Busy weekend @ NW Quilt Expo

Up early Thursday morning for what turned into a two hour drive into Portland.  Totally miscalculated the time to drive all the way across the city.  This was my first experience teaching free motion quilting on the long arm, let alone three classes per day for three days.  Oh, my feet!!

All of the students were great, willing to explore their first time hands on or just try new things.  With an hour between classes to reload machines and get things ready I didn't have much time to explore the show.

This is the snowflake quilt I quilted for Michele (click on the picture for a closer view).  It won a 2nd place in the Free Motion category....Yay US!!!

 

A close up shot of the corner "ghost snowflake"

 

Now to finish writing instructions and patterns for a project I can tell you about at a future date and get a deadline quilt finished before Sept 30...sounds easy, right?

 

NEXT UP...Quilt retreat at Silver Falls Conference Center.  I can hardly wait!!!

 

Sneak a peak at this beauty!

Yay!  It's finally finished.  I totally underestimated the amount of detail and the time it would take to complete.  That put me about a week behind in getting it to the client.  Not good!  I'm hoping it will knock their socks off to make up for my tardiness.  It's a raffle quilt for a coastal guild so if I see it hanging at NW Quilt Expo I'll take another picture and post it.  It's a beauty!  Click on the picture to make it big :)

Goodbye summer!

Labor Day weekend has come and gone.  It was a nice break in an extremely busy month.  Our annual seafood fest at Bar View County Park was as awesome as usual in a different way.  Typically we have four or more couples, non-stop visiting, walks, and amazing food.  This year, just four of us, still great food and long walks but this year...the most spectacular weather ever!

Tillamook bay was full of crabbers and fisherman.  The bar wasn't especially rough so dozens of boats had ventured into the ocean for bottom fish and Coho salmon.

Ratchet was so happy to be able to run and splash several times a day.  He wore himself out!

To top off a great weekend, Michele brought my ribbon and certificate over today.  Along with it was a program booklet, winners list, DVD of the show winners, judges comments sheets...and a check :)

 

I'm a little sad summer is winding down, it's been absolutely beautiful.  September has too much to do, most of it good, so I know it will be over before I know it. 

 

Enjoy each day, make them special, life is short!

Pacific West Quilt Show...Excitement!!!

It was pretty exciting just being juried in to the APWQ show, I got my notification while we were camping with friends and family.  And the results are:

My quilt "Ah-ha Moment" won a Merit Award, "Best Use of Fabric"

Michele Byrum's "Sleigh Ride" quilt (I quilted it) won 3rd place in Traditional Applique.

 

Two other friends also took ribbons, JoAnn Blade won 2nd place on her quilt "Serengeti" in Pictorial Large and Nancy Dudley took an Honorable Mention on her quilt.

I love garage sales!

We're planning to have a garage sale in a couple of weeks...a lot of work but clearing out is good.  Still, I love a good find.  Today was very good.

A huge sale at the home of my jr. high home-ec teacher.  Loved all the retro fabric.

This gorgeous piece (sorry it's a bit blurry) was just $3 for five yards.  Crisp!!

And NO, I don't have anything in particular in mind to use them for, should I?  Fun day with my hubby...now back to work, getting ready to clean out some really great stuff.

Her first 'sew day'!

Learning the importance of the presser foot

Straight lines

I found these at Skip to my Lou

So proud of her accomplishments

A little hula hoop time

She made her doll's dress and I made her a dress to match.

 

She LOVES sewing and creating.  I missed taking a photo of the 'dress' she created for her stuffed kitty.   She also managed to have my treadle running without explanation or demonstration.  I'm looking forward to many 'sew days' with this girl.

Summer fun!

Sporting the John Deere pedi again this summer.  I'm not sure what it is about Ivy green nail polish that makes me feel cheery.  I guess I just like being different.

I got a super exciting e-mail this week but I'll wait to share it until the contract is a done deal...super exciting!!  Yes, it is quilt related :)