Pfaff Grandquilter 18.8 and Quilt Artist

I'm so excited about finding a Pfaff Grandquilter 18.8 with frame plus a Quilt Artist with software on Craiglist for a great price. The previous owner brought it in Oct 2010 to use for a quilt business. She had to give it up for her REAL job. We went to look at it yesterday. It is in perfect condition. She showed me how to use the Quilt Artist(computer) which is going to be so much fun. Wayne and Roger went to get it today. This is the perfect way to end my celebration of my 60th birthday this year with a almost new bigger quilt machine.

International Quilt Show/Festival Houston TX 2011

I had a trip of a lifetime going to the 2011 International Quilt Festival 2011. I had a great time meeting quilters from all over the world. The Quilt Show has the BEST OF THE BEST quilts in it. I love looking all the different types of quilts and art quilts. It made me appreciate the ART of Quilting whether it is handmade or machine made quilts. I LOVE QUILTING!! I have a few pictures of quilts that I really loved.

International Quilt Show Houston TX 2011

Nov. 5,2011 This is tha last day of show for me. I has a Saturday Sampler from 10-12. It was held in the ballroom with over 28 different teachers. I went to 4 different teachers that interest me. 1) Wendy Butler Berns Stabilize Embellishing Stitches Sucessfully 2)Melinda Bula Cutting Garden Quilts 3) Deb Karasik Paper Piecing the Easy Way 4)Suzannne McNeill 10 Minute Blocks and Quick Tricks. I enjoyed the sampler. I went looking at the quilts and vendors until 12-2 which was the luncheon with Libby Lehman called Quiltx. It was about several Texas quilts. The luncheon had BBQ Chicken Salad, Bread, and Pecan Tart with ice tea/coffee. I meet quilters from everywhere and it was easy to talk to everyone. I went looking at the quilts and vendors and then went back to the hotel to rest. Ricky Tims concert was from 5:30-7:00 and then the Gala on the Green was from 7:00-9:00. Ricky show was fine but he did a better show in 2008 and at Sisters Quilt show. It was dark and cool for the Gala and the food was ok. I meet quilters from Wisconsin and a long armer from TX. The music was great with rock and roll. I did stay until 8:30 and then back to the hotel. I finished packing to leave Sunday Nov 6 to stay with Jan until Nov 9. I will post several pictures of the sampler and Ricky Tims.

International Quilt Show Houston TX 2011

Since this is last day of November I want to finish my trip to Houston.
Nov. 4,2011 I took the tour called Texas Star Tour. We had 2 buses full that left at 7:45-6:30. We went over 100 miles northwest of Houston to 3 quilt shops and to see the new Texas Quilt Museum in La Grange. The tour gave some Texas history since it is the 175th anniversary of Texas's indepedence from Mexico. We stopped at the Washington on the Brazos and Winedale Historial complex. We saw several very old quilts at Winedale. We stopped at Round Top, TX. It was a cute top with stores and resturants. We stopped at the Copper Shade Tree shop to see a display called Quilts by Men. It was several quilts made by men from all over the USA. They was several cute stores and a wonderful resturant called Royers. It was a small by in the style of the 50-60's. They had great homemade pies and got a piece of cherry pie. Our lunch was late to eat in the park at Round Top so had to eat them on the bus. That was disappointing because it was a beautiful day to eat outside. We went to a quilt store called Gerline's which was so small it was hard to move around in it. The next stop was in Giddings,TX called Around the Block which was a very nice shop. We went to the Texas Quilt Museum which was great. The last quilt store was in Katy,TX which was nice. The tour was running behind on time and then going home there was an accident that made us really late. We got back to the convention center at 7:45. I had a great time talking to a lady from Australia. It was a fun group of quilters on our bus. One of the gals won 2 1st place awards for hand made and handmade applique. It was a very fun day!! I will post a few pictures of the tour.

International Quilt Show Houston TX 2011

We got a new computer which works much better and faster. I have several pictures of the area of the vendors and quilts. There were over 1500 quilts which took me 2 days to see them. I was glad I had 5 days to enjoy the quilts and vendors and not feel over whelmed. I took a picture of Marianne Fons after the lecture.

International Quilt Show Houston TX 2011

I posted a quilt in the previous blog that wasn't Melinda quilt. It is called Artichokes in Bloom which won Judge's Choice.
Nov.3 I was able to look at the quilts from 10-12. The quilts are amazing. I took alot of pictures but it was hard not to take a picture of every quilt. Some of the quilters were by their quilts to talk to everyone. I have a few pictures of them. After 2 hours of admiring the quilts I was ready for the lecture/luncheon with Marianne Fons. The lunch was a 2 course with Asian Panko Crusted Chicken salad, fresh bread, key lime tart and ice tea/coffee. The luncheon was to benfit the new Texas Quilt Museum. Her talk was "Why We Quilt". It was very interesting. I meet several quilters from Canada. After the luncheon, I went looking at the quilts and shopping.
I wanted to post pictures of the vendor and quilt area but are unable to at this time. We have been having trouble with our computer. I will try later to post some pictures.

International Quilt Show Houston TX 2011

The last picture I posted of the flower isn't Melinda's quilt called Monet in Pasadena. I can't figure how to get the picture off unless I delete the whole post which I don't want to do. I will have to look up what the name and quilter is on this quilt later. I will post Melinda's quilt now.