Loon Country Quilt Show, Grand Rapids, MN

This weekend, Mom and I drove up north to visit my cousin Holly and to see the Loon Country Quilt Show at Itasca Community College in Grand Rapids, MN. I think that this might be the first quilt show I've been to since I moved to Minnesota.

Here are some of my favorites from the show.

Below - Blocks in a Block is a simple pattern that creates a striking, graphic quilt.

Below - Wizard of Oz uses the printed panels of scenes from the movie in a creative layout, with the scenes in order from the movie with quotations quilted in between on the yellow brick road.

Below - Burst of Light uses a pattern (Blooming 9 patch) that has been done many times, but I thought that the colors and fabrics in this one were particulary lovely, especially the glow from the center radiating to the corners.

Below - a simple pattern that creates an illusion of circles. I would like to use this block pattern in a quilt soon - maybe in greens and blues.

Below - I'm not fond of the colors in this one, but I liked the lines of diagonal squares separating the star blocks and the use of the log cabins to form the border.

Below - this one reminded me of a Pepper Cory quilt, with Drunkard's Path pieces and big-stitch sashiko.

Below - this bear quilt is from a commercial pattern but I've always liked the effect of the bear looking at you.

Below - the photo does not do this quilt justice.  Beautifully pieced in teals and peach, plus an interesting border. I voted for this one for best bed quilt. :)

Below - I liked the sashiko turtle hand-quilted in the center of this wall quilt.

Below - I like the colors in this wall quilt and the use of circles, plus exquisite quilting.

Autumn in Minnesota

I've been here seven months - can you believe it?  I've lived here through spring and summer, and now fall has arrived.  Here's the view out of my kitchen windows.

I have a gorgeous red maple in the backyard and a beautiful view of it from my kitchen.

Above is the view through the window over my kitchen sink. The suncatchers are from Tish (the heron), Ellen (the woodpecker), and Debra (the penguin). And in the photo below,  the penguin cookie jar was given to me long ago by Cindy, and it now holds the dog treats. I'm so happy to see these reminders of my friends every morning in my new home.

Above is a photo of my kitchen now that I've finally found a place for everything (and I now know where everything is in my kitchen - a miracle). The kitchen has been repainted Autumn White (a pale peach) but unfortunately this photo doesn't really show the true color. And check out my snazzy new lunch bag on the counter.

I wish that I could say that the rest of my house is finally "in order" but I've got a long, long way to go. Baby steps, baby steps. :)