Tree of Life

--Julia posts--

I got to help put some stitches into this quilt today. The Grabers were together at Paul's folks for Thanksgiving and a few of us gathered here to visit. Paul's mom recieved this top from her mom's things years ago. She purchased it from an auction, probably somewhere in Indiana. We have no way of knowing how old it is or who actually pieced it.

Polly's Trip to Houston

~ Polly's Posting ~

I was so privileged to attend the International Quilt Festival down in Houston, TX earlier this month.

Here are just a few of the high-lights of my time there.

Being able to attend the show with my daughter Holly!

Taking a class by Kaffe Fasset on color. 

Running into one of my Quilting Heros ~ Hollis Chatelain ~

I had seen this quilt months earlier in one of my quilt magazines and was so intrigued by it.  How could 10 different women make self portraits and yet be so similarly alike?    I was thrilled to see the quilt there at the show and get to study it up close.

 

• I took lots of close up pictures so I could study the details in them later.

  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  

  
  

  A little closer up for details.

  
  

  

  
  

  While taking these pictures a lady tapped me on the shoulder and asked if I wanted to know more about the quilt.  She identified herself as one of the ladies who made the quilt and said that six of the ten were meeting there at the quilt in a few minutes.   I stayed around a little longer so I could get a picture of these talented women.

  
  

  

25 Patch Star

--Julia posts--

I made this BOM, 25 Patch Star, for Donna with my Possum Town Quilters.

Blog Tour Posted by Barbara

Welcome to the 100  Block Quiltmaker blog tour. Follow the 100 Blocks Blog Tour daily Nov. 8-12 at quiltmaker.com/quilty pleasures for inspiration, ideas and giveaways galore!  My block in the magazine is Colorful Star Tricks. 
 



My pattern "Star Tricks", a 48" x 48", was the incentive to make this block.  I made Colorful Star Tricks block smaller and didn't strip piece the stars.


My sister Julia made "Give the Girl a Twirl", 48" x 48", using variegated fabric.

Make a comment on my blog and get a chance to win my book "Star Struck Quilts" which has the "Star Tricks" pattern in it.

You can purchase this magazine at Patchwork Plus or Quiltmaker.

Also check out my other blog Quiltingal

Posted by Barbara

I tried a new technique for machine quilting:  

Move the width of the zig-zag stitch to 2mm and free motion quilt.  Julia used this technique on her "Ezekiel Saw the Wheel."  She inspired me to use this method.

   

Working with metallic thread can be very trying. It loops. It breaks. It skips stitches. So...I put my thread through a whisk, loosened the top tension, and used a metallic needle size 80. It worked like a charm. :)

  

Friday I spent the day at Father and Mother's machine quilting...The humming of the machine must of put them to sleep.  

 

 Parla is home for the week.  She and I are making a "Pinwheel Spin" quilt.  It was so much fun to see her arrange the pinwheels so the values and colors were "just right".  She has a wonderful eye for placement and is very accurate in her cutting and sewing.