Tuesday, June 30, 2015

The Ladies of Turlock

Hello Everyone,
 
I spent a very special day with some fabulous quilters at Cloth and Quilts in Turlock, CA last Saturday for my Patchwork Math class.  Here is a small sampling of their progress throughout the day.
 

The classroom was decorated with beautiful fabrics.....all just my style!  This could be the beginning of a medallion quilt. This gives me some ideas for future designs.


This is going to become a king-sized quilt all from stash.

 
Their blocks look beautiful together in a computerized collage full of vibrant colors, and different designs and arrangements from the same components.
 
 
There were several beginnings of table runners in the classroom.
 
 
The girls all caught on to the formulas and the process very quickly.  I am a new teacher to their area, and they all made me feel so welcome.  I look forward to a return visit to teaching again at Cloth and Quilts soon to visit "my girls"!
 
Soon,
Lynn
 

Friday, June 26, 2015

Sew'n Wild Oaks Class Was in Session

Hello Everyone,
 
Top of the morning to you!  The crowing from Kathy's rooster couldn't begin to get me out of bed this morning.  There are so many good things going on at Sew'n Wild Oaks which I'm not able to share with you just yet......but I will soon!  All of the good things are taking me away from my normal routine.  Normal is highly over-rated.
 
Anyway, last Tuesday was my Sew'n Wild Oaks class at In Between Stitches.  As always, the girls have been busily working on their projects during the month.  Kathy's Harvest of Hope blocks are amazing.
 

Everything Kathy does is incredibly precise and gorgeous.



Nancy is working on her Country Corners blocks.  She came with a box full of finished blocks and we put just a few up on the design wall.  It is fun to compare the different look by turning the blocks on point.


She will put setting triangles in the edges if she chooses this layout.  Do you have a preference?

 
 
In this photo, Nancy made 11 components from my Patchwork Math book.  She arranged and re-arranged them to create several different designs.  This is so much fun and so creative.  The hardest part is trying to decide which way to put the components.
 

 
Kathy is also making Country Corners.  She's added a few additional blocks which aren't in the book to add more variety.


We borrowed Nancy's Courthouse Steps blocks and created this layout for Kathy.  Can you tell we had fun playing?


Karen has lots and lots of beautiful Grammy Squares blocks made.  I wish you could see all of her cute center hexagons.  Karen has more blocks completed......we just ran out of wall space.


Gail has a ton of blocks made too.  She only displayed the blocks that she worked on during class.  Look at all the wonderful plaids and stripes!


Wendy is working on nine baskets full of flowers.  She is so determined to get this project completed for Fall.  I love her little flowers.


Maryanne is working on a beautiful quilt made from batiks.  She finished piecing the beautiful back of the quilt in class. 

Patty got her whole quilt top together during class.  The day started with individual blocks.....by the end of the day she had Once Upon a Vine ready for the borders.


Donna Fay made great progress on her Butterscotch Baskets quilt.  She made wonderful use of charm packs to make the blocks.  Well done!


I will be teaching Patchwork Math at Cloth and Quilts tomorrow in Turlock. I'm looking forward to meeting some new quilters, and spending the day in the spacious classroom and quilt shop full of reproduction fabrics!
 
Sunday, I'm teaching Lucy Boston at In Between Stitches.  I'm going to have a busy weekend, so I'll be busily preparing today. 
 
Have a wonderful weekend.
 
Soon,
Lynn

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Marcus Fabric and Book Giveaway

Hello Everyone,
 
Today I'd really like you to head on over to the Marcus Fabrics blog HERE.  Make a comment and your name will be entered in a chance to win a 12 pack of blue, half-yard cuts from Collector's Gallery by Faye Burgos.
 
 
 Now wouldn't that be a nice prize to win before the 4th of July! 


But wait, there's more!  The fabric will be bundled with a book called Red, White and Sometimes Blue published by Martingale.  If you go to the Martingale blog HERE you can double your chance of winning by commenting on their blog.

 
I would absolutely love to see one of my readers win this wonderful prize. Thank you Marcus Fabric and Martingale for this great giveaway.  Good luck!

Soon,
Lynn

Monday, June 22, 2015

More Dresdens

Hello Everyone,
 

I worked on a couple of different projects over the weekend and this was one of them.
 


The little basket-filled Dresdens measure only 4" when finished.  They are just so sweet.  The ten little baskets will surround the big basket when completed.

I originally was going to set the baskets in the red fabric, but I felt they got lost.  I'm still undecided and will probably change my mind a hundred time before I decide on the final set.  Just looking at this picture may sway me to this setting over the setting in the first picture.  I'll lay all of the parts and pieces out on my design wall and make a decision......soon.



The striped fabric from the Past Endearments line is just perfect for the handles.  I used bias bars to make the handles since the finished measurement is so narrow.

I'm off to work this morning at the shop. When I worked last week, I noticed the Halloween and Christmas fabrics were starting to arrive.  It's never too soon to start on your holiday projects!  I should take my own advice......don't you think?

Soon,
Lynn

 

Friday, June 19, 2015

8th Grade Graduation

Hello Everyone,
 
Just time for a quick post this morning.  Our house will be filled with twenty people for dinner tonight to celebrate our granddaughter's graduation from the 8th grade.
 
We knew when she was born that she was something special.
 

We knew she was destined to make the world a better place with her compassion, her devotion to family, her ability to relate to people of all ages.


She will always have the support of her entire family.....a strong bond between past and present.  She's made from "the right stuff".


.....and she doesn't take herself too seriously!


Soon,
Lynn

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Basket Beginnings

Hello Everyone,
 
I have finally been home for more than two days in a row and it feels so good!  I've been getting reacquainted with my sewing machine and quilting room. Oh how I've missed them!
 
How many times do you have things that you HAVE to do, and in the back of your mind there's a list of things you WANT to do. I WANTED to work on the little baskets for my Dresden quilt......so I did. 
 


The fabrics are from the Past Endearments collection from Marcus fabrics. 


Two baskets finished, ten more to go. 


They are going to be combined in the same quilt with these blocks.......somehow.  I can't let all of the cat out of the bag just yet.  There is going to be some embroidery in the basket too.


I used my Patchwork Math book and calculated the size of pieces that I needed to cut for the square in a square along the side of this block.


Now today I am going to work on my list of things that I HAVE to do.  I begin filming again for The Quilt Show.com at the end of July.  I will be putting five, short segments together centering around Patchwork Math.  I teach this all the time, but there is a BIG difference between a 6 hour class and  5 to 10 minute segments.  The word of the day is condense.

Graduation is late this year in our area.  I don't remember the school year continuing almost to Father's Day.  Our granddaughter graduates from 8th grade on Thursday.  When I graduated from 8th grade, I was lucky to get a cake, a card, and a pat on the back for a job well done.  Well, our granddaughter is heading to Washington DC and New York City for six days!  Kids today seem so much more mature than back in my day.  Was I "delayed" in the maturation process? I'm still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up! 

Soon,
Lynn

 

Saturday, June 13, 2015

Whirlwind Days

Hello Everyone,
 
We have been so busy during the day doing so many fun adventures that I haven't had any time to work on a post.  Mr. & Mrs. Squash have been a delight!  We've formed a bond and made memories to last a lifetime.
 
Thursday we headed to Yosemite, my favorite place on this planet.  The rain left behind beautiful clouds and fresh air.
 


Here are the girls, Gail, Candace and me. Candace's shirt says it all, "Life is Good."


Mr. & Mrs. Squash.  Perfect photo for the Christmas card!



Lunch at the base of El Capitan.  How could the day get any better than this!


Mazey enjoyed her day walking to Yosemite Falls.  Luckily the falls had some water from the rain the previous day.


Mr. Joe and me with our fur baby.


Half Dome in the distance across the meadow.

 
One of the many bridges over the Merced River.


 

The day before Yosemite, we went to Calaveras Big Trees State Park.


This gives you some idea of the size of the trees which have been standing before the birth of Christ.  It is hard to wrap my mind around that fact.


Candace is doing her Mary Poppins pose.


We had such a WONDERFUL time together.  The best part is we are already planning our next get together.  Our lives have been enriched through blogging.  We have met the nicest people over the years that have become part of our extended family.

The boys hit it off from day one and never stopped chatting.  When we girls took off to explore the little town of Murphys yesterday, the boys headed to the high country to check out future fishing locations.  They were gone for hours exploring many of the lakes at higher elevations.

We have to say goodbye today.....but I know we will be together again soon.

Soon,
Lynn

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

A Special Day

Hello Everyone,
 
Yesterday was a very special day for my Sew'n Wild Oaks girls. We had a visitor in our class, Candace from Squash House Quilts. (Seated in pink.) Like many of you, she has been following the progress of "my girls" for many years.  Yesterday, they all had a fun time getting to know each other.
 

 
As always, my girls do not disappoint.  Look at their wonderful progress since we met last month!  Irene has her entire Country Corners quilt together.  We tried not to drool on her border fabric which you will see soon.
 


Jeanne worked on her sashing for her Country Charmer quilt.

 
All of her beautiful blocks are finished. 
 


Shelley is making great progress on her Country Corners blocks.  I love it when they tell me they've learned a lot an getting more and more precise.  Shelley's blocks are VERY precise.


Karen's center applique for Madrigal.  Love it!


We had lots of grape stomping going on in the classroom.



Candace worked on her little houses while she chatted with the girls.


Grammy Squares were also popping up around the room.


Gail has a whole new batch of finished blocks!

 
 I'm sorry I didn't get a picture of your blocks Paula!  Next time.


Suzanne is working on her Dresden quilt.


She brought in a completed October Magic....and it was magical!



Susan finished her gorgeous bag for an upcoming trip.


Isabelle has lots to crow about with her completed barn for Harvest of Hope.


What a day we had!  I think you need to join us more often Candace.  You fit right in like you'd been with us for years.

New adventures today with Mrs. Squash. We have only a few more days together, and we plan on making the most of each day.

Soon,
Lynn