Fall Quilt Festival

Many of my regular followers will have seen this quilt. But it is the entry I have chosen for Amy's (Park City Girl) Online Fall Quilt Festival. I enjoyed making this quilt for many reasons. First, the background was a piece I had discarded because it was wonky. I later realized two of the pink squares were 1/2" larger on one side. Second, it helped me learn some new techniques I had seen at Ricky Tim's Super Seminar. Both by Ricky himself and by Libby Lehman. Third, I pulled it our of the scrap pile, because I thought it was a good piece to use to get to know my new Bernina 830, which I have fallen in love with. Lastly, I love the way it came out.. and it is no longer Wonky!

So here is my entry. Hope you enjoy it. I have called it Celestial Enlightenment!

Here are some close-ups....

Cotton Cocktails Give-a-way

Hi.. it has been awhile and yes I will post soon to show what I have been working on, but wanted to share with you a Give-a-way by Quilthaze to celebrate her 3 months of blogging regularly. Just go to Cotton Cocktails blog and follow the instructions to win one of her cute bags filled with quilty goodies!

Good luck.. but really, I want to win :-)...

Heading to Brookfiled, Wisconsin

Hey, I am heading to Brookfield outside of Milwaukee this evening. I should have a moment before heading back to the airport tomorrow to check out a quilt shop. Anybody ever been to Patched Works in Brookfield? Or any other shop in the area?

Any recommendations?

Traditional, Contemporary, Traditional or Contemporary.... that is the question??

Most of you who have been to my blog know that I am mostly a contemporary quilter. But the person who first introduced me to quilting when I was just a teenager, was a traditional hand quilter. I didn't learn to quilt then, or from her. She passed away before I took the plunge. But when she did, her daughter, my best friend, gave me a box with some of her quilting stuff.... fabrics, books, tools, etc....

I have been quilting since 1999 and have made many a quilting present for friends and family. Well, about a month ago while on a weekend getaway with my friend, she commented twice that she didn't own a 'Renee' quilt. OH MY, how did I let that happen. My first thought was, I have to remedy that. But, for the last month I have been in a tizzy.

Just like her mother, my friend loves traditional things. Her home, her decorating, her style of dress is entirely traditional. She has purchased quilts over the years from various quilt shows, including the Kutztown, Pa. Fair... all traditionally made hand quilts in blues, burgundy, greens and creamy beige. Not my style at all!

So what to do?? Do I make her something that fits her style and home ---- OR ---- do I make her a 'Renee' quilt. An artsy, contemporary piece full of color, done all by machine???

I am definitely at a loss....