More Birthday Blocks

Deb's block finally arrived yesterday -- 14 long days after she mailed it from probably 100 miles away. Apparently, it opted for the scenic route! Jeanne's came today; here are the two latest additions to my birthday star quilt:

I also realized, after a quick look back, that I never posted blocks #3 and 4 to share with you. Here they are, from Becca (l) and Faye:

This is going to be a great quilt!

Quilting Makes the Quilt

I've been to several local and regional quilt shows, which are generally guild-sponsored, and seen some great quilts. I'm frequently disappointed, though, at the actual quilting of the quilts on display. I know that every quilt is not destined for intricate, custom quilting, but I get tired of seeing the same two panto designs applied to half the quilts, and a big meander with variegated thread applied to the other half. Boring. My quilts, at least, deserve better, no matter what their purpose. Thoughtful quilting doesn't have to be detailed, but it does have to complement the quilt design.

Because I enjoy the quilting process as much or more than the piecing, I always look at it when I look at quilts. I look for good design choices and motifs that "work" with the quilt. There are allover patterns that work, but I'm usually drawn to the seriously custom work -- it's inspirational to see how people approach design differently. A bigger show (in this case, World Quilt in New Hampshire) helps fill the creative "tank"...

Here's an example (please click for bigger image):

This quilt by Rosemary Archer is based on a Judy Martin pattern, and this photo is a detail shot -- I didn't even photograph the full quilt, since a) I have the book, b) unlike Colene, purple is so not my color, and most importantly, c) the quilting makes the quilt.

So what's so great about the quilting? Take a closer look -- there is a really neat "ring" of quilting around each of the smaller stars that gives them equal visual impact to the bigger stars. That ring is composed of 6 concentric circles, arranged in pairs to create depth and definition. McTavishing and other kinds of swirly bits make up the background/filler quilting. The stars themselves are very lightly quilted -- enough to accent them, but not enough to flatten them into oblivion.

This is a great quilting solution, and one I know I wouldn't have thought of independently. Of course, I don't have the skills -- or the longarm! -- to do this myself, but nonetheless, it's quilts like these that make me happy I went to the show.

What Was I Thinking?!

I can't believe it -- things were so crazy here when I got back from the World Quilt show that I never shared my pictures with you, or talked about the actual show. I think I'll do that now, since you're all DYING to hear about it ;)

Mom and I took in the show over the course of three days -- no, it wasn't that big, we just had other things to do, too! After class on Friday, we spent about an hour -- exactly what was needed -- in the smaller exhibition hall. Many of prize-winning quilts were hung in this room, with vendors all around. I think this quilt by Sonia Bardella of Italy was my favorite from this room:

It's so cute and whimsical -- and it also got an honorable mention at the 2007 IQA show.

Saturday morning, we headed north to visit the Canterbury Shaker Village (more on that another day -- I'll admit to being curious about their religion and way of life), and returned in time for another couple of hours before we gave in to exhaustion and headed up to our room and ordered pizza! Two more hours Sunday morning and we were on the road again...

It becomes harder and harder to choose "favorites" -- I found things to like about almost all the quilts. Some highlights, though, include the two Flori, Flora quilts (one shown here), Tropical Island, Prince's Feathers: Rising Sun and Lucy with a Book:

You'll find all the quilts (and appropriate labels) in this set of my Flickr album. Grab a cuppa your choice and enjoy a little quilt show in your pjs. Yes, I have eclectic tastes, so be prepared for a mix of gorgeous traditional quilts, innovative wonders and some cool details. Some are details only -- I snapped to remember a quilting pattern or a specific concept. Those are some of the most useful images to me, so I went ahead and posted them all. (By the time I'd cropped and sized 240 pics, I was too bored to edit the selection anyway!)

More impressions about the show later, I promise.

Pet Peeve (literally!)

Why, oh why, my dear George, is my presence required in the kitchen while you partake of your evening meal? Once your head is in the breakfast bowl, I think a truck could drive through the house and you wouldn't come up for air. Is breakfast that much more delicious than dinner? (Should I mention that the food is the same -- it comes from the same bag, is measured with the same measuring cup, and is dumped into the same bowl?)

But dinner, now that's an entirely different proposition. You greet me at the door, howl for food, and then, almost daily, can't decide if you should eat dinner or sit in your favorite window which I've opened upon my arrival. When you do choose food, you can't seem to focus on the meal and keep wandering back to me. When I go to the kitchen in search of my dinner, you're crying again. You'll only eat quietly when I'm standing in the room. My dear one, why is this? Why the crying and moaning and carrying on, day after day after day? Please, please -- could you get just a touch of laryngitis for a couple of days?!

The Culprit...

A while ago (who knows how long, honestly), I managed to drop a spoon down the garbage disposal. Of course, I didn't know it was there -- that sucker has the biggest gaping mouth I've ever seen -- and when the sink clogged up, I tried to run the disposal, thinking it might help clear the clog. When that didn't work, I resorted to Dran-O -- which showed me the utensil and helped somewhat with the clog. The spoon was wedged in tightly, and I couldn't get it out with the pliers. It didn't take long before the drain didn't work well again.

I finally broke down this afternoon and called the plumber. He met me here literally less than 30 minutes after I called -- that's SERIOUS service. He had to try three different pliers and other tools to extract the spoon, but that's all it took. No spoon = free flowing drain. He reset the disposer and was gone in 10 minutes. WAY easier than I expected, and much quicker, too. Of course, I haven't seen the bill yet...

If you're in my area, I'd definitely recommend them -- Howe & Bassett -- this is the second piece of great work they've done for me in two years. My realtor recommended him... if you're looking for a service professional of any type in your area, may I suggest Angie's List? It's not free, but it's a great service.

Missing my favorite summertime treat...

IMG_4127
Originally uploaded by vanwas

I didn't get home to Michigan this summer, and, thanks to Pat Sloan, I'm now craving one of my ultimate favorite summertime treats -- Pronto Pups. Do you know these delicious dogs? Until this morning, I didn't know they were a franchise...

This is the Pronto Pup stand on the boardwalk in Grand Haven... Two serving windows, with the fryer in the middle. Each battered and deep fried dog-on-a-stick comes wrapped with a cheap napkin around the wooden skewer. Ketchup and/or mustard are painted on by the server with basting brushes. I think they serve chips and fountain pop with the pups, and that's about it.

The lines can be soooo looong... and they're soooo worth it!

Snagged the pic from vanwas on flickr...

Drinking and Driving...

So, my sister and I "collect" interesting, funny and downright stupid road signs and roadside attractions. We've got some cute ones -- "Drive Friendly" on the Turnpike in Oklahoma and the "Mobile Home in the Sky" in Missouri... but this one might take the cake. I know New Hampshire's State Motto is "Live Free or Die," but dontcha think this is an unusual juxtaposition -- a state liquor store at a highway rest stop?

This one's really bugging me...