Late Evening Edition, Free Kindle QUILTING Book!

I’m just back from my dinner out with the guild ladies --- when near Chicago, one MUST have Chicago style pizza! Throw in 8 women, a bunch of quilt talk and laughter and story telling and that makes for one great evening!

When I got back to my room there was an email from Kyra Hicks who’s book This I Accomplish I had featured before when it was a kindle freebie.

Kyra writes:

Bonnie, Hello!

Just a quick note of hello. I am offering an essay and quilt pattern for free from May 18-20 for Kindle ebook readers. Feel free to share if you'd like.

For US: http://amzn.to/KEJRsJ

For UK:http://amzn.to/Mp1sqp

Best, Kyra Hicks

Product Description

Who stitched the first US flag? I'd bet you'd say Betsy Ross. Who sewed the first Liberian flag? Did you know it was seven African American women? Learn more about these 1847 seamstresses, some born free and others former slaves: Susannah Lewis, who chaired the flag committee, Sarah Draper from Philadelphia, Mary L. Hunter from South Carolina, Rachel Johnson, Matilda Newport, Mrs. J. B. Russwurm from Baltimore, MD, and Collinette Teage Ellis from Virginia.

The design of the Liberian flag, first unfurled on August 24, 1847, has remained the same through the decades. It is the same design that whipped in the wind on January 16, 2006 when Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf took the solemn oath of office as the twenty-fourth President of the Republic of Liberia.

This article includes an easy-to-make pattern for a queen-sized Liberian flag quilt. Article: 3,700 words. 15 pages including quilt pattern diagrams and photograph.

About the Author

Kyra E. Hicks is a marketing professional and quilter. She was so mesmerized after seeing Eva Ungar Grudin's 1990 exhibition, "Stitching Memories: African-American Story Quilts," that she began to teach herself to create her own quilts.

"I found my voice that afternoon in the museum," she remembers. Today, Kyra's quilts have been included in more than forty exhibitions in venues such as the American Craft Museum in New York, the Renwick Gallery in Washington, D.C., and the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum in Hartford. She hosts the African American quilting news blog, Black Threads.

I just downloaded it, I’m really interested in reading this story ---and it wsa still free for me.

Enjoy!

A Visit to Prairie Stitches!

What an awesome day yesterday! It was mostly a free day, up until my lecture time last night ---We enjoyed a delightful lunch out at Emerson Pottery and Tea Room ----and a side trip into Oswego where I could take some time to indulge in some Scrap Therapy at Prairie Stitches Quilt Shoppe!

I’m sure my mouth was gaping open when I walked in the front door. We just don’t have shops like this where I live ---if you love reproduction quilts and wool applique – this is the shop for you!

Of course.after meeting the staff, I was personally escorted to the scrap bin where I could fill a baggie for $6.00. LOL!

I guess my reputation precedes me!

This is my baggie ---with room to spare – next to the sign on the wall:

This is all that was left in the bin by the time I was done:

LOL!! Maybe next time the sign will say “Fill a bag—$6.00, unless you are Bonnie Hunter, in which case the price is $12.00!” But I am so happy with my little pieces!

If you get the Quilt Sampler magazine, you might recognize this quilt:

The shop is featured IN the magazine!

I know my quick photos don’t do the shop justice, but every where you turn are warm and inviting nooks and displays, and samples of so many beautiful quilts, you are bound to leave inspired ---- I guarantee it!

Do you see why my mouth was just gaping?! Don’t you want to touch and feel and see up close?

Cute little patterns and woolie supplies!

Oooooo…the colors are so rich and you should just FEEL these! So far I’ve resisted wool – I'd have to start a whole new stash! But you know, if tempted long enough, I’m sure I’d cave! LOL! Oh, I’m seriously considering it – wheels are a-turnin’!!

I loved the perspective of this archway ---quilts on the wall in front, quilts on the wall in the next room beckoning you to come closer! Sorry for the blur – I was having heart palpitations at this time! :c)

Squealing at the mini displays! I want a little ladder like that! The patterns and the fabrics are right there together so it is easy to find what you want.

Beautiful batiks too!

More inspiration around every corner!

Are you inspired yet?

The other side of the shop has a great display of modern fabrics --

And a whole wall of 1930s repros – along with a wall chock full of patterns to keep you busy for a long long time!

I really loved my visit to Oswego and Prairie Stitches Quilt Shoppe! I can’t wait to come back!

iPhone-o-Gram! Live from Roberts Sewing Center!

Pedal to the metal, except in the condition of Cheryl who is hand cranky today!!

We are busy with our Patches and Pinwheels workshop and having a great time!!

Project Linus Day at Culvers!

Sometimes life throws in some amazing twists and turns ---causing a detour to gift you with someone more amazing than the original destination!

When Pam picked me up at the airport --- we made our hellos, lugged my luggage into her car, and off we went.

She had read about my wish to hit a near-by Culvers frozen custard place---we don’t have those in North Carolina, so it is really a novelty to me when I get to the Midwest. I know people who are the same way about Chick-fil-A ---they don’t HAVE one, so when they can get one, it’s a special treat. We were off to find the nearest location, and she handed me the mapquest print out which told us to take exit 2-A --- right up the road.

And we missed our turn!

Never fear, she said—she knew where ANOTHER one was, and we switched gears and off we went. And this is where our detour turned fortuitous.

We found our parking spot, walked inside to be approached by a gal wearing a Project Linus Tshirt, who told us that it was Project Linus day at Culvers, and if we mentioned Project Linus when we ordered, Culvers would give a donation. She also asked “Are you aware of Project Linus?”

“Of COURSE we are, we are QUILTERS!” was my response, and we were told that there was a Harry Potter quilt being raffled off in the dining area of the restaurant, and we could go buy tickets.

We got our food ----and proceeded to find a table, and of course I made a bee line for the quilt, because we LOVED the Harry Potter movies. As I approached…..the woman at the ticket table did a double-take and exclaimed “Oh, my goodness --- are YOU Bonnie Hunter?” and I laughed, and she laughed and we had a wonderful conversation --- it turns out she is an avid blog reader and had read my post on Tuesday morning all about the Minister’s Quilt and how I was leaving that morning for a flight to Illinois ---

So, with all the Culvers in the whole of Chicagoland --- I come walking into the one where she is selling raffle tickets for a Harry Potter quilt in support of Project Linus day. Here is Lynda and myself in front of the wonderful Harry Potter quilt!

The drawing was Tuesday night at 8pm --- I kept waiting for my phone to ring to tell me I was the lucky winner, but since it didn’t get a call I presume I didn’t win --- darn! I really loved this quilt!

But best of all, was meeting Lynda ----thanks to a missed exit, a change of plans --- and Project Linus day!

Lunch was yummy too! Something else I can’t do in NC---exchange my fries for cheese curds! YUMMY!

iPhone-o-Gram! Emerson Creek Pottery & Tearoom!

Lunch with the guild girls in Oswego, IL! If you've never ventured out here, you must!! Be sure to make a reservation.

Lunch was phenomenal--Oriental chicken salad in flower pots!

And of course dessert was a must---raspberry peach cobbler--with 5 spoons so we all got a couple bites.

We had fun wandering the grounds and the gift shop that is housed in the old farm house. And the view is spectacular!

On our way to do some quilt shop hopping ---

Smith Mountain Morning in Lake Forest!

My blog post is leisurely late this morning.

By the time I got through the yucky traffic ((And no, I wasn’t driving, I was a passenger!)) and checked into my hotel in Joliet, and whisked off for dinner at near by Portillos ((Oh YUMMY!!)) and brought back to the hotel --- I was TOAST.

I spent the evening doing a bit of piecing on my featherweight that I’ve set up in the room –just what I needed to get myself back in touch with the rhythm of chain piecing little bits through the machine.

My room has a little pull out rolling desk, so I can roll it to give myself an L shaped work area, and piece away while watching a bit of TV ---

Pretty sweet set up for 4 nights, don’t you think? Comfy chair and everything!

Today is a more leisurely paced day than the last two ---just an evening guild meeting tonight which explains why this blog post is a bit delayed this morning. Not only am I in central time zone --- but I slept in a bit, woke on my own without an alarm, and then started in to edit the photos from yesterday’s class in a very cozy non-hurried manner!

We did have a great time yesterday – we were full at 20 students. The variety of fabrics and styles was evident, and it was so fun to see the blocks emerge from what people had brought.

Of course --- the things that get me right off….plastic organization thingies!! WHOOOOOWHOOOO!

Silverware trays and plastic baskets hold pre-cut pieces just so!

We ALL wanted this double tired organizer tray! I think she said she got it at Target ---

How handy is this?! I can see many uses for this little plastic number.

This deep divided tote has a lid…..and she’s labeled the cubbies with sizes of pieces so she is ready to go!

Yolande came really prepared! Tool boxes from Lowes or Home Depot make it easy to roll everything you need into a workshop!

They hold ALL the tools of our trade within reach!

The next “tier” down in this tote with more “STUFF!”

More “tiers” --- and her featherweight in the bottom compartment – all ready to roll from the car to the workshop!

I want to try something today ---I’m using a different ID for my windows live slideshow –I want to know if it makes a difference. If for any reason the slide show does not work, you don’t need to email me or comment about it ---I have a feeling if you come back tomorrow it will be functional! LOL!

I really like seeing the preview thumbnails…and those aren’t visible in other slide shows I’ve found – so bear with me while I work some issues out. If there is a problem, it is not ME that is causing it – just be patient, okay?

		Smith Mountain Morning, Lake Forest IL 2012 VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

I’m heading out for a morning walk --- then a nice hot shower, and I’ll be ready for the Guild ladies to pick me up at 12:15 for lunch out and some exploring and shopping! We’ll probably spend the day wandering around and then head over to set up for my lecture tonight ----

Enjoy your Thursday everyone, it’s the only Thursday you get this week, make the most of it!