Sunday, September 30, 2007

Portland Quilt Fest 2007

I am back driving short distances - very carefully. I went to physical therapy on Friday, where I received exercises to do three times a day to prevent frozen shoulder. The therapist told me I didn't have to wear my sling all the time - hooray! I can't reach my right arm up far enough to hold the wheel where I usually do, but I can hold it firmly enough in the 4:00 position that I feel it's safe for me to drive. Painful, but safe for short distances.

I was able to drive myself to the place designated for meeting five North Star Quilters friends so we could head to Quilt Fest in Portland. We had a marvelous time. Dozens of spectacular quilts to view, as well as one of the traveling Hoffman Challenge collections for 2007. Several dozen vendors also - something to excite any quilter alive. I took over 80 pictures so will be able to share many of the amazing quilts during the next few weeks.

Lucky for me, my budget, my will power, and my crowded shelves, most of the vendors had little to interest me. Not to say they didn't have wonderful things to buy - I'm just not into batiks, hand dyes, brights, shabby chic, Asian, African, or any of the beautiful bright prints by the young designers of today. It was fun to see what they had but I wasn't tempted. Only four or five of the booths presented any danger, and I was able to be good in all but two. I bought a Bare Roots pattern in one booth - a neat stitchery of a quilt shop, quilts, and other quilty things.
Then I reached the booth for my favorite quilt shop - Momma Made It. I already knew I was going to spend money there because I'd asked her to reserve a kit for me that I'd seen when my friend Kim and I visited the shop shortly after I hurt my shoulder. This is a design by Lori Smith - one of her Seasonal Quilts collection called Spring Baskets. Sharon has such a marvelous way of putting fabrics together. The other thing I really like about her kits is that they are more a collection of fat quarters and yardage to use in the quilt than an actual kit. No instructions on what fabrics to put where - she leaves that up to the quilter. So there is still lots of room for personal choice and each quilt will look a bit different depending on where the quilter uses each fabric. She'd also just gotten in the Civil War Dressing Gown collection by Judie Rothermel, so of course I had to have a set of those fat quarters.

So that was the extent of my purchases - a collection of fat quarters, a collection of fabrics for a particular quilt, and a pattern. I could have been swayed to purchase so much more if I'd allowed myself to do so, so I was actually pretty happy with myself. We had a marvelous morning - what's better than time spent with quilty friends?

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great restraint! My weakness at the moment is still civil war repros and now japanese taupes...

I really love that basket quilt!

Anonymous said...

I'm really inspired by your efforts to declutter and organize. My studio is looking better than it has in a year. Thanks!

Nancy in MT said...

Gosh Patti, I'm so behind in reading blogs, I just realized you seriously injuried your shoulder, so I see you're the lady in the sling. Glad you were able to have a good time. Lovely quilt, you will do it justice for sure.

sewkalico said...

Sounds like a great day out. Sometimes shows have just too much 'stuff' for sale that I also end up with not much at all, but your purchases sound great.

I starting reading your blog after you got half the blogging world addicted to MAM's so hope you don't mind me commenting :O)

loulee said...

Sounds like you had a great time.

Anonymous said...

OMG... you and I had almost an identical experience at the expo! Oh yeah... and I went nuts in the booth with the Bare Roots patterns.

Did you see the little Lori Smith quilts MMI did, and the appliqué was in wool instead of cotton? OMG it was beautiful and so clever. I can see one of her little quilt patterns (that I'm so addicted to) in the corner of your photo.

Next year you and I will plan for all of us to go on the same day!

Anonymous said...

Patti, dear,
I'm so sorry I didn't realize you had a problem with your arm. I usually visit your Blog very often, but life caught me up these days...
I sincerely hope you will soon recovery, and I'm happy you had a nice weekend with your friends ...

HUGS to you,
NADINE

Juliann in WA said...

Sounds like a fun time at the show. And glad to hear your arm is healing.

sewprimitive karen said...

The kit to go with the Lori Smith pattern sounds wonderful. Those Civil War Dressing Gown fabrics are just to die for, aren't they? It will be great to see your quilt show photos!

Beth said...

Well it sure looks like you had a great time! I love that basket wuilt and I agree with you that the kits are so much nicer when it's more a collection of fabrics and you can pick and choose where some of the fabrics go to suit your taste :)

I'm glad to hear that you can do some limited driving, just take it easy

Kieny The Dutchlady said...

I want to thank you for your photo tutorials. I only recently found them and I'm happy you took the time and effort to put them on your blog. I am new to quilting and they are a great help!

KC Quilter said...

You get the "Nothing Can Keep a Good Woman Down" award!!! I am amazed at your organizational skills---and to do all this with a big-time owie! Love that Lori Smith basket pattern--you did good!
BTW, I finally found the book you recommended for learning to draw, Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain (Borders with my 25% teacher appreciation coupon--they even allowed retirees to use it!!!). I have only read a bit, but already find it fascinating. I remember when the right brain/left brain research hit the education circles and how helpful I found it to be in teaching kids. Thanks for the lead and wish me luck LOL!

Quilts And Pieces said...

Wow, that would be so nice to buy a "kit" like that! And the colors she has made it in is beautiful! I just ordered some of my dressing gown fabrics today!

Heather said...

Don’t you just love Bare Roots patterns? I’ve been buying one here and there this year and have quite a few now… funny how that happens :) I wanted to go to this but could not make it, I am glad you had such a nice time! I see there’s a quilt festival in Salem this weekend…