Changing Priorities … But Still Quilting!

At AQS Paducah with friends Mary Ann and Cheryl!

Wow! The first nearly six months of the year have gone by so quickly. Unfortunately, events of those months have forced me to put a few things aside – including blogging. But, I’m back and hope things have calmed down enough at the Hawkins’ household for me to become more regular with blogging.

 If I use the excuse of “Quilt Show Chair” as the reason for my absence, many of you will understand what I’m talking about! Our Heritage Quilters of Huntsville Fanfare Quilt Show was in March. It totally took over my life in the early part of 2024! But the end result was well worth it! 

Right before we opened Fanfare 2024.

We had the largest show ever in terms of the number of quilts displayed, the number of people who attended, the number of vendors to shop at and the physical size of the show. We tried out the Von Braun Center’s South Hall II, which provided a huge venue and gave our show a different look; and we introduced some innovative ideas that worked out quite well. I’m proud of what our volunteers put together and I learned a ton about all the planning and decisions that go into a high quality, beautiful quilt show that drew in over 1,500 attendees!

Call me crazy, but I have volunteered to co-chair the 2026 HQH Fanfare Show with my good friend Donna, who is currently our guild president. The two of us will work with another huge team of volunteers to build on what we did in 2024.

Gifting Aunt Sylvia her 90th Birthday Quilt.

But, then, where have I been since March? As soon as the show was over, my husband and I traveled to New Orleans for my great aunt Sylvia’s 90^th birthday celebration. We missed the big party on Saturday due to the quilt show, but we still got to visit with Sylvia and I gifted her with a lap quilt in bright, happy fabrics from my stash, including a few birthday prints. It was designed to go with a print she has in her apartment of a brightly colored Bourbon Street scene.

 

 

With Tyler and Anna.

Boyd and I also got to visit with our daughter Anna and her husband Tyler, two of my mom’s sisters and their husbands who were able to make the trip from Minnesota, and lots of other family members who were there to celebrate Sylvia. My second cousin Gordon and his wife Caroline were wonderful hostesses at their renovated New Orleans home, which dates back to the early 1800s.

 

Mom and her sister Jan and husband John.

Sadly, though, at this same time my mom was suffering from foot sores that developed a few weeks before this trip due to some prescription cream she was given for her feet. She did make the trip to New Orleans, but came back early due to her pain and mounting concerns. Her family doctor immediately put her in the hospital for massive rounds of antibiotics to combat a bone infection. She was in the hospital for a week.

 

That set off a host of other issues and she had a second visit to the hospital in April to clear out a main artery in her right thigh that was 100% blocked. Mom is still unable to walk without crutches and uses a wheelchair at home. My brother and I visit her quite frequently to help her or take her to doctor’s appointments. She is getting better, but it’s a very slow recovery process.

 

Mom with me and brother Scott.

Featuring House of Stars!

With April, came yet another trip to the AQS show in Paducah! I did have a quilt in the show, a seasonal wall quilt designed by Diane Knott. It is made in fall colors, which is not my normal palette. But you have to have some fall seasonal quilts, right? I do love the quilting I did on this piece.

 

 

Shopping with Cheryl, Cindy and April.

The show was great, as always, and I spent too much money. My friends Joan, Cheryl and Mary Ann stayed with me during the show in a Paducah house owned by my incredibly generous friend and former co-worker Kelly. We saw lots of friends from Huntsville in Paducah! There were 18 of us who came together for dinner on Friday night at our favorite Mexican restaurant, and then we all headed over to Donna’s extended family’s home for dessert. On Saturday, Mary Ann went home as planned, and then friends Cindy and April decided to stay an extra night with me, Joan and Cheryl in the Paducah house. It was so much fun having the awesome space at Kelly’s home to spread out, socialize and relax together.

Relaxing with Marsha, Cheryl and Mary Ann.

 

Cheryl, Mary Ann and me visiting with Meri and Debbie.

With Bonnie Browning of AQS!

Fun at the Paducah house with Cindy, Joan and April!

 

Other things that have distracted me from blogging:

1. Our upstairs flooring. We have finished all the hardwood in our master bedroom and in the quilting studio closet, and have completed the back stairs, including staining and painting. As soon as we finished, I gave the nailer to my brother and said "No more hardwood installation for me!"

What Nots Quilts.

2. My fledging quilting business. I’m now teaching classes at Southern Charm Quilting (including the monthly Kim Diehl What Not’s Club where we make a little quilt each month!), and had a wonderful time presenting a program and teaching a workshop to the Heartland Quilters in Cullman. I’ve also got my hand in designing a quilt pattern.

Enjoyed teaching workshop for Heartland Quilters, Cullman!

3. A weekend visit from Anna and friends in May. I was so glad to visit with Anna’s friends Megan and her husband from Germany, and Laura, and my long-time friend and Megan’s mom Lucy. 

Our wonderful retreat space.

4. Stitchers Fun. We had a retreat in February and lots of good meetings. This group keeps growing with friendships that make me so happy! I’m now planning our August retreat.

Renee, Tamara and I at retreat.

Tucker's 30th Birthday Quilt.

Although 2024 had seen a lot of changes in priorities, I’m still managing to quilt! I’ve pieced a birthday quilt for my son Tucker, who turns 30 in June. It will be quilted in the next few weeks.

Beginnings of Home Tweet Home.

I’ve been working on two wool applique projects – Wendy Williams’ Over the Hill done the Alabama way and Home Tweet Home from Midway Wool, and I’m trying to finish up Jen Kingwell’s Green Tea and Sweet Beans, done in primarily Kaffe fabrics.

 

My Kaffe version of Green Tea.
Working on the borders.

And, I continue to have fun with all my quilting friends!

 

Showing off our Strawberry pin cushions at Bernina Users Group!

Hugs and Hope and Happy Quilting!

Kari