Countdown to Quilt Show!

It's crunch time for quilters around this neck of the woods. Everyone is gearing up for the 2010 Brookings Quilt Show. Now, being a Quilt Show virgin, I have no idea what to expect. I've volunteered to help make decorations back in October, and in the last week or so there are a constant stream of activities. All I know is this: you won't want to miss this show.

Here's what I know:

• The Brookings Area Quilters Guild (BAQG) holds a show every other year. That means the last one was held in 2008. Now that it's 2010, a bevy of new quilts will be on display. Between my girlfriend, Becky, we're bringing 10. Again, I have no idea what I'm getting in to, but what can it hurt?
• There are quilt vendors at the show. These vendors come from quite a ways away to display their best. I'm looking forward to meeting new quilt shop owners and seeing new projects.
• There are TWO challenges that will be represented in quilts: A "South Dakota" challenge, of which quilts will depict something from South Dakota (and be accompanied by an explanation). I've seen pheasants, windmills, buffalos... and more unique ones are sure to follow. Then there's the "Challenge Fabric" which can be used in any quilt. This year's fabric is hand-dyed and green. I can't wait to see what creative twists the guild works that fabric in to.
• We have a guest speaker - and I only know him as Joe the Quilter. He will be speaking at the luncheon (with great door prizes!) and then giving a class. I'm looking forward to meeting him, as the only other male quilters I've met have kind of scared the bejeezus out of me. :)
• We have a display of "Montana Man Quilts" - which is like the name says. Men from across Montana who have made quilts. I can't wait to see what their perspective is on quilting (and fabric).
• We feature a quilter each year - this year it's Sharon. I don't know Sharon really well, but I'm sure she will "wow" us.
• There is a boutique, where you can purchase quilting supplies and magazines. All donations go to charity (I think).
• There's a silent auction, which will feature some high-end quilting stuff. I'm making a purse. Again, proceeds go towards a local charity.
• We'll be selling raffle tickets for the 2010 quilt show. It has hand applique, machine piecing and machine quilting and is queen sized. At $1/ticket, it's quite a deal to become the lucky owner of this beautiful quilt.

So, if you're not busy this weekend, stop on out. You won't want to miss it. Look for me, I'll be wearing a blue apron (which is the uniform of the guild during the quilt show). It only has one quilt block on it, signifying that this is my first quilt show (you'll be able to tell the seasoned quilters from the newbies).

Dick & Jane Purse

Just in time for Easter, I completed this super cute Dick & Jane purse. It incorporates fabric from the Dick & Jane collection (Michael Miller Fabrics, LLC). The patterns is "Amy Lou's" by "Totes by Sandy." I've featured this purse pattern before on this blog, you can see it here.

I made this purse with a specific someone in mind, and was able to give it to her this weekend. My mother-in-law, Susie, and I were browsing in a quilt shop one day. When she found this fabric, her face lit up. I learned that she has a special Dick & Jane book collection. Since I made all of her daughters a purse this winter, I thought she'd enjoy her very own. Using the Dick & Jane fabric just seemed natural, since she's already spotted it and has a special place in her heart for it. The Easter Bunny was good to Susie this weekend, and I'm looking forward to hearing her user-reviews!

I don't know why, but this large, red button just made it all come together.

On the opposite side I used three buttons to make "A, B, C." Want something even more entertaining? How about some new words? The top portion of the purse is gathered, which on word-printed fabric means some of the letters disappear. How do you like "Uk and ne." or "Se Dicknd Jar" Seems like a foreign language, huh? At least it keeps me entertained!

The inside of the purse is made with really white Dick & Jane fabric. I liked how it was taken from the books, but on the outside of the purse, it would have been too easy to get soiled. So, inside it went. The pockets are scrappy orange/blue that just make me think: whimsical.

Love, love, love!

Here is a beautiful, spring-y looking table runner that I'm honored to have displayed in my house. While I can't t take credit for this quilted beauty (featuring fusible applique technique), I can (and WILL) give props to my mom. She whipped it up for me as a birthday present, and while I was opening the gift, asked me, "Do you know what this is?"

And I answered immediately, "Of course, it's a woven heart table runner."

Only a mother would remember her daughter's off-handed comment, while quilt-store binge shopping, that she liked this pattern. I'm amazed that she mentally recorded that comment, left the store, and returned at a later date to scoop up the pattern, supplies, and make this project in secret.

What can I say? I love it! It's even a bit Celtic-ish. And yes, I do have "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" and "Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See?" books displayed prominently in my living room. Just because I look like a grown-up, doesn't mean I have to decorate like one. Stay tuned for a future blog posting when I make my "Brown Bear" quilt (fabric and pattern given to me as a birthday present).