Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Good excuses



It's been a while but I have good excuses.  My computer had a virus and had to go to the computer hospital over the weekend.  One of those pesky windows popped up that looked like an official Windows thing and it told me the computer had 101 nasty viruses so I should click on the window to fix it.  I figured it was bogus and clicked to close the pesky window.  At the computer hospital they told me that if you click ANYWHERE on that window it activates the virus.  You should hit ALT F4 to close it instead.  There - I saved you $100.  I'm going to tattoo ALT F4 on my arm so I don't forget!

I'm also working like crazy on a quilt that I entered in MQS.  They are the only national show that I know of that lets people enter quilts while they are still unfinished - so that's what I did.  I figured it was the only way to get me to finish it!  I have been working night and day (really!) to get it done.  The end is now in sight, I think I will be able to finish the quilting in time to wash it, block it and bind it before it has to go to Overland Park for the show. 

All my customer quilting was finished up at the beginning of the month so I would have time for my own quilt.  This quilt by Marsha the Thimbleberries Lady was one of the last ones I did.  She really does seem to have an unending supply of these.




Her friend Debbie brought me this cute quilt from a pattern by our fellow Guild member, Debbie Wiesner.  She does a nice job of quilting on her sewing machine but wanted me to do this one because she couldn't figure out what to do with it.






This is one of those fusible applique quilts that drive me crazy to quilt.  It has umpteen-zillion teeny weeny pieces fused down and I have to quilt around every single one because they start to peel off.  This was "commissioned" by a lady that wanted to give it as a wedding gift.  She found someone to make it and then me to quilt it.  The woman that did the applique did an excellent job - all those little pieces would drive me crazy!  Although it is an attractive design and I know these kits are really popular - they leave me cold.  It's more like an artsy craftsy project to put it together than a quilt.  JMHO.







I got some really exciting news last night - my newly finished miniature quilt won an award at the AQS Show in Paducah - here is the link to the winners! http://www.americanquilter.com/shows_contests/paducah/2011/quilt_contest/quilt_winners.php
I would love to see it there but I think I would need a boat to get there today, with the Ohio River flooding. 




Saturday, April 9, 2011

Julie's quilts




It's hard to stay inside and quilt when it is so beautiful outdoors!  But I did finish two quilts for Julie - this pumpkin quilt...









And this cute redwork Bunnies Love Chocolate quilt:










I went to the MCC Sale in Hutchison yesterday and today is our Longarm group meeting so I should have some more pictures  to post tomorrow. 

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Spring quilts and Wichita weirdness



Sylvia made this quilt out of some tea towels that were a wedding gift years ago.  She said she had never used them, they just stayed in a drawer.  She did a wonderful job of choosing fabrics and designing this little quilt.





This cute paper pieced dog wall hanging was made by Susan.  The same designer also made a paper pieced cat wall hanging which I own the pattern for but have never gotten up the courage to make.  This turned out so cute that I may have to dig up that pattern and try it.







It's so pretty and springish out - the trees are leafing out and flowering, bulbs are blooming and the temperatures are warming up.   Our neighbor Mary is one of those people whose yard is always incredibly neat and tidy, I swear she vacuums it.  She was the first in the neighborhood to mow her lawn yesterday.  Meanwhile, Peter is cursing our lawn which is starting to grow, that means it's time for his least favorite of chores.  Gotta keep up with Mary!


On a visit to a Wichita shopping mall I saw this store:




How about a red car coffin? Is this a new trend or just a Wichita weirdness?