New Jersey Shop Hop 2011

It's one of my favorite times of the year, a quilting quest of sorts, where I drive all over New Jersey picking up charm packs from eleven different quilt stores. This year's New Jersey Shop Hop was the 10th anniversary and pink charms with darling buttons were available for every hopper.

My new stash of pink charms!

My DH plans the route carefully--one day (the long day) visiting six stores to the north, another day driving to the three stores to the south and the last day my sweet DH joins me for the remaining two stores down the shore.  In total, put about 463 miles on the van. Of course, this year's horrible rain made it a bit more challenging to drive, but mercifully, the trip was without incident.

Those who planned the Shop Hop didn't make it easy to pick a quilt pattern!  After a few nights of "oohing" and "aaahing" over the choices, we decided to purchase the finishing kit for The Village Quilter's offering, designed by Karen Dever and the Village Quilter staff.

Guess I'm still riding the wave of the basket themed quilt show....

 

An added bonus is a day at the shore with my DH, walking on Ocean City's boardwalk and enjoying a lovely lunch.  (Anything you eat at the shore seems to taste better!) 

Don't let April fool you--the sun is quite capable of a good scorching!  I know first-hand!

I finished the hop in three days and hope to win one of the wonderful prizes.  If not, that's okay--I enjoyed a mini vacation, lovely people and a date with my husband.  Already feel like a winner!   Besides, there's always next year!

Love Apple Quilters May Workshops

Love Apple Quilters sponsor five workshops a year and I'm teaching a class using one of Kari Ramsay's patterns for Moda, "In A Jiffy."  Kari not only writes excellent directions, she's come up with a fantastic technique for making a quilt top, dare I say it, "In A Jiffy!"

With another quilt show looming in two years, we're going to need to get started now.  If you'd like to make it along with us, check out In A Jiffy and print out your copy, grab a layer cake, a bottle of Mary Ellen's starch alternative and a long acrylic ruler.

Making the quilt top would have only taken a few hours if I could get a few hours in a row. 

Here's a picture of the top, held up by my special quilt rack--our teenage daughter:

Made with a layer cake purchased from The Village Quilter, Mt. Holly, NJ

Didn't have time to quilt the top before presenting the class samples, so I'll have to post how I quilt it later.  Stay tuned!

Quilty Delights April BOM Posted!

This month's block of the month is called "Providence Quilt Block,' which is very fitting!  Next week I will be attending the Machine Quilter's Expo in Providence, Rhode Island.

Although this block is a bit more challenging than some of those earlier in the year, if you take your time and go step by step, you should have no problem.  The directions can be found on my website Providence Quilt Block.