Highlights of Quilt Show in Port Clinton, Ohio

I had a wonderful working holiday in Port Clinton, Ohio.  Two weekends ago the Ohio Star Guild had it's quilt show. This was my first experience entering anything in a show. As a newer quilter I was glad this was not a competitive show (other than viewers choice quilt). There was no pressure, just an opportunity to share your work with others. I was amazed by the work required to put a quilt show together. These women are very organized! They did an amazing job.

How to make a hexie

Demonstration

They present a quilt show every two years. I am already thinking about projects for the next show. I've shared the projects I entered before so these are just a few quilt from others.



 I thought I had all the Big Leaf projects. This sample gives you an idea of the diversity in this pattern. What a fun class it was.

Big Leaf-From Pat Pauley workshop

Big Leaf-From Pat Pauley Workshop

Big Leaf as a pillow

 Round Robin Quilts.

These bright and beautiful quilts caught my eye. It's the mixture of shape and color that attracted me to these quilts. They are real beauties. The quilts where hung in rows and it was hard to get a straight on picture.  I've  included a close up to show some detail. These are so outside of my comfort zone, but I am feeling inspired to make the stretch.

Finally a few special quilts that are just darn cute!.

A good idea for those old ties.

I hope you enjoyed this summary of the show. There were over 100 quilts so it's impossible to show everything. Please take some time to support the local quilt guilds in your area by attending local quilt shows. Inspiration will surround you.

Stars, Stars, Delightful Stars.

I am behind, very behind on my Delightful Star Blocks. It has probably been a month since I have been able to work on this project. It's a rainy weekend. This means I can sew without guilt. So bring on the stars!

It was hard to decide what to do first. I decided to work on the easier blocks. This means blocks that are pieced with techniques I am comfortable, like half square triangles, Ohio Stars, etc.

My first block

Nice and easy-Lesson 10-Block 12

Next came another easy block. I'm not sure of my fabric choice. The purple print is not a strong contrast with my grey background. I will wait until I am ready to put the quilt together to determine if I will no another version of this block.

Lesson 9: Block 8

Skipping ahead to Lesson 13: Block 9, which gets joined to Block 2. I am finding that just because a block has lots of pieces it does not mean it will be difficult. I  am cutting and setting the blocks up before putting it together. Sometimes I will change a fabric to get the look I'm after. I used some of the same fabrics in Block 9 as I did in Block 2, so the blocks complimented each other.

Blocks meet up.

I has been a while since I have done any flying geese. I used the square method where you can make four at once. I was not sure I would remember the process, but it came back as I laid out the section.  I love this block. This is another block that I played with before choosing the final fabric. I initially wanted a brighter color around the center. I decide to carry a blended fabric through rather than introduce another fabric.

The final - Lesson 12: Block 1

I started with a brighter yellow and melon, but decided against them both.

Lesson 14: Block 22 is a simple block. I love how it turned out. I have noticed that some quilters are using the same fabric so it frames the center block. I decided to add another fabric. I picked soft colors, with a punch of color in the center.

Lesson 14: Block 22

The last block for the weekend is Lesson 17: Block 17. I struggled with the color for this block. There is so much background and I did not want something that would stand out. I am trying to create an impressionistic feel with this quilt. Sometimes it is a challenge to find the balance between softness versus  being washed out. I tested a dark purple, off white fabrics, and a pink batik print. In the end I decided on a Stonehenge fabric. It has texture without being too busy so the rest of the block stands out. I am not jumping for joy over this block. But there is nothing wrong with it either. It stays for now.

Block 17

So that is it for the weekend. It's time to make dinner and get ready for work tomorrow. I'm feeling much better now that I've made some progress. Hopefully I'll have time to do another block or two during the week. There are some friendship stars that attach to block 17. That is the most likely candidate for the next block.

Happy sewing to all.

Ready to move on.

This week has been full of tasks that seemed to take up every spare moment. First there is that job, that gives me the paycheck. The grand kids where here for a visit, and last Saturday my friends and fellow Hosta lovers gathered in my garden for the Hosta Society meeting. Hosta lovers are a lot like quilters. They are warm, caring and sharing folks.

My garden is tended and the house cleaned; it's finally time to finish up my last two projects. First  the binding on the cat's quilt...Yes, the cat has a quilt. My granddaughter Jana noticed how Shadow seems to love sleeping on quilts and suggested we make him one of his own. She found the perfect fabric in my stash. I only provide the simple quilting and the binding. All I can say is the cat loves his quilt. Every morning we find him sleeping on this with his little catnip friends.

Shadow's quilt

The last project to complete before I can get on to some serious piecing is to finish a baby quilt for a friend. She is expecting their first child this August. They don't want to know the sex of the child ahead of time, and she sort of "hates pink".

I decided on a bright, scrappy quilt of primary colors. I used Bonnie Hunter's pattern, Hidden Spools, but decided on a different arrangement of the blocks. This is certainly not a color palette I would choose. But she is young and full of energy. This is a quilt to be used, so I'm hopeful the little one will have years of enjoyment, playing on this bright little quilt. Just for fun, I added some fun and funky fabrics. And no disrespect to mom, but there is even a pink Volkswagen hidden in one of the blocks...after all she may have a girl.

Tonight the binding was finished and the quilt washed. It's ready in plenty of time. Tomorrow the quilt will be delivered.

This coming weekend will be full of fun. I'm heading back to Port Clinton, Ohio. My PC Ohio Star Quilt Guild is having a quilt show. It is the first time I have placed anything in a quilt show. It will be great fun. I'll be sure to take lots of pictures to share when I return.

So the cat and our youngest will be taking care of the homestead. Next week my plan is to resume working on the Delightful Stars project. I am many weeks behind and have pledge to not start another project until I have made some reasonable progress on the Stars. It may be two weeks from now before I have examples to show. 

Have a peaceful week everyone.

All Caught Up

Tranquil end to the day at Our Sunset Place.

The past few weeks have been a blur. We just returned from our annual anniversary trip to Port Clinton. This also happens to be where my long arm quilter, Sandy Erwin lives. And it's the home of my first quilt guild, The Port Clinton, Ohio Star Quilt Guild. The Guild is having a Quilt Show in July, so there was a lot to do to get ready for the trip and much to do while in Port Clinton to prepare for the Quilt Show.

First project completed is my Big Leaf. I took this class last fall from Pat Pauley at the Port Clinton Guild. I decide to complete my project as a pillow. (Did my own quilting) I had fun with this and am so happy with the way it turned out. I did minimal quilting on the leaf so it would stand out. The background is quilted more densely.

Big Leaf-design  Pat Pauley workshop

If you have followed the blog you may remember I have been working on a Round Robin series with the Port Clinton Guild. I have not seen everyone's finished project. But will see them in the quilt show.  While I was in Port Clinton, Sandy finished the quilting for my quilt. I added the binding and a hanging sleeve. The center block is called Meeting Point, from Fat Quarterly. I'll have pictures of the other quilts at the end of July.

Round Robin quilt-Meeting Point

My last big project was to finish the quilt for my son. His birthday is tomorrow. Sandy was finishing the quilting as we arrive. I had the binding with me, but as bad planning would have it, I was about 18 inches short. I did get the binding I had attached, leaving a little on each end to complete it when I got home. Luckily I had plenty of fabric to finish.

This pattern is a take off of Bonnie Hunter's quilt, Lozenges. I am calling it Looking for the Silver Lining. I played with grey tones for this quilt and am hopeful that he will really like the quilt.

Looking for the Silver Lining

Unfortunately the pictures really do not do justice to the quilt. The center is the Lozenges quilt, and I added the three borders. It was just a practical use of the leftover's that allowed me to make the quilt the size I needed.

One of the best parts of the trip was the Port Clinton, Ohio Star Guild meeting, which featured Cindy Oravecz of Quilter's Fancy. She talked to the group about embellishments and fabric trends. It was both interesting and entertaining.  See the picture below: On each side of Cindy is Polly and Sandy who are the co-vice presidents of the Guild.  The next morning we had a tasty breakfast on the deck of Sandy's bed and breakfast, Our Sunset Place.  Before I knew it, it was time to say good bye to friends and the lake. See ya in July for the Guild Quilt Show.

Polly, Cindy Oravecz of Quilter's Fancy in Cortland, Ohio,  and Sandy

More Fun with Bonnie Hunter Patterns

When I don't know what to do, or need a distraction, I sew. The last few weeks have been a reality check. A you think you have control, but any day something can happen to turn you world upside down week.  A Serenity Prayer kind of week.  I've been sewing a lot, and working in the garden. I think the cure for worry is wear yourself out, then you are too tired to think about problems.

Long story short. Two weeks ago today our son was working in Lima, Ohio. He went out that evening, just a few blocks from his hotel. He was assaulted and robbed. The assault caused a TBI.
It's hard to make sense of things that are senseless.

So  the Lozenges quilt I was getting together has taken on a new meaning. It was always meant for my son. But it was to be blacks and greys. A sophisticated blend of organic looking fabrics. So plans change. I substituted black for a nice grey fabric with silver.  I am calling it "Searching for the Silver Lining". These pictures do not do this quilt justice. It's looks dull in the picture, not so in person. I'm sure when my long-arm quilter, Sandy Erwin, finishes quilting it, that it will be outstanding!  No pressure Sandy!.

Quilt top on the grass, not a good picture.

My initial plan was to make the entire quilt with lozenges, no borders. I didn't have enough of my silver lining fabric to do that, so plans changed. I had the thin grey border fabric left over from an oriental quilt I made him a few years ago. More of the lozenges, without the corners, made a second border. Finally a nice big border to frame everything. Tom is getting better each day. I plan to give him the quilt for his next birthday.

I thoroughly checked it out and it passed inspection

Here are the details

Ready for the long arm quilter

One project done and on to two Scrappy Mountain Majesties.

 On her recent trip home, my daughter was looking through my stash and fell in love with some  fabrics that looked the autumn. She pulled out fabrics one by one, "ooh, this is neat, here's another", Nicole said.  My elder son had already requested a green quilt and I had picked out Scrappy Mountain Majesties as his quilt. She liked it too. Now they are both getting Scrappy Mountain Majesties.

Early samples

She wants the quilt to look like leaves on the forest floor.

My daughter wants a throw size quilt, so her Scrappy Mountains should come together quickly. We are thinking about calling it "Autumn Glory".


My son, on the other hand, wants something large enough to wrap up in. He about 6'2". I have a nice container full of green fabrics, every pattern and shade. So picking fabric should be lots of fun. You may have noticed that each block has a light/dark contrast. So he has requested a light blue sky fabric to contrast with the green mountains. If you have every seen the Appalachian Mountains you have an idea what he wants.  So his quilt will be  represent the mountain in spring and early summer.

This is such a easy and fun quilt to make. The blocks go together fast. Check out Bonnie Hunter's Quiltville blog for the free pattern.

So for today, saying the Serenity Prayer, and sewing on.

Fun with Bonnie Hunter's patterns

First things first! My Hidden Spools quilt top is finished and ready to go to Sandy, my long-arm quilter. This quilt began in the class Bonnie taught in Carrollton, KY. As you can imagine the class was lots of fun and I got a great start on the quilt.

During class Bonnie suggested I add a blue inner border. No surprise that her idea was right on and the blue really framed the quilt. This was such a simple pattern to make. I like it so much I plan to do a smaller baby quilt for a friend.

Hidden Spools.

While this was/is a scrappy quilt I used a very limited color palette, just orange and white. I'm not sure why, but I'm going through this monochromatic color thing. I'm calling it single color playtime.
I love going through my stash to see how many oranges and white, or greens and beige, or grays I can find. Then I like to play around with the fabrics to discover a pleasing arrangement of the various tones. I like seeing how the various shades play with each other, or not.

The quilt I am working on now is the newest Bonnie Hunter Leader/Ender challenge, Lozenges. Bonnie used various 3.5 x 6.5 fabrics, and two inch squares to make this beautiful quilt.

an upside down picture-but you get the idea.

I loved the colorful quilt, but I decided to go in a totally different direction.As Bonnie says, "It's your challenge".  I'm going gray. Hey to match my hair........

Color play with grey

Each of the lozenge, has a two inch square on each corner. I am using the center silver fabric for the two inch squares. The name for the quilt is  "Searching for the Silver Lining". The squares come together like a diamond in each corner.

"my silver lining"

I may regret using this fabric for the corner squares, rather than going scrappy. I feel like I have cut thousands of two inch squares. I am a little worried that I may not have enough "silver lining" fabric to do the quilt. I have a back up plan...For now I'll just keep making the blocks until I run out of two inch squares. I'll reassess at that point. I do have a border planned, but may need to get creative. Only time will tell.

Along with these two Bonnie Hunter patterns, I am planning two different Scrappy Mountain Majesties quilts. My eldest son wants a quilt that is mostly green. So I will be doing  a green Scrappy Mountain for him, and finally a Scrappy Mountain quilt with fall colors for my daughter.

Bonnie sure is keeping me busy. No complaints here. Just having fun.

Nothing like a plan coming together, or not.

I have taken the last week or so to finish some projects, and try to organize my stash  and the projects in progress.

First thing was to finish the binding on my nephew Chris's quilt. There is something about getting the quilt back from the long arm that is almost Christmas like. I have  never had a top that was not enhanced by the quilting. I like this quilt and it fit the bill for Chris who likes green and purple and old fashion things. I choose a darker purple border and I think it really enhanced the quilt.

Finished quilt for Chris

This quilt was lots of fun. It was so easy and family helped keep it a surprise. They gave me suggestions for the style and colors and kept quiet as mice while I worked on it. He seemed genuinely surprise and seemed to like  it too.

quilt glamor shot.

The second project that came together is a Round Robin quilt project with the Ohio Star Quilter in Port Clinton. This is my finished top. The middle star is named meeting point, to represent Port Clinton as a meeting point for quilters.

Meeting Point Round Robin Quilt.

I left the quilt in Port Clinton and Sandy, my long-arm quilter, will put it together and quilt it. I will just need to bind it and put on a hanging sleeve. I never have done one before, but should be easy. I can't wait to see it quilted. The Port Clinton Ohio Star Quilters will have a quilt show in July. All of the Round Robin quilts will be in the show. I can't wait to participate and see how everyone  block look finished.


Sometimes things don't go well. My last fun project resulted in disappointment and uncertainty.  Maybe you can relate. You may have worked for weeks or months to make your project perfect and then something goes wrong?

That is my sad story. I received my Celtic Solstice back from Sandy. I bound it and decided to give it a quick wash before I sent it off as a gift. I had tested small pieces of the fabric, so I had no worries when I put it in the washer, with cold water and several color catchers.

What a shock and disappointment. My blue backing faded terribly all over the quilt. I did not realize this until I had damp dried it. My white fabric looks light gray, and even worst some of the colors looked like they are dirty because of the blue fading.If there is anything good it is that I washed it before I gave it away. It would have been horrid to give it as a gift and have it fade all over the first time they washed it.

fades to blue grey

I am pretty sure it's the quilt backing fabric that faded. I ended up washing it three times before the water came clear. I am still uncertain what to do. I have considered Rit color remover, but that sounds a little risky. I will probably try to wash it at least another time to see if I can remove any more from the color that faded on the fabric. My husband and son say that if you didn't know it was white you would never know. I am struggling with the fact I do know what it did look like and how it looks now. This was probably my favorite quilt. For now it hangs on the steps railing waiting for me decide what to do.

So this week I will take some time out for gardening, but my goals are to put together the quilt for Chris's brother Matt. June is my turn to bring a project for the block of the month at the Ohio Star Quilters here in Cincinnati. I am thinking about scrappy mountain majesty.

Two smaller projects to quilt (one pillow and a wall hanging) still need to be completed.

 Finally between now and the end of June I need to decide what quilts to put in the Port Clinton quilt show, then make the hanging sleeve for each one. It's both exciting and nerve racking!


Just want to share that even a late spring sunset over Lake Erie can be beautiful. G'night, and happy quilting.