IN CLASS WITH MARK LUPINSKI

What a fun day I had yesterday!  I took Mark Lupinski's Throw Me a Curve Class.  Our venue was the beautiful classroom at Wandering Stitches, one of my favorite LQSs.  They are near the Orlando Airport and a must see for quilting tourists.

In the morning we all made the same blocks, yes even curves.  With Mark's easy method we ALL were successful with no pins, no glue.  Just do it!

In the afternoon we played with various layouts for the blocks.  Fun, fun!  I'll let the pics speak for themselves.

Classes at Wandering Stitches always include coffee and donuts, as well as a lovely lunch!

Here's Mark working on my layout.  Wandering Stitches has these super design walls all around the room.

One Gal being crowned Queen of Curves!  She finished first and won a Side Winder.

We all received a set of Aurifil thread in varying weights to try out.

Mark is just getting back in the swing of things following a kidney transplant.  I'm so happy to have had this chance to play with him!

SHE'S HOME!

My beautiful row swap quilt is home!  Remember when I posted that starter row, third down, last summer?  Well she's back.

This was the first package of mail I opened after retreat!  I just love each row more than the last.   I just slapped them on my design wall quickly :)  They are not sewn together (I get to do that) and are in no particular arrangement yet.  I think I'm seeing a thin row of sashing between each row, maybe in a small check.  Hmmm...........

I so love this yahoo group and the quality of work we do for each other.  Everyone puts so much love and care into the selections of what to do, the quality of materials they use, and their best workmanship.  I am feeling the love!

My theme this year was North Woods of Paradise, MI, and this surely capture it.  Our cabin will have a new wall quilt this year.

So many thanks to each of the participants.

RETREATING

I'm so happy to be stitching away at a quilt retreat at Lake Yale.  I've been working on some surprise things I can't post, and also these tiny blocks.  They will finish at 2.5" (quarter for size reference).

The gray thing in back is a lamp I won as a door prize.  I selected the lamp because I left mine at home, and since we are sewing in a room with all stained glass windows (McGuire, for those who know Lake Yale) I really needed the extra light.  It's a clever little Ott light. 

I won an Ikea light at the last retreat I went to.  Maybe the planet is telling me I need to lighten up, or let my light shine, or???

CUTTING MATS

Oh my!  Look at the warning I saw on a cutting mat at JoAnn's this afternoon!

I wonder about other mats too!  Wow!

Does anyone know anything about this???

SIGGY TUTORIAL FOR SPRING THAW RETREAT

Lucky me!  I will be going on a retreat in March and we'll be swapping siggies.

Here's the tutorial for how to make them.

Fabric:  Please use quality prewashed 100% cotton quilting fabric.  You'll need a light solid (any light color) and one other fabric.  This can be any quilting cotton  --  something to reflect you, or even just scraps you already have.  Your choice.

For each siggie, cut one light square 3.5" and two other squares 4.5".

Cut the print (or whatever) in half once, on the diagonal.

Finger press them in half to 'mark' the middle of long edge.

Finger press the solid light in half too.

Line up those fold marks.

Stitch two of the triangles to opposite sides of your square.

Trim off the excess points.

Press the to the outside.  Now line up the other triangles.

Stitch them on to the opposite sides.

Press to outside.  Sloppy looking isn't it.  That's ok.  Leave it that way.

We will trim the ones we receive to 5".  That way they will all be the same for stitching together (we all trim a little differently).

  Yes, leave them 'sloppy' to swap.

Below is shown how it will turn out after we each trim our own.

Now the fun part.  Sign your siggies.  Please include your name and where you are from.  You might want to add "Spring Thaw" or similar.

Siggies are easier to sign if you press freezer paper to the back.

Please use only permanent acid free pens to sign -- the kind you find at quilt shops, etc., for labels.

You can also use stamps, but be sure your ink pad is permanent and for fabric.

Please heat set any ink you use (press 10 seconds).

Those with embroidery machines could use that to make their centers.

Or you could hand embroider.

You could add yo-yos, or other embellishments if you want.

Or just sign your name and info.

As simple or fancy as you want is fine.  It is all good.

These are samples from a swap I did in 2010.

For some techniques you might want to embellish before assembling the blocks.  For others, it is easier to decorate/sign after they are finished.  It's up to you.

Bring one siggie for each person at the retreat.  Nan will keep us updated with that number.

These stitch up very quickly, assembly line style.  They will be a spectacular memory of everyone who came to retreat.  At 2016 retreat, we can show-and-tell what we made with them.  A little wall hanging?  A tote?  A cover for your machine?  What will you dream up?

If you have any trouble or questions, just ask.  This is meant to be FUN :) 

GRAND ILLUSIONS PROGRESS

Today was our neighborhood quilting at the clubhouse day.  Lynne worked on a paper pieced beauty.  I worked on GIM.

I now have 40 squares finished.  All of clue one is cut.

So fun to sew with neighbors, twice a month, in our fabulous craft room.

Click here to see links to others working on GIM.

GRAND ILLUSIONS

Today I got together with other quilters from my area who are working on Bonnie Hunter's current mystery, Grand Illusions.  We met at Nancy's Quilt Shop in Winter Garden.

The colors are taken from The Grand Hotel, Mackinac Island, MI, which was the inspiration for the quilt.

Everything cut and packed -- ready to go.

Oops!  Something is clearly wrong on this first go!  Yikes.  Where is Jack?  Jack the Ripper.

This looks better!

Two finished, 98 to go before Friday, when the next clue comes out.

Hope you are finding some stitching time this weekend too.

Where did the time go?

I've been super busy and haven't updated the blog!

These are pics from a class I took this month with Andrea Schnur, Certified Judy Niemeyer instructor.  We are making the Bali Bed Runner.  Yikes!  Crazy involved.

MARY FONS COMES TO MT. DORA

Look who was sitting at my table at guild yesterday morning.  It's Mary Fons!

Mary did a presentation in the morning and showed us this quilt.  It is made with fabrics she would buy a dress in.  It's really interesting how it all goes together.  Don't most of us limit our closet to a few colors mostly; and don't they all go together?  Also it's a statement that she has her own style; she doesn't wear her mom's pants.

This is the quilt we worked on in class.  Interesting that while monochromatic neutral, she threw a couple ice blues in the mix.

Mary is a great teacher.  At 35 years old, she is from the generation that never had home ec.  Even threading a sewing machine is new to most her age.  And she's from the tech generation, so she knows how to reach new young quilters with YouTube, etc. and starts with the basics.  Mary just started quilting 7 years ago.  Her background is in free-lance writing.  Good communication skills are sure paying off for her in the quilting world too.

Being young, she has tons of energy and told our guild to 'use her' as we had paid for her to come for the day.  So we did!  After a full morning with us, then a quick lunch with us, teaching all afternoon, we scheduled a catered dinner in the evening with another slide show and talk by Mary.

I had Mary sign my copy of the first edition of her magazine, Quilty, as well as her new book, Make + Love Quilts.

It's so refreshing to see young quilters reaching other young quilters.  I'd hate to see quilting die out or even lull.

Also interesting to those of us in her mom's generation to hear about how it was to grow up in the Fons and Porter umbrella.   

It was a very fun, but very exhausting day! 

GRAND ILLUSION

Bonnie Hunter's new mystery, Grand Illusion, is inspired by one of my favorite places -- The Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, MI.

Click here to check out the views that inspired her, and to see fabric requirements.

I sure don't need another project this fall, but this is soooo enticing!

QUILT TOPS

I'm working on trying (at least trying) to get some order in my sewing room.  Today I resurrected and hung 18 completed tops, also know as flimsies in the quilting world, waiting for quilting.  Yikes!  Some have backings ready too.  I know of at least two more that aren't shown.

Well at least I know what direction I need to lean this winter.

My grandmother inherited 2, yes 2, unquilted tops from her mom.  That overwhelmed her as she wasn't a quilter.

Image my kids, none of whom quilt, but all three know the value and love in homemade, inheriting so many tops.

I still have hope for a grandchild quilter.  Working on it at least!