HOUSTON SHOW

 My friend Nikki went to Quilt Festival in Houston this year.

She sent me pictures of my quilt, Rhythm in Blues, which I'm honored to have hanging there.

WOMAN POWER

 I quilted a bit more on the Solstice Star, then went on to the fun stuff.

I made the next Art East Quilting's Mini block, #27 The Ice Cream:

The the really fun stuff, another improv block from Cheryl Arkison:

This is a power pose - woman power!

I got a little frustrated though when I started putting the background in.  I didn't realize I was almost out of that dark teal.  This is it.  I sure hope I ordered more and it's in the Missouri Star order that's arriving today.

Oh, and I mailed my Rhythm in Blues quilt off to Houston this morning, too.  Good luck!

DAY 4 OF QUILTCON IN ATLANTA

 Last day of Quiltcon and I finally get to actually walk through the show.  I only have one lecture to go to and it's the last of the weekend.  It's a retrospective of the last 10 years of Quiltcon.  

They actually showed my Rhythm in Blues quilt.  I was stunned.

Afterwards, I had to dash off, back to the airport to pick up my rental car.

Then it was back to the hotel to pick up my suitcases, which I had left in in their care.

I ran into Ethylene at the hotel again.  She was on her way to the airport, so I offered her a ride, which was great for several reasons, one of which that she was able to charge up my phone, which was dying.

It was nice to spend a few more minutes with her.

Good bye Quiltcon - see you all next year in Raleigh!

THE BLUES ARE IN SACRAMENTO

 My new friend Nikki went to Meissner Sewing Center in Sacramento and sent me pictures of my quilt, Rhythm in Blues, which is currently hanging there along with the other 'Best of Quiltcon 2022' quilts.

Seems an odd venue, but what the heck - they are being seen.

GOOD LUCK BLUES

I mailed Rhythm in Blues off to Quiltcon today.

Good luck and have fun!

PHOTO DAY

 Darrell set up his shop space for taking photos.  He took the photos I need to submit to Quiltcon of two of my quilts.

It was fun and fascinating to be able adjust the 'temperature' of the lights with his new Godox lights.

TRIMMED

 I trimmed the excess from the Rhythm in Blues quilt and put it up on the design wall to decide on how to finish it - binding, facing or what?

I decided it looked just fine without a border or more color on the outside, so I'm going with facing. 

I cut up the excess backing into 2-1/2" strips, pressed them in half and pinned to the front, then I  sewed them down and pressed to the the back.  Now, I just need to hand sew it all down on the back.  

It was a beautiful day, so Darrell and I went to Alki and picked up lunch to go from Cactus.  We took it to the beach where we sat at a picnic table and watched the world go by.  It was wonderful.

We sat in the sunshine and watched the darkening clouds over Seattle.

QUILTING DONE ON BLUES

 I worked and worked the last two days on the straight line quilting on the Rhythm in Blues quilt.  And I finished it up today.  I am happy with it.

Now I'm thinking about ways to finish it.  I thing regular binding would look too heavy and facing would look unfinished.  There's got to be the perfect solution, I just need to figure it out.

Today would have been Moe's 27th birthday.  I still miss her.  Best Dog Ever.

BLUE THREAD QUILTING

 I got the rest of the bad quilting removed from Rhythm in Blues.  I removed most of it from the back.  It seems to be easier and it doesn't cause any damage to the front.

Then I started on the new straight line quilting.

I'm using three shades of blue Aurifil 50wt thread and white.

The white will be on the white background, then the lightest shade of blue will be on both sides along the edges of the pattern.  Then the middle shade next to them, ending with the darkest shade in the middle.

I am only about a third of the way through with it though.

ON THE LA

 I got the Rhythm in Blues quilt top loaded onto the longarm.  It took at least an hour to get everything lined up and straight.

Then I stitched some straight lines in the white outside.

This is going to be very challenging to quilt.

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

 I got all of the quarters sewn together then put them all together.  And the Rhythm in Blues quilt is now a top.

All of the quarters ready to go

Top half together

Having problems with one intersection - I resewed it too many times. I finally gave up in frustration and left it - it's not perfect either, but I was afraid to pick it out again.

It's all sewn together - it's a top!

Now on to the label and the backing.  I can use up some of the leftover fabrics because I ordered way too much!  

Did I remember to order white batting?

LONGER THAN I THOUGHT

 I thought I'd have these last two quarters of the Rhythm in Blues quilt sewn together today.  But, that didn't happen.  It's taking longer than I thought.  

Along the way there was these ovals that were sewn in.

I just have two long seams left and then the four quarters will be ready to be sewn together.  This is the backside with seams pressed open.

BIGGER STILL

 I sewed together half of the quarter section of the Rhythm in Blues quilt.

Just one fourth of the quarter left to do then I can sew the quarters together.

This is the backside - seams pressed open.

GETTING BIGGER

 I sewed on my Rhythm in Blues quilt quarters while visiting with the Brave Patch Monday Makers.

I got a lot done.  It's getting bigger - almost there!

THREE JARS OF BEANS

 We put the dried beans into quart jars, there was a little bit more than would fit into three.

Then I added another bit to the ongoing quilt project.

THE NEXT HALF

 I started in on the two pieces that make up the other half of the Rhythm in Blues quilt today while visiting with the Brave Patch folks.

I got a little section done (for both quarters).

HALF DONE

 I've got the two quarter pieces done.  That means I'm half done with the Rhythm in Blues quilt.

OVAL PIECES

 I spent a pleasant afternoon with the Monday Brave Patchers.  I sewed on my Rhythm in Blues quilt while we chatted about the world's woes.

I almost got the first quarter done.  There is just one more seam to sew.

The oval wasn't as difficult as I thought it would be either.  I'm pleased with how it's coming together.

HALF A CIRCLE

 I was a little concerned about sewing the half circles in the Rhythm in Blues quilt, there are more than a few of them.  Oh, and the ovals!

I started out with the easier curves first, the last few days.  Today was the first of the half circles.  

There was a lot of pinning!

And, it turned out great, nice and smooth.  

I made two today and then got the other half's parts cut out, then had to leave for a doctor's appointment.  Tomorrow will be the real test.

BLUE PARTS

 Another day of sewing yields a bigger part of the Blue quilt.