I took a ride up the Maine Turnpike over the weekend to take in the sights, the sounds - and yes, the quilts, at Maine Quilts 2012. I took that same ride almost every summer as a little girl to visit relatives and enjoy the many lakes of Maine, so when I go to this show there's almost always a strong sense of nostalgia for me - even just getting there. When you've got a good traveling companion, a great day and a snazzy car, Life is very good.

        When I got home Saturday night, I will confess - I was pretty tuckered out. I'm not used to driving that many (fun!) miles all in one day, so when Mike suggested Chinese take out (with a margarita on the screen porch!), I jumped at it.  Does it get better than this?

       Sometimes I get fortune cookies at the end of a meal and feel gyped - some just don't apply even when you add cryptic words to the end. On Saturday night, however - this was what I got.  I framed it. 

      One good dose of life affirmation, and I'm hungry again for more - in an hour.

Stay tuned!

The VQF trip ...

I've long been a fan of the Vermont Quilt Festival, but living as I do in southern New Hampshire means a long drive to get there. I've been able to go to VQF several times in the past, and I've come to the conclusion that this is the kind of trip made for a bus ride. And when you take a whole bunch of other quilters, many of whom have never been to the show before - you have a great trip to Vermont.

VQF does a first class job of encouraging young quiltmakers to enter the show, and I've long been impressed with both the quantity of quilts and the diversity of what these young people can accomplish.  This picture above is one of my very favorite pictures from the show...it was taken in the vendor mall area, and this little girl (who has a shopping bag over her shoulder as big as she is) was really concentrating on working with the machine...she was not just playing around.  She attracted quite a group of admirers watching her stitch her flower pattern.  I love that Vermont is the kind of a show where this kind of creativity is encouraged!

Janome USA and Bittersweet Fabric Shop of Boscawen NH are two of the platinum sponsors of the festival, and this year they (again) worked together to acknowledge this very special group of young people. At the Opening preview, each Young Quilter (defined as aged 17 or younger) was awarded a brand new Janome sewing machine.  I think this is extraordinary, and I love the fact that I get goose bumps just thinking about it.

I think this photo was posted on Facebook by Pat Sloan originally, and it captures the excitement of the evening.

More coming later this week...I'm still unpacking!

The calendar in the quilting world has it's own steady rhythm, and today's mail brought with it confirmation that summer is in fact, here.  One of my favorite summer morning activities is to pour over  the A Quilter's Gathering brochure, trying to decide which (or how many classes) I want to take.  And with the brochure in hand, the online registration is sure to open shortly. 

This year, we're excited to be moving to the new venue, Radisson Hotel Manchester Downtown to explore all that city has to offer.

This year's teachers lineup looks fantastic...time to head to the porch for a cold beverage to read the brochure and make my notes...

Oh, wait a minute - there's that other shoe dropping now:

Wait...wait...wait...I don't think so...

Sad, but true...this is most likely a Gathering shoe for me now...Dropping.

Contest deadline to submit an entry is Sept 15th...I best get off the porch and finish something!

Those of you working as solopreneurs know that there is seldom a regular 9-5 schedule.  Flex time is a prime perk in this game. I'll be flexing next week, but I'm taking the time to clear things up before going off to play in the stash.  Earlier this week, I told Mark Lipinski that I'd be back to him on a blog prompt - so what have you learned from that experience.  I've been letting that marinate all week, and this is what I've come up with...

Anything new - except for skydiving - is an adventure. Generally, I'll try anything once, and if it doesn't work out, at least I know.  I don't usually shrink away from challenges - in life or in quilting. That philosophy has stood me in good stead.

Sometimes, like 1 in a million chances, a new recipe will come out as good as you think. I'm done for 2012 - and happy about that.

Although I believe in the concept that what doesn't kill you will make you stronger, there are some times I'd like a little less drama in my life.  I have also born witness to women who have carried unthinkable burdens - much more so than I have had - and been in awe of their pink feathered awesomeness.  I have also learned from them what true grace and courage is like.

Getting ready for a Summertime Classic

One of the surest signs of summer here in New England is the  Vermont Quilt Festival  in Essex Junction Vermont. I remember many years ago seeing the familiar logo in the back of quilting magazines several times, and wondering what all the excitement was about.  VQF was one of the first big shows I ever went to - as well as be a participant in - and it's held a special place in my heart since then.  This year's show will be held June 29th through July 1st, and the quilts are always worth the trip.

This year's teachers  will include Judy Woodworth, whose classes in free motion quilting and exploding textures will be sure to impress you. Click here for more information about the classes.

As happens most of the time with big shows, getting there is half the fun. I have a bus trip running from Southern New Hampshire up to the Festival on Saturday, June 30, with pick up locations in Nashua, Concord and West Lebanon (all in NH), before crossing into Vermont. I do bus trips a little bit differently than most - enroute you can read, relax, look out the scenery - or you can participate in the on-board raffles and contests before we get there.  The weather in Vermont can be unseasonably hot this particular weekend, but you'll be riding in Air Conditioned comfort.

We've recently received a donation from  Joanne Lendaro's Splittling Stitches  for 2 $75 machine quilting services gift certificates, which will be won on the bus.  So pack up those tote bags and make your reservations now!

Tickets are just $95 for the day, and include your seat, the driver's tip, the admission, and dinner on the way home as well...the only thing I don't cover is lunch and your shopping trip.

Email me at Linda@thepatchworkpearl.com to make your reservations - you'll be glad you did.

Happy Birthday to me!

This week really was a continuation of last week; I finished a T shirt quilt for a friend of mine who's daughter was graduating on Saturday.  Mike and I got invited to the cookout, and it was fun to see her reaction as she was given the quilt.  Lots of laughs about where her T shirt collection had been for the better part of the year. This was a fun project, and I can't wait to get another one to do.




Sunday was Mother's Day, and I had a great visit with both kids - and a new favorite recipe for Strawberry stuffed French Toast.  I relaxed a bit, and then got to spend the rest of the day putting the final touches on my presentation on Monday (which was the actual day).

I used my Leaves Galore template to create a color wheel as a demo for my "Why do All my Colors Look the Same" presentation that I did for the lovely ladies of the Linsey Woolsey Quilt Guild in Attleboro Ma.  They were a great group to work with - very energetic and engaging on the subject of color.  

I took Tuesday as my do-over birthday, and then spent some time this week unpacking from Paducah and re-organizing my room - interspersed with lunches and brunches with friends, because a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.  And I'm off in a bit for another visit with yet another group...

Well, it would appear that much has happened here in Blogger land while I was away; this post is overdue so before I let any more grass grow under my feet - or fingers! - let me figure it out as I go. Yes, you guessed it - I'm one of those people who usually don't read directions. Pattern Instructions yes, but directions no!

A brief shout out to the staff of My Quilt Place at AQS - my blog is now linked up to their site. Thank you for your help, and welcome to all my new AQS friends.

I came back from Paducah wired, inspired - and fried; not great when you come back to a desk full of deadlines, but that happens. Next year (and threre most certainly will be a next year!), I'll not take on quite so much - the spring calendar has gotten more crowded here - and will most likely stay that way. I just have to figure out the kinks.

I had heard wonderful things about the show - all of them true. The city of Paducah has truly turned itself into Quilt City USA.   I got a chuckle when we arrived at the special preview on Wednesday night and the first thing that greeted us was the Handi-Quilter truck- and fellow guild member Michelle Tade Banton's picture (left of the post!) greeting me.

I had the privelege of seeing the first time AQS entry of my good friend - and guild member, Kathie Beltz - her Twisty Curvy Explosion quilt has won a lot of acclaim, and seeing it in Paducah - and meeting other friends of hers as well - was a thrill.  There's a world of difference between going to Paducah, and being in Paducah!

One of the highlights of the trip - and there were many! - was the National Quilt Museum...it's a treasure of beautiful works, and it should be on every quilter's bucket list.  The good news is that it's open year round, and they change the exhibits frequently.  It's a source of inspiration and of contemplation.

There'll be more about my trip later - but let me leave you with a truly Paducah photo - this is the parking lot of the Convention center at lunch time - and this is a short line.  

Off to a meeting and A Quilter's Sampler...more coming soon (promise)...

Linda