July update---is it really August already?

I have had a wonderful July......from quilting, sewing, doing alterations and going to quilt shows.   A few weeks ago my dear friend Cathy and I went to another dear friends house to play with her Handiquilter Avante.   She was such a dear to allow me to use it.......her local guild makes baby quilts to donate....and I quilted two of these while we were there.   The first I meandered, and the seconded, I meandered with a five pointed star.   Not bad for a first try.

I was also fortunate enough to be able to attend a 2-day class by Harriet Hargrave in St. Albans, WV at the end of July and beginning of August.......it was wonderful.  I have been machine quilting for nearly twenty years, but I still learned so much and was able to play with many different types of battings!

By the last day, I was completely worn out (as one look at me will show!)----below here I am with another dear friend, Beverly, Harriet and myself.

In between the 2 days of classes, I helped my daughter with her cosplay outfits.   Her "Beatrice" dress needed a corset back added (and the zipper removed) and also gussets in the sides and under sleeves.  Here she is in it:

And here she is in the outfit that I made for her 2 years ago.  It was a France outfit!

Then, with Heather's help, we delivered a car load of quilts to Bridgeport, WV, for the 2014 Millennium Quilters Quilt Show on August 7th and 8th.    It was a great show and we brought home several ribbons again this year.   Here is Cathy's two wall hangings........she did machine quilted all by herself!  I am so proud of her machine quilting!!!!

My friend Beverly brought home a 1st Place Ribbon for her Kim Diehl quilt!

Another friend - who went with me on Friday to the show - Tresha C. also brought home a ribbon!!!!  Her quilt was also published in Fons and Porters Easy Quilts magazine.

I entered a wall hanging - that are all kaleidoscope blocks and is hand quilted - she showed well, but didn't bring home any ribbons........

And then my "Thimbleberries Village" quilt that was awarded a "Judges Choice" ribbon.

So, it has been a busy, but very good July and August so far!!!!  

This week, I have been putting the things I learned in Harriet's class to good use and I have quilted a Hawaiian applique block that has been laying around for probably 15 or more years.  I am very, very pleased with how it turned out! Here are two pictures of the front, and two pictures of the back.   I hope you enjoy seeing them!!!  I'm going to turn this into a large throw pillow.

Until next time!   Happy quilting!!!