Jim's Big Excitement.

I have a quilt show story to tell.

On the first day of the quilt show Jim was home from work for the day and he always likes to come and see the quilt show. So he arrived Friday - I gave him a little wave I a caught a glimpse of him paying to get in to the show. I was very busy the first day of the show. Some time later I saw him again coming out of the show -- with such excitement he grabs me and says "we were the inspiration for someone's quilt" I have no idea what he was talking about but he was so excited!! And he dragged me into the gym to show me the quilt....





I know this quilt - I have seen this quilt be created and quilted at a number of QBTB's and a couple of Bowen Island retreats.


And so I read the description. 



Jim was so excited!!    I told Jo Ann she totally made Jim's day!!  She was actually quite surprised that he had attended the quilt show - and completely impressed that no only did he look at the quilts but that he was actually reading the descriptions - which she thought was pretty good for a husband.  The cute thing was to see Jim so completely excited that he was an inspiration for a quilt.  And I must say that the work that Jo Ann did to quilt the fish on the quilt was amazing --- it is a HUGE quilt and she had this one little stencil that she used and just a regular sewing machine.... amazing... great job.  And thanks so much for making Jim's day!!!  He is still talking about it :)))

A Few Pictures from the Quilt show

I am going to post a few pictures I took at the show. I was so busy that I was never able to see the whole show at once.

This quilt is a wool BOM quilt that I am actually working on from Creative Edge -- I really love the setting of this quilt - the small squares of wool to outline each block -- fabulous!!  I have two blocks completed and I am working on my third block.  It certainly gives me motivation to finish!

I thought this quilt reminded me a bit of the Picasso Exhibit at the Met in New York.

This quilt is made by an elderly gentleman in our guild.   He spoke at our last meeting.  I think he started quilting when he was in his 70's and he designs his quilts on an Excel spreadsheet and then hand dyes silk and cotton to construct them.  It is amazing.He had a couple of quilts in the show - I really like the two moons and the colours in this quilt.

His description of the quilt.

Queen Elizabeth -- looking regal!

This quilt was really well done - it won a ribbon.  Our show is not a judged or juried show and we give a"Viewer's Choice" and" Member's Choice" Ribbons.

This quilt - the Sashiko was machine stitched -- amazing how perfect the machine sashiko stitching was.  Beautiful!!  And on the machine!

A fabulous and colourful New York Beauty -- on my "to do" list!

Beautiful sunflowers.  We had Ruth McDowell come one year and do some workshops - I never got a chance to read the description of these Sunflowers but I wonder if they were from her workshop.

This quilt was all about the endangered species that we have in the world and it has small images of the different endangered animals and a Tree of Life is quilted in the centre of the quilt.  Very well done.  I don't know if you can get a better look at it if you can enlarge the picture.


These next two quilts were great examples of  how to get a striking quilt with scraps and the shadow effect - I really like both of them.

I have a few more photos but that's all for this post.  Stay tuned!

The Lions Gate Quilters Guild Quilt Show

I have been very busy since I got back from New York with the Quilt Show.  I was the organizer of the Merchant's Mall.  This year we had a new venue and 17 merchants -- much larger than our previous shows.  For many years we would just have 5 merchants at our shows - last show we had about 9 merchants. This year I think we had a great selection of merchants. Quite a few of the merchants were from out of town - places we quilters from this area don't get to shop at very often.

A few pictures as I wandered around the room just as we were opening up on Friday morning.  Not great pictures and I didn't take that many as I was so busy!! 

There was Hamel's Fabrics from Chilliwack - they have been attending our shows from the beginning.  They have a very large online business and I love their prices - they have great sales - great kits and Pauline is wonderful to work with every time she comes. 

There was Quilters Dream Fabric which had beautiful batiks -- I spent a bit of money there!  This was her first year at our show. 

I had the room set up with merchants around the perimeter and then a short row of booths in the centre so it was easy to walk around.  It was just jam packed full of beautiful colours - fabric, beads, pattern, wool. 

Eileen Neill  Studio's from Vancouver Island.  Eileen sells beautiful beads and now she is selling little silk screening templates and will make templates from photo's that people send her.  We are going to get her to do a class on silk screening - it is really cool what she is doing with the silk screening.  I took a beading class from her one year and then spent tons of money on beads!! 

Hand dyed wool from Wool Penny Rugs -- hand dyed right here in my little area of the world!  Oh - and I spent a bit of money there as well!!  You have to support the merchants you know!!

A couple of shops from out of town were Katja's Quilt Shoppe  from Kamloops B.C.  Katja had a jam packed booth and lots of great fabric and kits. 



















And Di-Versity Quilt Shop from Pritchard B.C.  Both were great additions to our Merchant's Mall this year.



















Here is the Di-Veristy shop with another quilt shop owner having a look around - the merchant's really seemed to enjoy the weekend - even to the point of shopping at each others shops!!  Di-Versity had some really cool kits made up.  I can't seem to find a web page for them and they are quite off the beaten track in a little town that only has a gas station on the highway.
A local shop that we have in North Vancouver was there for the second year - great fabric from South Africa as well as great batiks and kits - plus some really cool Melly and Me patterns and stuff - Creative Edge Quilt Shop in North Vancouver -- can't seem to find a web page for that shop either. 

There were a few other shops from out of town that I didn't get pictures of but were really great to have at the show. 

Aldersprings Design from Gibsons B.C

Carola's Quilt Shop from Gibsons B.C

The Quilted Bear from Ladner B.C

Victorian Cottage Treasures from Creston B.C

Stitches from Salt Spring Island B.C  

 Classic Stitch from Surrey B.C


I hope you enjoy the virtual Merchant's Mall -- I'm going to go make some coffee now and get my purchases out of the trunk of the car and see what it is I actually bought - and  hide it all  mix it  in with the rest of my fabric before Jim gets home from work!!!  LOL  

Finally a post about the fabric I brought back from New York

First here is a picture of the Statue of Liberty from the plane!!  We never did get to the Statue of Liberty -- but that is okay because we will go next time!! And there will TOTALLY be a next time!!  I am in love with New York -- although I knew I would be before I even left.  I have always wanted to go there and it lived up to all my expectations and then some.  I must have been a New Yorker in a previous life!!







I did buy fabric -- of course, what else would a true "Fabric Collector" do in New York.



I went to The City Quilter and bought some New York themed fabric.  I bought a couple of yards of these two fabrics for myself - I bought a few fat quarters of various prints to cut up and give to my Friday stitch group ladies as well. My favourite New York fabric is the blue city scape fabric - the colours are really lovely in real life.  I have no idea yet what I will do with it. 






I bought this 1/2 yard bundle from the Purl Bee in Soho. I really loved the little owls and the purple fabric in the bundle - and good price for the shop - which was a little more expensive but was a very cute little shop.   I would have loved to get a little bit of Liberty of London fabric - which they had a fabulous selection.  At $35.00 a yard -- or a nice little bundle of 6 fat quarter for $95.00 it was a little too rich for my fabric collection --- now maybe if I was in London.......




I bought this little mini panel from the City Quilter.  They had larger panels as well but this will be just the perfect size for some little New York project -- with my New York fabric....... maybe I need to make a New York Beauty!!  Or maybe I just need to add it to my collection.  Pretty soon I may need some new Ikea shelves.







I bought this fabric for Andrew's girlfriend - Anri.  I gave it to her last weekend,  she loved it.  Neither of us know for sure what she will do with it but you certainly can't find this fabric in Vancouver.  I bought it the first day we wandered in to the City Quilter and by the time I went back a few days later they were all sold out of all yardage and just had a few fat quarters of the Peace/Love fabric.  I bought her 1 1/2 yards of each - I thought she could make a bag or something, the pattern is quite large.  It is definitely pretty cool fabric.

I have been busy since I got home -- first thing I had to do is work a couple of night shifts!  And I have been busy with the Lions Gate Quilters Guild Quilt Show which is June 11th and 12th.  I am in charge of the Merchant's Mall --- good plan to put the "Fabric Collector" in charge of the Merchant's Mall!!!!  I have organized a fabulous bunch of merchants - I think...... It will be our biggest Merchant's Mall ever -- 15 Merchants - most of them from outside of the Vancouver area.  So if you live in the Vancouver area please come to the Quilt Show  --  June 11th and 12th at the Delbrook Rec Centre in North Vancouver -- 600 Queens Road - it will be a great show!!  There is more information and a map to the show on the website so  just click on the above link. 

Happy stitching!

The New York Yankees

We went to the baseball game last night.  This is the view from our seats!!
It was great fun -- I had a hard time choosing who to cheer for - The Yankee's  or the Twins......

A local boy from Vancouver area plays for the Minnesota Twins ---- Yah Justin!!!



Here he is up to bat --- gets a good hit and bats a runner in to score ---- 4 - 3 Twins.....Yah Justin!!!



Up to bat Alex Rodirguez --- hits a Grand Slam -- 7 - 4 Yankees .... Yah Alex!!!



That was pretty much the end of the game - but the Yankees scored one more run and we left the stadium along with the thousands and thousands of people.  What a blast!!

Good luck to the Twins for the games today --- we are off to the 9th Ave. Food Festival....

New York just keeps on getting better

We have been quite busy the past couple of days.  We wandered around Soho and the Lower East Side yesterday.  Lots of walking again.





In Soho I was able to go into The Purl Wool and Quilt shop.  They have a new shop which has both the wool and fabric - instead of the two separate shops.  Cute little shop - and I did buy myself a lovely little bundle of fabric.  I was coveting the Liberty fabrics the shop has there -- but a small stack of Liberty Fat Quarters was $95.00!!  A little too much for me!


I did take a couple of pictures of the new shop - a long and narrow space - full of colour!


We also wandered into the Lower East side and we had a Pastrami Sandwich at Katz's deli.. Now that was an experience!!  This is the deli that was in the movie - "When Harry Met Sally"  It was frantic and crowded and the sandwich was fabulous - a bit pricey - but the people watching was worth the price of the sandwich and the pickles were to die for!



After a busy day walking for another 6 hours - which seems to be our daily average - we came back to the apartment - had a little rest - I snoozed and snored - until 5 PM.  We then hopped on the Subway for a quick trip to Times Square and got Theatre tickets for the Broadway play "Race"  with James Spader - who I love!!  The play was great - James Spader was fabulous and we had wonderful seats - and we just missed the "package left in Times Square" incident by a few minutes.

This morning we headed out early to spend the morning at the American Museum of Natural History. 



It is HUGE -  5 Floors!!  We saw as much as we could - I think you have to be selective there because you could never see it all in one visit -- hmmmm - I guess we will have to come back to New York!

Then -- It was off to see the David Letterman Show -- How fun was that!!



The guests were Micheal Keaton and Jenna Fischer from "The Office"  Micheal Keaton was a real hoot!! What a once in a life time experience - I was so surprised that we got tickets.  Another great day - I think we are starting to get tired though.................................

The Friendly Giant --- Look Up - Way Up........

Day Two in the Big Apple

Today was the day to head "Uptown".  First thing though we went off to Joe -The Art of Coffee   - definitely worth the stop.

Then we headed to the Subway to get our Metro Card and the subway map -- next stop - north bound to Time Square.....
Except......as I studied the map on route -- Jim announced -- just as the subway was leaving a station -- "This stop is 42nd Street and Time Square....... so... we waited for the next stop!



We got off at 50th Str. - so this is the first photo of Uptown.. we then got back on the subway - south bound to Time Square.

Getting out at Time Square station -- we came out from underground and had no idea where Time Square actually was!  What we were looking for was the Ticket booth - that sold the same day Broadway show tickets....

What we found was Bryant Park...... which was lovely...



We wandered around Bryant park -- me following behind.  As you can see up on the right there was a living art display taking place - it was called "Walk the Walk"

Bryant Park is a very pretty little park - very close to Time Square!  And well known to all of us who watch "Project Runway"

We did eventually find Time Square - and the Ticket booth.  As you can see from the pictures Time Square was teaming with people on a beautiful sunny day.  Heaven knows how we missed it!



Next we headed out to find Rockefeller Center -- that seemed almost as difficult!  We did manage to first find Radio City Music Hall.



Finally after more wandering we found what we were looking for -  Rockefeller Center.









Look up......Way up..... and I'll call Rusty!!  I think only Canadians will know what that means -LOL



We decide to take a tour to the "Top of the Rock"  Fabulous! Fantastic!  Amazing!!







Don't we just look like a couple of tourists!! 

I took 172 pictures today - we walked from 11 AM until 5 PM - not quite as far as yesterday.  We had another wonderful dinner in Greenwich Village and now for some big news.....
We got tickets to go see David Letterman on Wednesday!!!  Totally Cool!!!

We have decided we are going to be staying - maybe we will head back to Vancouver for Christmas..........

New York City!!

We have arrived in the Big Apple!!



Our first view of the city as we are in the taxi.  We came in to New York through the Holland Tunnel. It is a very long tunnel under the Hudson River. Quite cool!!  Everything is New York is something you've heard of before on TV or in the movies... driving through Jersey City - the New Jersey Turnpike -- I kept thinking of The Soprano's all the way from the airport -LOL

We have a very cute little place to stay in a very "happening" part of the city.
Greenwich Village is full of great little restaurants and old building and thousands of people.  The building that was on the show "Sex and the City" is just around the corner.  The coffee shop from "Friends" is near by.  So far we have been out to dinner in two very good restaurants - and I think we could go to a new restaurant every day for 6 months - that is how many there are in walking distance from where we are staying.



Jim in our new little home away from home..... or maybe our new home!!  I think it will be hard to leave!



The view across the street from our apartment.  Apparently the building across the street was once owned and occupied by Mick and Bianca Jagger.  





This is the building where we are staying. 


We have been walking all day today.  We left early this morning and walked down 14th Street to the High Line Park which runs above the street along the Hudson River.  It is a new walkway that is being developed from an old, unused train track.   It is still under construction but about a mile and a half are completed for walking.  It is a very interesting walk and we really enjoyed the sites from above the street level.



This is part of the walk - it doesn't look like it is above the street but it really is. There are plants growing "wild" through the old train tracks.

The Hudson River.




A few of the street from the walkway. 



I always seem to be following behind Jim - because I am always stopping to take pictures - and then most of my pictures end up being pictures of Jim - walking up ahead!!



After walking west to the Hudson River we headed back to the Greenwich area and then started walking north - we walked up to Washington Square park and then up 5th Ave. 



We walked and walked.....



We walked all the way up 5th Ave from 4th Street to 25th Street -- where I "remembered" that The City Quilter was on 25th street - between 6th and 7th Ave -- could you believe we were so close!! 



Jim thought that they might not be open on Sunday..........



So we walked and shopped........Now that was a good day!!