Where does time go?

Well, it's been almost a year since that last post.....in which I said I would be posting more often.  LOL!   So much has happened since then.....some good, some bad, but here we are in June, 2014.   I have started a Sewing and Alteration business from my home and it continues to go well.  I have been very busy this spring with curtains, prom dresses and now we are moving into wedding season....  

I received one wedding dress today for a few alterations and will be getting another one next week to work on.   I really enjoy making these beautiful brides happy.

On the personal side of things, all is going well, I haven't been doing as much sewing/quilting as I would like due to the business, but being busy is a good reason not to have much done.  I have managed to finish a small wall hanging and a large bed sized quilt that will be in the West Virginia Quilt Festival next week.  I've also finished up a "little quilt" to donate to the guild to be auctioned off.  

 

Above, wall hanging made by my daughter Heather Maxey and myself---before the binding!

 Paper pieced pattern from Paper Panache for the silent auction.

 Thimbleberries Village Quilt - the back---quilted by Sue Papouscheck of 

Willowcreek Quilting in Smithville, WV.

In addition, I have created a small wall hanging as part of a challenge for the WV Quilt Festival.  The theme was a "scavenger hunt" and there were 30 items that could be included.....it must contain at least five things from the list and one of those five had to be a "chief."  I managed to include all 30 items!!!  The entries are voted on by the visitors to the quilt show and the winner receives a prize.  I'll let you know who the winners are!

I even made a small map to show the location of all 30 items and attached it to the back.

On Wednesday, my husband and I were lucky enough to have tickets to the Elton John concert in Charleston, WV.   It was an awesome show!   What else can I say?

Last night, Thursday, was our local guild meeting.   We had quite a bit of show and tell---and some finished UFO's!  

A few weeks ago, several friends and I went to Columbus, Ohio for the 45th Annual NQA Show.   I realized that the first "big" quilt show I attended was the 25th Annual NQA Show that was held in Charleston, WV---at the very beginning of my quilting journey.   This one was a little bittersweet, since I attended that one with my mom, who has since passed away.   However, this one was just as special, because I made such wonderful memories with my good friends, Cathy S., Beverly H., Sue P., and Barbara J!   We had quite an eventful trip, and made quite a splash when we showed up all wearing our purple t-shirts with the quote, "Friends don't let Friends Quilt Alone!"      I was especially lucky because the quilt I entered, my round robin entitled "Back to the 30's" received a first place ribbon in the Group category!  I was and still am ecstatic !!!

Another dear friend, Cathy S. and I have one of our quilts hanging in the Division of Culture and History at our state capital in Charleston, WV.   We didn't receive any awards, but we were selected to hang, so that is wonderful.   Our dear friend, Tresha C., however, was awarded second place for her quilt and also will be receiving a cash award for her quilt "Raising the Roof!"   Way to go Tresha!!!!