Well, it was more than likely me that you heard because a DREAM! CAME! TRUE!
Actually...........SO MANY dreams came true!!!!!!
Because................
My quilting heroine Bonnie Hunter came to St. Louis!!!!!
I know several of you have followed photos of this past weekend on social media and Bonnie's Blog, but, I want to share everything here on my blog too. This is going to be a seriously photo heavy post.
THE MEETING
I was literally giddy on my drive to pick Bonnie up for our fun day with Mary Ellen!
We decided a picnic in historic Forest Park would be a PERFECT way to greet Bonnie!
Bonnie with Mary Ellen on top of Mary Ellen's version of Celtic Solstice.
I was officially designated the CEO of Bonnie's visit.
CEO = Carry Everything Out
LOL
Still in disbelief I had the opportunity to share time with Bonnie!
DREAM! COME! TRUE!
Bonnie was also able to visit with the staff of O'Sewpersonal.
An Antique Mall with Bonnie??????
ANOTHER! DREAM! COME! TRUE!
Let me make this clear here. I frequent this antique mall, and NEVER have I seen
the amount of antique quilts and sewing machines I did this day with Bonnie and Mary Ellen!
I think they follow Bonnie!
BONNIE GIVES LESSONS IN ANTIQUE QUILTS AND
VINTAGE MACHINES
As Bonnie always teaches, "Antique Malls are like history museums where you can
touch everything!"
Inspiration from antique quilts.
Sister's Choice
Bow tie blocks!
This is going to be an inspiration for me from the bow tie
blocks received from Barb's block swap!
Mary Ellen found herself a treasure!
A Periwinkle Stars top, also known as Humming Bird.
Mary Ellen plans to get this one quilted!
So cool!
I have seen this particular quilt many times at this antique mall.
It has been very worn over time, but....
definitely was deserving of a closer look.
I learned from Bonnie that she would date this quilt
somewhere around the early 1900's by the fabrics and quilting!
WOW!
We all melted when we saw this beautiful Double Wedding Ring!
This has some beautiful quilting and LOW VOLUME arcs... right Bonnie?! LOL
It had never been washed, and would have come home with me.......but...
look at that middle yellow piece just left of the center.
Someone had taken some kind of staining agent to dye the fabric!!!!!!
It was almost paint like! Good eye Mary Ellen, and what a shame!
Bonnie is unstoppable in an antique mall!
I think she would stand on her head if she had to in order to inspect a vintage machine!
So much knowledge was obtained from Bonnie about vintage sewing machines this day!
MY BLUE HEAVEN WORKSHOP
Saturday was the workshop with Bonnie. If you have never taken a class with her
or attended her lecture.......GET THYSELF TO ONE!!!!!
Wonderful tips and tricks can be learned from her on a variety of
sewing subjects!
Bonnie posing in front of the beautiful quilt!
She also has great taste in baseball teams don't you think?
GO CARDS!
Demonstrations are VERY informative!
My quilting buddyVernie with her first alternate block!
YEAH VERNIE!
Not to be outdone by my quilting buddy Bev and her first alternate block!
YEAH BEV!
And here are me and my new found friend Ora, who traveled from Kentucky with our first blocks!
We were working with the same colors, but, I decided to reverse my placements.
YES, on purpose! LOL
You know me..........I never can go with the flow!
There were even some quilters from Indiana at the workshop!
It was a pleasure meeting everyone!
During Show-N-Tell I was able to show these off......
My version of Geese on a String.
Quilted by my friend Alycia of Alycia Quilts which will be a Quilt of Valor!
AND......................TA-DA!!!!!!!!!
I was able to debut my completed version of Bonnie's Talkin' Turkey ala Christmas colors!
I LOVE this quilt and it is gonna be mine!
My friend Kim finished the quilting up for me and I LOVE IT!
Bonnie even signed my quilt label!
How incredibly special this quilt will be for me and future generations!
Taking a class with Bonnie Hunter......DREAM! COME! TRUE!
I LOVE THIS PHOTO!
But, something else special happened during class.........
Bonnie spotted a quilter using a black Singer 301...SQUIRREL!!!!
I had mentioned to Bonnie and Mary Ellen I had been on the lookout for a
Singer 301 for well over a year, and Mary Ellen agreed they are VERY hard
to come by in St. Louis. Mary Ellen is in search of one as well!
Cindi, the quilter using the 301 discussed with me that she had something I
may be interested in? Really????? What could it be????
HMMMM?????????
Cindi attends auctions and estate sales weekly. She said she came across this Singer 301
and was the only bidder left around to even place a bid. She walked away with this beauty for $5!
Yes, that's right........$5!!!! After Cindi found out about my work with Quilts of Valor, she asked if
I would like the machine? Uh.....YEAH! ABSOLUTELY! However, while speaking with her I found out her husband is a veteran and has never received a Quilt of Valor! Well......guess who is getting one now? Oh, and I reimbursed her for the $5! LOL
This machine shall be so special to me for so many different reasons and her name will be Cindi!
You should see and hear this machine stitch!!!!!!!
Pedal to the metal baby!
DREAM! COME! TRUE!
Smile Quilters! You are on Bonnie's Camera!
MORE PHOTOS OF BONNIE!
Finding inspiration in the University City Loop.
Selfies with another new found friend Robin!
Sodas at Fitz's in U City!
The Quiltin' Blues with Bonnie!
Although that seems a little like an oxymoron!
This guy made up a song for Bonnie off the top of his head!
VERY TALENTED!
Bye Bye beautiful quilts!
Packed away until another lecture and trunk show!
This was seriously a DREAM! COME! TRUE! Bonnie!
Thanks for your friendship and inspirations!
I will remember this weekend for the rest of my life!
Before I leave I MUST thank my quilting friend Cherie of
Quilted Jonquil for the wonderful donation of backing fabrics
for the Quilt of Valor Block Drive Quilts!
It was wonderful spending the weekend with you and thank you so much for everything you and your husband did!
And....I must give a shout out to Sara on her Honorable Mention award for her
Mariner's Compass quilt she entered in the Quintessential Quilt Show!
It is STUNNING!
Sara is one of the many wonderful customers at O'Sewpersonal!
Congratulations Sara!
And...........last but not least......after 9 days on the market.....
my home is officially under contract!
YEAH!
Dreams DO come true when Bonnie Hunter comes to town!
LOLOL
I shall relish this past weekend's memories for a lifetime!
Thanks for all of the encouragement!
Kevin the Quilter
