TVQA Assembly Day 2013

Yesterday was Assembly Day for all the guilds who are under the auspices of the Tennessee Valley Guild Association (TVQA).  When I first started quilting and heard my new friends talk about "assembly day," I thought they meant a day when all the guilds got together and worked on "assembling" quilts - sandwiching and quilting them, kind of like the old-time quilting bees.  However, I quickly learned that nothing could be further from the truth!  TVQA Assembly Day usually boasts a national speaker, some wonderful local vendors for shopping, a program put on by the host Guild, and lots of fun seeing old quilting friends and making new ones!

The Material Girls Guild in Winchester TN took charge of the event this year, and they did a fine job of delivering a marvelous day for everyone!!!

Edyta Sitar of Laundry Basket Quilts fame was the Keynote Speaker, and as expected she charmed us all with that engaging accent of hers, not to mention her gorgeous quilts, amazing talent and wonderful storytelling style!  There were many ooooh's and aaaaah's as her husband, Michael, unfolded quilt after quilt while she told her stories and helped us all remember the "Reasons for Quilting."

Some of you may remember that Edyta visited our Music City Guild a few years back, giving a lecture and teaching some great classes.  You can read my review and see a nice parade of her quilts in THIS POST if you are interested.

Most of my pictures turned out too light, but here is a fairly passable shot of my favorite quilt out of the ones she showed us....

Those blues and golds just shone up there on stage!!!  

I believe the name of this pattern is Maryam.

Throughout the day, these two ladies from Material Girls Guild - who informed us they are very close cousins to Miss Minnie Pearl - entertained us with the program, telling jokes and giving away some really great door prizes.  At least, I think they were great - I didn't win one, so I can't speak from experience you understand.  No sour grapes there, of course :*D

One of my favorite things about this year's Assembly Day is that I finally got to meet my good friend, Denise, who blogs over at Count it*all*Joy!

Me and Denise!!!

I was thrilled to learn that Denise was planning to come up from Alabama and join in the festivities!  I'm sure many of you know her from her blog, and you know just how sweet she is!  I just can't tell you what a pleasure it was to meet her and spend time together!  We have already planned another girlfriend day in the near future - lunch and shopping in Franklin TN! =^..^=

I had really hoped to avoid buying too much at the vendors this year.  I mean, really, how much fabric does one person really need?  Well, apparently, I have not yet reached my limit, because I did my fair share toward keeping the local quilt shops in business :*D

So, without further ado, I show you my Stash Enhancements ....

Replenishing those black-and-whites!
My black-on-whites took a deep hit from Easy Street this year.

Some fun modern-style geometrics - YUM!
(Did you notice the same design in white-on-black above?)

And Edyta's Over the Rainbow batiks!!!
Now really, how could any sane person expect me to pass up these color-drenched batiks???

If you love eye candy, and I know you do, you can see more stash enhancements over at Patchwork Times!

Now I have to get busy and wash these fabrics up so they can go into the sewing studio.  I saw an interesting article yesterday on Fox News Health that addresses the potentially negative effects of the chemicals in fabrics on our thyroid health, which is right in line with what the natural health practitioner told me last month about the effect of chemicals on my own health.  As I said in THIS POST, we've pretty much identified the chemicals in fabric as one of the biggest culprits to my health issues.  Click HERE to read that article if you are interested.

I hope you all have a lovely, restful Sunday, and an amazing week!!!

Hugs & Blessings!

Teresa

=^..^=