New Quilters Learning

    Friday evening I taught a beginning quilting class at JoAnn Fabrics to 3 enthusiastic new quilters. The first class is really focused on piecing.  They piece a "Hole in the Barn Door" block ( aka "churn dash" so learn to make Half Square Triangle units and piece strip sets.  All the ladies finished their block.
Great job!
                                                              Denise

                                                                   Roxianne

                                                                       Libby

Remembering on Memorial Day

       It is fitting that as we remember and honor those who have served our country and those who lost their lives doing so, that I share my most recent project.  The Quilt of Valor top is finished.

When quilted, this will be a wonderful gift to honor a service member. I would encourage more quilters to get involved in the QOV program and piece blocks or a top.  You can find this free pattern at quiltfrog.com or there are many others available.

Piecing Projects

   After a morning of yard work before it got too warm, I cooled and started piecing scrappy stars like Bonnie Hunter's Maverick Stars except I am using 5 1/2" squares.  I love these.

  I will be demoing these for my guild at the July meeting when we have multiple demos from members.

Then I changed up and started on a Quilt of Valor kit I brought home from the guild meeting. The HST were already pieced but they had to be trimmed to 6 1/2".

Then the squares went together quickly.  Here 6 of 10 rows are pieced.

This is an easy pattern and would be a great quick comfort quilt so I will definitely make more.

Antique Inspiration

      For the GCQ program yesterday, June Fish presented a program on appraising quilts.  As part of her very informative presentation, she displayed several antique and vintage quilts.  Two of my favorite are displayed below. 

      Most of the vintage quilts in my family are very well loved utilitarian quilts made by my maternal grandmother; the latest finished about 1939.  Most of her quilts have been loved and used to pieces.  They were needed in her home to keep warm.  Today we use our quilts more for decoration and comfort.   I am thankful I am able to create quilts for my family and friends to enjoy.

Proud Mother and Teacher

    I arrived home today after a wonderful celebration for my older son who graduated Friday magna cum laude from GSU law school.  Here he is with his wife and 2 daughters.  We are all proud of him.

 
Tuesday at SQG Martha turned in her second quilt.  She made a mistake when cutting her strip sets but the mistake created a wonderful design. She took my Free-Motion Quilting class at Midlands Tech and has been practicing.  This is her first big project with FMQ.

    Now that I have celebrated with family and am back home, I can get back to my normal routine and more quilting.

Comfort Quilt Finished

     I have been spending many hours working in my yard.  Most often I work in the yard in the morning until it gets too hot and I’m worn out.  Then I shower and start sewing.   Today I finished quilting a child’s comfort quilt for GCQ. 

It started with an unusual panel.   I added several borders.  Yesterday I sandwiched and started quilting.  I used a dark gray thread and first quilted in the ditch with the walking foot.  Today I started the FMQ outlining the animals and quilting the borders.  I used several designs with a different one in each border.

     Last summer guild member Lari taught an After-after workshop on the Twist block technique.  I finished one.  I decided not to make more because I did not like dealing with the bias edges.  I gave the block and extra fabric to my sister Irene and she made it into a table topper.  She did a great job!  

Small Projects and More

    Sara ( from JoAnn class Friday) emailed me the photo of her small quilt top with sashing, cornerstones and border.  She is getting ready to quilt.  Great Job!

      After a morning appointment, I spent some time in the flower beds.  Then I tackled cleaning pollen off the from screened porch so it is ready for use.  Then I was ready to rest and quilt.  I found a cute tulip design on scrapbooksetc.com which I used with fusible applique.  I enlarged it to make a couple of snack.mats (aka mug rugs).  I tried out a new background quilting design which probably does not show up.

Another Top Complete

     Just a little to share today.  In Friday’s class on adding sashing, cornerstones and borders Betty had 3 of 6 blocks made so she added sashing and cornerstones to those for half of her small quilt top.  Her theme is owls. 

I neglected to get a photo of Sara’s top before things were packed up because we ran out of time.  If she sends me a photo I will share it.    

    Today I finished adding borders to my pastel crumb top.  It will be added to my pile of tops waiting to be quilted. 

Piecing and Time for Yard Work

    I have 35 crumb blocks that finish at 6 inches. 

I played with the layout until I liked it; hopefully no similar blocks close to each other.  Yesterday I started adding sashing and cornerstones and got a lot done.

          Today has been yard work day so far.  I cut back some azaleas and found many limbs on the ground had rooted so that there are now multiple plants were a few use to be.  Some of the rooted plants are several years old.  I hope to move a few to another location.  I will pot some smaller ones for now and maybe have some to give away.   It was difficult to trash limbs with roots.   I must be doing something right for them to root so easily.  I hope you can see all the small plants around the older plant. 

   Tonight I have 2 students for a one night class at JoAnn Fabrics on sashing, cornerstones and borders so maybe I have a couple of photos tomorrow.