Paducah, One Stop Shop-Hop, spring gardens

Well, the 3 Amigos (the staff from Auntie Ju's) got stranded in Asheville NC on Sunday on their way home from Paducah KY. The fuel pump went out in the truck. Good news the fuel pump is on a parts 'recall' list so it won't cost anything to have it replaced.  This was not on the schedule, of course, so 'when you're served up with a lemon, you make lemonade' - they're enjoying some 'R and R' and doing some sightseeing in Asheville!!




More good news is that they have a show near Asheville this weekend so they saved a lot of gas by not coming home and then back again. You can go see them MAY 4-5, 2012 - ONE STOP SHOP HOP, WNC Ag Center Expo Bldg., Fletcher NC. The show is open on Fri. 9am - 5pm and Sat. 9am - 4pm. 

It's hot here in Wilmington already and it's only the first of May.  The garden is looking good!

A beautiful Lace Queen Japanese Maple that I planted 6 years ago when it was just a stick in the ground.



 This year we're going to try our luck with some upside down tomato plants given to us by our daughter.

 And the 'million bells' never quit blooming until frost.

 Won't this hydrangea be spectacular when all those buds bloom!

The white gaura is flowing in the breezes.

Sorry, I can't get this picture to rotate, but who doesn't love the smell of the Confederate Jasmine

wafting along in the breeze. 

Our Eight Month Adventure

As you will note we have not posted for nearly 8 months. The reason being our 'maintenance man' and 'helper' as we travel to quilt shows, who is also my husband and Julie and Peggy's father, was diagnosed with cancer in his nasal cavities on August 23rd of last year. After many months of radiation and chemotherapy the brilliant doctors at Duke University Hospital in Durham NC were able to operate and remove all of the cancer on March 19th. So slowly, as he heals, our lives are getting back to normal, although it will never be the same.

As the fall show circuit began, Peggy, our daughter from Atlanta, was able to take my place and is still traveling with Julie to all the shows.  They are currently in Cincinnati OH for the International Quilt Festival and will be in Paducah KY the end of this month.

During this time we have introduced many new products, here are some of the latest:

Halloween/Fall Throw (brushed cottons)

Tulip Crossing (wool appliqué on fabric)

45 and Life To Go (Little Gatherings fabrics)

Winter Throw (brushed cottons)

Friendship Star/16 Patch (Morris & Company fabrics)

Close up of block in quilt below

 Star Spangled (Blueberry Crumb Cake fabrics)

Center of Civil War Journals Quilt

2012 Block of the Month

Peace and Plenty

Wool appliqué and brushed cottons

Love and Friendship

Wool appliqué and brushed cottons

Mary Ellen's Garden

Medallion in wool/background cotton fabrics

A Little North Wind (Little Gatherings fabrics)

The Gentle Life (wool appliqué on Silk Matka)

It's Plum Repro (Civil War Reproductions)

 

Shoo Fly small quilt

Bedsprings Wool Pincushions

Book by Blackbird Designs

All projects using Blueberry Crumb Cake fabrics

Autumn Reflections (wool appliqué on wool)

We hope you will take the time to click on the titles 

of the projects above to see more details.

We're happy to be back and hope you will like us on

Facebook and recommend this blog 

and our website Auntie Ju's Quilt Shoppe to all your friends.

Family Reunion Quilt

Here's an idea for a Family Reunion project for the quilters in your family!

Early this year we determined who wanted to participate.  There were 9 quilters so we each made 9 of the same block, signed them and sent one to each of the quilters with a challenge to make something really creative with these blocks and bring your finished project to the family reunion in August.

Well, I didn't have much time to be very creative (fact of the matter, I can't be very creative) but I did finish a small wall hanging and sent it off yesterday.  We can't go to the reunion but I'll be waiting for the mail to bring my ribbon ;)

I'll show pics when it is returned to me.  I'm thrilled that now I have a wall quilt with blocks made by quilting members of my family - a cousin, daughters, sisters, nieces and one of my granddaughters (actually she didn't get signed up in time so I put hers on the back with my quilt label).

The making of a family treasure!!!!
 

OFF TO BEREA KY FOR THE 7TH ANNUAL ARTS COUNCIL QUILT EXTRAVAGANZA

Today we're loading up the trailer in preparation for our trip to Berea KY for the Arts Council Quilt Extravaganza.  We're leaving tomorrow, will set up Thurs., and the show is Friday from 10 to 6 and 10 to 5 on Saturday.  It's going to be a great weekend in Berea, lots of things going on, so if you're in the area stop by and enjoy the fun.  We'll be at the Berea community School with the quilt show and many other vendors.

So there's more to come as the weekend unfolds..............

Gardens, Show quilts, New products, Christmas in July

I've learned a lot about the 'flora and fauna' that live in my backyard this summer....they don't mix!!!!. Besides loving the Black Eyed Susan (see the very end of my last post for my 'grief in the garden' saga), my two resident rabbits also consume Sweet Potato Vines, Impatiens, and another perennial whose name escapes me at this time.  On a more positive note they do feast on the seeds that fall from the bird feeder.

Crepe Myrtles

Hydrangeas

Million Dollar 

Auntie Ju's has been to the Quilter's by the Sea Quilt Show in Wilmington NC, and the AQS Show in Knoxville TN since we've last talked.  The Knoxville show is held at a wonderful venue, the Knoxville Convention Center, it's easy in and out for the vendors and there was very good attendance.....so please tell me why they think they need to change the show and take it to Grand Rapids MI next year!

Grounds around the Knoxville Convention Center.

On Saturday there were many locals visiting 

the center and enjoying the serene surroundings.

Here are some quilts from the Wilmington Show 

and we'll let the ribbons speak for quilts!

Count 'em - five ribbons!

 Done with fused 5/8" squares

 and looks like pixels up close.

Cute child's quilt!

Here are some quilts from the Knoxville Show

and again we'll let the ribbons speak for the quilts! 

Grey whole cloth with white embroidery

Best of show 

and last but not least

my personal favorite!

the title of this one is

"Does he make my butt look big?"

We introduced some new products at these shows.

Garden Walk, small wool quilt on stand

Civil War Quilt 'Chattanooga' throw

Mary Ellen's Garden

traditional piecing with a wool appliqué center

Sweet Summer Time, wool table mat

Pinwheel Blossoms, wool table mat

We've planned a 'Christmas in July' sale starting Monday, July 25 through Suday, July 31, so please check  our website www.auntiejusquiltshoppe.com for some really good bargains. 

This has been a long one, thanks for sticking with me to the end.  In the next few days I'll tell you all about the 

Civil War Block of the Month planned for 2012, the project offers something for everyone.