Saturday, February 23, 2013

Mary Lou's STORY QUILT Retreat June 2nd will give you lots of new ideas, handouts and I will show you lots of new pieced quilts for fun....

The first quilt here is a wonderful easy pieced quilt was done by Rebecca from Nebraska...she is Out of the Box in the Best Way-so fun! Have been having a ball getting ready for my workshop in Idaho on June 2nd. I have all kinds of fun piecing ideas, embellishment ideas and things that you will want to see and learn. You like original and fun borders...just wait! For more information on my retreat that I guve every year, go to Marylouweidman.com and check out the retreat on menu's at the top of the page. Miss Tina from LA will be coming again to cook for us and we will also be going to Farm Chicks and Art on the Green in Spokane. Lots to feed our senses, stomachs and soul! Please come and join us at the JACC art center. We have a ball! These are some quilts that I am auditioning borders for...they are complete now and you should see them! So fun and so colorful. Just what you want to hang for Spring which is just around the corner.... I am also going to do a quilt with old table cloths and pieces to show what one can do with the prizes they find at Farm Chicks....new fabrics, old pieces and old things all make for fabulous quilts....let me show you how!

Tuesday, February 05, 2013

VISIT FRANCE IN STYLE-TASTE,SITE,SMELLS-OHH LALA

Beautiful foods and fruits and cheese and breads at every turn in France. Jeanne Mills Tours is the best way to see France as Jeanne lived there, speaks the language and loves beautiful things and places!
A little description: Join quilters, who love to travel, on a tour to Southern France. The tour features activities, adventures and discoveries to inspire your creativity. In addition to visiting a Provençal fabric-printing factory (and perusing in their outlet), we’ll visit the museum in Nimes where denim was first made and have as tour through a museum of small quilts, known as “boutis”, the corded, quilted and stuffed textiles from the South of France. Of course, we’ll be on the lookout and stop for fabric along the way. As well, we’ll fill our minds and cameras with the bright colors of the region, see the works of artists who lived and painted here. We’ll be inspired by architectural and decorative elements, the countryside we drive through, the food we eat, and the gardens and markets we visit. For more information and details, download the 2013 Tour Brochure at www.jeannemillstours.com, or contact Jeanne at jeanne@jeannemillstours.com
Above is the Louvre fountains and Ferris Wheel...such a wonderful place to visit!
Above, look and see how fabrics are printed and get a chance to buy some of the most beautiful fabrics in colors we hardly can get our hands on. When I was there with Jeanne, I bought lots and I am still using them. This trip is a trip of a lifetime and with wonderful people. You will learn so much and have so many opportunities to meet and see and enjoy. France has so much to offer and you will get it all on this trip.
St. Paul is a darling little hilltop town with cobblestone streets and awesome shops. If you like beautiful things, this is the town for you. People here are so friendly and I noticed that French ladies (ever the sharp dressers) would wear high heels on these streets with bandaids on their heals. Some advice...wear comfy walking shoes. I bought many beautiful things there- a silver bracelet, little dishes with painted flowers, a large serving dish with a beautiful rooster in fabulous colors (I always have it out), and little French cards with children on them.
I loved the Museums and the way people dressed and so many other things. I took hundreds of photos and many many photos of the beautiful signs of shops etc., but alas it was before digital cameras and I only have them in prints so they are too hard to get redone to share. But you can take my word for it that you stay in beautiful hotels, eat good food and see wonderful and beautiful things you will never forget. If you have any questions about what i saw, you can contact me. If you have more questions about the trip and Jeanne's plans, do contact her. She is the BEST and the trip is first rate!

Sunday, February 03, 2013

Super Bowl and More COWs

This made me laugh and it is so true. I am working on borders and I had alot of uninterupted time....
My neighbor Connie made two cows for the COW shows -this one above is called "COWculator" and could also be called "ACOWtant"
I forget what the "real" title is for this cow but it is ALL wool and has lots of fun things....like icycles on the udder. We are hoping for more cows....if you need ideas, let me know and I will print more here. The pattern is available in "Out of the Box with Easy Blocks" book by Mel and I. These go fast and are so much fun to do!
How about a quilt called "MOOving on!" This was suggested by Pam Dransfelt...very fun!