June threads

June 8 - second Monday of the month - Colonial Lacemakers meeting in Williamsburg. It was lovely to see these friends again. I don't see them that often. And I came back very happy because ... look! I almost finished another Chrismon.

Finished it at home the same evening. Great feeling! I know the tread could be just a little thicker. Selecting the right thread is the most difficult part of bobbinlace to me. Since I have to change the size of the pricking to make it fit my advent calendar I can't go by the directions.

Next day! Monthly meeting of the CR Quilters. Show and tell! Sharon has made the wallhanging I am going to tackle next for my church's raffle but that will be a separate blog.

Lynda made a Spider-Man quilt for a nephew (I think?). Lots of fussy cutting.

Last month I had shown everybody how to make 4 log cabin blocks in one go (tutorial tab above). Here is a result. Lorraine (I think) made a table runner and a pillow. Seeing that made me happy.

This month' theme: Block Lotto. I have a good stash of orphan blocks, ha-ha. I also demonstrated the May and June pattern. You can learn so much from Block Lotto because the directions are so great.

Same day evening: the annual Church Mice potluck picnic at Bonnie's house. As always it was very nice. But of course there is always show+tell too.

Stitchers-for-a-Cause! Finally finishing another project. It started that somebody had donated 6 machine embroidered pieces I was asked to do something with.

I know one of the centers goes the other way. I was told I should leave it like that. Adds interest. I also know that top and bottom borders need to be re-done. I wasn't careful enough with those bias edges.

Yup, this is what I got in March. They were layered with batting and backing and sewn in triangles. What was somebody planning to do? I took them apart and then they "lived" in my basket for a while until I got the idea.

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Eye Candy - 42nd Annual Quilters Unlimited Show

... Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly VA. The Richmond Quilt Guild had organized a bus trip on Friday May 29. I had signed up and I had to be at the VA Center Commons meeting point at 8:30 am. Everybody in the bus load of quilters was very friendly and cheerful. We arrived just after the expo place had opened at 10 am.

We each got a wristband and were "let loose". Do I go right to look at the quilts and wall-hangings?

Or do I go left and look what the vendors offer?

Right! The quilts first.
Here is a selection of what interested me the most.

This is worth a closer look especially if you can make the photo larger and read the writings.

Besides the overall look and compositions of quilts I was very interested in the way things were quilted and raw edge (or not) appliqué.

The next quilt was very innovative. I took photos of the explanations as well so I don't have to write anything else.

I was surprised how much I liked this modern quilt.

Interesting details everywhere.

There were two of these designs called "Dark Shimmer" by Jenny Bowker in different areas of the exhibit.

The next one was made by Marsha Bush.

Another challenge.

Then there was a section of small wall-hangings (all the same size) called "Inspired by the Beatles". Many had taken the title of one of their many songs for their design. You could have even bought a book about this challenge.

There were also several lectures/demonstrations which I visited when I needed a sit-down.

Yes, this vendor got some of my money! Had seen her in the show in Hampton More then a year ago and was interested then. All the rest of the photos are taken at her stand. Things she did with her tools! Plenty to tempt somebody.

We were supposed to meet before 6 pm when the place closes. Lots of us would have been ready to leave earlier but ... So we occupied some chairs close to the exit and socialized until it was time. We also did a little show+tell about our purchases and I liked something Constance had bought and made a quick dash to get it too.
Everybody knows that I-95 is most of the time a nightmare close to DC but the driver must have experience because he left the highway at least once to avoid standing in a jam and we arrived in good time where some of us were dropped off. I think I was home at 8:45 pm or so.
I am glad I went. Now if I only could make all those things which are floating in my head!

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