What a day !

Bonnie Hunter was in town.  Okay, she was in a town about an hour from Burlingame but close enough.  I sure wasn't going to miss this opportunity and I'm thrilled to say I didn't.

Bonnie showed some of her spectacular quilts.  Her blog and books do not do them justice. The colors are just amazing.  And all the small pieces will just knock your socks off.

What was especially fun for me was that she asked anyone who had brought quilts made from her patterns to show them too.  So here are Bonnie and I showing off my Roll Roll Cotton Bowl. I asked her to sign the label and of course she graciously did.

And then my version of Blue Ridge Beauty.  I ended up naming my version Berry Bliss.  It just didn't seem right to call it Blue.  Here she is pointing out the variety of pinks.

It was just terrific to see a sampling of her quilts in person.  She gave a great talk that encouraged creativity and self expression.  I have no doubt that if she ever gets this close again I will be in attendance.  And I'm sure there will be more quilts I've made of her patterns.

On day two of Bonnie's trip to Holton she gave a class for Smith Mountain Morning.  This was not a quilt I was particularly interested in but since we have been doing pointy stars for our block of the month at Holton's Quilting on the Square it was the one chosen.  Unless you see the quilt in person you don't know how vibrant brown and blue can be.

Here are Mom, Bonnie and I standing in front of her Smith Mountain Morning.

Our class was a lot of fun.  But that is not as Bonnie would say an easy peasy quilt to make.  Before I left home I was just sure I would have half of my blocks made and be ready to sew the top together in just a few days.  NOT GOING TO HAPPEN!  I was lucky to get two of the star blocks made and one of the cornerstone blocks.

Here is a picture of my first star block.  I see now that it was taken before it was finished and no I did not take a picture of my own block after it was done.  Insert heel of hand to forehead here.

Here is a picture of Mom's.  Isn't that going to be great in red/white and blue.  My favorite quilt colors.  Hint, Hint.

It was a great workshop and I for one can't wait to finish my quilt. Especially since Bonnie used my pieces a couple of times for some demonstrations. (My stuff was just closest.)

Thank you Bonnie Hunter of Quiltville fame  http://quiltville.blogspot.com/ . And a big thank you to Mark and Connie of Quilting on the Square in Holton for hosting Bonnie.
http://quiltingonthesquare.com/ 

I had a great time. And now I'm off to work on my quilt.

Julie