Mancuso Quilt Show

Wow!  What inspiration.   I prefer traditional style and patchwork quilts but that does not mean I don't appreciate the work and talent of any fabric project.   Sadly the show has decreased in size slightly each year.   Vendors used to fill the main hall and parts of the second when I started to attend several years ago.  Vendors now occupy about 90% of the first hall.   I so hope that quilt shows don't go the way of CATS and other cross stitch/needlework shows.  Here's photo show of my wanderings.

One of the Challenges was Farm to Fabric Challenge.   Absolutely fascinating to see the different interpretations of the seamstresses.   I apologize in advance if I have mislabeled any....my notes started out neat and clear but then......

This one, I believe was "Daffodils".    I thought it looked more like corn stalks.

American as Apple Pie

Not sure if the next three were part of the challenge.....

Fresh Beginnings

Field of Dreams

Plum, Plum Blossom 9 Patch

 Another Challenge - The American Made Brand Challenge - This is license plates representing all 50 states.

 I would never think to put turquoise, orange, lime and purple together.   

The camera doesn't capture how cool it looked.  

 I liked the planning that went into this where the color blocks intersecting.

This must have been a challenge also.   We saw this pattern repeated in several quilts.

I loved the nest.   Reminded me of the floss and yarn scrapes I throw in the 

garden for the birds to pick up and use for their nests.

A bit of whimsy.....I love when people think out of the box!  The asparagus tops were crocheted.

Maryland Blue Claw!

One of my best creations!  AKA Photo Bomber!

This one was stunning.   All the texture is just from the stitching.  

  The recesses were created by massive amounts of stippling stitches.   How this is not a ribbon winner I don't know.

First Place Winner

 Close up of above

Another blue ribbon quilt

 This one may have been my favorite blue ribbon winner

Or maybe this one was my favorite!  So hard to pick just one as a favorite.

It was a great quilt show and a great day with my daughter.   We always have so much fun together.   I am so blessed that my daughters are stitchings and sewers as well.   We both wish we knew we needed to make a baby quilt when we were at the show!

Stitch From Stash September Re-cap

Stitching from stash for September

August carry forward - $62.00

Allotment for September - $25.00

Spent in September - $0.00

Credit in September  $8.00

Class piece prestitch 51 x 51 Pear

Class piece prestitch 51 x 51 Apple

EGA Stitch-a-long Pin Keep 18 x 51

Balance. $95.00

I sure am glad my virtual wallet has grown so well.  In October I am off to Salty Yarns in OCMD for five days and a couple of classes.  I fear I will use my virtual dollar allotment well into the next year.  I need not to be the "winner" again this retreat for the one who spends the most!  I am worried I may get blindsided by the trunk show the teachers will bring with them.

Refrain!  

Exercise restraint!  

Have some will power! 

I hope I hear those voices in my head.  

Hmmmm,  reality is this will all go down the drain once I start to wind my way around the store and find things I just HAVE to have.

Pre-Stitching Complete

Between sun bathing and island hopping I did manage to complete the second of my two pre-stitches for the class in October.    I kind of made up my own series of stitches in the bottom section of the apple.

 Kind of happens when you stitch AFTER a drink with vodka in it.  Oh well, I will be 

                                                 able to pick mine out of the group at class.

Also finished the pin keep and the started the scissors sheath for my EGA stitch along, Pining to Stitch.  We are to be working on the biscournu for October and November and I am but I hit a road block because I didn't pack the krenik braid on my cruise.  I forgot to take a pix but will for next time when I hope to show it's completion!  I could have continued and come back to the kreinik stitches but I took the road block and started on the other smalls.  Lucky for me I was over confident that  I would  finish the biscournu and I had what I needed to stitch the pin keep and sheath. 

 I am liking the (almost) instant gratification from stitching these smalls.  This is a super quick stitch-a-long.  This particular pattern is so delicate and airy.  Sorry for the shadows, I photographed on the deck where I was stitching in the bright sunlight.

This is the bottom front of the scissors sheath.   Don't judge me on those buttonhole bars.   It's my first attempt and I can tell you frogging them is difficult.   

I am hoping they will lay nicer when I do the finishing and I may even master them by the time I complete the project!  

We are due to complete all the stitching and then work together in the spring to do the finishing. I picked up some nice fat quarters at the quilt show last week (pix on that in a future post!!) for the backs and sewing pouch.  I've got an idea percolating in my brain for an additional piece I can make to add to the smalls....hmmm... there I go again, off on a tangent.  Since - so far - this is a quick stitch, I think I call add the extra piece with no problem.  Even though I love the project......argh! Stitch-a-longs take so much of my stitching time and keep me from my stash busting!  I can vow not to "join" another but it would be useless.  Just as it is useless to vow not to purchase anything more or to finish my WIP's.   There is always something to tempt or a stitching mate will surely draw me in to the twisted spiral of stash enhancement!

Well folks time for me to get my backside out of the recliner and get outside.   On today's agenda will be putting away the summer flowers and decorations and pulling out the fall stuff.  Yes, I'm a couple of weeks late.   I hope to purge these decorations as I go through them.   Maybe I can pack up a goodie bag of fall decorations for my daughter-in-law.....hmmm....motivation.  

Have a great day all.  Enjoy the fall crispness in the air or just around the corner.  A crackling fire in the fire pit tonight with a glass of wine could be the perfect way to unwind tonight.  

Bermuda, Part 3

OK, last bit of boring vacation photos.  I zigged when I should have zagged.   I wanted to take the Hidden Gems of Bermuda Excursion but it could only be booked onboard ship and not on the internet prior to your cruise.  We tried to book it shortly after boarding the ship but were told we couldn't until after the mandatory lifeboat drill.  After the lifeboat drill we went up to the pool deck, had a drink and watched the ship leave port and start to sail down the Chesapeake Bay.  When we returned to book our tour an hour or so later, it was sold out.   I was so disappointed.    

Instead of the Hidden Gems excursion we when out on our own to tour Bermuda.  We got the one day travel pass for $19 dollars for unlimited ferry and bus travel for the day and we traveled the islands.  I had my trusty camera in my tote bag only to pull it out of my bag and the little battery compartment was open.   Yep, left it on the charger in my stateroom.   Soooooo my ferry ride from King's Wharf to Hamilton and all the other touring of the day is without photos.      We shopped in Hamilton, went to the Bermuda Underwater Institute, lunched at the Swizzle Inn, saw Gibb's Lighthouse, swam in Horseshoe Bay and crossed over the tiniest drawbridge in the world.  This is a two lane draw bridge that when opened the distance between the two sides is about 12 inches - big enough for a sailboat mast!  I added links to some of the places we stopped. 

Clock Tower at Kings Wharf

Zooming in on the Clock Tower.  

Calico Jack's - Hop on board for a drink or a swim.   You could walk the plank if you wanted.

Surprising number of tug boats but I guess they are needed to bring in the ships thru the reefs

Wishing Arc - Supposed to be good luck for couples to kiss under the arch

Mr. Wonderful needs to buy a boat so we can sail away to paradise

Part of the fort.

 Another adventure I know better not to try.   Ride a Segway! I'd be over the edge.

Bye Bye Bermuda.   I WILL be back

Look at that water shimmer in the sunshine

The Promenade on the ship.   I favorite place to sip coffee or 
another beverage and stitch or read, walk, enjoy the sunrise or sunset.