Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Beach to the Mountains

I have been working on a Trip Around the World quilt for my friend Marcia.  Last week, I spent a few days with Marcia and her husband at Topsail Beach, NC.  They have a lovely home that faces the Intercoastal Waterway and is just a short walk to the beach.

Look at my bed in the guest room!  This is another of Marcia's mother's quilts, a Grandmother's Flower Garden.  So pretty!



The weather was not good...cold and drizzly.  We were able to walk on the beach and sit out in their screened room near the water.





This is a sea turtle nest, protected from predators by wire fencing, sticks, boards, and signs (for the human predators.)








There was an osprey, or sea hawk, perched on a scraggly tree right behind the house.


On Thursday morning I drove back to Raleigh, hopped in the truck with my husband, and went to our mountain place.  About halfway there, the sun came out and the skies turned blue.

The leaves are just starting to turn color.  The mornings were misty and the colors looked stronger against the gray.


With so much rain this summer, my flowers on the front porch of the cabin have flourished!



This weekend's project was to build steps between our upper and lower driveways.  I was not expecting them to look this fine!  The project is still not finished.  Our friends from Raleigh, Tom and Pauline, came up to work on the steps and the wall.


Someday the wall will be covered with something...stucco or stone.


I got to entertain Tom's mother, who came along to enjoy the mountains.  We went to the Church of the Frescoes in Glendale Springs, where there is a huge plaster painting of The Last Supper.



We also rode up Mount Jefferson and were treated to a clear view of the Blue Ridge Mountains.





I guess that is enough scenery for one post!  I am burying thread tales on Carolyn's quilt, stitching the binding on Marcia's, and now must replace the binding on a quilt I made for a high school grad years ago.  And tomorrow I am spending the day at an art museum with friends!  

Life is good!



Monday, September 29, 2014

Ashe County Piecemakers' Quilt Fair Part 3

Lots going on...last week I went from the mountains to Raleigh to the  beach to the mountains in four days.  I have some nice photos from the beach and the mountains, but will try to catch up on the quilt fair today.

A Mexican Star wall hanging



A nice selection of table runners and home decor quilts



This is a wool table mat.



There were lots of pretty bags.

 










This was the only garment in the show, a beautiful patchwork jacket.






There were some nice children's quilts, including one that reminded me of my sister's miniaturedonkey, Buckwheat.







Buckwheat
There was an amazing art quilt that invited a second or third look to find all the hidden objects in the jungle.  The boys appear to be painted on fabric and appliquéd.  There are also animals such as sloths and parrots.  Very nice job, and it is not curved like it appears to be in this photo.







It was a very enjoyable show, and I spent a couple of hours "making donations" at the vendor mall.  I got some fabric panels and kits as well as a gift for my bee's annual Christmas exchange.  Well done, Ashe County Piecemakers!

Monday, September 22, 2014

Ashe County Piecemakers' Quilt Fair Part 2

Continuing my report on the Quilt Fair in West Jefferson, NC, last weekend.  First up:  a beautiful original quilt depicting North Carolina scenes and symbols.


 Our state flower is the dogwood, and there is an appliqué dogwood wreath surrounding the center map, divided into the mountain, piedmont, and coastal zones.





I like the colors and the curved piecing in the next quilt.



 Autumn begins today, and the next quilt reminds me of trees turning gold and yellow in the fall.



I love the bright colors and disappearing circles in the next quilt.




I took close-ups of some of the quilting motifs.  Very pretty!





I loved the next quilt so much, I almost snatched it off the wall.  It is by the same lady who sold me the doll cradle set at the quilt boutique.




The next quilt received an award for best use of color.  I did not quite agree.  It was very striking rand the piecing was beautiful, but the reds, gold and blues were a little too strong for me.




More next time...hope you are enjoying the show!