Busy Summer

Goodness, it’s been a long time since I have visited with you here on my blog. I have thought about you many, many times.  I even started a blog or two and  created many things to share with you.

Friend collage greeting card

But, the summer has been chock-full of travel, deadlines, work at the office, meetings, sewing, visitors, etc. You know, since your lives are busy, too. Hopefully writing this post will get me back on the track to completion again.

It’s the beginning of September, and I’m working on some new beginnings and some “start overs.”  On September 1, I started back to my Dahn Yoga class after being away for almost two months. What a gift to give oneself. It’s there waiting. You just have to open it. This afternoon I had a healing session with Master Joy and then attended an invigorating evening class. I truly believe yoga feeds my body, mind, and spirit. Why would I allow myself to leave that off my list of things to do? I’m back again now and so happy to be there.

Treasure Boxes

The last I wrote to you we had just returned from our delightful anniversary trip to Mackinac Island. Shortly after that trip my husband and I joined our oldest son and his family for a week in Cooperstown, New York, the home of the Baseball Hall of Fame. They had rented a lake house elevated above a dock on Lake Otsego. We enjoyed more cool weather as the heat was continuing to climb in Houston, Texas.

Son Todd and wife Julie on Lake Otsego

It was a great get-away and so much fun to watch our 12-year old grandson play in a 5-day baseball tournament at Cooperstown Dreams Park.

Our son is the coach of this select team so it was fun to watch him in action also. Being with his super-mom wife and our 15-year old precious granddaughter made this family vacation the best it could be.

Todd and our granddaughter Madison after baseball cap shopping

The latter part of July, I was off to Long Beach, California for Summer International Quilt Festival. Aww…more cool weather and so many wonderful places to eat just outside the convention center. The pre-show tour was a hit with my favorite being Karri Meng’s French General store. It is loaded with vintage and new French textiles, notions, fabrics, trinkets, kits for making jewelry, etc. I would love to return again. I also took a charm bracelet class from Karri at Festival.

French General Store

The show went off without a hitch, and it was great to see our quilt friends from that area. Classes, Special Exhibits and exhibitors were filled with energy and new sights. Our youngest son is a musician and artist who lives in LA, so he is always an added attraction for me. Several of the Quilts, Inc. staff went to the venue where he played on Saturday night even with a full-day of work scheduled the next day. Troy’s band, Restavrant brought everyone to their feet, including me, when he played.

Before Troy’s gig

Each of our 5 grandchildren spent some vacation time at Grammy and Granddaddy’s house. Some came together,  and others spent special nights, one at a time. My studio is always a popular spot for sewing and crafting.

Madison and Tyler creating in my studio

Sydney painting

The big excitement for these visits was our new kittens. We adopted them in early August when our older grandchildren were visiting.

We adopted two kittens from Katie.

We originally named them Tiger and Sugar, but Sugar has been renamed by our younger grandchildren as Snowball which I shortened to Snow and then later by my sister to Snowy.

Lindsey with Tiger

Sydney and Ashton with Tiger

Having these two little guys is somewhat like having a toddler again for me. They love to be with me wherever I am. It’s not good enough to be “with me”, but they want to be on the keys at my computer, or grabbing whatever I am working on at the sewing machine, or playing catch with each other up and down from my lap as I sit in my chair with sewing.

Kitties on my work table

Snow is learning when not to use his claws, but Tiger has yet to learn grabbing onto my clothes often goes into flesh. As soon as I yelp, he’s off and running. I don’t remember having this happen with our other kittens. Have I just forgotten? Whenever they decide to nap, I sneak off to another area to get something done as I am doing now. What funny little guys.

Brothers always together

Among these summer activities have been anniversary and birthday parties, baby and wedding showers with births of babies and weddings.

Sydney’s birthday with Holly

My husband’s birthday

Our sons have each spent a few days with us here, and we have traveled to Austin, San Antonio, and Kerrville, Texas. My sister came for a few days for our annual sewing marathon to kick-start her preparation for Houston Quilt Festival. Her shop, Apples of Gold,  has been an exhibitor at our show for 30+ years. Her focus is vintage quilts.

My Sister Suzanne and me

While she was here, I spent three days getting all the vintage blocks I have collected over the years sorted, ironed, packaged and ready for her booth at Quilt Festival in November. Now I am knee - deep in sewing pumpkins from chenille bedspreads for the Texas Quilt Museum.

Vintage quilt blocks

So that just about brings me up to today. Hope you’ve had a great summer and are looking forward to lots of great things this fall. From here on out, my focus will be on the International Quilt Festival/Houston, but I vow to keep better in-touch with you. Meanwhile, I hope to hear from you. Keep stitching, Judy

Snow at my finger tips

What’s Up?

Life has been busy around here with a little of this and a lot of that.

The International Spring Quilt Festival in Cincinnati, April 12-15, has come and gone. It was a delightful show with entertaining Special Exhibits, much shopping with the exhibitors, and fun learning in the education department.

Cincinnati Show Floor

I loved shopping with Charmography where I chose the charms, and Robin put them together for me to make a dazzling three strand necklace full of glitter and favorite things. She and her husband were exhibitors at all three of our Quilt Festivals last year, and I didn’t get time to visit their booth or they were so busy I couldn’t get my turn. I was determined to enjoy a visit or two at this show and I’m glad I did. I love wearing my necklace, and every time I do I get lots and lots of compliments. Thank you Robin. Hope to see you at the Long Beach Quilt Festival.

Charmography Robin and Robin

The quilts in Special Exhibits flowed so beautifully in their setting this year. I took several pictures, but after looking at the ones Tom Russell posted on his blog I decided to guide you there for a much better view. Tom knows how to capture the most intricate detail with his “Magic Camera.” Check-out “Cinn City: 2012 International Quilt Festival Show” after you go to his blog.

The Special Exhibits department is led by Carmen Valls and Amanda Schlatre with a great team of helpers, and they do a smashing job getting those quilts selected, hung, and presented to all the viewers.

Carmen Valls Special Exhibits

Amanda Schlatre Special Exhibits

The Education Department has been my responsibility for more than 30 years. We have a great team led by Kim, Jill, and Marcia who come to all 5 of our shows. Some shows we have as few as 2 extra helpers, but for our long-standing Quilt Festival in Houston we need 17 extra helpers to get through the 6+ days of classes taking place morning, noon, and night.

Quilts, Inc. Cincinnati Education Team

Among the outstanding teachers at Cincinnati Quilt Festival 2012, we introduced Heather Thomas to our staff for the first time. Heather is an artist, designer, instructor, and author in Mixed Media. I had the privilege of taking her full-day Mixed Media Collage Techniques class. She is a gifted teacher with an understandable art theory approach to guide her successful students. I continued to follow her classes throughout the 4 days in bits and pieces. What a treat to have her among us. I guarantee you if you select one or more of her classes at one of our other shows, you will be glad you did.

Heather Thomas teaching

I came home from the Cincinnati Quilt Festival on a Monday evening to an order from the Texas Quilt Museum for 20 more Treasure Boxes and 20 more Collage Greeting Cards. I love making both of those items, so it was exhilarating to have a reason to be back in my studio the minute I walked into the house again. I was able to complete 15 boxes and 15 cards by last Friday delivery. I need to collect more small boxes to finish the Treasure Box order, but I’m itching to get back in my studio to complete the other collage cards.

Treasure Boxes full of things for collage making

Friends and Birthday Greetings

Congratulations and Happy Birthday

Miss You

Congratulations and Travel

Get Radical and Smile

Friends and Wish You Were Here

You've Got Talent collage card

Also when I arrived home, I sent the last of 15 Vintage Lace Challenge Packets requested. If you received one of the packets, it’s time to get a picture to me as Tuesday, May 1, is your deadline. On Friday, May 5, I will post the winner in my blog. To date, I have received two lovely photos of your completed challenges. It’s fun to recognize the laces I sent to you. I’m looking for a lucky 13 more photos as someone will be the winner of the little wooden sewing drawer full of vintage laces.

My Grandmother by Debra Bentley

For My Sister by Wilma Hart 14" X 18"

Do you have a hard time throwing out fabric you have cut and stitched, but then didn’t use? When friends and family find out you are a quilter, do they give you their cast offs or those of another family member? I can’t part with those things, and I always say yes to them. I can’t ever throw out something I used for a class sample or strips, squares or triangles that never made it into a project. I grew-up with the quote, “Use it up. Wear it out. Make it do. Or do without.”

If you have this same malady, I  have another challenge for you.  You will receive instructions for making something simple and useful. There will not be a prize, but I would love to post your results.  So join me again next Wednesday when we will be together for Play Date #5.

Use It Up

Until then keep stitching. Hugs, Judy

Thinking of you

It’s been two weeks since I’ve had a chat with you. I’ve thought about and missed you, Friend, and I hope all is going well in your life.

Mine has been busy, but good.

We’ve spent a part of the last two week-ends with Holly, our daughter, and her family. We’ve cheered-on the little girls at cheerleading/tumbling competition, sang Happy Birthday to Ashton at his 4-year old party at the park and fire station, followed Sydney with a fist full of tickets at the school Carnival, and watched Lindsey play in her first soft ball game of the season. We feel blessed to have them just an hour away, so we can participate in their lives with lots of hugs, chatter and giggles.

Holly and her husband Scott, Sydney, Ashton, and Lindsey

During the week, besides spending time at the Quilts, Inc. office, I’ve been in La Grange, Texas, the home of the newly opened Texas Quilt Museum. Recently, two days were spent on a Museum planning session. Lots of great ideas for continuing exhibits, education, and activities came out of that meeting. I hope you will have a chance to visit the amazing Museum. Check out the website often so you don’t miss anything.

Texas Quilt Museum Mural on Side of Building

Two other trips were made to La Grange for meeting purposes. One day, the entire Quilts, Inc. staff met  in the Creativity Center for a corporate retreat. Lots of good  decisions were made to make Quilt Festivals even greater for all of you.

Quilts, Inc. Staff Retreat

Before the retreat, I made a birthday card box for our  President of Quilts, Inc. to keep cards from everyone at the retreat. The instructions and supplies for this Trinket Box came  from Julie Craig of Attic Heirlooms in Kansas. It was great fun to see the transformation of a cigar box into a pretty card holder. Julie is scheduled to teach this class at International Quilt Festival this fall. Check out the class catalog when it’s available this summer.

Decorated Cigar Box for Birthday Cards

I also made a Chocolate Sheath Cake for the birthday celebration, but realized I left it at home when I was an hour from home. Oh, boy. I was back in the Quilts, Inc. office the next day so everyone, except the birthday girl, could  enjoy the cake one day late. This was a really easy, popular recipe for brides in the 60′s. I’ve included it here so you can make it, taste it and enjoy it, too.

 Known as ‘Sheath’ Cake in the early 1960’s

Do you think it was supposed to be ‘Sheet’ Cake? I’ve often wondered.

This recipe came from my sister Joanie McDonald before she died on June 1, 1989. She was the most generous person I’ve ever known.

 Cake

Sift together in mixing bowl:

2 cups flour

2 cups sugar

Put in sauce pan:

4 rounded T cocoa

1 cup water

2 sticks margarine or butter (1 cup)

Bring this to a boil. Pour over sugar mixture. Stir well.

Add:

2 eggs, slightly beaten

1 heaping tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. vanilla

½ cup butter milk to which has been added ½ tsp baking soda

Mix well. Pour into well-greased and floured 8” X 12” cake pan.

Bake at 350 degrees 30 to 35 minutes.

Ice cake in pan while it is still hot.

Icing

Melt and bring to boil:

1 stick margarine (1/2 cup)

3 rounded tablespoons cocoa

6 tablespoons sweet milk or butter milk

Remove from heat, beat and add:

1 box powdered sugar

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup coarsely chopped pecans

Mix well. Pour over center of cake in pan. It will melt to the sides.

Try not to eat too much of the icing before it’s on the cake. It tastes like yummy fudge.

Chocolate "Sheath" Cake

Yummy…Thank goodness I can fit three sessions of Dahn Yoga into my weekly schedule. I’d be forgetting more than putting a cake in the car if I didn’t have that time of exercise and meditation.

Also being a member of First United Methodist Church Missouri City and a Stephen Minister makes meaning of this life I’ve been given. It’s a great way to start off each week.

This week, I plan to get back in my studio and to create something fun for the coming Easter season. I leave you with a hint of what you’ll see in my next post and a wish for a great week.

Dyed Chenille Bedspreads

I promise to visit you again in a few days. I’ve missed you,  Judy

Hello World!

"Jacket Jazz" series

Hello. I’m Judy Murrah. Since I was a child, I’ve created with needle, thread, fabric, glue, paper and paint. After earning a BS degree in Education with a minor in Art, I first taught elementary school and then Art in middle school. It wasn’t long after I married that we started a family, so teaching gave way to being a full-time mother. But, shortly after our third child was born, I started to teach quilting in the Adult Education program at our church. This local teaching led to a 30-year career teaching quilting and related arts nationally and internationally. My successful “Jacket Jazz” book series was published via five different “wearables” books plus two other “how-to” quilt-related books.

My career as an International Quilt Show planner paralleled my teaching, writing and designing. Then, six years ago, duties as Vice President of Education and Administration for Quilts, Inc. took precedence over my teaching. I miss the contact with my students, but being on the team that creates three Quilt Festivals and two Quilt Markets each year takes much time and effort.

 My friend and Art Coach, Lesley Riley, prompted me start a blog. With some trepidation and encouragement and help from my new friend, Tom Russell, here I am taking the plunge to reach out to you. My goal is to build a creative community of students and contemporaries. 

One of my favorite sayings is “Everything old is new again.” I’m ready now to create new art, and I hope you will come along with me as I try new ideas plus teach old ones that may be new to you. We can see what’s in my studio and I will provide free projects to create while learning together and inspiring each other.  I’m hoping to connect with you while giving myself a chance to play while creating my platform and voice once again.  Come along.  Let’s see what we can do.