Carolina Fiber Fest, antiquing and the latest projects.

 My MIL is in town and has been catching up on knitting and crocheting projects that she has started over the years.  I thought she might like to check out some new threads and patterns for when she's done, so we went to the Carolina Fiber Fest in Raleigh, NC.  Lot's of stuff to drool over.  So much that I really didn't get any pictures.

This is a beautiful warp from the Triangle Weaver's Guild

Sir Walter's Lacers

 After the Fiber Festival we headed for lunch before heading back to the fair grounds for the antique show.   When we parked we saw that there was also a dog show going on and the ones out happen to be German Shepards.   We watched for a few minutes before heading inside to the antiques.

Overshot Blanket from VA early 1900's

Grace finished a blanket she's been knitting on for a couple of years.  It took her so long because she wasn't very excited about it.  After she was done and the rest of us commented how much we liked it she started a new one out of purple superwash wool and has finished 1/3 in the past few days.  She can be fast when she's motivated.

This is a embroidered biscornu I designed and made for my mom a few years ago.  She had it hanging on the wall when I went over for her birthday so I took a picture.

I finally started a new inkle loom project.  This isn't the best lighting, but it's usually evening when I think to take pictures.  I want to start making more trims.  I could have made this with floss size thread, but used perle cotton size 5 and the weft is six strands of floss.

I made little bags for my sister in Korea and my niece at collage. I love making these.  They are quick and you get to practice free motioning.

I am also working on finishing two projects for a challenge from Aby Dollinger at Aby Quilts.  She runs quarterly challenges and the current challenge is to finish UFO's.  She may be running this again next quarter as well, so check her out and get in on it!

Say Goodnight, Gracie...

The Original Sewing and Quilt Expo

Last week the girls and I went to the Expo in Raleigh. 

What a weekend.  I started out sleep deprived.  I had to drop my daughter Taylor off at the quilt shop in Sanford at 7:00, get the girls friend Brandi by 8:30, and then headed to Raleigh to arrive at 9:45.  I worked 10-2 for the ASG booth.  

I had the pleasure of spending those four hours with Debra and Debbie!  We had a great time and had alot of people show interest.  One even signed up for the "Taste of ASG".

We were in Raleigh until my class at 6:00 with John Deer from Digitizing Made Easy.  I learned a lot between the videos he had us watch before class and the actual class.  On the website he has lessons for different embroidery software and although he doesn't have it for Primer +Ultra, I bought the package he offered in class because I could get access to his theory.

The girls burned up time between booths and exploring the convention center.

I wanted to get a ton of picture however, time and restrictions did not allow this.  Some quilts had signs saying not to take pictures.  Below are a few of the interesting ones I saw.

I did get a picture of some yarn couching using the longarm.  Taylor has been wanting to try this on a quilt.  We are planning to go to the Birds of a Feather event by The Longarm Network in February.  Taylor's really excited about it.

We had a long day on Thursday arriving home at 11:45 and as Gomer said in the Andy Griffith Show when riding in Barney's new car, "Sick as a dog, but having the time of my life!"  Some of us went Friday and Saturday as well.  It was a ton of fun and I look forward to next year!

Landscape Wall Hanging

A friend of mine and I have been working on a landscape quilt based on this tutorial from National Quilters Circle...

Here is the early and mid stage of my wall hanging...

I have to say, choosing the fabric was not easy.  My friend and I would have loved doing this in all batiks, but we were using up our scraps.

All squared up and ready for binding.  I was a little short so I have to wait till Tuesday when DD goes back to work.  I only need a 2 1/2" piece by 15" long, however I didn't have enough.  Kind of defeats only using scrapes, however I love the brown batik I'm using so having to buy more isn't too upsetting.

Below you can see I did free motion.  Not my best work, but I was trying new designs.

It's hard to see the tulle pocket that I added to the beige areas of the wall hanging.  I will put shells, and I don't know what, in it.

My friend and I have had a great time with this project, enjoying the company as much as the process.  Will post our finished efforts after our next sew day.