The Quilts of Bear Creek

Posted on February 22, 2012 by Barb

Bear Creek Quilt Guild that is.  Their Quilt Show was last weekend.  And I was there.  With my trusty camera.  Just for you.

Here are some of my favorites:
 

Wow.  That’s all I can say about this one.  Well, also that it deserves a closer look.

Isn’t it fabulous?  Those points are incredible.  Amazing quilt.

I should point out that I did not make a note of all the quilters on the pics I took.  So I can’t tell you who made each one.  Just beautiful quilts in a slide show for your enjoyment.

Amazing points once again.  This must be a guild of perfect paper piecers.  They could call themselves the Three P’s.

I don’t know who Alexis is.  But I bet she loves these hugs and kisses.

This one just makes me happy.  Cute little happy wildflowers.  And a flutterby.

Now this one is a study in perfect piecing.  And it’s a miniature!  Notice how big the ribbon looks on it.  But wait!

Here it is in a whole row of little tiny quilts.  They are all fabulous.  And small.

This one is bright and happy.  I was in a flowery mood on Saturday.

But then I also found a bunch of Fall colored quilts that I really liked.  These pumpkins are extra cute!

I have always loved the embroidery patterns by Crab Apple Hill Designs.  And I especially love snowmen too.

Aren’t they just the cutest little things?  This gal did a fine job.  Whoever she is.

The quilting on this one is pretty spectacular too.  I think I own this pattern.  I’m never going to live long enough to complete all the patterns that I own.

More dazzling Fall colors.  This pattern was designed by the owner of the Shop where I work.  It’s a fabulous pattern.

This little quilt is made up of Dear Jane blocks.  Remember my Dear Jane Club?  I’ve posted about them lots of times.  If you want to review, just enter “Dear Jane” in the search box at the top of the blog.  You’ll find more DJ stuff than you ever wanted to see.  I can’t believe this gal made four “Papa’s Stars!”  These blocks are just 4 1/2 inches square.  Who knows how big that tiny little star in the middle measures.

This one is pretty striking, don’t you think?

I photographed this one just for the quilting.  Very impressive.

This black and white number is very classy.

I’ve always loved the cheerfulness of 30’s reproduction quilts.  They just make me smile.

Beautiful piecing and quilting in this one.  And a lot of hours.

This one really caught my eye.  It would look so grand in my bedroom!  But I don’t suppose the quilter would part with it.  Phooey!

How about this cool setting for a T-shirt quilt?  Very cleverly done.

Aren’t these kitties just the cat’s meow?  So cute.  Boo would have been proud.

Nice message in this one.  The lion and the lamb.  Laying peacefully together.  So cute!

This one was made by the Quilt Show Chairman.  How in the world did she have time to quilt this year?

This is a friendship quilt.  Made for an exchange of blocks within a group of Bee ladies.  Very nice.

Another one by the same group.  They have too much time on their hands.

What a great peacock.  He deserves a closer look.

Amazing thread work.  I wanted to bring him home and make him part of the family.

This fabulous Baltimore Album quilt was the result of a year-long class at Quilter’s Dream.  Spectacular work Racheal!

These quilts greeted you in a fabulous display about our 50 United States.  Each State was represented.  I took pics of some of the ribbon winners and any others whose States meant something to me.

The other half of the display.  Very nice!

Alaska.  Just because I love Alaska.  See the Northern Lights?

This pic is just for my Dear Mom.  Because she loves Colorado.  And misses those moountains.  I think I know the gal who made this one.  Maybe she’d let me purchase it for my Mom?

Texas!  Because….. well, you know…… just because.

And I thought this one was pretty fabulous.  New Mexico.  Well done!

This is the Quilter’s Dream booth.  Where I worked all day.  Nice quilts!

The other half.  More fabulous quilts!  All the patterns we took are originals at Quilter’s Dream.  Fun!

This is Emma.  She visited me at my booth where I was working.  I thought she was the best part of the Quilt Show.  Isn’t she just the cutest thing?

She had some fabulous smiles.  And she was quite wiggly.  Don’t you just want to give her a big hug?

These are Emma’s shoes.  See how wiggly her foot is?  I was determined to get a pic of both shoes with her feet still.  And after 623 tries……..

Success!  Don’t they just make you smile?

That’s my Dear Sis-in-Law, Pam.  She’s showing someone her fancy quilting machine from The Quilting Depot.  One of these days I’m going to get out there myself and learn how to operate her machines and get some quilt tops quilted.  She’s not holding her breath.  Smart woman.  I’ve been a bit busy lately.  Just like she has.

By the way, these folks at the Bear Creek Quilt Guild don’t mess around.  Less than 30 minutes after they said, “The Quilt Show is now closed,” I peeked behind the curtain and this is what it looked like……

That’s in less than thirty minutes!  Remember the pic I showed you just the other day?  Well, this is where all the quilts were.  These people work fast.  Good work.  I’m hiring them to come and organize my house.

And at about that same time, this is how our booth looked.  That’s a wrap!

Hope you enjoyed this blog quilt show.  I hope you’re inspired to get out and make a new quilt!  The End.

Happy Quilting,
Barb

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A Special Challenge Quilt

Posted on February 20, 2012 by Barb

Last December I received a special gift in the mail.  And I’ve been planning to show it to you ever since.  Is it really February?  How did it get to be February so fast?  Next thing you know I’ll blink and you’ll be telling me it’s March.  Or worse yet, that Christmas is just a few days away.  Is your life passing before your eyes too?  Or is it just me?

This is the cute little quilt that showed up in my mailbox last December.  My friend, Cyndie, made it and sent it to me.  Even though I haven’t actually seen Cyndie since I was 10 years old.  We were best friends way back then.  And then she moved away and we lost touch.  But we got reconnected through this blog!  And she and I have been email buddies ever since.

Look at the special hand quilting stitches in this fabulous little quilt.  You see, last January I surprised Cyndie by mailing her a yard of our 2011 Challenge fabric.  And she made two quilts.  One to keep and one to send to me.  Totally unexpected by me.  What a fun surprise!

More up close pics of her wonderful quilting.  Cyndie is the primary caregiver for her Mom.  I think of her often.  She told me how she stitched on this quilt while sitting with her Mom in the evenings.  Her Dear Mom has alzheimer’s disease and lives with Cyndie and her Dear Hubby.  Cyndie is a hero to me.

I am praying that one day Cyndie will be able to come to Texas for a JSS Retreat.  I would love to see her again after all these many years.  How fun that we share a love for quilting!  Didn’t she do a great job on this cute little quilt?

Look how she appliquéd the little bees in various places.  So cute and clever.  And I absolutely adore all the little hand quilting stitches.

One more look at the whole quilt……

Aren’t I just the most blessed blogger in the whole world?  Thank you, Cyndie.  It was an absolutely terrific surprise.

Funny how we can all be connected through the world of the internet.  Someday I must remember to tell you the story of how I met my friend, Susan……..

Hugs,
Barb
P.S.  My Dear Mom is home from the hospital and doing very well.  Thanks so much to all who wrote comments of concern last week!

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Quilt Show!

Posted on February 18, 2012 by Barb

It’s raining in North Texas today and a great day for a quilt show!

Wow!  Look at those quilts.  And the location is fabulous.  A brand new conference center in Hurst, Texas.  Right down the street from where I live.  Life doesn’t get much better than this for a quilter.

Look at those fancy-schmancy chandeliers and the cool carpet.  Oh, and don’t forget to look at the beautiful quilts too.  Just in case you got sidetracked by the fancy-schmancy chandeliers.

The shop where I work has a booth at this show and today I’m workin’ it.  So if you’re in the DFW area, why don’t you swing by and see me?  I took these pics last night with my camera phone, but I’ll have my regular camera with me today and hope to get more to share with you.  In the meantime, here’s one of the best of show quilt.  Just to whet your appetite.

This great appliqué quilt was made by Kayleen Allen and is called “Vintage Valentines.”  It was quilted by JaLonn Carter-Stanley.  I know these two gals personally!  So nice to see their hard work rewarded.  Beautiful quilt, Kayleen!

If you want to know more about the show, visit the guild’s website here:

Bear Creek Quilt Guild

If you do come, be sure to stop by the Quilter’s Dream booth (#34) and say hi.  I’d love to see you!

Hugs,
Barb

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My Day

Posted on February 13, 2012 by Barb

image

Here’s my view right now. Don’t I lead an exciting life?

I’m actually using this moment to learn how to post blogs from my ‘droid.  Wih pics.  It could open up a whole new blogging world for me.

Watch out.  It’s not safe with me and my camera phone.

Barb

Posted in just stuff | Tagged | 10 Comments

Bee Day – New Challenges!

Posted on February 5, 2012 by Barb

It was JSS Bee Day recently and you know what that means… Food, Quilts and New Challenges for the New Year!  And Fun.  We are all about the fun.

It was a chilly day in Texas and a warm fire greeted us at Karen’s house.

 

Breakfast greeted us too!  Including these oh so yummy rolls.

But even better than that were Karen’s World Famous Cinnamon Cream Cheese Ooey Gooey Thing-a-Ma-Bobs.  I’m sure they have another name, but I just call them Delicious.

Plain brown bags were brought once again.  Filled with fabric of all sorts to be turned into wonderful quilt tops during the year.  Or made hurriedly the day before the Christmas Party in December.  But maybe that’s just me.  I work well under pressure, you know.  Could this be the year I finish mine early?  Don’t hold your breath.

Moms were there.  And they chatted at the table and had breakfast while friends gathered in the kitchen.

Sue and Susan shared smiles and a cup of java as the day began.

Nancy shared this cute Block-of-the-Month Halloween Baltimore Album that she’s working on.  Will we see a finished quilt in time for Halloween, Nancy?  So cute.

Then the Show ‘n Tell began……

Sue H showed this cute wall hanging as Karen looked on.  And we all oooed and aahed.

And Sue was working on this cute appliqué project too.  Nice, Sue!

Angela came all the way from Juneau, Alaska to be Suz’ show ‘n tell for the day.  We hope she’ll join us again for a retreat this year!  She got the prize for traveling the furthest for Bee Day.  If there were a prize that is.

Spice joined us too.  And I thought this was a great pic of Karen!  Hi Spice!  He’s a very sweet kitty.

Dede had this very pretty quilt to show.

LaNelle had this cool seam ripper that someone had given her to show us.  Very nice!

I had Pam hold it for a pic so you could see how nicely it fits in your hand.  Both ends come out and turn around to become seam rippers – double ripping!  Nice nails, Pam!

Karen showed this beautiful quilt that was her brown bag quilt from a previous year.  Made by Susan.  All quilted and bound and nearly ready to be hung in Karen’s kitchen.  As soon as Karen finishes hand stitchin’ that binding down.  She even added piping.  Fabulous.

Sally makes a new calendar quilt to hang in her kitchen every year.

Sally’s work is perfect – her embroidery is flawless.  Which has earned her more than one Best of Show winning quilt!  I wanna quilt like Sally when I grow up.

Susan showed this pretty quilt.  She’s finishing the binding on this one.  Nice job, Susan!

And this is part of the embroidery for a quilt Sally is now working on.  Can you say perfection?  It’s just beautiful, Sally!

Soon it was time for lunch…..

This was Susan’s lunch.  Bleh.

This was my plate.  Full of colorful salads brought by several of the JSS ladies.  We have some fabulous cooks in this group.  Jules brought lasagna too, but you don’t see that on my plate.  I was avoiding the cheese.  Partly because I had 13 pieces of Karen’s breakfast ooey gooey thing-a-ma-bob.  Sometimes choices just have to be made in my life.  And I was saving room for dessert.

Cindy and her Mom were a little anxious for dessert too, dontcha think?  Watch out with that knife, Cindy!

Dessert included this tasty fruit concoction that LaNelle brought.

And how nice of Karen to have a birthday that week so we could all share in her birthday carrot cake brought by Sue OK!  Yum!

It was indeed a day to celebrate!  Good friends, good food, good quilts and good FUN!

This is my motto for 2012… brought to you by Sue OK.  Thanks, Sue!  I like it.

By the way – we also received our new same fabric for our 2012 challenge and you see this beautiful batik now in the margins of this blog.  I can hardly wait to see what these girls come up with using this fabric!  I bet Christmas will be here before we know it.

Keep calm and sew on!
Barb

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