Last year I was in an International Applique Round Robin and one of the gals wanted Halloween themed blocks. These are two that I finished while in Florida in February and gave her just before her March birthday. The cat is all needle turn applique and the pumpkin queen is machine appliqued.

Florida Quilt Show

While in Panama City Beach we attended the Quilt Show put on by the St. Andrew's Guild. It's a smaller show, but with lovely work. I noticed how much lovely hand applique and hand quilting was on exhibit. Most of the shows I attend have more pieced quilts with longarm quilting. I'm thinking it's because Panama City area has more retires and they have more time than those of us who are still working and trying to get quilts done quickly. I've posted pictures here of the one Wayne & I both voted for as Best of Show. It didn't win Best of Show, but was made by the gal who made the Best of Show quilt (it was a Vintage Moments quilt of 30's repros). This was another activity we enjoyed on a rainy day in Florida. After the show we went to Quilting By the Bay Quilt Shop. If you are ever in the area, do stop there. It's a lovely setting and loaded with all sorts of patterns, fabrics and the best selection of notions I've ever seen in a quilt shop. I did help the economy of Panama City just a little that day!

February Vacation

Our trip began on a Saturday in mid-February as we drove to Florida stopping the first night in Illinois. Sunday, Feb. 9 we drove to Paducah, Kentucky and experienced the devastation of the wind storms that moved through that area two weeks before. On Monday, Feb. 10 we visited the Museum of the American Quilt Society. Wayne had not been there before, but this was my third visit. The exhibits at the time included wonderful miniature quilt. I especially liked the whole cloth quilts. They were magnificent. From there we drove to Franklin, Tennessee to have lunch with my cousin and his wife. On Tuesday we visited the Motorsports Hall of Fame at Taledaga Speedway in Alabama. We also toured the track. It is an experience to see the cars that have raced there and actually be at the track. We both enjoyed this visit. From here we drove to Panama City Beach, Florida where we spent 9 days. It was our first stay in the panhandle area of Florida. We need something warmer as a spot to spend our winters! It was just too cool and windy while we were there. But we enjoyed the time away and seeing another area we had never been to before.

Friends invited us to visit them at their winter home at Port St. Joe, Florida, for the day and that was terrific. The walk on the peaceful beach was lovely. It was the best day of our trip.

Another day trip we took was to Pennsicola, Florida, to the Naval Aviation Museum. I was very emotionally stirred thinking of the events that happened when certain planes were in use. The wedding of my paternal grandparents was one event that brought tears to my eyes. A reaction I didn't expect to have. Walking through the submarine exhibit also struck me. They had the photography studio set up. My dad wasn't stationed on a submarine, but he did work in the Army Air Core as a photographer so the equipment was probably very similar. I came out thinking I needed to watch the movie, Pearl Harbor, with a new appreciation of what the people went through at that time.

HeartStrings Winter Quilt

Here's a winter scene quilt from the August 2008 WI/MN Sew-in. At that time it was suggested that this be completed and given to a nursing home. I did complete it, but when my friend, T, requested a quilt for a heart baby I gave her this for the baby's mom. We have had so much "winter" this year. Lots of snow and very cold weather. I thought the mom needed something to warm her too.

I did give T a quilt for the baby too! It's the pink/yellow/pastel one.

Knitting for Others and for Me

It's time to start knitting again. Lots of quilting to do too, but knitting has said it's time to get going and make those needles smoke. A friend wrote this week that she's had surgery and will be having chemo and radiation. This is a recurrence of cancer for her and this time she will lose her hair. We've emailed about scarves, hats, wigs. She's thinking hats are the choice for her. I'm thinking knitting her a couple of hats is the thing for me to do. So I've started a black one and have a pink fuzzy one waiting to be knit. They should go quick so she'll have them in hand before the hair leaves too much. I think that might be a good idea. Then she can wear them as time goes on and some people may not realize she's lost her hair later on. I also need to look for some cooler summer looks and yarns for later in spring and into summer. It isn't much to do for a sick friend, but it does let them know each time they wear the hat that you are thinking about them. I'm thinking just two hats may not be enough for J.

For me it's time to knit a shawl. I'm using a wool/mohair/alpaca/acrylic blend that's a muted grey/lavendar that will blend with many things. It's a pattern from the Prayer Shawl book on my Shelfari shelf. All garter stitch which is easy knitting. Should be easy to knit and visit and think and dream at the same time.

Table Toppers for Brenda

These are the three table toppers I gave my boss and friend, Brenda, for Christmas. She has a round dining table and wanted something to fit it. She also wanted reversible table toppers so she had less to store, but toppers appropriate for a couple of holidays/occasions. As you can see she now has Christmas and Halloween covered. The round one has a navy backing with white stars so it will work for Memorial Day, Labor Day, 4th of July and any other patriotic holidays. All are machine pieced and machine quilted by me. The round one is great for fussy cutting print fabrics.

Brian & Tina's Christmas present

This is the quilt that we gave our son & daughter-in-law for Christmas 2008. It was a BOM at our local quilt shop in 2006 and called Nickel Bucks a Block. My good friend Rhonda of Windy Hill Cottage, longarm machine quilted it for me. She did free hand feathers and it looks wonderful. I'm so grateful for her friendship and her talent.