Gammill and AQS Paducah 2013

Again I'm going to make an attempt to translate the blur of fun in my head into a clear comprehensible post...

I landed in Memphis, TN.  I know, I was headed to Paducah, KY...
The Gammill peeps were swinging by and picking me up on their drive to Paducah -- awesome huh?  Now that's what I call star treatment!  But, it also turns out that Memphis is a pretty hopping place!  It just happened to be lunch time so we stopped at Beale Street for lunch.  Now, don't underestimate the word lunch... more specifically, ribs, from the Blues City Cafe -- outstanding!

And then comes booth set-up -- yes, everyone helps.  It is a little crazy, kinda chaotic, slightly strenuous and kinda' sweaty, but it's fun!

And just to keep it interesting, I timed Doug and Martha while they set up the Home Pro table -- yes, 12 minutes - and that was while moving out of other vendors way and talking!  I did not, however, get a picture of the process... dumb I know!  

Also, what you probably didn't notice in those booth set-up pictures is that giant crate.  That was a little surprise for me!  In that crate was Old Glory, Gammill's special Quilts of Valor machine.  I would be stitching on Old Glory - awesome!!!  This machine has a one-of-a-kind paint job and it is amazing.  If you ever get to see it in person you'll totally understand.

And if enough awesome stuff wasn't already happening... check out the back cover of the AQS Paducah Show Program!  Yes, that's my Gammill ad!  Cool beans, huh?!!

Here is Betsey sharing with a wonderful group of ladies how awesome it is to stitch on the new sit-down Charm!  And, of course, the local news showed up, here's Rhonda sharing the Vision 18 on the Home Pro table!

Now, back to my purpose in the booth.  I'm a Gammill Quilting Artist which means -- many wonderful things -- but, I'm at these shows to share with people how amazing these machines are, and how much can be done with them.  And that quilting is much more than stitching a top to a backing, it is a true art form!  So I start with a doodle and then mark it on some beautiful fabric.  I tend to mark a little more than normal to assist my attention issues.  With all those people talking and watching, it helps me to stay focused and on track.

And then the stitching begins -- be warned, this fabric does not know what color it wants to be... it is purple, blue, or pink, depending!

And why am I always smiling?... just look at the evidence!

And, done!  Isn't it beautiful?!!  Don't forget, these artist quilts will be auctioned off later in the year, make sure you keep an eye on the Gammill website for more details!

and some close-up detail pics:

And here I am with some amazing women!  Martha (A Touch of Thread), Karen (Wildflower Quilting), Rhonda (Gammill Quilting), ME, and Betsey (Gammill Quilting)!

And... I can't forget that I had a quilt in the show!  Here I am with Flies and Weeds.  

You can read all about this quilt in the May/June issue of Machine Quilting Unlimited Magazine!!

So, since I finished the quilt a day early (again), we pulled out the all-over feather frenzy that was started in Manchester, if you don't remember, click here.

And I managed to finished this one too... this is my favorite so far!  I absolutely love quilting like this -- total play, this is when my brain is in a happy place!

On an awfully sad note, while I was in Paducah, my friend and fellow Journeys art group member passed away.  I was truly thankful that her ceremony was the day after I returned home and I was able to be a part of it.  Judie, you were an amazing woman and artist.  Hopefully I'll see your art in the skies, cosmo cheers to you!

Judie, you will forever be missed!

Good News!

So yesterday was a pretty good day, considering an extremely frustrating ordeal with a customer telephone number issue, and no, that has yet to be solved, but all in all it was a good day.

Why? Email, mailbox, and facebook postings... it was actually a great day!

First my customer (and friend) Cathy emailed me to let me know that her quilt, Lavender Bouquet, was accepted into AQS Paducah.

Here is a peek at Lavender Bouquet (photo was taken while hanging at MQX-West where it won a beautiful 3rd place ribbon):

Lavender Bouquet - pieced & embroidered by Cathy Landon
machine quilted by Karen Marchetti

Well, my mail doesn't come until very late in the afternoon... but when if finally came:

Yes, one of my latest quilts, Flies and Weeds, has also been accepted into AQS Paducah!
You haven't seen much of this quilt because it the basis of an article I wrote for Machine Quilting Unlimited -- look for it in the May issue!  And to add to the excitement, this is the first public picture of Flies and Weeds:

Flies and Weeds by Karen Marchetti

So then, late last night, the finalists for MQX - New England Quilt Festival were finally posted on facebook!  Outta the Loop (a collobration with Eyvonne Smith) has been accepted - woo hooo!!!!

Outta the Loop by Eyvonne Smith & Karen Marchetti

So there you have it!  If you're out and about at either of these shows keep your eyes open and visit my quilts!!  

Article coming up... soon!

Last week was a crazy deadline.  Well, the deadline wasn't crazy, I was.

A while back I was asked to write an article for Machine Quilting Unlimited.  Sure, why not, sounds great. Meanwhile, I got back from Houston/Quilt Festival, managed to survive through Thanksgiving without gaining 12 pounds, and began writing.  Writing and quilting and writing, oh, and a little more quilting.  Well, I managed to not only be on time with my article, I was actually one day early... whew!

I can't share too much, you'll have to wait for the article to publish, but it will be well worth it.  It is a fantastic magazine and if you aren't already a subscriber, you should be!  It is everything machine quilting -- hmm, maybe that's how they got the name?!!  My article is scheduled to be in the May 2013 issue -- make sure you watch for it!  You can buy single and back issues here (if you remember, Clouds in My Latte was in the September 2012 issue).

Until then, here are just a couple of tiny peeks to keep you on the edge of your seat:

Flies and Weeds (detail)

Flies and Weeds (detail of back)

Flies and Weeds (detail of back)

Okay, now that you've seen the pretty, let me share the horror...

Yes, that is a 4" tuck in my backing.  Now to fix it!

All the stitches in and around the tuck get removed.  And then some fabric manipulation occurs.  Then the area gets re-quilted matching up all the stitching lines.  Fixed!  And yes, I am human (pinch myself every morning just to double check)  I make mistakes, things go wrong, and I share these things to let you know it happens to the best of us!  Don't ever get discouraged, almost everything that goes wrong can be fixed... almost!

And just to keep it fun... here was my Gammill on Christmas night -- it is kind of dressed up for the holiday wouldn't you say?!!  Yes, with deadlines comes quilting on Christmas!

Home from Houston

Home from Houston.  Festival was a blast!  I was there three days and it totally feels like a few hours.  Everything has blended into one giant blur.  Glad I managed to take some pictures, it helps to jog the memory.

My day started at 3:30 am on Thursday.  Honestly, Wednesday never really ended I just took a short nap and started Thursday super early!  I get to the airport only to find out I could have slept longer -- like 2.5 hours longer!  So, I sit... and sit... and sit some more.  Finally they let us board the plane - one step closer to Houston.  I really shouldn't complain as there were many people in the NE not flying at all thanks to Superstorm Sandy!

Pictures -- I took a few - some I'll share and some I won't (those that received these via text are probably still giggling).  Anyway, I'll start with candids, you'll have to wait for another post to see some of my favorite quilts from the show.

So anyone that has walked through the Hilton Americas Lobby has seen this fountain wall... Nat and I being the curious bodies we are just wanted to see if you could actually touch the water... yup!

So then I had to rush over to the Gammill booth and formally meet the Gammill peeps.  This is Betsey - isn't she just the cutest - a truly wonderful person!

 So while I'm there I've got to stitch, right?

That's Betsey and Dave watching.  Once I'm truly in the zone I don't even know anyone is there.  And no, I don't normal hunch down like that when I stitch.  The tables are set for "normal" peeps -- you know me, not anywhere near normal - LOL... no really, my table is set much higher than these.  It was great meeting the Gammill family!

Then a quick run over to the Purple Daisies booth to visit with Cristy and Sharon.  Oh and see that super cute purple sample behind me... I stitched that for Cristy using Sharon's embroidery designs and then quilted the background fills.  I didn't get a picture with Sharon (strange I know), but here she is creating her magic!

From there it was over to the Meander Publishing booth to say hi to Clouds in My Latte - she was hanging in their booth making people stop in their tracks (at least that's what I've been told).  You can also see and read about Clouds in the Sept/Oct issue of Machine Quilting Unlimited magazine.  Here I am with Vicki Anderson in front of Clouds.  And a big shout-out to Lisa for schlepping my quilt in her luggage so it could be there in time for Market and Festival (((HUGS))).

The rest of the day is a blur... I do remember hearing my name from across the second floor... Bonnie McCaffery was calling me.  I'll share more on that later.  Then we caught up with Candace (a facebook friend) and spent the afternoon wandering the vendor booths.

And we even managed to run into a good friend, Eyvonne, one of our Journeys Thru Art members:

Then off to dinner...

Good times - great company!  And the scenic journey back across the street...

 

Day two started similar... in the Gammill booth.  Seriously peeps, I can't go a day without stitching!  And who wouldn't want to stitch on these brand new beauties!

Then Nat and I walked through all the quilts... beautiful, amazing, inspiring quilts.  More on that in a separate post.

Then it was time to meet up with Bonnie McCaffery.  She wanted to film Wonderlust to inlcude in her vidcast of Festival.  Of course, I was totally honored!  Here she is setting up and the both of us in front of Wonderlust.

Oh, and Bonnie totally taught me a new stance -- Lisa calls this the "hot mama in front of your quilt" stance!  Thanks Bonnie standing like this is way cheaper than plastic surgery and makes you look amazing!  Yes, all the rolls and chins are still there -- they're just hiding while the picture gets snapped!

Here's a pic of Natalie and me with Gail Thomas (wonderful quilter and friend) in front of Belief, Intuition, and Faith a collaborative quilt by Sharon Schamber and Gail.

And, back in the Gammill booth -- Alex Anderson decided to try out the new sit-down Gammill.  Oh, and make sure you visit Gammill's facebook page.  They are having a name that baby contest.  If they pick your name you could win a brand new sit-down machine!

And finally back home, my hubby is happy that I took more pictures than spent dollars!  Here's a peek at my purchases -- not too bad, very proud of my controlled-spending self!

Some amazingly wonderful things happened while in Houston and I can't wait to share them with you -- soon, but, that is all for today.  Another post soon with some of my favorite quilts from the show!  Happy Day Quilties!