Halloween

From ghoulies and ghosties and long leggety beasties and things that go bump in the night - Good Lord deliver us!

----Scottish prayer

Tonight is Halloween and, to me, the official start of fall! I love this time of year. Cold crisp mornings, the leaves changing colors, hot chocolate, crackling fires.

We're going to go and see our grandson's costumes so we won't be home for the trick-or-treaters. Maggie will be staying home to guard the house from all the little witches and warlocks!

Be safe out there, boys and girls!

Pacific International Quilt Show

As promised, here are pictures from the Pacific International Quilt show in Santa Clara that I attended last weekend. It is always such a wonderful show. Whether you go with a group, or like I did, by yourself I guarantee you would have had a wonderful time. The quality of the quilts this year was exceptional. There were quilts from all over the world. More so than the piecing, I think I was most impressed with the machine quilting. And let's not forget the vendors! Over 150 vendors of all kinds. Lots of new products, patterns, fabrics and of course, saying hello to old friends and making new ones.

Beautiful applique

This is only about half of the quilt. Look at those millions of little squares!

This was the Best In Show quilt. This picture doesn't do it justice. It's quite a bit bigger than it appears.

The children in this quilt are the artist's grandchildren.

This type of applique is called Broderie Purse

Our friends, In Between Stitches from Livermore, California.

Large machine quilting machine.

Shoppers Galore!

Sandy Klop (yellow shirt) of American Jane Patterns. She is the nicest, most upbeat person. Not to mention so talented.

John Flynn of The Flynn Quilt Frame Company. Who says men don't quilt. He's exceptionally good.

Diana McClun and Laura Nownes, authors of Quilts, Quilts, Quilts, The Complete Guide to Quiltmaking which is the quilter's bible. They also have created patterns.

Threaded Pear Studio booth. This was one of my favorite booths. When I got home I found out that it was Gina Halladay of Quilter's Buzz!

The Stitchin' Post, Sisters, Oregon booth

Beautiful thread

Scotties at the quilt show!

Roxie and Joe from Thimble Creek Quilt Shop, Concord, California. They are the nicest couple!!!

Miss Jean (that's me!) with my friend Joanna Figueroa of Fig Tree Quilts. Look at all that eye candy behind us. I asked Joanna if I could just borrow her quilts to take home with me. She just laughed at me. Imagine that! Go on over to Joanna's blog for some more pictures.



A lovely little vintage lavender quilt that Miss Jean bought for Miss Jean!


Elvis has left the building!

Simply Sophisticated

Vicki over at LA Quilter is hosting a block of the month program along with the Fat Quarter Shop. It is their Simply Sophisticated Block of the Month using the Harvest Home fabric line from Moda. It's going to be Simply Beautiful! This is the first month and we had two matching blocks to do. I know, I should have had them done already, but I've been sick in bed for more than a week.

Hopefully next month I'll be able to get it done sooner. This quilt is going to be gorgeous.

Now, back to bed:

Kleenex - check

Vicks - check

Tea - check

Ryan the bear - check

Nighty, night......

Sick

I'm sorry it's taking me a while to post about my trip to The Pacific International Quilt Show. I left with what I thought were just allergies and came home with a terrible cold. My apologies to all those at the show who I told, "I'm not contageous, it's just allergies!"

When I got home Saturday I went straight to bed. Then Saturday night, Sweety went out front, missed the step, and fell. He's pretty banged up but nothing broke, thank goodness.

Poor little Miss Maggie! No one to play with! She lays with me in bed and keeps me company.

I'll write soon about the show. It was totally awesome!

Quilt Show

I'm off to Santa Clara in the morning to go to the Pacific International Quilt show. This is one marvelous quilt show and I go every year. As it says, it is international, so there are quilts displayed and judged from around the world. The workmanship is always outstanding. Plus they have around 160 vendors!!!! Woo Hoo!!!

My BFF, Nikki, and I usually go together. Since I'm retired and she is still working, it is a perfect time for us to catch up. We spend the night at the hotel that is adjacent to the convention center and shop till we drop for two days. We actually started staying an extra day so we could see all the quilts as well as shop. Sadly, this year, she is sick and won't be going. I'm still going and spending the night. One year Sweety actually went with me but he has to stay behind to watch Maggie-doodles. I'm taking some magazines, a good book and sending out for room service. Aaahhhhhhh............

I'll have lots of pictures when I get back.

Toodles!

A Little Elbow Grease......

.......never hurt anyone!

I was in a polishing mood the other day. I polished my silver tea service (no "before" picture, sadly). My FIL gave it to my MIL on their 25th anniversary. She gave it to me when it became too difficult for her to keep it polished. It's beautiful and will surely be a family heirloom to pass down.

While I was at it I polished my silver spoons. I keep them in a glass spooner on the kitchen counter. I can believe how beautifully they turned out.

Before

After

Of course there is always a Scotty near just about everything at my house!

These are four teaspoons with the insignia USN on them. My pictures don't always enlarge so I hope they do this time so you can see them better. Funny thing, I can't remember getting them. I must have. There they are! My son is in the Navy so I must have seen them and thought of him. As my dear old funny dad used to say, "Old Al's getting hold of me!" LOL! I need to start taking that vitamin or herb that helps improve your memory. Trouble is I can't remember what it is............

Have a wonderfu and peaceful Sunday and a safe week ahead.

Time to think.......

Please take a minute and go visit my friend Becky and read her post. She has succinctly stated what I believe to be true as far as the upcoming election is concerned and the state of our nation. These are trying times for us all. We need to be very clear as to what we are led to believe. Prayerfully consider how you plan on voting.

As a Christian, I feel now is the time more than ever, for us all to hit our knees and pray. Pray for our country, pray for our leaders, pray for all the nations of the world.

"If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land." 2 Chronicles, 7.14

My Little Maggie

What's the matter, Mommy?

Oh, Maggie, Mommy has a bad headache.

What's that, Mommy?

My head hurts sometimes. It's called a migraine.

I'm sorry, Mommy. I'll take care of you.

Why don't you put on that nice comfy bathrobe you like to wear. Bring that book I saw you reading and your cup of tea and come outside and sit. It's very nice out and the fresh air will make you feel better.

I'll stand guard and make sure the birds don't make too much noise.

I'll chase away the kittys that try to come in the yard.

Thank you, Maggie.

I love you, Mommy.

I love you too, Maggie.

My Excellent Adventure continues.........

I promised that I would show you some of the pictures from the quilt show in Sonora that my friends and I went to last weekend. Nikki and I had just returned home from a very busy two days of classes and shopping. We were both tired, but since Cindy was driving, we went ahead and made the hour trip up the hill. I usually try to attend this particular show every year but my friends had not been for quite a while. We were all so very impressed.

The show is put on by the Sierra Quilt Guild. Ladies of the guild, you ROCK when it comes to quilt shows. It was one of the best shows that all three of us had been to in quite a while. Even quilt shows from larger cities don't compare to this one. First and foremost, the quality of the quilts was exceptional. Beautiful machine and hand piecing. Exquisite machine and hand quilting.



The featured artist has been quilting for a mere seven years! Her work was beyond belief. All of her quilts were a feast for the eyes.

There were three buildings with quilts displayed, as well as vendors. Since the show was held at the fairgrounds and there was quite a bit of walking between buildings, they even had little golf cart shuttles going. Lunches were available as well as door prizes. There was an awesome opportunity quilt which I sadly did not win! For a mere $5 I was able to purchase a cd with pictures of all of the quilts on it. How cool is that? I could go on and on.

I love this quilt! I want this quilt! I covet this quilt! It is spectacular. It looks like it is a woven tapestry, but is a traditional cotton quilt. Beautiful! I would give it a good home.........

If you live anywhere near Sonora, California make every attempt to attend next year's show in September. I guarantee you will not be disappointed.