Another Thursday Update

I can't believe it's been a whole week since I checked in.  Mea Culpa.

A lot has happened for you to catch up on.  The vending at the Greater Ann Arbor Quilt Guild went splendidly.  It was fun seeing a lot of you - especially the ones who crashed the booth at 9am on the dot for Minick and Simpson yardage - you know who you are :)

I heard from the folks down Dallas way that Lexington is starting to ship out to quilt shops tomorrow!!!!  Look for it very, very soon.

Morning Walk

I've finished 2 of the 4 borders for my Love Letters quilt - but it now goes back into the storage.  I have 2 quilts returned from Kari - she basted them for me and I'm going to start hand quilting TODAY!  Mrs. Billings is looking particularly good I think.  Here she is draped over my drafting table.  (As I read that last sentence, it doesn't sound very respectful to Mrs. Billings. My apologies)

I have to pin the edges before I start - but even before that…. I'm quilting Zip Code.  I'll post pictures of that in process this weekend.  

Laurie

Thursday Announcements

Pay Attention! There is lots of info here.  :)

First of all, let's post a better picture of Polly, her family, and her lovely rug from last week's celebration.

From left to right - they are John Minick, Jim Minick, Polly, Tom Minick and Jeff Minick.


This is what I have been working on.  I'm ANXIOUSLY waiting for 2 quilts to get back from Kari, my long-armer.  She is basting them and I can't wait to hand quilt them.  In the meantime, I picked up this old chestnut that has been hanging around.  It is for no purpose other than my pleasure in making it.  The pattern is Love Letters from Blackbird Designs book - When the Cold Wind Blows.  I believe the book is out of print.  You have been warned (but they sold a ton of them - maybe you have it in your stash).

I'm piecing the border right now.  It should be done shortly.  I wanted a border - something kind of dramatic to work with this energetic quilt.  BUT - the quilt is already 84" square without the border - so a small, dramatic border was called for.  You'll see, very soon.

The fabric I used is ancient in the quilt fabric world.  I think it was from over 7 years ago.  It was Folklore by Whistler Studios for Windham fabrics.  It's long gone. Believe me, I've looked. I used every inch of the blue I had.  I have no idea how I'm going to quilt it. Any thoughts??

What else? I'm vending this weekend at the Greater Ann Arbor Quilt Show.  You can find all the info HERE.

I'll have books, patterns, what-nots, and lots and lots of Minick and Simpson fabric.  Yes - yardage! I have lots of bolts from cutting kits.  2 yards here - 10 yards there….. lots and lots from Grant Park, Midwinter Reds, Indigo Crossing, Independence Trail, and many more.  The yardage is priced to sell as the bolts are taking over a corner of the dining room.  There is enough on many bolts for the backs of quilts.  Here's your chance to stock up.  Prints will be $6.00 per yard and wovens - at a  CRAZY price of $4.00 per yard.

See you there!

Laurie

Family Celebration

Summer is a good time for family celebrations, isn't it? Bill and I ventured out on a road trip last week.  We meandered through Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, and Kansas.  There was even time to stop at a couple of quilt shops on the way. It isn't a real road trip unless you do that - am I right??

The reason for the trip? Polly's son Colonel James Minick retired from the USMC.

Jim is the tall one on the left

 The ceremony took place at the WWI Museum at Liberty Memorial in Kansas City.  It was a beautiful, moving, ceremony.

Afterwards the Marines and guests ate wonderful home-made tacos from a truck that pulled right up to the park beside the monument.

 One of the guests was Jim's long time best friend Jim Harbaugh. Jim H. has a job on the west coast that  keeps him busy. He kept connected to work via his cell phone. Many, many hilarious stories were told about young Jim and Jim.

 Polly and her other sons - Jeff and John presented Jim with this rug that Polly made for him.

Here is Jim with his wife Heidi and their children Grant and Emily. We all wish him the best in his retirement and we thanked him for his service.

*If you were waiting on Tulip Hiroshima needles from me - they will be shipped out tomorrow.  They are back in stock (almost all of them) in out Etsy store.  

Thanks

Laurie

Tulip Hiroshima Needles

As we promised earlier this year, we are stocking some hand quilting tools in our Etsy store.

The hoops were a huge hit and we hope to have them back in stock shortly.

We also just got in the Tulip Hiroshima needles.  They make them for many forms of hand work - but we have quilting/betweens, milliners, appliqué, and embroidery needles in stock.

 Isn't it nice when good tools come so nicely packaged?

 Inside the box is a test tube with your 6 needles…. appliqué - size 10

 Milliners - assorted sizes 8, 9, and 10

 Embroidery - assorted 7, 8, 9, and 10 (2 each)

Quilting/betweens - size 10

I've only used the milliners so far - when I hand quilted the Austin Bluebird Sampler with a Big Stitch.  This vial of 8, 9, and 10 milliners are perfect for that.  I'm really looking forward to getting some quilts back from being basted so I can try the quilting needles.

I picked out the sizes I would use for various things.  I thought we'd try these sizes first. If you have a specific request for a needle in a particular size - let me know and I'll get it.

You can see the Tulip Hiroshima video here….

Quilts of Honor

I had a wonderful treat this weekend.  I was asked by the folks at Quilts of Honor - Melissa Guzman, Angie, and her husband Dave - to accompany them to Progressive Field in Cleveland to present quilts to the 2 ballplayers there nominated for the Bob Feller Act of Valor Award.

Melissa and Angie made lots of quilts - including 2 to give to Nick Swisher of the Indians and Billy Butler of the KC Royals for their work with veterans.

Me, go to a baseball game and present quilts? Yes, that is a no-brainer!

Progressive Field in Cleveland

Yes, I was really there!

Navy and Air Force personnel waiting with us for the presentation

Mr. Billy Butler waiting to come out

Can't have a game without these guys

The 2 quilts Melissa and Angie made to present to Nick Swisher and Billy Butler. I was honored to be there  and honored they used our Stars and Bars pattern and our Grant Park fabric to make them.

Hope you had a great weekend too!

Laurie

P.S. As everyone knows that reads this blog and knows me a little bit - I am a life long, die-hard, long suffering Detroit Tigers fan.  The Cleveland Indians have been a rival forever. Everyone there in Cleveland was wonderful to me and to Quilts of Honor - and the passionate dislike I carried will forever be softened.  Also, if you are a life long sports fan of a particular team (any team) there is always that ONE GUY from the other team that you love to hate.  THAT ONE GUY who gets game winning hits against you.  You know that guy?? Well that guy used to be Nick Swisher for me.  Not anymore. Mr. Swisher proved himself to be a gentleman, he was gracious. lovely, and a bit adorable.  Now I have to find a new THAT GUY.

July 4th

Pledge Rug by Polly Minick

Lots of quilts at Polly's house

Hurrah!

Happy 4th Everyone! Stay cool, stay safe.

 I read a disturbing item online this week that said most pets that run away - this is the week it happens.  The travel and the fireworks disorient and scare them.  I know Gibby hates the noise. It's terrible to see him so anxious.

I love fireworks. I just wish everyone wouldn't shoot them off. Especially in small city lots. Lets be considerate to our pets.  //steps off soap box//

Oh, and guess what. Our new set of patterns have just arrived in out Etsy store.  Here they are!

Birmingham Stripe

Zip Code

Plymouth


Have a great holiday!

Laurie

Lexington and Crazy For Red Winners

I'm boxing up fabric right and left.  The winner of the Lexington Fat Quarter Bundle is….

Elaine

The winners of the Crazy For Red Scraps are…

Cindy P

Martha

Laurel


I've emailed Elaine and Martha, but Cindy P and Laurel, please contact me HERE and I'll get your boxes out to you,


The UPS guy has worn out my driveway and the staff at the local post office know me pretty well.
What's another few boxes?  I shipped 4 quilts yesterday to Kari.  I'll get 2 back only basted and I'm really looking forward to hand quilting them.  One I showed on the blog a couple days ago - the new Zip Code quilt using Crazy For Red fabric.

The other is my Mrs. Billings quilt! It's done! The top anyway…..

Here she is - finally pressed and getting folded up to go into the box.  I pressed it with the ironing board up against the dining room table to take all the bulk and weight of it.  It's big and it's heavy. Nothing like a big 'ol quilt on your lap for July and August.  Maybe I didn't think this through?

Remember what I said about my phone/camera not talking to my computer? They still aren't speaking.  It looks like a visit to the Genius Bar is in order.  It will be bad enough without my computer for a day or two - I sure hope they don't need to keep my phone.  How will I manage? Will the sun still rise in the morning?  Think of me, won't you?

Still some more stuff all packaged up….. Polly asked me to remember to take a photo of the Austin Bluebird Sampler Block of the Month - Month 1 all packaged up.  I forgot until I was on my way to the post office.  Here they are in the back of my car.

I'm at a stop light, taking a picture, with that selfie/backwards function on the camera.  So, yes, if you signed up the Austin Bluebird, your first package went out today.

Zip Code and a couple other patterns will show up soon in our Etsy store.  I'll post more later, but it's getting pretty late.

Laurie