Karen Kay Buckley

In the bed quilts-hand quilted category the Japanese quilts made a clean sweep.  The designs were eye-catching and the workmanship was impeccable.  The quilt below is called Flowers in Aqa and was made by Kumiko Funaki.

Second place in the same category was made by Hatsune Hirano and the name of her quilt is Harmony.

Oh, I loved this quilt too.  It was also a Japanese quilter who made this quilt.  The category she entered was for those who take the plunge and enter the First Entry Into the AQS Quilt Contest. The name of this quilt is Istanbul’s Flower and the maker is Hisae Abe.  The hand quilting on this was amazing.  Just to clarify…this is not her first quilt.  It is the first time she has entered this AQS show.  Just imagine what her next quilt will look like.

Second place in the same category was awarded to Taeko Shinozaki also from Japan.  All the neutral colored hexagons in the border made this quilt very exciting to look at because of the interesting background created with the hexagons.  The name of this quilt is Blossom of My Life.

This is another Japanese made quilt named Special Rose. It was made by Fusako Takido.  Amazing!

Here is a close-up shot.

Maybe I should have titled today’s blog, Japanese Quilts and Their Makers.  But here is the thing.  I think there were 94 Japanese quilts entered into the show.  They really were fabulous quilts by design and workmanship.

Tomorrow morning I am off to Huntsville, Texas for a show called “Airing of the Quilts”.  I’m teaching on Friday and Monday.  The show is a one day outdoor event being held on Saturday.  Here’s hoping for good weather in Hunstville on Saturday.

I just returned from a week long stay in Paducah, Kentucky.  I flew into Nashville, rented a car and took a leisurely drive to the show.  I have been in Paducah on a number of occasions for the annual quilt show and knew I would not be happy unless I had my own transportation.  The show, classrooms, vendor, etc. are spread out all over the town and it’s much easier to get around with a car than waiting for the buses.  If you have not been to this show and decide to attend, trust me either drive or rent a car.  You’ll be glad you did.  On Saturday and Sunday Libby Lehman, Donna Wilder and myself judged the quilt show.  The quilts were amazing and I loved looking at them up close.  It was wonderful to be able to touch each quilt and think about how much time each and every person who entered  put into their quilts.  We judged close to 400 quilts in 2 days.  No easy job.  The highest number of quilts came from Japan.  Illinois had the second most quilts entered.

And the winners are—————

Janome Best of Show went to Tribute to Tolkien. It was made by Sue McCarty from Roy, Utah.  Sue’s quilt was incredible.  The stitching on her quilt was perfectly outstanding.  Sue’s prize for winning this award is $20,000.

Here is a close-up. Everything you are seeing is thread work.

The Moda Best Wall Quilt award went to Fashionable Ladies of the 20’s and was made by Valeta Hensley.  Valeta won $5,000 for having the best wall quilt. It was longarm quilted by Bill Fullerton.  The workmanship was some of the best I have ever seen.  I loved the design.  The fabric choices were just perfect for the design.

Another of my favorites was made by Pat Holly.  Pat’s quilt is a miniature entitled Pink Elephants Too. (If you wonder why there is a glare all of the miniatures are displayed inside a glass case).  This little miniature quilt had more work on it than some large quilts.  And the workmanship was excellent.  I loved the colors and the edge finish.  I have no idea how Pat even picks up those little pieces let alone machine appliques around each edge so perfectly.  I am in awe.

This quilt was made by Mark Sherman and he won first place in the Longarm/Midarm Machine Quilted category.  The name of the quilt is Wings and Feathers. Well done Mark.  Beautifully done.

This was my judges choice.  It is called Moondance and was made by Melanie West.  I loved the fabric choices and the design.  I do have an attraction to circles which might have pulled me toward this quilt as well.

Thanks to everyone who entered.  The quilts were incredible.  One of the things  I noticed this year was the interesting background fabrics the contestants chose.  That was a real joy to see.  Quilts just keep getting more creative which is why I love this art form so much.

A big thanks to the Schroeder family and their staff for all they do for the quilt world.  We appreciate it.

That’s all for this blog.  In the next blog I’ll have some more winning quilts for you to view.

Sue Holdaway-Heys is the maker of this quilt called The Arb House.  Sue designed this from a photograph she took while on a bike ride at the University of Michigan Arboretum.  Sue made some fantastic fabric selections.  I kept going back to look at this quilt.  You can find out more about Sue at http://www.sueholdaway-heys.com

Another quilt with excellent fabric choices and just brings a smile to your face was made by Sonia Grasvik from Seattle, WA.  The name of the quilt is I Be Hoppin #2. It was part of a special exhibit from the Association of Pacific West Quilters.

Another of my favorites just so happens to have been made by my website designer, Gloria Hansen from East Windsor, New Jersey.  I love Gloria’s graphic designs.  You can find out more about Gloria and see more of her quilts at http://www.gloriahansen.com And if you are ever looking for someone to design a website for you, check out what Gloria and Derry can do for you at http://www.gloderworks.com You will not be disappointed.  I love working with them.

Thanks again to the artists who shared their quilts at the American Quilter’s Society show in Lancaster. I am off to Paducah this morning and will write more upon my return!

The American Quilter’s Society has come to Lancaster!!!!  Yippee!!!!  We are very fortunate to have the AQS come to our area.  Over the past, I think about 20 plus years, we have been very fortunate to have had a large show in the Lancaster area.  The show was going to come to an end and the quilters in the surrounding area would miss it greatly.  But AQS moved in and produced a marvelous show at the Lancaster Convention Center.  This is a very new facility.  I spent the day with my girlfriends viewing quilts and of course shopping at the vendors.  Awesome quilts and awesome vendors.  I would like to share some of my favorite quilts with you.

One of my favorites was called Incommunicato. This quilt was made by Esterita Austin from Port Jefferson Station, New York.  Esterita and I have crossed paths at some quilting seminars and she is a really nice person and her quilts always make me smile.  You can find out more about Esterita at  http://esteritaaustin.com/ On her website you can view some great close-up shots of this quit.

Another one of my favorites was called Cherry Trees. I love this quilt. It was made by Betty Busby of Albuquerque, New Mexico.  I found this and more of Betty’s quilts for sale at this link http://www.etsy.com/shop/bbusbyarts Truly a gifted artist.

I’ll share some of my other favorites in future blogs.

Thank you AQS for all you have done for quilters year in and year out!!

When I was visiting the Faithful Circle Quilt Guild in Columbia, Maryland and finished my lecture I had a person from the guild jump up and say that she had a quilt to show me.  I was so taken by seeing this quilt that I forgot to take a photo.  I hugged Susan and thanked her for sharing her quilt.  I for one know how hard she worked to complete that quilt.  She sent me the photograph below of her finished master-piece. For anyone new to my work, I designed and sold this pattern in 2003 and by 2007 it was out of print. However, it is now available on my website as a pdf.  You can download the pattern and take it to an office supply or copy store and have the patterns enlarged. Please enjoy viewing this amazing work and thank you to Susan for sharing it with us.  It is stunning!

After being home for a couple of days I was ready to head back to Maryland and also to Virginia.  My first stop took me to the Mount Vernon Quilters Unlimited in Virginia  http://www.quiltersunlimited.org/mtv.htm Ellen was my helper at this guild and as program chairperson she was great!  This guild is smaller than most of the guilds I have visited  recently.  Everyone knew each other and included me in their conversations.  It was a very warm and relaxed atmosphere.  They made me feel like part of the guild.  After doing a lecture at lunch I was free for the rest of the day.  That does not happen often.  I thought….should I just veg in the hotel or…..just my luck the hotel had a free shuttle service to Old Town in Alexandria.  I had not been to Old Town in about 15 years.  I took advantage of the free service.  I have very fond memories of spending a weekend with our friends Pat and Joe many years ago.  Pat is no longer with us and as I walked the streets in Old Town I remembered her laugh and what a fun time we had.  Old Town felt pretty much the same, which I liked.  Yes, there are new stores but the feel of the area remains the same.  After getting my chai tea latte fix at Starbucks I was off to wonder through the shops and eating establishments.  Old Town would be a great way to spend a day or weekend in the spring or summer when you are looking for something to do.

The next day I taught back to back drafting classes for a combined group of the Mount Vernon Quilters Unlimited and Burke Quilters Unlimited http://www.quiltersunlimited.org/burke.htm Each guild offered half of the seats to their members.  As I have been traveling to different guilds sometimes the guilds are having trouble filling their workshops.  The way these guilds worked together allowed them to split the costs and to fill their workshop.  This might be something other guilds want to consider.  It worked very well.  I wish I had taken a before and after picture of this class.  They worked so hard drafting pieced blocks in the morning and then designing applique blocks in the afternoon that they were glassy eyed by the end of the day.  I almost felt sorry for them.  I think they felt like their brains might explode!  It was a lot of information in a fairly short amount of time.

After doing a lecture for the Burke Quilter’s Unlimited I was off to Ellicott City, Maryland.  I decided to drive in the evening after the lecture instead of driving on the DC beltway with all the morning traffic.  Even at 10pm there were lots of people driving on the beltway.  Don’t these people ever sleep?

My next stop…..Faithful Circle Quilters in Columbia, Maryland.  http://www.faithfulcirclequilters.com I love this group of ladies.  This is….I think…my 4th trip to this guild over the past many years.  If I lived closer I would join this guild.  Lots of members offer to help me when I am pulling in my tons of stuff.  When I drive I have the option of bringing a lot more stuff.  Some of these ladies I know from visiting this guild before and several of them I know because they have been students in classes at Quilt Odyssey in Hershey, PA over the years. www.quiltodyssey.com

Sheva was my helper for this guild.  Sheva has been a student before and is a very kind and generous person.  She is an asset to her guild.  They should vote her in to do this job forever.  Don’t tell her I said that!  She might want to retire from her position sometime.

The guild shared their raffle quilt with me.  It’s it beautiful?  If you are interested in purchasing a ticket for the quilt don’t wait too long.  I think the raffle is the end of April. The link to their site again is http://www.faithfulcirclequilters.com

This fabulous quilt was designed by  guild member Sheila Reiss.

There were sure signs of spring as I started on my journey to Maryland.

As much snow as we had this year it makes me feel good when I see the daffodils and crocuses come into bloom.

This trip will take me to northern and southern Maryland. I love Maryland, except for the traffic. Yuck. Stay as far away from the beltway during the morning work traffic and the late afternoon work traffic as possible. But, if you have a good audio book it’s not too bad. I’m reading (listening to) The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks and I’m really sucked in. I have two more discs to go so don’t tell me how it ends. So far I am really enjoying this book. The way it’s going I might need some tissues before I get to the end of the book. So if you see some crazy lady crying as she is driving down the highway she might be listening to one of Nicholas Sparks’ books.
I started my trip with the Flying Geese Quilt Guild. I have worked with this guild before and like seeing so many friendly and familiar faces when I return. One of the guild members told me they had a better turn out for the meeting than normal. I think she said 178 members attended the lecture. That was a good turnout. The next day I did my workshop, Magical Medallions-Block Three. The guild meets at a cute church parish. When I got to the parish no one from the guild was there yet. So, I tried some doors and finally one opened. It was a back door into the kitchen. Well, Gene, the custodian was running the vacuum and did not hear me enter.  Boy, did I scare him.  I almost had to take him to the emergency room. But, his heart rate finally went back to normal. Just kidding. I guess he did not get the message that the guild was holding the workshop that day. Plus the door I entered was supposed to be locked. Oops. Gene was super nice and helped me get my luggage into the classroom. I had a great day with the guild members and guests of guild members who attended the workshop.  If you live anywhere in the area I would highly recommend joining this guild. Very friendly. Lots of great quilts for show and tell. And from the sounds of it they have lots of workshops and charity projects in the works. If I lived closer this is a guild I would join.  You can find out more about the Flying Geese Quilt Guild at www.quiltguilds.com

My next stop took me to Michelle’s Quilt shop in Hughesville, MD. Michelle and her husband were there when I arrived.  Michelle and her husband are incredibly nice people. It has been a long time since I have been in a shop with such an excellent and large fabric selection. Awesome selection of batik fabrics.  Plus bolt after bolt of cotton fabrics. Eye candy. You can find out more about Michelle’s Quilts at www.michellesquilts.com

The students who attended this workshop were real troopers because they were a little crowded at their tables. But none of them complained. As a matter of fact just the opposite. They were all happy campers or should I say sewers. They could not stop thanking me for all they learned in such a short amount of time.

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I left there feeling really good about my 4 hour drive which included the beltway around Washington DC during rush hour traffic.  That, the story below and my audio book make it rather enjoyable.

There is something that happened to me while at Michelle’s that I would like to share with you. One of the students had my book: Applique Basics: Flower Wreaths, which is long out of print. She brought it to class and ask me if I would sign it for her and of course I was very happy to do so. She told me that this book along with one from Mimi Dietrich carried her through her cancer treatments. I hugged her and tried not to cry. For someone to tell me a book I wrote carried them through one of their darkest times made me feel unworthy. I just wrote a book. She survived cancer. There is no comparison. But, it made me realize how one person touches another without even realizing it. Each day I try my very best to be kind to the people I meet. If I put a smile on their face, all the better. You just never know what the other person is going through. By being kind to them you could be the bright spot in their day.

I recently returned from a trip to the Chicago area.  I worked with both the Heritage Quilter’s Guild in Lockport, Illinois and the Quilter’s Plus Guild in Flossmoor, Illinois. Some of you reading this know how things work when a quilting teacher comes to a guild and others may not. When I arrive at the airport most of the time someone from the guild is there to meet me. I am not always sure what to call this person (helper, hostess, luggage lifter, chauffeur, food provider….the list goes on..) because she helps me with so many things: like getting my luggage to the car and most of you know quilting teachers do not travel light. This person helps lift two 50 pound pieces of luggage into the car along with two heavy carry-on pieces of luggage. So, anyone reading this who will be assisting a quilt teacher visiting your area….send a big vehicle and a person who can help lift! I’m going to refer to this person as my “helper”. Marie was my helper from the Heritage Quilter’s Guild. We had about an hour ride from the airport to the hotel and I really enjoyed talking with Marie. She is a retired math teacher. She may be retired from teaching math but she’s still putting her math skills to good use when quilt making. Marie took me to the hotel and again helped me get my luggage and boxes I shipped ahead to my hotel room.

After a good night’s sleep Marie came back to pick me up in the morning and take me to the workshop location. Marie also took care of all of my meals while I was visiting her guild. She made us one fantastic salad for lunch along with lots of other goodies. The Heritage Quilter’s Guild holds its meetings at the SOS compound. I had never heard of the SOS program. SOS CHILDREN’S VILLAGES ILLINOIS is a series of independent homes surrounding a large, central meetinghouse. Rather than traditional foster care, children who come to live at SOS stay with their biological brothers and sisters in a private home. A full-time, professionally trained foster parent lives with them, and the whole Village gives them support, compassion and strength. I did not know places like this existed, but I am so happy they do. The guild uses a very large open, well lighted room for the workshops at no fee and in return makes quilts for each child. What a fantastic relationship. You can find out more about this program at www.sosillinois.org

After a wonderful workshop we dined and then went to the evening meeting at a local church.  Here is a picture I took at the guild meeting while the president, Tina, was conducting the meeting. This guild, like most guilds is involved in lots of charity work and trying to provide good programs for its members. This requires a lot of work on the part of the guild officers and the members. Show and tell at this guild was fantastic. If you are from the area and want to find out more about this guild and when and where they meet go to http://www.heritagequiltersguild.com

After my lecture, Marie returned me to the hotel around 11pm.  We are both tired from a long, but very good day.

The next morning my new helper, Grace, from the Quilter’s Plus Guild in Flossmoor, Illinois, showed up in a beautiful purple jacket and purple and red scarf. Grace had attended my workshop with the Heritage Quilter’s Guild so we had met the day before.  We drove to the guild’s meeting early so I could set up for my lecture. I like to arrive early to make sure all my equipment is in working order. The guild meets in a large room in a local church and the lecture went great. I had fun and so did the members who left with thoughts for doing new borders on current and future projects.

After the lecture I was free for the day. First Grace and I joined several other guild members for lunch. I had a veggie croissant that was really tasty, along with a veterinarian chili. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Quilter’s know the best places to eat. Grace was an angel and chauffeured me around the area. She took me to their local quilt shop, The Top Shelf,  located in Frankfort, IL. If you are in the area the shop is definitely worth the stop. The owner and employees were very helpful and pleasant. You can find out more about the shop by going to their website www.topshelfquilts.com

The town of Frankfort has lots of quaint little shops.  We also visited a new yarn shop while we were in the area. Again, this little town is worth the stop.

The next day Grace drove me to the workshop, Ocean Sunrise. Here are some photos of the students hard at work.

And here are some of the blocks the students finished during the workshop. This class is a combination of paper foundation piecing and machine applique. The blocks looked fantastic.

The Quilter’s Plus Guild also is involved in a lot of charity work. I think if anyone ever conducted a survey of the amount of charity work done by quilting guilds it would be staggering. If you would like more information about the Quilter’s Guild Plus go to www.quiltguilds.com.

I appreciate all the hard work on the part of my helpers, Grace and Marie.  Grace did not have to give up her free time to take me to Frankfort for the afternoon, but she did.  And that made my trip so much more enjoyable plus I got to know Grace a little better. The limo driver who was supposed to take me to the airport never showed and being the gracious host that she was Grace drove me to the airport. THANK YOU Marie and Grace for all of your help while I visited your guild. It was greatly appreciated because it makes what I do that much easier and more fun. I feel like I made two good friends.

If you are a member of a quilt guild and are not currently holding an office or working on a committee jump in and offer some help. You get to meet a lot of incredible people that way. And you’ll make some friends for life.

My husband, Joe, or the Pied Piper as I call him now, had been working hard over the past year or two to keep the bluebirds that come into our area.  He orders worms from a place in New York so he can feed them a couple of times a week.  The birds have to make a go of it on their own but Joe subsidizes their food intake.  During the past couple of years Joe will whistle and the bluebirds have gotten to know his whistle.  Now when he whistles all 12 of the bluebirds come flying into the trees in our backyard. Joe places worms around the base of the bird bath and then comes into the house.  As soon as he closes the door the birds coming flying in to eat.  He usually feeds them while we are having lunch in the sun room so we can watch them eat as we eat.  They are so beautiful to watch. This is a photo taken this past summer.

It is hard to purchase a gift for Joe.  He is not a wanter.  He is happy with what he has and if he really wants something he’s likely to buy it on his own.  So, what do you buy the guy who wants nothing and needs nothing?  Well, while I was playing online I found a place that sells this tiny little camera that can be mounted inside a birdhouse.  My dad’s wife builds birdhouses and we are lucky enough to have some in our backyard.  I gave Joe the camera as a gift.  He was a little skeptical but decided to give it a try.  Last year we got to watch momma bluebird through two batches of babies.  The camera displays in black and white and we had the feed come through to our big screen TV.  Joe would whistle, put some worms out around the base of the birdbath, and run in the house so we could watch on our TV as the mother fed her babies.  Absolutely amazing.  It was awesome to watch the mother care for her little ones and then see them fledge.

OK, present day.  With all the snow we had in February …….where will the bluebirds find food?  Well, the Pied Piper came to their rescue.  Joe did not know where else to put the worms as there was 40 plus inches of snow so he put them on the back doorstep.  Right outside our back door.  Check this out.

Even if our dogs are in the yard the birds are so hungry they still come in to eat.  Not in a million years would I have thought those birds would come into the yard with the dogs inches away from them.  I guess they know our dogs are as friendly as Joe.

This guy sometimes comes into the backyard also.  And when he does the bluebirds are no where to be found, which is a good thing.  I have loved hawks for as long as I remember.  Could be from some reading I did as a child and the spiritual meaning the hawks have for the native American Indians.   I have talked to Mr. Hawk and asked him to please leave the yard so the bluebirds can eat and he flies away.  I know you think I am weird.  I already knew that.

Hawks need a drink and a bath too.

In many of my classes we have discussions about books that we’re read and liked.  I have received some excellent recommendations from students in classes about books they’re read and liked.  There are authors that I might never have read had it not been for students suggestions.  So, thanks to all of my students who have recommended good books and to those students who have given me books over the years.  I appreciate it.  I recently finished an audio book called, “Nine Dragons” by Michael Connelly.  Loved it.

If I’ve said it once I’ve said it a hundred times, the more I quilt the more I give up my reading time.  Since I love both I found that while I am sewing I can listen to audio books.  I love it when I can get two things done at the same time. I also listen to audio books while I am doing my cardio workouts each morning and in the car.  They are really good on long drives…..or short ones, or……..  When I was listening to this book I actually drove home the long way so I could listen to more of the book.

I have enjoyed all of Michael Connelly’s books with his character, Harry Bosch but this one really sucked me in.  Harry investigates a murder involving the Chinese underworld.  To the  survivors he promises revenge and to bring the wrong doers to justice.  While doing so his own family is in jeopardy.  It will take you on a good thrill ride.  There are some good twists and lots of suspense.