Driving home from the mall this afternoon, it felt like a summer Sunday in mid-July. The mall was pretty quiet for a weekend and very few people were on the road. The sky was a pure blue and the temperatures on the warm side. But it is only May and who knows what can happen with the weather. The first year I lived in Vermont, 1978, the heat was on on Memorial Day.
Ever optimistic, however, I planted my tomatoes and parsley yesterday in a new, small bed beside the back porch. It looks good, all mulched, and green. The Early Girl tomato plants are fairly mature and have blossoms, which I hope will lead to an early crop. Downtown, at the community garden, I have planted a long row of green bush beans, a couple of small rows of Swiss chard, hills of summer squash and little pumpkins, and a few small-sized sunflowers. I wanted to have just a few flowers to cut. The garden column in the paper says that all this stuff should wait until June, but I just can't! And the weather prediction is for more days like today most of the week so I think I'm safe.
I started making a special birthday gift for this year's Dear Jane Secret Pal. It's almost all hand-sewn so is good for days like today. I had to go to the mall to get some pink embroidery floss for said project and to pick up my newer Viking machine which was in for its annual check up. Good to have that baby back! I have several quilt tops that need quilting.
Later this afternoon, we'll head down to the library for a friend's book launch and signing. Afterwards, I have a barley salad cooling in the frig for dinner with cold cuts and rolls. Summer food!
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Friday, May 21, 2010
Gorgeous weather!
All the leaves are out, the temperatures are in the 70's, and the humidity is thankfully low. This kind of weather is what we brave the miserable winters for! I sat out on the porch earlier with my knitting and expect to do so before dinner, too, with a glass of wine. Ah, spring! Yesterday I dug up my community garden, which is about 3' x 6'. Maybe tomorrow I'll spread some manure and plant. I have also dug a place next to the porch for some tomatoes and parsley, and have some thyme and lettuce in planters outside. This is about a week earlier than "normal" for Vermont, or at least the past when Memorial Day was the time for planting.
Today I drove up to Burlington to meet Pauline on Church St. for lunch. We sat inside at Leunig's but they had the windows open to the street, so it was like being outdoors. She has a tan already. I bought a dress at Clay's since we have several events to go to this summer and was pleased that I fit in a "L" rather than my previous "XL." After leaving the city, I headed over to my favorite quilt shop, Yankee Pride. I want to make another Sashiko-style tote bag and maybe some placemats using a line of fabrics called "Dimples," and got some in black and dark brown. Because the lady who helped me had an interesting accent, I asked her about it. Just as I suspected, she is Dutch, so I told her I was, too. We have the same name, which was fun.
Today I drove up to Burlington to meet Pauline on Church St. for lunch. We sat inside at Leunig's but they had the windows open to the street, so it was like being outdoors. She has a tan already. I bought a dress at Clay's since we have several events to go to this summer and was pleased that I fit in a "L" rather than my previous "XL." After leaving the city, I headed over to my favorite quilt shop, Yankee Pride. I want to make another Sashiko-style tote bag and maybe some placemats using a line of fabrics called "Dimples," and got some in black and dark brown. Because the lady who helped me had an interesting accent, I asked her about it. Just as I suspected, she is Dutch, so I told her I was, too. We have the same name, which was fun.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Survived the quilt show!
Last weekend's Central Vermont Quilt Show was a real success, despite pouring rain Saturday morning. The Friday night opening ceremonies featured our mayor and his wife who selected their favorite quilt, as did two other celebrities, a state representative who is also on the board of the Old Labor Hall and the president of the Barre Partnership which helped us hang quilts in merchants' windows as publicity for the show. Even though attendance was lower than last year, everything really went smoothly, much to my relief, and it seemed more relaxed and "together." Someone called the show "cozy," which is what I had been aiming for.
Our featured quilter, Kathie Alyce, was very pleased with her reception by visitors to the show and, I suspect, with sales at her booth. I loved the way we arranged her exhibit separate from the vending spaces, because it made her work more visible and offered her a space to talk to people about individual quilts.
The demos were well-attended and sometimes even had people standing around watching. I wish I could have participated but hope that some will repeat at guild meetings in the next year. I would particularly like to learn how to work with hexagons.
For the most part, the vendors were pleased by their sales and the interest of visitors. One told me that last year he sold nothing on Saturday, but this year, things were flying out the door. A couple of vendors didn't do as well, but I was also pleased by the number of raffle tickets we sold, both for the quilt and the Featherweight sewing machine.
And then there were the quilts and totes! We kept saying they were better than last year, but I bet next year we will say the same. They all looked wonderful! The wooden racks we rented were a little difficult to assemble and a little wobbly, but they looked fine with quilts on them. A slide show of the quilts and the show is available at http://picasaweb.google.com/irishlazz/CVTQuiltShow2010. My big purple quilt and my pink "Summer" quilt are hanging on the Old Labor Hall's porch by the entrance. I entered the purple round robin quilt, which won the "Featured Quilter's Award," and my "3 Hannaford's Bags" tote won one of the "Challenge Awards."
Now it is time for evaluation and, I hope, passing the torch to someone else next year. I have a pile of stuff for that person(s) who I hope will shoulder most of the responsibility. It is time for Paul and me to move on to other activities. I am grateful for his help and that of son Chris who climbed many a ladder over three days and brother Axel who came from Wisconsin to help.
Our featured quilter, Kathie Alyce, was very pleased with her reception by visitors to the show and, I suspect, with sales at her booth. I loved the way we arranged her exhibit separate from the vending spaces, because it made her work more visible and offered her a space to talk to people about individual quilts.
The demos were well-attended and sometimes even had people standing around watching. I wish I could have participated but hope that some will repeat at guild meetings in the next year. I would particularly like to learn how to work with hexagons.
For the most part, the vendors were pleased by their sales and the interest of visitors. One told me that last year he sold nothing on Saturday, but this year, things were flying out the door. A couple of vendors didn't do as well, but I was also pleased by the number of raffle tickets we sold, both for the quilt and the Featherweight sewing machine.
And then there were the quilts and totes! We kept saying they were better than last year, but I bet next year we will say the same. They all looked wonderful! The wooden racks we rented were a little difficult to assemble and a little wobbly, but they looked fine with quilts on them. A slide show of the quilts and the show is available at http://picasaweb.google.com/irishlazz/CVTQuiltShow2010. My big purple quilt and my pink "Summer" quilt are hanging on the Old Labor Hall's porch by the entrance. I entered the purple round robin quilt, which won the "Featured Quilter's Award," and my "3 Hannaford's Bags" tote won one of the "Challenge Awards."
Now it is time for evaluation and, I hope, passing the torch to someone else next year. I have a pile of stuff for that person(s) who I hope will shoulder most of the responsibility. It is time for Paul and me to move on to other activities. I am grateful for his help and that of son Chris who climbed many a ladder over three days and brother Axel who came from Wisconsin to help.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Snow?!?
Yesterday, while we were having lunch downtown, we looked outside Lucia's window and saw snow streaming down. 24 hours later, it is still snowing like mad, and we probably have 6-8 inches of wet slop on the grass, trees, and street. I went out this morning to knock snow off the lilac bush which has juicy buds on it. I hope it still blooms this year. The crabapple in the front yard presented a bigger problem. I tried to knock some snow off but the branches were frozen and a little fragile. I guess Barre Town is "higher elevation" because that's where the weather was predicted to be. Last night I drove down to the library and found no snow in the city at all.
The library program was fascinating and was part of a state-wide reading of Katherine Paterson's new Day of the Pelican. A panel of four refugees from Bosnia, Burma, Afghanistan, and Congo spoke about what caused them to leave their countries and what they faced when they came to Barre. After leaving their countries, all four made intermediate stops, some of them for many years, before coming here. Marijana from Bosnia told of their five years in a prison-turned-refugee-camp in Croatia. She, her mother, and three sisters lived in one tiny room (cell?). When they came to their host's house in Berlin, they were initially uncomfortable in the two large bedrooms they were to share. Htar Htar, from Burma, was most touched by the parenting she received since her parents are revolutionaries and very busy. Over the years, I have watched her grow into a very confident young woman.
The "Samosa Man" from Congo said that language was the biggest problem for him, but he has certainly overcome it in the 10 years he's been in the U.S. His business, started after he was laid off from his job, is burgeoning, and he's now talking with national chains like Whole Foods to be outlets for his yummy products. Ruhin from Afghanistan was an honor student at our high school, graduated magna cum laude from St. Michael's College, and plans to go to medical school and "give back" to the people of the U.S. All of their stories were incredibly touching, and we are lucky to have them in our community. They, too, reminded us of the value of this small community and its inherent good. It was a "feel-good" night.
The library program was fascinating and was part of a state-wide reading of Katherine Paterson's new Day of the Pelican. A panel of four refugees from Bosnia, Burma, Afghanistan, and Congo spoke about what caused them to leave their countries and what they faced when they came to Barre. After leaving their countries, all four made intermediate stops, some of them for many years, before coming here. Marijana from Bosnia told of their five years in a prison-turned-refugee-camp in Croatia. She, her mother, and three sisters lived in one tiny room (cell?). When they came to their host's house in Berlin, they were initially uncomfortable in the two large bedrooms they were to share. Htar Htar, from Burma, was most touched by the parenting she received since her parents are revolutionaries and very busy. Over the years, I have watched her grow into a very confident young woman.
The "Samosa Man" from Congo said that language was the biggest problem for him, but he has certainly overcome it in the 10 years he's been in the U.S. His business, started after he was laid off from his job, is burgeoning, and he's now talking with national chains like Whole Foods to be outlets for his yummy products. Ruhin from Afghanistan was an honor student at our high school, graduated magna cum laude from St. Michael's College, and plans to go to medical school and "give back" to the people of the U.S. All of their stories were incredibly touching, and we are lucky to have them in our community. They, too, reminded us of the value of this small community and its inherent good. It was a "feel-good" night.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
"Crunch time" is here
This year's Central Vermont Quilt Show is less than two weeks away, and things are pretty much on schedule. Yesterday, Laurette and I spent some time at Shaw's selling raffle tickets, and more are to be sold next weekend at Lenny's. Small quilts by guild members are going in at least 20 downtown merchants' windows by the 29th to publicize the show. We have a timetable for set up and take down, and a bunch of volunteers lined up.
As we wait for the Big Day, I am burning some nervous energy sewing. This past week, I made two small log cabin quilts in traditional blue and red, and Friday I put together a Project Linus quilt kit I'd had hanging around for six months. I need to get up to Joann's later today because I don't like the fabric the P.L. people put in for the border. It clashes terribly. But I hope to be finished by the end of the day. My newer sewing machine needs to be taken in for its annual service, but I'm afraid I might need it between now and the show.
I also discovered a great block of the month online ("In the Pink" - link at right) that I might get ready for. It has tulips and seems like just my style. Quilt therapy is just what I need right now.
As we wait for the Big Day, I am burning some nervous energy sewing. This past week, I made two small log cabin quilts in traditional blue and red, and Friday I put together a Project Linus quilt kit I'd had hanging around for six months. I need to get up to Joann's later today because I don't like the fabric the P.L. people put in for the border. It clashes terribly. But I hope to be finished by the end of the day. My newer sewing machine needs to be taken in for its annual service, but I'm afraid I might need it between now and the show.
I also discovered a great block of the month online ("In the Pink" - link at right) that I might get ready for. It has tulips and seems like just my style. Quilt therapy is just what I need right now.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Big purple quilt finished
I alw
ays love putting that last stitch in the binding, which is what happened this afternoon with "The Big Purple Quilt." Many of the fabrics came from my stash and from my Dear Jane Secret Pal. Some also came from a half-bolt I bought from Mary. I really like the combination of beige and purple in this. Quite a few blocks came from Quiltmaker's 100 blocks for 2010, and I especially enjoyed making the appliqued ones. I think samplers - Dear Jane, Sylvia's Bridal Sampler, and more - are my cup of tea. After the quilt show is over, I will get back to SBS, although I have been tempted by a number of magazines' patterns lately.
In the photo, above the bed is a round robin I did with an online group many years ago. I wasn't wild about the yellow when I got my Mariner's Compass back, but I have come to like it. Our first houseguest in our new house woke up at 2 am when it fell down on top of him
. Since we've put it back up - on the same nails (living dangerously) - it has behaved.
To the left of the bed are two counted cross-stitch pictures that my sister Jacqueline made. I like having all those nice things around me when I sew. My sewing room is also the guest room, and the first guests to sleep under the Big Purple Quilt will be some from England who are coming for Primo Maggio. It will be cozy.
ays love putting that last stitch in the binding, which is what happened this afternoon with "The Big Purple Quilt." Many of the fabrics came from my stash and from my Dear Jane Secret Pal. Some also came from a half-bolt I bought from Mary. I really like the combination of beige and purple in this. Quite a few blocks came from Quiltmaker's 100 blocks for 2010, and I especially enjoyed making the appliqued ones. I think samplers - Dear Jane, Sylvia's Bridal Sampler, and more - are my cup of tea. After the quilt show is over, I will get back to SBS, although I have been tempted by a number of magazines' patterns lately.In the photo, above the bed is a round robin I did with an online group many years ago. I wasn't wild about the yellow when I got my Mariner's Compass back, but I have come to like it. Our first houseguest in our new house woke up at 2 am when it fell down on top of him
. Since we've put it back up - on the same nails (living dangerously) - it has behaved.To the left of the bed are two counted cross-stitch pictures that my sister Jacqueline made. I like having all those nice things around me when I sew. My sewing room is also the guest room, and the first guests to sleep under the Big Purple Quilt will be some from England who are coming for Primo Maggio. It will be cozy.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
No time to post!
With the Central Vermont Quilt Show only a few weeks away, I am working steadily on all things quilt! Last week, Suzy and I visited featured quilter Kathie Alyce to discuss the layout of her area and look at candidates for her retrospective. I am pleased with what we came up with as it is more of an art exhibit that people can sit and enjoy. Kathie will have a vending table elsewhere near the other vendors.
I've also been making up the little ribbons using our show logo. Judy will come over and help me finish them the week before. Marilyn printed the logo on fabric which I cut and sewed in 4.5" x 4.5" squares. Now I'm writing on ribbon which we'll attach and then quilt the little squares. Writing on ribbon is hard because you have to find a pen that doesn't bleed.
I'm writing to all the entrants, getting an ad together for The World newspaper, and laying out the floor. Paula and I went up to the quilt show in St. Albans Sunday to scout around. I was pleased to see that their City Hall lighting was perhaps a little worse than ours at the Old Labor Hall. We're having a committee meeting today to discuss final details, and next week we'll be recruiting volunteers at the Heart of Vermont guild meeting.
The Calico County Quilters' wallhanging is ready to enter into the show and, afterwards, the Vermont Quilt Festival. (I signed up for two classes at VQF this year - can't wait!) Now I have to sew the sleeve onto my entry into the show.
Meanwhile, Paul is gearing up for Primo Maggio at the Old Labor Hall. He'll be going on "Across the Fence" sometime during the week of April 26, so I'll drive him and Karen over for the taping on Friday morning. Gave him a haircut yesterday and need to iron a shirt! The main speaker for the dinner April 30 is coming from England with his wife, and they'll be staying with us. I have a quilt I'm sewing the binding onto now and hope to have it done for them to sleep under.
I've also been making up the little ribbons using our show logo. Judy will come over and help me finish them the week before. Marilyn printed the logo on fabric which I cut and sewed in 4.5" x 4.5" squares. Now I'm writing on ribbon which we'll attach and then quilt the little squares. Writing on ribbon is hard because you have to find a pen that doesn't bleed.
I'm writing to all the entrants, getting an ad together for The World newspaper, and laying out the floor. Paula and I went up to the quilt show in St. Albans Sunday to scout around. I was pleased to see that their City Hall lighting was perhaps a little worse than ours at the Old Labor Hall. We're having a committee meeting today to discuss final details, and next week we'll be recruiting volunteers at the Heart of Vermont guild meeting.
The Calico County Quilters' wallhanging is ready to enter into the show and, afterwards, the Vermont Quilt Festival. (I signed up for two classes at VQF this year - can't wait!) Now I have to sew the sleeve onto my entry into the show.
Meanwhile, Paul is gearing up for Primo Maggio at the Old Labor Hall. He'll be going on "Across the Fence" sometime during the week of April 26, so I'll drive him and Karen over for the taping on Friday morning. Gave him a haircut yesterday and need to iron a shirt! The main speaker for the dinner April 30 is coming from England with his wife, and they'll be staying with us. I have a quilt I'm sewing the binding onto now and hope to have it done for them to sleep under.
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