Wonderful Time in Batavia

    I have so much to tell since I wrote my last post. I had a lovely time in Batavia. It was a beautiful show! Unfortunately, I had to run through quickly to see it since I spent most of the time in my booth. Here is a picture of my booth.

I was told that I would meet plenty of nice people in that area; and that was certainly true! Not only that, but I got to spend some time with 2 of my cousins who live near Chicago, and who I hadn't seen in many years. I also received a visit from 2 friends from my high school days in Florida! It was so great to see all of these folks; and I was really touched that they took the time to come and visit with me; and in the case of my cousins, Harold, and Marlene, opened up there home to me!

      When I came home, I was only home for 1 night before I went with a friend to go see the Bele Chere show in Asheville, North Carolina. I am trying to decide if I want to apply to that show next year. It looked like fun; but I am not sure if I want to sign on to do an outdoor show in the middle of the summer. It wasn't really that hot, but we got lucky; since a front came through while we were there.

    While I was away, I got word that I have been accepted to the Fall Arts in the Park show in Blue Ridge GA, in October.

      I tried to get some work done while I was traveling. I got these blocks completely finished, and up on the design wall.

 

I took strips with me and cut pieces for the last 2 main blocks for the Let's Polka quilt. Today I got the all paired, now all I have to do is sew them.

These will be for the following 2 blocks:           

              

   While traveling, I  cut squares for half square triangle for a new quilt, just so I would have something to work on when I went as far as I could go on the other quilt. I got all of the marking done. I will take them on my next trip and pair them up. I play to pair the solids with the prints; then form designs from the resulting HSTs.

     Tomorrow my friend Eleanor, is coming by to sew with me ; so, hopefully I will get a lot of those remaining Let's Polka blocks sewn. 

     At the end of the week I will be in Berea, Kentucky; selling patterns at another quilt show. Wish me luck!

     Thanks for stopping by!

Next Stop-Batavia!

     I finished the Native Harvest pattern in time for the Batavia show.




















      They wanted my to have a giveaway for their raffle at the show. This is most of it I took this picture before I added a candy bar, seam ripper, and measuring tape to it.

     The car is packed (mostly). The house sitter is arranged for; the laundry is done; the oil in the car is changed; the dishes are washed. I even managed to locate a cousin who lives near there on Facebook!

     All I have left is to put together a few note cards with quilt photos.

     Also, I have been working steadily on the Let's Polka quilt. I added this block on the design wall.

     
     In stead of taking down the Native Harvest pattern quilt; I put a couple of strips of Velcro on the wall, and sewed the other side of the Velcro to the right side of a vinyl tablecloth. Layered the tablecloth over the previous design. I felt pretty smart! I will let you know if it works out. 

     I also got pretty far into working on the next block.

     I only have 2 seams left; and they will look like this.

     I have the strips for the next 2 block types packed and ready to go with me; so hopefully, I will come back with them all cut.

     While I am gone, I think I will take my computer in to be looked over, I keep getting the same error message coming up.

     If you happen to be in the Batavia IL area this weekend; stop by and say hi! It never ceases to amaze me that when I look at my stats on this blog; I have several page views from Russia!, and several other far away countries. So maybe hoping someone from near Batavia IL might see this; is not so far fetched after all!

     Anyway, wish me luck; and as always, thanks for stopping by!

Let's Polka Prgress, and preparing for my Show

     I have been working on the Let's Polka quilt. I have gotten all of these blocks done; but they aren't on the design wall yet because I only have about half of them trimmed.

      I also have these blocks cut out. 

 

 

      The strips are folded in half because both sizes of strips are folded together so they stay together.

     I have also been getting ready for my show in Batavia, IL July 20-22. This show is not an arts festival like I did before. This time I will take a stab at being a vendor at a quilt show, selling my patterns. 
The last time I did something like this was in Florida. I didn't do well at all. Other vendors told me my work would do better in northern states. I have always wanted to test out the theroy, so here we go!
     I have made sure that I have 50 copies each of all of my patterns copied and collated.  
     I have put together a sheet that describes my program, and all of the classes that I could teach.
     I have ordered new business cards that include my blog address, and my Etsy site address. I was hoping to get 3 new patterns made this summer, and I figure it makes perfect sense to get at least one put together in time to take to this show. I chose to get the pattern for my Native Harvest quilt finished.

      When I made this quilt the first time; there was a good deal of trial and error involved in getting that center done.I wanted to figure out a way to strip piece more efficiently. Then I had to figure out how to tell someone who is not living in my head, how to do it, so it is easily understood. In the process of writing the directions, I have a good chunk of a new quilt started. I probably won't make this quilt as big as the first one. I will just finish it out to a good lap size. It will be good to have in case I get accepted to the October Art Festival I have applied to in Blue Ridge.

      I have the cover made, the fabric requirements typed out, all of the directions written. I still need to proofread one last time, Add captions to my color chart, and add in and draw all of the figures.

     I would still like to make some note cards, but time is running out! Well That's all for now. Thanks for stopping by!

Let's Polka, Native Harvest Pattern, and Other Small Chores

     Well, the 4th of July will be over in a few minutes. I hope everyone had a lovely day spent with friends and family.

     I have been working on these blocks, for the Let's Polka Quilt :

    

     All I need to do is trim them, and they will be ready to go on the design wall with the others. By the way, I decided to put all of the blocks I have made so far on the big design wall because I wanted to be able to see them all as I pair up fabrics for future blocks, to make sure I don't repeat the same combinations too many times. Here is what I have so far.

 

      Now that I am finished with the red and white quilt, and I have cut so many strips for this quilt, I expect things to move along for this quilt quicker than they have up until now.

     I am also working on writing the pattern for the Native Harvest quilt. I want to have it done in time to bring it to Batavia, IL, with me later this month.

     I have been working on my Etsy site. I have been adding photos of backs and close ups of the quilting to many of the quilt posts that didn't already have them. I have also added several new quilts which I finished last year, but never got around to posting for one reason or another. I am working on composing my shop policies, which I have been meaning to do for a long time.

     Well that's what I have been up to lately. Thanks for stopping by!

Catching Up

      First things first. I can't believe I forgot to show you the pincushion I got in the pincushion swap at retreat!

     Mary Beth made this lovely pincushion. She is a potter, and made the base herself. I had to steal it to get it.

      Today, I got to ship the red and white quilt off to it's new home in Spain. Here's hoping it gets there intact and in timely fashion. 

      I found out this week, that I will be selling patterns at the Batavia Quilt and Textile Show in Batavia, Il, the 3rd weekend in July, so if you happen to be in that area then; come and say hello, and check out my patterns in person. In preparation for that, and the show in Berea in August I have been copying and collating patterns. If you are interested in seeing what patterns I have available; check out my Etsy site. The is a link on the right hand side of the page, between my profile, and my blog list.

      I finally got the quarter square triangles trimmed for the Let's Polka quilt.

Mostly, I have been cutting strips and other pieces for this quilt. For this block...

I cut these:

 

For this block....

and this block...











I cut these:

And for this block...

I cut these:

So, that's what I have been up to lately. Thanks for stopping by!