Playing catchup

It’s spring time somewhere, right? From my folks’ place in Nashville

Did that winter seem to never end or what?  I still half expect there to be one more snow thing that happens or something, and I find myself staring out the window from the corner of my eye waiting for it to fall.  How messed up is that? Anyhoo, it’s been a busy few weeks!  I went to MQX, which is a machine quilting specific show, and the quilts you can see there are seriously the best for machine quilting.  It’s also a great place to learn new techniques, try out machines (domestic or longarm), see what’s new in the biz, and just generally geek out with other equally intense geeks.  It’s loads of fun, and while it can be daunting if you’re new, it’s a great show for first-timers who are submitting quilts or who are thinking to get into machine quilting. As a professional quilter, going to these shows is, essentially, professional development. I think my favorite classes were the classes with Lisa Calle of Stone House Quilting.  I took her “Divide and Design” class, and learned how to use her rulers, which I love in a moderately unreasonable way.

Dividin’ and Designin’

I got home from MQX on a Sunday night, and then Monday we left to go visit my parents during the kids’ break (did I say I was looking over my shoulder for more winter?  It snowed at our house while we were gone, and I’m glad we missed it–it would have broken me).  Always love seeing them, and we even had a chance to take a little side trip down to Chattanooga, where I got to hang with my good friend Maddie Kertay of Bad Ass Quilter’s Society and Spool fame.  We went to an antique store, because we didn’t have kids (oh luxury!) and I purchased my first antique quilt, which I just kinda fell in love with.

Double Knit polyester and crazy quilting? Yes, please.

I also spotted a New York Beauty for collector Bill Volckening over at WonkyWorld, which I’m considering remaking for myself, someday.  It was seriously beautiful, but I felt like it would be more appreciated and seen with him than if I bought it for myself. And oh, yeah, the book.  It’s intense.  But fun.  But intense.  My rough draft and tops are due July 1, so you may have to forgive me if I don’t get to posts that much in the next little bit.  Quilted tops are due August 1, and the revised draft is due by Sept. 1.  It’s going to be craaaaaazy here for a bit.  Wish me luck! Oh, and last but not least, this came in the mail!  I’m in GenQ this month!  Love this pattern so much.