Quilting High Country Garden

I started quilting the High Country Garden quilt today. I got the quilt stabilized (stitch in the ditch between blocks), and the black outlined as well, then began quilting in the block. I got one block done before I had to go to work. But at least I have an idea on how to quilt it now. Except the border, still need to decide on that. It is a busy floral, so it won't show, but I need something!

Moonlighters Quilt Show and quilt progress

Three more LeMoyne variations are done for Sylvia's Bridal Sampler. The Split version done in two shades of gold has quite a few (16) bits of fabric all going into the same point, yikes, a bit of a bump there. Now to work on other projects until this week's BOW is announced.

I went to the Moonlight Quilters of Sonoma county quilt show on Saturday specifically to see the Quilt Mavens, Deb Karasik and Janet Mednick. They had some spectucular quilts on display. I found out they have a book out, although they were sold out at the show. Tell you anything ? Check out their website at http://www.quiltmavens.com/ You can get their book at Amazon.com, Quilt Mavens: Perfect Paper Piecing. Deb Karasik will be teaching at Empty Spools next March. I'll have to see if I can take a class from either her or Janet before 2010. Because, I got into Suzanne Marshall's class at Empty Spools in 2009 Got the confirmation yesterday.

I have been slowly ironing the backing for High Country Garden and finally got it done. This afternoon/evening I should get the quilt basted for machine quilting. I found some varigated thread in my stash that looks like it will work nicely, and will use navy Bottom Line in the bobbin.

Basic and Beyond did get a few threads into it this week, another 3 or so repositionings of the hoop and it will be completely quilted!

Back from Gold Country Retreat

My sister and I joined 26 other quilters for a retreat this last weekend. Lots of fun, oohing and aahhing, and progress made on lots of quilts. I managed to get the last nine Patchwork Party blocks done (yeah!) and pulled out an ancient UFO to get the top completed. These were patterns from High Country Quilts in Colorado Springs, I got one pattern each month in 1997 (or thereabouts). I started the BOM blocks in October 1998 and finished the center in January 1999. Not too bad on the center, but then it hung around. I wanted to make it 'bigger', a problem I have. I thought a border of pieced blocks would be nice, and I had lots of leftover fabrics, another issue. I bought fat quarters of fabrics instead of the kits. Would have been a lot cheaper to get the kits, but oh well. Somewhere along the line I did get some border fabric, so finally just added a skinny black border and the floral border. Now to quilt it.

This is most of the Patchwork Party blocks and most of the pieces for the Feathered Star center. Getting there.