notes from Terry Ann

An Easy Escape

It's time to celebrate - my new patterns are ready! Today I'll show you the quilt - stop back tomorrow for a peek at the new table topper. The new quilt, Fire Escape, is a "five yard quilt" - use just five prints for the lap size - 1 yd. of each. Of course I included a twin and queen size too. This one was really fun to make because it took on a whole new personality in each different fabric combination. Here's part of a twin size quilt on my design wall - I put the rows up sideways so that I could see it better while I was working.

We had fun testing this pattern at our summer shopowner seminar. Here are some of Patti's blocks:

Laurel used brights:

Debbie used batiks and Chris chose fun florals.

A world of fog and light

I wasn't too excited to walk over to Navy Pier - to me it sounded like a bunch of tourist stuff. Boy was I wrong! The walk over was interesting - lots to see - and beautiful weather. Look at how cool it is when the fog creeps in around the buildings.

 

From Navy Pier we couldn't even see the skyline - but we did enjoy the stained glass windows in the museum. What a variety of styles! I could have stayed twice as long and snapped pics of every one - here are just a few of my favorites. WOW!

 

 

 

 

Art all Around

Kirk and I are spending a few days in downtown Chicago, and there's art everywhere you look. First look UP and enjoy the skyline and the clouds:

Next, look DOWN. Here's a fun little tar guy that was in the middle of the street. I saw another one a few blocks later that was painted yellow. Anyone know anything about these guys?

 

We walked past Columbia College and found some creative student garments in the window. We may be missing Project Runway while we're in Chicago, but this almost makes up for it!

The gardens in Grant park have a few extra large flowers and insects!

 

The Miracle Mile is a stretch along Michigan Avenue with lots of shopping. But I'd rather look at the gardens, buildings, and artwork. I made Kirk wait till I got a good picture of these "quilter tiles".

what a fun shop!

I had a great day at Tammy Tadd's in Sycamore. I met lots of wonderful people and enjoyed the bright, fun atmosphere. Here is the entrance to Tammy Tadd's studio - which is just above her shop. Tammy's attention to every detail shines - in addition to her love of everything pink and green. I love the pink weber grill! (hiding behind the railing)

And here is the view from the porch - this is just part of the shop!

There were so many fun little nooks and crannies to look at - here is one of my favorite little displays:

Way too much to see in just one visit - I'll have to go back again! I want to see all of the holiday decorations - I heard there will be lots of lights!

It's a party!

Quilt Sampler Celebration

Saturday, September 5th
10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

LOCATION
Tammy Tadd Designs
 920 W. Prairie Drive, Suite J
Sycamore, IL 60178

 
Tammy Tadd Designs has been chosen as one of the top ten shops shops across the United States and Canada! The shop will be featured in the fall 2009 issue of Quilt Sampler magazine.

Come to the celebration tomorrow! I'll be at the shop all day signing books, with demos at 10:30 and 1:30.  I brought lots of quilts and my two brand new patterns - the printer delivered them right before we hit the road for Sycamore.

 

Hog on a Log

 

Cool weather and big crowds - the main streets were wall to wall people, but the side streets and buildings weren't too bad. We had a great time people watching. One toddler poured most of his $3 bottle of water onto the sidewalk while mom and dad were talking. He had fun watching the water run downhill. The teenagers traveled in groups - some in fancy cowboy boots and hats with really short shorts; others in band shirts from the parade. It was fun to see how each group had a different style. 

My first treat at the fair was a pork chop on a stick, actually a "Hog on a Log". Yum! I am always amazed by the variety of food that can be served on a stick. How about this for thinking "outside the box":

 

The quilts on a stick were fun - but a little crowded. Hard to get a good picture but here's a few of them.

 

I was delighted to see a Winner's Bouquet quilt with a blue ribbon! Such rich, warm colors and beautifully machine quilted.

This is as close as we got to the midway:

And here's the sun setting on a big Minnesota mosaic at the end of a great day.