A few weeks ago I finished piecing my scrappy trip around the world quilt.

In the end, I made my quilt 6 blocks by 6 so the finished quilt is a nice sized throw at 72″ x 72″.

Today I’m going out to get the back.  I can’t wait to baste it and get it ready to hand quilt.

It will definitely take me forever to hand quilt… since it’s big and I’m slow as molasses.  But I know I will enjoy the process, because I love the fabrics in this quilt so much.  It’s an odd mix of 30’s and moderns… Denyse Schmidts, Lecien Old New, Storybook Classics and lots of old scraps.

I also love the colors, which are slightly unpredictable together.  But a scrappy trip pattern lends it’s self to wacky and unpredictable.  Somehow it all plays together and works.

Again with keeping things unpredictable, I made my blues the center of my blocks, but sometimes I put them one row off.  A few of the blocks have grey or turquoise in the center just to keep me on my toes.

I’m hoping to find a cozy flannel back for this quilt, since this is going to be another family-room-cuddle-under-quilt.  My hope is to finish quilting it before the snow flies…

I feel like I’m taking a small breath after weeks of craziness.  Actually, this week is still crazy.  But at least I have a few moments to myself when the house is quiet…

School began this week.  My son, Ben started junior high this year.  What more can I say?  It’s huge.  It’s exciting.  It’s scary.  It’s an adventure.  I’m so excited for him, but it does seem just like yesterday that we were walking down to the bus stop for kindergarten together.  My heart twists in my chest when I think about it.  I love him more than words.

The girls a so excited to have the best 6th grade teacher ever this year.  They have a great class and I know will have a wonderful year.

So that’s a little about us… now for some inspiration.

I’ve been wanting to share some of the photos from Alpine Days Quilt Show which was several weeks ago.  I was so inspired by all I saw there, but didn’t get around to posting the pictures ’til now.  All I can say is “Wow!”  There are some AWESOME quilters here in Alpine.  The photos are not so great… florescent lights are the devil… but hopefully you can see enough to be inspired too.

The quilt above is an amazing clamshell quilt in progress… by Paula McKinley.  She is an inspiration to me as a quilter and as a woman.  And I can’t help loving any quilt made from 30’s scraps.

See the little framed block called “Alberta Peach Quilt.”  There is a wonderful history framed with the block.  The quilt was started in the mid 1850’s, but after a succession of women in the family died after working on the quilt, the blocks were stored away in the late 1920’s by a heartbroken mother, with the admonition that it never be finished. The blocks stayed in the family and it now hangs on the wall of descendant, Rachel, who is a friend of mine.

It’s hard to tell the scale but this darling quilt is a Mini Granny quilt.  It’s on my “must make” list.  This quilt and pattern was made by the wonderful and talented Jina Barney from Riley Bake.  The quilt is as cute as can be.

Here’s the same quilt with a melon green border… this quilt was made by a student in Jina’s Mini Granny class.

More 30’s to tickle my fancy….  This quilt so cheerful.

I loved this quilt, but didn’t get a close up picture of the label.  It looks like an Anna Marie Horner pattern… Spinning Stars?  Does anyone know if I’m right?  What ever the pattern, it’s awesome.

I loved this sweet little disappearing 9 patch made by a good friend of my girls, who is also 11 years old.  Way to go E!

I was pretty much stunned to see this quilt in the show- a Dear Jane so beautifully pieced that I just stood in front of it in awe….

Here’s a close up for you.  Some of those pieces are 1/2″ or less.  Such amazing accuracy…  What an amazing work of art!

But my favorite two quilts in the show were my girls’ quilts… Emma’s Dresden for Ruthie and Lily’s Hexie for Kit.  Lily is still hand quilting her quilt, but it was done enough to enter it into the show.  Their quilts looked so sweet on their little beds, and were only among a few hand quilted quilts in the show.

My girls are already planning their quilts for next year’s show.