Karen's Quilts, Crows and Cardinals: October 2016

Saturday, October 1, 2016

Quilty Travel - A Special Visitor - and a WINNER!

Greetings Quilty Friends... Happy October!

It's hard to let September go, but with the leaves and the calendar turning, I guess we're officially moving into fall.

I snapped this picture from a hillside on the East side of Keuka lake a few weeks ago...
You've gotta love a Finger Lakes sunset...
More about this view in the future post ;)

Before we move on to my special visitor and the Winner of the National Sewing month Giveaway, I want to share with you some of the fun things I've done this month...

Early in September I was hosted by Creekside Fabrics, Quilts and Yarns in Arcade, NY.

We shared 3 days of Free Motion Quilting on domestic machines.

Ruler Work - featuring the awesome QP Curve Templates,

a Full Day of Feathers

and an Open Sew Workshop

Many thanks to Sandy and her talented team for having me in.
Also, many thanks to the ladies that have frequented my Workshops for what is now my 3rd visit to Creekside Fabrics -- WOW!!
We've come a long way Baby!!
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Be sure to jump over to Instagram to see more fun images of my travels!

Mid-September I was invited to teach and lecture with the York County Quilters Guild near Rock Hill, South Carolina !

Another fun trip...

Along the way I stopped in Harrisburg, PA and Colonial Williamsburg, VA to spend much needed time with family...

Love you all!

Once I arrived in SC, I stayed with another beautiful family!!

Many thanks to Sherri and the Applique Society Sisters for their welcome and hospitality.

I had a rewarding time with the Guild.

We worked on the Really Mini Redbird and Berries in Wool - complete with a kit of beautiful hand dyed wool, Aurifil 12Wt thread, my favorite Bohin Crewel needles.

Later in the evening we shuffled off for a Moda Bake Shop Lecture & Trunk Show at the Guild General Meeting. Oh it's always fun to share with Quilty Friends... A great turnout and fantastic trip.

I'm getting a little lax in taking pictures during Workshops -- I'm sorry to have missed a few ladies in the shot (upper right)...

Thank you York County Quilters -- what a great group!

OK - now we're nearing the end of September... I was honored to spend time with the Endless Mountains Quilt Guild in Sayre/Athens, PA at their 2016 Show.

Below is a recap and you can see many more images online here.

The QP Curve Template Demo

My thanks to all of you that stopped by to say hello, watch a demo or just check-out the quilts on exhibit. It was a fabulous show with oodles of beautiful quilts and beautiful people.

A faux Ruched Flower Demo

Because the show was in my hometown, I was greeted by many who knew and loved my mom. Oh it was very heartwarming. My sisters, Aunts and friends visited too!

The crew from the Endless Mountains Guild were spectacular to work with -- my thanks go out to Cassandra, Linda, Judy, Kim, and Sharon -- not to mention all the hands working in the background.

Thank you so much ladies (and men)...

I must say -- I was a bit partial to the special display of "Redbird and Berries" right outside my exhibit area.

Each day I could sit and stare at this collection of Redbirds. Enough to make anyone smile.

Be sure to click over to this album to see the ladies next to their creations!

The show also included a fine exhibit of Youth entries -- they always make my heart sing.

Our granddaughter Angelina entered her quilt into this show and, as did all Youth entries, the quilt received a "Youth Participation Award" from the Guild.

What a fine way to honor those young folks that are beginning their quilting journey.

I had the honor of meeting an upcoming young quilter -- age 7!!

Her name is Claire and she's fortunate to be able to work on her Grandma's Longarm machine.
Claire just captured my heart with her excitement about quilting and she too had a quilt in the show.

I'm sorry I didn't get an image of Claire or her quilt, but let me tell you - it was perfect.

She used her own drawings, scanned them, printed them on fabric, and integrated them into a quilt that she pieced and quilted herself !! It was so sweet.

Way to go Claire!

The sweet ladies from the Guild presented me with a couple of awesome Gift Certificates from local shops including The Friendship Star Quilt Shop in Sayre and Shores Quilt Shop in Towanda, PA.

I can't wait to get to those shops!

Here are just a couple of the quilts I LOVED!

Cathedral Windows is on my Bucket List !!
Isn't this beautiful ?

And how about this beauty by Gail Arnold...

Oh I love it but I'm not sure I would ever be able to piece it...

You can see more EMQG Exhibit Images here.

Now a special shout-out to the two ladies that helped me have a successful show.

My 2 Vana's...

This is my friend Terri Butler - Quilter Extraordinaire and Creative Goddess!

And this is my friend Cindy -- owner of the famed Sew It Is Quilt Shop -- and Creative Goddess Two!

Checkout the sweet aprons that Cindy made for me!

Where would I be without you two?
Thank you both so very much - Love you!

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Wow -- what a rewarding and inspiring month - thanks for sharing it with me.

Now -- On To the Special Visitor

Ya'll know I've been following this lady, Doreen Auger, and her fabulous blog, Treadle Music, for YEARs!

Last week my husband and I had the chance to visit with Doreen and her dear husband Tom at the cottage...

It was a very special time.

Many thanks to both Doreen and Tom for including us on their traveling "meet and greet".

A few adult beverages, burgers at the Switz, and great conversation rounded out the visit...
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And now I present the Winner of the National Sewing Month Giveaway.
Read more about the Giveaway here.
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The fabulous Linda Hrcka of The Quilted Pineapple provided a 3 piece set of QP Edge Rulers to one lucky entrant.