Archive for September, 2016

Rockville Centre/Freeport, Long Island, NY and Book Review

Sunday, September 25th, 2016

I love Long Island, New York…especially in the fall. This past week, I was so happy to return and spend three days with the Long Island Quilter’s Society. To learn more about the guild and their programs visit http://www.liqs.org

Here are some of the happy members just before my lecture….

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and then at a workshop.

 

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Joyce Fischer stopped by to share her finished Kansas Rose project. I love, love, love the fabric choices. Joyce added a little, covered cording before her binding for some added fun.  Well done Joyce!

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Many of the communities on Long Island have fabulous community centers.  The lecture and workshops were held in some of these community centers.  The Freeport Community Center had a great mural of some of its famous residents.

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Jones Beach, located close by, is beautiful.  I am certain it is packed during the summer months.

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There are large, beautifully designed and constructed bathhouses every mile.

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Also, in the fall, the State of New York hires a bunch of Canadians to man the beach parking lot toll booths.

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Many of you may remember my stories of Margaret and Frank Senft, the older couple who always helped keep all my class packets in order. As you may know, Margaret passed away at age 91 in 2015. Frank, now 97, is still going strong. Frank’s church will be honoring veterans for their service this November and asked for info on Frank. Frank was an original Boggie-Woogie Bugle Boy during World War Two, serving in the Army’s Concert Band. I had to share this great photo. Thank you, Frank, for your service.

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BOOK REVIEW

 

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Bullseye is James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge’s newest thriller and the latest entry in the Michael Bennett series. I like his character development and want to read more about the Bennett household. Bennett is a detective with the NYPD and helps foil an assassination attempt on the President. Bennett won’t stop until he can find the assassin but fails to see some strange happenings at home with his son.

 

I am off to Michigan Tuesday.  Until next week…..

 

 

 

 

 

Westminster, MD and Williamsport, PA

Saturday, September 17th, 2016

This past week I lectured in Westminster, MD to the Everybody’s Quilt Guild.  Here we are right before the start of the lecture.

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I’m going back in November to teach a workshop.  See you later ladies….

Then I went to the Williamsport, PA area to lecture and do a workshop for the Susquehanna Valley Quilt Guild. What a wonderful group of quilters. Learn more about them by visiting http://susqvalleyquilters.org/home.html

Here are some of their happy faces during the applique workshop.

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The guild meets at a church in the colonial town of Pennsdale, PA directly across the street from the Country Store/Post Office.

 

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I loved the Church’s sign!

 

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Here are just a few more of the many wonderful buildings and barns in the town.

 

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The Quaker Meeting House was built in 1779.

 

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It’s ancient, walled cemetery has many veterans interred there, including a revolutionary soldier.

 

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As usual, while I was teaching, Joe was tasting the culinary delights of nearby Montoursville.

 

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We were home for one day and headed back to Maryland: Gaithersburg to lecture for the Friendship Star Guild and on to Catonsville/Ellicott City for the Village Quilters Guild.

I enjoyed my time with both of these guilds. I have been their guest on  previous occasions. Always love to be asked back. I was so busy I forgot to take photos while at these guilds.

At Friendship Star Guild, I arrived a bit early so I could visit and spend the early evening before my lecture with some friends from the guild chatting and sharing stories. To learn more about this great guild visit http://friendshipstar.org/

If you live closer to Baltimore and Catonsville, you must join the fabulously talented and sharing ladies of the Village Quilters. http://villagequiltersmd.com/

Two members of the Village Quilters guild shared their finished “Garden Medley” projects.  These were started when I visited the guild a couple of years ago.  Great Job ladies!!

Barbara Austin

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and Cindy McIntyre

 

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Well done.

We returned home Thursday night and Saturday afternoon I am heading out to Long Island, NY.

Until next week….

Normal/Bloomington, Illinois

Tuesday, September 6th, 2016

I just returned from a delightful visit to teach for the Hands All Around Quilt Guild of Central, Illinois. Jenny, Linda and Debi were the program chairwomen and they were simply the best! To learn more about the guild and a great line up of programs visit http://haaqg.tripod.com/

Here are the ladies waiting for my lecture….

 

 

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The guild is fortunate to have the minister’s wife of the Normal Mennonite Church among its members. The Church and all its staff are wonderful. The striking thing from my perspective were the many large quilt blocks adorning the walls of the church.

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After asking about the blocks, which were approximately 32 inches square, I learned that Susan Schrag and her husband, Pastor Tim Schrag, collaborated on the blocks. She would make a block and her husband would deliver a sermon on that topic. Amazing! Here are some close ups of a few blocks:

 

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There were 17 blocks in all and I am certain Susan and Pastor Tim are working on a new block/sermon.

While I was teaching, the guild members were diligently working.

 

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Joe was out touring Bloomington and chatting with new friends: Four score and seven quilts ago….

 

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The Normal/Bloomington Illinois area is home to two universities (Illinois State and Illinois Wesleyan) and also boasts ten art galleries. Our favorite gallery is located at 300 East Grove Street in Bloomington. It is in a converted Studebaker car dealership with public displays on the first floor and individual artist studios on the second level. Represented in the gallery were the paintings of Ken Holder, the glass art of Michael Amis and  the sculpted furniture of Amanda Pierce and Melanie Hunter. Awesome!! If you are in the area it is a must visit.

 

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Arrived home late last evening and awoke this morning to the tapping at my back door.

 

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Yikes!!! The babies are now full grown! And, no you may not come in!!  The vultures have never come this close to the back door before this summer.  As soon as they see us move inside the house, they move out into the yard.