Just in!

I am a member of the Milwaukee Art Quilters Guild in Milwaukee WI. We entered the Ultimate Guild Challenge hosted by the American Quilters Society for their upcoming show in Knoxville, TN..Our group of 8 quilters was chosen to participate! Per show rules, I can't show you pictures yet but soon will hopefully post news of our success!

The elite 8 (we pick our representatives during the NCAA playoffs!) were chosen from a total of 27 quilts from the group..all the quilts are magnificent. The challenge was called "Line of Design, Connecting Threads". There is a piece of red rayon rattail cording that crosses the surface of each quilt. The rat tail enters at a specific height and exits at a specific height..then there is extra rat tail to connect each quilt to the next so the line continues! Thanks to Chris Lynn Kirsch for the wonderful challenge theme! It was a pleasure to participate and a joy to be selected with the other seven members to represent our Guild.

Off again Vermont Quilt Show

Just a pop in to say I am off to the Vermont Quilt Show in Essex Junction, VT this week. It has been a while since I last wrote. Here's why:

I assumed the Presidency of the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts and Fiber Arts in April of this year. (www.wiquiltmuseum.com) This last 14-16 months has been a really busy time! The museum is currently in its "Final Push" to raise the funds for the build. We are converting an 1850's barn into a gallery and educational facility. In the last four months, we have achieved a designation from the Landmarks Committee for historic preservation; acquired a new parcel of land...thank you to a generous neighbor who has donated the strip we need to meet state code!, raised almost 1.15 million dollars! We have about $85,000 left to raise to meet a 10% contingency and cover every single one of our hard bids right now. Building Debt FREE! D-Day Is June 30, 2010..The Board makes the decision to plow ahead to break ground! We have received tremendous support from our local guilds in the fiber arts and from civic leaders in our community. We even had two donors willing to match all funds raised by our guilds. Stay tuned and I will let you know more details.

If you care to give to our cause you can reach me through email and I can take your information...or mail a check to : WQHP, Final Push Campaign to Raise our Roof!, PO Box 562, Cedarburg, WI 53012

I have been building a new website for the museum..Hope to launch the new site within the next few weeks. Again stay tuned for a new link! Streaming video, online payments for class registration, new photos of the building project and much more!

I have also been very busy quilting for others in this part of the world. I have had a resurgence in customer numbers for my longarm services. I have enjoyed working with several talented local quilters to help them finish their tops!

I continue to work for BBD Creations, Inc. in pattern development. I have finished a new custom quilt pattern featuring a "Christmas Dove". This pattern will be for sale to the public after Fall Market..see the website at www.bbdcreations.com for further details in late October. I have also been working on other patterns for BBD Creations but all are still in the works..hopefully, these will be done for Houston this Fall.

The museum received a huge donation of antique quilts from Mary and Joe Koval in May. The quilts feature a Baltimore album quilt from 1848.. a true national treasure and several other beautiful quilts. The museum is looking forward to building a permanent home for these wonderful examples of traditional textile artwork!

Lastly, I continue to work full time as an Audiologist..work has been very hectic this summer..good news in this economy!

I am jetting off to Vermont today for the Vermont Quilt Show. A new venue for BBD Creations..if you reside in the Essex Junction area just outside Burlington, stop on in at the booth!