Classes · Cool Stuff

Manic Monday

Monday was the Beginning Log Cabin, Part I class, and those who were signed up arrived by 9:00am. The drive through town was wet, dreary and foggy. In other words, a great day to spend sewing!

A lot of exciting things happened that Monday.

The biggest news – our grant proposal to fund a “mobile” sewing class that provides local Middle and High school students the opportunity to learn to sew/quilt, was awarded the full amount we requested!  The money will go toward the purchase of machines and tools for the students to use in a hands-on environment, at their own school. This was made possible by Candy Gutierrez’s enthusiasm and dedication to getting young people interested in the art of quilting.

Oh, and it snowed that afternoon. I did not make the progress I should have with my log cabin block because I was watching the fat snow flakes blowing around – most of us were. Enough about the weather…

Teaching the class, were Joanne Padelford and Judy Allhizer. Some random photos were taken during class.

Focused
Focused Piecing
DecisionsDecisions
Decisions, decisions!
StudentRenTeacherJudyConcur
Ren gets tips from instructor Judy
JackiegettingHerBlocksTogether
Jackie sewing blocks of a different kind
ClassMatesConsult
Swapping ideas and tips
JoyceHardAtWork
Joyce ready to begin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Beginning Log Cabin Part II is scheduled for the end of May.

To add to Monday’s excitement – we had two wonderful gentlemen donate supplies to the guild.

Mr. Chris Walton: 2 large trunk’s full of thread and notions his mom-in-law, who was a professional seamstress, had.

Mr. Ken Archibald: 1 ft x ft swatches of fabric designs he used in his factory to make aprons. We were thrilled to take 50+ pounds of them off his hands!

Thank You for thinking of us  🙂

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Classes

Learning a New Technique: Stained Glass

Apologies for not keeping y’all up to date! When our (fun and successful) Quilt Faire was over, I enjoyed a vacation from my computer. Then I was busy gathering the supply list items for class.

A few of us in the Guild took a class called “Naturescape” last Monday & Tuesday. It is a technique used to take a photo of something and create a stained glass “picture” of it. The instructor was Doris Williams, a professional artist and former guild member. She is a very easy-going lady, with infinite patience. As a complete stranger to this technique I was moving at a slower pace than most, but Doris helped me tweak my design and find better fabrics to use. This transformed my mess into a landscape. I have worked hard to finish my wall hanging, but it’s doubtful I will make it to “Sew & Tell” at tomorrow’s meeting.

Don’t worry – I will have the camera charged to take photos of the ones from class that are displayed. 🙂
In the meantime, you can admire my two favorites from her collection…

IMG_0912

IMG_0914

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♥ TTFN ♥

Classes

(Not So) Free Motion

In Susan Scott’s beginning Free Motion Quilting class, you could feel the anticipation and fear from the students who had never been shown, or experimented with this technique before. Even I, who took the class last year, felt nervous.

Susan demonstrating loops
Susan explaining loops

We each had a packet of “quilt sandwich(s)” – made with 2 pieces of muslin and batting in the middle. Some were blank and others had lines drawn on them. The lines were hauntingly familiar. They were the same lines used in grade school to teach kids how to write:

___________________

———————————

____________________

 

We were learning how to write with our sewing machines. Some were naturals,  others struggled to loosen up and have fun with it.

Many Questions
Many Questions Were Asked
Intense Concentration
Intense Concentration

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s not the technique that’s difficult. Susan guided us through the “exercises”, reminding us to breathe and have fun with it. Fun?!

The tough part is practicing enough to develop the self-confidence to do it. Susan sent us out into the world with the know-how. It is now up to us to do our homework and practice, practice, practice.

The homework? Finish our exercises and quilt a comfort quilt.

Setting up machine
Setting up the machine
Nice loops!
Hey – Nice loops!