Washed Up

We spent a quiet weekend, John quilting like mad with the Janome and its walking foot and Brooke working on the Tax Return. We washed these little quilts. Kate just finished quilting the 6" Wheel of Mystery and John quilted the 12" Storm at Sea and another one of those cute miniatures.

Quilts always dry fast in Montana. When we go to more humid climates and hang the quilts in the booth, it is nice because the weight and humidity take some of the folds and wrinkles out. I have some folds and wrinkles myself....

Brooke

Carnival and Opinionated Book Reviews

John just finished piecing one of our "Carnival" pre-cut kits. So these are the current fabrics; the fabrics change constantly but the basic light, bright and dark combinations stay the same. We figured we needed another sample of "Carnival" so there could be one at each show.

Kate just finished quilting one of the 8" Wheel of Mystery samples and it looks GOOD. We will get an image up of it this week - maybe before it is bound.

In the past, I have mentioned books we are reading - John just finished "A Briefer History of Time" by Stephen Hawking and has given it to me to read. I'm probably not going to "get" it. I just finished reading "The Witches of Eastwick" and didn't particularly like it which disappointed me. Almost a male fantasy book with superficial women who I think the author thought he was making "deep". I have never read "Waldon" so that is what I am reading now.

Brooke

New Templates

John is busy piecing, Kate is machine basting a quilt and I am putting off filing. Really, filing is not something to aspire to.

I have just put a couple of new templates in the Catalog http://flynnquilt.com/ and there is a story behind the Royal Cross. Our friend and renowned quilt teacher, Sharyn Craig, is retiring - you may have heard. She has given us permission to sell the Royal Cross templates that we have been cutting for her classes for years now. But, get this, she also gave us some of her class samples - Gave them to us! What fun!

For you miniature fans, try the 2 1/2" Attic Windows. I made one of these for the IQA Raffle two years ago and it was so much fun!

John is back from teaching in Dallas and now we are contemplating our next two road trips. I think we had better replace the windshield in the Chevy van before I drive to Washington State - I can't see through the cracks without a lot of head bobbing.

Brooke

Update Raffle Quilt

Sue Nickels, Master Quilter, sent us photos of the quilting in progress on the 2009 IQA Raffle Quilt. WOW! WOW!

The quilting is almost finished and then it comes back to Billings to be bound. It will be on display at the International Quilt Festival in Chicago - and that is when you can start buying tickets!

Kate just finished cutting and packaging three new template sets; Broken Path, Arrowhead and Sprocket. We have had pre-cut kits for these three blocks for some time and have had a lot of requests for "just the template", so they will be in the catalog by tomorrow, if I shake a leg.

Brooke

Errata

Okay, I had a senior and a Friday moment - the miniature Wheel of Mystery Kit is a 4" block not a 3" block.

There was a huge snowdrift in our driveway Friday when we got to Red Lodge so we walked in carrying only the essentials; duffel bag, quilt project, knitting project and the bread dough.

Baking rustic bread is our new hobby; it is fun and when bread is $3.50 a loaf, it makes us feel thrifty. John made me "peels", those wooden paddles you use to slip the bread into the oven out of leftover poplar. Now we want to make two loaves at a time so I need a bigger "peel". Here is the address for the recipe we have been using from Mother Earth News. Search for Artisan Bread http://www.motherearthnews.com We bought Kate the bread cookbook in the article for her birthday - it all sounds so yummy.

John is finishing up his Seven Sisters quilt. It is big and very nice in warm plaids. Photos to follow.

Brooke