Thursday, November 7, 2013

Houston International Quilt Festival 2013

What an awesome weekend this was.  Let me just start with the fact that I normally work Friday, Saturday and Sunday every week.  I am in the medical field so those are 12 hour shifts.  I never get to go out on Friday or Saturday nights for obvious reasons. But the weekend of the Houston International Quilt Festival is something special.  I happens to coincide with the Lone Star Bike Rally each year.  So I requested to be off for this last weekend 3 months in advance.  I look forward to this specific weekend all year long.  It is the one weekend that my hubby and I share both our interest with each other and spend the whole time together, without children. That never happens either.

We started out the weekend in Galveston at the Lone Star Bike Rally.  I just love looking at all the custom motorcycles, listening to some good country and rock music, and having a nice ice cold beer or two or three.  This year we meet up with two of my brother-in-laws and my sister-in-law.  We had such a great time and also saw some old friends we had not seen in several years. 

 
 
 
 
 

 
 
Now onto Quilt Festival. It was awesome, and awe inspiring.  The talent shown at the Houston International Quilt Festival is just amazing.  I can only dream of having a quarter of the talent these quilters have.  I also met a couple of the lovely ladies that I follow on Instagram including Cristy Fincher (cristycreates) of Sewmuchlikemom.com , Mary Williams (maquilts1), and Heather Grant (monderndayquilts).  They were all so sweet and I look forward to seeing them again at other quilting events. 
 
I hope that next year I will be able to attend Quilt Market instead of Festival, if I ever get my business going.  Right now that only includes selling to my co-workers.  They sure make a girl feel awesome and loved.  It's always nice when other want to buy things you make. So while I work on my skills, let me show you some of the gorgeous quilts.
 
Alice's Kitchen by Miki Murakami
 
The Great Barrier Reef by Miki Murakami
 
 Believe II by Reiko Nobata
 
Jack by Sandy Curran
 
Together in a Friendship World by
Geta Grama and Quilt.Ro Group
 
It's All About the Journey by
Tonya Littmann
 
Masquerade by Birgit Schueller
 
 
And The Flag Was Still There by Rob Appell
 
Sushi Surprise (place setting quilt)
 
These are just a drop in the bucket of all the quilts in the show.  As you can tell, my eye is really drawn toward the modern art quilts.  I just love the creativity of these quilts and can only dream of ever being this talented. 
 
 And now a little share of what I have been working on.  I am working on a baby quilt that I am designing.  I just need to grab some more of the green paisley print from the Scrumptious line by Bonnie and Camille to finish the top and bottom borders.  I'm thinking of using one of the larger floral prints for the backing and doing a scrappy binding.  I am working on writing up the pattern to sell.  Please let me know what you think about it.
 
 

 
Then I used some of my scraps to make these Christmas ornaments.  I think I am going to add some white or iridescent glitter and either a bow or some feather boa trim to the tops.

 
I also made this cute little Hang It Charge It phone sleeve.  I thought what an awesome idea.  These are meant to be used when you have a plug but no table to set the phone on.  Now it doesn't have to lay on the floor where someone might step on it.
 
 
And one more zipper pouch made for a customer.  Don't you just love the fussy cut in the front?
 

Well that was my weekend.  It was great.  I can't wait to get to do it all again next year! Have a crafty kind of day!


Linking up to:
 

 



http://tgiffriday.blogspot.com/

http://prettybobbins.com/


 
 

 

4 comments:

  1. I love the baby quilt you are working on. Such an original design.

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  2. So many great finishes - love that "Hang It Charge It!"

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  3. Could I ask, did you use a tutorial for your bulbs? they're just lovely! I'd really love to make a tree skirt and matching bulbs like that from my scraps.

    PS, your quilt is beautiful!

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  4. Thanks so much for sharing your fun weekend! Sounds like BLISS! We never spend time without the kids either and I like the idea of a weekend just for us and our hobbies. Might have to suggest that to the hubby... Stunning quilts, I'd love to visit the Festival one day! Looking forward to seeing the baby quilt finished, it's lovely! Thanks for linking up :)

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