Thankful for Henry Ford

Guys are wonderful, but they are hard to buy for, don't you think? When I saw this BBQ towel project in an old Quilt-It Today  magazine*, it seemed the perfect project for the fellas. 

Anyway, it was already December before I got started, and I had not ever done applique, so somehow I figured that using my embroidery machine might avoid that particular hurdle. Henry Ford to the rescue with his assembly line method of construction, and I was off to the races.

Assembly was a bit of blur, and I can say now,  should there ever be a "next time", I'll opt for researching applique over doing the embroidery, as I definitely remember having fits getting the lettering lined up and stitched with my little embroidery machine. (We're not friends, yet. I haven't even named it.)

Finding the exact Argyle printed fabric as was used in the magazine for the band was what made me decide to do multiples. The issue was the May/June 2013 of Quilt-It Today, and the shopping didn't take place until December of that year. Seemed providential.

So, next time you think maybe I'll make that little project, go ahead and get enough supplies to go all Ford-like, assembly-line fashion and roll out a production line that will put last year's models to shame!

*A web search suggests that Quilt-It Today magazine is no longer in print. It seems their back stash is being offered for sale in UK. Guess I have a bit of a collector's item in my short stack.

Quilt Show... Falling Off a Log

Teresa Belyea is Sandy's assistant in our local quilting group. She is a prolific quilter and usually does quilts in very bold and vibrant colors. Color-wise one would never know this was her work, but scope and precision-wise, it's her all over. And her creative playfulness in naming the quilt is also evident. Well, whatever else she had in mind when naming it, though, surely it was not the usual pre-phrase, "As Easy as..."!

The tonal-induced design is more evident in the photo than in viewing the actual quilt, so my friends and I just had to step back and look at this one again (and again). 

Don't you love the four patches in the border???

Quilt Show Third Day... a Quilt With Real Heritage

Katherine Weathers' quilt entitled "Daddy Was a Bee Keeper" is packed with heritage. Little wonder it would garner some recognition at the Heritage Quilters' Fanfare! 

Based on the design of a quilt made by her great grandmother some time before 1891, Mrs. Weathers changed up some of the math making the sawtooth squares measure one inch, rather than the original quilt's 3/4 inch and adjusting the setting triangles accordingly. She stuck to the green and white, though, and ended up with a really charming reproduction.

The quilt label tells all, and shows both the original quilter and the inspirational quilt...or vice versa, perhaps.

Quilt Show . Glacier Star

Glacier Star by Linda Snellgrove
I think this quilt won "Viewers Choice" award. Linda is a member of our quilting circle, so aren't we proud of her work?

 There was another quilt by the same name and style, but smaller. Unfortunately, I did not get a picture of it. 

Linda had the quilting done by Deanna Plotts, who used a track machine for the beautiful quilting. 

Quilt Show!

Heritage Quilters held a show at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Alabama. One of my favorites on display ...not my quilt...just my taste, was this one by Jackie Hicks called "Red Doors and Double Chocolate". Isn't it delicious?!?

I  like the play of the stars and squares and even houses in this design. Her varied blocks used as a border are one of the places your eyes can spend a little travel time. 

This was my first quilt show, and I may just be spoiled, because how can it get much better than this?

A few more quilts will be posted here later. Right now, though, let's just wander in and out of the red doors to a double portion of chocolate. Shall we?