Our Country's Independence and Other Musings

I know it's been quite awhile since I posted. Sometimes I just feel that my everyday life isn't that exciting to others. I have been working on several projects, including a few Jo Morton quilts. I am looking forward to attending a workshop taught by Jo on July 28th at Prairie Point Quilt Shop in Shawnee, Kansas.

I have also been working on t-shirt quilts for my customers. My business started in September 2009 and all of my earnings are placed in an account towards the purchase of a longarm quilting machine! It will be awhile but am looking forward to finally being able to quilt my large quilts. I don't quilt anything larger than a 50" x 50" on my Bernina. Just too much to deal with under the small machine. I guess the upside is that I get a good workout!

My husband and I are spending four nights and five days at my in-laws. We only live 45 miles away but never get to spend a lot of quality time with them. This was my idea. Now what daughter-in-law would suggest a vacation at the in-laws?!?!

As I write this, it is the anniversary of the birth of our wonderful country. I hope all of you take the time to reflect on what this country stands for and pray that we get back to the ideals that our founding fathers lived by. Enjoy the day and celebrate this Nation.

Happy 4th of July,

Mindy

Veteran's Day

Thank you to the many men and women who are fighting to keep this Country free. My father was a veteran of WWII, serving in the Navy. He flew in PBY's along the California coast hunting for Japanese submarines. My husband's great uncle was an airman in WWII who lost his life in England aboard the Paper Doll. And his cousin fought in Vietnam and became MIA. They never found his body. He is on the Wall. Wherever you are today, whatever you are doing, stop and give thanks for all that have gone before us to keep this Country free and for all that are currently serving in the Military. And, keep those families in prayer who lost loved ones in the terrorist attack at Ft. Hood.

Alex Anderson

Yesterday I attended an event sponsored by our local Bernina dealer that featured Alex Anderson. It was held at the Marriott Hotel in Overland Park, Kansas. The morning started with a continental breakfast and shopping. What's not to love there?!?! The Bernina dealer had several machines set up for trial runs. Plus, they had someone demonstrating the new AccuCut Go. Pretty sweet.

After opening remarks, Alex took the stage. She spoke about her early years, learning how to quilt, "Simply Quilts" and "The Quilt Show." She also presented a trunk show. We took a break and then she continued her lecture. The morning ended with a question and answer period and then a book signing. What a delightful person! Her lecture was entertaining, funny, informative and lively. If you get a chance to experience an Alex Anderson lecture and/or trunk show, go for it. You will not be disappointed.

World's Biggest Hexagon Challenge

I want to tell you about a great opportunity to participate in a challenge as well as contribute to charity. Here is the information:

WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE PART OF THE

WORLD'S BIGGEST HEXAGON QUILT CHALLENGE?

GATTON, AUSTRALIA MAY 2010

The Inaugural TASA (The Australian School of Applique) will be held in Gatton in May 2010.
In conjunction with TASA we will be having a Retrospective Quilt Show which will display Antique and New Reproduction Quilts. As a special part of this Quilt Show we are hoping to create the World's Biggest Hexagon Quilt. We will be asking the Guinness Book of Records to adjudicate our challenge at the Quilt Show.

The completed Hexagon Quilt will be displayed as a special feature at the Quilt Show. After the completion of the Quilt Show, the hexagon quilt will be made into smaller quilts and distributed to Nursing Homes and Aged Care Facilities.

Everyone who participates in this challenge will go in to a draw for a Fabric Bundle Prize valued at $250 donated by Sew Creative, Gatton. The more rosettes you enter the more chances you have of winning!

So how can you be part of this exciting challenge? There are two styles of rosette which can be submitted.

All hexagons must measure 1" along the completed side. Packs of precut templates are available at most quilt shops and provide an accurate and convenient way of making the hexagons.
Here is a page of templates you can download.
http://moxyideas.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/moxyideas_1in_hex.pdf

Rosette #1

Centre hexagon – green fabric
First Round – Any fabric of your choosing. Let your imaging run wild. Fussy cut, alternate fabrics, scrap fabrics. Anything that takes your fancy.
Second Round – Cream Fabric

Rosette #2

Centre hexagon – green fabric
First Round – Any fabric of your choosing

Completed rosettes must arrive NO LATER THAN 1 DECEMBER 2009

The Great Hexagon Challenge
60 East Street
Gatton, Qld 4343

If you would like a photo of the completed quilt please send a stamped, self addressed envelope with your rosettes and one will be forwarded to you. For our international participants just send a self-addressed envelope.

The completed quilt will also be on display at the TASA, Gatton, 13-16 May, 2010.

Enquiries to Gail Chalker: 07 5462 2401 (work) or email: gailchalker@bigpond.com

I hope you are all able to participate in this great cause. Check out www.paperpieces.com. They have the hexagons you need to create the hexagon flowers.

Until next time - Happy Quilting,

Mindy Peterson

Musings of a Quilter

If anyone tells you that recovery from gall bladder surgery is a "piece of cake", don't let them fool you! I had surgery on September 18th and I am still not 100%. I regularly take a blood thinner and the doctor told me (after the surgery of course) that my recovery will take longer than usual. Good thing he told me after the fact. I might have changed my mind. Not really, I was having yucky symptoms and had to go through the surgery. So, what have I been doing during the past 5 weeks? A little hand work and some machine work when I am up to it but also watching a lot of t.v. If any of you have had gall bladder surgery, share with me what your experiences were with your recovery.

I did have to teach a class on October 3rd at Prairie Point Quilt Shop in Shawnee, Kansas and fortunately, I was able to take it easy. My new class is Introduction to English Paper Piecing. I will have it on the schedule again for spring so if you are in the area, sign up and I will teach you how to make those little hexagon flowers. Watch out, it's very addicting!

I've been somewhat sidetracked on my patterns but I promise I will have some new additions by the end of the year. I have also partnered with Pat Komer of Willowrock to make t-shirt quilts on commission. Check out her website, http://www.willowrockquilting.com/. She quilted my Appli-Cake quilt. She is an awesome longarm quilter and will accept quilts from all over the U.S.

I promise to post regularly so please come back to see what is new and exciting for 5acre Designs!

Until next time,

Happy Quilting

First Magazine Publication!

I know, I know, it's been a long time since I updated my Blog but now I must tell all of you my exciting news. My tablerunner from my "Appli-Cake" pattern has been featured in the August/September issue of Quilter's Home. It is a two page article on pages 34 and 35 about tablerunners and contains several photos of different tablerunners created by such names as Late Bloomers and Out On A Limb.The runner is done in Moda's Fabulous Fall by designer Deb Strain. I have several kits prepared with this fabric as well as other fabrics. The kits are available for $18.00 (plus tax if you live in the State of Kansas). Contact me if you would like to purchase a kit. The kits include the pattern and all the fabrics for the top as well as the backing and binding.

I am hoping to have some new patterns available soon. I have several in the works and need to write up one.

Until next time...

Happy Quilting,

Mindy

"Fleurs Pastelles"

It's been awhile since I posted but I thought I would update everyone on my latest venture. My quilt, "Fleurs Pastelles" has been featured in Kathy Delaney's new book, "Pots de Fleurs." I also have a punchneedle featured in the book. Kathy's quilt was done with a dark background and I decided to do mine in pastels. The fabric in my quilt is all by Robyn Pandolph when she designed for Moda. The quilt is currently on display at Prairie Point Quilt Shop in Shawnee, Kansas.

I used Kathy's patterns but changed a couple of the blocks, using dimensional techniques such as yo-yos for the centers of the flowers, folded buds, etc. It was a lot of fun making this quilt and I thank Kathy for the opportunity to appear in her book.

You can find the book, "Pots de Fleurs" at Kathy's website by clicking on this link - http://kathydelaney.com/store/page2.html.