Post Paducah

              I went to the American Quilters Society show in Paducah last week. I left home Tuesday afternoon with my quilting friend, Jane, and went to her lake house in Aurora (which is an hour from Paducah). We had dinner in Murray and got home in time to watch the debut of Backyard Oil which was filmed in Adair County.
             Wednesday we left for Paducah around 9 am, dropped off four sewing machines for their annual checkup (one belonged to another quilting friend, Judy), then went the hurt book sale Downtown. We went to Wendy's for lunch at 2:30 then on to Carson Park to see Eleanor Burn's trunk show for "El's Kitchen" and barn sale. We then stopped and shopped a little at Hancock's of Paducah. Next stop was the Kentucky Oaks Mall where we stayed until closing, then had dinner at Red Lobster. I think we got home around 10:15 pm, just in time for the weather report on TV. 
            Thursday was sunny and dry so we went to the Rotary Antique Show first, had Chinese buffet for lunch then went Downtown to the other Quilt in a Day venues to stamp our passports (and shop some more). We picked up the machines then drove out to Grand Rivers and got to their quilt show with 30 minutes to go - they let us in free :). We went to Patti's 1880's Restaurant for dinner and got in without a reservation - that's pretty rare during Quilt Show week. I went for the 1-inch pork chop and no dessert - too tired to try the 2-inch thick pork chop. We got home around 10 o'clock and I was asleep by 11:30.
            Friday morning we packed up the car and left the lake house at 9 a.m. We found a parking space on the street and started in the Pavilion (mostly vendors). It started raining as we went to the Expo Center around lunchtime. We bought and ate peanut butter crackers (for 1 dollar each) since we'd left most of the usual baggage in the car. We went to the main room to see the winners close up and did some more shopping. When we left at 3pm, it was raining harder but Jane had an umbrella.
As we headed out of town, we made our last stop at the QIAD warehouse to drop off our passports. I actually bought yardage there - my resistance was gone :(  We stopped in Russellville for dinner and gas and got back to Columbia around 8pm. I picked up pizza at Wal-Mart for Jay, transferred my goodies to my car and got home at 9:15 - I was in bed by 10pm.
            Saturday was spent sorting through the bags and resting (I took a nap from 1 to 3 pm). I am afraid to total everything but I think I'm worth it since I didn't go to the Jabez Quilt Seminar in January, I've been driver, cook and nursemaid since his surgery, I did the tax returns by myself AND I'll turn 50 this year. I'd rather spend money on this stuff than on handbags, clothes or jewelry. Now I just need to teach a few classes, sell some quilts and do some machine quilting to justify my expenses.

Socks finish

I finished a pair of socks last night while watching the news coverage of the capture of the second Boston Marathon Bomber. I'm glad they got him. More of our "innocence" lost and all our lives will be changed. Too sad... but we can't let the terrorists win. Live life to the fullest right now - who knows what may happen tomorrow.

The yarn is "Christmas" by Red Heart - Heart and Sole with Aloe. Two skeins with same dye lot number but they were wound different. I did one with the center pull but had to do the second from the outside end to make the stripe order match. I had very little left from the second skein but it was enough. My tension looks different as well but since it takes about a week per sock, that's understandable. Hopefully they will wear the same and even out in the wash.

Woke up to a light frost this morning (down to 28 degrees according to the thermometer). I hope the jade survived without cover outside. The high temp today is expected to go to 57 degrees. I think I'll stay in - maybe start another pair of socks.

I did it! I uploaded a picture!

Here is my picture of a portion of my stash. This picture was taken a couple years ago. The stash has grown despite making more than 50 wall hangings and quilts since then. I used my Accuquilt cutter yesterday for a strip swap for my sewing group to cut 42 strips each for 7 quilters. Now to figure out how to make a link.

Pictures?

That took 5 tries. I'm going to have to do something different.

Easy Street Finish!

Four months after the final clue was given for the Easy Street Mystery by Bonnie Hunter from Quiltville.com, the last border has been stitched on. I probably used about 14 yards of fabric but I did buy most of it at a Black Friday fabric sale. I also bought 9 more yards before deciding on the border. I might use the rest of it for the back but I won't decide that until I'm ready to quilt.

I'm back!

     Today is the first day since Monday that I've felt able to do anything normal, or creative. I caught a cold last week that has really sapped my strength. I went to town Monday, bought OTC cold and cough medicines and have been in a fog since then, sleeping whenever possible between coughing fits. Unfortunately, my DH now is sick and being the big baby. He actually got to go to the doctor for prescription drugs - I hope he gets better faster.
    I did finish knitting a pair of socks (I think the first foot was done by Monday morning.) These are Spiral-striped socks in Patons Kroy Socks Ragg Shades, color Grey Brown Marl (I liked the red part). The yarn is 75% washable wool and 25% nylon. I used US2 double- pointed bamboo needles, set of 5. I have very little yarn left, I hope I can get a little modular heart pincushion out of the remnants. Here's a picture of my socks.

 

I changed the pattern to quit the lace part on the sole after doing the heel. I did the heels with wrap and turn stitches but it's not my usual heel method. Of course, now that they are finished, the weather will get much warmer. I'm anxious to get to the farmhouse - maybe tomorrow.



 

 



Sawtooth Sisters

Just came home from a Sawtooth Sisters Quilt Guild "meeting". A very laid-back group - no dues, no officers, no judged quilt show. Our last public project was donating a baby quilt to the first baby born on National Quilting Day. I'm hoping to get a picture soon - we'll see if it gets on the blog.

The following are notes to myself WRT future meetings at the Taylor County Extension Office:
 April 15- Sit and Sew pillowcases for 4H 10am-2pm
May 6- Collect fabric for Seven sister strip Swap, check fabric selection for French Braid and give cutting instructions, give supply list for May Mystery class 10am-2pm
May 20- Return cut strips for strip swap - May Mystery class 10am-2pm and 4-8pm
June 3- French Braid, Braid in a Day class 10am-2pm
June 17- Sit and Sew or Field Trip to Pieceful Valley

Today's supply list for French Braid lap robe 52 x 84
2 1/2 yards for outer border, binding and braid
1 yard for center squares and inner border
1/2 yard for top and bottom triangles or 2 fat quarters (I used two different colors)
11 half yards, shaded light to dark if desired, for braid. Add outer border fabric for a total of 12 fabrics in center braid.

I hope this helps somebody who wants to join us.