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Monday, March 14, 2016

A Smith Mountain Kind of Day!

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It was a bit chilly, a bit drizzly, and we were all tucked warmly inside “the dome” at the Park Place Hotel in Traverse City, Michigan.

Maybe TOO warmly!  You know how it is when you get a group of women-of-a-certain-age in one enclosed space along with ironing stations and everything else?

I love the resourcefulness of quilters who KNOW themselves and the situation enough to bring their own fans to class! LOL!

I haven’t been at this extreme hot flash thing long enough to think that far ahead, but I certainly can choose WHERE in the room to do my demos, and if there is a fan at your machine, it is likely I am going to park myself there! LOL!

We had such a great day.  These ladies have been so precious to me.  I have loved chatting with each and every one and getting to know about them and what life is like where they are.

You have enriched my life abundantly and I hope that I left behind some pearls of quilting wisdom for you to use in future projects as well!

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An extra special treat!

This is Gay Bomers of Sentimental Stitches and the extremely beautiful red and white “Just Takes two” sampler quilt amongst others! She came to spend the day as a student in my class, and it was so fun to get to know her in person.

A funny story – I had stopped by her booth in Houston a couple of Quilt Festivals ago, and I missed her!  She was out touring the show, or shopping, or doing what quilters do best, and I was sad to miss the chance to meet her in person then.  And yesterday she walked into my classroom, sat down and sewed with everyone else.  How fun!

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Gay busy with the Tri-Recs rulers!

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Her first two star blocks!

We had a great day, and both agreed how nice it is to sometimes just step away from the teacher/designer role and just be ONE OF THE GIRLS. 

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Two more of the girls who agreed!

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Check out the progress from the Canadian Contingency!

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Oh ladies, you do me proud!

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Whooowhoooo!

You will find the pattern for Smith Mountain Morning in my book Scraps & Shirttails II.  Signed copies available in the Quiltville Store!

Click the image below if you are unable to view the slide show on your mobile device.  You’ll be taken to the photo album for viewing.

Smith Mountain Morning, Traverse City, MI 2016



Last night I was on my own, and I tell you – I needed an after-class nap!  That time change really threw me for a loop, especially since the St Paddy’s Day Pub Crawl was going on outside my window on Saturday evening!

A bowl of soup and a salad at a local downtown eatery became my simple dinner and I was back in the room sewing up a storm.

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Still growing!

This is the SMALLER half of my Tumbler Leader & Ender challenge – It is growing on the side as I am working on a secret project behind the scenes.  I have been able to add 2 rows to “the beast” just using the tumbler shapes as leaders & enders in between the lines of chain piecing. 

I have loved this year’s challenge so much!  Ideas are already flowing for what our next Leader & Ender challenge will be – it starts in July, I can hardly wait!

This morning is an easy one for me at a slower pace, after a bit of a sleep in.  This afternoon I’m off to Kalamazoo to spend a few days with the guild there and I am looking forward to new places, new faces!

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Quiltville Quote of the Day!

You are of infinite worth Just As You Are. If you aren't being treated with love and respect, check your price tag. Maybe you've marked yourself down. Get off the clearance rack and believe in yourself!

Vintage rolling star quilt found in Kentucky.

Happy Monday, everyone!


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10 comments:

  1. Anonymous10:32 AM EDT

    I love how quilting brings something new and fun each day! Thank you for your quote today, I can't tell you how much that meant.

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  2. @Anonymous Thank you so very much. I appreciate your taking the time to tell me that it means something to you :)

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  3. monica in plano11:47 AM EDT

    i hope you are saving these up to 'publish'...the collection would make a great quote of the day, quilt of the day inspirational calendar...i know many have been personal to me as im sure others feel the same...

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  4. Smith Mountain............another Bonnie Hunter quilt I'm going to have to try. I already have three of your quilts started and I'll work on one and use another one as my leader and ender and then rotate to another the next day. Our quilt show in Rutherfordton, NC is coming up soon so I'll have to put a few things on hold for a while. I love following you in your travels. Connie Wells

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  5. Hey Bonnie, I have about 24 rows of tumblers completed. They are all different fabrics so I had to cut more scraps to get a couple hundred new tumblers. I might have enough now to finish it. My scraps are under control again after I took 5 days and cut about 40 yards worth into various bricks, strips, squares, triangles and tumblers. Sewing again and using up a bunch of scraps.

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  6. Bonnie you have enriched my life, family and friends by leaps and bounds. Thank you for taking time for always being real and generous with all that you do. Rosa from Bakersfield, CA

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  7. I have watched a couple of older quiltcams lately. I have enjoyed them while working on a quilt. To keep the cat off it while I tie it (a baby quilt that I hope to have finished for a shower on Saturday) I have it laid diagonally across my ironing broad and trying to keep the bottom corner off the floor. Luckily this cat doesn't like my wobbly ironing broad.

    I like what you say about color and value in a scrap quilt (though it really applies to all quilts). I have tried to mix up values and colors in this quilt, except where I put similar fabrics together to break up the block pattern.

    I needed something to listen to while working and i was in a position to see the computer most of the time. I will have to try one of your designs or at least use more of your suggestions. I don't normally buy books and magazines, I will likely have to do my own pattern drafting.

    The current quilt is one that Michele Foster offered free for a month, and I couldn't resist doing it scrappy. I am also doing Pat Sloan's The Spendid Sampler as a controlled scrappy project. I am more use to controlled scrappy with a color palette and many fabrics. I normally figure out my own version of a traditional block, but have needed a starting point for getting back into quilting. I have dabbled with fabric design at Spoonflower for a while and I have not quilted, but felt I needed a change.

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  8. Natalija12:37 AM EDT

    Добрый день всем! Девочки, как я вам завидую!!! У вас есть такая возможность учиться,встречаться и вместе шить.Мне бы к вам хоть на один денек!Но моя Украина находится очень далеко от вас! Но благодаря интернету я многому могу научиться у вас .Большое спасибо за науку.

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  9. Oh be still my heart! I love this quilt pattern! Nothing better than stars and pinwheels!

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  10. I see my buddies Ms. Kay and Ms. Sue on here. Can't wait for you to visit our Quilt Guild next year at Lighthouse Quilt Guild in Michigan!

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