QuiltBlog

I don' t know where all the time goes. I have been working on another show quilt and you could say it is eating my lunch. I have worked on it already over 100 hours and I think I may be half way finished, not quite. Some of you may have seen this quilt if you have taken the Show Quilt Class from Cheri Meineke-Johnson and myself. It is all hand-pieced and hand-appliqued. It is a beauty. It has been scaring me for more than a year now until I finally got up the courage to tackle it.  Maybe I'm the only one who feels this way, but there will be no quilt until it's time. 

  I have also been working on getting all my samples and kits ready for HMQS and MQS. My Statler has been going full time preparing all my student's quilts, while I am quilting on my Vision.  It's awesome.

  I'm so happy the 4th Season of Linda's Longarm Quilting is finished and is for sale as a series.  You can also watch it on thequiltingschool.com.   I had some awesome guests and I think the projects I worked on were the very best. I hope everyone will check it out. I know you will be inspired in your own quilting.

  Happy Easter to everyone! The Lord has blessed us all so much, I'm grateful for my blessings, especially my family and friends.

I'm so excited today even though the "storm" has certainly arrived here.  It is a blizzard but I feel so elated!

I just got the news that one of the new quilts I did with Cheri Meineke-Johnson won "Outstanding Innovative Quilt" in the Road to California show.  It was just announced today!  I almost forgot how wonderful that feeling is when you win any recognition of your work at all. I'm very pleased.  The name of the quilt is "Jewel Box".

  I'm also excited because Janet-Lee sent me an email to tell me I was one of the nominees for "teacher of the year" for 2011.  This is the third time I have been nominated and I'll tell you what, it is a HUGE honor just to be nominated.  Thank you to any of you who make have made that nomination or voted for me.  The people and friends I have because of this industry mean everything to me.

 I hope you all have as great of day as I have had and it's only noon.

I have been teaching at Houston IQA show. I thought I would get to see some of the market and festival, but so far the long arm classes have taken all my time. Pam Clarke and I (and all of our crew) did set up last Saturday and Sunday. The classes started Monday morning and I have been involved with the classes since then. I was able to attend the awards ceremony on Tuesday evening. It was absolutely the best. Sue McCarty won best of show and many other longarm quilters as well. Renea Haddidin won 2 awards for miniature and for wearables. I'm so proud of all the long arm quilters! My classes have been full to the brim and the students have been soooo wonderful. I have seen a few repeat students, but most of the students are brand new to me. I love new friends, so I'm thrilled. We have also talked to many new teachers about taping on thequiltingschool.com Everyone is excited about it and they want to tape early in the spring. It will be very fun. I'm exhausted tonight. I have 2 classes left to teach tomorrow and then I leave for home early Saturday morning. My energy level has stayed up much longer than I anticipated and my back hasn't hurt at all. I really think the West Clinic has been a successful alternative to back surgery for me. I am totally energized with quilting ideas. I can't wait to get home and implement them. I also have a show quilt waiting for me......... My 2 new show quilts are hanging in the Houston Show in the Swvorski display. They are absolutely gorgeous. Cheri did a beautiful job of putting the crystals on each quilt, including the backs.

 

Well, it has been quite a week getting ready for the classes in Houston.  My family (6 out of 10) all came down with the flu Sunday night except for me and my daughter, Tiffany.  Then Tiffany and I were sick starting Tuesday night. It is AWFUL stuff. Now the 5 year old and the baby (1 1/2) have strept throat as well.  I feel so fortunate that I was able to take care of everyone and still pretty much get packed before I got sick.  I think the flu shot must have helped some because I feel like I have recovered more quickly than those who opted NOT to get the shot.

  I'm excited for the classes next week and I feel like it will be a vacation for me. This will also be the first time as a judge for this show, so that will be interesting also.  I'm sure you can't please everyone and others will be so excited.

I have to leave at 4:30 in the morning to get my flight out of Jackson Hole, then Salt Lake to Dallas and finally Houston at 7pm.   It will be a very long day after an illness.

I made some new samples for my technical skills class today to show how important it is to stitch in the ditch. Can't wait to show my students.

This will be the first time I will be able to see my 2 new show quilts finished with all the crystals that Cheri Meineke-Johnson has been working on; please visit the Swavorski exhibit if you get to Houston!

I arrived home safely from Texas and it has been very busy since. It was so awesome meeting new friends in San Antonio and seeing many of my long-time acquaintances in McKinney. The classes all went very well. There seems to be so much catching up after you have been gone for 8 days. Just the laundry alone is overwhelming.
Yesterday, I went to Dr. West at the West Clinic in Pocatello, ID. I got another ACT prolozone treatment on my back. Today I had very little pain. It was so neat because I got up and didn't even notice I was able to do all my chores and help can the peaches until about 10:30. It was then I thought, "Wow, my back doesn't hurt." Of course, by the end of the day, I can feel the little tinges of pain that tell me it's time to go to bed and rest. That's hard for me. I bet it's hard for most women. We could stay up all night and clean and organize and QUILT!!
Speaking of quilting, tomorrow I will finish the first couple of episodes to show in October for Linda's Longarm Quilting, then I will start on my samplers for teaching in Houston and zip on the next show quilt appliqued by Cheri Meineke-Johnson and get back to the quilting.
I have some new ideas to really show how important it is to stabilize in custom quilting. I can't wait to get my samplers finished. Cheri made me some little samples so I can show exactly what I am talking about.
I bought a little skirt made out of netting for my little grand=daughter, Tarralin, who is 18 months old. I put it on her and she twirled around. It was so cute. It was so "girly" we all just laughed. Children are such stress relievers for me. Of course, I can say that because I am the grandma!

I feel like I have new friends in San Antonio. Those ladies were so excited about the classes today. I taught technical skills and feathers. Tomorrow I will be teaching my new stars class, which students have raved about. It has so many ideas that will work on nearly any quilt.

I'm in beautiful San Antonio. I left this morning at 5:30 am (not fun for me) and arrived at about 2 pm. Cathy Beasley (Cat's Meow Quilt Shop) picked us up and took us to her shop to prepare for the classes tomorrow. There will be a full house!

Well, it's finally finished!

Another 6 hours and I'm still not finished with the show quilt.

I'm going to my studio to work on another wonderful show quilt designed and appliqued by Cheri Meineke-Johnson.