Merry Christmas

Wishing you all a very merry christmas and a safe and happy new year.

l am taking a blogging break and will be back in the new year, refreshed and reinvigorated.

Thanks for your friendship this year. And thanks for visiting.

Linda.

Back to Quilting.

l would like to thank you all for your kind words,
 thoughts and prayers on the passing of my sister.

As l look through the messages, l see so many friends, who, 12 months ago,
l did not know,  and now that list of names warms my heart. Thank you all so much.

l would like to share this poem with you all,

 written by a friend, for Judy, and read at her funeral yesterday.

It was so very touching.

Dear Judy,

l know at times your inner strength was tested,

In so many ways.

We may not share our tomorrows,

but we can treasure our yesterdays.

When God holds your heart,

forever your heart he holds.

You were in a cocoon,

now the beautiful butterfly unfolds.

We will search our own inner strength,

as we stay here and mourn.

While from the cocoon to the butterfly,

 your soul has been reborn.

A few weeks back you gave me a big hug,

 then in your passing, l realized,

 today is all we may have,

then knowing how important it is

for everyone to share their love.

There are no telephones to heaven,

but a prayer will do,

and each time l see a butterfly,

l will be thinking of you.

By Helen.

And now back to quilting!!

Back in August l shared this photo with you.

Now l can show you the whole quilt.

Because it's finally been published.

My contributors copy of the magazine came in the mail today.

Australian Country Craft. Vol 22 No 6.

l named it Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows.
It will be for sale from the 22nd Dec.
Thanks for visiting and your friendship.
Linda.

My Sister

 

 Judith Ellen Stanton

16th March 1964 -  4th Dec 2010

My Sister.

A few Antique quilts from Houston.

There was a special display of patriotic quilts, by Cindy Rennels, from her private collection.

                                                                             

                                  

Star and Wreath, circa 1900.

Eagles and Stars.Circa 1850's-60's.

American Flag Quilt.

Circa 1930's.

Eight Point connecting star.

 Circa 1860's.

Stars of Stripes.

Circa 1940's.

Then there was the Antique Quilt booths.

l always asked before taking photo's, and they were very obliging.

This one is a stunner, from John Sauls Antique's.

 

 Then there was this beauty!!

 

 This one was for sale in Cindy's Booth.

And this one was for sale in Mary Koval's booth.

There were many more beautiful quilts on display and available for sale, but it's time to move on.

 l hope you  enjoyed this mini tour of what Houston had to offer.

Thanks for visiting,

Linda.

A day of Shop Hopping with a new friend.

Have you seen this blog?

 Quilterie?

Well, you should visit.

Why?

Well, Liz wrote asking advice about quilt shops to visit on her mini trip to Melbourne, and l offered to meet her and drive her around. And l am so glad  l did.

l was able to spend the day with a wonderful like minded lady.

And we had FUN!!!

 From coffee, to shopping quilt shops, to lunching in the rain,

and spending more time in the traffic than we cared for!!

And we found we have more than 1 friend in common.

And a whole lot of other stuff too!!

Not only that, but l love what she does with fabric. l learnt alot by just standing back,

and watching her cruise the isles of the quilt shops.

These were my small purchases for the day,

keeping in mind,l have just returned from Houston.

Thanks Liz for letting me spend the day with you,

and l sure do look forward to coming to Sydney.

l know l promised you some antique quilts,

 there coming. l just had to share about my day.

Thanks for visiting.

Linda.

More quilts and some winners from Houston.

This amazing quilt is called Mary Simon Rediscovered by Nancy Kerns.

Her goal was to closely reproduce an antique  Baltimore quilt top from the DAR museum.

Her design source was the Mary Simon Pattern set from the DAR Museum.

This quilt just amazed me with it's size and precise piecing. 

Yes, it's not much bigger than its 1st place ribbon.

Called Mission: Impeccable by Kumiko Frydl.

Design source : Mariners compass.

The colors of this quilt was stunning.

Paisley Peacock by Pat Holly.

Original Design.

l loved this one for it's simplicity and color.

Not that l loved it less than the others, but l COULD make this one!!!

Wild Goose Chase by Nita G. Beard.

Design source. Workshop with Cynthia Regone.

Just look at the piecing!!!

FY2-AColonial History by Dianne M. Sehorne.

Design source. Karen Stones Lone Star Pattern.

And of course, then there is the Best of  Show.

Mystique by Sharon Schamber.

Design source. Original Design.

Hope you enjoy seeing these stunning quilts.

l will be back in a few days with some of the antique quilts that l saw at Houston.

Thanks for visiting.

Linda.

A few Quilts from Houston that caught my eye.

Orphan Blossoms  by Timna Tarr.

Design source- Antique quilt blocks and tops in her collection. 

Feathers by Robyn Fahy.

Own Design.

Girl Gang 1 - by Geannine Ott.

Jan Patek design.

Rising Star by Mary Curley.

Design source - Marsha McCloskeys - Feathered Star Quilt Blocks 1.

Bling Bling Snow Flake by Chung See Lee.

Own design.

New York Jazz by Patricia Mayer.

Design source - New York Beauty blocks and Karen Stones pattern

 for paper piecing New York Beauty cones.

Folk Art for Jean by Marian Woods.

Design source - Patricia Cox's version of  1800's Bird Of Paradise Quilt.

Where's Johnson by Dianne  Sehorne.

Design Source-Adaptation of Karen Stone's Indiana Orange Peel Quilt.

l hope you enjoy these few quilts today. l have more to come.

Blogger is again playing tricks, and only 2 of your comments came through to my

 email inbox. l so love hearing what you have to say and replying,

so my apologies for not being able to do so. Lets hope it sorts itself out.

Thanks for visiting.

Linda.

P.S. Maxine, can you please contact me again, l would love to hear from you.

I'm Back!!!

Well, l've been back a little while, but it's taken some to find my feet and catch up with stuff here at home. It was such a whirlwind of a trip, and we saw and did so much in 11 days,  my head is still spinning, trying to process it all. l took a lot of photos, mainly of the quilts at Festival, but l thought l would share these ones first, which really sum up our trip.

The wide open spaces that is TEXAS!!

 We took a drive to Fredericksburg, and found this ranch. Wish we  had known about it

before we left home, as you can stay there.

 We visited on a Saturday, and it was deserted. Fell in love with this church.

                        This is one of the guesthouses you can stay in. Real Western Texan!!

                    Then we took a drive to LBJ's Ranch. We found these on the front porch.

They looked so inviting.  Well worth a visit if you are in the area.

And who can resist taking photos of an eagle!! This was above the front door.

 We stayed at the Stockyards in Fort Worth, and each day at 11am and 4pm,

 they drive these Longhorns down the main street.

We took a drive to Waxahachie to visit Common Threads Quilt Shop,

and while we girls went shopping, our DH's went hunting,

and found these antique quilts for us in the local museum.

We think they did good!!

 We also stopped in at Lone Star House of Quilts,where we certainly helped
 the US economy, and had a wonderful visit with Betsy,

 who l met last year, and the other staff,

who were very helpful, even making coffee for the boys.

Now this photo needs no explanation. This was the main reason why we were here.

And boy, did we have a GREAT TIME!!!!

l will be back in a few days with more photos and some tales to tell!!

In the mean time, l will leave you with this quilt. Its an antique that was on exhibit.

Simply Stunning!

Thanks for visiting.

Linda.

More closeups from the exhibition!!

l hope you are enjoying seeing these closeups. Don't forget, it's not to late to donate to Breast Cancer Research. Just send me an email or leave a comment, and l will add your name and donation amount to our total. You can donate to any Breast Cancer Association anywhere in the world.

 

Thanks for keeping me company.

Linda.