We have started a series of quilting classes in my home town of Porterdale, this year.
So far I have taught a pot holder class in January, a Sonja's Windows class in February, a Let's Polka class in March, and a Trip Around the World class in April.
Today, we had what we called a Quilter's Meet up, which was basically a day to come, and sew together, and just work on our own projects.
I was blown away by all of the finished quilts that were shown at show and tell today, that were started in our classes.
From Sonja's Windows class-Melanie
Linda
Nancy
Let's Polka:
Melanie
Linda
Trip Around the World:
Melanie
Debbie:
Linda
I just love how different they all are, and love even more, that they are getting finished. We are having such a great time learning some quilting techniques in Porterdale. Soon, there will be painting lessons with Mayor, Arline Chapman.
Since my main goal for the week has been setting up the loom for the next rug, there hasn't been a whole lot of time for sewing around here, but I have managed to fit some here and there.
I am almost finished with the 4th section on the Rose Garden Quilt. I really need to do some research to find a more interesting name for this quilt. I can't wait to see the 4 sections sewn together as a big square. Maybe by next week.
I have the next quadrant of Julie's quilt laid out. Now that I only have one quadrant left, I could see that I needed to make another strip set, so I cut, and started sewing that.
The bottom half is already finished, and folded in half since this design wall isn't wide enough.
The place mats I am working on take 2 different strip sets for each place mat. Last week I had a sewing day with Eleanor, and got them all sewn. It was really nice to have some one to visit with while sewing those long boring seams. I didn't have enough of one of the fabrics I chose, so I had to substitute in something different next to the light blue fabric. There will be 2 place mats made from each of the 3 prints. I think that will make a nice variation. There will be a coordinating table runner, and potholders, but I am not even sure what block I will use for the table runner, and the potholders will be random made from the leftovers of the place mat strip sets.
I bought some new shelf units for my sewing room. Isn't is just wonderful to have new shelf space in the sewing room?
I am getting ready to do a trunk show for the Madison Station Quilters, in Madison, Alabama next Thursday, so if you are in the area, come and let me show you some of my quilts in person.
So that is what I have been up to lately. Thanks for stopping by!
Last week I had a lovely time, doing a trunk show at the York County Quilter's Guild, in SC. It is always so much fun going out into the world and making new friends. I really appreciated how welcoming they were. Shout out to Jane in particular for putting up with me in her home, and entertaining me in such fine style. She even MADE me some scones which were TO DIE FOR!
Since I wrote last I finished the rug I was weaving, I am getting a new one this week. We had a workday in the community garden this past weekend. It was a good feeling, to start getting ready for summer planting season, and getting the first mowing out of the way. I won my tennis match (by default, but I'll take it).
So more to the quilty point: I finished section #3 of my rose garden quilt. Here are the 3 finished sections on the design wall:
Section #4 is laid out, and I have started sewing on it.
This will go in the blank space to the left, on the bottom. So that puts me at more than a third of the way on this quilt.
I have half of Julie's quilt sewn together:
A dear friend of mine bought a house last week, so a special house warming/wedding gift is in order. I didn't really meet her until after she got married. She married the son of a good friend of mine, and I am just now getting around to their gift. I thought a set of place mats, table runner, and potholder set might be nice. Here is a photo of a "prototype" place mat:
I am not sure if I want to leave the side borders so dark like that, or if I will make them narrower, and add another, lighter border.
Hope all of your projects are going well.
I am linking up with Design Wall Monday
Oh Scrap!, Moving it Forward Monday
Main Crush Monday
Lots of fun projects to see!
Thanks for stopping by!
Actually, I am supposed to be weaving today, but the yarn color needed to be adjusted, so I get a free day of play! It's like found money-you hardly know what to do with it first!
Anyway, I have made a bit of progress sewing together the section of my Rose Garden quilt that I laid out last week.
My washing machine bit the dust, and through a series of moving, and other flukes my across the street neighbor ended up with an extra washing machine, and she gave it to me-so I had to make her a quilt. Since she was in the process of moving at the time it took a little while to see what colors the quilt should be. I happened to have this quilt out.
She liked this quilt, and the colors in my Rose Garden quilt, so I took those ideas, plus my memory of what her house had looked like before she had packed it up. The last month I have been gathering fabrics, and cutting/sewing/pressing strip sets for her quilt. I have been looking forward to laying a portion of the quilt out to see what it will look like.
So that is what I have been up to lately, plus a little bit of getting ready for spring gardening. Thanks for stopping by!
Linking up with Patchwork Times , Oh Scrap!, Monday Making and Move it Forward Monday Lots of fun inspiration!
At long last I have a couple of quilts to photograph. They are not the best pictures I have ever taken. I was in such a hurry to finally get photos of these quilts, that I went ahead and took the photos even though it was a sunny day (which I prefer it to be cloudy), and worse yet, it was windy. I will get some better ones when the weather cooperates better, but here they are.
Burgeoning Springtime:
See how the right side of the center block looks washed out? That is my friend Mr. Sun at work.
Hoopla:
I have also been hard at work writing patterns for both of these quilts. I decided to give myself a new challenge when I wrote these. Instead of just using Microsoft Word for the writing, and hand drawing the little figures, I am laying out the pattern, and doing the drawings in InDesign. I have never done this before, and I will confess, it has been a bumpy road, as using a new computer program always is. Hopefully, I will get good at it one day.
I have also been helping my friend Eleanor start up a booth at an antique store. I have been helping her gather, clean, and arrange items. So far I think her booth looks really pretty. It is booth #165 in a place called Gigi's in Griffin GA. Here are a couple of photos of what she has put together so far:
That, and a little bit of getting ready for retreat, is what I have been up to lately. I hope you are having a pleasant January. Another month is almost here! Thanks for stopping by!
For the last several months I have been working on a project that I could not share with you.
My dear friend Eleanor started this quilt, intending it to be a quilt for her daughters wedding. She designed an elaborate pieced border, collected a group of beautiful fabrics, and made one side of the border. Since her daughter was 16 years old she thought she had plenty of time. But, you know how time flies. Now her daughter is 28 years old, and she announced her engagement last fall. The wedding was planned for this past weekend. So, Eleanor, and her mother (the bride-to-be's grandmother) hired me to make the remaining 3 border sides, and come up with something to put in the center. I have spent much of this past winter and spring working on it. I finished several weeks ago, but didn't want to chance sharing it because I didn't want to risk spoiling the surprise.
Here is a photo of a copy I made of Eleanor's original drawing.
I started by trying to come up with something that would look good in the center. The border looked kind of Moorish to me. I know Eleanor wanted the quilt to have a romantic feel. I thought of a quilt I made recently, called Arabesque. It is really a variation on a Trip Around the World.
Eleanor's fabric was really beautiful, so I made my strips a 1/2" wider, to show of the prints a bit better. As I, hoping said above, Eleanor had already pieced one of the border sides. I was holding my breath, hoping that I could match it well enough. Thankfully, Eleanor kept all of the fabrics she collected for this quilt, together in a big box.
So, this is the resulting quilt.
Eleanor wanted to use some of the remaining large pieces of fabric on the back.
I have know this child since before she was born. Since her parents were giving her a quilt, I thought it would be good to give her a couple of accessories to go with the quilt. I made a pair of pillow cases.
I also made two throw pillows. This one was made from leftover HST from the border.
And my favorite, this paper pieced pattern came from a book by Carol Doak called, 50 Fabulous Paper Pieced Stars.
Sorry that last photo not as clear I I thought it was. I don't have these items in, my possession any more, so I can't do a retake.
So, that is what I have been working on much of the time during the last few months. Thank's for stopping by.
