"Road" trip !!

Road to California that is!

 Friday I was able to get to this great local quilt show. Every year it gets better and better. Unfortunately, I couldn't take any classes this year but the show was wonderful.

Walking in under the hanging display quilts, I spotted the one on the left. Several quilt buddies are doing a 12 inch Block of the Month and we are now deciding how to set them. This quilt with the big setting triangles is a good idea. Lots of places for nice quilting.(something I always think about)

First I had to visit the quilts that I had quilted!

 This one by Karen Powel , called Fruitcake

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Isn't it pretty!! She did such a nice job on this and to think she almost gave up as she was tired of the black background. She said it took her a long time to finish and I'm glad she did! I think the black fabric really makes her applique stand out.

Butterflies, by Cathy VanBruggen Designs is another one that I did the quilting on. This is in her vendor booth and is a new Block of the Month starting soon, so you can make it too! If  you get a chance to take a class from Cathy, please jump on it! She is a great teacher. Check her out at her site..www.cathyvb.com

Now, highlights.

 This Dresden Dilemma quilted by Deborah Poole of Idaho placed First in Traditional Applique. her quilting is superior on this quilt.

Look at the background quilting on this...gorgeous!

Lobsters..love them. This could hang in my house!!

More luscious quilting. Really enhances the applique.

Very pretty. Like the setting and borders. I did feel that the blocks needed more quilting to be balanced with the rest of the quilt.

Viewer's Choice by Sherry Reynolds

This was a stunner!!!! Beautiful quilting, all sorts of tiny fills and all done on a Bernina!

These are just a few highlights. it's fun to go and be inspired by these beauties!

I did spend some $$ on fabrics. Right now I am collecting polka dots so added a few FQ's and a jelly roll in wild colors. Who knows what they will become!

Wilderness Quilt-Done

 What a fun top to quilt!

Here is this lovely quilt all done! It is hard to get a picture to show all of it at once, so I will add some pictures of the different areas. There are lots of animals,done in Ultrasuede frolicking all over this quilt! I used a variety of fills to lend texture and lots of different threads.
I love how the quilting brings out the appliqued critters!

We have some silky Glide and variegated greens and blues and several neutrals from cream-white-gold and course pumpkin and wood colors too. So Fine, Omni, Essential Pro and Signature thread  were also used along with 3 pre filled Glide bobbins in cream.  Totally freehand designs. I got a chance to use some of the techniques I learned from Linda Thielfoldt in her "Backgrounds" class from  the Road to California  Quilt Show.

Now for the best part: This quilt made by Mary O'Driscoll is going to be donated  to our auction!! You could bid on this and win!! October 8, 2011, check it out www.orangrovequiltersguild.com Look under the Auction & Tea Tab.

 Good luck!

Block 6 LayerCake

Block 6

Here is my next block. I'm not thrilled with it. Maybe it will grow on me. The red shapes kind of jump out.  I think I should have done more variety. As we progress, there is less choice of the leftover layer cake squares. The borders of this were all from scraps as I am trying to have some left for the next 6 blocks!

  On the bright side I used my 50% off coupon at JoAnn's today and got a bolt of muslin. I can always use muslin for backings, but this is for practicing some new designs on the long arm. I will post pics later. Sundays I try to do my own stuff or take a break from customer quilting. (Unless I'm on a deadline)

 Tuesday I'm going to Road to California and taking a class. Whoo Hoo!! Maybe go again Saturday for another lecture and to see the show.