Tag Archives: fabric

Quilt Tours and why you should go

Posted on by

0

Ireland – you say it and tons of visions come to mind – green meadows, sheep grazing, nicely poured pint of Guinness, dancers, etc.  I have wanted to visit this island for many decades and once retired, it was number 1 on my bucket list.

I started researching tours as I didn’t want to drive myself.  What better way than to be driven by someone, someone who knows the country,  and someone who enjoys driving.  In my quilt magazines there are always tours listed – from being driven to cruises.  I Googled Quilt Tours Ireland and came up with a few names.  There were two that caught my eye.

I downloaded the itineraries for comparisons.  Both were around the same price and length of visit.  One guaranteed a small group – no more than 25 people.  The other said no more than 50.  So what do you do?  You ask your guild if anyone had taken either tour.  One guild member highly, and I mean, highly recommend Celtic Quilt Tours LLC.

This tour started off with Dublin, up to Northern Ireland around the west coast and back to Dublin.  The  places listed were all around the coast of Ireland.  I sent off an email explaining that this would be my first tour as well as my first trip overseas.  The American contact was so helpful.  For four months before the tour started, we received newsletters about the trip.  Everything from where we were to meet at Dublin Airport, how much money to bring over in Euros and pounds, the Horizon VAT cards, shopping trips, packing items, size of luggage etc.

Our first item was a tour of Dublin and then off to visit Malahide Castle.  The tour provided breakfast as most of us came in on red-eye flights from the States and Canada.  We could opt out for shopping or a tour of the castle.  The gardens were beautiful and the castle tour guide was extremely informative.

We went back to the hotel and checked in.  Now by this time my eyes were rolling around in my head from being up so many hours.  First thought was – I need a nap.  But then my brain kicked in with “You are in Dublin – get out and explore”.  Splash some water on my face, grab a glass of water, brush my teeth and off I went.  Down Grafton Street, past Trinity College and in to a few stores.DSCN0369DSCN0368.JPG

 

We had on our schedule to visit the Book of Kells the first day but due to other circumstances, it was held off.  One thing about a tour is to be flexible.  Dinner at O’Callahan’s  was great.  But by 9:30 pm, I was done.  Plus we had to have our bags out in the hallway early the next morning for the porters as we were leaving Dublin by 8:30 am.

Off to Belfast in Northern Ireland.  The past problems have been resolved and restoration and revival has been started. This is a very passionate city.

More later on my trip as this was a 13 day tour and I took a lot of photos and notes.  But in a nutshell, great trip, great people on the tour, amazing tour driver, beautiful scenery, terrific people in every city and delicious food.  More later…….

 

 

 

Twist Around Hawaii

Posted on by

0

This is the name I gave my last quilt. As I have stated before, going to Road To California is the highlight of every January. Held in Ontario, it is a week of classes, shopping, meeting up with old friends and making new ones.

I have also previously blogged about Breast Cancer, Race for the Cure held in Newport Beach and the quilts I have raffled off to raise money. Some quilts I give away, but some are donated for a raffle.

Well a co-worker, who is so awesome, recently told me that not only had she just recently had her thyroid removed due to cancer, but her latest mammogram came back with signs of breast cancer. She had thanked me earlier because I sent out an email to our office staff that said when getting dental x-rays or mammograms, to ask for a neck guard. So to be told that she was facing potential cancer treatments, I did what I could do. I made a quilt.

This co-worker loves Hawaii and visits there when she can. So while running around the vendor mall at 2014 Road To California, I had to stop by Beyond the Reef. They have the most extensive selection of Hawaiian/surf/turtle/palm tree fabric. There was a bolt of Hawaiian fabric with a pink background. I immediately bought 3 yards, came back the next day with a Judy Martin pattern book. Twist around the Garden was the perfect pattern. I’ve made it before so it would be snap to make. The next day (yes, I took 4 classes at Road this year) I went back, and their staff help me select 2 colors for the Twist part plus I bought 2 more yards of the pink background. Look, when the fabric speaks to you, purchase at least 4-6 yards.

This would be my next project – I put away the class projects and started cutting. Here it is:
Twist around Hawaii

Happy to say, she loved it. I would like to close with if someone tells you they have breast cancer, tell them they can beat it. By keeping a postive attitude, getting second opinions, talk to others that have gone through it. Another co-worker found that when going through treatment, she was often cold, thirsty, dry mouth, etc. So she put together bags for others that included a lap blanket, Jolly Rancher candies, water bottle, socks and positive affirmations.

This is one of my long writings but just be there for those going through cancer treatments. Look at them and think “THAT PERSON WILL BEAT THIS!”

Thanks for reading

Quilt shows

Posted on by

0

401456_2892964757041_1047947865_2914844_2071931620_n[1]

One of my favorite things is to attend local quilt shows or national shows. I have been attending Road to California for over 17 years. I always stop by “Come Quilt With Me”, Pat Yamin’s booth.

Pat lives in Brooklyn and has been a long time participant, both as a vendor and a teacher. Her templates are the easiest to use and she has a terrific teaching style – very open, very helpful and is always prepared for anything.

If you see a flyer in your town or at the local fabric store about a show, take a moment and attend. Quilting has changed – it’s not just little old ladies anymore. The patterns are bold with color and shapes but there are also the traditional quilts displayed.

It’s a pleasant way to spend a couple of hours. Road to California will be opening up registration for the 2014 conference and Long Beach Convention will be held at the end of July. Wear good walking shoes and bring your camera. Lots of great ideas and color combinations to enjoy. I’m wearing my Martini In The Morning Race for the Cure Shirt.

If you like great music while you are quilting, check out http://www.martiniinthemorning.com for Michael Blube, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr and so many more.

Thanks for reading.

Spring is coming

Posted on by

0

With the time change, there are a few things I always do:
1) Start weeding out the fabric. I bought it for one reason or another but if I haven’t touched it ins some time, it’s time to go. So it either gets donated to a church for their prayer quilts or a Senior Assisted Living Facility for their craft classes.
2) Clean – it’s amazing what you can find. Last month, I found a bag of thread that I had purchased at Road to California from Superior Threads. Score one for me!
3) I change the batteries in my smoke alarm. If you lose power, a battery will keep you safe for some time. Change the batteries twice a year or purchase the new 10-yr life battery. And don’t forget your carbon monoxide detector.

If you have gas appliances, connecting garage or a fireplace, a carbon monoxide will help alert you if there is a gas leak.

Replace your smoke alarms when they are 10 years old and your carbon monoxide detectors every 7 years.

Stay safe and thanks for reading.
smoke

Red and White

Posted on by

0

Red and white

This pattern was in one of the quilt magazines. I do have an electronic reader but I prefer to have the magazine in my hands, a good cup of coffee and my feet up.

Now sometimes you can order a kit which is an easy way to start the project. However, I love to shop in a small store, get some personal help and be able to show the end result to those that helped me. Two of the ladies at Quilter’s Garden assisted me by pulling together 8 fabrics for this quilt. We spent about 45 minutes deciding which fabric would go next to each other.

Saturdays are known as “Shop Small Stores”. Yes, the internet is great and I occasionally order items, but reall prefer to shop and touch the fabric. Today I took in 5 tops to get backing and more thread and was able to book one of the long arms.

Please keep shopping in the small stores, take some classes, and maybe even join a guild. You make some awesome friends.

Thanks for reading.

Road to California Quilt show

Posted on by

0

Let me tell you about Road – it is the most fun, people packed week for quilters. It is held in Ontario right around Martin Luther King Day. There are classes with long arm machines, hand piecing, crazy quilting, paper piecing and many others. Check out the webpage http://www.road2ca.com for more information.  The quilt in this picture was done by the instructor, and this is one class I was hesitant to take.  Curves have never been my friend – either in quilting or on the body (little humor).  I am blanking out on her name but she is in the San Diego area and has published a few books of patterns.

new york beauty004  But I took the class and really enjoyed it.  I have conquered curves – at least with fabric.  And speaking of fabric….

I spent New Year’s Day putting away fabric I had purchased earlier this year and also any fabric I had sitting out. Then I put together a top with some borders (picture later) and pulled together fabric for one of my classes at Road to California.  Normally I will go to the fabric store and buy specific fabric for the class. This year – I am working through the stash of fabric.  In two of my three classes, it will be stash fabric.  My third class is done with felt and the kit will be sold by the instructor.

So if you aren’t busy January 24-27th, stop by the Ontario convention Center.  This is for quilters, crafts people (you should see the crystals, buttons and stencils that are offered), dress designers, or anyone who likes to sew.  Plenty of sewing machines, both regular, long arm, embroidery, etc.  Hope to see you there.  Also, the most amazing quilts on display – it is an overload of color and wonderfulness.

Thanks for reading.

 

Star Quilt

Posted on by

1

star quilt 2010
Points were never my friend. As hard as I tried, my points sometimes got cut off, sewn over or were too far from the seam.

I tried a paper piecing class at a Road to California class and loved it. My points are perky and the instructor (whose name escapes me because I’m typing this before work and the pattern is at home) made the class so easy.

So if you are a novice quilter, try paper piecing. There are some great products out there that don’t dull your needle while sewing.

I love the color purple so that is usually somewhere in my quilts and I found this fabric at Bear’s Quilts in Garden Grove while waiting for Earlene Fowler to start her talk. Earlene Fowler is a local author and writes the Bennie Harper mysteries.

Not much else to write – have a great Christmas and a wonder New Year. Do what you like, learn what you don’t know and be a nice person.

Thanks for reading.

It’s been awhile and I apologize

Posted on by

0

Spring and summer are quite busy for me with my regular job – I had 6 commercial high rises to inspect and 3 residential high rises.  This just means my weekends are a little busy and I don’t get a lot of quilting done.  And of course, there are the times I am on firework shoots (most fun and most dangerous).

But while shopping in Quilter’s Garden in Anaheim, I found this great fabric and I immediately thought “I could do another Magic Slice and Dice”.

This is the quilt after completing the squares and sewing into rows.  There are 2 ladies in the So Calif area that worked out a pattern that when sewn looks like this.  (top pic) Then you make 2 slices, resew just 2 seams and this is what you get. (Bottom pic)

It takes on a whole new look.  It appears that it is sewn on the diagonal with triangles on the sides.  I have made this pattern about 8 other times.  In fact, this is one pattern that you can use the ugliest, busiest fabric and it comes out absolutely gorgeous.  It only took 3 hours to quilt on the long arm.

The back fabric is black and I used gold thread on the back so the quilting would really stand out.  Plus it kind of makes it a reversible quilt.  Who gets this one?  Who knows.  It may be a raffle quilt or a gift.  I just quilt because God has given me this talent.  Plus if my hands are busy, then they aren’t stuffing food in the mouth.

Thanks for reading – have a blessed holiday season.