It must have been about 9 months or so ago that Laurel from the Tri-Cities Guild contacted me to asked if I would come over the Cascades to be the featured artist at their annual show.
The day had finally come, so Sandie and I hit the road on Thursday in her new Suburu. We certainly had packed a blanket or two.
My last trip over the pass was the day I arrived in Seattle nine years ago. I was six months pregnant and had driven through a snowstorm at dusk the evening before only to wake up that morning and do it again under the same conditions.
I can say two things for sure, I don’t miss snow, but I do like hanging out with my awesome friend Sandie, especially when she drives me places in her car with heated seats.
Her car truly looked like it could be in a Subaru commercial when we got through. Though it wasn’t bad for us, the pass was apparently closed right after we made it through.
Just like Austin, we stayed at a Hilton Garden Inn. They had a great lounge with a separate area on the other side of a fireplace in which we made ourselves instantly comfortable every night. We cracked up because the second morning they moved in “our” new furniture. I loved these lights in the lobby.
Those Tri-City ladies worked their butts off and every single one of them made Sandie and I feel nothing but welcome.
We set up a table to sew and demo the techniques from Quilting Modern, but most of the time we spent talking with the attendees who were really interested in trying some new designs.
This lady is Miz Millie. She is 97 and a half and had a quilt design in the show. Her tribe had recreated the design in many different color combos for the show.
She already owned a copy of Quilting Modern and brought it over for me to sign. When I asked her how long she’s been quilting, she responded with a chuckle, “Awhile.”
I enjoyed my time there and thank them for being such gracious hosts. With over 400 quilts on display it was a pretty amazing show. I meet some wonderful guild members and shop owners that invited me to come do workshops and trunk shows around the state.
I even managed to stitch down the binding on a quilt and finish the hand-stitching on three infinity scarves on the way home.
Now back to business. I’ve got a lot on the class books this week. Open studio on Wednesday at Drygoods and Friday at Island Quilter.
I’m itching to get a Value Quilt together as another sample for a class next week and some binding on another quilt for my Whole Cloth Quilt Class this week. Invisible zipper pillows and zip pouch are Saturday!
Hope you’re getting your sewing in, looks like it will be a full week for me!
Aren’t shows the best? Looks wonderful. Love the one on your wall so far…
Sounds like a blast, and totally productive!
What fun! And love the quilt you finished binding!
Love, love, love to see your pics and read your blog!
Thanks!
Sarah
Sammamish
Somewhere on the many blogs I follow I’ve seen the quilt in the 6th picture (from the top). It has greens, blues, grey and white triangles. Do you know where I can find the pattern or who did the quilt?
I love your blog, pictures and quilts! Thanks for sharing!!
It is my quilt. Just get yourself a template, 60 degree triangles are the easiest to start with. Good luck!
On Mon, Mar 25, 2013 at 7:56 AM, SEW KATIE DID
I love that quilt! Beautiful color combination! Thank you so much!
Now that’s what I call a trunk show! LOL!
Have fun sewing this week!
Millie seems awesome. 🙂 It’s the oldest members of the guilds that are the best (and funniest).
LOVE the red and white quilt over her shoulder.
Wowee! Sounds wonderful and I’m so glad you got to do that! I see many more such events in your future!
p.s. thanks for including that bit about Millie!
Miz Millie was the best.
Sounds like so much fun. I love the overhead shot of the lights in the lobby – looks like it should be a modern fabric pattern.
Very nice post as well as the pics. Mtetar
Oh my gosh is that last photo a wall hanging?! I love it
No, just a quilt I’m working on for somebody. It will have four when I’m done.
Sorry to reply to your comment here, but it said ‘no reply’ when I tried to respond to your comment over at my blog. Thanks for stopping by, and yes they are a productive bunch ; )
How gorgeous is Miz Millie?! Wonderful that she’s still quilting. Looks like a great time was had by all.
Great looking show! Worth the trip I’m sure. That value quilt in progress looks stunning. I have to ask, do you use a die cutter for all your triangles or do you sew them as squares then cut? BTW I’m just about to put tog a cross quilt from your tutorial for a new baby!
Looks like a lot of fun! Miz Millie is a cutie pie! I absolutely love the picture of your car with all of the rolled quilts in the back 🙂
Your trip with Sandie sounds lovely and a heated seat is no joke (I’ve got a Subaru with those same seats!). The show looked great ~ what fun to be invited!
I’m loving the value quilt on your wall ~ it’s really beautiful. I’ve been wanting to take a class to learn how for a long time now ~
If you make it up this summer I’ll teach you, or perhaps a class in Portland is in order.
On Tue, Mar 26, 2013 at 7:12 AM, SEW KATIE DID
This is the Laurel who was quilt show CEO … Thanks for the PR! We really enjoyed watching you work, seeing your quilts, and hearing about your improvisational path. For other program/workshop chairs: Katie can reassure the finicky traditionalists (because she fervently believes in quarter inch seams and STEAM pressing) at the same time she nudges them, ever so gently, into the unplanned and unknown. One of our members was so inspired she left the convention center — at 7:15, after a full day wandering the show and 2+ hours of take-down — to go home and sew!
woo sounds like fun! congrats on being the featured artist!
You warm my heart, I warm your seat. Seems like a fair trade. Hugs!!
I love the quilts rolled up in the trunk! What a great picture. The volume quilt on your design wall looks amazing!
97 1/2, love it! Just goes to show you can teach an old dog new tricks if the old dog is interested 😉
I love the shot of the quilts in the back of the car! Looks like you had an adventure. I’m sorry I didn’t get to one of your classes while I was in Seattle, the quilts are fab.
Hi Katie!
Did you happen to get a pic of Miz Millie’s quilt? Just love stories like that!
Cat
I didn’t, but I did go admire them!
On Tue, Mar 26, 2013 at 4:28 PM, SEW KATIE DID
Katie, please go to http://www.gracioushospitality.com where I wrote a post about you and your quilts. Thank you for your inspiration to me!
Thanks so much! The show was so fun!
Thanks so much for letting me hang put with you guys last weekend. You and Sandie are the best! I am so inspired to start *lots* of modern quilts…
You’re the best!!! xo