Quilter's Showcase 2014 [picture heavy post]

My friend Cathy and I went to the quilt show today, it was a gorgeous day, and the quilt show was lovely.  Not as big as we'd hoped, but it was nice and Cathy didn't have any trouble finding purchases.  Unfortunately, I didn't bring my good camera, and my phone's sd card filled up before I was done - had to borrow Cathy's, she'll send me the rest of the pics, but here's some wonderful quilts we saw.  The pic of the quilt is first, then the quiltmaker info underneath.










This was beautifully hand quilted.

This one was amazing, so much applique!





Judge's Choice, beautifully hand quilted.











This one was wonderful - read the story.








Amazing basket quilt.









There are more, but I think this post is long enough.  I was delighted with the number of quilts that were hand quilted, and embroidered.  After all that shopping and looking, we were getting pretty hungry, so off we went to Tony's restaurant....if you've never been there, it's a treat.  Hamburgers come with a pound of bacon on them.  Yes, a POUND.  I had the Belgian pancakes, Cathy had the French toast, and we had a side order of bacon....




...which was also a pound of bacon.  We boxed it up to go but I forgot the box!!!  My boys were not happy with me.

Hope you enjoyed the show, wish you could have been there!

[And no, we did NOT finish our food, lol!!!]

So Sweet And Links

I'm home.  Yep, as in "there's no place like" and "home sweet".  I have my comfy blogging chair, a kitty on my bed, coffee in the pot and all's right with the world.

Mum is still diving every day, but my aunt has therapy at the same place and time so she gets to drive her.  Sweet.

The other day, after dropping mum off, I went to a local park.  What a gem.  Rochester, MI -


Loved the arms on this bench.

It was a very peaceful spot, very large, with a river; great place for morning coffee.  Sweet.



Last Saturday, I got to spend the day with my bestie Cathy.  She made a jelly roll quilt, isn't it pretty?



Tomorrow, we're going to the Quilter's Showcase in Birch Run, MI, and spend another whole day together.  Sweet.

I have a question for you.  Anyone know what kind of caterpillar this is?



I found him in the garage [not a lot of food there] and moved him to the garden.  He seemed happy with his new digs.  Very sweet.

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I mentioned links in my post title, and I found a couple I thought were very interesting.  The first is my friend Sharon's blog, she shows how to keep your binding neat while you're attaching it - I am SO doing this with my next quilt.  Click here and read the whole post.  She makes wonderful quilts!

The next is on how to square up your half square triangles.  That is one thing that has eluded me, but this tutorial makes it look easy....from Patchwork Posse.  I do still want to make an hst quilt, so I'm going to try this method and see if I can keep it from becoming too wonky!

*****************************************************************

After six months of staying at my aunt's, my sewing room is quite dusty and I've found a few spiders - that is NOT SWEET - so today I'll be cleaning and grocery shopping.  I think my family will be glad to be done with frozen pizzas, lol.  I hope you all have a great weekend, I know I will, I'll try to remember to take pics of the show for you!

Hugs,
Allie

Dive! Dive! Dive!!

Yay, I'm home!  For a couple of days, anyway.  I thought you might like to see a picture of where my mum spends her mornings....


The bed from the gurney goes right inside.

That is a hyperbaric chamber, the same thing they use when divers get the bends.  They are mainly used in wound care nowadays.  They're awesome for healing - especially for diabetics.  Mum's divemaster, Archie, is a wonderful guy.  He and my aunt set up this entire department at the hospital.  Mum is in good hands!  You should see her, she looks so good, her skin is all pink - she has an oxygen glow.  Unfortunately, she also has a lot of pressure in her ears and is almost deaf at the moment - she gets tubes in her ears this week.  Lots of fun talking to her right now....she keeps telling me not to yell at her, but it's the only way she hears me!

While she's diving, I'm busy working on my little quilt.



I'm outline quilting, and having a blast - it's such mindless stitching.  And after 5 months of care-giving, I don't have much mind left.  I need something easy, lol.

Have you been to Jenny's lately?  She has a great new tutorial, and some gorgeous new Christmas designs....go see!

Maria Part Two

She was born in June, 1947.



She has a gorgeous face[plate].



Her other end isn't bad either.



She brought baggage to our relationship.






And that's all right with me.

Meet Maria

I just couldn't wait to introduce you - Maria will get a thorough photo shoot tomorrow, I only had my phone camera today and naturally, the pics don't do her justice.

As you know, I've been at my aunt's, all summer long.  I've been missing my best friend Cathy....we haven't gotten together except for a hurried coffee all summer.  Today I came home, and I'll be home for a few days, so we met up after she got off work.  She had a sneaky surprise for me....



What could it be?  She had texted me a picture on my phone, of what I thought was a suitcase, and I told her she couldn't leave home without coming to get me.  Well, the suitcase was in her back seat, and when I opened it....



And then she said "happy birthday merry christmas!"

CATHY GOT ME A FEATHERWEIGHT.

*THUD*



Her name is Maria.  I asked Cathy to help me name her, and she picked her mom's name - how perfect.  Her mom was a beautiful seamstress.  Cathy lost her mum last year....

Maria and I will be getting to know each other better tomorrow.  She's going to put the binding on my little quilt for me, as soon as the hand quilting is done.  I can't wait.  I'll show you more later - she even came with a ruffler!  She's going back with me to my aunt's.  She's so lovely, and small, and will fit on the tv tray I've been using for my computer - can't use my aunt's kitchen table.

Welcome home Maria, I hope you love it here - you're going to be treated like the queen you are!!!!  Oh and I hope you don't get carsick.  You'll be traveling.

Oh - the reason I'm home for a few days - my hubby lost his dad this week, the funeral is tomorrow.  Mum is doing well, she finished up her infusions today, and starts hyperbaric treatments Tuesday - every day at 8am.  Weekends off, so I'm going to try to come home every weekend.  My aunt is doing well also, still using the wheelchair when she needs to but getting along pretty well with the walker.

Cathy and I are going to the Quilter's Showcase in Birch Run on the 27th, I believe, if any of you are going I'd love to meet you!

And now I have to tuck Maria in, and then myself.  And then cry a little cuz I sure don't deserve such a good friend....see you soon.