More hand stitching...

Earlier this month I took a "conquer the curve" workshop with Pepper Cory.

my sleepy "fabric guard"...

So far I've finished one block.  I do however have the rest of the blocks all cut out.

finished block..string of pearls

These blocks are not for the faint of heart!  The five blocks are listing in order of difficulty so I hope by the time I stitch this strawberry block together I will not be quite so intimidated!

I did "cheat" a bit and put together the 4-inch star blocks by machine.  The blank spots have drunkards path blocks....those I'll sew by hand!

I chose fabrics to go with the southern folk paintings in my kitchen.  My eyes are doing well right now so I can "see" the red...

when I started piecing this zig-zag top my eyes couldn't see red so not a lot of red in it...either I'm going to pull the red and orange pieces or add more so they don't look so orphaned!

It is way too hot here to do much in the garden.  The daylillies are in full bloom.  The red one above was given to me by my friend Paula last year and is doing well in my front garden!

North Carolina Quilt Symposium!

Last weekend I got to spend my birthday at the North Carolina Quilt Symposium!

Me and Pepper Cory in front of her curved piecing sampler

They hold this even every year.  It is a great opportunity to take some workshops, attend some lectures and just hang out with quilters for a few days.  And bonus...there is a quilt show and vendors!

Best in show quilt...the Harry Potter Bookcase!  

Yes I did some damage at the vendor mall...but I'll hold that off for a future post.  Still haven't totally unpacked yet!

I took Pepper's conquering the curve workshop.  Strongly recommend it.  She is a very good teacher.

A 1930's 

and one of Pepper's recent patterns using the curve!

Also attended her lecture on Drunkards Path.  Love how she moved from antique through vintage and then showed her own interpretation of that pattern!  Also love her peppered cottons which I believe are the fabrics in her pattern!  They "play" well with so many other lines like Kaffe and reproduction fabrics.

Also attended a lecture on using the computer for quilting with Mary Ellen Kranz who authored "Blending Photos with Fabric 2."  Another great instructor!

I can see myself using that book soon!

Peace College in Raliegh, NC has a beautiful campus

Finally I took a lecture with Harriet Hargrave on Battings.  No photos...I was too busy taking notes!  What that woman doesn't know about batting is't worth knowing.  I think that deserves its own blog post!

Sue Haidle Applique Workshop

This weekend my guild had an applique workshop with Sue Haidle of Apple Blossom Quilts.

I think we all had fun and certainly learned a lot!

Sue has her own approach to back basted applique and some other unique techniques.  I think no matter how long you have appliqued there is always something to learn or a slightly different way of doing things.

Even learning about a new needle is worth admission!

Our group was mostly intermediate and we were certainly challenged!  (She does do basic or beginner classes too!)

A little finish!

Number three, a little doll quilt, is now finished!

This was a blog quilt-a-long led by Lori over at Humble Quilts several years ago.  I think it was called Strawberry Lemonade...sorry Lori if I'm wrong!  It has been awhile in the "to be hand-quilted" pile.

That pile doesn't go down nearly as fast as it builds!

On the vintage quilt front I bought this fun large 9-patch Carpenter's Wheel on ebay last week.

It arrived yesterday.  Needs a good airing out and some bath time but it is a fun quilt!

It was made in Texas.  From the fabrics I'd estimate circa 1940.  (this little blue fabric is a fun 30's one though!)

The quilting is amazing!

It has a pieced muslin back...a few spots need some attention before it hits the bath...need to get to it while the weather is good for quilt drying!

btw...this is Dobby's birthday week!  Since he was a rescue we don't have an exact day...he had rotisserie chicken and some special salmon treats...

A bit of handquilting...

I'm trying to finish up a little "doll" quilt/miniature in time for the quilt show.  I love hand-quilting but the large quilts (like my Charleston Baskets) is a multi-year project!

I do find it interesting that while quilting it always looks better on the back...where you don't see the blue marker!

When it gets a soaking it will all go away until then I admire the wrong side of the quilt!

I was so excited to find the book from the Red and White exhibit waiting for me when I got home from Boston last week.  I had forgotten I pre-ordered it months ago!  This is a big, heavy book...not one to  read late at night in bed!  If you fall asleep it could fall over and break something!

This is what is up on my design wall right now.  I've been known to make special snacks for political debate nights (a bit of a political policy wonk) but this is as far as I let politics get into my quilting "zone!"  Though my husband says it isn't really fair and balance since the donkey is larger than the elephant...really, no political comment intended.  It just takes more blocks to make a donkey!

And yes, my sewing space is still in upheaval...lots of piles and still not enough space!  Well, if I just wiggle things a bit there is space...and if I just finish a few more of these tops!