Holiday Craft Sale - Quilts and More

Every year my friend Karen Schultz has a Primitive Craft & Holiday Sale at her home in Elgin, Illinois. I've been attending for a few years and since she holds her sale on the Fri and weekend after Thanksgiving, it's my kind of Black Friday event to attend. You won't find me among the crowd at the mall - I always find something much more to my liking at her house. It marks the beginning of my Christmas shopping. 

Karen makes some wonderful things I often say I'm going to make myself but I don't actually seem to find the time. This Christmas banner, for instance. Could have made it myself but didn't - with everything going on at the holidays it was so much easier to buy it ready made from her, LOL.

Last year, Karen asked me if I'd like to display some of my handmade earrings at her sale, which went over well. This year she went even bigger and asked me to come back and sell some of my books and also do a book signing.  Of course, I said "Sure!"

I'll be there for a few hours on Friday and Saturday (Nov 28th, 29th) with copies of my books, small quilt patterns, earrings, and will also have several NEW patterns for the wool things I've been working on this month. You won't want to miss this one. I'm very excited to be announcing a new pattern line of some small projects for you to make. (More about that later. You'll have an opportunity to buy the patterns on my website in a few weeks.)

Karen works hard all year making her handmade items  -  quilty things and primitive woolie things that we all love so much. Along with some primitive wooden items for the home, her husband Bill makes those adorable primitive doll beds you always see on this blog that are perfect for displaying small quilts. 

Here are some of the things I've bought from Karen in the past -  some were given away as gifts. 

I admired this quilt and what a wonderful surprise  -  Karen gave it to me as a Christmas present last year. It's always wonderful to get a quilt that's been made by  friend. 

I love these painted wooden carry-alls.  

The cases also fit your rotary cutter.

Here's another sampling of what lovely items Karen makes - along with much, much more.

She makes and sells small quilts!

Pincushions and ornaments make great little gifts.

We hope you'll join us in our wonderful primitive, quilty collaboration this year to kick off your holiday shopping. There's something for everyone. I'd love to meet some of you or reconnect with those of you in the Chicago area I haven't seen in awhile. 

I'll be bringing copies of ALL of my books. (And have some of the quilts from the books displayed.)

Books make great gifts for quilter friends.

(Not primitive or quilty, but my handmade earrings also make wonderful holiday gifts.) 

Hope to see you there! You're all welcome.

Happy Halloween, Quilters

Happy Halloween, quilters. Little bit of snow this morning. Still cool and crisp but not so bad that the dog didn't want to go for a run this morning. (She ran, I walked - and struggled to keep up, let me tell you. Crazy little 12 lb dog.) I've got work to do and she'd better rest this afternoon so I can get some things done before the trick-or-treaters come banging on the door.  

I'm having fun with wool lately and working hard on some new patterns that will be available to you soon. "Kathy does applique."

Here's a peek - this cute pincushion below will be included in a pattern for a colorful fall table runner.

(Bear's Paw quilt from my Prairie Children book. Still a favorite.) 

Fall always inspires me so much - more than any other season.

I still have so many Maple Leaf blocks left over from a swap we did in my online small quilt group awhile ago. I bring them out and look at them every now and then but that's as far as I get. Catch the free pattern here.

So many ways to make these into a cute fall quilt. Thanksgiving will be here before you know it and won't something made from these blocks look cute on your table?

 Go on - rest up, little doggie. Wish I could play with you all day but there's wool and thread to be played with instead. And that doorbell's going to start ringing soon.

More Pretty Quilts

Here are a few more quilts that were on display at the show I attended last week in Wheaton, IL. Hope they inspire you as much as they inspired me.

Leaf Play, made by Beth Huhn Hoffman, inspired by a Sue Spargo workshop.

The House Kaffe Built made by Elizabeth FitzGerald.

A fun setting for some signature blocks. Quilt made by Elizabeth FitzGerald.

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Judy Scheppach made this quilt from a Lori Smith pattern.

I think I used to have a doll like this when I was very young. It was cheap and I started to buy it for old time's sake but my good sense got the better of me. What would I do with it? I really didn't need an old doll - it was just as much fun remembering. Breakthrough: I really don't need so much "stuff" anymore.

Mary Zenger hand pieced this quilt designed by Sue Daly.

Just darling.

Quilt made by Ginny Wright.

Susan Strasser made Lucy Boston Broke My Heart.

Tree of Life quilt made by Barb Vlack,  inspired by a Sue Spargo workshop.

Center portion of the Pennies from Heaven quilt made by Marcia Cameron, designed by Gretchen Gibbons. Look at the beautiful hand-dyed wool.

Can you tell I'm inspired by all the wool applique quilts I see everywhere? I'm playing around with wool this week.

A Great Day for a Quilt Show

Going to a quilt show on an overcast, gloomy October day really does the trick if you need some perking up. The Prairie Star Quilt Guild of Wheaton, IL is having their show today (Fri) and tomorrow (Sat) at the DuPage County Fairgrounds.  It's too late to attend today but if you live in the Chicago area do yourself a favor and stop by tomorrow.  Not only are the quilts fantastic but there are wonderful VENDORS too. I brought extra cash along with my credit card in case I stayed awhile and needed to eat something but as it turned out I was frivolous and spent all my lunch money pretty early on (!) so I walked out of there hungry and penniless . . . . Yes,  I am a quilter and fabric always comes first. But no, I will not put a hot dog on my credit card . . . . It doesn't kill me to skip a meal now and then anyway, LOL.

There were so many beautiful quilts on display. I am always amazed at the level of creativity and skill when I attend shows like this. So many different styles of quilts and all done beautifully.

This quilt shows up at almost every show I attend and I'm always happy to see it - baskets from When the Cold Wind Blows by Barb Adams and Alma Allen (Trick or Treat quilt made by Marion Schlindwein)

Be Square by Jan Sharpless

Saltbox Sampler made by Carol Andermann

Mary Zenger combined wool and cotton beautifully in her Holiday Inn quilt and won first place!

Stars and Stripes (a Minnick & Simpson pattern) made by Elvira Illig

(Took this one for Sue B.)

Amish with a Twist made by Ann Kowalyszyn

One of my favorite vendor booths was Woolkeeper  - featuring lovely designs for wool applique by Kathy Wall.

I went to the show looking for some pretty wool to use in a few projects for wool applique and regular applique I'm in the process of designing. What a nice surprise to meet Kathy and discover that she's a fan and has made a few of my patterns in wool (Orange Peel above and and Civil War Baskets, below). Who knew they'd look great in wool too?? Thanks, Kathy!

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It's exciting to see all the things quilters are doing with wool now and to see all the wonderful colors available. A Different Box of Crayons also had a great booth and I bought some incredibly beautiful hand-dyed wool from them too.

Yes, I sure am going to be having some fun with wool pretty soon . . . .

There was one antique quilt booth I had to stay away from - there were way too many toy irons and sewing machines I was drooling over.

I couldn't post all of the pictures I took of quilts so I'll add them to another post in a few days. Have a great weekend. You know what I'm going to be playing around with tomorrow . . . . (no, not a toy iron, sigh. I already have a green one just like it.)