faulker094

I'm still here!  I will catch you up with my quilting, my finger, my move from Michigan to Alabama, and last but not least, the furry wonder kitty, Mr. Weasley. First, a funny story (and cautionary tale) about the International Quilt Festival in Houston.  In the middle of all the confusion of packing and my daughter graduating from high school last spring, I decided to enter my "Baltimore Rhapsody - Symphony" into the upcoming fall festival spectacular. I found their web site a little confusing and hard to navigate. Maybe that is because I am used to the AQS site/contests and the magnificent Andrea Ray and company who make the process very easy and user-friendly. Anyway, somehow I entered an EXHIBIT at the show rather than the SHOW ITSELF .  I have been a 'bear of very little brain' since my parents' accident and loss in May 2014.  When I realized my mistake, I entered the show as well.  I figured I would fix things later, and really kind of thought I didn...

My friends, it has been a hard month, but first things first...two more blocks finished for my "Repro Madness" swap with Ola and Mary.  They were actually finished weeks ago, but I forgot to take pictures.  We will get together soon so I can distribute in person. They will finish 6 inches square.  This one I borrowed from a Lori Smith pattern, and the following one is adapted from something I saw on the Internet.  "Everybody likes cake," (said the Donkey in "Shrek").  These will join the few others I have barely managed to get finished in the last few months... "Motor Mary" and Ola have made many more swap blocks than I have, mostly pieced, so I am eager to get my rear in gear and continue with more applique blocks...some day...  Now the rest of the story...lots of you have been emailing me to get updates on Mr. Weasley's fate...our fates are now painfully connected. We are moving to Alabama and cannot take our handsome little 9-year-old gent...

In the midst of the moving chaos, I managed to finish three new blocks for the little 6 inch block swap I am doing. I borrowed this design from one of Lori Smith's patterns. I drafted this block to show off all the lovely purple reproduction fabrics. And this one is another one of Lori Smith's designs.  I just love orange and blue together, colors of my college alma mater, Auburn University ( War Eagle! ). To date, I have finished three sets of ten different blocks (30 blocks) .  I am behind my two friends in getting blocks done for our swap.  I have 2-3 more sets prepped, ready to stitch as this pain-in-the-arse move continues... In stitches, Teresa  :o)

Don't get too excited...this is a picture of a picture.  This is the Gorsuch family quilt.  What do you do when you are disconnected from your quilt cave and your stash?  You dream, scheme, and plan about projects to start when you are reconnected...this usually involves spending a little money... I ordered this pattern from Margo E. Hardie from the land down under.  Here is her home page .  Her email is quiltsbeautifulpatterns@yahoo.com.  She does mail to the United States.  I am so grateful for her time-consuming reproduction of this amazing quilt! I have always loved this quilt...the Gorsuch family owned the quilt, but it is not certain who made it.  Many of the blocks are similar to blocks made or designed by Mary Simon at that time in history. Many people may have contributed blocks, or maybe they were all stitched by one person. I want to make this quilt...or one similar to it, but one thing has always bugged me about it...the blocks are all...