A Quilter's Dream trip: American Quilt festival, Paducah, KY

Guess Where We went!!!!

 Yep! that' s right, Paducah, Kentucky, Quilt City, USA!  Last week, Kay and I along with my BFF's Debbie and Pegg left in the wee hours of the morning on Wed. for Butler, MO to get on a bus with a bunch of other quilters for a Awesome trip to the American Quilt Festival in Paducah.  I've always wanted to go, but am always working this time of year getting ready for the end of the school year.  When this opportunity came up, we decided it was meant to be. So we all took a few days off of work and took a well deserved getaway. It was a wonderful experience.  We had so much fun!  The first day we traveled across Missouri, stopping at two quilt shops along the way.  First was the Quilter's Harvest in Higgensville, MO. After lunch, we stopped in historic St. Charles to visit the shop Patches, along with some other very cute shops. One place we visited was a cake store with the most awesome Lemon Meringue Pie. I even took a picture of it.  After a few more hours on the road we arrived at our hotel in Marion, Illinois.  Even after being up since 3:30 a.m. that morning, I was so excited about our upcoming adventure the next day, I couldn't hardly sleep. Next morning we were back on the road again at 7:00 a.m. traveling an hour across the Mississippi to Paducah, Kentucky.  The minute we walked into the convention center, the first quilts we saw took our breath away.  The artistry, the creativity, the workmanship, of these quilts were beyond description.  I took pictures of the most beautiful and unusual ones we saw, but even they don't do them justice.  We spent the day oooooing and awwwwing all day at the quilts in the convention center and visited quite a few vendors.  They were awesome too.  Every major manufacturer of sewing machines, supplies, long arm and other quilting machines, fabric companies, and quilt stores from all over the world were there in buildings all over the town, not just in the convention center.  It was like being in a candy store with all your favorite candies in every flavor.  Only better! 

Debbie, Kay and I in the Convention center. 

 

 

 

 One of the first vendors, I sought out was the book store where Marie Bostwick  was signing her newest book, "Ties that Bind"  It is the fourth book in her series and I have read and loved all her books for a couple of  years. Yes, they have a quilt theme running through them but they are really about relationships, women and family.  It was exciting to meet her in person and have her autograph a copy of her newest book for me.  Here's our picture, a little blurry, but you get the idea.  Now I just have to find time to read it. 

 

 

 

Marie Bostwick, author of "Ties that Bind"  and me.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 We wandered around all day looking at the quilts, visiting the vendor booths and soaking in all the quiltiness of the Festival.  There were quilts there from Japan, Australia, United Kingdom, along with many from this continent.  But the fun wasn't over yet, waiting for the bus, we spotted an unusual site, something we have never seen before.  There on his segway, was Quilt Man!!! Of course Kay and I had our picture taken with him before he sped away.  How exciting!  Not everyone can say they met Quilt Man.  After a very full day we went back to the hotel, had dinner at the Cracker Barrel, bought some hats and soaked in the hot tub.  We did sleep well that night. I'll post some more pictures and tales of our adventures later. 

Spring Break

Papa and Gavin checking the cows

Today is the last day of my spring break, one of the best perks of being a teacher in the public school system.  If i were in charge of the country I would decree that everyone should get a spring break.  Its so good for body and soul.  This week I spent a couple of days sewing with friends, a day shopping with my lovely daughter,  a couple of days playing in my sewing room, one day cleaning house and cooking for Justin's birthday and had the two youngest grandkids spend the night last night.  Today I spent the afternoon on a new design and project.  Remember one of my previous posts about owls?  I would link this up to it if I knew how to do that.  you'll just have to scroll back through our posts until you find it.  sorry.  Anyway, the owls have been a big hit, I have sold 8 of them, two were claimed by the oldest grandkids, and I have 7 left, with two more ready to be finished.  So i decided to branch out and make an owl purse I found on pinterest. I had to draft my own pattern and everything, but i think it turned out kind of cute.  What do you think?  Should i make some more?  I am having a booth at a huge sale on April 14th and  will be selling my owls, pincushions and whatever else I can get done. 

I love Lucy (posted by Lorri)

I love Lucy quilted throw.

Close up photo of the I love Lucy fabric

I made this I Love Lucy quilted throw for my step-daughter Rachael.  She collects I Love Lucy things.  And, since you can find almost any type of fabric on the internet, I ordered these different types of Lucy fabrics for this throw.  I liked the red and black colors.  Carolyn Seeliger quilted it on her long arm machine. 

Welcome to the world Charlotte! (Posted by Lorri - aka Grandma Lorri)

Charlotte Fay Huser made her way into this world last Thursday, March 1, 2012.  She weighed 7lb 10oz and is 21 inches long. Here she is with her parents, Kelli and Aaron.

The pictures above her crib are the silhouettes of her mom and dad. Made by Kelli.

The walls look white in these pictures, but they are a pretty soft green. The chest of drawers, now painted white, were first purchased when Charlotte's great-grandma and great-grandpa Von Soosten were first married. 

There are dandelions floating across all the walls of her nursery.  Kelli made the roman shades herself.  I'm so proud!

Yep, she's a keeper!

The Von Soosten girls at Easter - 1960's style (posted by Lorri)

Lorri, Sherry, Kay

I am not sure what year this picture was taken, but I am relatively sure it was at Easter time.  I say that, because we didn't often wear hats, white gloves and store bought dresses.  Can't imagine how long those gloves stayed white that day, but we sure looked spiffy.  You also have to understand that Kay and I have very straight hair.  So, I'm guessing there were some pink sponge rollers involved in the process. 
Having gotten three girls ready for Easter (no white gloves involved), I can remember how much work it took to get everyone ready.  And smiling.

We sure look happy.  Makes me wonder if there was some Easter candy involved. 

Moozilla and Aaron (posted by Kay)

This is my nephew Caedmon's baby quilt.  Even though he is almost l and 1/2, he is still a baby right? Some day I might get something done on time but I won't promise anything.  This quilt was made from a pattern in the book- Out of the Box with easy blocks by Mary Lou Weidman and Melanie Bautista McFarland.  It was fun to make.  Joan Westhoff of Walnut quilted it with stars and loops.   When we were in 4-H, we named all of our 4-H cows.  I had cows named Girlie, Lassie, Eileen, and Barbara plus some other names I can't remember.  (It has been a few years since I have been in 4-H!)  I named this cow Mozilla!  I hope Caedmon likes it!

Kay holding the quilt.  Note the three little chicks on the left (representing the three Crisler kiddos: Adelaide, Atticus and Caedmon)

The back side of the quilt

This is Aaron.  And yes, he is standing next to a diaper cake.  Kelli (the mom-to-be and his lovely wife) had spent the hours previous to the baby shower in the ER, getting IV fluid to combat the stomach flu.  Kelli and little Miss Huser (still in utero) are doing fine now.  Aaron was nice enough to make a guest appearance at the baby shower, as Kelli just wasn't up to it at that point.  Kay is already planning the baby quilt for this newest addition to our family.

Help! I can't stop!!! posted by Sherry

My latest obsession, my first four owls

I need help. I started making something and I can't stop.  Did you ever have this problem?  I saw these  stuffed woolen owls on line and just loved them. They are made with recycled wool from old sweaters, coats, etc.  I ordered the pattern and made one. My original plan was to make one for each of the grandchildren for Valentine's day with a tag saying "Owl love you forever"    Everyone I showed the owl to liked it so I decided to cut out some more. I have been stockpiling and felting wool for a while, picking up sweaters, skirts, blazers, jackets from the thrift store.  I also scored some wool yardage at a retired PSU home economic professor's auction.  I have used some here and there for small projects; wool pincushions, purses, stockings, etc. I do have quite a variety now.  So I drug it all out and started cutting.  It was so much fun, planning out all the  possibilities and different patterns.  Pretty soon I had cut out 10 owl bodies and multiple wings, faces, eyes, ears, etc. And now every night I am sewing together eyes, wings, and hoods on owl bodies.  I get one done and just have to make another one.  Right now I have 8 owls sitting in my living room looking very wise. I have two more bodies ready to be stuffed and one body almost full.  I ran out of stuffing again. I bought 3 bags last Saturday.  Did you know a bunch of owls is called a Parliament? They are so cute. My plan now is to sell them. Don't know whether the grandchildren will get one or not.  I'm not even sure I can part with them.  They are just too cute.   Oh my, I sound like a crazy person don't I?  I told you I needed help.  But if you come to help me, bring a bag of stuffing. 

Aren't they just the cutest things you've ever seen?