La Grange, Texas Quilt Museum and The Astros win!

Thursday and Friday was quilt show and shopping, on Saturday, a good part of the group went on a two hour drive to La Grange. The reason for going to La Grange was to visit the Texas quilt museum.

On arrival into La Grange we got to explore the town, whilst the first group visited the museum, there were a lot of shops surrounded by a town square. I scoured the antique shops hoping to find a vintage quilt, that might have been able to come home with me, no quilts but a few other goodies travelled back to Australia with me.

La Grange

Murals painted on the side of the building.

DH viewing the quilts on display.

We were lucky enough to visit the museum, when they had a Susan Shie exhibition. I have seen photos of Susan's quilts in magazines but to see them in real life was wonderful. Susan is legally blind and all her quilts are air brushed and very political.

Susan wants her quilts to be photographed, so her message is sent out to the world.

I get the feeling that she liked Obama, but not Hilary.

The museum also has a lovely garden at the side.

After our visit and lunch we made our way back to the hotel and a group dinner, Italian themed was planned for our meal, our last night, for tomorrow we fly home.

Being in Houston, when their baseball team wins their first game ever, was not fun. When

 trying to get back to the hotel after  walking around the quilt show for 7 hours, I decided to catch a cab back to the hotel, not a good idea in hindsight. 1 1/2 hours later and $32 of going no where, I got out of the cab and still had to walk the 10 blocks back to the hotel. Not happy Jan......

There was a parade at 2pm and most of the streets were closed and traffic was chaos, not fun.

Astro supporters, even the kids got a day off school.

Good on them for winning, but I would have preferred not to be anywhere near the crowds.

This concludes our great quilting tour.

DH held his own with 37 other mad quilters, entertained the women and still had a smile on his face. 

I feel blessed to have shared this experience with him, but I have also promised  him, no more international quilt shows, as my bucket list has been filled.

Until our next adventure, adios!

San Antonio, Texas

Sunday saw us depart Houston and fly to San Antonio, city of the famous fortress, the Alamo. We arrived at 1130hrs and booked into the Riverwalk Vista Inn. Riverwalk inn was an absolute delight and decorated to my liking. Rustic furniture everywhere and on every wall was either a  pennyrug, hookrugs, quilts and or Wagga's. After having a lovely conversation with the manager, who also shares a love of quilting, we ventured out into the Main Street and down to the Riverwalk and stumbled upon a festival "Day of the dead" which is held every year in San Antonio, this festival has grown over the years and is held to celebrate the dead. Lots of stalls and a parade at 3pm, an amazing crowd and a great day enjoyed by all.

Riverwalk Vista Inn, breakfast area.

Some of the antique quilts adorning the walls

Log cabin

Interesting wall art, all match box's

Some crazy quilting, a signature quilt!

 We ate at this restaurant, Tex Mex, DH had a big T bone and loved it.

The riverwalk with all the shops and restaurants.

The parade for "Day of the Dead"

Shrines dedicated to the dead, look Sandy John Lennon got a look in!

Some of the shrines

More of the parade

Quaint  bridges along the river as well as boat rides and a narration of what the river has to offer.

That's it for San Antonio, off to Fredricksburg, will vist the Alamo and missions on our return in two days time.

Stand and Deliver, Texas here we come.

In preparation for my trip to Houston at the end of the month, I have been feeling a bit patriotic and quite excited to be attending the Houston Quilt festival again, when sorting some fabrics I came across Judith Rothermals "Civil war chronicles fabric.  I purchased these fabrics when I attended the Houston quilt show in 2010 and embarrassed to admit that I have not used them until now, so one table runner coming up.

  The civil war fabric celebrating 150 years since the civil war, 1861 to 2011.

 Civil war soldiers and generals depicted on the fabric, about to become a star block

 Chain piecing is so much fun and a speedy way to sew strips together

 Starting to come together, I used the same blue fabric to depict a cross to commemorate the civil war soldiers

 Finished, one table runner

 To finish off my patriotism, I added an american eagle fabric on the back.

 I missed Quilts in the Barn this year, very disappointed because Brenda Papadarkis was the guest quilter and as I am nearly finished my Dear Jane quilt, would have loved the opportunity to do a class with Brenda as well as see her Dear Jane Quilt. 

Work had to come first, but I would like to say a big thank you to Sue-Anne for getting me the photo, and Shelly for the autograph, pictured below.

I have been fortunate enough to see the original Dear Jane quilt in the  Bennington museum, Vermont.

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I entered the Hawkesbury Garden competition and I am pleased to announce that we won 3rd place for best acerage garden. Another trophy for the mantle.

Another  project nearing completion just need to add the borders and off to the quilter!

I think I will call this one "Fields of dreams"

One more day to work and on the countdown to Houston.