Tuesday Crazies!!!

We had a great day today.....lovely weather, good lunch, show 'n tell, and lots of laughter. Our little group hasn't met since last October so we had lots to catch up on. I would tell you all about it but I'm tired tonight and lots to do for tomorrow's class, then Thursday's program. I'll share the laughs and the quilts as soon as I can but I thought I'd give you a preview from our "show 'n tell"................
This is Pandora with her "almost finished" Kaffe Fasset quilt which can be found in his book "Museum Quilts". Isn't this loverly?!!! I love the fabrics and the design. All that is left to do on the quilt is to stitch the binding in place. This quilt is one of many that will be on display at Pandora's "Quilts in Bloom" show on June 12th (Hopkins, MN). I'll have more info on that in a future post and I'll have more "Tuesday Crazies" fun to share in my next post. :-)
Have a good day!
Sandi

The final day of "Quilts in Bloom".......

As you have seen in the photos from Pandora's "Quilts in Bloom" show, she has beautiful gardens!! While I have mentioned that she has a "green thumb", it takes more than that to take care of all her lovely flora and fauna. :-) You can see her watering the plants "just right".........
She tends them so carefully, just like she does her family, her friends, and her two dogs. She had this wonderful idea to open up her yard and use it to raise funds so that others could be cared for and I think that is just lovely. I know, as do my quilting friends, that she is a treasure!

I had to take a picture of these lovely pink flowers as they reminded me of a little bush called "Flowering Almond" that grew outside our dining room window when I was a kid.

And this one made me think of an umbrella!

In addition to quilts on display, there was also a beautiful selection of original artwork.

I had wandered around in the backyard amongst the quilts for more almost two hours. Everytime I turned around, something new caught my eye. The quilts in these two photos, one above and one below, were all hung across the front yard.

And my favorite among them, is "Midnight Garden" on the left in the photo above. Pandora made this one, but friends Sue and Kate have also made it. I have started block one of this quilt but I reduced all the patterns so that I can make it in miniature.

That's the end of the quilts.......but I made one last stop at the table with all the jewelry. It was all just so lovely!

So, I promised that I would have info for you on the date for 2010 and here it is.....

"Quilts In Bloom"

June 12, 2010

9 AM-3 PM

Hopkins, MN

To see the video that has been prepared for this event just click here . Quilts in the background of the video are from the 2008 event.

I have really enjoyed sharing these photos! I was reminded what a lovely event it was and how it helped others. I think it even helped some of you get through this wintery weather. I know that it helped me to get through this very cold gloomy week. Tomorrow our temps are going to rise into the 30's and there will be sun!! Spring is coming, I just know it!!

Have a good weekend!

Sandi

Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy.....

Can you hear John Denver singing that line? Well, there was warm sunshine on everyone's shoulders during the day-long "Quilts in Bloom" event last June. If you are somewhere where it is cold and snowing, just think of that as you view more pictures from Pandora's garden......



You may remember that I noted in yesterday's post that Pandora and Crew strung clotheslines across her backyard to hang the quilts. And I said they used her real clothesline, too........and here it is in the photo above. Beautiful quilts lined both sides of the clothesline and at the end is one of my favorites...........

It's a snowman block of the month stitched and quilted by our friend, Sue.

Here's a view of the quilts on the other side of the clothesline.

And another pic of Pandora and Sue in front a very colorful quilt that just says "SUMMER"!

Snowmen quilts were allowed because they weren't real. LOL! Seriously, this is Minnesota where summer lasts only three months and winter lasts forever.....especially this year! Our friend, Kate, made this Redwork snowman quilt.

More quilts hanging on the line, blowing in the breeze. Sue made the star quilt and another friend, Carol, made the red and white quilt.

I loved these two quilts. The dresses quilt reminds me of my eighth grade graduation dress. Ah, memories..........

Just look at this idealic scene........ sunshine, quilts blowing in the wind, treats, beautiful music playing in the background, friends, gorgeous garden............I am soaking up the warmth just thinking about it!
Here's a close-up of the mosaic glass frames that decorate a spot in Pandora's garden. I want to try this in my garden.......that is when we finally plant a garden and some flowers. :-)

That's all for this time. I have just a few more photos to share in my next post and then this weeklong visit to Pandora's garden ends.

Have a good day!

Sandi

You'll find no snow here......just more "Quilts in Bloom"!!

There may be snow outside your windows in many parts of the country but there is no snow in these pictures! Just imagine yourself here in Pandora's garden with the warmth of the sun and lots of colorful quilts to make you smile. And there is music playing!! Yes, Pat asked if there was someone that played music and the answer was "yes". This is Lisa at the keyboard and she plays so beautifully. She even did a request for me as I wanted to hear "Clair de Lune" and she very kindly obliged me. There was also a woman playing the violin earlier in the day. Truly, this is just a wonderful event!

I love that dragonfly quilt in the photo above (don't know who made it). I made the little quilt above that one. It's a Country Threads pattern and the words above the garden angels hat say....."I bring fresh showers for thirsting flowers". Thankfully there were no showers on this day.

I took pictures from different angles so this photo above is another view of the fence.......

and this view is along the back of the yard, just after you pass the fairy bridge. :-)

And here's another view of the purple quilt I liked so much. I love "Trip Around the World" quilts. Back in the 1980's I took my stash - at the time it was much smaller than it is now :-) - and I made six different, very colorful "Trip Around the World" quilts. Actually, I can't really call them quilts, as I made the quilt tops and then tied them so they weren't actually quilted. They worked quite well to keep one warm, though. :-)

Now this quilt is just awesome, wouldn't you say?!! It is definitely a work of art!

This one just made me smile because it's so bright and cheery!

Tucked in among her garden plants, Pandora has added some "garden works of art"........

If you double click on this photo above, you will see that the frames are done in a glass mosaic design. And the ones in the photo below are decorated with seashells that Pandora collects. It's just like the flowers are "framed" by the seashells!

Here's another unique way to display shells..........very clever, isn't it?!!Pandora and crew hang clotheslines across her backyard for hanging the quilts. And they use her clothesline, too, and those pics will come in the next post .

Our friend, Sue, is on the left and is chatting with friends and visitors. Sue helped Pandora set up along with lots of other helpers. Sue made the star quilt on the left and also the "One Block Wonder"quilt that is right next to it. The One-block Wonder quilts are from a book by Maxine Rosenthal. Our "Tuesday Crazies" group got together and we all cut out a quilt. Sue, Pandora and Carol finished their quilts. There are a couple of us with "one block wonders in progress".

:-) The fun thing about these quilts is that you use one fabric and then by following the instructions you find the pattern repeat and cut your shops and then sew it together. That sounds easy but it's not quite that easy. The results are quite stunning.

I have two more posts worth of pictures to share. I like stretching this out as it has been a gloomy cold week here. All I have to do is look at that sun glimmering on the green grass in that photo above and I can feel the warmth. Oh, spring, please come soon.............

All for now.

Sandi

More "Quilts in Bloom!"

I am glad that so many of you are enjoying this visit to Pandora's backyard garden. Some of you may live close enough to attend the event this coming June. When I finish posting the photos from last summer's event, I will give you the info for the "Quilts in Bloom" event for this June. Pandora is also happy that you are enjoying this little diversion from the cold weather. :-)
So here we go.....more quilts.............
Our friend, Sue, made this darling Monkey quilt and the sock monkey in a swing. Too cute, isn't it?!!

I mentioned yesterday that Pandora has a green thumb. Her backyard garden is beautiful and the plants inside her house are, too. I have almost no green thumb so this is heaven on earth when you are in her backyard!
Quilts lined the fence...........

and sometimes there were critters among the plants, too..........

You will see lots of big quilts in the next two posts, but my favorite quilts were these delightful little miniature quilts set among a miniature country scene in a corner of Pandora's garden. You can double-click on any of these photos for close-up views.

I think that little fairies must live in this garden. Can't you see them having a party here?

I can see the fairies dancing across this bridge........

and here's another view of the little quilts corner............

I decided to include a couple of large quilts for you and these were two of my favorites.......

This is a "One Block Wonder" quilt in the photo above and next to it was this beautiful applique quilt.

Everywhere you looked, there were quilts..........even on the trees!

Isn't that purple quilt gorgeous? And look at that green grass and all that bright sunshine!! Soon spring will come. In the meantime, keep sewing and I'll be back tomorrow with more quilts from Pandora's "Quilts in Bloom" show.

Have a good day!

Sandi

We interrupt the winter blahs and bring you.........

"Quilts in Bloom"

Some of you may remember that last summer, I told you I would post photos of the quilt show that my friend Pandora hosted in her back yard. It was a fundraiser with all monies going to help abondoned African children. I never posted the photos as the day after I took these pictures, I suffered a herniated disc and back pain issues consumed me most of the summer. However, it was a lovely day at the quilt show and thoughts of it made me think that it was high time I shared these photos. There is more winter weather in the forecast for our area.......snow flurries and temps in the teens and twenties, but I am in serious need of some summer sun! You will see lots of it in these photos. The day was so beautiful that you will almost be able to feel the sun's warmth as you walk through Pandora's garden and view all the gorgeous quilts and flowers. Let the tour begin.........

When I arrived and parked my car, I saw this and said "oh, my!"
I paid my admission and entered "Quilts in Bloom".........
but I stopped first to say HI to Pandora and bring her a little gift of flower seeds in a planter. She has a green thumb and a sewing thumb. :-) She made many of the quilts on display and friends shared the rest.

There were so many beautiful quilts. I loved this one and seeing it hanging in mid-air with that blue sky in the background was awesome!

Pandora encouraged us to bring "garden/floral themed" projects. This one is like a garden in itself!

The path through the quilts took me past a few tables with lovely jewelry, scarves, and artwork. I found a lovely little bead bracelet that called my name that day. :-)

Quilts were tucked in everywhere. This one looked like it grew right along the fence!

Aren't Pandora's flowers beeeeeeeautiful?!!

I loved these so much, I took two pictures!

As you came around the corner into the backyard, there was a little "treat tent". I stopped for goodies, of course. :-) One of the items that I shared is the penny rug (a Ginger Sanchez design) hanging on the iron display rack.

Don't think this is the end.........oh, no, there are enough photos to share for the next four days. I'm going to spread it out so you will have something to look forward to! If winter must hang on outside, I will at least enjoy some sun and quilts via the computer. Have a good day ahead!

Sandi

Quilts in Bloom!

My friend Pandora is hosting an outdoor quilt event in her backyard this Saturday. If you are anywhere near the Twin Cities and need something to do, this is the thing to do. Her gardens are beautiful and so are the quilts she gathers to share.

Many of the quilts are made by Pandora but others share their quilts and needlework items, too, and then they are hung from clotheslines and along the fence and all around her yard! I shared some penny rugs and when our friend, Sue, was here for my birthday, she showed us a couple of quilts that she will be sharing.

I love this scrappy quilt and it is even prettier when you see it in person! I think it is a Darlene Zimmerman pattern.

Then there is this gorgeous quilt that is a combination of wool and cotton. The blocks are black wool and the flowers are also wool. The green patchwork is cotton. I believe it's called Midnight Garden and I will have to check and find out for sure because I know some of you are going to want to know!

Some of you have asked about the quilt in the new photo in my blog header. It is another unfinished quilt top that was purchased at auction by my dad and mother. Based on the fabrics in the quilt top, I believe it could be anywhere from 1930 to 1950. Lovely, isn't it?

Time to relax and do some reading before I go to sleep........

Sandi