TAKING A CHALLENGE

I like a challenge.

I like to try new things.

When my friend Kim Hensley and I decided to make a 

sewcial distance quilt top, my friend Shirley Haller

jumped on the sewing wagon and invited her quilty friends

to give it a try as well.

The block was a 4-patch slice.

I selected WONDER fabrics by Kate & Birdie

and a Spotted GRUNGE for the background.

My pattern was 4-patch slice by Inspiring Creations.

You can find tutorial here.

Here is my finished top...same block but my pattern used

a wider stirp and I selected a more modern layout.

The other 3 makers used the 4-patch Slice block and Lattice Pattern

from Jenny Doan of Missouri Star.

You can see that video tutorial here.

The strips in this pattern were smaller thank mine.

They all used a lattice layout.

Sometimes one as to think outside the box 

to get a quilt hanging for all to see.

Shirley used yard sticks with the flimsy tops draped over them.

Not too much weight as they were NOT quilted.

 

Then a twine string attached to each end of the stick

and yep, some duct tape to secure, then hung on a small nail

already on the trim.

This took some time...lemme say there is NOTHING easy

about putting on a quilt show!

And here there are...hanging along one wall...looking good!

SUCCESS...comes in many ways...

this was totally a hit within the Quilt Show!

FOLDING IT UP!

I was a guest demonstrator at the 

St. Boniface Quilters Show

on July 10, 2021

"Folding Quilts on the Diagonal"

I didn't invent this method, don't know who did...but

If you want to eliminate those deep batting folds.

THIS is the METHOD!

Just google it....lots of videos out there!

My other tip was to store your quilts on the vertical

or side by side vs one on top the other.

This eliminates the extra weight piled into a stack

and possibly gives you more space on a shelve to stack 

and or display your quilts.

Here was my demo station covered with moder quilts!

The quilt hanging in the back is a traditional quilt...

a memory quilt...made from my Mom's House Dresses.

I pieced it and Shirley hand quilted it.

She wanted it to be a special part of the show.

My Plaidish Quilt was an eye catcher

and it ended up as a HUGE topic of discussion...

on how to use up your scraps,

sorting by low, medium and dark values.

A simple method that wont drive you nuts!

The pattern and free tutorial is by Erica Jackman

and you can find it here.

The other table cover was my COLOR DIVE rainbow quilt.

Pattern by Anna Maria Horner and I used mostly Alison Glass fabrics.

I brought several Ghastlie Quilts to "fold" during the demo.

I couldn't believe how many people had NEVER SEEN GHASTLIES!

Oh yes, the traffic was great but 6 hours of demos left

my back muscles sore from folding and feet aching from standing.

I was in my element...talking quilts, scraps, color and Ghastliness1

If you ever need a trunk show or demo...please keep me in mind!

A SHOW TO BEHOLD

I was recently involved with a lovely quilt show.

My BFF, Shirley Haller, lives in Evansville, IN and

for the lasts 2 years she planned, coordinated and executed the show.

ALL THAT during COVID and battling BREAST CANCER !

It wasn’t JUST a quilt show!

The St. Boniface Parish Quilters in Evansville

have members from the 3 Catholic Churches.

This show was held at Sacred Heart Parish.

A highlight of the show was a Quilts of Valor with a

special ceremony to present Veterans of War Recipients.

The quilters did a lovely job making, presenting 

honoring local recipients.

Every pew was covered!

A view from the balcony above was breathtaking. 

View from the front to the back of the church.

View from the back to front of the church.

Shirley asked me to bring some Modern quilts for this Traditional Show.

They played well with all the traditional quilts! 

Here is my PLUS + design and Modern Pumpkins

Wonky Crosses and Churn Dash had their space too!

All behaving well and holding their own !

 It was a privilege to be included in this show, inside a beautiful church,

alongside 100 other traditional quilted beauties. 

This lady right here, Shirley, is so inspirational...

besides my bestie for over 60 years!

Thank you Shirley for including me!

FROGGY KINDA DAY!

I love Quilts in the Wild...

especially mine!

Dawes Arboretum near Newark, OH is a beautiful garden.

And they happen to have frogs, dancing in the park!

Frogs practicing mediation by the water.

Frogs tending to the garden plants.

I could hear some blue grass music!

And who doesn't like a game of LEAP FROG?

But I had the most fun...finding the photo opps for my 

Wonky Crosses quilt made with Zen Chic COMMA fabrics

Sew...if you think you might want to enjoy the great outdoors...

this 24 FROG installation called 'RIBBIT The EXHIBIT'

by Artist J A COBB will be

hopping thru the park til September 8, 2021

My quilt will be gone...but this place is certainly worth the visit.

$10 entrance fee helps keep the garden beautiful

and allows for these wonderful exhibits to happen!

BAKING BOAS

Have you seen the trendy BAKING BOAS?

I received this one for Christmas last year

from my partner in crimes of fabric, yarn, travel and wine. 

Kathy Guenther! 

She also knows I am a Christmas Baking fool.

I just love it!  

She found this one at Lehman’s in Oho Amish Country.

Many specialty / botique type stores carry these in many themes. 

Calahans in Calabash, NC had these Nautical BOAs

The store BOAs are made of the thinner, flatter cotton towels and 

it looks like they have 2 towels per BOA.

Retail costs between $20-$25 

I knew I could make these as gifts!

After Christmas last year 

I bought lots of Christmas kitchen towel sets on the CHEAP! 

So each set of 2 towels, made 2 BOAs!

I only used one towel per BOA.

My supplies were less than $5 per BOA!

I made a mock up…sew easy! 

My towels were the thicker fluffy towels.

TIP! Buy towels with images on the ends in opposite direction)

I used one kitchen towel cut in half at the center.

These two pieces become the ends of the BOA.

Cut BOA neck piece, 9” x WOF. 

Press 1/2 “ on each end WST, on the RS secure the hem by sewing on ric rack.

Fold neck piece RST sew 1/4” seam to create a tube, turn right side out, press.

Fold the towel ends into a couple pleats to fit inside the tube.

Sew across the top of the pleats 1/4” before tucking into tube.

Tuck into tube about 1/2,  sew across ric rack to secure in place.

This part will be thick..use a jeans needle and adjust the pressure foot, 

if your machine has that option. 

You can add a top stitch around the BOA neck piece, if you like. 

That’s it. 

Turned out sew cute. 

And if you don’t  like aprons…it’s perfect for kitchen tasks!

Towels at your finger tips as needed!

I had lots of Christmas fabrics but needed a bit more.

Sale fabric at a local big box store is fine.

I also bought all the ric rack in sale for $1 each

I added ric rack to the bottom of the towel an extra pop. 

See finished BOAs

I made 14 BAKING BOAs.  One has been gifted already.

The rest will be gifts during the holiday season. 

They will go with some kind of baked goods. 

I love Christmas in July sewing!

How about you!