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~

A Wonderful Weekend Starting With Friday

I don't know about you but my weekend was fantastic!  (except for the drive home anyway)  

I got to spend the weekend with a friend at her cottage in Muskegon.  

She is right on lake Michigan!  

No kidding, you can see the lake from her house!!  

The house sits on a bluff and you have to take some pretty steep steps down to the lake 

but it is well worth it!

We went to the AQS show in Grand Rapids on Friday.  

I think we spent more time shopping at the show then looking at the quilts. 

 Quite honestly I found the show a little disappointing.  

There didn't seem to be as many quilts that stood out to me as at other shows.  

My favorites were not the judges favorites either (big surprise).  

I did enjoy the challenge section, especially the birds from a group of quilters in Ann Arbor.  

I especially loved this duck quilt.

My very favorite quilt from the show was one of fancy birds.  

It was called Fantasy Fowl by Jerre Reese of SC.

Here are some close ups too.

I think this purple one was my favorite!

I did take photos of lots of other quilts and will have them up on my Flickr account 

if you want to see them.

While at the vendors I found a few things.  A new iron.  Freestyle by Panasonic.  

The AQS booth had them for around half price!  

Too good a deal to pass up especially with the glowing recommendation of my good friend Debbie!  

I bought a new ironing board cover too but no pictures to share of that!

I got to demo the new Bernina long arm! 

 I really, really want this!!! 

 There are only 2 right now, one at Bernina USA and one at the show.  

It came with the table you see it sitting on.  

You can also get it with handles and the frame, but I don't have room for that right now.  

There was a show special and I was sorely tempted.  

All they were asking was for a deposit and the machines are not even out until April of next year.  

I told hubby that I bought it and it did not even faze him!!  

I think I need to keep him!!

In the end, with all the house expenses, I left it at the show. 

 I do see this in my future though.

DD2 and I were talking about rings recently and she informed me that she would like an emerald with diamonds surrounding it rather than a plain diamond someday, when she gets engaged. 

 I found this beauty while at the show too, it was an estate ring. 

 GORGEOUS! 

 It also stayed at the show.

This was the only fabric I purchased while at the show.  

I needed some more royals for my Kitty mini quilt swap quilt.  

These were just what I had in mind!

After all the walking around we were starving so went to the Blue Water Grill. 

 I had this lobster sandwich and some root chips with their dipping sauces.  

I would highly recommend this place for a great meal!

And because my friend Rebekah said so, we checked out Stitched-Studio  

A new quilt shop in Grand Rapids.

Cute shop and friendly people inside!

Lots of great modern fabrics too.

I was able to complete my Fox Field collection from this shop!

We then headed home and walked down to the beach. 

 It was kind of a gray day but lake Michigan is always beautiful!

I just had to dip my toes in the water!!

 We watched the sun set and it was a good reminder that life is good!

More about the weekend later!

~XOP~