Quilt Heaven

QUILT HEAVEN

in the

SMOKEY MOUNTAINS

I'm back home!  I've just spent an entire week in the Smokey Mountains of Tennessee among some of the most beautiful QUILTS as well as QUILTERS I've ever seen.  This was my very first Quilt retreat and I had SOOO much fun!!  Not only did I have a reunion with an old High School friend after 40 YEARS, I  was also surprised by a reunion with my oldest sister and her family after TWO YEARS of not seeing each other!!!  Can you believe it??

The picture below was taken off the back deck of our mountain cabin on Friday morning! It began snowing late Thursday night and we woke up to a winter wonderland Friday morning.  It was spitting snow on Thursday evening. # 1 Husband built a roaring fire and I warmed up a pot of Wednesday's chili for supper.  I had classes all day Thursday so it was nice to come back to the cabin, relax with the fire, have supper already cooked, watch the snow and Sew/Quilt all evening!

So much joy, yet I feel so conflicted...the same time I am reuniting with friends and family,  a half a world away, people are dying in one of the world's greatest natural disasters!  

The tragedy in Japan has devastated the lives of so many and the horror of what happened is beyond belief.  I hope we will all pray for Japan and donate to the charitable cause of choice.  I intend to contribute to the Red Cross!

I have so much to share about what I saw and learned about quilts, tips to make things easier, new trends, new fabrics, etc...but I need to unpack and get my house back in order after having been gone for a week.  I need to get back into a routine of housework, blogging, quilting, and family time so give me a few days to get my ducks in a row!  


Today, I'll share some Quilt eye candy and please forgive the quality of the pictures.  My camera doesn't do justice to the fabric colors, and intricacy of the stitching.  I was blessed to be able to take a few classes from some of the Quilt gurus such as Bonnie Hunter, Elsie Campbell, Darlene Zimmerman, Jo Morton, etc..!!

 This quilt was so unique in that each of the roses/flowers are freezer paper appliqued and HAND PAINTED!!!  You should see the shading and detial in each flower...STUNNING!!

Spectacular String Quilt by Elsie Campbell

Girlfriends, I was like a child in a candy store for the first time!  My #1 Husband came along to be my gopher, chef, chauffeur, and all round Prince Charming.  He even noted that this was the first time in our marriage that he could remember me taking an entire week for myself!!  I agree it was about time!

The intricate hand applique and quilting in this quilt was stunning!

I loved the placement of stars in this quilt

Flower Baskets

This quilt was put together from sun Bonnet Sue blocks that a daughter found after her mother died.  She put the blocks together and quilted it in remembrance of her mother!

The colors in this quilt were so beautiful and my photo doesn't do it justice.  It won second place in one of the categories but I can't remember or read the small print on the ribbon!

My next post I'll share some info from my classes.  If you live within driving distance of the Smokey Mtns, you NEED to plan to attend Quiltfest 2012!!  Wouldn't it be great to have a meet-up of those of us who have met here in blogland and on Stash Manicure?????  It could happen ladies!!!
I'm just sayin"....................

Blessings
GMama Jane