The Monster is Slain

And it is reborn as "Around the World with Lilly." I don't know whether I like the front or the back the best, but I am feeling really good about completing it. I posted the pictures of the quilt packaging clips I liked and the ones that were nightmares (the red and the binder clips). Trust me the blue ones changed my life. I am forever thankful to the Spirited Quilters of Duluth, Georgia! I won a raffle at the last meeting, and the blue clips were one of great surprises in the sack of goodies they gave me.

Nature Picture for Aunt Katie

As I was walking out of the Gwinnett Civic Center, I saw these beautiful purple "things." I don't know what kind of plant it is, but they are all over the Civic Center grounds. Aunt Katie always posts good nature photos on her blog, so I thought I'd post one. Tomorrow, if I am not too tired, I will ask the name of the plant.

Georgia Quilt Show

I took my first class at the Quilt Show today. I had to add the class this morning, and somehow, between registering last month, and this morning, I forgot about class fees. I thought I could just pay the supply fee and add the class to my schedule. Oops! So the class was over $100, but it was worth it. We started out with two plain 16 inch squares, did a whole bunch of sewing and cutting; like magic, 5 hours later, I had one finished 16 inch square (see the "flower power" picture). Okay, it probably took me 30 minutes to figure out how to manipulate the fabric, rulers and rotary cutter to make the original plain squares we started with. Feeling brave when I finished the one square, I purchased Kim Montagnese's "Sun" pattern so I can make something for one of the boys later.

I saw the beautiful cotton bathrobes, and I just had to have one. The raspberry sherbet color is fabulous, don't you think?

Samurai Squares Top Finished

The Great Pumpkin Sits on Mom's Kitchen Cabinet

My visits with Mom and Dad are always too short. I have been taking pictures and buying fabric. Seriously buying fabric; I have never spent so much on fabric in two days in my whole life! We shopped at Quilter's Station and Harper's. We ate lunch across the street from Harper's at the Farm to Market Cafe. I had the eggplant, tomato and feta cheese sandwich. Yum! The cafe had quilts for sale on the walls, and I very nearly bought the most beautiful, adorable quilt ever. The woman, Robin, who pieced and appliqued the top was the same person who rang us out at Harper's, so we went back over there to talk to her. She told me what the pattern company was, and I ordered the pattern online last night. Quilt Soup's pattern example does not even come close to the quilt Robin made. I think the variations in the fabrics and quilting really made it worth the price she was asking (more, really). But I hesitated, and left it for some other really lucky person.

And Dad made this wonderful apple pie!

And Me: Karmen Sunshine (Thomas)

Chik-fil-a was giving away food to cow-attired persons. I couldn't resist. I also had a spot covered box for a body and a tail with fringe.

My Mother: Linda Brannock

Sampler Project

The blocks for this sampler were pieced in 1984 when I had two small sons (Eron & Andy). I intended to make 16 blocks, and finish them into twin bed quilts for their room. Well, I lost track of time, and another baby boy (Adam) came along, so I was too busy for much quilting and switched, for a time, to counted cross stitch. I thought these old projects were lost, but I found them recently, so I am picking up where I left off. I didn't have any of the original fabric left, but I found a green that almost matched the old green print of the block borders. I couldn't find a green dot like the background of the blocks, so I found a tiny green print (looks white in the photo), and I found the blue batik to finish the borders.

My Great Grandmother, Mae Stella Irvin's Quilt Top

I am looking for a background fabric for this Log Cabin quilt, so I may finish it. My Great Grandmother left us two, and this is the bigger pattern. I am thinking of "Patriotic Toile," but it may be too blue. JoAnn's has a mulitcolored star pattern on white that may be more appropriate. I am open to ideas. Heirloom Quilting says you should not use a background any darker than the lightest color on the front, and that is my primary limitation.