Quilting on the Oregon Trail

KT Winner

Congratulations to Janie! You're the winner of last week's blog giveaway - 3 Mini Table Treats patterns. Enjoy! Now you'll have a few more seasonal quilts for the seasons.

 

 Janie - I hang up different colored quilts to represent the seasons. I also change out runners and wall hangings.

California/Oregon Trail Center, Montpelier, Idaho

I joined my designer buddy, Pam Buda, Heartspun Quilts, in Montpelier, ID for a 3-day quilting event last weekend (hence, no blog post lately). The center sits on the historic site of Clover Creek campgrounds where brave and sturdy souls traditionally camped on the trail for 3 days. After trekking for 1000 miles from Independence, MO, they rested their weary animals before venturing on another 900 miles to Oregon City, OR where they would discover the location of their "free land" - sometimes back down the road to Idaho!

I shared my quilts in a trunk show with most unique backdrop ever - a reproduction 1852 General Store and covered wagon. So cool! The actual dirt from the Oregon Trail was on the stage!

Pam and I each taught 2 days of classes with a group of most hospitable quilters.Incredibly, several of the ladies had just returned from a trip to Missouri Star Quilt Co. and had stopped in Bennington at our shop to visit - too crazy! But not for quilters!

I always like to have some proof that I was working and not sight-seeing the whole time to prove to Robert and Jamie my trips are more than just fun. Here's Debbie who came to class with her Mom and sister and finished her Fresh-Picked Runner from Clara's Garden in blues. Lovely.

Saturday evening, Pam and I headed back Jackson Hole, WY to fly home and get a bite to eat at the Silver Dollar Saloon. I just had to get a picture of this sign. You don't see this in Kansas!

Heartfelt coming soon

When I returned home, a couple of quilting elves (Lois and Joy) had a pile of new Christmas quilts awaiting my arrival. The new Heartfelt collection is due in quilt shops next month so I was busy finishing up the patterns. Here's a sneak peek at Heart of the Home (89"sq. lap quilt). The booklet also includes a queen version, runner and pillow topper. Stay tuned for those and the charm pattern next time.

Off to Indiana

I better finish packing for my trip to Appleseed Quilt Guild in Fort Wayne, IN, Back Door Quilts in Greenwood, IN and Hancock Co. Piecemakers in Golden, IL this week. There's still time to come to the trunk shows and workshops. Hope to see you there!