Saturday, April 18, 2009

Quiltville Travels to NJ part 2

Today was Bonnie's workshop. It was great fun to sit and sew with some friends and visitors of the guild that came to take Bonnie's class. One of two workshops that actually filled up this year. It was a fun class but my pea brain wasn't into sewing today- maybe it's the two weeks since I touched a machine or maybe it was a beautiful spring day and I wanted to be outside playing...who knows. I did manage to make 3 blocks and with the tiny bonus hsts a starter block for an auction quilt maybe...maybe not. A 4" finished Dutchman's Puzzle...I'll take a pic later.



A close up of Bonnie's 3 inch finished log cabin blocks- wow! all I can say is wow!



A member's double delight- trying to see why she felt her colors didn't work against the original Bonnie made for the mystery.



Bonnie - Katie and Donna :)


Bonnie and Me :)



One of the guild member's blocks. The orange really pops doesn't it???

All and all it was a great two days and I totally enjoyed the lectures, dinner last night and the workshop today. But now it's time to do some boring guild stuff- like agendas for the board meeting and a letter from the VP for the guild newsletter due Monday night at the board meeting *sigh* Maybe that can wait till Monday when it's going to rain and I can go play in the sunshine for awhile.....

Friday, April 17, 2009

Quiltville Travels to NJ

After a few days running around Buffalo- catching up on laundry and running to Atlantic City for a few days, I got home kinda late to do more than laundry and make agendas for 2 meetings for my guild. The president normally runs the night meeting but she's traveling. So I get the pleasure (NOT) of running the day ( my normal meeting) and the president's. If we had any other speaker than Bonnie Hunter I would have begged off for one. But Bonnie was such a wonderful speaker, and so many people came to see her lecture and beautiful ( though very heavy to hold-lol) quilts.




1" finished squares, all I can say is WOW!!!


I can't remember the name of this mystery. But web pics don't do it justice....


Pineapple blossom I think is my very favorite pattern that Bonnie designed- I've done a few of them, all prettier than the next.


The orange crush mystery.........


A scrappy happy village....



A person more insane than I doing 3" finished log cabins- not to say one won't be attempted in the future- a very distant future.



I need to find mine and finish it. I love this bargello pattern :)


We ( the program ladies,Bonnie and myself) all went to dinner between the meetings. I always heard Thai food was spicy - not to me ....Then I got to sit front and center for the evening lecture and take some pics for all my blog friends to enjoy.
Tomorrow is her workshop on Star Struck- I tell you with all the traveling I never got my class stuff cut, but my friend Katie was a true life saver and cut a ton of strips for me to use tomorrow. THANK YOU KATIE!!!!. So tomorrow is another busy day.....I hope to have more pics for tomorrow evening's edition.
But I'll you this, If you ever get a chance to hear Bonnie or take a class- DO IT! You'll enjoy it immensely- I know I did :).

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Buffalo Troubles

Buffalo Troubles has a place of honor on the back of the sofa :)



I "think" I want to make another one but not with red and blue- maybe green and gold....with gold quilting.....hmmmmm

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Buffalo Zoo part2


I love big cats and snow leopards are one of my favs. This guy was hanging out on a perch above the viewing booth hiding.



Ok the zoo had an amazing exhibit simulating an Amazon Rainforest complete with a tall waterfall and assorted plants ( mostly orchids -etc) and animals.


Look, it's Toucan Sam :)



This guy was so much fun- Moose sleeps in the same pose


This guy had just come out of the water even though it was about 40* out

Happy Easter Everyone



Hope everyone has a blessed Easter. I saw the bunny hopping around the yard this morning. One of the things I'll miss moving to Buffalo- the wild life in the backyard *sigh*

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Buffalo Zoo

Hubby met the director of the Buffalo Zoo at a luncheon held for him a week ago and Ms Fernandez and hubby were talking about DD's love of giraffes. She said that when we came up she would give us a private tour of the zoo- kinda behind the scenes if you will. I don't think I've ever seen my daughter smile so much in the last few years.






This sweet one was born in January :)











We got to hear all about the new plans for new and improved exhibits for the animals and all about the great breeding program that Buffalo is involved in.

This dude was enjoying his water ....






This one is for Lester and Smudge..and all our kitty friends.
OMG My heart was racing in the big cat house- we walked on this concrete slab between 2 rows of cages- tigers on our left and lions on our right. Can you imagine slipping against either set? But the tigers were so beautiful up close and personal.






I took over 200 pics that I need to go through and edit or delete. Some of the zoo - mostly more pics of the orchids at the gardens where hubby works.
I'll tell you- hubby is like a Rock Star up there. The new exciting director of the Botanical Gardens....who would have known? He's still Guru to me.....

Tuesday, April 07, 2009

Shuffling Off to Buffalo





Leaving this morning on the train with the kiddies.
Have snacks, batteries, assorted hand held games and ipods charged and ready to go.
We should be home late Saturday.
Buffalo Troubles is packed to deliver to hubby.....
Don't have too much fun without me

Thursday, April 02, 2009

TAH DAH

I finally finished Buffalo Troubles and was so afraid to wash it. So I tried what Rose Marie said and sewed a few color catchers on the problem areas and IT WORKED!!!


This was the only problem I had- alittle bit of running on the back- I can totally live with that.


I also rewashed the quilt that had the running dye and sewed a few color catchers to the area where the dye ran and it actually took MOST of the dye out-wow!! I was so impressed. Gotta remember that trick in the future.

Sewing/ Quilting Merrily Along

This is the quilt for the dad of the family I'm making the love quilts for. It's one of Bonnie's patterns.My dad wants one just like it. Bonnie is coming to my guild 3 weeks from tomorrow!!! I'm so excited. I have to finish the last quilt for the middle daughter. Top is almost done- hoping to finish it today and load it for quilting tomorrow. Maybe, just maybe I can get these quilts out by Monday. Wouldn't that be great???


Last year I did the first quilt along with Amanda Jean. I finally figured out something to do with half the blocks- I used the setting blocks from the second quilt along-lol. I'm sending it to a friend after I finish these love quilts. It's now hanging in que for it's turn in quilting.


I was more than 75% done with the hand quilting on Buffalo Troubles when the fabric ran in the love quilt. All the bonus hsts from that quilt are in Buffalo Troubles. I got a very helpful email yesterday saying I should baste a color catcher right to the 2 hsts that ran in the other quilt. Thank You Rose Marie
I hope it works.



Here's a pic of the label *S* Now to get the binding and this label sewn down.