Friday, May 8, 2015

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



17 comments:

  1. What a fun road trip, Kevin! So nice to see your quilting pals' smiling faces (pooches too). Love that beautiful antique string quilt Cheryl is pictured with. Thanks for the other antique quilt eye candy too. And lucky you to be the recipient of Wanda's scraps!

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  2. Wow! I went to Cheryl's Blog and saw some fantastic quilts that you have made. Thanks for sharing with the rest of us! And I hope you did inspire that veteran to quilt. They both looked very happy with their new quilts. Keep up the good work. I have put your Blog in our newsletter hoping to inspire more veteran's quilts.

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  3. Sounds like you had a fantastic time!!! And inspiring - you go Kev!!

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  4. So glad you were able to learn about maintaining Vintage Machines! I learned so much from others on the net and even met a few of them. I am able to clean them up for others to keep them working. I love my Vintage Singers. Thanks for pushing Wanda's nomination. She is my biggest quilt hero ever! And I have not met her, just learned from her patient replies.

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  5. Sounds like a fabulous road trip... I am jealous! What a wonderful list of adventures!

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  6. What a fantastic trip! Thanks for the note to checkout the QOV presentation. I'm extremely pleased.

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  7. Always fun to take a road trip!! Love all the pictures...and I went to the other blogs and checked them out as well! If you ever get to Spokane, we'll have to catch up!!!

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  8. What a great trip you had! Thanks for sharing your pics.... and to come home with Wanda's scraps...oh my, I am jealous!

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  9. I can't wait to see your grandmothers treadle running. I'm looking forward to seeing what you make on it. Come back anytime!

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  10. Wow what a fabulous trip. Gorgeous scrappy antique quilts, scrappy is best. Your machines are beautiful Kevin. I have a featherweight (1941) and a Singer Rocketeer (1963) I use them all the time! How I would love to attend one of your seminars :) Happy quilting.

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  11. Looks you had a learned a little, shopped a little, and had a lot of fun! Looking forward to seeing what you make up with all the fabric acquired on this trip.

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  12. Looks like you had a great visit to my old stomping grounds. I know of Wanda through a mutual friend, Diane, but I don't think I've ever met her.
    your QOV presentation recipients look very happy and proud to have the quilts - hooray! great post. Glad you had such a great time.

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  13. It looks like you had a cram-packed fun trip! Glad you have your machines so sweetly clean and polished now. The older ones, to me, are just a joy to use. And Wanda is my favorite blogger! I've learned so much from her. Glad you got the chance to meet her. The QOV guys looks so happy. That makes it all worth while, doesn't it?

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  14. Thanks for compiling such nicest information in your blogs. Articles are very informative and hope again I’ll find more like that.QuiltersReview

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  15. I bet you are a hoot on a road trip! So nice to have your gma's machine...and know how to maintain it too!

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  16. I hope you enjoyed yourself while in Chicago. I missed seeing you at Prairie Stitches quilt shop I go to that quilt shop in Oswego.

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