Reaching Back

 

 

Here it is...already Mid-Month!   Work has been WAY busier than I like...after all I am semi-retired. 
But I will not complain because next month I will be working very little as I will be traveling!

 They say a picture is worth a thousand words...this is my June Travel Plan and I can hardly wait!!

A recap of AQS Quilt Week in Paducah, KY. 

For the first time EVER I was actually able to attend classes during Quilt Week.   Well, I did miss one...The Spruced Goose...because I was still sick with the pesky hives. 
I was so disappointed, but it was what it was.

This class was taught by Nancy Mahoney and my quilting friend, Carolyn, said it was very good and fun.  I have all the fabric and the pattern so I'll just have to sew it up on my own.

 

 

 

The second class was "Quilt Brain" taught by Kestrel Michaud.  It was WAY outside my thought process, but that was the point of the class.  To get us to think about quilt making in a way we had not thought before.  I did enjoy it.  Miss Kestrel is an excellent teacher.  I would take additional classes taught by her.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 The One That Got Away

This wall quilt by Kestrel Michaud
won "Best Wall Quilt" at the Show. 

It is also the cover photo for the May edition of
American Quilter magazine.  Well Deserved!!

 

 

Still working on FMQ.  Practice, Practice, Practice!! 
Yes, You CAN Free Motion Quilt.

Jenny Lyon was another Instructor Extraordinaire.  Knowledgeable, Engaging, Encouraging. I wanted to BE her!!! 
Miss Jenny gave us a lot of tips and tricks...who knew it mattered if your machine had the "straight stitch" plate or the "zig zag" plate?  Well apparently it makes a difference. (PSA, use the "straight stitch" plate when FMQ-ing.) Thank you, Jenny Lyon.

My grandmother always told me "If you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all."
And we will leave it at that for the final class I attended, "Fabric Postcards."  It did not meet expectation.*

 

It was not a total waste of time and money, the class sewing machines were top-of-the-line Janome machines....VERY NICE!!  So many cool features.  I especially liked the feature that when you lift your foot from the pedal, the presser foot goes up and the needle goes down....too cool!   However, even the "show special" price took my breath away.  I think I'll stick with Miss Millie, thank you very much.**

 

What would a quilt show be without ALL THOSE VENDORS!

 

 

I do enjoy browsing the vendor booths, although I must say I'm at a stage in life where I don't have to have every new fangled gadget. 

 

I did not buy much from the Vendors.

 

Finally, Fair Food and People!

One of my favorite things to do during Quilt Week is to sit down at a table full of quilters and say
"So, where are you from?"   Met some fun ladies that week.  And, discovered two things....Thing One: the Paducah Quilt Show is pretty-much regional.  Everyone I met were mostly from neighboring states...huh?...I always thought people flocked from all across the country.  I suppose because my Auntie and I flew from the Pacific Northwest every-other year to attend this show.  But, apparently we were the exception (because Mom and Joy were here, I'm supposing.)

And, Thing Two:  True Southern women are very cultivated.  Every woman I met from Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana...True southern states... were "dressed up": clothes not too casual, hair coiffed just right, painted nails, pretty jewelry....and many of them either brought their "mamas"or talked about their "mamas".  I loved them!  You could tell they made an effort .... they inspired me to do better putting  myself together each morning!  You never know who is going to knock on your door!

A shout out to all the local quilters:  If you are not a "local" you might not know that in addition to THE AQS quilt show, there are smaller, local shows all around the city....HERE is a FB link to one.

 

 

 

 

 

* When AQS sent out the Class Survey, I was honest about the Fabric Postcards class.
** Miss Millie: 

May Flowers

 

 

Don't you just LOVE May?  It's such a "just enough" month. 
Just enough rain .... just enough sun .... no  humidity yet. 
It's the best for ushering in summer.

I planted Cherry Tomatoes in a pot.

 

 

I get the best sun in the front of the house.
(I can hardly wait for those little Jewels!)

Quick April Recap.....Did I finish any of my April UFOs?  

Surprisingly YES (well, Almost)!  It was very enjoyable and I think it turned out so darn cute!!

We're On A Roll

 

 

I do still need to *FMQ and Bind, which I would have done last night but Millie has decided to "act up..."

Fussing with that ate up an hour...
by then I was out of the mood.

 

The APQ  UFO Number for May is "8" and the
River's Edge UFO Letter is "C"
and the same River's Edge Quarterly Project W1,
Peggy's Memory Bears (still have one to finish.)

 

 APQ's:  March number is 8.

Quite a few years ago I made a lap quilt for a grand-niece, "Olivia".  HERE 
At that time I had actually purchased TWO Olivia panels....now it is time for panel number two to be completed.

Panels are usually a fast, fun project. But, full disclaimer, May will be a busy month for me** so I make no promises.

 

River's Edge:  May's Letter is "C" 

 

 

I ain't gonna lie....I don't really want to do this.....it's a cut-out doll panel....purchased in a moment of weakness.   Riley Blake Forest Friends.

Why-oh-Why did I do this to myself?

On the Bright side....it's fast, it's easy and I will have a little gift to take to granddaughter, Catalina, when I see her in June. 

 

 

 

 

 

Machine Spotlight:

Miss Millie is taking the spotlight this month for a couple of reasons: 
First, this is the machine I sew on the most, but also I want to practice my *FMQ.

Janome Memory Craft 5200

This is NOT a fancy machine***...not a lot of bells and whistles.  I've had her about 15 years and I bought her used from Craig's list.  But she does what she does and she does it well without a lot of fuss 
(except when she's acting up...(see above.))

I took an FMQ class during Quilt Week and I'm anxious to put some of what I learned into practice. 
Miss Millie is the best gal for the job.

 

 A New Month....A New Plan ... Off We Go!!

 

 

      *FMQ:  Free Motion Quilting
  ** Getting ready for my driving trip in June
*** During Quilt Week, one of the classes used brand new Janome machines.  They WERE wonderful!
The  "show price" was only $6,000 (sticker shock 🤯)