Feeling Groovy & Giveaway!

Thank you so much for all your thoughts and comments on the current trends in quilt shows and for taking the survey.  It will be open for a while and please vote if you haven't.

Last night, my local guild the Clamshell Quilters had the reveal of this years' challenge.  The theme was "Music of the 60s".  Here is modern style entry:

Feeling Groovy - inspired by the Simon and Garfunkel (aka the 54th Street Bridge Song) from 1966 and using those plastic things for playing 45s on a turntable - Which I got on Ebay :)

A close up of my quilting to look like grooves on a record.  The binding is a groovy print too :)
I had to mark the the space between the spiral stencil that I had.  I used dots as a guide.  There are 2 different spirals to get the effect.

Here is the quilting I did after fusing the "45" area.  This is a batting view on the back.

I did this to prevent the quilting interrupting the lettering, which I fused and quilted after I sandwiched the piece.

As I have suggested in the past, I almost always have a scrap piece to try out my techniques and stitching.

Here is a signature quilt that I made in 1997.  I brought completed civil war blocks to Gwen Marston's  Beaver Island Quilt Retreat.

I free-hand quilted large fans the size of my elbow swipe.

This leads me to announce that I have a new stencil in my Etsy store here.  On the bottom is the new Large Baptist Fan Stencil.

As you can see, I filled in the missing line, which I have done on the machine but this will make it so much more even.

I'm thinking of using it on my Stars in a Time Warp.  It will work well on smaller or finer projects.

On IG I shared this sweet sewing box that I received for Christmas.  It is designed by Cath Kidston.

I finished this simple runner, a workshop sample, of a scrappy log cabin variation.

The Giveaway:
If you attended the 1997 BIQR Retreat and you are on my quilt - you are an automatic winner!  leave me a comment and I'll check the quilt.

For everyone else, leave me a comment here, take the survey, and send a friend to try their luck.

I'll pick a winner on February 2nd - Groundhogs' Day.
I'll pick a winner on February 2nd - Groundhogs' Day.

xo

Cake and Quilts Sturbridge Village

I love cake and last week while my son, Andrew, was visiting he requested The Bubble Room Orange Crunch Cake.   Do yourself a favor and click the link to their website.  You will see right away why I like the place!

(recipe on bottom of post)

Despite the snow, ice and wind the New England Regional Chapter met at Sturbridge Village for an  American Quilt Study Group day.  Wow, that was a lot of links, but I'd like to encourage you to join this National organization.

From the Sturbridge collection, made by: Susannah Howard 1879.

My heart stopped when I saw this Pride of Iowa 4-block.  Sorry for the bad iphone photo - I was having a mild heart attack.

Wow - these berries were nearly round but securely attached.  I need to step up my game!

My favorite room

What a sweet little doll bed and paper doll set.

It was great to see the group again including Cynthia of Wabi-Sabi and to finally meet Wendy, the Constant Quilter in person.  We had a funny adventure through the snowy village :)   They both have great posts on the day too.

Despite or because of the horrid weather, the feeders have been very busy!   Poor little Gold Finchs.

Check out this look.  She seems to be saying what are you doing here?

 Just waiting my turn.....I'm freezing out here!

Last Chance Charlie to win Diane's book or my stencil.

Thank you for all the comments on your quilting stories.  I've enjoyed reading each one.    Click here to enter the giveaway, I will  pick a winner on Saturday.

xo

**The only change to the recipe is that I make my own buttercream frosting with butter, powdered sugar, milk and vanilla - then I added the zest.**

Ingredients

Crunch layer

• 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (actual recipe) or 1/2 cup slivered almonds ( actual recipe)
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1/2 cup butter, melted

Cake

• 1 Pillsbury Plus yellow cake mix
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 2 tablespoons grated orange peel
• 3 eggs
• 1/3 cup oil

Frosting

• 1 pillsbury ready to spread vanilla frosting
• 1 cup frozen whipped topping, thawed
• 3 tablespoons grated orange peel
• 1 teaspoon grated lemon peel

Directions

1. : Combine crunch layer ingredients. Press 1/2 into each bottom of 2 greased and floured 8" or 9" pans.
2. : In a large bowl, blend cake ingredients at low speed until moistened. Beat 2 mins at high speed. Pour into pans.
3. : Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes Cool 10 minutes Remove from pans and cool completely.
4. : In small bowl, mix frosting & topping. Fold in lemon & orange peels.
5. : Place one layer, crunch side up, on plate. Spread with 1/2 cup frosting. Top with remaining layer, crunch side up. Spread top and sides with remaining frosting.

Giveaway Winner

Happy Friday!

Congratulations Carol, from Texas, who won a box of scraps.  Please send me your home address and I'll ship them out this week.

Chris offered to pass some along if she won, so I'm sending her a package of scraps too!

Thanks for your input on the binding issue, I'm gratified to know it's not just me. I had many anonymous commenters and some several non-reply bloggers.  This is how they make me feel~

I send a quick note to everyone who comments, so if you didn't get an email it is because YOU are a non-reply blogger.  You can fix that by going here to Lori's great post on identifying and fixing that.

Yay!  Friday I caught up on my Stars in a Time Warp.  I'm so glad that I did this sew along.  I've learned so much about fabric styles and it's been fun to be part of a big sew along.

Provincial Print - I couldn't help including the French Rooster conversation print.

 Sprigged Muslin two ways

 Coral Print with a little nautical anchor shirting.

 Early Roller Print with another sprigged muslin.

I found this wonderful photo of large fan quilting recently.   This is a quilt I'd love to make!

Happy Thanksgiving to all my US readers!

It's pretty much all things Christmas around here and I'll be doing some Chritmassy posts soon!

Winner!

It's here!  It's here!  Autumn has arrived in New England and I'm loving it!

I added a few nice fabrics to the magazine for the giveaway.  Thanks for all the comments, I wrote email responses to all those who do not have "non-reply" status on their google setting :(   sady, a lot you fell in that category, but it was nice to get your comment.   Hanna texted me a number between 1-60 and the winner is:

 Cathy said...

Your Alice Payne blocks are fantastic. Can't wait for you to produce the pattern.

Great magazine for a giveaway.

Hugs, Cathy

Our retreat at Rosa Mountain House was wonderful.  Click here to Pat's website. If you are looking for a lovely setting to sew with friends, she offers dates in the spring and fall.

Norma looks very serious here sewing away....We had such a good time as table and room mates.

I read an article about my buddy, Rachaeldaisey.  Her quilt was the cover girl of QuiltMania's new Simply Modern Magazine.  Congratulations Rachael!

 We solved the problems of the world.....one at a time.

I caught up on the last 4 stars for the Stars in a Time Warp sew along.  I did NOT finish my retreat project yet.  I hope to show it to you next time.

This should give you a big hint as to how I might set the stars.

I received a touching and very surprising package from my teacher and friend, Gwen Marston.   She is retiring at the end of this year and gifted me her travel applique' needle.  She taught with exactly 1 needle in the zippered, inside pocket of her coach purse.  She also sent along one of her signature sweatshirts.  

At the end of an email this week she wrote:

Glad you like the gifts…now you are all set…completely set….to become the queen of folk art appliqué…spreading the word of doing your own work! Go forth and multiply!   Gwenny

I was literally moved to tears and see it as a good omen because this weekend I'm visiting an applique' group near Boston to give an Applique' Quilt Trunk Show and a Workshop on Designing Folk Art Quilts - Your Way.

Thank you for your wonderful comments on my Alice Payne project. Next week I'll be posting the finished top! 

p.s.  I've added the tab at the top of the blog for the coffin needle case since we're getting closer to Halloween.  click here to see the original post.  If you want the PFD leave your email  or email me using the form on the side.  Thanks!

Northern Star Shines Again! 2015

Thank you to those who entered my pop-up sneaky book giveaway - Mr. Fun picked #9, which is Jan of Be*mused.   Send me your address, Jan, and I'll mail it right away.

On Sunday I attended one of my favorite quilt shows:  World of Quilts XXXVI by the Northern Star Quilt Guild.

Here is the Brownstone Quilters Quilt Show 2015 Raffle Quilt.  It won Best in Show- Large Quilt!  Many, many people worked on this quilt.  Pictured are my buddies Pauline and Nancy who helped coordinate the project.   I pieced finished blocks and appliquéd an outside border.   See show information here.

and my other favorites - enjoy

I loved this quilt and was gushing about it when the maker happened along.  She did free motion quilting with a 1974 Kenmore - good for you Mary!

What a wonderful version of the Civil War Bride Quilt.

The show offered a special exhibit of Paula Nadelstern's quilts and we also enjoyed a lecture on color by Becky Goldsmith.  Great job Ladies!

Speaking of "Winning"  we did!  We won two bets on the Derby!   We went in with a work friend and she did the picking.  Super lucky us!  We share the winnings of $836.

Hope you have a great week~