The Bloomin' Rose Signature quilt block exchange quilt top, is mostly done. I need to pick out a couple of borders and add some leaves and the top is complete.
Last Christmas, 2006, for a present from our group members, we all made 16 blocks and signed them. With lots of excitement and laughter we sat in a circle and exchanged the colorful blocks with the other members that participated. This was a wonderful way to get a little something from everyone, without spending any money. That time of year we spend so much on our families and we all had fabric, of course, so we made these easy blocks for our exchange. After the exchange, each member was on their own to decide how to put the blocks together in a quilt. I've seen butterflies and flowers and some very creative borders. We will be having our party for the unveiling of the quilt tops in June. I can't wait to see what everyone has done.
I'm sure all you quilters know how important it is to set your seams. First using the cotton setting, and I like to use steam, on the side just sewn
press and then open and press to either side of the seam. Shadowing is a factor-don't press to the light side. Here's my Bloomin' Rose bloomin'.
This makes 2 quilts in the queue almost ready for quilting. I might be sending some quilts out for quilting, if I stay this prolific.
Springtime in Kentucky 
is to be the theme in our quilt challenge for the Quilter's Day Out quilt challenge, March, 2008. I can't say what my design is going to be. I've thrown out all kinds of hints to the ladies in the guild. They think I've given them all my secrets, but, ole Julie ain't telling all she knows...hehe...smile...
Double Secret Quilt Productions will unveil that little jewel later on. Does anyone remember that phrase? Double Secret? Where did that come from? I just made the name of that "quilt company" up. I don't have one, just like to quilt for fun. Maybe someday...naahhhh...smile
This is what quilting looked like in the 1850's. Can you imagine? All that stiffness, not to mention how hot it must have been under those skirts. This is a picture at the Chester County Historical Society's quilt show.
This is an excellent show and I highly recommend going. 
It is not large, but it has very well documented information about the quilts and the makers of the quilts. 
Sorry about the glare on this civil war era quilt, but, it was in a glass case...anyway, it was beautifully made in the mid 1800's. I really like 
the printed pictures in the centers of the blocks.
I've always liked making feathers in my machine quilting designs, but, I'm going to try this willow tree 
designthat was hand quilted in a whole cloth white quilt from 1802. It was a little discolored with age, but, you could see the detail of the quilting very well.
The collection included a lot of
fund raising 
signature quilts.
The skill of the signatures is amazingly beautiful in it's own right. These 1800's beauties haven't been seen in 10 years and are only on display until September. Besides the quilts, there is a wonderful grandfather clock collection from the 1700's to 1800's. Lot's of eye candy here.
We made the trip to New York City, 
in order to bring our daughter, 
Chelsea, 
to Columbia University. 
Oh and guess what...
IT'S FLEET WEEK!
Just another thing to add to the list of worries about her time away from us...yikes! She's supposed to be at the American Natural History Museum
learn about a meteorite. She wants to be a geologist. I hope there's not a lot of distractions...yeah right! Our other daughter, Jennifer, was thinking about being a teacher and she got to shadow her aunt Kathy while she taught a special needs class in Pennsylvania. If you or your kids are considering a profession, this is a wonderful way to get some insight into a given field. Just spending a day at work with someone, might not give the complete story, but, it'll give a good sample. She has lots to consider. The job of being an English teacher failed in comparison to being a French teacher after a day spent observing, at least as far as my dd was concerned. She also was interested in being an English as a Second Language teacher. Oh well, it's another cog in the wheel of the decision making clock...smile.
press and then open and press to either side of the seam. Shadowing is a factor-don't press to the light side. Here's my Bloomin' Rose bloomin'.
is to be the theme in our quilt challenge for the Quilter's Day Out quilt challenge, March, 2008. I can't say what my design is going to be. I've thrown out all kinds of hints to the ladies in the guild. They think I've given them all my secrets, but, ole Julie ain't telling all she knows...hehe...smile...
