Star Block Challenge at Houston International Quilt Festival 2014

 The last time NASA astronaut and quilter Karen Nyberg went into space she brought a few tools, thread, and scraps of fabric with which she created a star block, not an easy task in a weightless environment. A challenge was later issued to quilters everywhere to make and submit a nine inch star block for a special display during the festival. Each star block also had the maker's name along with his or her city and state. Organizers thought they might receive a couple of hundred blocks. Instead they received over 2200!!! These blocks were then sewn together by some hardworking Texas quilters and the results were displayed on twenty-eight panels. It was truly impressive.

Here's Edith pointing to her block.

I walked around and around and scanned each panel before Edith located mine.

 I posted a photo of my completed block earlier this summer. Here it is.

I guess this means that Edith and I can now say we each had a piece in the Houston Quilt Show. Psssst  . . . don't tell anyone it was only a nine inch block. :-) 

It was great fun on preview night to see other quilters also searching for and posing with their blocks.

NASA had a display at the show, and Astronaut Karen Nyberg even made a special appearance.

Note: This post shows up attached to my Monday post due to the time difference. It's published with Pacific Standard Time which suggests erroneously that they were written on the same day. Rather than rewrite and repost the images, I'll just leave it this way.

Astronomical Star Block Challenge

     When astronaut Karen Nyberg went into space last year, she brought with her some fabric, thread, a needle, and a pair of scissors with which she created a star themed quilt block. This was no easy feat in a weightless environment. The Houston International Quilt Show this year has issued an astronomical quilt block challenge.  The 9.5 inch star themed blocks will be displayed along with Karen's at the 40th International Quilt Festival. For fun, I am submitting the above block.  For a touch of whimsy around the center square, I added the tiny alien in the flying saucer.

     On Monday, my godchild and her adorable girls came to visit Emma and me. Instead of a regular lunch, I suggested that we head to Hornstra Farm on Prospect Street in Norwell for ice cream!!!  The girls saw calves in the barn and these lovely ladies in the field. Unfortunately, only one was looking my way :-(), but it sure is a pretty setting. (Ice cream lovers take note: the ice cream window is open seven days a week from 12:00 to 8:00, and trust me, the ice cream is beyond delicious!!!)

     On Tuesday, the weather was hot and humid, but not on the deck of the Hull Yacht Club where Linda C. hosted a "game" day luncheon. It was so breezy and cool that many of us were borrowing sweaters. After a delicious lunch, we settled in for a few rounds of a dice game called Mexican train. As always, there was some confusion about the rules and lots and lots of laughs. 

     Life is good!