WALLA WALLA VALLEY QUILT FESTIVAL

P. O. BOX 1471 WALLA WALLA, WA 99362

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * January 25, 2010

Hello Y'All!

It has been awhile, but I've been waiting for lots of news to share with you and now I have it. We have been working hard to fill in the blanks to make the 2010 Festival bigger and better. You have to read all the way through to get all the juicy details! Here's what we have thus far:

MARK YOUR CALENDARS:

Show dates this year are: September 17, 18, and 19, 2010. The hours will be the same as before - 10 AM to 5 PM each day.

FESTIVAL CHALLENGE THEME:

The theme for the 2010 Challenge is: BRANCHING OUT. It's up to you to interpret the theme, pick the fabrics, come up with a design, and enter your quilt to possibly win $$$$some money$$$$. Check our our web site HERE for the guidelines for both the Challenge and the Block Lotto.

BLOCK LOTTO:

We now have the fabric for the Block Lotto in stock. If you are interested in participating, we have fat eighths available for $1.00. Let me know if you would like to participate, and I will get you in touch with the "BL Coordinator" Pam Murray. The fabric is a pretty moss green/teal background with purple bamboo shoots. The collection is called Rainforest Celery Tossed Branches by Hoffman in case you want to look in your local shop.
You may add any fabrics or use any design that you choose for your block. It just has to have a hunk of the required fabric in it somewhere and measure 12.5" unfinished. Have fun with this!

FEATURED QUILTER(S):

NATIONALLY KNOWN - Anyone ever hear of the Buggy Barn Quilt Shop just outside Reardon, WA? How about sisters, Pam Soliday and Janet Nesbitt, who have turned the Buggy Barn into a quilt-filled haven?
These two are extremely talented, personable, and just nice folks! AND, they have agreed to be with us as featured quilters this year. How 'bout that? We are extremely pleased that they have agreed to be with us. Check out their web site www.buggybarnquilts.com for more information, and stay tuned for more tidbits on them.

All the more reason to put our Festival on your calendar, right????

LOCALLY KNOWN - I remember several years ago when this talented lady brought a small wall-hanging for me to see. She proudly exclaimed that it was her first quilting effort. And she had every right to be pleased. Well, we all know what it feels like to get "hooked" and she "was" and "is". We are very pleased that JoAnne Stillman will share her work with you this year.

JoAnne has an excellent eye for color and design. She leans toward the "country" and "wilderness" look in her quilts, but is still able to lend a simple elegance that makes them truly special. You will enjoy visiting with her and seeing all her wonderful work!

So - there are two more great reasons to come and visit our Festival.

RAMBLINGS:

As you are writing our event on your calendar, give some thought to your special friends. You have all been planning to get away together for a couple of days of laughter, and fun without any guilt! Well, here's your opportunity.

There is lots to do in Walla Walla. Of course, your first stop will be the Festival, but then there are two quilt shops, a fun downtown shopping experience, and a multitude of wineries with tasting rooms that are waiting for you. On the sight seeing side, you have a number of beautiful old homes, Whitman Mission, and the Kirkman House Museum, as well at Fort Walla Walla Museum.

There are several opportunities for comfy lodging, so give me a holler and I can give you some recommendations. You may need to book early. Our area has been "discovered" and rooms are often booked solid on weekends.
When you make your reservations, be sure and let them know that you are specifically coming for the Quilt Festival!

NEW GADGETS:

I treated myself to an Olfa Circle Rotary Cutter. It cuts circles 1-7/8" diameter to 8-1/2" diameter. It takes a bit of practice (5 minutes - give or take), but it really does do the job. Next time you need another tool, consider this one!

TIPS AND TRICKS

Spiders? At least that's what I call them. A little scrap of fabric, doubled, that I use to start a line of stitching. Why?

1.) It helps keep my machine from "eating" the start of my stitching line.
2.) It makes the beginning of my stiching as strong as the middle stitches.
3.) I don't have to raise and lower my presser foot to get out the work that I am stitching on. I just stitch onto a second "spider" at the end of the stitching line.
4.) It keeps those long threads off my sewing room floor.
5.) I don't have to go back and clip threads on the back of my work before I can make a quilt sandwich.

Give them a try, you may like them.

PAINTER's TAPE:

This tape doesn't leave any residue on whatever you put it on, but still stays where you apply it until you are ready to remove.

I use it to mark the center needle position when I am sewing down the middle of squares to make half square triangles. Put the needle down and use a ruler to come out straight from the needle. Then simply line up the back corners of your square with the edge of the tape. Great for Flying Geese, and you don't have to mark a center line on the squares!

And it can also be used to mark a particular width on a ruler when you are cutting umpteen of the same size piece. That way you don't have to stop and check each time you position your ruler. Saves time and wear on the old brain!

ALMOST THE END:

So that's about the size of what I know on this gray Monday morning. Take heart, friends, spring and sunshine are on the way! Always glad to hear from you, so feel free to contact me.

In the meantime, stay happy, healthy, hug your friends, and quilt more!

Cathy Wiese, Editor

Web Site: www.wallawallaquiltfestival.org
E-Mail: wwvquilts@hotmail.com"
Mailing Address: P. O. Box 1471, Walla Walla, WA 99362
Phone: Cathy @ 541-938-6130