Secret Revealed--Almost!!

Remember in July I told you I had a special project with Quiltmaker magazine?  (If you're new to my blog, here's the link: I've Got a Secret!)  The waiting is coming to an end and all will be revealed during Quiltmaker's Back to School Party!

Seems like a perfect project for an elementary school teacher, doesn't it? 

You don't want to miss this event!  Every day there's going to be plenty of quilty fun--give-a-ways, tips, free patterns and more! 

If you win something, could you please post in the comment section?  Would love to bask in the glow of your good fortune!

Quilty Delights August BOM Posted!

This month's block is called "Red Cross."  In light of this week's excitement, including an earthquake and impending arrival of hurricane Irene, am really hoping we won't need their services!  You can find the instructions for this block at Ewe's Quilting.  The hardest part of this block is keeping all the fabrics oriented properly, so make sure you take your time and lay out all the pieces.

Appreciate all the positive feedback I've been getting from the groups who are doing my BOM--thank you!!  Also appreciate everyone's patience with this month's block--being away for two weeks, having the "special project" for Quiltmaker magazine and then helping out some friends with their quilting, really put me behind.  Since the hurricane is going to limit our activities this weekend, I'll have a chance to catch-up.

South American Treasures

My dear, sweet husband planned our summer get-away to South America this year while the girls were at camp.  It was quite a trip--ten planes in thirteen days, two countries, three climate zones and only one quilt store.

Moai are enormous--this guy is about 90 tons!

Our first stop was Easter Island, land of the moai.  The Rapa Nui don't have much need for quilts on this temperate island, where the temperatures hover around 70 degrees all the time, but they have a thriving souvenir industry that makes fabric placemats!  So, we went off to the artist's market and found these:

No one is left who can read the Rapa Nui written language, but they do know you start at the bottom left corner and go to the bottom right corner, then turn it over and read the line above it.  You keep flipping the piece every time you get to the end of a line.

Of course, they all vary in size a bit, but that's what setting strips are for!

The next stop on our adventure was Santiago--the home of the only quilt store in South America.  Our tour guide, Hugo, said it was the first time in twenty years he ever had to take tourists to a quilt store. 

Pilar and the other quilters were very welcoming!

Had to keep in mind that any fabric I purchased had to be carried throughout the rest of our South American adventure, so I restrained myself.

The cotton fabrics are from Brazil, while the fat quarters and die cuts are American fabrics.

Going to take a brief moment and feature a fabulous picture my Paul took of Santiago the night we were there:

Taken from our hotel window in Santiago.

Will be inspired by this trip for a long time!