Brown Bag Mystery Quilt 2021- Double the Fun

 In 2021 I joined Karen Montgomery's Brown Bag Mystery quilt along. Karen will design an exclusive pattern and get with shops that participated in Sewposium in February to sell the bags. In the bags, your fabric is chosen but usually, they give you a hint at one of the fabrics. I joined through The Fiberology Lab. Then during Spring, the clues are sent out once a week. I am a bit of a procrastinator and did manage to finish piecing mine in Sept of 2021, but realized I never shared. My bag was black and white with a pop of color. I am very happy with my results. I do have borders to put on and quilting to do. It has joined the pile of quilts I need to quilt.

Tea Time!

This one is from a subscription service I had enrolled in for a short period of time called Plum Deluxe. I got these lovely teas from my monthly box in May. The French Tart Black Tea was very good. It was made for the box and seasonal, so you won't find it on the site but they have other wonderful teas to choose from.

Upcoming Quilt Show

I've been terrible posting things this year. My year has been hectic and I have done some sewing but not as much as I normally do. 

I do have an upcoming quilt show that I am planning to submit a quit into. Mom and I were browsing a random local magazine and found out about an Arts & Music Festival happening next weekend. It's called the Louie Bluie Festival, and they are going to have a quilt show there. Entries need to be submitted on 9/21 at the Quilt Patch in La Follette, TN. We are prepping out entries as we speak. The actual festival will be on 9/24. I am submitting the Fish Bowl quilt to the show, now if I can keep my cat off it. If you live in the area come by.

Tea Time!

I have several photos I've saved for my next tea entry. I am still picking just one. Last October I went to Ikea for the first time. It's about a 5-hour drive to the nearest Ikea so this was a special trip. I got one of their teas while I was there. I went through it so fast. I was terribly sad I only picked up one box. In my defense, I thought it was a cup at first, but wasn't mad. I have got back since and got this cute pot and more tea. The first tea I got was a rooibos. This time I got a green citrus tea. Both are really good and I do suggest picking some up. The last time I went they only had the green citrus tea and no other flavors. I also had to go to the food market area at the exit to find it.

I also bought a second basket while I was there because my cat took over the first one I got.

Finishing Projects

 

I have a few finished projects to share. I've been so busy between prepping for craft shows and quilt shows, I've not got that many large projects done. I did finish a wall hanging and a large casserole koozie at the beginning of August.

The casserole koozie is from a gypsy quilter precut. I used a few strips from a Tula Pink jelly roll to make it stripped. I added a few others I had leftover from another jelly roll for contrast.

The strawberry wall hanging was a pattern I got from RJR fabrics for free. It is an Elizabeth Hartman pattern from either last year or 2019. I saw it in the background of one of her quilt market videos and was so thrilled when I found it on the fabric company's website. It's when her Berry Season line came out. I feel bad I can't remember the exact date now. I've had it on my to-finish pile for a while, so I'm thrilled to have this UFO done.

The end of August was dedicated to a quilt that was supposed to go to Project Linus. I liked it so much I may keep it. The fabric bundle was from them and part of an under the sea challenge. I did give them a donation for the fabric. The quilt uses Tula Pinks' City Sampler of 100 Modern Quilt Blocks. I got this book earlier this year and had been wanting to do something with it. I finished it just last night so I don't have a final photo of it, but here is a shot of the work in progress.

Tea Time!

I have been slacking on getting new tea for the month. I've been getting my usual stuff. Here is a shot of me doing my hand piecing at Starbucks recently. I was having a nice day out and trying to relax. It was in June I think so it's been a while. I've stopped going back out since then due to the uptick in Covid cases. I need to get something to go soon and sit by the riverside with it. I'm working on a Tula Nova.

Mountain Quiltfest 2021

 With covid impacting a lot of things several shows and conventions were canceled or delayed. One of them being Mountain Quiltfest in Pigeon Forge, TN. It's normally in March and was the last thing I did before lockdown last year. This year they moved it to May. This week in May to be exact.

I've always gone to shows but never entered anything. The most daring I've been, has been to enter the county fair. Because I didn't believe in myself enough to enter anything I considered a professional show. But the ladies who enter the fair are professional at what they do. Their quilts are fantastic, and until I saw my completion I just thought I'd have a better chance at the judging. 

This year I decided "Why Not!" I put my best quilt forward. I did Gravity by Jaybird Designs and paid to have it quilted. It was too large for me to tackle. I am thrilled with it. I love how it came out. I spent a week fussing over it and the little things before turning it in. 

The show started today and goes on until the 8th. Mom, being excited to see the winners called today to see when they would post them. They told her noon tomorrow but I decided to check out the website tonight. I wanted to figure out where to look tomorrow. To my surprise, they had already posted the winners.

I won second place in my category. I am so ecstatic to see this. I can't wait until I can go to the show this weekend and get a picture in front of the quilt. I have pictures of it but not in this setting. If you go to the show I'm L-16 in extra-large quilted by another!

Since there hasn't been much travel lately so my drink to spotlight is not tea. I went to a speakeasy in Knoxville and had some very fancy drinks. This one is called a paper airplane and I loved it. The bartender is a genius artist! It's in the alley next to the Oliver Hotel in the downtown area. There is a password and I don't know it right now. When we went we didn't have to give it since my friend was staying at the hotel.

Craft Shows!

 I have been a busy bee the last several months. Just not busy writing about it. In November I decided to take a chance and participate in a craft show. I made several small projects and took a few of the larger ones I had to sell in the Christmas Market in Oak Ridge. I can say I was successful. 

I have since looked into participating in more. This weekend I have one in Johnson City, TN. It's far enough away for a day trip, but still close to home. We are going to get a hotel for the weekend. I'm excited about the new venue and change of scenery.  I have been working the last three months hard to making new items for this show. I have several bowl koozies, table toppers, masks, and other quilted items. I'm excited to see how this show goes. 

If you are in the area it's Sat March 27th at the Appalachian Fairgrounds. 100 Lakeview St, Gray, TN

Tea Time!

Tea for today was one I enjoyed in December. I'm so far behind. I picked up a holiday tea sampler at World Market and loved every one of them. It's always nice to get variety packs so I can have something different. The cup is a present from my best friend I got several years ago. My cousin moved in with her two cats and I had to move the teacup collection to a safer place. I pulled the cup out to use it since it came with a strainer for loose tea. I've enjoyed using the cup a lot. 

Bonus photo of my new sewing companions.