Cajun cooking, jazz music, Mardi Gras parties, with all that going for it Louisiana must have quilts. They do, quilt guilds across the state, at least one show each year, and they have their own block.
The Louisiana quilt block is a patchwork block of flying geese set in a pin wheel design.
The Louisiana Quilt Block, image from ideas-for-quilting.com/images
According to Quilter’s Resource there are two major quilt shows in Louisiana, and I’ve missed both of them this year. That’s ok though, that just gives me more time to plan on visiting.
The first show, presented by the North Louisiana Quilters Guild is a biannual event. That gives me a whole year to plan that visit. Their next show will be in February 2015.
The second show, sponsored by The Gulf States Quilting Association, is an annual event. Held in Slidell Louisiana , one of the towns affected by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, they have a wide array of teachers, vendors and I’m sure quilts. This one is definitely going on my quilt tour list.
Have you ever been to Louisiana? If so what was your favorite thing to do or see?
Are you from Louisiana? Do you know of other quilt shows?
Have you made a quilt using the Louisiana block? Share it in comments?
What do you think of when you hear “Kentucky”, that little patch of red over toward the eastern border of the United States?
It looks like a small patch on the USA quilt, but it’s filled to the borders with quilters
For some it’s the Kentucky derby. Others think of the bluegrass of Kentucky, and bluegrass music. For the music lovers there is the song, My Old Kentucky Home,
But for quilters, it is the home of the Paducah Quilt show. An event most of us have on our wish list. From all reports it is a fantastic time. Not only is there the event itself, but the town gets into the stitch of things.
Visiting Paducah Kentucky, will take a few dollars. The trip to and from won’t be too expensive but I can’t imagine going those miles, to such a great event and not spending money.
I’d probably have to save my “getting home” money in a special spot, or I’ll spend it too.
Have you ever been to the Paducah Kentucky show?
What quilt show is on your “have to visit” list?
What’s your favorite fabric?
April is the month for the A to Z challenge. Check them out, there are hundreds of bloggers, you’e sure to find some one new to follow or visit.
The wonderful bloggers over at the A to Z challenge are responsible for today’s post about the letter J.
Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash weren’t talking about Jackson Wyoming when they sang the song, “Jackson.” At least I don’t thing so. If they were, they sure weren’t singing about the quilts available there.
However, for the J portion of my quilty travels, Jackson Hole Wyoming and the quilt festival is where I hope to be headed in October.
According to the website there will be classes, vendors and quilts, I’m hoping lots and lots of quilts. On the way too and from Jackson Hole I can stop off in Colorado, probably have to go through there anyway. And enjoy some of this scenery:
Lake in the hills of Colorado.
Once I get to Jackson Hole, I can soak up the beauty of the quilts on display and learn from some of the talented instructors available:
Natalia Bonner, author and free-motion quilter. Oh yeah, I hope to learn something from her. My free motion quilting is questionable to say the least.
Barbara Olson, fiber artist. Check out her work on her website. While I’m not an artistic quilter, she may change my mind.
Charlotte Warr-Anderson, quiltist. Her word. She is known for her portraits in fabric in which she uses intricate applique. She has also been featured on been The Quilt Show.
Carole Liebzeit is a local quilter and will be sharing her varied talents with those attending the festival.Susan Garrity designs floral, abstract, wildlife, and landscape art quilt often using fabric she dyed.
When I’m all filled up with gorgeous quilts and my brain is stuffed with new lessons another stop in Colorado to visit with a few of my grandsons will top off the trip.
Have you ever taken a class at a quilt show?
What would be your dream location to attend a quilt show?
Have you ever combined a quilt show visit with another fun activity?
No rivalry between Texas and Oklahoma in the Quilt stores, especially in April.
No, in April (April 24-May 3) we have the HOP THE RIVER SHOP HOP. An extravaganza of quilt store shopping that couldn’t be contained in one state.
The Hop includes five stores in Oklahoma and four in that state below the river (Texas). A complete list of the stores involved in the hop can be found at The Quilt n Bee.
Hopping from store to store, especially with friends is a great way to spend the day, weekend, or week.
Stores offer prizes and have gifts for their customers during hops. However, the best thing about a hop is seeing different quilts, almost like a quilt show on the road. Instead of the quilts traveling, the visitors are.
Each store has different fabrics and tools. Sharing, learning, visiting, and fabrics. This will be my first time to Hop the River and I’m looking forward to the adventure.
Have you ever participated in a shop Hop?
How often do you visit new stores?
How many stores would be your limit to visit in a day?
Please leave a comment, I love hearing from you.
This post using the letter H was brought to you by the friendly folks at the A to Z challenge. Over 2,000 bloggers are participating.
Location is the first consideration when planning a quilt show. You can read all five important ingredients for a quilt show here.
Your location will depend on where you live, and what is available to you. You can make almost any location work. Some may take a little more creativity, ingenuity, and even elbow grease. However, before you can begin scouting for the appropriate location there are three factors consider.
1.Indoors or out? Is your show going to be a one day outdoor event, or do you prefer an indoor venue? This will affect where you locate. An outdoor quilt show can be fun and successful, although you do need to have a contingency plan in the event of inclement weather.
2. Finances. How much can you afford to pay for the use of the facilities? For small groups a free location is best, as they don’t usually have a lot of money in their treasury. Some locations to consider for a free, or low-cost use are: school auditoriums if the students are on a break. Churches, often have a dining hall or activity center they are willing to have used for a quilt show. Town halls, or community centers often have a large open space perfect for a quilt show. Some farmers and ranchers have large barns or shop buildings that are empty, or can easily be emptied, during certain parts of the year, they may consider allowing a quilt show in their barn. The Clarita Amish Auction held the second Saturday in September includes a quilt display (before the auction) in one of the barns. Once your finances are established, it’s easier to narrow the location search.
Sometimes quilt shows are held in huge convention centers.
3. Accessibility. You want people to be able to get to your quilts to view them. Adequate parking is one consideration, if you use a farmer’s shop building, your customers need to be able to drive and park on his pasture, unless of course, the shop is located right next to the road. You want to avoid the need for people to park in the road, it’s not safe, and will deter some possible attendees from stopping. A nearby parking lot is your best option, if available. You also want your venue to be accessible to those in wheelchairs, with walker or pushing strollers. If stairs must be climbed, you’ll need to install a ramp, a temporary one if necessary, for those needing one. Most public venues will be wheelchair accessible, it’s just something to keep in mind. You want your beautiful quilts accessible to everyone who wishes to see them.
Questions:
1. What is the most unusual location you’ve visited for a quilt show?
2. What is the most difficult obstacle your group has had to overcome to have a quilt show?
Tied or tacked quilts are most often relegated to the functional uses. In fact there are some, like my father, who don’t consider a tacked quilt a “real” quilt. In his world, a tied quilt was a comforter and a stitched (quilted) one was, well a quilt.
My father isn’t alone. There are quilt shows that limit the exhibition to those quilts that are stitched together.
I think it comes down to how you were raised and what type of quilts you were exposed to. In my father’s case, his mother made both stitched and tied quilts. However, the stitched quilts were the ones given as gifts, and with the more intricate designs.
The tied quilts were those the family used every day. Thus, for him, a tied quilt wasn’t a real quilt.
I didn’t grow up with quilts or quilters and taught myself to quilt, with the help of my mother-in-law. For me, a quilt is a quilt and I love them all. Plus, every quilt has a story, tied, or stitched.
What about you? Are tacked quilts “not real quilts?”
Tied quilt my mother-in-law made, probably in the late 30’s. The 9patch’s are flour sack fabric.
Almost every quilter has a manually operated Unsewing Machine. Otherwise known as a seam ripper. However, a few weeks ago, Alex Anderson unveiled the latest in sewing innovations, a stitch eraser. Enjoy.
Quilts are one of our most versatile household items. A quilt can wrap and calm a crying baby. Give comfort to a grieving adult. Children love hiding in, and playing pretend in their quilt forts.
There are quilted table cloths for both fine dining, and picnics at the park that can double as a cover up should the need arise. Quilts are perfect cushions at outdoor events, ready to be used for warmth should the temperatures drop.
A quilt can be folded and placed on the foot of the bed for decoration, yet still available as a cover.
Quilts can be made into clothes, stuffed animals, and totes. Whatever the need, the versatile quilt is sure to be available to fill it.
How do you wash your quilts? My quilts are made for everyday use, they get thrown in the washer and hung out on the line. However, I do have some special quilts that don’t get washed.
They don’t get used, I place them on the bed from time to time to relax the threads and let them air out. Other than that, no washing.
If a special quilt must be washed I wash it in the bathtub. Actually, it soaks in a solution for delicate fabrics. The water is then squeezed out and the quilt rinsed, and re-rinsed. Then, it’s placed on a sheet outside, with another sheet covering it (to protect it from direct sun and bird droppings) until it is dry.
Yes. It is a lot of work. No, I don’t do it often. However, there are times when a washing is just what is called for.
“Dive right in.” How many times have we said or heard that? I don’t usually dive, I jump. There’s a difference.
Diving is calculated, thought about, and graceful.
Jumping in takes little to no thought, no calculating necessary, and is more clunky than graceful.
Both actions get us into the water, whether real or symbolic. Divers look at the issue, consider what exactly needs to be done, and the method best used before diving in and taking care of business.
Jumpers see the issue, have an idea what needs to be done, and jumps in without thinking about the hows.
This blog is an example of one of my jumps. One late night, or early morning, while visiting in a chat room someone suggested I needed a blog to share my ideas. Now, I’d heard of a blog before as a way to get my name out, but hadn’t really considered it. Here was the idea again. This time, maybe due to the late hour, my feeling of aloneness, or just because I’m a closet rebel, I jumped in and started a blog.
No consideration about what the blog would cover. No plan of posting. No idea of what I was doing. Just jump in and figure it out. As a result, the blog has gone, and is still undergoing, changes and revamping.
A diver would have carefully considered what they wanted their blog to look like, what information they’d want to include, how often they’d blog and many more questions. Those are the blogs that look good from the beginning.
Divers and Jumpers usually get to the same place, in the water. It’s just our method of entering is different.
Are you a diver or a jumper?
Linking up with LisaJo at The Gypsy Mama as part of Five Minute Friday. Rules are simple, write for five minutes on a prompt (I think I went over by a couple of minutes). Post what is written, no editing, no second guessing (good for jumpers, harder for divers). Link up at Gypsy Mama, read and comment on other posts.
Also linking up with Ultimate Blog Challenge. Trying to post daily for the month of January.
Jim Reeves, and other artists recorded a song, THE FARMER AND THE LORD. It reminds us there is always something for which to be thankful. You can hear the song here.
Last year I found Janice Tanton and joined her journey to list five things I’m thankful for each day. Thursday’s I’ll recap the previous week’s gratitudes.
Friday, January 4
Someone willing to write a blurb for my book My second quilting devotional is finished, and I wanted to add a blurb on the back from another quilter. Barb is willing to be that person. The sunshine makes the day brighter, my kitchen is clean, I’m making progress on making a sewing room and most especially I’m thankful for PeeWee and her help in clearing out the future sewing room.
Saturday, January 5
Finding new blogs, others’ blogs add variety, education and fun. I’m always thankful when I find a new one I enjoy. Five Minute Friday, the brain child of Lisa Jo at The Gypsy Momma and her friends. It’s where we write for 5 minutes about a subject she posts and then we post, no editing no second guessing. It’s fun? Courage found to do difficult tasks. Grandkids carrying on a tradition, showing in livestock shows, like their daddy and grandpa. Milk for breakfast cereal, because seriously, who wants to eat cereal and not have milk?
Sunday, January 6
Crispy potato wedges, I actually left them in the oven long enough to become crispy. I’m thankful for the patience and the taste. Policeman stopped me on my way home last night, I’m thankful it wasn’t for lawbreaking, so no ticket. Thankful he did stop me, to let me know my headlight was out, before it caused an accident. Grateful there are stock shows close enough to attend if I so desire. While the calendar says January, the temps say more October. Love and appreciate the lack of cold.
Monday, January 7.
I’m always thankful for the people in my life, and periodically I will list five of them for my daily gratitudes. Monday was one of those days. I met these five ladies through the internet and they have all blessed my life considerably. Amy Mullis is a funny writer. Really she is. Check out her venture, Stage of Life. I must warn you, it’s best not to have liquids in your mouth when reading her insightful prose. She is a fun cheerleader and has boosted me several times when I’ve been down.
Mariam Kobras was promoting her first book, The Distant Shore, and caught my attention. Who knew she was a quilter before she became an author? We have become good online friends and I’m looking forward to meeting her this year when she once again is in the United States. Her blog, Author on the Porch, often includes snippets from her books.
I “met” Lauri Rottmayer through Mariam. Now how strange is that? An author in Germany connects two Okies? Lauri makes me smile every time I see her tweets. One of these days she and I will meet in real life and have lunch.
Lisa Adams, is caring, encouraging, a mother, and a cancer warrior. I always look forward to seeing her posts. I worry and send up prayers for her when I don’t.
Those are just five of the awesome people I’ve met online. Hope you enjoyed meeting them too.
Tuesday, January 8
In Your Words Blog hop, a group of quilters selected a word for the year and made a small quilt/wall hanging featuring the word. It’s great fun, not only to see the words others have chosen, but also the many creative ways of expressing the words. Pretzels, the hard crunchy salty ones. Had some left from the holidays and enjoyed munching them. Technology that works, because often it doesn’t. Book signings, always thankful to meet others who enjoy reading and quilting. Also it’s a fun way to promote and sell my book. Fifth gratitude, finally, making progress on finding and establishing a routine.
Wednesday, January 9
I don’t often dream, or at least the dreams aren’t remembered, thankful to not only have and remember the dreams, but also the reconnection with those I love, even if only in my sleep. I love attending Toastmasters, and am thankful for the Atoka group that is only an hour away. Rain, filling the ponds, and adding much needed moisture to the soil. Having a safe trip, after dark and in the rain, neither are my favorite driving conditions, thankful the trip was uneventful. Red birds that brighten the dull winter landscape.
Thursday, January 10
Receiving cards in the mail, just because someone cared. The bills are all paid for another month and there was money to pay the bills. Places and people to visit or see, a reason to leave the house and be involved in life.
As Jim Reeves points out in the song, regardless of the down side, there is an upside, and always something to be thankful we have in our lives. Have you taken time to notice some of your blessings? Please share, either here or join us on Twitter, using the hashtag 5dailygratitudes.
Whether traveling a short distance, 100 miles or less, or going far away, I am thankful for my ability to travel.
Yesterday, and today in many places, we honored our veterans, and those now serving our country. Whether they served in time of strife or peace, they were always willing to put their lives on the line for the rest of us. They spent and are spending days, and months away from their families for our security and freedoms.
The right to travel when and where we want is one of those freedoms they secured for us, and allow us to continue to enjoy.
There are many modes of transportation available to us:
By foot:
By bike:
By air:
By boat:
Even by animal:
Now, to be honest, I don’t use all these modes of transportation on a regular basis. I don’t even use some of them, ever.
For example, I’m not getting on an animal, especially not to travel. That’s a long way to fall and I’m against falling.
It doesn’t matter how the travel is achieved, thank goodness for the right and ability to travel.
What about you? Do you travel often? Far or local? What’s your favorite destination, or your favorite trip?
Time to play catch-up. Again. Sometimes I think I play that game much too often. The last few days have been spent working on Christmas projects and writing, which left my little blog neglected.
So, today I will catch up on at least the last couple of days of gratitude. My list for the month is listed here. The last “thankful” post was for my computer, all computers, here.
Next on the list are, the internet, Ozzie (my dog), and trees. Here we go.
The Internet
Our connection source. The world has become much smaller in my lifetime thanks to the telephone, television, and air travel. These are all good tools to help us reach others, but they have their limits.
We only call, or receive calls, to chat and visit from people we’ve previously met. Seldom do we call a random number and strike up a conversation and friendship with someone.
The television is passive, we don’t interact with it and we view only what others want us to view.
Travel is expensive and time consuming. Whether we travel by plane, car, bus, train, or boat, there is a cost and time factor involved. Limiting how much we connect with others far away.
Enter the internet. We can meet others online. We can go to sites, and meet others with similar interests. I “met” several friends at Absolute Write (AW). We have writing as a common factor, but we differ in many ways.
I’ve even found quilters I visit and follow at the Quilting Gallery. Who knew people moved away from their sewing machines long enough to post their sewing progress online?
Then, of course, there are the social networks, Facebook, Twitter, and Pintrest that allow me to meet a variety of people from all walks of life. Online friends are an eclectic group, a more diverse group than can be found in any neighborhood, or social gathering.
The internet also allows me to do research for my books, or just for my information easily. The closest library to me is 15 miles and only open in the afternoon, my next choices are both 30 miles away. Doing research at the library requires planning (something I’m not good at), and travel. The internet allows almost instant (assuming it’s working) access to a larger research pool.
Of course, nothing is perfect and the internet has its flaws. Among other cons, the internet can cause people to abandon their real lives and families, that’s not good. But, for most of us, the internet has been a benefit and I am thankful to have it.
How about you? How has the internet impacted your life?
Next up on the list for Saturday is Ozzie my little dog.
Ozzie was a ‘gift’ from my little granddaughter Paisley. He was her dog. Mom and dad had their hands full with their jobs, Paisley, livestock, and the new baby on the way, they needed a new home for Ozzie.
Paisley, of course, did not want to get rid of her dog. However, she was willing to let Grandma Nin take him, for awhile. It’s been three years. Now, she’s okay with him living at my house.
Ozzie may be four years old, but he’s a little like having a two year old in the house. He gets into everything that is within reach. Drop a pin cushion on the floor, or just forget and leave it on the ottoman and it’s his. I’ll be running the magnet over the entire floor to pick up pins, and gathering up what’s left of the pin cushion after he chewed it.
It’s common for him to hear, “Ozzie, what do you have?” Then he tilts his head and gives me that innocent, ‘what are you talking about?’ look.
Ozzie loves people. One year my dog-sitter was unavailable so Ozzie attended the Oklahoma Writers’ Federation, Inc. (OWFI) conference with me. He loved all the attention from the other writers. Amy Shojai shared a video of him playing which Paisley enjoyed watching.
Ozzie makes me smile and I am so glad he’s in my life. Thank you Paisley. Do you have a pet?
Finally, for today, trees are on my list.
I’m lucky to live in Southeast Oklahoma which is full of trees. I can’t imagine living in a place without trees.
Right now the wind is blowing, hard. Not tornado hard, or hurricane hard, but hard enough to rock the chairs on the porch, and blow unsecured items around the yard. The trees buffer a lot of that wind. Sitting in the security of my house the wind howls and sounds horrible. The trees however, stand their ground.
In the summer the trees offer shade and relief from the blistering heat. I’m often the last of my friends to turn on the air conditioner, because the trees surrounding me help keep me at a comfortable temperature.
Although I no longer climb trees, in my youth I did. Today the trees remind me of that time when my brothers, and neighborhood friends would climb the trees. We climbed and hid among the leaves, creating our own worlds high above the real world and our parents below.
In the winter, the trees offer refuge to wildlife, and the bare limbs remind me that spring and new life is coming.
So, there you have it. I’m almost caught up, and three things I’m thankful to have. What about you? What are you thankful to have in your life?
Almost every quilter has a manually operated Unsewing Machine. Otherwise known as a seam ripper. However, a few weeks ago, Alex Anderson unveiled the latest in sewing innovations, a stitch eraser. Enjoy.
Nita Beshear - A Patchwork Life 