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.

Houston Quilt Festival

The day has arrived, after a 15 hour flight we arrived into Houston at 6.30 pm, booked into our hotel, had drinks, dinner and bed. Up bright and early on Thursday, first day for show to open. Brekkie with hubby, then show time, 8 hours later, shopping, chatting and feeling totally exhausted, I ventured back to hotel to see what DH had got up to!!, Rest and relaxation...very smart. Friday I did it all again, this time I first looked at the quilts, there is over 500 quilts on display and all are amazing. A collection of red and white quilts have been selected from all over the world to celebrate the Houston quilt show's ruby anniversary.

As there were so many quilts on display, I have posted photos of the winners as well as some that blew me away with their pure creativity and beauty. Enjoy the peruse !

The overall winner, what amazing work! Featured below is the quilter, $10,000 prize.

Information about the winning quilt below.

The creation below was done by David Taylor, Colorado.

Below a winner from Brazil.

The quilt framed below is an amazing piece of ingenuity, look straight on you see Oprah, to the left, Jackie Onasis and to the right Mother Theresa, only a third prize!

A great display of red and white quilts.

A red and white "Dear Jane"

Dresden plates.

Gorgeous and intricate work from Japan. Aki Sakai, Hachioji, Tokyo.

Mosaic tiles

A close up of the tiny squares, that completed this quilt.

Another amazing quilt made by Cherrie Hampton, Oklahoma, she has incorporated real bison hair into the quilt. The bison was pushing through snow, depicted from a photograph.

Carolyn Konig, a fellow Aussie with Ricky Tims, great to have a chat and see Carolyn's new quilt finished. 

At the end of day 2 at the quilt show, being 31st October and Halloween there were some colourful characters about.

Fellow Aussies also at the quilt show with their stand, Miss Rose and Sister Violet, all dressed up for Halloween.

As guest at the Sam Houston hotel we were invited to their Halloween party, a great time had by all! Some wonderful costumes, nothing like being in America for Halloween.

DH made a new friend!

that's it for Houston, off to San Antonio!

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.