Sewing Machine Needles: Colors of Thanksgiving

On this day of Thanksgiving, I want to share a few pictures from my travels.  I am rather surprised to not find so many Thanksgiving projects, rather the autumn color of orange was easy to find in my photo stream.  So enjoy of few pics.  I hope they inspire you.


Lumination II
Susan McBride Gilgen
2012 International Quilt Festival, Houston, TX

Glorious hues of orange, red and gold.  Yes, this is a quilt as if you are standing at the foot of a forest looking up to the sun.  Susan describes these Japanese maples as a forest of fire in fiber, a lumination to the mind.  This stunning original quilt is made of hand-dyed cotton and batiks.  Her techniques are spontaneous design application, free-motion  machine embroidery and machine quilting.



2012 Sewing & Stitchery Expo
Puyallup, WA
 

Nice example of blending patterns, techniques and colors. This vest is a stunner! I love when sewists can wear their projects to sewing and quilting events.

 

Lobby, Aladdin Holiday Inn

Kansas City, MO

This spring International Quilt Market, wholesale fabric and quilt supplies show,  took place in Kansas City, MO.  Staying at the Aladdin Holiday Inn was a treat.  I especially loved their lobby with the beautiful over sized orange red glass perched upon a circular sofa flanked by regal pillars glowing with gold detail.  The vaulted lobby ceiling was outstanding.  This little boutique hotel restored its original art deco ambiance with a touch of vintage charm.  The Aladdin is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was easy walking distance to Quilt Market. 

Triple Stripes

Pieced by Anita Marsh, Quilted by Dan Kolbe

Meandering through quilt festivals is always a pleasure when traveling.  This summer my community had their second annual quilt festival.  The weather cooperated and the quilts were special.  This quilt caught my eye reminding me of modern quilts which are so popular now.  Anita found the pattern at her local quilt shop, Prairie Stitches Quilt Shoppe, and used batiks from her stash.    It is always good to support your local shops, and yes, Prairie Stitches does carry SCHMETZ needles.

Shopping at Haberman Fabrics

2012 American Sewing Expo, Novi, MI

Staying with the autumn color theme, especially orange, you are looking at my next sewing project - beautiful nubby wool to be made into a jacket.  Plus I found a delightful orange paisley jersey knit with a touch of turq for a companion blouse, or if I am lucky a Magic Bias Dress.  Soon I will find out as this is my Thanksgiving sewing project.

On this day of Thanksgiving, enjoy your family and friends.  Share your love of sewing.
Sew SCHMETZ!
Rhonda
www.SCHMETZneedles.com

Celebration of Quilts Festival

Yesterday with comfortable sandals, I grabbed my husband and walked through the sunny street of quilts... hundreds of quilts.  The sun was shining and good riddance to that nasty wind.  It's summer quilt season!  Right on Main Street of my local community, Village of Oswego and  Prairie Stitches Quilt Shoppe set up the first of many - I hope - Celebration of Quilts Festival.  Block off the traffic, offer food, fabrics and a special guest and watch quilters laugh and plan their next quilt projects.

100's of Quilts on Main Street

Modern quilts, traditional quilts and every kind of quilt in between.  Viewers were surrounded by colors and patterns.

Edyta Sitar Captures the Attention of Quilters

Around the corner on a patch of grass, a tent and 200 to 300 quilters gathered to marvel at over 50 quilts by Edyta Sitar, quilting star, author and designer from Marshall, MI.  Edyta owns and designs for Laundry Basket Quilts.  Edyta loves flowers and nature and uses both as inspiration for her quilt patterns, books and Moda fabric lines.

Edyta and Me

 I had just seen Edyta in Kansas City at International Quilt Market where she was promoting her newest book Scrappy Firework Quilts and Moda fabric lines.  I'm pretty certain she found it hard to recognize me in that goofy hat - but the sun was shining!

Triple Stripes, My Favorite Quilt of the Day

My favorite quilt of the day was this Triple Stripes, pieced by Anita Marsh and quilted by Dan Kolbe.  I could feel this quilt humming a rhythm while lime green ginkgo leaves tickled the colorful batik fabrics.

Prairie Stitches Quilt Shoppe
Better Homes and Gardens Quilt Sampler Featured Shop 2011

Let the celebration of summer begin!  Get out and support your local quilt shops.  They work hard at bringing you the best fabrics, the best classes and the very best ideas to color your world with quilts. . . . . 

Support Your Local Shops

and when you start sewing again, between all the quilt festivals and gardening projects, remember to change your needle!
Sew SCHMETZ!
Rhonda
www.prairiestitchesquiltshop.com
www.laundrybasketquilts.com