Friday, April 19, 2013

Manchester, New Hampshire, With Bonnie K. Hunter!

Last night was the much anticipated Bonnie K. Hunter (http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2013/04/iphone-o-gram-flying-high.html) lecture in Hookset, which is a nice little town right beside the "Queen City" of Manchester, New Hampshire.

I went plenty early and it was a good thing for I lost time getting lost, LOL! It was held in the Emmanuel Baptist Church which seats 450 in upholstered theater-style seats, so this sinner was blessed to be very comfortable.
Bonnie was brilliant! Her talk was warm and funny and informative. Many times the big audience burst out laughing together as Bonnie pointed out the foibles of being involved with patchwork piecing.
Here is a bad picture of a good quilt, Bonnie's Midnight Flight, which is going to be her workshop on Saturday. And I'm going to it!!!! Yipppeeeeee!!!!! Can you tell that I'm excited?
I lost count of how many times the audience burst into spontaneous applause, but it was more than several times. I was enlightened by her description of how to use the scrap-savers system and how it evolved in her quiltmaking process.
The lighting in the sanctuary was more conducive to prayer and meditation than to photographing quilts, but the lecture quilt above says, "The Fabric Food Chain."

Bonnie helped everyone to understand just how the flow of fabric from the scrap-savers system goes right into the use of leaders and enders. And how those leader enders get to become fabulous quilts without "stupid sizes." Stupid sizes are pieces that don't work and play well with other sizes because they are not easily divisible.
I had the very best time! Bonnie's gift is to travel around the country to visit us so that we don't have to travel to her. If you ever have the chance to go see her, DO IT!!! You won't be disappointed.

Back at home in beautiful downtown Gilmanton Iron works, New Hampshire, there was Easy Street!

In the meantime, I have been using the good weather lately, to audition border fabrics for Easy street. I played around with an odd idea of using a background neutral as the final wide border as you see above. I hated it! It made my quilt look muddy or washed out.

So after several tries, I found this medium green Thimbleberries that I love! I remember buying it at the Quilted Frog quilt shop in Weir's Beach in Laconia, New Hampshire. It was on sale and I bought all they had. Thank goodness it was plenty enough for the borders of this behemoth of 98" square.
Thank you, again, Bonnie, for this wonderful mystery design!!!!





5 comments:

Janet O. said...

Looks like such a good time, Vic. Glad you are able to attend.
I do like that green border on your Easy Street. To be honest, I thought the cream you were trying out was just batting you hadn't trimmed yet. : )

Stacey said...

Lucky Lady. Isn't she great?

The Thimblemouse of Country Crossroads said...

Thanks for sharing. I've been closely watching Bonnie's Manchester trip - and love the pics you shared!!! The church where the event is happening..is right around the corner (literally) from my Mom's childhood home. Having been away from NH for 35yrs...I'm suddenly feeling a little more than nostalgic for my Queen City!

Nann said...

I'm SOOO glad you got to go to her program and I'm envious that you're going to the workshop. (I've heard her speak twice, but haven't gone to a workshop.) Midnight Flight is such an intriguing block. And you'll be able to take your Easy Street to show her!

Helen in the UK said...

Lucky you for getting to hear Bonnie talk and go to another workshop with her. Enjoy! Easy Street is looking fabulous :)

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...