Wonderful Show & Tell

Wonderful Show & Tell!

My Beginning Rotary Star Sampler students basted quilts in their final class last Monday. They did a super job and I hope everyone will send me pictures of their quilted and finished project. Hope to see you in future classes!!!

Last night I taught the 4^th installment of Jo’s ‘Little Women’ Club at Glad Creations, Quilt Block in Minneapolis, MN. We had great show n’ tell, laughed at the jokes of my son and husband and bought more fabric…Yay! Here’s a picture of the projects using Jo’s fabric.

Happy quilting,

Annemarie

A Couple Additions!

It has been a while since my last post. There are so many things that happen in a day. You would think that I’d have tons to write so why do I think I have nothing to say?

“It’s about time,” I said to myself, “sit down and write!” So here goes…..

Addition #1 - Last Monday we (husband, son and I) added a puppy to our family. She is a British Lab by the name of Tula. Our son named her…Tula, like the WWII Russian gun manufacture. I thought, Tula like the star character in the movie, My Big Fat Greek Wedding or like Tula Pink quilt patterns. I would rather think of those references not a gun manufacture. Anyway, she is wonderful and of course the cutest puppy ever (at least in this house). She is sleeping most of the night. But does she have a set of lungs on her!

Addition #2 - Thanks to my friend Laura the following additions come from her. These are of the quilt variety. My birthday was in April, April Fool’s day to be exact. Laura gave me 2 wonderful Redwork pieces for my collection. No history came with them so we can make up our own. I think they may have been pillow covers. There is a wonderful Kate Greenaway design on one of the pieces (see close-up). I am guessing they date to circa 1890.

Addition #3- I also credit Laura with a quilt I bought today. I have done a little research and it is called Garden Bouquet quilt, dated 1934, designed by Florence La Ganke (Nancy Page Quilt Club) dating back to the 1930s. Yes, there were quilt clubs back then too! It was a pattern published in the Minneapolis Tribune newspaper beginning October 1931. (The pattern appeared in other newspapers too.) You could call it a Block of the Month (sound familiar). The bird appliqués represent a ‘Meek’ bird and a ‘Saucy’ bird. Can you guess which one is which?

I am quite happy with my new additions. I just have to keep Tula away from the quilts (they are not chew toys!)

If you leave a comment I might write more often!

Happy quilting,

Annemarie

How Exciting!

Fons and Porter’s Love of Quilting approached me at Spring Market 2010 in Minneapolis, MN. They asked if I would submit a quilt for their magazine. I was honored to be asked and when I found out they had chosen my design I was thrilled.

Pretty much the picture speaks for itself. This is my very first quilt design published in a magazine. This year there will be 2 more designs appearing in other magazines.

So here it is!. The graphics are excellent…thanks Fons & Porter!!!

We Sewed, We Laughed, We Enjoyed!!

Me with my Ember Reds and Evergreen blocks

I love a retreat! It took an eternity for the weekend to arrive and a blink of the eye to be over. Getting away from my normal routine couldn't come fast enough. Yippee, Friday arrived and we were speeding (literally) off in my new car to Debbie’s cabin near Alexandria, MN. Of course there was a quick quilt shop stop on the way. Quilted Treasures in Rogers, MN always has nice things to offer. What a great way to celebrate my 51^st birthday!

Sue, Patty, Suzanne..........................Laura

The weather was going to be a problem all weekend but I didn't care. Just get me to the cabin and all will be great. As it turned out the weekend was sunny and beautiful. There were 6 more quilter-friends joining me at Debbie’s cabin. She is a fantastic hostess…Hostess with the Mostess doesn’t do her justice. She is WONDERFUL!

We started sewing the moment we arrived. Everyone had their machines, tools, and several projects...and we were raring to go. There was an island for cutting (and sometimes food prep). Busy sewing tables that kept humming from dawn to WAY past midnight. We took a break for a wonderful Italian meal at Bella’s on Broadway - downtown Alexandria (I highly recommend it). Everyone had stories to tell at dinner. Then back home to sew until 3am. I didn't make it past 2am.

Marcia.....................................Debbie

How did the weekend end so soon? Sunday morning I put the sewing pedal to the floor. I wanted to finish a little more before I had to pack up. My goal was 144 finished blocks for my Ember Reds and Evergreens Quilt. What was I thinking? I got 86 done and of course they are all from Jo Morton’s line of fabric. Everyone else made great progress in their projects some even finished theirs!

What a great weekend. We’ll do it again all again this fall…Thanks Debbie!!!

Enjoy!

Annemarie in MN

Jo's 'Little Women Club' and Lost Purse Found!

Tuesday night was the 2^nd installment of Jo’s ‘Little Women’ Club #10 at Glad Creations. It really was supposed to be the 3^rd class but in February we had a snow storm and the shop had to be closed. So the weather has been pretty nice since (if the 40s are considered nice) and we thought spring was finally on its way! But Mother Nature had a different idea. She decided it would be funny to have an ice and snow storm - again. Got to love Spring – right? Anyway, we did have class and there were some wonderful quilts brought for show and tell.

This month the quilt project is Courthouse Steps. Quilted with a Baptist Fan…great new tool to create the fan design and circles.

It was a dark sleeting night after class. I carry a very large tote bag stuffed with all my class/teaching info. As I was loading it into my car my purse fell out of the tote. Yes, that’s right. It was left on one of the busiest streets in South Minneapolis. I realized it was missing when I got home and quickly called the shop. The shop was CLOSED! I panicked and called the shop owner who lives nearby. Luckily she and her husband graciously volunteered to go look for it.

Yes, it was found on the road and all is well. The purse isn't even a little worse for the wear. I am very happy to have it back in my hot little spending hands!

Thanks again Nancy and Jay for saving me and my purse!!!

Happy quilting,

Annemarie

Another Show Stopper #1 of 2

I stopped by Eagan High School library today to look at the quilts on display for Women in History month. It is their 17^th annual show and I have participated every year. The show is always an eclectic mix of quilts made by local quilters. But quilts aren’t the only items on display.

A special treat is always in store when you view the two library display cases. This year one case focused on pincushions. From Squirrels to vests…I guess just about anything can be made to hold pins! This display case was aptly named… Needles and Pins.

The second case held many a bag made from Terry Atkinson’s Groovy Girl class. I taught the class at Glad Creations, Quilt Block in Minneapolis, MN over the last 6 months.

Laura and Laurie do such a wonderful job arranging the display cases!

The show will be on display for another couple of days. The show closes noon on Friday March 18, 2011. Don’t miss this year’s wonderful display…you don’t want to miss it!

Another Show Stopper #2 of 2

I stopped by Eagan

High School library today to look at the quilts on display for Women in History month. It is their 17^th annual show and I have participa

ted every year. The show is always an eclectic mix of quilts made by local quilters. The quilts this year did not disappoint. I would proudly take any one of them

home. I have posted pictures of my 2 favorites (it is really hard to have favorites they are all wonderful). Star quilt by…Dee Legvold and Flower quilt by…Janet Schuetze.

My quilting friend Suzanne displayed a quilt made from one of my patterns.

The pattern name is ‘Pride and Glory’.

She is a 1930s reproduction fabric fanatic.

I just love how the quilt looks using her fabrics!

There were 2 more of my pattern quilts on display at the show. Marcia, another one of my quilting friends displays her version of ‘Laura’s 1870 Cradle Quilt’. (Quilt on the upper right of photo). ‘Stars Divided’ is on the upper left side of the photo and I am sorry I don’t know who made that one. The rest of the quilts in this picture are mine from Jo’s Little Women Club #9 which I teach at Glad Creations, Quilt Block in Minneapolis, MN.

The show will be on display for another couple of days. The show closes noon on Friday March 18, 2011. Don’t miss this year’s wonderful display…you don’t want to miss it!