While we are all waiting for pot luck picnics in the summer sun, I decided to unearth my numerous orphan blocks and make "potholder potluck" number 3. I named my last one "Sourdough" because for some strange reason, when the quilt was finished, I ended up with more orphan blocks than I started with.
Another fantastic retreat on Wells Beach, Maine. We all agreed that if it weren't for the fact that we truly missed our "Miss Tina", it would have been a perfect week. Tina was patiently recovering from her eye surgery and we were in constant contact with her to make sure she was behaving. She is doing wonderfully so all is well!
We always have a great time, but we all admitted that this year was different. We all seemed more relaxed about what we intended to accomplish. Instead of whirling with pedal to the metal, we spent a lot of time chatting and truly relaxing. We even tried to solve some of the world's problems as we ate our way through the week!
I took very few photos this time, but here are a few highlights. A little retail therapy on Wednesday at the Portsmouth Fabric Company.
I only brought hand work but still brought more than I could finish in a month. I was able to assemble all these potholder blocks to create, "Fancy Feast". I loved the one I made with vintage linens and feedsacks so much I decided to make one with chintzes and toiles. I love it!
I finished all these potholder blocks last month but, before I could assemble them I started another one! I decided that I liked the look so much, I would try one with totally different fabrics. (stay tuned for the unveiling LOL). This one is made from feedsacks and vintage tea towels (hence the name, "Tea Time").
I had so much fun trying to find the right towels from my collection. I didn't want to cut up any that were still usable as linens, so it was a bit of a challenge. Some of these have been in the family for quite a while, so it is nice to be able to showcase them in a colorful quilt.
And, as usual with this potholder method, the back is almost as much fun as the front.
My little quilt for Cecile and Corinne's sew-a-long is now complete. Such a happy little quilt!
This little cutie will be visiting the Iowa Quilt Museum soon. I will post more info as it unfurls.
Just a quick head's up for New Englanders. My Bird's Nest Soup
I am no longer going to promise myself to be better about blogging. When it happens it happens. I have long since figured out that I can quilt or blog, so I guess I can see which wins out! I don't want a mile long post, so I will just show a few of things I have been working on.
I love making donation quilts and most of mine now go to the local "infusion center" so that the patients can be wrapped in a quilt to keep them warm during those long hours!
This first one was quilted by our "quilting angel" Sharon Patterson. She too understands how important it is to keep warm during those long stretches and also how nice it is to know that someone cares. She does a magnificent job!
I met Judy Roche at an antique quilt exhibition about 30 years ago. We struck up a conversation and it became immediately evident to me that she had more knowledge of quilts and quilting than anyone I had ever encountered. It would be impossible to list all of Judy's attributes, but I what stands out in my mind as Judy's best quality was her willingness to share. She shared her quilts, her research, her knowledge and her friendship freely and for that the quilt world is forever grateful.
When Judy and Pat first moved to Maine full time, I was lucky enough to join a quilt study group at their home. I didn't attend as often as I would have liked because she lived an hour and a half away and I was still working. But when I was able to make the meeting, I was greeted with open arms and Judy's impish smile and immediately handed me a recent acquisition to fawn over. She would give us homework for the next meeting which we rarely finished, but almost never scolded us. She never lost the "teacher" in her warm heart and soul.
On Monday, her sweet husband, Pat invited us all to have one last "Study meeting" at their home. We gathered to pay tribute to our dear friend and to help choose quilts for a special exhibit in her honor at our state show, "Maine Quilts 2023" this summer. The show will be curated by our dear friend, Sue Rivers and will be at the Augusta (Maine) Civic Center, July 27- 29. I hope those of you in New England will be able to come and see these treasures and feel her presence.
Judy designed quite a few amazing fabric lines over the years. I loved them all, but this particular fabric is one of my favorites. It is on the back of one of my potholder quilts that is now on display at the New England Quilt Museum's "Portable Patchwork" exhibit curated by the author of the book, "Pam Weeks". If you make it to the museum before the exhibit comes down (July 15), please stop by the quilt and say hi to Judy. I'm quite sure she will give you a wink!
We miss you Judy!
