Domestic Production

by: Barb

Saturday was a busy and fun filled day. Jill and I attended the 3rd Regional Quilt Study day in Burlington, NJ.

Judy Grow, of the Mid-Atlantic Quilt Study Group coordinates a wonderful day with the help of the study group. Attendees have the opportunity to view private collections of antique quilts and it was wonderful! Unfortunately no photos are allowed during the study day. Judy takes beautiful photos and offers them on a CD.

The day is held in a Historical Museum, here are some photos of the museum's collection:





I especially liked this one. And the Title, wouldn't that make a funny quilt title?

I love the way the columns are quilted like a sampler of designs...

We saw many wonderful PA quilts and pillowcases this year. One rare treat was seeing about 35 quilts from the Christ Collection. Pat and Arlen started collecting quilts after 9/11 as an investment and it's clear that now it has become a passion.

They presented an array of quilts spanning 100 years. They had a amazing scrap 4-patch quilt with over 9,000 pieces. The crowning glory was a East Coast Album Quilt, Red & Green, with a charming apple vine border which they acquired at auction.

We were able to purchase this wonderful booklet containing photos of quilts from their collection. The total number of quilts in their collection is somewhere around 500.

We had a wonderful lunch out side on the lawn. We ended the day with show and tell and door prizes. This is what I won - how lucky am I?


We visited 2 shops afterward and here is some of our booty. We are sharing these fabrics for an upcoming project....

such a sweet childrens toile'.....sigh

Isn't this a cute shop?
This is where we made a new friend - how cute is she?

This little puppy was visiting the shop with her mommy, who was teaching a rug making class. I asked her how extensive her wardrobe was. She has 40 dresses, 2 pajamas and a bikini. How funny, now if I could only remember the cute pups name. Amanda? Amelia? Abigail? We were smitten.....
I really liked the skirt on the form in front of the shop. I picked up the pattern and this fabric to make a Fall skirt. I'm a little concerned as there are no pictures with the pattern, it's all typed out. Yikes.

And finally, and the best for last, here are fabrics that Jill shared with me from the Windham Lincoln collection. Aren't they incredible? The cupcakers' are thinking about doing a little Lincoln Challenge to commemorate the bicentennial of his birth.
Hope you're having quilting and sewing fun!

The Happy Hooker

by: Barb

This is a project that I've been working on for a couple of weeks. It's a locker hook rug. This is the first one I made a few years ago for a bathroom that is no longer pink toile'. I'm using it under my sewing machine.


I love the scrappy look of these rugs. Instead of yarn, you use 1 1/4 cut strips of fabric on a standard rug canvas with a locker hook, which is like a crochet hook with a eye to thread the fabric.

It's tough to work with the stiff canvas. You prepare it by ironing back the first 4 rows. These means in the corner you have to go through 4 holes at once....

The fabric motif doesn't matter as much as the overall color. It's a great way to use up fabric that we're not so in love with anymore.


After the first 4 tough rows, it goes along nicely. The longer you work the canvas, the softer it becomes.

Here is how it looks so far. I am making this odd size for a custom fit in my house, which I'll share when it's completed.

Two things I love about fall (besides all the new fall tv shows).
Tomorrow I'm off for my 3rd and last fun Saturday of September. I'm going to an Antique Quilt Study Day. I don't think I'll be able to take photos, but I'll let you know how it was next week.

Happy Friday!

On With The Show.....

by: Barb

Saturday was a beautiful sunny day here in the mid-Atlantic. Perfect for a bus trip to the PA Quilt Extravaganza! This was the first time I've taken a bus trip to a quilt show and it's wonderful. I arrived without any driving fatique and I was ready to hit the vendors and the quilt displays.

Mary - it was nice chatting with you via cel phone, but it's not the same without you!

This was my "best in show"....those who know me, know I've never met a Toile' I didn't love.



Mark Twain collection


A hex! The cupcake club is working on this style quilt. Jill's is finished, Barb & Mary's are in progress....


This whole cloth quilt was lovely in person--


On a different quilt - lovely feathers.

Part of the World Quilt Competition. It won best in Africa


over 50,000 pieces, nuf said

This was from China...
Each cherry blossom was embroidered on a solid piece.

Look at this lovely paper piecing! So interesting






This quilt was encrusted with crystals, the photos do not give it justice (my photos anyway)



This is the back - what?


A crowd favorite. Everyone stood there naming the movies. It was such a delight and so whimsical. No ribbon....no foolin'...shame

Mary Poppins, Physcho, Titanic, ET, king and I. Each one was a work of art.

This was hand painted whole cloth with thread painting.




The variety of quilts was amazing. There was a lovely antique quilt exhibit, unfortunately this is the only photo I was able to take--



And now back to my regularly scheduled program. I hope you enjoyed the show!

Barb