"The Thelma Flower Bouquet" . . .

This is what showed up on my doorstep this week . . .

from my favorite daughter for Mothers Day.

Surely that arrangement is called the "The Thelma Bouquet" because it could not be more me, pink orchids in a pink polka dot mug.

The arrangement came with instructions on how to get the orchids to bloom every 45 days! I just plan to enjoy the blooms as long as they last then be happy I have a pretty pink mug to drink my morning coffee out of.

Happy Mothers Day to my Mom, and all the other Moms out there, I hope your family spoils you rotten today, and if they don't, just spoil yourself, you earn this day.

As you're reading this, I'm on vacation, it's starting with a little 13.1 mile run in Indy, with a stop over in Salt Lake City for some classes and quilt market and ending perfectly, a weekend with my west coast daughter. I'm eager to meet the new granddog Tucker and plan to stop in a few quilt shops all along the way.

Doesn't that just sound like the perfect week? I'm also hoping to find Spring, since it refuses to come visit me.

So no blogging the rest of this week but I'll have plenty to share next week, be sure to stop back by. Plus I'll have a giveaway, what, I don't know, but it will be from Kaari Meng's store, The French General, in Los Angeles, another planned stop on my itinerary.

I hope you have a perfect week too!!

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Evening Bloom - Block 3 . . . .

My sewing machine continues to collect dust in my sewing room. Since I've returned from Paducah I've spent the majority of my time in my sewing room cutting out a couple of projects but most evenings I continue to work on my Evening Bloom project.

Here's my progress on Evening Bloom, Block 3.

Finishing this blocks completes row 1, two more rows, six blocks, to go!

I'm working on Evening Bloom with a friend, we meet monthly to show our finished blocks and plot our strategy for the the next one.

Here are our blocks side by side.

I'm still thoroughly enjoying this project, my speed has improved immensely, my stitches are also improving, but not as quickly as I would like!

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I'm Baaaaack . . . . .

I'm happy to report that I survived the 2011 AQS Show in Paducah.

Just in case you didn't hear, the city of Paducah had a few issues with flooding and the convention center that normally houses 90% of the sponsored events and exhibits was not available for the show this year.

A church and a couple vacant buildings along with the Pavilion built last year housed the show's events. It was tight quarters for the vendors and the attendees.

The AQS folks made the best of a bad situation and I'm so happy they did not cancel the show. If it was you first year to attend the show, I hope you'll give it another try.

For the first time I observed several notices about picture taking, specifically how it's fine to take all the pictures you want for your personal use, just don't use them for commercial purposes or display them on the internet, unless you have the permission of AQS and the quilt maker. They even defined internet which includes websites, blogs, Facebook, etc.

Well I didn't get permission but hopefully this little collage will give you a flavor for the show without compromising someone's work.

I'm always amazed by my pictures when I get home and download my card on my computer. By looking at my pictures you would think that 80% of the quilts were red, that's not the case at all. For some reason those red quilts are always a draw for me. Interesting quilting, a new pattern and quilts that look like I could actually piece them usually get photographed by me, but I never take near enough pictures, I get too distracted I guess.

One quilt that really drew my attention for several reason was Fleur de Lis by Glenda Jones of Springfield Missouri. I won't break the rules by showing you a picture, but this quilt also won the Ozark Piecemakers Guild Quilt Show in Springfield, Missouri and is shown on this blog, click here and scroll down to the bottom. I've never seen that pattern before and looked for it online but didn't find it. The quilt had a nice clean fresh look. And the fabric, Glace!! I bought a fat quarter bundle of that fabric and decided it wasn't for me and gave it away! It looks great in Fleur De Lis.

Added Later: Fleur De Lis looks to be adapted from the pattern Frosted Windowpanes by Brenda Riddle at Acorn Quilt Company. (click here) Thanks Donna!!

I think I could piece any pattern that came my way, but when it comes to choosing fabric, that's a gift I just don't have. I'm hoping I get better with that aspect of my quilting as I progress.

Before I left town and headed to Paducah, I exchanged my change that I collect all year in a cooking jar into bills, and was able to spend most of it.

This bracelet was my first purchase.

The buttons are dated around 1780 and are colonial glove buttons. They are small and dainty. I don't wear much yellow gold, but love a good bracelet, I'll save this one for special occasions.

Have you seen this? If you hit many quilt shops you've probably seen it, but it was new to me.

It's a quilt ruler connector!

It connects any two acrylic rulers to make then longer, wider or to create a corner square. The Olfa folks were demoing them, it's probably something I'll use once.

Have you seen the Twister and Lil Twister templates?

Primitive Gatherings has made an even smaller twister but they call it the Itty Bitty Primitive Pinwheel. It makes a cute little 10" x 10" mug rug. Sucked in by another demo, but I plan to use this one, soon.

I bought some circle templates from the Paper Pieces folks.

I have a plan for these, stay tuned for an update.

And I bought one kit.

Cinnamon Sticks, a Cotton Tales Patterns designed by Pamela J. Curo.

I probably could have gotten by with just the pattern, I have plenty of reds and creams, but you know me and fabric, how nice to just let someone else do the work of choosing the fabric. This quilt finishes at 30" x 45", a nice size for the back of the red couch!

Well I'm almost caught up on the laundry, did get to the grocery store, and am eager to see what you did with your week while I was away. As always, it feels great to be home!

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Crazy Eights - The Big Reveal . . . . .

It Wednesday, and you know what that means, it's Thelma's Crazy Eights Big Reveal Day!

Crazy Eights is the pattern I selected for the Fat Quarter Winners book tour.

It won't be the only pattern I make from this book!

Ta Da ! ! !

Sometimes, when I look at this quilt, I'm curious as to what it would look like if I switched the position of the red and black fabrics. Not enough to make another one, but I wonder if the red would be less dominate if I switched them. I like the red, and love the quilt, but am curious just the same.

Why don't you give it a try and let me know how it works out!

One of my favorite things about Monique's Bundles and Bolts Website is the page where she displays quilts made by other quilters, using her patterns and, get this, with their pets!

So here's my attempt to get a good picture of Cooper in front of Crazy Eights, he got bored fairly quickly!

And even took off once. "Cooper, come back here!"

Is that the best smile you have for me, I guess so!

After you look at Monique's Pet Page, check out Twinkling Lights, a new pattern for April, I love it!

So as I went about my normal end of project cleanup, I had these leftover strips.

I'm an over cutter!

What to do with those lovely strips, I just hated for them to go to waste, which is what made me come up with this idea.....

Why not surround that lovely center with my leftover strips!

And made my Crazy Eights even CRAZIER!

I could not be happier with this quilt, believe it or not, it is even lovelier in person, the picture does not do justice to that fabric.

This is Lifetime Quilt #69, the entire time I worked on this quilt I always called it "Monique's Quilt", I think that's the name I'm sticking with.

This quilt finished at 74" x 85" and has approximately 1, 558 pieces.

Now for the winner of Monique's Fat Quarter Winners book and set of rulers . . .

Silly Sally!

I hope you're reading my blog this morning, I don't have your email address, drop me a note with your address and your gifts will be on their way to your door.

I hope you've enjoyed the book tour, I jumped from the Eventide sew along to the book tour with no time to think, what am I gong to do with myself now!!

Monique, congratulations on your first of what I expect to be many books, it's been a pure pleasure and nothing but fun participating in your book tour.

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Block Eleven . .

I had a little time to squeeze in some sewing after finishing Crazy Eights and before heading to the Quilt Show in Paducah.

Here's Block Eleven of the Fat Quarter Shop Kate Spain Designer Mystery Block of the Month for 2010.

For once my changes were minor! I stuck with the fabrics provided but did shorten the handle and the basket just a smidge in order to add a narrow frame around the basket. The fabric used for the sashing in the finishing kit is the same fabric as the basket, I just thought a little separation might be a good thing.

I keep thinking surely all the cute blocks have been sent, then I get another kit and am totally thrilled with the pattern. Now I have high expectations for that final block!

It's not too late for you to make this adorable Christmas quilt, Kimberly at the Fat Quarter Shop still has the BOM listed on their website. (click here)

Today is Monique's big reveal day, don't miss out on seeing her latest take on Spades. She's using Maison de Garance by French General, so it must be wonderful.

My big reveal is tomorrow, talk to you then.

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