The color is not true on these pictures because I had to take them with the existing light so that you could see the quilting. Hope the quilting will show up when I put this up for publication.

Hi all, it has been a long time since I have added anything to this blog. I have been busy. That's my story and I'm sticking with it.

I don't know how well this picture will show up as I had to have it taken with my cell phone. I entered this Venezuela quilt and 5 others in the St Cloud Heritage Quilts Show this weekend. And, surprise, this one won Viewers Choice 3rd place.

I worked on the applique on this quilt in 1999 and 2000 when we were in Venezuela doing mission work. I did some of each block while there and some of the fabric is even purchased there. I have had it done for quite a while but didn't know what to do about the quilting. In February I took this to Kathy Crabtree to quilt and she returned it in August. What a beautiful job she did.

I got talked into joining the St Cloud Group and then to enter something in the show. I didn't even have a picture of this one before I entered it. I will try to get a good close up of the quilting to post here next. When I got the quilts back tonight, Norb wanted to have it on display with the ribbon so he helped me hang it on my Venezuela quilt rack in the family room. So, now I can't get a photo of it all as I had to fold it to fit on the rack. And that is about 8 feet from the floor. I am not going to get the ladder again and take it down and then put it back up.

On Saturday my friends Hester and Debbie can to visit for the day. We talked and caught up on all of our latest episodes and sewed while we talked. Hester came from California so she did not bring anything to work on. Well, not to worry, Debbie kept her busy. Debbie was working on some applique by hand and she got Hester to finish the binding on a quilt. Then she had her unsew the flying geese borders on a quilt she was making.

I worked on my first Inklingo project. It is so new to me however, I have hand pieced quite a bite so that was not so new. This block is one of two that I got finished on Saturday. I really like this method and would like to get everyone to try it some time.

This is block one of a quilt that I started at conference. It is out of the Garden Gatherings book and I really like it. I used pearl cotton for the vines and the berries and cotton fabric for all the applique. There are twelve blocks in the quilt and each is a different flower in the center of this oval with the jagged edge.

Last week on Tues. I went to Project Linus Conference. We were there until Sunday morning and then drove home. We had classes on Weds that were a real treat. I took two classes useing the X-tool ruler. It was so easy and sooo much fun. We had another class on Thurs. I took a crazy quilt that was fun. Then we could spend time at the expo. There at the expo, they had mini workshops. You could learn more about quilting, crochetting, card making, and blogging. I learned a few new things for my blog. Like the new header and new background I have. Above is a picture of Fawn and I with Linus at the banquet on Sat night. We also had a banquet on Fri night. All in all, it was a good trip. Minus a couple of things. Don't ask.

On Saturday, we went to the ordination of Father Omar. He is a young man we met in 1999 on our first trip to Venezuela. He traveled from Maracay to Caracus to the airport with Jonathon and I. He said he needed to practice his English. I have prayed for him ever since. He had left the seminary there and eventually came to the US to study. After graduating from St Cloud State Universery he told me he would be going back to the seminary here in the US and be a St Cloud diocese priest.

I made the stole for him as an ordination gift. I got the pattern by going to our church and borrowing one and making a pattern from that. He was going to wear it on Sun for his Sunday mass. We also got to the first mass he said on Saturday evening. What a thrill this has been. In August we are going back to Venezuela again for some visiting and hopefully Fr. Omar will be able to join us and say has first Mass at San Bartholome church where we have done mission work before.

Well, if this is what pink eye looks to you, you have it exactly right according to the doc I say yesterday. I am here to tell you, this is not fun. I got up during the night and could not open my eyes. I did find my way to the bathroom, my age, you know. This morning I had to soak them for a few minutes so that I could get them open.

I suppose you know that this will not get that album done that I have to work. Nor will it get any sewing done.

I finished my Birchwood Lane applique blocks before this happened. Now have to assemble that quilt. All the things are cut and sewn except the borders. And to put the rows and blocks together. That will be on hold as well.

I have a skirt and a jacket part way done as well. Think I can work on that?