Monday, July 31, 2017

Bloggers are the Best!

What a fun week I had with Randy from Barrister’s Block! We visited the Coastal Botanical Gardens, shopped at a specialty wool shop, Attic Heirlooms, shopped at Alewives Fabrics who specializes in modern and whimsical prints, did some antiquing, took our boat for a dinner cruise to Boothbay Harbor, had dinner another night at our summer house on the ocean, had a LONG and fabulous visit with Cyndi at the BusyThimble, and oh yes – we went to the quilt show (Maine Quilts 2017)!

All these wonderful adventures and when we got up Saturday morning to leave for the airport, we realized we did not have one picture of us together! So, here we are saying goodbye.

 I was so busy having fun I took no pictures at all except for a few at the show.

One of the exhibits I was in was an invitational "Ruby" challenge to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the show. We were all given a traditional pattern from Ruby McKim's 101 Patchwork Quilts (one of my first quilt books in high school). We were to make a traditional 4 block quilt with the red and white fabric provided and then come up with something totally "ours" for the second quilt. It was a fun exhibit. Here are my two.
I named my "interpretation quilt", "Forty Years of Fun" and made 40 yo-yo's with fabrics from quilts I had made over the past 40 years. The rest of the quilt is made from vintage feedsacks in my collection. Fun! 
A few close ups. 
No, I did not hand embroider the rick rack. I was asked a dozen times, so I thought I should clarify - wink! Cute though, isn't it?

I think my favorite in this exhibit was Carol Petinelli's. 
She chose Spider Web and look at her interpretation. So cute, including baby spiders hanging from beaded spider webs!

I wish I had been better about taking photos! I did take these of one of my favorites by Carolee Withee. Isn't she amazing! She won first place and Best Embellishment - no surprise! Do you see the shade pull in the middle? It represents being inside the parlor looking out at the garden. Such vision! Carolee also has a knack for entertaining. She does lectures on her method of saving old linens and making them into quilts accompanied by many of her own songs about the process. She is one of the sweetest people I know! Congratulation Carolee!
Look at this detail!

I put my "Pot Luck" potholder in the display - not the judged section - area and it won a ribbon anyway! It is an NACQJ award from Mary Derry. I was thrilled!
I also won 3 ribbons for the one I put in the judged section, but I can't show the photo because it is my quilt from the Shenandoah Valley Botanical Album Quilt sew-a-long. I had permission from the museum to hang it in the show, but the organizers of the sew-a-long, Doreen (Aunt Reen's Place) and Dawn (Collector With A Needle) have asked that we don't publish our finished quilts until after the entries for the upcoming exhibition have been chosen. I won first place in applique, Best Hand Quilting and Judge's Choice from De LeClair. I am thrilled with any ribbons I receive, but am most proud of a Viewer's Choice or Judge's Choice. To me that means that at least one person liked my quilt a lot. I also love winning ribbons for my potholder quilts because it draws the crowd to the quilt and thus they become curious about the "method". I like to spread the cheer!

Thanks for a great visit Randy! I hope we have many more visits to come!








22 comments:

  1. awesome ribbons wendy...no surprise at all...lovely photos...so terrific to meet up with you and randy at cyndi's...i shoulda taken a photo too....

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  2. Great parting shot of you and Randy!
    It is no surprise that you won ribbons (even where not expected). You do such meticulous, beautiful work. Your quilting looks fabulous.
    When Grace posted that she was at Cyndi's when you and Randy were there, I was wishing I could have beamed myself over there for that meeting of special people in my very favorite quilt shop!

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  3. congratulations on your ribbons - you must have been so excited

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  4. Wow that sure is a great time together......and I love your quilts congrats on the awards and I can't wait to see the other one.....

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  5. Looks like you and Randy had a fun time--such amazing quilts! Congrats on your ribbons--you deserve them!

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  6. I love reading this post! I'm glad you had a great time visiting with your blog friends and I wish I was at the show so I could see your beautiful quilts and ribbons--Congratulations. I still wish you would do a book on your Potholder Quilt.

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  7. Congrats on your ribbons and thanks for the beautiful photos. XXX

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  8. Wendy,
    Congrats on the ribbons! Looks like Randy is as tall as you are.....glad you had fun

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  9. These are all beautiful! Congrats on the well deserved ribbons. So glad you had a fun week!

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  10. Congratulations on those ribbons! Your work is so deserving of them!

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  11. What a wonderful time you must have had. Well deserved ribbons for your beautiful quilts and time spent with your friend from the opposite coast. Who could ask for more?

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  12. What a great week I had visiting with you and Gordon. You truly showed me an amazing time!
    I'm going to post better pictures of your quilts! They are just amazing... you forgot to include the news about your new cutting mat!! **wink wink**

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  13. Sounds lik sounds like an event packed visit. Loved all the pieces you shared. Great event!

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  14. Wow! . You two packed a lot into one week. I'm so happy for you and the ribbons that you won. Your quilts are marvelous. I loved the "Ruby" theme for the challenge quilts. Yours was delightful and the spider web was ingenious.

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  15. Congratulations, Wendy! Now I am really keen to see your SV quilt! Sounds like you had a great time. 😀

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  16. Yay for your wonderful ribbons! I'd love to see your quilts in person.:) Your little interpretation quilts are fabulous--one classic and the other with so much personality!

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  17. Looks like you had a wonderful week. Congrats on your well-deserved ribbons! What a fun "Ruby" challenge. Your interpretation is fantastic!

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  18. Congratulations on your ribbons. Your quilts are beautiful. I'm looking forward to seeing the quilt you couldn't show us now. I'm inspired by your blog. Patty Mc

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  19. Many congrats to you my talented quilting/blogging friend! Your quilts ALWAYS make quite a stir amongst viewers! So cool that you and Randy were able to share such wonderful memories together!

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  20. Wonderful quilts! So glad your work is recognized. I'm looking forward to meeting you in October.

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  21. Congratulations!!! wowser!!!! so well deserved Wendy.
    Glad you have a fun bloggy visit too :)

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  22. Well, congratulations on all the wins. What a bonus! It's amazing to me what some people (like you) do. I'm pleased that your hard work and talent have been recognized.

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