Monday, July 2, 2012

Seattle and back

I've been away from blogging -  12 days in Seattle and then recovery time back home catching up on all the little things that were left hanging.  So here is a quick run down of some highlights of the trip:

SEATTLE!
Our son's graduation: Master of Architecture, UWashington.





















Wedding quilt reveal to my nephew and niece.  I felt like a sleazy trader because I gave it to them and took it back.  It came home with me to be quilted, etc.  But they were good about it and very excited. They even slept under it one night.







"Hurricane" by Carol Taylor
The Quilt and Textile Museum in La Conner had an exhibit by Carol Taylor, which was beautiful and very inspiring. There was another art quilt exhibit 














Meeting LeeAnn of NiftyQuilts for lunch. The waiter had to "wait" for our order.  We were so busy talking quilts that we didn't look at the menu for a long while.  LeeAnn took me to her office and showed me a few of her quilts she had hanging there.  Beautiful!  Darn... I forgot my camera that day.

Meeting Sharon K. of Indigo Threads.  I spent the morning with her at the Bellevue Art  Museum looking at the exhibit of African-American Quilts - Bold Expressions -  that had just opened.  The quilts were so intriguing and bold in color, style, fabric. We were commenting so much that the docents  came over and asked us questions about quilting, as they didn't really know much about the craft.    In many ways the quilts resembled some of the Gee's Bend quilts, but they came from all over the South... including Indiana!  Sharon and I and my husband had lunch together and then went to the Quilt shop in Bellevue before making our way back to our son's house.  Pictures not allowed at the museum, but Sharon posted about the visit and included some pictures from the exhibit catalogue.

Visited the Quilting Loft in Ballard and found some 108" gray with dark gray polka dotted fabric that will back the wedding quilt. Score!  I wasn't looking forward to having to piece the backing for this one.... way too big.

 We did a bit of sight seeing, too, but I won't bore you with all that.

and BACK!

Since I've been home it seems as though I've been living in the sewing room.  Lots of boring stuff... like piecing batting for the wedding quilt, cutting the binding strips, etc.


I have had a chance to play, too.   I saw a posting by Kathy Loomis on andthenwesetitonfire. She provided a tutorial on piecing really thin strips of fabric into background fabric.   I had to try.  I don't know where I am going with this, but I like it.












Now I am packing - I'll be away from the computer for a long while.  Going to Maine to our island off the coast near Milbridge.  No electricity - no computer - no sewing machine.  I will be hand quilting, as I have lots of projects waiting for that, so I will be busy but just a bit out of touch.  See you all in September!

Happy 4th and Happy Summer and may you take many stitches too.





5 comments:

  1. You've had such a very busy summer! It was great getting to meet you and see those wonderful quilts at the same time! Glad you're going to get a chance to unwind and decompress. Hand quilting is so good for that too.

    Thanks for the link - I may have to give that a try too!

    ReplyDelete
  2. what a fantastic trip, meeting up with some great folks and seeing wonderful quilts. I'm jealous! love the two new blocks.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh what a fabulous trip!!! I'm jealous of you. I ordered Bold Improvisations (and some other quilty inspiring books) this weekend so your timing is impeccable. Love that hurricane quilt and LOVE LOVE LOVE your new blocks with skinny strips. I am STUCK right now with creative paralysis. I'm not really feeling some of the assignments I've given myself. To get through this lull or perhaps this is in part why I am stuck I've taken to sorting scraps/crumbs and making fabric. Have a great summer in Maine and will look forward to seeing what you stitched in October.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Kathy, I finally made it to your blog! I remember seeing the block for the wedding quilt while you were still working on it. The entire quilt is fabulous! Be sure to take a picture of the whole thing -- I want to see it! Hope I run into you soon, to see what you're working on lately.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Should have read a few more posts. I see the wedding quilt photos now. Gotta go have a better look!

      Delete

Thanks for your feedback.... I enjoy hearing from you.