AQS show Lancaster

 Kathi, Tracy and I had a wonderful three days together on our trip to see Kathi's "Ice Crystals" quilt in the AQS Lancaster show! 


The trip started outwith us all having to dig our way out of the snow from the storm which passed through on Wednesday, March 12.  Apparently the one day snowfall records were all broken by this storm.  Kind of funny, considering the name of Kathi's quilt! 

This was taken on Friday when we met up with Carol,  one of my online quilting buddies.  The artwork behind us is at the main desk at the Lancaster Convention Center.
One of their friendly staff members was nice enough to take our picture.










Many of the quilts I loved best were not award winners. The choices are subjective- even from show to show!
All of the tiny appliqued circles on this one amazed me!

Anything with lots of color is going to be a favorite of mine, especially when paired with black!
















 Marylin Badger had two collaborative pieces in this show I felt should have been award winners.  This one  just amazed me!
 





















This piece by Leona Harden won my admiration for the use of metallic threads!  Not only that, she created the gradation effect in the stars with her quilting.

 

Another piece with metallic threads, and LOTS of sparkle.  I know some people think the crystals are overused, but I just love them.  I so want to create a piece where the quilting gives me lots of places to add sparkles!!!

 This piece made me wish I had thought of this when the blue prints for our house were newer!  What an awesome way to record the creation of a new home!















There were two zentangle pieces, which of course I loved!

 (Apologies to Karen Marchetti for not getting a close up of her label)
This piece was made for a black and white challenge.  She spent 80 hours inking and coloring this design!














Apologies also to the very nice rep in the Sulky booth, who allowed me to photograph his small quilt.  I'm sure I wrote down his name, but I promptly lost the scrap of paper I wrote it on!
He said as soon as he saw "Zentangle", he knew he would love it!  This piece was done with NO stops and starts- beginning in the upper left corner, to the lower right!!








I will share more pictures in my next post.  There was a LOT to enjoy at the show!!

 There was also a lot to enjoy in the Lancaster area!
On Thursday we enjoyed a wonderful meal at the Red Rose restaurant, just up the street from the convention center.  Afterward we were treated to an entertaining ride back to our car on the shuttle.  The driver was a nice man, formerly from South Africa. He was a hunting guide and rancher there, but was forced to abandon the ranch.  In spite of what must have been a terrible loss, he has apparently not not lost his zest for life!
On Friday we had a great fish and chips meal at Annie Bailey's Irish pub, also just up the street!  I bet they will have a wonderful corned beef dinner for St Patrick's day!

Before we left for home, we headed down to Intercourse to enjoy the amazing fabric selection at Zooks, and the best hot pretzels in the world at Immergut, right next door!

There is no "green" portion to this post. Instead I feel the need to rant about the sudden need for every part of our lives to be scented.  I suffer from allergies/ chemical sensitivity.  Those so-called air fresheners are like poison to me.  I can't breathe in rooms with them.  I place a scarf over my nose to use the rest room- or hold my breath until I think I will pass out.  Today- after three days of being subjected to them- I am suffering from a horrendous attack of sinus inflammation.  I have used half a box of tissues and taken numerous OTC remedies to be able to function at all.  I know I am not alone in my total loathing of these products and the notion that every aspect of our lives must have a scent.  In frank terms, I would rather a bathroom smell like what occurs in there, than some chemical representation of "fresh mountain air".  I have threatened to start a revolt against this trend.  Care to join me???

I am grateful for:
Three days with good friends!
Random interactions with friendly and interesting people.
That hot pretzel, and sitting outside in the sunshine to eat it.
Signs of spring.
Sleeping in my own bed.