2019 In Review

 

January 8- February 27 - Two Timer Quilt Along with Gudrun Erla

This quilt along was really unique, in that using the same fabrics, we created two entirely different quilts at the same time.  We used Gudrun's Two Timer Pattern from her Stripology Mixology book.  See her blog post all about the project here. This time I decided to go outside my comfort zone and use colors that I wouldn't ordinarily choose.  Some very bright primary colors for my 'darks' and a single white fabric with polka dots in the same primary colors for my 'lights.'  I actually loved how my Two Timer "A" turned out - that will show up in a later blog post.   Not so wild about Two Timer "B" shown here - blocks made and laid out prior to assembling into quilt top.  We'll find out later how I feel about "B" when it's finished.

January 23-27 - Road to California!

Have I said how much I love going to this show?  

This year I had some exceptional classes.  First of all, a class with my favorite quilt teacher, Gudrun.  This year there was a choice between her patterns Lupine and Aurora, both found in her book, Quilts of Iceland.  This being my second in-person class with Gudrun, I knew what to expect and was ready to hit the ground running.   

The two quilts studied in this class are hanging in the corner for inspiration.  Also noteworthy are the sewing machines provided for the class.  These are Baby Lock Aria machines.  They sell the now-used machines after the conference at really good prices - so I'm now the proud owner of an Aria.  I needed a new machine.  Yes, I really did!

 

We had instructions to cut out all our quilt pieces prior to the class, which I did.  Here's what I got assembled during class.  I chose Stonehenge fabrics for my project because I love the variations in color - There are 12 different colored fabrics plus a dark solid here and IRL the colors just glow.

 

 

Eleanor Burns put on one of her shows, complete with costume changes.  She is just one of the most entertaining and charming people in the quilting industry.  My sister and I helped with her product sales before and after the show - then she sent us each the an autographed book of  our choice as a thank-you. 

 

 

 

Also took a longarm class - I still stink at longarm quilting but I'm a little less intimidated by the machine. And a class called "Borders and Finishing Touches" taught by Bonnie Browning.  Another excellent teacher.  

 

March 9-13 - Short Road Trip   

 

I was forced to attend a business conference in San Diego.  You know those luggage trolleys they use in hotels?  Well I had to use one to transport everything I brought with me into the hotel.  Got a few wierd looks because it was only a three day conference.  Would have gotten even wierder looks if people had seen what was in my luggage.  Because only 1/2 of one of my suitcases contained clothing and personal effects.  The other half, plus a second suitcase, a large cardboard carton, and a rolling cart contained my sewing machine, tools, and fabrics and patterns for half a dozen different projects since I couldn't decide what I wanted to work on.  

 

Conference events didn't begin until the evening, so I started my day out early and shop-hopped every fabric store between here and there.  And every shop I could find in San Diego County.  Had a marvelous day discovering some new-to-me shops.  I made it to the first event of the conference, then came down with a terrible virus - so bad I spent the next three days in bed.  at least I had all that lovely fabric to comfort me.  

 

May 27-June 6 Alaska Adventure

 

 

Juneau, Alaska.  May 27, 11:00 PM.  The sky is still quite light - look at that beautiful blue!

 

Alaska has been on my bucket list since before it was called a bucket list. 

 

When you're dedicated, you can always turn a trip into a fiber adventure. We did our research and found a quilt store at every port of call.  My favorites were  Whale's Tail Quilt Shop in Ketchikan and Rushin Tailors Quilt Alaska in Skagway.  

 

Just a few of the items that made it into the empty half of my suitcase:

 

 

Of course, we did a lot of sightseeing and there were many spectacular sights to be seen.  I'd love to go back on a quilting cruise one of these days - if I get through the rest of the stuff on my bucket list.

 

August 6 - The Electric Eel Nano Spinning Wheel Has Arrived

I don't know how I first heard of this project, but a gentleman named Maurice Ribble, owner of Dreaming Robots, was brought to my attention in late 2019.  He began crowdfunding by offering a low-cost electric spinning wheel on Kickstarter way back in 2015.  And has continued to successfully fund several additional projects ever since.  When I saw the Electric Eel Nano, I just couldn't resist hopping on the Kickstarter train, and made my pledge. 

Isn't this cute?  It's small enough to rest in the palm of your hand.

I can't explain why, but whenever I spin on this little wheel, my yarn is instantly much finer than my default yarn on the Hansen or a traditional wheel.  I was VERY happy with the singles I produced the day the Nano arrived.

There were a few issues with the original Nano - it tends to run hot and some of the motors failed.  Maurice promptly replaced those motors.  Mine runs pretty hot and slows down, but partially my fault because I tend to put too much tension on the yard and resist the draw-in. So I bought an inexpensive USB powered notebook fan and problem solved. That's the fan in the photo below - I just set the Nano on top of the fan and continue to spin.  The purple thingy on the left is a battery pack which powers the Nano and the fan at the same time.

 

September 21 - Quilted Amalie

I finally got Amalie (begun January 2018) on a longarm machine and did the quilting.  Now all I have to do is learn to do binding.  Beginning to have hope that I will actually finish something one day.

 

October 2 - Finished The Accuquilt Sampler!

Finally got the binding on my very first pieced quilt - only took me a couple of years to work up the courage.  I am VERY pleased with this quilt!

 

October 6 - Forty Fabulous Year Finished!

I'm on a roll!  Have realized that I actually enjoy hand-binding quilts - except for the corners.  I hate the corners.  But you have to do the corners to finish the quilt so there it is.  And I'm thrilled beyond belief at how this one turned out - exactly how I had envisioned it.   The backing is a single piece of gradient in the Stonehenge line and I just love it. 

October 8 - One Last Burst of OCD

The nice thing about being somewhat obsessive, is that when you set your mind on something, you can't let go of it until it is reality.   I became determined to finish projects, and pretty much did nothing else until they were done.  Amalie is finally finished.  

October 16 - Goosebump Time

Copied from my FaceBook post on that date:

Here’s something to give you goosebumps (in a good way). Two or three years ago  I went in search of a vintage Singer Featherweight sewing machine and found a very nice one. It’s been patiently sitting in its case waiting for me to get it serviced.

This weekend I bought the ‘bible’ on Featherweights so I just now took my machine out of the case to do some research. Take a look at the name on the receipt in photo #2. That’s my late Aunt Marg’s name and address! The machine I bought originally belonged to my Grandma Cowin!

This isn’t the first time I accidentally stumbled onto a family artifact. Several years ago I bought a loom on eBay that turned out to have been my Grandfather Balcom’s.

I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep tonight.

 

 October 27 - Nite Owls Quilters Guild Biennial Quilt Show

I'm a joiner.  If I get interested in something, I find a club, guild, society - whatever they like to call themselves to learn more about it.  For someone as pathologically shy as I am, this seems like really odd behavior, but somehow it works for me.

I had been to the Nite Owls' 2017 show, met and liked a lot of the ladies, and admired all the beautiful quilts.  My sister and I eventually went to one of the guild meetings just to see what it was about.  Well, they had a huge group - I'm sure there were over a hundred people in the room.  There were tables around the room - opportunity drawings, books and magazines for sale, fabric for sale, charity quilters...and it was a beehive of activity.   There was a paid speaker who was to give a class the following Saturday.  The guild had Saturday workshops and 'open sew' days.  It was so inspiring and just a little intimidating, but we decided to join up that very night.  

Fast forward to 2019, and the guild was getting ready for its quilt show.  I try to be a good sport, so I applied to enter my three newly finished quilts.  Figuring that they might be rejected, or at best would be hanging in a dark corner somewhere. Opening myself up to criticism is way out of my comfort zone.  Imagine my shock, when I visited my Accuquilt Sampler and saw the blue ribbon hanging on it!   President's Choice Award.  

It was a judged show, so I received a report on each of my quilts.  Guess what they dinged me for?  Corners!  They also said a lot of complimentary things and if my day hadn't already been made, the critiques would have made it.  

October 28 - November 4 - Road Trip to Houston

Somehow my sister and I found ourselves registered for the Houston Quilt Festival, so we decided to make a tour of quilt shops while we were at it.  Is anybody surprised?

This is just part of the showroom floor.  On my first visit I managed to make it through about 2/3 of the aisles before my feet gave out.  My watch logged about 1.5 miles of walking during that time.  

I took a class in beginning crazy quilting.  Another project on my list of fun things to do.  I've been collecting little scraps of this and that to make one for quite some time.  

 

There were fangirl opportunities galore.   One day I very briefly met Alex Anderson.  Alex Anderson!  And the very next day I attended Ricky Tims' class on Smart Phone Photography for Quilters and Social Media.   I enjoyed it so much - hope there will be other opportunities to take a class from him in the future.

 

I have to tell a story that has nothing to do with fiber arts here.  From my FaceBook post:

So we’re on our way home from the quilt show and stopped in Katy, TX for dinner at Midway Barbecue because I’ve been bugging KT about smoked chicken during the whole trip. Get up to the counter.
She orders brisket.
'Yes, ma’am! '
I order chicken.
'Sorry, we’re out.'
What?
'We ran out.'
Sigh. Smoked food bad for you anyway.

Later, leaving the restaurant, I get a hearty slap on the back from a strange man.

Him: I see they let you escape.
Me: Uh...
Him: Every time I see you, your head’s in the computer.
(True enough, but) Me: Um... (nervous chortle)
(Looks closer at my face) Him: you’re always at work down to Katy Hardware.
Shake my head no.
Him Well, you’re the spittin image of the bookkeeper down to Katy Hardware.

Missed the chance to give him the ‘bless your heart’ treatment. Damn it!

All in all, a successful trip.   A fabulous show, 36 quilt shops while on the road, visits to the Alamo, the Silos in Waco, and, of course, several Buccee's stops.  I did have to make several visits to the chiropractor after doing all that driving, but one has to suffer for one's art, no?