Quilt Retreat, Family, Missouri Star - a Busy Week!

What a crazy, wonderful, BUSY summer it’s been!  And over too quickly!!

I have been lucky enough to have my granddaughter Lauren over every other Monday this summer. We look forward to our sewing days, and I have shown you some of the cute projects (tote bags, zip pouches, skirts) she has made. 

Our last sewing day was the day before she started school. We had already bought the supplies (pattern, fabric and all necessary hardware and notions) to make her a backpack for school. So, we got busy on it as soon as she got here.  There were a couple things that I did do (sewing the bottom to the sides/front/back). But it needed to be extra secure, so she sewed over it a second time to add stability.  She did 95% of the sewing, but I helped her cut things out (to save time) and read and interpreted the directions for her.  What a great team!  And look at this lovely girl and her lovely backpack!!

There are shoulder straps, a hanging loop, a big central compartment with drawstring, and three roomy exterior pockets.  Even the bottom has sturdy Timtex in the bottom to add support for carrying books. She has been using it for 2-3 weeks now and loves it.

And the best part, besides being cute, is that no one else has one like it!!  Lauren, I love you so much and am so proud of you!!

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OK, so have you ever gotten your dates mixed up? You know, thinking it was one day/date and it really was another? Sure, all of us have. But I have raised Losing Track of Time to an art form.

I just *knew* the Crazy Quilting International 9th annual retreat was August 27-30. I had my plane tickets and plans to visit family all arranged. Almost everything was packed and ready to go. I had planned to arrive on the 24th, early, to visit my 90-year old uncle and family, then to drive to Missouri Star Quilt Co. in Hamilton, MO, and then spend my last 3-4 days at the retreat.

So, Liz Rudder, a CQI moderator and the retreat organizer, called me on Wednesday the 19th and asked me when my flight was landing.  She knew I was coming in early, and I said “Next Monday”..... her reply, “But the retreat starts tomorrow!”  Long story short, I quickly changed my reservations (a $113 mistake, but it could have been much worse), rearranged my schedule, called family, frantically finished packing, etc. Made it there the next afternoon (Thursday), several hours before the retreat started. WHEW! I was hoping that was not an omen of how my week was going to be. It was not.

What a wonderful retreat!  Like last year, it was held at the Heartland Retreat Center in Parkville, MO.  Did I get pictures?  A few, but none worth showing except this one. The grand prize bear that Lauri Burgesser made (she does one every year).

CQ bear made by Lori Burgesser

And it was wonderful to see my friends again, plus all the new ladies who joined us for the first time!!  The food was GREAT (they hired a chef and it was a 180-degree turnaround from last year) and the weather all week was wonderful, mild and not at all humid.

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After the retreat, I rented a car and drove south 3-4 hours to visit my 90-year old Uncle Bela and Aunt Maria, plus Emma, my step-cousin with hydrocephalus and retardation for whom I made this quilt.

Tia Maria and Uncle Bela

My uncle Bela was an opera singer and tailor in Hollywood for quite awhile in the late 1950’s - early 1970’s. He accompanied Bob Hope on a USO tour to Viet Nam to entertain the groups. He performed in the tribute concert to Mario Lanza after his (ML’s) death. I remember going with my family to see Uncle Bela sing once at the Coconut Grove in Los Angeles.

Uncle Bela has scores of personalized autographed pictures of him with stars like Lloyd Bridges, Joe DiMaggio, Elton John, Lorne Green, Michael Douglas, Lana Turner, Ronald Reagan and Dick Van Dyke (and lots more). And Jayne Mansfield; he was friends with her husband Mickey Hartigay (also Hungarian). (But he didn`t know their daughter Mariska stars on Law & Order: SVU).  Anyway, many of those stars were lucky enough to have suits made for them by Bela. I can remember visiting his Hollywood tailor shop (on Sunset Boulevard) and seeing suits in the works for Max Baer (Jethro on Beverly Hillbillies) and Lorne Green (Ben Cartwright on Bonanza).

So, enough of the family bragging, LOL!  We went into Branson, Missouri one day for a tour and a ride in a Duck (DUKW) - the former amphibious vehicles of the type that stormed the beaches of Normandy in WWII.

Countryside around Branson, MO

An old Duck (DUKW) land/water vehicle

Oh, and before I forget, I wanted to show you some pictures of this antique tapestry (or wall hanging) that my uncle had (and tried to give me, but I declined). But I would like to find out more about it for him. He says it is a couple hundred years old and European. I know it is at least 150 years, presumably French, but not much beyond that. It is about 60x60” (guesstimate) made of wine colored velvet and backed with a yellowed fabric, likely cotton (?)  No shattering of the fabric anywhere. 

tapestry pictured lying on the carpet...

There is intricate gold work bordering 3 sides of the piece and beautiful gold metallic trim surrounding the inner panel and outer edges (as well as comprising the hanging tabs). The gold work is tarnished, but in excellent condition.

Below:  One of the side medallions. The other side had an identical one. 

The back. Notice how the tassels are buttoned to the backing. And the gold bullion fringe...

Close-up of one of the tassels.

Can anyone give me any information about this type of piece in general? Or suggest a place I might go online (or call, or visit) that can help me with an appraisal of this piece?

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Finally, after I tearfully left my uncle and family (and Bruce and I do plan to go back and visit them next year), I had a delightful drive through the beautiful Missouri countryside.  After about 4 hours, I arrived in Hamilton, home of Missouri Star Quilt Company, and the hometown of James Cash Penney (JCPenney).

The building murals recently added (this spring/summer) were delightful, but my pictures turned out badly, so you will just have to take my word for it).  The town was picturesque, and the fabric shopping was sublime. I managed to (cough, cough) boost the local economy quite impressively.

All in all, it was a great week, full of laughter, fun, hugs and tears, sunshine, fabric and memories. But the very best part was coming home!

Crazy Quilt Journal Project

I finally got around to downloading the pictures off my camera so I could post a picture of my Crazy Quilt Journal project for the month of, um, let’s see …  July.  Yikes!  August’s is in progress, and I plan to take that block plus my September one to the CQI Retreat next week.  More about that in a minute.

To refresh your memory, these blocks are primarily stitching on black, as the 12 blocks will serve as a frame around a vintage needlepoint piece.

The goal is for the blocks to enhance and compliment but not overwhelm the centerpiece. We will see as things progress. August’s block will go right below July’s, then there are just August through December, 4 blocks, to finish for the bottom. I will probably begin sewing it together in another month or two. Right now everything is just pinned and the blocks have not been trimmed

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Next week is the annual Crazy Quilting International Retreat, here in Utah (West Point). There are only 13 of us this year, but as we do have a Canadian member attending, it will be officially International. Some of our regulars had to miss out this year due to family and work conflicts. Darn!   But everything is set from the classes and supply lists, to activities, menus, games, swaps, shopping and more. I will make sure to get good pictures to share with you!

Hugs,

This and That and That, too.

The title says it all; basically this is going to be a hodgepodge catch-up post because I have so many things to tell you and show you that I am sort of just randomly going to my “blog” file (where my blog pictures are) and uploading at random.  :-)  I think my dear hubby’s ADHD is rubbing off on me.  Is it contagious?

Anyway, here we go.   First, I just wanted to show you one of the purses that I am going to put together later this winter. I didn’t have time to finish it before the boutique, but I wanted to show you.  The wool needlepoint piece I got for $1 when Bruce and I had a booth at the flea market in August.  There was an antique dealer next to us, and she had this in her $1 basket.  It had a lot of faded spots, but the center was nearly perfect.  

yes, the picture is upside down. That tells you how my day has been going...

So I threw together some fabrics and laces and trims and I am stoked!!  I have no idea where I got that lace piece, or how much of the lace I will keep around it, but I do know that the flowers and lace will be a focal point.  Duh. 

Next up, I wanted to show you a couple pictures of The Muddy Gutter Boys.  Bruce (left) is in a musical trio with his two best friends.  They have been together since their teens (1964), almost a half century.  They play folk music - a lot of Kingston Trio and that sort of thing.  They are really good. And funny.

Sometimes Bruce plays guitar, sometimes banjo.  Rob, in the middle, always sits on plays his bass.  And he tells jokes while Bruce and Mike (on the right) are tuning.  Mike also plays the banjo and guitar.

They have played in such far away and exotic places as Orem, Woods Cross, and Unincorporated.  :-)  Seriously, though, they play at family gatherings, church functions, company parties, retirement facilities, etc. Basically, anybody who’ll pay their (small) fee and give them (and us wives who accompany them) a free meal.  We always have fun.

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My friend Diane Matheson will arrive tomorrow (or maybe today, Friday, as you’re reading this).  We will have a few fun days of stitching and relaxing, taking London to the Farm, visiting the Humanitarian Center with my friend Bev, and I guess I will start packing, too.  Yikes.  Then we will leave next Wednesday to the 4th annual Crazy Quilting International Retreat in Estes Park, Colorado.

So, let me show you a few pictures of what our retreats have been like in the last three years.

2008:  The picture below was taken in the Denver Art Museum after we had a behind-the-scenes tour of some of the beautiful crazy quilts in their collection.

L-R: Connie K, Leslie E, MaryFrancis M, Debbie Q, Gerry K, Gerry H, me (holding Laurie B back so she won’t run away) and Janet P.

In 2009, we rented a cabin in Breckenridge, Colorado with (among other things) a hot tub.  There are legendary stories about THAT year, but don’t believe everything you hear.  hehehe.   This was the year that we were able to answer a question for the ages, one that has confounded quilters for centuries years well, maybe a few months:  What happens when CRAZY quilters get drunk?

Answer:  They make a SANE quilt!!

That was a fun year (well, they ALL were) and our numbers grew, as you can see.  In 2010 (last year) our sweet friend Hideko Ishida visited from Japan.  Our retreat was held in Estes Park, Colorado in a huge rented cabin.  Below are a couple pictures from last year.

Eating out one night

Kerry (far left) and Hideko (far right) join the others in the Stash Dash

This year, 2011, we are once again in Estes Park in an even LARGER cabin.  Our numbers continue to grow.  This year our teachers are Martha Green and Gerry Krueger.   We will have visitors from Canada and the United Kingdom.  And Texas.  Not that Texas is a foreign country (although some would argue, LOL), but at least one member who is coming lost her home and everything in the fires that have recently ravaged the state (family and furkids all safe).

So, I have a lot of packing to do (stitching stuff and dyed lace and other inventory since we will have a vendor day).  I am bringing along my seascape valance, pictured below, which you may remember from last year.   It has been upgraded from UFO to Major Focus Project this fall.

Better late than never.

Off to Connecticut

Tomorrow morning (Saturday) I board the plane (with dear friend Gerry K) and we head east to Connecticut for The Adventure in Crazy Quilting.

Although the Adventure itself doesn’t start until Thursday, April 7 (classes begin the 8th), we are both taking a 3-day stitching workshop with Sharon Boggon beginning on Sunday April 3.  Woo-hoo!!

I think I am done packing. Maybe I’ll round up a healthy snack or two for the plane and turn in before midnight tonight. As if I could sleep!!!

After the Adventure, DH is flying in to join me, and we will take an additional week to explore the beauty of Connecticut, the wonder of the NYC garment district, and possibly a swing through Providence, Rhode Island, where my son lived for a few years.

I am so looking forward to meeting old friends (make that long-time friends, LOL) and finally meeting so many people. How nice it will be to connect names to faces! And to be surrounded by women afflicted with the same enthusiasm for crazy quilting!

Watch for lots of pictures when I return in a couple weeks!

Hugs,

CQ Adventure Prep and Discovering Fabric

I am happily busy getting ready for the Adventure in Crazy Quilting and the exciting classes and workshops I will be taking.  One of the classes I am really looking forward to is taught by Allison Aller and is called Frame it with Flowers.

In Allie’s class materials list, she encouraged us to prepare a background piece available to arrange the flowers we will be learning on.  At first I thought just a simple plain background fabric would be nice, but Allie did advise that it be something sturdy, and her own piece looked lovely with a lace overlay.  So I began looking through my home dec fabrics and found a lovely green jacquard.   To that, I added a fusible fleece to stabilize the back.  The plan is to add a backing later once I get home from the class to cover up all the “business”.

I also made a small rod pocket at the top and hemmed the sides. I liked the fringe on the bottom selvedge edge, but how to cover the white border? 

My gaze fell upon a piece of lovely shabby vintage lace (I can’t remember where it came from!) that was just about the same size as the jacquard. It is way too fragile to remain intact on its own, but as a layer on this project, it has real potential.  And, it is a floral print.  I think it was meant to be!  The lace covers up the green while still allowing the color to show through.

The lace allows green fringe at the bottom to show through, but not the white selvedge.

The picture below shows how shabby the lace is.  But can’t you just see it with some of Allie’s lovely flowers arranged and attached to it?  Oh, the possibilities!

After preparing the background piece, it was time to gather the flower supplies.  Luckily I had a HELPER!  Here is DGD London (18 months) “inspecting” the blooms.

What a lovely morning it was with my little helper.  Grammy is so tickled that London has “discovered” the yumminess of fabric!  Here’s how it went down...

Grammy has her fancy purples in the wrong place!

Everyone knows they go here with the green cottons!

I will just tuck them in here nicely...

A few more purples over here.  Are you watching, Grammy??

Oh, I pray I have a stash like this some day!

And then it was on to the next lesson:  London shows Grammy how the foot pedal works.....

 Between Allie and London, I am obviously in good hands....

  

This Squirrel Wears Mink

I just finished my round robin block for Helina in Finland.  I love trees and leaves and most autumn motifs and colors, so this was a really fun block. Rita had gone before me on another block and done a tree, so I thought it would be nice to add another tree and leaves on my block as well.

After stitching the tree and adding the silkie of little kids burning leaves (AS IF!), I just kept thinking about doing a squirrel.  I’ve done that motif before, only with a silkie and a mink tail added.  See this post.  So, here is how my block for Helina finished up.

Yes, that is real mink.  I’ve had a few scraps laying around for awhile, and by golly, I am going to use them.  Sure as h*** am not going to wear them.   There are some vintage leaves tucked into the tree here and there, as well as some lovely metal leaves that Allie Aller gave me a couple years ago.  

So, the stitching on the squirrel is not my best; I ended up doing this over three days in hour-long blocks of time.  My eyes just go wonky on me when I do a lot of close work. I have had several eye surgeries, but that’s a story for another time. I did, however, make an appointment to see the eye doctor and get new glasses before the CQ Adventure next month.

Also, I just reserved my classes for Val Bothell’s Victorian Stitchery Retreat in Wichita in November.  You have know idea how thrilled I am to be able to take a 2-day class from Carole Samples!!  It has been one of my goals to learn from this great lady and amazing stitcher.  I will also (finally!) get to take a Candace Kling course on fabric flowers and Allie Aller’s Curved Piecing Class.  My dear friend Gerry is teaching a button-painting workshop there one evening as well.  My only regret is that I can`t be in two places at once because I really want to take JBM’s Fabric Painting class (manipulation to make land- or seascapes). But she lives in Colorado, and that is close, so I hope to someday attend a retreat at her studio.    

Finally, if you haven’t yet bought Allie Aller’s book, “Allie Aller’s Crazy Quilting”, what are you waiting for??  My copy arrived while I was at Gerry’s last week, but I got to read Gerry’s copy.  When I talked to my husband on the phone that evening (he had met Allie in 2006 when we were all at the John Campbell School), he said, “Your book from Allie arrived today.  I went ahead and opened it. I hope you don’t mind, but I wanted to see it.  It is a really professional, well-done book and looks like it has a lot of good information.”   Of course, I didn’t expect him to be gushing about how LOVELY it was, but in his manly way, he said just about the same thing!  :-)

Hugs,

CQ Adventure Name Tag

While in Arizona, I finished the name tag that Susan and Maureen sent for for An Adventure in Crazy Quilting in April.   They printed out all the attendees’ names and then pieced little blocks for everyone.  The tags were sent to us with all the final event and class information last month.

At first, the colors were daunting to me, as I usually work in warm, rich, bright colors.  But something inside just clicked as I began gathering potential embellishments.  The peach and grayish seafoam with gold turned out to be really lovely and fun, and I found myself with so many ideas.

The name tag will be placed into a plastic sleeve to clip on ourselves when we arrive, so I dispensed with trim on the outer edges.  Looking at it now, it may be a bit thick with the cameo on it.  But I trust it will all work out.  AND, all I did was tack things on (no embroidery) so it went fast.   Yes, I admit I am lazy sometimes.  :-)

Will post again next weekend, as I am off to visit Gerry in Spokane next week!

CQI Retreat

The only way I'm going to get this blogged is to do it in segments like some of the other ladies in our group have done. And since many of you have seen their posts, I'll keep the narration to a minimum. But I must say it was a BLAST, and all the ladies were so fun and enjoyable. It was a great 4 days of sharing, learning, laughing and solidifying friendships.

Leslie and Claudina test out the tire swing on the hill above our rented house.

Theresa smiles from the kitchen. Picture taken from upstairs landing that looked out over the living room and kitchen.

In our Chinese Auction, Debbie Q won this cute stuffed CQ penguin pincushion made by Gerry H. Isn't it cute? There were several of us who had nice presents stolen away from us and had to keep re-picking other gifts. But we all ended up with something wonderful.

This is Kerry, who won Leslie's coveted stitched Santa. Notice that smug look. In fact....

Here she is, doing the Happy Dance! Yes, the picture is blurry. I'm here to tell you that Kerry was really shakin' her BOOTY!!

View from upstairs looking down the stairs.

I know, I know. Pictures of people are way more interesting than pictures of Things. But since no one has shown the sleeping arrangements, I'd like to share with you the Bunk Room, where the troublemakers.... er, I mean, Connie, Gerry K, Diane & Debbie slept. Connie's bed is further right, out of the picture.

This is where Kerry and I slept. Note that our pillows are at the FOOT of the bed. We are, after all, CRAZY quilters, hehe. (Hint: it may have something to do with our C-PAP's) Hmm.... I do notice my personal Happy Trees pillow at the head of the bed, but pay no attention to that.

Well, must get to bed for now. Will post more pictures - candids, stash, projects and scenery tomorrow.