February 2016 – HollyDee Quilts

Houston! We have a Rodeo and Quilts!

Published on February 22, 2016 by hollydeequilts2 Comments

Texas is BIG and Houston is HUGE!!! So is the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo! There are many Go-Texan competitions as part of Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and on more than one occasion I have been asked to be a participant in the “Quilts” Competition. Even having a quilt I own – take Best of Show Metro along with several other ribbons that year!

So there is a story that goes with this quilt. I purchased the top at my guild auction in 2003 and it was bidding war to the end. Luckily some folks sitting near by adversary convinced her I was not going to give up and she finally stopped bidding. What she did not know, is my final bid was truly my final bid – had she bid one more time this beauty would’ve gone home with her. I arrived home and tentatively showed my hubby – he wondered out-loud what this had cost him; I don’t think I told him that night! Fast forward to May 2004, I entered my now finished quilt in the Lakeview Quilters Guild show, out of 3 entries in its category it took 3rd. I had it appraised that year and I highly recommend you have your special quilts appraised, this one appraised for 4 x my initial purchase of the top. Some interesting information regarding appraisals – the backing fabric DOES matter. As part of the quilt I was given a beautiful Jane Sassaman for the back; that added value. I used to say “it’s just the back” but not anymore. Also, the number of years you have been quilting, your status in the quilting community and many other little things add to the value of your quilt. I have considered having this quilt re-appraised because my status in the quilting world has changed and it is probably more valuable now. Fast forward to 2006, I was asked to allow this quilt to represent the NASA/Clearlake/Friendswood Go-Texan Region and I of course agreed. Well this quilt, took Best of Show, 3 first places and a judges choice! Be sure to view the photo of the label I included below – I give these women ALL the credit for any ribbons this quilt has received. I am just the quilter and the proud owner!

Another block! The background is a Hoffman 1895, color Havana – I have been known to purchase this by the bolt! All the fabric in this quilt are batiks. The patterns for the blocks were from a book by Jane Townswick

A close-up of one of the blocks in Chocolat

This is the second label for this quilt. Prior to shipping it off to Houston for the competition I wanted to update the label to include that it was part of the 2006 HLSR Quilt Competition. This label is significant to me because it reminds me who made each block and/or border. These talented women are members of the Lakeview Quilters Guild and there work is some of the finest I have seen when it comes to appliqué!

For 2016 I was asked to quilt this quilt for the competition. I do love how these wool appliqué quilts quilt up! Be sure to find this quilt when you visit the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo this year – be sure to share your photos! Here are my photos; but they never do the quilt justice because the quilt is not yet trimmed and there is no binding. The binding always just gives a quilt that polished look!

An overall view of Ronda’s beautiful wool appliqué quilt!

A dragonfly close-up – doesn’t this make you smile?

Another view of the back – more light this time

And one more of the back – do you need a drool bib yet?

Wishing this quilt and it’s owner best wishes in the quilt competition for Houston 2016!

Denise

Sharing the Love

Published on February 18, 2016 by hollydeequiltsLeave a comment

I have joined a group of bloggers on Facebook – the goal of the group is to inspire each other to set goals for blogging. I set a goal to post on Monday and Thursday of each week. Today my post is short and sweet!

I may have missed the boat on this one, I should’ve posted it on Valentine’s day, but I didn’t! Do you still love me?

This beautiful quilt uses a technique called “reverse appliqué” It gives a little bit of extra dimension to the piece. Another term used here is “cutwork appliqué” Cutwork appliqué reminds me of when we would paper and then make cuts for snowflakes….do you still do this sometimes? Have you ever done it with fabric? To add additional dimension I used 2 battings, cotton and then a layer of wool.

I hope you enjoy today’s share – even though it is a few days late!

PS – if you would like to see this quilt in person; it is part of the “Best Little Quilt Show in Texas” Fayette County Fairgrounds – La Grange, TX. February 26 & 27, 2016

Have a fabulous day!

Dee

Block Swap Re-Visited

Published on February 15, 2016 by hollydeequilts1 Comment

For many years I have been a member of Lakeview Quilters Guild! My first meeting was in August of 1997, they were talking about a retreat. Sounded interesting so I signed up and a couple of weeks later I headed to Round Top TX with a new friend on a new adventure. I was attending a retreat with 65 quilters, most of whom I had never met. Pat and I were assigned to the 3rd floor but the a/c was not working on that side of the 3rd floor. There were a couple of beds for us in the other house, the stairs to our second floor were the old fashioned, teeny tiny steep stairs and we both opted to stay in the other building on the 3rd floor with no a/c. We opened the windows at night and it really was quite pleasant. We were really lucky because future years with heat hovering in the high 90’s we would’ve been toast trying to sleep with no a/c.

This retreat holds a special place for me – it is always held the weekend after Labor day and the facility is amazing – the friendship we enjoy there is even better! Over the years I have been able to share this special event with my sister, nieces (from GA and UT), my daughter-in-law and numerous friends. I love to walk from room to room and house to house just visiting with friends and learning from each of them. Sometimes I even sew! It is always very inspiring!

I love to do block swaps and one year (2002 or 2003) I gathered a group to swap 16 blocks, they had to make 16 beautiful fall blocks AND add sashing with a corner stone on two sides. The rules changed and while we did make the sashing and corner stone we did not attach them. We had 1 year to make our blocks and sashing. We had no deadline for finishing the quilt. I received a call in 2015, one of the group was so excited, she had finished her quilt and needed it quilted. She used a technique by Sharyn Craig called Twist N Turn to set her blocks.

“Side Note” – Sharyn Craig was the first speaker I saw at the Lakeview Quilters Guild and her program was the best thing I had ever seen, her quilts were beautiful and she was so funny and inspiring and genuine! When she came back to our guild several years later I was worried that she would not be as good as I remembered since that had been my first guild meeting ever! Well, she did not disappoint the second time around, she was even better!

I have not been able to visit my old guild since I 2014 when we moved to the “country”, however, in bringing everything full circle, I will be participate as a vendor at their bi-annual quilt show May 13 & 14. The women in this guild are the reason I am opening a quilt shop to share my passion with other quilters. My guild is full of inspirational women that have always shared their gift and passion with me! Thinking of them makes me smile!

So I guess you want to Cherie’s quilt now? It is beautiful!

These blocks were amazing, Linda A. made the feathered stars, Karla made the pine-burr blocks. Several chose beautiful blocks designed by Carol Doak.

Do you do block swaps? I know so many quilters that don’t because they don’t get back a “perfect” block. What I get back are memories! That is why I love doing block swaps! Perfection can be over-rated!

Go make someone’s day special! Give them a smile! It’s free and it will make you feel GREAT!

Dee

The Next Chapter

Published on February 10, 2016 by hollydeequilts7 Comments

I may have mentioned in an earlier post that my word for the year is “ACTUALIZE”. I wanted something that would inspire me to do the things I really want to do and not procrastinate. Life is short, make the most of it.

Back in 1995 I started quilting, I think the seed was planted then that I wanted to own a quilt shop and share my new passion with everyone I came in touch with. A few years later while taking a workshop from Mary Lou Weidman she asked each of us what our favorite part of quilting was; I replied sharing what I know with other quilters. Time Warp to 2011 I became a certified instructor for Judy Niemeyer Quilting aka Quiltworx and I have had a blast. Traveling around Texas and even outside of Texas to teach and vend at shows has been so much fun; but I want to be more productive in my own community.

As you recall in 2014 we made the BIG move to the SMALL town of Luling, TX. There is just something about this town that calls upon me to make an impact! While we are not residents of Luling; we live just past the county line; I consider Luling my new hometown!

So begins the next chapter, and I am so excited about it! I have found a perfect little building right on the main drag. The owners have just completed a fabulous renovation and I must say it is full of charm and excitement. I can’t wait to share the inside with you – but for now you will have to whet your appetite with a few photos of the outside and the town.

For you to really appreciate the work that has been done I will start with a before photo from google.

Screenshot 2016-02-10 08.16.17 — The before photo!

The building, original brick, new awning, new doors and windows.

12662644_1101460996560931_891941469623083320_n — Looking forward to seeing what my sign bidders come up with!

Two doors down from the shop! It’s all happening here the last weekend in June! Two doors down in the other direction is a cute little shop that sells “beverages”

This one can be found at the Luling Oil Museum, however, there are many around town and that have been “decorated” and you can take a self-guided tour!

The Luling Oil Museum is a great place to learn more about the history of our town.

Stay tuned as I will be sharing photos from the inside soon. You will also get a sneak peek at the fabrics that will be lining our shelves!

Looking forward to seeing you all VERY SOON!

Dee