One view at Quilt Festival

Here's a view of my favorite Quilting booth, Thangles!  My friends, Mary and Pat come from Wisconsin annually to share their product with fellow quilt enthusiasts.  I look forward to seeing them as much as I look forward to the Quilt Festival itself.   I help out in their booth when I can.  "Meet-n-Greet" is a fun job, or restocking supplies, or wrapping the new-fru.   I even enjoy closing the booth and packing it up at the end of the show.  The best part is just being with my friends every year, here in Houston.

In these two photos, Mary is visiting with her friend, Roxanne Fawl from Overbrook Quilt Connection (another great booth!).  They were neighbors at the International Quilt Festival many many years ago and have built a strong friendship (from sharing many experiences at Markets and Quilt shows scattered all across the country).  Quilting friends are the best!

Free For All

One of my sons noticed this book on a recent trip to our local public library.  Being the library regulars that we are, he promptly picked it up, checked it out, read it and then recommended it to me.  I have just finished it this morning.  I confess, I thought I was reading a fictional story, only to be corrected by my son -- this is more Memoir than Fiction.

Don Borchert shares many stories of the quirky folks he has come across while employed in a public library.  If you are regular visitor to your local library, you will enjoy reading Mr. Borchert's tales of the "Oddballs, Geeks, and Gangstas in the Public Library".  Look for this book (or request a copy through the inter-library loan, which is a favorite feature at our branch.  We browse book titles at home, via the internet, then select a few and "request" to borrow them.  An email arrives when the book is ready to be picked up. 

Support your local library and your local Independent book stores.  Above all -- Read!
Please be sure to share any good reads you discover with me.

Veterans Day 2011

Happy Veterans Day to all our nation's Veterans -- including my own Sister-in-law (who served in the First Gulf War), my Dad (who served in Korea and Vietnam) and in memory of my Father-in-Law, Papa Herb (who served in World War II).
Happy Veterans Day to many many more who have served or who are currently serving in our Military.

This quilt is titled And Our Flag Was Still There and was created by Melinda Bula of El Dorado Hills, California.  It appeared in the 2011 International Quilt Association's show that was open one week ago in Houston, Texas.

And Our Flag Was Still There by Melinda Bula

On the placard near this quilt are Melinda's words:

Attending my son's graduation from Marine Boot Camp in August, 2010, I was moved by the young men who are willing to put their lives on the line to protect our freedoms.  I consider myself patriotic, but nothing prepared me for that day.  This is for all the families like mine, who raised proud and devoted young Americans who have and will continue to protect the United States and what it represents, with their lives.

Melinda, thank you for sharing your colorful quilt and its heartfelt message with us.  

This quilt is an original design by Melinda Bula.  She used commercial and hand-dyed cotton fabrics, 30 weight rayon Sulky thread, and Quilter's Dream cotton batting.  To create her quilt, Melinda used fusible applique techniques as well as thread painting techniques.

To see more wonderful quilts (think lovely flower blossoms), please check out her website at http://www.melindabula.com/

Melinda also has a blog (doesn't everyone these days?).  Her blog is called Melinda's Cutting Garden (great name!).   Read about her adventures in Houston by clicking here.

A First Birthday quilt

A first granddaughter is such a wonderful blessing.  This gorgeous quilt (visually striking up close and from a distance) was made in celebration of the quilter's first granddaughter's first birthday.

Happy Birthday by Harumi Asada

The quilter is Harumi Asada who is from Higashiura, Japan.  What a delightful quilt she has made!

Look closely and you will find photos of her precious granddaughter tucked into many stars circling the quilt.  This baby is truly loved and treasured!

This quilt was in a special exhibit, Hands All Around 2011.  Here are a few more details about the quilt as shared by the quilter Harumi Asada.

Hint:  If you Google this quilter, you will find that she has made many other gorgeous quilts -- but alas, I cannot find a blog or website that I can share with you.  Instead I will share names of her other beautiful creations:

The Breath of Life featured in a 2008 Quilt Market exhibit
Gems of Thirty Years (looks like an Anniversary quilt, perhaps?)
Family, Flower and Music  (happy memories with her family)
Open Up! Your Dream Flower  (inspired by an 1870 Bengali embroidered quilt)

I am sure there are more -- please share any that you know of with me.
Harumi, if you are reading this, please know that you have another true fan - me!

Quilted transportation

You never know what you will see when you attend Houston's International Quilt Festival.

I am guessing that this is a fun vehicle to drive around town in.  Wouldn't you agree?

Of course, in Texas, not everyone travels by motorized vehicles....

2011 IQF Founder's Award

This year's IQA Founder's Award is Flourish on the Vine by Kathy Wylie, who is from Whitby, Ontario, Canada.

Here she is with her quilt -- Doesn't she have a fabulous smile? 

Kathy Wylie posing in front of her quilt Flourish on the Vine.  Her quilt won the 2011 IQA Founder's Award, sponsored by International Quilt Festival.  This is a $7,500.00 prize award, Wow!

Kathy is lovely to chat with and was happy to have her art posted here, on my humble blog.  She is a Canadian quilter and has a quilting blog, http://www.kathykwylie.com/blog/ that is linked with her website http://www.kathykwylie.com/
Click here for her own blog post about this quilt, Flourish on the Vine.

Click here for photos of the other award winning quilts from the 2011 International Quilt Association show.

For each quilt in the IQA's judged show, there is a corresponding placard telling about the quilt.  This is the one that accompanied Kathy's quilt.

2011 International Quilt Festival Best of Show

My annual eye-candy feast has ended for another year ... yes, it is true, the 2011 International Quilt Festival has closed its doors.   But I have a few photos to share, beginning with a detail of Harmony Within by Sue McCarty.

This quilt won the $10,000.00 Best of Show Award, sponsored by Handi Quilter.

Here is Sue McCarty talking with her admiring fans about the making of her quilt Harmony Within.

To see a full photo of her quilt, click here.  At this same link are the names of all the award winners, along with photos of the top award-winning quilts.  I have a few more photos I will share here too ... stay tuned.

Click here for a link to learn more about Sue.  She has made other award winning quilts as well.  Click here to see more of her quilts.