AAQI goes to Houston

My AAQI quilt Unconditional Love is in Houston along with 2,000 other quilts at the International Quilt Show.  The show starts today and the AAQI booth is open and working hard to sell these little gems for Alzheimer research.  I will be watching the postings of sales closely as 26 of my quilts are being offered for sale and it is always so exciting to see them do their job for the cause.  If you're at the Show stop by the AAQI booth and purchase a quilt or the AAQI website where quilts are for sale daily.  Remember the Celebrity Auction starts tomorrow.



Happy Quilting!

It's Just Around the Corner

Just around the corner is November 1 and the opportunity to bid on some great quilts.

CELEBRITY INVITATIONAL QUILT AUCTION          

STARTS NOVEMBER 1ST

The Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative (AlzQuilts.org) offers an online auction during the first 10 days of every month. Each November, in honor of National Alzheimer's Awareness Month, the AAQI offers 12 very special quilts. This year the auction quilts have been made by world renowned quilters Alex Anderson, Hollis Chatelain, Caryl Bryer Fallert, John Flynn, Diane Gaudynski, Becky Goldsmith, Pat Holly, Libby Lehman, Marsha McCloskey, Sue Nickels, Mary Sorensen, and Ricky Tims.

The quilts are about 16" x 16" and the auction is open to the public.

Last year the 12 quilts offered in the November auction raised more than $14,000 for the AAQI, an all-volunteer effort to raise awareness and fund research through art.  Think about bidding on these wonderful quilts and help Alzheimer's Research.  Happy Quilting!

Sunday---Precious Promises

The Lord does not look at the things man looks at.  Man looks at outward appearances, but the Lord looks at the heart.  I Samuel 16:7

A New Season

When you live in the great state of Missouri you know about changes in the weather.  Yesterday the high was 81 with a beautiful sun filled sky, a little windy, but all in all a wonderful day.  And then around 3:30 pm the sky grayed, the temps fell to 57, and the rain began to fall.  And so did the leaves.  We live in the woods and leaf raking in the fall is part of our life.  So next week I'll put down the quilting and pick up the rake.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend and Happy Quilting!

On the Move

The Little Yellow Quilt with all it's flaws---frayed edges, missing blocks, separating seams---is on the move.  I knew this little quilt would have a continued life even though it was in disrepair.  I started to repair it myself, but realized that it would take more time than I was ready to devote.  So, I decided to sell the little quilt as is, a cutter quilt, to someone who would take it apart and make wonderful new items that would bring joy and comfort.  The Little Yellow Quilt is headed to the "Big Apple", New York, New York---and to a new life.  I don't know where the quilt originated, or where it will end up, but like all quilts that are appreciated it will live on.  Have a wonderful Monday and Happy Quilting!

Sunday---Precious Promises

This is the day the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.  Psalms 118:24

Sunday---Precious Promises

Jehovah is "I am that I am."  God is all that we need Him to be.  Exodus 3:14

It's That Time of Year

Major League Baseball playoff time of year and the St. Louis Cardinals are again in the playoffs.  The Cardinals let the first game slip away yesterday, we'll see what today brings.  What does this have to do with quilting?

An UFO that I started last year when the Cardinals were playing in the World Series.  For non-baseball fans, the Cardinals won and the series was thrilling---lots of great plays and last minute come from behind wins.  Anyway, I didn't finish my project--I call it Stars Over Cardinal Nation each star has the year of a World Series Championship.  I started hand quilting and really thought it would not take this long, but I was wrong. So I'm working on it again as I watch the beginning of what I hope to be a successful run for another Championship.  

I made a little addition to the quilt from last year's series.  The Rally Squirrel, he made a dashing run across home plate when Skip Schumaker was up to bat and we won the game.  So he became an important part of the Cardinals great win last year.  I'm prepared to add another star for 2012---hope, hope, hope.  If any of you are Cardinal fans, put on those jerseys, t-shirts, hats and cheer our team to a victory in 2012.  I'll be quilting!!!   Have a great Monday---Happy Quilting!

Sunday---Precious Promises

Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful.  But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law he does meditate day and night.  And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he does shall prosper.  Psalms 1:1-3

Festival of Sharing Quilt Show Part III

The church quilting group, Lydia Circle operated a little quilt shop during the show.  Blessing Baskets had one also.

Lydia Circle's little quilt shop was created by donations of quilting fabrics, books, magazines and sewing odds and ends.  All the proceeds from the shop went to Festival of Sharing

The Blessing Baskets Project is a wonderful mission organization that generates opportunities, empowers entrepreneurs and reduces poverty.  The project provides sustainable work and pays Prosperity Wages at least 2.5 times Fair Trade directly to the Artisans from Bangladesh, Ghana, Uganda, Madagascar and Indonesia.  The work is outstanding and the monies earned from each basket sold goes to improve the lives of at least a minimum of 6 lives in the world---from production to transportation.

As always the festival was a great day of working, sharing and giving.  Have a wonderful weekend and Happy Quilting!

Festival of Sharing Quilt Show Part II

Besides the lovely bed size quilts, we had tables of  baby and specialty quilts.  A picture maybe two are worth a thousand words.

Some were hand others machine quilted

Some whole cloth, some pieced

Some had a holiday or giving message

 Some were just amazing

This little wall hanging had reverse applique, ribbon embroidery, needle turn applique and hand quilting

The maker was 90 years old.

All done in the spirit of giving of yourself  for others.

Happy Quilting!

Festival of Sharing Quilt Show

Each year at the time our church hosts the Festival of Sharing Quilt Show.  This little show is to promote a beautiful number of quilts that are made and donated for an October 20th Quilt Auction to raise money for world missions.  This festival is held every year and supported by many different churches and denominations.  This is an event the Lydia Circle (my church quilters) really look forward to.  This year for $5.00 admission to the show you would have also enjoyed a soup, salad and dessert lunch.  We team up with two other local churches to create the luncheon.  We also have a little quilt shop available for quilt books, fabrics and sewing notions that are all donated by the community and the quilters.  All the proceeds from the days events goes to the Festival of Sharing.  The quilts displayed were from churches on our side of the state and as the show travels the quilts from the area will be displayed.  In the beginning the place looks a  like a gym, but within an hour and with lots of help from the men in our church.  The magic starts to happen.

Some of the quilt tops are made by individuals and quilted by a church group.  Some are completed totally by church groups, and some completed by one individual, and all are beautiful.  Here are a few photos of the show and some individual beauties.

This one was made from handkerchiefs, stunning.  Notice the while whole cloth on the left.  The quilting was beautiful.

Some of the quilts were wall hangings, and baby quilts.  Some were machine quilted too.  More about all that on Wednesday---check back then.  Have a great Monday and Happy Quilting!