Quilt History Study Group

On April 23, 2008 I went to the first Quilt History Study Group in Mt Joy, PA.  I found out about it at the last Red Rose Quilt guild mtg.  in Lancaster.  I expected quilters and was pleasantly surprised when I met several quilt collectors, a man worked at the Lancaster Quilt Museum, a veterinarian, several quilters like myself, a few well know teachers and authors and a fabric designer and a woman studying to be a quilt appraiser.  If I left any one out please forgive me.  ;)

It started out with a lovely woman, Jo sharing 2 suitcases of old quilts ranging in age from the late 1800's to 1940 about.  Once we all signed in and plucked 2 cotton gloves from a brown handled basket we found our seats.  We all sat around many tables pushed together.  Each quilt was unwrapped and placed on the table one at a time.   We were able to examine them close up, handle them, and then discuss their fabric types, colors and stitching.  I was fascinated.  How many times do you see old quilts but cannot get close to them nor touch them.  

Another woman a quilt collector (not a quilter) shoed several from her collection.  They were all nicely documented in a notebook.  Where they were bought, when, who & the price paid along with any personal info collected.  That was helpful.  

It was a wonderful experience.   But low and behold these many acknowledged and educated people in the quilt world could not agree on much about the quilts.  the mystery goes on.  I will be at next months meeting.  

My Birthday, Wow

April 22 was my birthday!  Yea me.  What a day.  I had all these plans but as you know life is what happens while you are making plans.  LOL.  My mom who is in her 70's decided she wanted to take me shopping for my birthday and buy me fabric.  Hmmm go with my original plans or go shopping for fabric.  Hard choice.  ;)  Well I decided to go to the fabric shop.  It started out as just that.  I wanted to take her to my favorite quilt shop which is in Epherta, PA about 45 minutes away.  Now you must understand Mom is not in the best of health.  As many of you in my age group are experiencing with our parents.  They have failing eye sight, loss of hearing and in Mom's case she needs a walker to get around also.  This shop is in the basement of a brick ranch house surrounded by farm land in Lancaster County.  There are stairs to navigate plus the drive.  Mom decided she could not make the stairs & where ever we go I would need to take a chair for her to sit on.   I thought we could make this a short shopping trip and then I could still have the rest of the day for myself.   Next Mom decided she would take me to lunch.  And of course after I would take her to the grocery store since she was totally out of food.  (OK my mother has never been out of food, not ever.)  I knew this would be 3 + hours alone at the grocery store but I agreed to take her.  Could it have been guilt???  I called her in the Am after I got up.  She needed 2 hours to get dress & take her meds.  I picked her up at 11 Am and off we were.   Mom asked me where I wanted to eat.  I was ready for this question, I played this game before.  I named 4 resturants, 1 a Chinese rest. the 2nd a japanese rest. the third was Panara's Bread and last pizza.  All places I like a lot.  Mom had an excuse for all of them and named a rest. she knows I do not like.  She named another and I caved.  Knowing it was easier & I was not going to get my way.  So what it's my birthday, let her have it.  I could see the 4 hour trip to the grocery store looming in my future.  So we went to her rest. and split the salad she wanted and 1 crab cake I wanted.  

Next to a fabric store I do not like because the quality is poor.  they are a large fabric store all over the US I think.  You probably know who I mean.  Right away she wanted me to take her in the back to the knitting section.  I sent her on her way and tried to hide in the cotton greens and think of the next few quilts I was creating.  Mom called me as though I was a 6 year old and like a good daughter I yelled back as I walked to her.  She wanted me to carry her yarn 7 skeins in all.  When asked what she was making she told me she had no idea she just had to have beautiful yarn around her.  I smiled, just like a quilter.  Next we went to my fabric.  I was trying to quickly choose bolts and tally the money.  I knew I would not have enough time but I worked as quickly as I could.  Mom wanted to watch me she said.  I looked at all the cottons narrowing my choices.  Mom had suggestions.  I tried to stay focused since I knew I had little time.  She wanted to help and I patiently let her.  (Did I mention patience is a virtue I struggle with on a regular basis?)  Don't get me wrong I love my mom.  I definately have one of the better ones.  But I take my birthday seriously.  LOL  Mom taught me that.  I quickly chose bolts, had them cut and went up to pay as Mom struggled with her walker and off we went on the next adventure.  I was a little sad but determined to make it a good day.  

Next we  went to Starbucks Coffee shop.  I got my favorite which is  a Frapachino.  A frozen coffee drink to die for.  Try it, uuummmm.  Sitting there drinking coffee and talking mom was extremely happy.  The beaming smile told me all i needed to know.   It was her day and I was the one that gave it to her.   That made me feel good too.  Her life is in the later stages and she is afraid.  Sometimes you can see it on her face.  If I can do this simple thing for her so be it.  I love her and she loves me.  

Tackling the Giant grocery store was up next.  At the 3 hour mark I decided to stop looking at the time.  My day was just about gone.  I will choose another and pretend it was mine.  Maybe even tomorrow....  Yees tomorrow I am going to the first meeting Quilt Study Group in Lancaster.   I can't wait.

sewing table 57 x 76 for my birthday

Poplar with a green tinge to it is the wood chosen for my sewing table legs & frame.  57 " x 76 " just may be big enough, LOL.  I can not wait to use it.  It is in the construction stage right now.  If you are interested in the details let me know I will share them or if you are interested having it built for you just shout.  We aim to please.  I got tired of having my fabric drag to much altering my stitches from being near perfect :0.  This certainly will solve my dilemma.  Most of my fabric Queen size quilt top fits on the table top!  I am so excited.  It also has a hole with a lift in it for my Bernina 440 QE sewing machine.  The top is MDF painted my favorite green to bring out the color of the wood.  We can also put a laminate top on it but I wanted to add color and fun to my sewing room.  Now the question is will it take up to much room in my sewing room or should I take over the living room instead?  Hmmm what do you think?

a good quilting info site to share with you

I thought you may want to know about a good info quilting site.  It is www.quilterscache.com  I was there the past several days and found a lot of blocks new & old about 400.  Plus many other useful info 

Steering away from quilting for a moment

Hello again,

I must leave quilting for a moment and share an HBO documentary I saw called Silence Rape by film maker Lisa F. Jackson.  In fact it was so disturbing & important that I had to watch it twice.  I recommend it to all adults, no children with out you reviewing it first.  I am wondering as I often do what is wrong with humans.  There are so many nice people I meet and yet millions that do not deserve the right to be a member of the human race.  Please feel free to share your feeling with me.

Back to quilting later. :)

Time for Me

I went to the Lancaster, PA (yes as many may have heard the Amish area) quilt guild meeting.  I had a wonderful time.  The women there are warm, kind and sharing.  For those of you who have never went to a guild meeting I recommend it.  You will get all kinds of support.  No matter what kind of quilting you do, hand quilting, machine, trapunto or applique.  You will find like minded people there.    We had a very good speaker.   IF you like to laugh and want to see wonderful quilts Norma Campbell is the speaker for you.  Norma is from the Annapolis area in Maryland.  You will laugh a lot while learning the most.  What a collection of 1930's quilts new & old.   Norma's co-hort (hmm is that spelled right?) Mimi Dietrich, who many of you may know from her books & classes on Applique often teach in the Maryland & PA areas with Norma.  She has been a serious quilter for 20  years and teaching since 1990.  She co-ordinated the fourth annual project of decorating the Maryland State House with Christmas themed quilts for the administration of Gov. Parris Glendening.  

Her stories and collection of quilts just about knocked my socks off.  What a surprise.  Like being a small kid in a candy store!  If you are ever in the area & would like to attend either of my guilds just let me know we can ride together.

First Time, Please be gentle

Hi,

Be gentle this is my first time.  LOL

As a matter of fact I just started going on blogs 2 or 3 days ago.  You see I must confess I am a quilting addict.  The color, the texture makes me want to design and sew.  It is so amazing since I just started about 6 years ago.  My quilting seems like it has so far to go yet when I look at others I know I have every right to show and tell.  It is good enough.  I keep telling myself that :).

And I amaze myself.  I will borrow my sister, Jill's camera soon since I can not find mine and share what I am working on.  

When I was looking around I stumbled across a site or really called a blog.   It is four seasons quilt swap, I recommend looking at it.  

I have a wonderful quilting helper from time to time.  9 year old Zoey who loves to sit in my sewing room and design (play) with fabric scraps.  She also took her first sewing class with me several months ago.  It was a mother and daughter class.  Close enough she is my sister Jill's daughter and all most my daughter.  She is amazing.  Zoey was born with 1 arm.  Wait until you see the quilt top she has finished so far.  

I will be back with more of my life and pictures.  thanks for sharing.   

Carin