Make a Wish Fund Raiser

MAKE A WISH-Blue Night Reception and Golf Classic

4th Annual Blue Night Reception took place the evening of July 22nd at Sunningdale Golf and Country Club. They had an auction that evening to raise money for Make a Wish and Mary Anne P. pieced a quilt to donate and kindly asked me to do the machine quilting. She just heard back from the coordinator and the quilt raised $285 which is fantastic!

Elisabeth is teaching kids in Africa to quilt

Had another e mail today letting me know that Elisabeth from the Mzansi Zulu Quilt Centre is teaching children a learn to quilt class. Their ages range from 8-13. Here is one of the students and her name is Khetthwe Shezi. I love the photo of Khetthwe kneeling on a chair while long arm quilting!

Funny Machine Quilting Comic

Helen, a fellow longarm quilter sent me this cartoon today. Made me laugh!

FABRIC BOWLS

Today I took a fantastic class taught by Heather Stewart at Quilts and Calicos.

We all made fabric bowls of different sizes, colours and fabrics. They work up so quickly and are so much fun, not to mention beautiful. EVERYONE will be getting these as gifts for the next few years, or until I use up my stash. Here are some photos.

Heather even suggested we embellish them with trims and beads so I came right home after class to embellish my brown and green bowl. I just love it.

Vacation in NY State Parks and Vermont

Last week we had a family vacation camping in the Fingerlakes Region and Adirondack Region of New York State and then on to Lake Champlain in Vermont. Tried to find a quilt shop but did not see one.

In Vermont on Grand Isle we visited Hyde Log Cabin which is believed to be the oldest log cabin in the US- built in 1783. Inside we saw some amazing antiques and they had a quilt on one of the beds. Many of the antiques were donated so I can't say it belonged to the Hyde family but it sure was interesting to see the fabrics used.

Also while driving in NY we decided to stop at Almanzo Wilder's homestead. Alex is a HUGE Little House on the Prairie fan so this was the hi-light of her trip (and seeing Jimmie Johnson at the NASCAR race) They would not let me take photos in the house so no quilt pictures but we could take photos in the barn and this is a needlepoint sample made with some wool that they would have had from their sheep. I thought it looked like a quilt too.

Despite the rain and bugs we had a great time away!

More ribbons won at the Royal Show in South Africa

Once again the quilts entered by the Mzansi Zulu Quilt Centre won ribbons at the Royal Show. It is the biggest show in the State and it lasts 10 days.

In the Outreach class Lungile won 1st place. Rose Ndelela won 2nd place. and N Ncobese won 3rd place. Other winners include Lungile again for 2 more quilts, S Nene, B Skakhane, M Mbanjwa for 2 quilts and Rose Ndelela. In the Junior class, Lungile's daughter Nosipho won 1st place. Nosipho sold that winning quilt and has orders for a few more. Nosipho's 12 year old cousin (not sure of his name) also sold his first quilt. Elisabeth who runs the Mzansi Centre also won 1st place in the Traditional Class, 3rd place in traditional Small Class and 1st place in Innovative Class.

Here is a photo of their vendor booth at the Royal Show.

Congratulations to all the winners!

Update from Africa

Had a quick e mail today as our phone call yesterday was so short and hard to hear because of the poor connection. Here is what Elisabeth wrote:

"The Mzansi Centre is going well and we have two booths booked for the Provincial Garden show and the Hilton Art show next month. The finished quilts are coming in and we sell about one a day at the centre."

Frequently Elisabeth and the quilters rent a booth at local craft shows to sell their quilts. They do quite well at these venues! It's great to hear that they are selling about one quilt per day at the centre which is great income for the many quilters!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LUNGILE !!

Just got off the phone with Lungile in Africa. Today is her birthday. I wished her well and to have a good day. She said she had a birthday party on Saturday last week and Elisabeth cooked her "good German food"

She said that they were still busy quilting at the centre. I also congratulated her for winning a quilting ribbon at the Winter Fair.

It was a quick phone call as the connection was terrible, but it was so nice to hear her voice.

Memories Manor Quilt Retreat Weekend

What a fantastic weekend. Rosemary, Cathryn, Nancy and I all relaxed in St. Clair, MI. We were pampered at Memories Manor which is a scrapbooking bed and breakfast. Rosemary has been there before scrapbooking and inquired if quilters were permitted and Jan and Deanna welcomed us with open arms. In my opinion the best service they offer is taking your luggage and quilting supplies in from your car upon arrival. I think we all know what kind of a klutz I was carrying my supplies last retreat!

We ate, relaxed, had massages, overlooked the river, laughed uncontrollably, ate some more and even got some quilting accomplished. We were even treated to a tour of the Manor complete with historical references. This home is amazing!

Everyone had a fantastic time! Thanks again to all the sisters at Memories Manor!

Church Fundraiser Quilt

WOW, it's been a while since I posted as I have been so busy quilting, quilting, quilting.

Just to update you on the scrap quilt I pieced on Earth Day. I finished it and donated it to our church for their annual Strawberry Supper auction. It raised $100 for St. George's and it even had a small strip of strawberry fabric.

MQS Best of Show Quilt

Here is a photo of the quilt that won best of show at MQS.  It is a beautiful quilt depicting the grape harvest.  Machine quilted by Gina Perkes and pieced by Lynn Drennen & Marilyn J. Smith.

Lungile wins a ribbon at SA Quilt Show

I just received an e mail today with the wonderful news that Lungile won a ribbon at the local quilt show in South Africa. Her daughter Nosipho also entered a quilt and won a ribbon too. The small photo shows the newspaper clipping about the quilt show and ribbons. If you click on the photo you can read the article.

WAY TO GO!

Back from Kansas/ MQS

I am home from my trip to Machine Quilter's Showcase.  Have tons of new thread, and so many new quilting patterns.  Will be posting them over the next few weeks for you to see.  Here are some of the patterns I bought while at MQS.  I can't wait to start quilting them!

SHOP HOP

Hope everyone had a chance to get out to all the stores for the Spring Quilter's Shop Tour this past weekend.  I wanted to show you a photo of the really adorable dinosaur quilt at Quilts and Calicos in Exeter.  I machine quilted it with a stegosaurus pattern and it would be so cute for a little boy in your family! 

Call Linda and pick one up before they are all sold out.............

One week and then I am off to Kansas

I have already started packing, making my shopping list and am trying to get everything organized for my trip to Kansas.  Jane and I will be going to MQS- the biggest machine quilting show/ conference in the US.  We will both be taking classes, seeing the new quilting techniques, buying tons of thread and patterns and having a great time away!  

Let the countdown begin...........

After we return I will post photos and a recap of our trip.  

ONE WEEK TO GO...............