It’s the third Tuesday of October, where does the time go? Keeping busy this past ten days or so, I think helps it to go even faster. Sitting here thinking about what to write down, hmm, I think I have done a bit of work and had some fun too.

Last Friday I attended the 2023 PIQF show. I was supposed to go with a non-quilty friend, but she had a prior engagement and had to forgo the show. I was on the fence about going alone, as when I go with someone else it curbs my urge to spend dollars. I ended up going and bringing a small reusable shopping bag, thinking that I can only fill this bag. After all that self discipline, and restraint, I bought one thing, a spool of thread. Two things that preempted my usual shopping spree, (besides the small bag) were that I have been going through my stash a lot lately and that there weren’t the usual amount of vendors. There seemed to be about a third less of the convention center being used. There were plenty of beautiful quilts, in fact more floor space was dedicated to the displays than to the vendors. There was a huge Bernina shop, and the two local machine shops had multiple booths too. There just weren’t many fabric shops, only 70 vendors listed. Some of the regulars, like Cherrywood and rainbow resources were there, but many were not. Is it possible to be sad and relieved at the same time? I really enjoyed the exhibits of some of Caryl Bryer Fallert Gentry quilts. There were forty quilts in her distinctive style. I was able to get up close to see her beautiful colors and stitching. Also saw a new to me quilt artist, Uzoma Samuel Anyanwu a Nigerian quilt artist. He is a master at improv fabric selection and collage and the quilted pieces are large and you can’t help but to be drawn in by them. Wonderful expressions on the faces and the clothing was so colorful. There was movement and joy emanating from these quilts.

In the sewing room, work on the two baby quilts continues. These came about from the purchase of four small panels and the leftovers from a fat quarter pack.

I am trying to decide whether to quilt these two next or bite the bullet and put “A Ribbon Runs Through it” on the frame. I finished the Liberty Star (Whimsy pattern) and there was enough backing left to quilt up a panel I had bought a few months ago.

I probably would have got the bindings on those two, if I didn’t get side tracked by a Halloween Tuxedo cat. I was looking through my stitchery basket O’fun, when I came across this all kitted up and ready to go. It’s from Teresa Kogut, and I may have it done before the end of the month.

I have been getting more done on Consider the Lillies too, not really sure I like the ‘A’ in my initials, I may change it to better match the ‘C’.

I want to end with a beautiful quilt that Velda Newman made, called Iris II. It was spectacular.

Be Kind.