Ohio Soapmakers Gathering

This past weekend I attended the annual Ohio Kentucky Indiana Soapmakers Gathering in Wooster, Ohio.  It was lots of fun, informative and it was great to see old friends and make a couple of new ones.  This is picture heavy so, if you're not into soap stuff, you might want to skip this post.

Here is a small group of the soapers. Marie up front in the orange hosted the gathering a few years ago.  When I went out of the soap business I sold her one of my big molds.  When I asked if I could buy it back, she was gracious enough to say yes and not think I was being rude.  My mother always said, 'the worst they can say is no!'  Good advice.

A few more attendees who also happened to host gatherings.  Kim in the middle is a fantastic knitter.  She has hosted more than once.  Looks like those that sat at this table were busy buying and swapping. 

Our second demo of the day was making bath bombs.  Here we have Christy demonstrating how the ingredients should look and feel for a good consistency. It was a rainy day which is not ideal for making bath bombs. 

The first completed bath bomb.

Polymer Clay soap dishes were another demo.  You can't just make soap, you have to branch out to keep the customers interested.

 While demos are being conducted you can also shop if you wish at the vendors booths that come and set up.  Essential Depot came all the way from Florida.  I sure hope they made enough money for their time and gas money.  I wish I had smell-a-vision for you.  While their are lots of different oils to buy, the main attraction is usually the fragrance and essential oils.  Their scents waft all throughout the room as everyone opens and sniffs all day long.  Not to mention the scents from the demonstrations. 

A swap is also conducted during the day.  You can make up to 5 items and then you take home 5 items.  Very nice work is shown.  I did not have enough time to make items for this year's swap.  It's always a highlight.  (sniff)

My favorite demo was column color swirling.  I had not heard of this before so I was happy to learn something new.  I was picturing something else entirely.  An actual solid column is placed in the mold and different colors of soap drizzled over the top.  The pictures speak for themselves.

After unmolding, (a day or two) here is the result.  So cool.  Can't wait to try it.  Thank you Rhonda.

We had another demo on soap coloring and over pouring and using silicon molds for the spheres.  Here is the end result before curing and cutting.  Modern art.  And cosmetic glitter on top - I always love the sparkles!

After the scrumptious lunch, buying, trading, garage sale selling, massage and demos, the last event of the day is the door prize giveaway.  Everyone wins something.  I won a gift bag from Essential Depot with citric acid, argan oil, shea butter. lavender and ylang ylang essential oils.  Everyone had a great time and we look forward to next year's get together in Ashtabula, Ohio.

.

Marsha

Stash Report

I see blogger is switching things around again - sign.  Please stop.

Anyway, as promised here is my stash report.  It's hefty but you have to realize that I waited a year to come back here and get the things that I didn't have a chance to get last year. 


First up, however, is a wonderful Easter card and Easter surprise that I got from my Secret Stitcher from the guild.  It arrived in time for Easter but I procrastinated taking its picture and posting it.

A new purse pattern and lovely fabrics to go with in my favorite cool colors.  Thanks a bunch Secret Stitcher.  I like this a lot.

While looking at purse patterns one of the vendors recommended this new product to use instead of fusible fleece.  She had purses there to feel the difference and the one with this felt wonderful, had kept a nice shape (does not collapse) and is actually lighter than the fleece.  My friend and I had to try it out and can't wait to sew with it.

Zippers from one booth (who did not want to take my debit card - do you want to sell stuff or not?) and Russian doll  and bird fabric from another.  I was on the lookout for the doll fabric.  It was on my wish list.

The other fabric that was on my wish list was the booth selling real indigo fabric.  It was so hard to choose.  There were so many to pick from.  I will be zigzagging the edges and laundering per instructions as it bleeds quite a bit.  I'm in love and can't decide on a project for it.

My needle book project led me to look for different fabric choices and I found a booth with Thailand, Chinese and other far eastern choices.  I'm thinking of making another needle book in a different colorway so this neat little package will give me choices when I'm ready.

Some gorgeous silks for the inside cover or lining of a different project.  Maybe a piece for a giveaway?

This little yo yo purse came from the same booth.  So so cute!  I'm a purse nut, so I could not resist and the price was crazy reasonable.

I was surprised and happy to see Karen Kluba there with all her Rosewood Manor things.  I had tried to get this at the January stitch away but they were out of the chart.  Lucky me got it here and the gorgeous lupine linen to go with.

Lastly, the wool for my needle book pages.  There were quite a few vendors selling wool this year.  It must be all the rage and I was glad I had a lot to choose from.

Marsha

International Quilt Show part II

I broke this up because I have such a hard time waiting for the pictures to upload.  Makes me crazy - I could be stitching!  Here's part II:

These first couple are from Quilts: A World of Beauty show, but don't quote me on that.

Cincinnati Modern Quilt Guild Presents:  A Modern Spin on the Ohio Star Block.  It was really neat to see the different quilters take on this theme.  (Love Turquoise and Red!)

another celebrate spring, with a close up.  I am so in awe of quilters, their ideas and then execution.

The 3 dimensional Tactile Architecture Artist Village.

My friends and I particularly liked the Twelve by Twelve show.  Every two months the same 12 artists were given a word, theme or color and then designed a quilt block depicting their interpretation. (such as; eggplant, community, etc.)  Actually, there was a Colorplay Series and a Theme Series - 12 for each. Those blocks were then put together in the same order as a quilt.  Below are pictured the 12 artists and they are in the order that their block appears on the quilt.

It took us a while to figure this out but it was interesting that each of us were drawn to the same artist/s.  I particularly liked Terry Grant's blocks.  She was in the middle of the second row. 

I love bees so I REALLY liked this one - theme DANDELION.

The last I am going to show you is 'Dixie Dingo Dreaming' in the Festival Gallery of Quilt Art: Good for You.

We really liked the use of all Australian fabrics and the minute detail.

Hope you felt like you had a tiny tour of the International Quilt show.  Next I'll show you the stash building I did - Yikes!

Marsha

International Quilt Festival

I was very happy to be able to go to the International Quilt Festival all day on Friday.  From opening to closing with a short break for lunch I was able to browse over 350 vendor booths and 22 separate quilt exhibits. WOW.  I went with two friends who are quilters, and we had a good time enjoying everything.  We did a good job but missed seeing a couple of quilt exhibits.  It's huge.  I took lots of pictures and a couple I shouldn't have so I won't post those.  I will do this in a couple of posts since it is picture heavy.  You're subject to what I liked in the exhibits.  There were hundreds more to see.  Get a snack a drink.

These are from the Hoffman Challenge.  I believe Hoffman offers a certain fabric/s and the quilter must use it in a quilt.  I am in awe of quilters.  They truly are fabric artists.  Let the show begin.

This is the Greater Cincinnati Landmarks Quilt Project.

The middle block is our Fountain Square.

I  believe this next one is from the exhibit: In Full Bloom 2011: Floral Quilts in Memory of Helen Pearce O'Bryant.

That's all for today. 

Marsha

Happy Easter & Blog Awards

HAPPY EASTER!

Just wanted to say that first because I know I won't be updating until after Easter.  I made these few cards the other day.  The orange one went to my grandson right away so he could enjoy it.  Every time he opens one he tells me 'I just love your cards Mamaw'.  So sweet.  I wish you could see the glitter sparkle.  If my cards don't have some kind of glitter, there's something wrong.

Recently two of my stitching friends Lisa The Inspired Stitcher and Jenny One Stitch Closer to Nirvana gifted me with this award.

"Liebster is a German word meaning favourite, dearest or beloved. The Liebster is awarded by bloggers to other new bloggers who have fewer than 200 followers, to help spread the word about their blogs and to help them gain wider recognition.

The Liebster award comes with four conditions that each recipient must satisfy when accepting
1. Choose 5 up-and-coming blogs with less than 200 followers to award the Liebster
2. Show your thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them.
3. Post the award on your blog. List the bloggers you are giving the award to with links to their sites. Leave comments on their blog so they know about the award
4. Share 5 random facts about yourself that people don't know about you.
 
Thank you so much Lisa and Jenny.  That was so nice of you.  I originally started this blog as a way of communicating what I was doing with my family that is scattered from one part of the country to the other, especially my parents.  I'm not a good phone person.  I soon realised that they weren't interested in blog world but I sure was. 
 
Sue of  Berkshire Cottage is a blog that I like to catch up on.  I enjoy getting a small picture of people's lives from around the world.  They like to cook and sew and love flowers just like me.  Diane of Nan's Needlework Notions is another blog I like to visit.  I met Diane at a Stitchaway in 2010 and we had a great time.  Our trips to Arizona overlapped by a day this year and we each thought the other had been there the week before. Carol of The Polka Dot Chicken is a new to me blog that I've started reading.  She lives in the area which was a surprise and I just love her bright cheerful quilts and stitching. Heidi of  The Cranberry Chronicle is from the Netherlands. Her decorating, quilting and stitching always inspire me.  Christie is another stitching friend.  Indigo Rain is her blog.  She has great taste in antiques and loves to stitch primitives and samplers.
 
5 random facts about me. hmmmm.  Well, I already shared that one fact that I'm not a phone person.  I can't talk for hours on the phone unless the other person is the chatterer. I am a very good listener though.  I lived in Savannah, Georgia for 9 months when I was 10 years old. I thought it was great and have lots of good memories about it.  Like Lisa, I get very antsy when I can't stitch or sew for a few days.  It's like breathing - I have to do something creative.  I am a med. tech. and work in a hospital laboratory but I also have a degree in veterinary technology.  I never got to use that degree and earned it after my BS degree. Apologies to Jenny but I hate opera and country music.  I appreciate it but it makes me cringe.  I've even been to a few operas.
 
Before I go leave comments on my Liebster awardees, I thought I'd share some lilacs.
 
 

Marsha