makes when arranged in a particular order. I just love jewel tones.

This quilt is quilted. I quilted it with an edge to edge design called The Grass is Greener. This quilt didn't call for something more elaborate because of the design. The quilting was done with a monochromatic cotton variegated thread. I just love this one. Can you tell I love bright and lively colors?

Also, I am one of Amy's sponsor and have a wonderful prize to have some quilting done by me! Good luck to you all!

Also, since you are all surfing the web looking at all the wonderful quilts for this blogger quilt festival, I wanted to share a quilt show that is taking place closer to my home too. If you live in CT or close by, you might want to check out this wonderful quilt show. All the information can be found on this website, so click HERE and check it out.

Until Next Time...

Blogger Quilt Festival 2009 Fall Edition

Not My Intention

Hello Everyone,

You should all remember the Kaffe quilts that I have been working on and posting about, right? Well for the one that I finished, a few posts ago, I thought I would piece the backing. So, I started to piece it and this is what became of some of the scraps...

"Hmmm..." I said to myself. This looks like it would be a great coin quilt.

So I kept on sewing scraps and ended up with three rows! I liked it!

So I put it on the floor (design wall still occupied with another project) to lay it out with white to see how it would look. Of course, at this point my helper, Pavi, came by to inspect.

I think he liked the white. He laid down on it for his stamp of approval. Thanks, Pavi!

So I sewed the rows together with the white and, VOILA, my quilt back. NOT!!!!

I just thought it was too pretty to be the back, so now I have another quilt front!

I just thought it was too pretty to be on the back. Plus, the way I have decided to quilt the other top, this backing just wouldn't work out. So the initial intention was a good one, but turned out better. At least I think so!

So the rest of this week, I will be spending tying up loose ends before I go to Quilt Market!! I am getting excited! In the meantime, I have created a new Etsy treasury for you to feast your eyes. You can see it here, but hurry, it expires on Thursday. It is all QUILTS!!

Also, of note, don't forget Amy's Blogger Quilt Festival begins this week! Be sure to have your quilts ready for posting.

And for more inspiration, check out the new quilts uploaded to my gallery. I think you will like.

Until Next Time...

Not My Intention

Hole In The Wall Gang Call Out!!

Hello Everyone,

I know that some of you remember my call out last year for the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp. Well, it is that time again. I have had some e-mails and inquiries about when I would be calling out for pillowcases again. The time has begun!!

Our guild had it's first meeting of the year 2 weeks ago and has set a goal this year for 2,000 pillowcases! Yes, that is a lot, but last year we had 1,600 made and delivered. Here are some pictures from that special day...

The car packed with boxes ready to travel.

Boxes arrived safe and sound!

More arrived, plus some help.

The ladies of our guild and staff from the camp happy for the pillowcases and quilts received for the kids.

So this year has already begun and we have a nice start on the pillowcases. We currently have over 200. Here are a few photos that I took with my iPhone at the guild meeting.

A lot of the fabric had been donated by the ladies and some fabric companies are also sending us fabric. Many are making the cases and just sending them to us. I can't begin to tell you how much these pillowcases are appreciated by the children. This is one thing they get to take home with them at the end of camp.

You can read more about the camp by clicking HERE. If you would like to make some pillowcases, you can find a quick and easy pattern PDF listed on my sidebar under "Freebie Patterns". Then send me an e-mail cantonvillagequiltworks@comcast.net or comment on this post and I will send you my address to send the pillowcases.

We will accept your pillowcase donations through April, 2010. It truly is a wonderful cause putting a smile on these children's faces. Thank you in advance for your generosity and kindness.

In other news, check out my Etsy Treasury here. See lots of summertime inspiration. But be quick it expires on Tuesday.

Until Next Time...

Hole In The Wall Gang Call Out!!