A Visit to Vermont Quilt Festival

A friend and I went to the Vermont Quilt Festival near Burlington a couple of weeks ago.  It was a lovely show, with lots of quilts on display and about 80 vendors.  Truly a quilter's heaven. 

Duffer by Patty Williams of Plessis, New York, was the Best Miniature Quilt. 


Bonnie Hunter was one of the instructors at the festival and her quilt called Pineapple Crazy was on display.  Wow, all those little strips and pieces!!!   Follow the link to Bonnie's website where you can see the quilt pattern in all its glory.  It is in her new book called "String Fling" which should be out soon, if not already.    Bonnie Hunter's Quiltville

The quilt which won as Best Machine Quilting was just spectacular.  Not only was the piecing just wonderful, the quilting was beyond glorious.  I can't believe I didn't get a better picture, but perhaps you can get a glimpse of the intricate stitching. 

Here's a bit better look and you can see a bit of the quilting.  

This was made by Marilyn Badger of St. George, Utah.  If you use the enlarge feature on your screen, you can see the name of the pattern that was her inspiration, as well as the kinds of thread she used.  It is made of both cotton and silk fabrics.  And, there's lots of crystals on it too.  It truly was deserving of its award. 


Another quilt that really intrigued me is this one by Carol Newbury of Troy, New York. 

The tiled look is achieved by using raw edge applique to stitch small strips of fabric, thus creating the slanted coloration. 

All in all, we had a great day.  Everybody needs a good quilt show once in a while. 


Y'all take care.  

My Current Backyard

I have become accustomed to the sound as the water in the Moose River rushes by our campsite.  It gets louder when there's higher water from rain, but then diminishes as the weather dries.  It was such a wonderful surprise when we realized that this was to be our backyard view for a bit. 

And another view.

And, of course, the sunset view looking down the river.

We get to see common mergansers with their little ones, and mallards with little ones, too.  The cedar waxwings nest in the area, so they are out and about.  There's robins, chickadees, kingfishers, lots of crows, grackles, and ruby throated hummingbirds.  Up near the office, the goldfinches make an appearance, as well as the downy and hairy woodpeckers.  Oh, and the house finches, too.  The unusual birds I've seen thus far from my "backyard" are a spotted sandpiper and a golden winged warbler.  


Y'all  take care.  

I Love Flowers!!

One of the joys of traveling is the opportunity to see flowers in bloom that might not be abundant at home.  I have some daylilies, but certainly none like these.  Aren't they just lovely?

It had been raining off and on most of the day and finally stopped late in the afternoon. 

And some gardeners do grow columbine at home, but I don't have any. 

Such loveliness is a real treat. 

Y'all take care. 

Happy 4th of July

As we celebrate our Independence Day, let's all remember that it is  more than a day for a picnic.

"We on this continent should never forget that men first crossed the Atlantic not to find soil for their ploughs but to secure liberty for their souls."   Robert J. McCracken

"We have enjoyed so much freedom for so long that we are perhaps in danger of forgetting how much blood it cost to establish the Bill of Rights."  Felix Frankfurter

"This country will not be a good place for any of us to live in unless we make it a good place for all of us to live in."   Teddy Roosevelt

May you and yours enjoy this most precious day. 

Y'all take care.   

A Quilter's Destination

After leaving Virginia, we traveled to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.  As a quilter, I had to stop there as it is a mecca for all things quilt related.  We stayed in a nice RV park out in the country among the fields of the Amish farmers.  Daily we heard the clop, clop, clop of the horses' shoes on the pavement as the local folks went about their business.

It was the perfect weather for cutting hay and all around us was the sweet smell of newly cut grass.  

I learned a lot about the Amish people on this trip and that is a good thing.  There is a great deal to be admired about their religion and their reliance on family and community ties.    I didn't take a lot of pictures out of respect for their beliefs.


I guess I was so engrossed in my shopping mission that I totally forgot to take a picture of the quilt shops I visited!  I visited Zook's and spent some quality time there.  There are several other shops there in Intercourse, Pennsylvania, but I went to only one more, Bitty Kinna's.  


It was wonderful to be among lush green fields and well cared for farms again. 


Y'all take care.  

Lunch in the Log House

There's been lots happening, so let's start getting caught up.  We headed out traveling for a while and stopped near Wytheville, Virginia for a rest.  When we went into town for lunch, the first restaurant we came upon was the Log House Restaurant. 

Log House Restaurant 

This started out as a very small settler's cabin around the time of the Revolutionary War, but was completed later. 

Over the 200 plus years, it has been added onto in a higgledy piggledy manner and is now an absolute warren of rooms and passageways and nooks and crannies.  And it's a fabulous place.  Most of the interior was such close quarters that I couldn't take any pictures with my lens.  There was an atrium, brick floors, woodwork and all manner of whimsical decor.  


The other end of this "booth" just inside the entrance faced a fireplace.  That makes sense since it would trap the heat and make the eating place warmer.  I'm sure there is a name for this arrangement, but I don't know what it is at the moment. 

And I was transfixed by the dried roses in the light fixture. 

As we were led to our table, I almost gasped.  We were seated directly in front of a log cabin quilt that had to be at least 100 years old and it was hanging on the wall as decoration!!  As a quilter, I was both pleased and appalled.  I was pleased to see such a treasure, but appalled that it was being displayed in a way that allowed it to get dirty and be exposed to rough treatment. 

After lunch, we were invited to wander the grounds and take as many pictures as we liked.   We explored the whole place and it was made up of many small rooms, hallways and niches.  

Then we went outside and I was in heaven.  The entire garden was bursting with shrubs, flowers and statuary of some sort. 

View of back door of restaurant and dovecote

The dovecote (just to the right of the blue door) had white doves inside.  Then brick paths wandered throughout the garden.  There was one surprise after the other.   

Grinder man in the rabbit pen 

Entrance to gift shop and bar area 

Its too bad that the gift shop was closed.  And, who wouldn't love to have a glass of something on this porch. 

Part of the outdoor bar area 

It was such a wonderful surprise to find all of this, because from the street you can only see the front of the building.  We had no idea how big it was and how it stretched and twisted, or what wonderful gardens were behind it. 


So, all I've got to say is that if you are ever near Wytheville, Virginia, go find the Log House Restaurant and see for yourself.


Y'all take care. 

Potpourri

I cannot believe how far behind I am!   I was taking a picture of some applique pieces I was working on and came across these! 

Blueberry jam, chutney & sauce 

This is just a portion of the 57 pounds of blueberries that were picked this year.    Eleven and a half pints total  of blueberry jam;  four and a half pints total of blueberry sauce;  and 6 half pints of blueberry-ginger chutney.  I'm sorry I didn't take picture of the luscious berries, but here's some of what I got a couple of years ago and I went to the same place. 

I went the first day by myself and picked about 29 pounds.  All those were frozen for Hubby to use on his cereal throughout the year.  And, he'll use them all up, too!!!  A couple of weeks later, he and I both went up to the blueberry farm and picked another 28 pounds.  I used most of those to make these cooked items.  However, I got so tired of looking at blueberries that I did give away a big bag full of them.  Just couldn't stand looking at or handling another one. 


Dr. Lundy grows many, many different varieties of blueberries, both high bush and rabbit eye.  He encourages grazing until you find the one you think tastes best and then you start picking.  His bushes are very well groomed and cared for, making it very easy to pick lots of berries in a short period of time. 


As for my sewing, I finally got the borders on my Island Chain quilt. 

Island Chain, designed by Kim Brackett

I have no idea when it will get quilted.  It is a large quilt, about full size. 


I also went on one  expedition.  My Birdlady friend led a birding field trip up to Blackwater State Forest but I couldn't attend due to family obligations.  At any rate, the next day she called me all excited.  She wanted to take me to see something special and wondered if I was free that afternoon.  Sure, why not, so off I went to her house.  She took me back to the forest to Tetlow Bog, at least that's what we all call it.   There in the bog were the most gorgeous pitcher plants!!!!

Sarracenia Leucophyla

Sarracenia flava

I sent picture of our find to a botanist friend who likes pitcher plants.  He was quite excited with our find of the purple and white ones, Sarracenia Leucophyla, as they are quite uncommon.   I am woefully ignorant of wildflowers, so I had no idea.  This area covered several acres and was just spectacular.


There was also a lovely little purple orchid.   Its blossom was just a tiny little thing about an inch big. 

Whew, enough for now.  I'll be back soon.


Y'all take care.