Smith Mountain Morning Workshop!

I’d like to thank the folks at Quilting on the Square of Holton Kansas for taking such good care of me while I was there!

We had a wonderful workshop in a very nice rented space just down from the quilt shop..so if we ran out of anything, we could sneak away and go find what we needed!

The ladies were just so wonderful….Some I had met before! Imagine my surprise when Linda and her friends from Missouri came strolling in!

You might remember Linda as the quilter who followed the motor home in Alaska when I was there, the one that said “Bonnie Hunter or Bust!” ((Still laughing over that one)) Well, this group of gals sure know how to have fun, and I was just tickled to see her again!

Sandi also blew me a way with a visit to my past!

In my “previous life” From about 1992 to 1997 I designed patterns for dolls and animals, which were later licensed by the Butterick Pattern Co under the name “Needle In A Haystack!!” SHE BROUGHT IN MY PATTERNS!! These have been out of print for so many years, it just tickled me to see them. In other words, Boy! You’ve come a long way, Baby! ((Thank you Sandi! It was so fun to spend the day with you!))

We started the morning ultra spoiled by Marilyn’s delicious…TO. DIE. FOR. Cinnamon rolls. Seriously, these were the best I have ever EVER tasted, and I’ll have to get the recipe from her. My family would go ape over these. I’m not kidding! There were NONE left after we dug in :c)

Our Smith Mountain Morning workshop was all a-bustle with activity. I use this workshop to introduce quilters to the use of Tri-Recs, Easy Angle and Companion Angle rulers. I know many quilters are set in their way about NOT wanting specialty rulers, and I have encountered some “worthless duds” in my life time too, but there are a few that I love for basic shapes that we use all the time in traditional patchwork. I have no affiliation other than the fact that I love the results these rulers give, and they work with the sizes of strips I already keep on hand so they are a win-win.

It took until my THIRD BOOK to even be able to include some pages on the use of these rulers within the book. I love them, and I use them…and I think we have some converts!

Just look at the beautiful blocks they were turning out:

		Smith Mt Morning, Holton KS 2011 VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

I just love the different fabric choices! Many of the old fabrics came with stories attached. The red/green version I REALLY love….and the black with brights is awesome too! I can’t wait to see how these all come out.

Kansas, I can’t wait to visit you again!

I’m on my way home today. I’ve got an afternoon flight out of Kansas City…I’ll get home pretty late, but at least I’ll be sleeping in my own bed tonight.

Looking forward to a weekend at home….finally over the crud, the voice is back, I’m feeling pretty chipper, and all is right in my world!

Happy Friday!

Rollin’ Across Kansas!

Yesterday morning I packed up all my STUFF loaded up the luggage cart, and headed down to the lobby to meet Connie who was going to be driving me from Wichita to Holton! It’s about a 3 hour drive…..poor thing, that is 6 hours round trip for her, but she pulled it off like a trooper!

It’s always an adventure when meeting new people, especially when you find yourself throwing your bags into the back of a stranger’s car – not knowing them personally, or what they are like. Will I like them? What will we talk about? Will they like ME?!

We made our pleasantries, and as we started to drive off I looked in the console of Connie’s car, and there was a huge spool of thread, half used, just siting there. I said…”Now I KNOW you are okay, you have thread in the car!” It was a big ice breaker, that put us at ease with one another. That spool of thread seemed to say “You are a Quilter, and I am a Quilter, and we belong to the same club!”

From then on we had no trouble talking our way all the way to Topeka!

Good THING we could talk easily with each other. There wasn’t much to look at! LOL!!

We took that Topeka exit and made our way to the Blind Tiger for a yummy lunch….and then we stopped off for some antique shopping! It was the perfect way to stretch our legs. The only thing I had to do was be ready for my lecture last night, and we had hours to kill.

Antiquing in Topeka Sept 2011 VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

There were just a few things that caught my eye. I especially loved the red gingham apron with the chicken scratch embroidery on it. There were cute buttons in jars, an Improved 9 patch quilt top ((that still needed some improvement! LOL!)) and a couple of 1940s quilts that were very sweet. Nothing came home with me, but I enjoyed looking at them all the same! I nearly NEARLY came away with that blue-work embroidery table cloth though…TOO CUTE!

From here we made our way on to Holton! Holton reminds me so much of when I lived in Burley, Idaho. And some of Sulphur Springs Texas too. There is a courthouse square with shops all around it…just takes you back in time!

One of the shops around the courthouse square IS “Quilting On The Square!” and it is a WONDERFUL adorable shop! If you are ever in the area, GO!!

You will be welcomed and overwhelmed with the expanse of variety and color. The old building has been renovated into the perfect quilters shopping space….and you’ll find lots of inspiration here. I especially loved how Mary painted the bolts along the top of the pillars to emphasize their flower shape!

Only a quilter would think of doing this!

Presentation is everything, as the saying goes….and I just loved the display of fat quarters in these old looking luggage pieces! CUTE!

Our lecture was full to capacity last night. Today I’ve got a “Smith Mountain Morning” workshop going, sponsored by the shop.

I want more time to explore Holton a bit before I leave tomorrow for home..the streets are lined with Victorian houses. The weather has cooled off and fall is on it’s way! I’m even staying in a very cool old 1889 hotel called the Hotel Josephine. More pics of that to follow. I’m out of space, and out of time…and I’ve got to go get set up for class.

Have a Super Thursday Y’all!

Scrappy Trips in Rose Hill!

What a vibrant bunch of quilters gathered yesterday in Wichita – It was our Tuesday "Scrappy Trips Around The World" workshop with the Country Rose Quilters of Rose Hill, Kansas!

These gals provided quite the welcome….even a poster for me! I think the blush says it all. I loved the “Wizard of Oz” fabrics ((Yes, I got to keep them!)) and the little ruby slippers pin.

You guys went ALL OUT to make me feel so welcome in your midst. And what a fun day we had.

I’ve said it over and over and over…….how much I enjoy seeing what fabrics get dug up from the depths of your scrap bins…..we wear our oldies and our uglies with PRIDE! The laughter over each “dog” fabric is infectious, and we prove again and again and again that these fabrics can STILL look great in a quilt, and make things so fun to look at!

Black and white cats with Christmas hats next to a prissy civil war? OH YES!! 1970’s or 80’s cutesy calico next to a wild African print with gold metallic do-dads on it! OH YES!

We just had the best time! Our focus was on color, contrast and value....

And this picture is ESPECIALLY for Jessica’s doubting friends ---- I am SO honored that you drove all the way from Denver to come spend a couple days with me! You are a hoot, and I’m so happy to call you friend! ((Do you think they will believe you now? You are on the blog, girl! LOL!))

		Scrappy Trips, Kansas 2011 VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

We just had the best time….and this class moves so fast! Be sure to check out the picture of the one Quilter who had 12 blocks together by the time we packed up at 4pm!

One thing that was learned by experience by one Quilter ---You can't do light/dark/light/dark with this pattern, or you end up with just a "checkerboard" effect, not the diagonal rows of color as desired. Sometimes we need to allow ourselves to make mistakes so we know how to fix them in the future.

Today I’m being picked up and driven to Holton, KS, where I have a lecture with the Holton guild tonight..and a Smith Mountain Morning workshop at “Quilting On The Square” tomorrow!

Today the temps are quite a bit cooler than they have been. Could it be that fall is finally sneaking in? It’s about a 3 hour drive, and I think it will be fun to watch the countryside out of my passenger side window.

I plan on FINALLY finishing that binding that has ben following me around still undone. 1 1/2 sides to go….some hexagons maybe too?

Time to pack up the luggage cart and get myself down to the lobby!

Happy Wednesday, Everyone!