AQS In Grand Rapids

Last Friday my friend, Judith and I drove to Grand Rapids to attend the AQS quilt show.  

We drove right there and we got there just as it was opening. 

We had a fabulous half day at the show.  

We met up with my friend Windy and she is always fun to hang out with.

 In addition, I got to meet one of the founders of the national Modern Quilt Guild, Latifah Saafir!!  What a sweetheart!  I did take some photos but not too many.  

First were some of the guild challenge quilts. 

 I tried to catch the tag with the info on it as to who the artist was.

I loved this one called When Raven Dreams, by Stacy Hurt. 

I have seen a photo of these bees before but they were even cuter in person.  

I believe this peacock quilt won best in show.  It was hand quilted and gorgeous!

Close up of those birds!

This one had peacocks too!

This Storm at Sea was pretty sweet.

 This quilt was simple but the quilting was just stunning!  

I really loved the way it looked like plants in the background too.  

After we looked at the quilts we hit the venders.  

I have to say that I was disappointed in the fabric selection at the show.  

Almost no modern designer fabrics. 

 Also, Bloc Loc rulers (which I love) always sells out of their show specials and 

this weekend was no exception.  

That was disappointing.

There was a cool new Creative Grid ruler called Stripology that you can use to cut strips and squares with and both Judith and Windy bought one.  

I was sorely tempted! 

 I did buy a pattern to make this beauty.  

Designer Laura Heine (Fiberworks) had the BEST booth at the show.  I love her patterns!

We left the show and drove to the Westsider for lunch. 

 I seriously love that place!  

Windy rode with us so we brought her back to the downtown and headed out to Stitched Studio.  

One of the best modern fabric shops. 

 You can see Judith buying some fabric here.  

I picked up some Tula voile and a little bit of her True Colors line.

One of the fabrics that we had been on the hunt for the entire trip 

is this Zinnia in lime, by Kaffe Fassett.  

We made one stop on the way home at the quilt shop in Holt, as I wanted their Row By Row pattern.  We were shopping and when Judith looked down, there was a bolt of this!!!  

Unfortunately she was still 3 yards short (it is for the back of a quilt she is making). 

 I found the additional 3 yards on ETSY this weekend!

We arrived safely back at Judith's house, looked at her garden (so jealous), had a cocktail, did some consultation on her latest 2 quilts talked for awhile then headed home.  

All in all it was a fabulous outing.

I worked on the Bee Positive quilt all weekend and got the top put together, 

embroidered the label and put the back together. 

I dropped it off with Kathy at lunch and asked her to work her magic.  

I even got the binding all set for when I comes back!  

How was your weekend??

~XOP~