Wego Quiltn'.........

Wego Quiltn'......

What a WONDERFUL name for a quilt guild, don't you think?

My blogging friend Cheryl of Cheryl's Teapots2Quilting invited me to Oswego, Illinois on behalf of her guild "Wego Quiltn'" to do some Quilt of Valor presentations and to talk about some of my work making scrappy quilts.

I was incredibly excited to meet Cheryl as she has a tremendous knowledge of vintage sewing machines!  She was kind enough to offer her expertise to me concerning my maternal grandmother's Singer 127, my paternal grandmother's Spartan, as well as my Singer Featherweight.

Here are photos from the absolutely wonderful time I had while in Illinois!


I took the road less traveled and really enjoyed the sights along the way.......

Barn Quilts!!!!!

Beautiful courthouses.....

 Antique quilts in an antique mall with a make-do mentality.....

 Beautiful hand quilted quilts......

AND

tons of SCRAPPY QUILTS!

After some very enjoyable driving for several hours.....(remember I am a flight attendant, so I enjoy a good road trip from time to time)........I made it to my destination.

My extremely hospitable hosts, Cheryl and John.

They had a wonderfully delicious dinner ready when I arrived!

Ratchet greeted me!

As did Katie!

For some reason, I didn't get a photo of their son Chris, but, he was a super nice guy too!

After dinner, Cheryl gave me a tour of their lovely home, her studio and vintage machines, and some of her antique quilts! This quilt is very special to her as it is a family heirloom.  She told me how she remembered playing on it as a child using the red sashing as streets for toy cars.

The next morning it was time to get to work on the vintage machines I had brought along.

This photo gives you an idea of how dirty my grandma's treadle was!

About 40 years of sitting in a cabinet will do that to you!

Cheryl took her time explaining things to me.

I feel like I have a much better grasp on how to maintain these machines now.

TA-DAH!!!!

Some decals have been worn off due to this machine being used so much.

My grandmother raised 10 children, and sewing clothes and quilts for them gave this machine a work out!  I am BEYOND pleased with the way she turned out after her face lift!

I am so happy to call these machines MINE!

I know I said it a million times while I was there, but, I can't thank Cheryl enough!

I now have the confidence to work on my own machines and maintain them

the way they need to be maintained!

THANK YOU!!!!! THANK YOU!!!!!! THANK YOU!!!!!

I was able to visit Prairie Stitches Quilt Shoppe!

Some money may have been spent by Cheryl and me here!

This shop carries a wide variety of Civil War reproductions, and that was what I was looking for!Stay tuned to see what I am working on with the fabrics bought here!

It was then time to award some Quilts of Valor!

These U.S. Army vets were both very grateful to receive their QOV!

The quilt on the left was pieced and quilted by my friend Vernie.

The quilt on the right was pieced by my blogging friend Tracey

and quilted by Rhonda in Ohio.

The vets and their families even stayed to see my talk about my scrappy quilts.

The vet on the right said he has an interest in making quilts now and has dabbled

with it before!  I hope and pray I am able to inspire those who see my work.

Cheryl has some really great blog posts about my visit, the QOV presentations,

and some highlights of my talk on her blog.

Here are the links:

Part I    Part II    Part III

Thanks again to Cheryl and her family, as well as the Wego Quiltn' Quilt Guild!

Thanks for all of the memories!

I had a WONDERFUL time!

And my trip to the Chicago area wouldn't have been complete without some

Chicago deep dish pizza by Giordano's!

I LOVE THIS PLACE!

On my drive back home I was able to meet Wanda of Exuberant Color.

It was an absolute treat meeting her, seeing some of her quilts, and touring her studios.

There is a reason why her blog is called "Exuberant Color!"

She has the most EXUBERANT, vivacious, and compelling personality!

Although my time with her was short, I learned many things.

I was honored to be the recipient of some of her scraps!

YAHOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

These scraps have been appointed by me to make a quilt ala Exuberant Color style!

Thanks Wanda!  It was a pleasure meeting you!

ON a side note, Wanda's blog has been nominated for the best all around quilting blog in the 

National Quilter's Circle Blogger Awards.

Go HERE to vote!

I hope you enjoyed the photos and stories!

If your guild needs a speaker, don't hesitate to contact me via e-mail on the blog!

Thanks for all of the encouragement!

Kevin the Quilter