MarketPlace

A busy three days are behind me now, and I can honestly say they were a very tiring, but a much-need distraction from the sad news we received last Wednesday.

Thursday evening saw Lora, me, and several other quilter-helper-friends setting up for Quilting Guild of The Villages' biannual MarketPlace event. More than 45 vendors set up in one of the large regional rec centers to sell quilting and sewing-related products. I think I can safely say that it was a well-attended event, even with $10 ($9 with a coupon) admission.

Friday morning found Lora ready to go in her 13' X 16' Dragonfly Quiltworks booth. Her business is normally an Etsy shop. This was the first time Lora had an event booth.

She sold wide-backs, the 108"-wide fabrics designed for backing a quilt without needing to piece seams.

Several of these bolts are from the new "Drawn" collection by quilter-extraordinaire Angela Walters. These fabrics were designed to be quilted, following the "drawn" curves that are printed on it. Great stuff, especially for newer domestic machine quilters. I brought some home to quilt a few samples.

Another fabric that caught my eye was "Abacus" by Alison Glass. The fabric is mean to be colored with fabric markers. Guess what I'm going to be doing... and then sewing a skirt from it.

Jelly Clips, for making small clutch bags, were pretty popular.

As was Blueberry Park fabric - by the bolt or in layer cakes.

Emma Jean Jansen's "60s Scrapbag" was popular too.

Along with Lotta Jansdotter's "Glimma," and Carolyn Friedlander's "Doe."

 Day two found us ready to work, though I think Lora looked more wide-awake than I do!

By the way, that's my "Snowflake Medallion" quilt on the back wall (left), and my "Triangle Tango" quilt on the back right.

When nine of us who are members of the Central Florida Modern Quilt Guild managed to accidentally show up all at once, it called for a meeting! Or, at least an impromptu photo!

It was a good event, and fun for me because I had a chance to reconnect with many local quilters who have been in my classes, or who are some of the 22 students currently in First Time Quiltmaking. It was quite timely that the students had their first class last Monday, and are supposed to return to tomorrow's (second) class with their fabrics and rotary-cutting supplies.

Oh! And what a shock to have an Iowa quilter-friend surprise me at the booth! I'm just sorry I didn't think to take a photo. I was so stunned! After more than four years, it was great to see you, Lola Z!

And a Hogan update for you...

Early last week, Hogan looked like this, content to just be outdoors for a while.

Since his surgery follow-up visit to the vet on Friday, he's looking even more like his old self, no longer needing to wear t-shirts to protect his surgery site. He has the okay to gradually lengthen his walks, jump to get on his favorite bench in my sewing room... 

... and go for a golf cart ride. We're happy to again see his tail wagging vigorously. It makes us realize how sick he was with that skin infection and bronchial issues.

Now, it's difficult to imagine cancer growing inside his healthy-looking body. I am praying it's v-e-r-y slow-growing. Linda