Paducah

Just returned from two days in Paducah.  I thought in general there were too many medallion quilts, too many kits but still some real stunners.  The great part though, my friend Judy had her quilt in the show.  Here she is:

Always a thrill to see your quilt in a show.  I quilted it. 

Wildflowers 2

Prairie in early spring

Dogwoods

spring trail

Dwarf Larkspur

Paintbrush

Celandine poppy

Jacob's Ladder

I spent the day geocaching and exploring more at the Shaw Nature Reserve.  This spring is a perfect storm of flowers and blooming trees.  Everything is coming out at once and it's stunning.  I felt like I was in a special fairyland as I walked through the woods.  Here are some more shots of the spring woodland in Missouri.

Wildflowers

Blue Bells

I decided to document some of the wildflowers blooming around me this spring.  It's a very early spring and everything is really popping.  Here are some of the ones in my woods:

Dogwoord

Spring beauties

Trout Lilly

May Apples

Ferns

Redbud

White Redbud - native to this area

Dandelions

Flax

Violets

Bits n' Pieces Quilt Show

Well it was a week ago but I wanted to say something about the show.  Bits n Pieces quilt guild holds a quilt show every other year.  This year over 450 quilts were featured along with some special exhibits, an auction for the Humane society, vendors, raffle quilt and raffle sewing machine.  It was FABULOUS.  Just a little bragging - I got 2 ribbons:  Most Innovative (Heat quilt) and Judges Choice (Dresden quilt) and 6 quilts I quilted won ribbons.  All in all I felt really good.

  My Dresden Flowers - Judge's Choice

Carole B wool quilt - Holiday Ribbon

 Ship quilts by Madeline and Marilyn (twin sisters) Best applique and Viewer's Choice Quilts

Judy B. Dear Jane - Best Traditional

  Mary Lou M. Best Wall Quilt

  Mary Lou M Viewer's Choice

 My quilt "Heat"  Best Innovative


Kudoos to Nancy S., Wendy R., and Nancy P for a great show - it's a lot of work.  Oh yeah, we raised $1935 for the Humane Society at our ticket raffle booth.

Wildflowers

The wildflowers are blooming a good 3 weeks early.  On a recent retreat/hike at the Shaw Nature reserve we saw many.  Here are just a few. 

Trout lilies

Bluebells

more bluebells

spring beauties

Retreat!

A small group of us gathered at the Shaw Nature Reserve Overnight Center for 3 days of sewing after the Bits n Pieces quilt show.  More on the show later.  We sewed, ate, hiked, did Tai chi, drank wine, sewed some more and generally enjoyed the friendship and the beautiful spring weather.  It is a bunk house style place to stay but we have adapted well.  Here are some pictures.

Curved cross hatch quilting

I have always like cross hatch quilting but find it tedious to do on the long arm when you hand guide the stitch.  I recently discovered some curved cross hatch rulers made by Rhonda Beyer and love, love love what they allow me to do.  Here are a few examples on a recent quilt I finished for Linda F.  Watch for it at the 2012 Bits n Pieces show www.bitsnpiecesguild.com

 and here is the quilt...