A pleasant surprise!

The Edmonton & District Quilt Guild held their biannual show last weekend. Nearly 300 quilts were on display, in about 7 categories. They allow only one prize per person, consisting of a beautiful ribbon and money. 

I entered four quilts: Kali's Cherry Tree, Horseplay, Layers, and Lord of the Rings. Here is the result:

Someone brought the judge over and introduced us. She told me that she remembered all four of my quilts and apart from the rule of only one prize person, she would have given me four ribbons. I thought she was just being nice until someone told me she would not say that without meaning it. Talk about a confidence booster!

Also, last week I finished "Modern Towers" and really like the results. It is quilted in vertical parallel rows using the channel locks on my Avante. They look like mini bicycle clips we used to use to keep our pant legs from getting caught in the chain! Slick tool. I don't know what to do with this one yet, maybe I'll put it on Etsy. Sea Foam went to Quilts of Valour on the weekend, but this one is too small. Those soldiers require bigger quilts to wrap themselves in.

Finished - just about

The "Boys will be Boys" quilt has a label so it officially finished and soon on its way to a dear friend who has three of them, and one daughter. 

The "Modern Towers" quilt has a few threads to hide, and the label to sew in place. I suppose it needs a sleeve, but I'm not sure. My daughter has been curling up on the sofa with it, so it is 'used' already!

Here are the labels... I changed the name on the boys quilt, just because!

I printed these on my ink jet using June Taylor Colorfast Fabric for Ink Jets. It is a bit still, but the package must get used up. This stuff is too expensive, so when I run out of the packages I bought, I'll go back to making my own with Bubble Set and white to-dye fabric with freezer paper ironed to it.

Graduation is over (May 15) and within a week I sandwiched and quilted this top started in February 2013, then put on the binding and a label. It is to go to a wounded soldier through the Canadian Quilts of Valor program.

The weather is so  lovely now that I'm wanting to be outside, but the to-do list that piled up for the past 2 1/5 years is keeping me close to home. People keep asking "now what?" but I've not made any plans -- other than finishing some long neglected projects!

Sea foam and Snow

Now that my degree program is officially finished (graduation is May 15), I have more time to do some quilting. Here is a simple design made from my stash, now on the machine. The quilting will be done today. It is about 80" square and will likely go to Quilts of Valour. The quilting pattern is like ocean waves, so it is "Sea foam."

And this is what I woke up to yesterday morning. It snowed all day, but started to melt in the late afternoon, so now it is just very wet out there! We need the moisture. Today the sun is shining even though the temperature is chilly.

Nearly Done...

The Lord of the Rings quilt is getting its binding. I made a cute little foundation paper-pieced hen with chick. I also have my eye on a modern design with pieces and fabric on the design wall. However, I've two weeks left in my Master's degree (sweat, perspire, headaches, sore back, whine, whine) then graduation May 15. So, after cleaning up those places in my house that I've tried to hide for the last couple of years, I am going to quilt!

Photos later. I'm busy...

HQ Avante -- it works

Finally got this new quilt machine set up. It took my hubby and I three days of being able to work on it only during our spare time. However, I know now why the dealer wanted mega-bucks to come and do it for me. 

BUT it is up, level, solid as can be, and I just had to try it... with something quick and easy. I dug into my piles of this and that and found a panel, loaded it using leader grips, and put the only panto I had that would be suitable (I have no kid-pantos) and did it, in a couple of hours or less. I think I am in love. Anyone looking for a longarm needs to check out this machine. 

Sorry, the photo isn't the best -- it is hanging crooked and I'm always in a hurry. BUT in only needs a label and a binding to be finished. This is the quickest wall hanging ever. Now... onward to bigger and better things!

I have reasons...

This is the picture I put on Kijiji...

Three days later, this is the way that corner looks... 

I had five calls and three people wanting it... 

got a good price and am happy, as was the buyer...

This is the other corner....

My hubby (and all-around handy person) is golfing in AZ 

so I am quilting rug mugs on my DSM 

and anxiously waiting for him to get home 

and help me assemble the upgrade... 

which is somewhat intimidating 

as it came in eight heavy boxes... 

he did open some as the contents were easier to move 

from the front door to my studio without the boxes. 

What a good guy!

Until this is assembled, 

there will be not much action. 

My dealer says, "Make more tops" -- 

but I have too many UFOs now!

Hopefully you will soon see a finished top!