PICTURES TAKEN

I always have difficulty taking pictures of larger quilts, so I wait until my 2 tall sons arrive for a visit. 
The first picture is "Chocolate, Strawberry and Vanilla Oh My!" which was completed in January.

They did a good job, struggling with a few wind gusts!  Good thing we have tall sons!  The next quilt is "Row by Row" completed more recently, in April, but started a year + ago!

 I also added pictures of these quilts to my Quilts 2014 page, but without my two wonderful sons.  I would like to invest in a portable quilt stand, some lights and a good tripod, so I could take better pictures of my quilts and others, in a more controlled way.  I'd still have to find somewhere to set everything up - not always easy in a small townhouse!

PICTURES, FINALLY!

While my two tall sons are visiting, I took advantage of their help to get pictures of 3 large quilts - 2 completed in 2012 and one in 2013.  I think I need to invest in a quilt stand!  I have added the pictures to the appropriate pages as well!

 This hexagon quilt was inspired by Bonnie Hunter.  The top was English paper pieced by hand, then appliqued onto the green border.  I used the leftover cut squares to make a prairie point edging - my first!

 Oriental Kaleidoscope was inspired by Bethany Reynolds of "Stack n Whack" fame.  The centre was completed, then I make it larger by adding pieced borders, using the original fabric.

 Dawn and Dusk was just completed last month.  The pattern is by Judy Laquidara, and was found in Quiltmaker magazine.  I pieced the top and basted it while in the south, then completed the machine quilting recently.

It is always a challenge to photograph large quilts, and my sons were standing on two step-stools, and battling a breeze.  Someday, it would be nice to be able to take the pictures in a more controlled  environment!

KITCHENER QUILT SHOW

DH and I, along with DS2 and future DIL had a lovely morning attending the quilt show.  It was DIL's first, and she took her job of voting on her favourite three quilts very seriously.  It also gave her a taste of what quilters are doing these days.  DS2 helped to set up and photograph the last Quilts Kingston show, so he was an old hand.
DH was chief photographer, and took pictures of items that caught his eye.  I also bought a photo CD, that included all the quilts.








DH & I had a long talk with the photographer, to see how they produced their CD.  They did all the photography in September, giving every entrant an appointment, to hang and photograph the quilts against a black background, using a tripod and proper lighting.  I'm going to suggest that to our committee, as last time we had to take the pictures while the show was being set up and the quilts hung.  If you have every tried to photograph a whole quilt at a show, you'll know how difficult that can be.....

 

Busy Quilting

I feel like I have been neglecting my blog! I've been busy finishing up a long list of UFO's. Now I just have to get my two helpers, and I'll be able to take some pictures to share.
Had a quiet Christmas with DH. He surprised me by doing some shopping at Keepsake Quilting and Connecting Threads. He picked out two new quilt books, some packages of fat quarters, so I'd have some new fabric to try out a project or two, two kits - one for a runner and the other for a wall hanging. Both kits involve applique (he knows I like handwork). There were also some new threads, and my annual quilt calendar!
Even Florida is enjoying some winter weather (frost last night). My quilt room doesn't warm up until the sun helps, so I am working only in the afternoons.
Today I prepared my samples for the two blocks my group will be working on tomorrow. We are trying a sampler quilt this year, and hope to finish two blocks each week. Of course, some of the quilters will be working on their own projects, and there are a couple of new quilters who plan to make a runner for their first project. People work at their own speed, and the hope is that everyone has fun and learns something new.