Moose and Quilt

This is a really big moose.  I'm not sure what she is thinking but maybe she was meditating.  She wasn't eating or exploring; she just stood still and chilled for a while.  She really was huge.

Moose

John has finished his contribution to the 2010 International Quilt Association's Silent Auction Fundraiser.  This little quilt is 18"x18" and is called "seedling".  It is machine pieced and quilted.  No, it is not paper pieced.  And no, Kate and I are not finished.  Kate is hand quilting and I still have borders to put on and then frantic machine quilting.  I'll bet a lot of you know about frantic machine quilting.  Well, back to work.

Brooke

And South from Alaska

I have just returned from back-to-back trips to Eureka, Montana and Petersburg, Alaska. I am having a hard time deciding which trip I enjoyed the most.


Eureka is in the far corner of Montana from me. You can get farther from Red Lodge and still stay in Montana but you need four wheel drive. I taught classes for three days before the annual Eureka Outdoor Quilt Show that happens the first Saturday of August each year. I had to get back home to fly to Petersburg so I did not attend the show but did get to help in the preparation. It is really great to see a whole community get together to celebrate quilts.

While in Eureka I stayed at the Pruett House bed and breakfast. I woke up every morning thinking “I’m not worthy”. If you are looking for a great quilt retreat next August, make a reservation at the Pruett House and sign up for a couple classes in Eureka, Montana and see the outdoor quilt show.

I got to spend 4 sunny days in Petersburg, Alaska. They claim to have over 100 inches of rain a year but the weather was beautiful for me. I stayed at the Feathered Nest Bed and Breakfast in Petersburg. Liz is a quilter so she understands everything a quilter could need and will make you feel like you are home. I loved walking around Petersburg. I had taken a rain jacket just to insure it would not rain and it was so warm out, I kept leaving it in every shop I stopped at. In an hour or so I would figure it out and my jacket was always there when I went back. I kept thinking that this time I would lose it and it would start raining but it never happened.

Classes were not as full as I would have liked but when you looked out the window, it was hard to get that good-fishing-on-a-sunny-day image out of your head so I do understand. I ate their great fresh fish three times a day and am having a hard time adjusting back home. Next time I am in Petersburg I will be fishing, you can be sure. I could always ship those old quilts home to make room for fresh fish in my luggage. Petersburg quilt week is the second week of August if you want to go. It is right on the ferry route so you can stop in Petersburg and continue to tour the rest of Southeast Alaska. They have a great little quilt shop and several long-arm quilters to visit plus you can get fresh fish almost anywhere along the way.

John

North to Alaska

Our barbecue was fun; there were quilters there and so we had show and tell!  Lots of interesting people came; one of my favorite guests was the little boy who loved the love seat I recovered in fake cowhide plush.  It is an acquired taste.  The barbecue was pot luck; John cooked pork loin which is almost always a hit.  Here is a picture of the cook getting ready to carve and guests and quilts!
About Alaska, John left EARLY on Wednesday for a trunk show and three classes in Petersburg.  He sent a picture of the harbor from his cell phone yesterday; wow, it is a pretty spot.  And the seafood is as good as you would expect; I'm jealous. 

The weatherman has promised a cool weekend; just right for sewing.  My project is a miniature for the IQA Silent Auction.  Kate and John both have their projects pieced but maybe I can sneak ahead of them while they are busy with other things.

Have a great weekend!

Brooke

BBQ and John's Little Quilts

News for the weekend - we are hosting a barbecue tomorrow. About 30 people last I heard and it is mostly potluck so that will be fun! I still have a couple of things to do and then just visit and eat.

We enjoyed our field trip to Cody, Wyoming and visit to the Buffalo Bill Historical Center. I ran out of camera battery part of the way through the Plains Indian Museum but did get a few pictures. I had never seen or even heard of moose hair embroidery. It was just exquisite. We also saw a pair of moccasins that were completely beaded in a yellow and black harlequin pattern on the soles; obviously for wearing while riding, not walking.

The Chevy van held 8 quilters/knitters just fine and 8 quilters/knitters weigh less than 6 boxes of quilt frames and booth paraphernalia, so the van was happy.

"Heart of the Storm"

John finished his Alzheimer's Challenge quilt, "Heart of the Storm" and it is ready to ship.  This is his 2010 entry in to the "World Series" Challenge  - you can learn more at Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative.    Last year the 4 quilts in the challenge raised $10,000 for Alzheimer's research.  This year there are two teams so we all hope the quilts net even more!   The little wallhanging is 16" by 16".

"Seedlings"

Another project is almost done; John's contribution to the 2010 IQA Miniature Auction at International Quilt Festival.  It is all pieced and ready to quilt.  This Pine Burr variation is 18" x 18" and is called "Seedlings".
No, it is not paper pieced.

Stay cool; I'm trying to do my outside work in the morning so I can be inside while it is the hottest, how about you?

Brooke

More Small Quilts

Each year, the International Quilt Association has a fundraising auction of miniature quilts. Since IQA is the group that puts on the Quilt Show at Houston, we love to help them by donating little quilts.  Here are pictures of John's work in progress.  The Pine Burr blocks finish to 6" and he is making 9 of them.

And then there is Kate's string pieced satin String Star which is going to finish to 12".  Wow, the colors of the satin just glow.

So I have started a little project using 4" Dresden Plate blocks but I'm feeling a little intimidated by these two and their skill.  They will be done and off to the next project before I have decided what I am going to do, I bet.

I am so excited; some of our quilt group are going to see "The Quilters" in Cody, Wyoming at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center.  We are making a day of it, even lunch!  John and I saw the play maybe 30 years ago and enjoyed it.  It will be fun to see how much the presentation has changed over the years. 

Have a great weekend!

Brooke

Field Trips

No, not  to a quilt shoppe this time.  Saturday John and I went on a Geology and Ecology field trip up the Beartooth Highway.  I have looked forward to this trip for weeks and weeks. There were about 40 of us on the bus, and we learned a lot about the area we have been driving by in our cars for years.  My favorite was the little alpine tundra meadow, up at 10,000', with thousands of miniature flowers like forget-me-nots,  a type of red-violet clover and bright yellow geum.  We had a  beautiful day for the trip and here are some pictures

Beartooths

Then I went with some knitting friends to a yarn shoppe in Fishtail, Montana (really, that is the town's name!) called The Muddy Lamb.  It is a beautiful shoppe; we had a great time and left with many bags of yarn.

John is teaching in Knoxville right now - he doesn't need his jacket there!

Brooke

Paul the Octopus Picks...

Paul the Octopus has picked John's Alzheimer Art Quilt to win the World Series Challenge.  So there.

Let me remind you about the Mediterranean Empires Quilt Seminar at Sea next summer.  John will be teaching as well as Karen Combs, Christine Porter, Cindy Walter and Elly Sienkiewicz.  The cruise line is Holland America.  Here is the web address  Group Seminars at Sea  And here are some pictures!

John will be teaching a small, beautiful Mariner's Compass wall hanging and a hand quilted trapunto and stippling whole cloth project designed just for the cruise.  How peaceful it will be to sit and watch the sea go by and hand piece or hand quilt; better sign up!

We are packing the van right now so John can head for Knoxville on Sunday.  The AQS Show is next week and the kits for all the classes are very nice - if you are signed up, I think you are going to like them!

Stay cool and have a great weekend.

Brooke