I went to Los Alamos last week. It was amazing! (Deserves a lot more than just one exclamation mark…)
But before I write about that trip I need to write a few words about a one night vacation to Michigan.
A few weeks ago I was looking around on-line and I landed on the AQS Grand Rapids show page. Mmm, I wonder who’s teaching? It didn’t take more than ten minutes to book a seat in Judith Baker Montano‘s Silk Ribbon Embroidery class and reserve a room at the rather nice Amway Grand Plaza, just a block from the Convention Center!
And so it was, that I found myself on the road again, this time headed to Michigan.
I arrived in town early afternoon and enjoyed a few hours at the Quilt Show. There were lots of vendors to wander around and I even had time to take in all the quilts.
Grand Rapids is the show where they have the Ultimate Quilt Guild Challenge. I particularly enjoyed the quilts from the Grand Rapids Modern Quilt Guild. They didn’t win a ribbon. Maybe they would have done if I was judging, but I wasn’t 🙂
I stopped by the Wonderfil Threads booth for a chat. I had something I wanted to drop off.
A little sample of Scenic Route stitching… sewn on the top with Efina and Eleganza.
But it was the back I was excited to show. Sam had sent me some of the latest pre-wound bobbins, now in a jumbo size to fit my BERNINA 770QE plus.
Decobob is an 80 weight polyester thread so I needed to lower the top tension just a little but look at the result…
Very lovely. Clean stitches, with just a little shine. I’m hoping to try the pre-wound Efina bobbins soon. They are 60 weight cotton so I will get a matte finish. The pre-wound bobbin was very easy to use. I did need to disable the empty bobbin sensor but that was not difficult!
Beautiful evenly wound bobbins, ready to use. 200 yards goes a long way. Something to add to my shopping list in future perhaps?
Also from Wonderfil at the show. A new collaboration with AQS. A Creativity Challenge 2025 style. Last year it was a Cabana challenge. They are on display at all the shows this year. Now we have a States challenge, to be hung in 2026.
I did know it was coming because I was asked to make a sample for the publicity poster! Just so you know it was a very quick turn around,, with 5 days between receiving the fabric and mailing the completed piece back to Paducah.
I did Illinois.
The packet included the wool for the background, the state and the yellow star, along with wool appliqué thread, a transfer sheet and a link to a PDF of all the states. I added a Monarch Butterfly, a Cardinal and the White Oak, all Illinois state symbols. A bit of quilting, a binding and off it went. (The yellow star marks where we live.)
if you want to join the fun, kits are available via the AQS website here.
My friend Linda Hahn was the evening’s entertainment after the show closed and I had a ticket so I joined the audience for a fun time and then went out for dinner with Linda, Kyra Reps and Michelle. (Kyra’s instagram picture)
Saturday morning I was up early for breakfast before I headed back to the convention center for that class.
Judith was a joy, informative, friendly and full of wisdom. The supplied kit had everything we needed and more!
How did I do?
Well. We were supposed to stitch this.
I did this…
I’ve still got a long way to go! I’lll be seeing Judith at the Seam Retreat in Paducah at the end of the month. Perhaps it will be finished by then?
After a lovely morning, I returned to the show floor for just a little shopping and then collected the car for the drive home. I was back in time for dinner!
A super vacation away.
Los Alamos next time!
