Grammy Squares Class is in Session

Hello Everyone,

 

Next to spending time with my family, my favorite thing is spending time with other quilters.  Yesterday I had that opportunity at The Whistle Stop quilt shop in Auburn while I taught my Grammy Squares class.

 



The girls showed up with hundreds of hexagon centers cut.

They had 1" strips cut by the carload.  Linda was very creative and put her stripes in a draw insert for silverware....brilliant!

There were boxes.....

.....and bins.....

.....and stacks of fabrics.

The girls leaned how to make the blocks, hexagon flowers, how to stitch Y-seams, and there was a refresher course on applique.

It was a full, productive day.

How can you not have fun with a group who doesn't take anything seriously.....except for their 1/4" seam!  They were a hoot!  If I gave this picture a title, it would be "hooters in the hills".  They were so much fun!

Here they are in a rare, serious moment.  (The minute I get in the picture, they decided to behave!)

Girls you made me laugh!  Thank for giving me such a fun day and your gift of laughter and companionship. 

The next time any of you are headed to Tahoe or Reno, make a very short detour off Interstate 80 and visit The Whistle Stop quilt shop.  It is a warm, and inviting shop.  The owners Suzanne and Larry will welcome you with open arms, and you will become part of The Whistle Stop's quilty family.

Soon,
Lynn 

Flying in Formation

Hello Everyone,

 

Today is Flying Geese and Double Flying Geese day at The Quilt Show.com  You can download the .pdf file for the cutting directions to make this block HERE.

 

You can see how I make the Flying Geese components and learn the formulas HERE.

 I love incorporating Flying Geese into my quilts.  Here is a gaggle of them in Zinnie's Choice.

Emilie Elizabeth is filled with Flying Geese and Double Flying Geese. 

 

The red rick-racky looking inner border is a component called Parallel Geese.  I didn't have time to cover them in the video, but the directions and formula to make them are in the Patchwork Math book.

 



All the little baskets are made with Double Flying Geese.

 My geese are getting ready to fly south in Harvest of Hope.

 You can make quick work of Flying Geese when you make them 4 at a time.

 

I incorporate them into pillows too.  Once you know the formulas it is so easy to make them any size to make a nice frame around a centerpiece.

 



 

It is never too early to think about Christmas.  Here's a batch of Double Flying Geese that I made yesterday to put around another Christmas pillow.  My little grandson Jess is into cowboys, so this will be for him.

 



What is wrong with this picture?   There isn't a "goose" in the entire quilt!  So why am I showing a picture of it you ask. 

I will be teaching Grammy Squares at The Whistle Stop in Auburn tomorrow. I'm reviewing all of my class notes today so I can offer a great class to my students.  I know we will have fun.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Soon,
Lynn

Sew'n Wild Oaks Class was in Session

Hello Everyone,

 

Another good day in the classroom with all of my girls.  Kathy is adding to her collection of blocks for Country Corners.

 

 

She has stepped outside of the Patchwork Math book and designed some new blocks which aren't in the book.  This is what I love to see.  I like to plant seeds for ideas and the girls run with them.  This is safer than running with scissors!

Kaye has some beautiful color combinations for her little baskets which will be included in her For the Love of Baskets quilt.  She has a stack of baggies filled with her fabrics ready to be sewn.

Wendy is making good progress on her Lil' Orphan Scrappy quilt.  She is having fun selecting her fabrics,

So is Martie.  There are 76 blocks in the quilt.  I suggested to the girls that they make 19 different blocks, and make each one 4 times.  By the time you put the connecting triangles around them, (see center block above) all of the blocks are going to look so different.

Barbara is working on a block exchange quilt from 1994......and she is going to finish it!  She has finished so many this year already.  Anyway, she asked me about sashing.  I suggested she make Y-squares.  See how cute they look!  We calculated the size Barbara would need from the Patchwork Math book, and away she went.  Click HERE to watch the video on The Quilt Show.com and learn the formula to make them any size.  Click HERE to see my post about Y-squares.

Barbara B. is making a Lucy Boston block on steroids!  This is going to make a beautiful, beaded pillow when she's finished.

Karen completely finished her Nostalgic Christmas quilt! 

The center pictures was from a Moda line called Sentiments.  There were beautiful Christmas/Winter scenes in the line.  Karen built a frame around them and now she has a gorgeous quilt to display throughout the entire winter.

Barbara completely finished her Dresden table topper.  From design, to quilting to embroidery....it's done and so pretty.

My sister Gail wasn't able to be in class, but she brought in her two finished quilts on Saturday.  First up is For the Love of Baskets.  Now isn't this one gorgeous!!!  Again, my girls are finishers!

 

Lora Zmak quilted this beauty.   For some reason, my cell phone takes excellent pictures of quilting compared to my "expensive" camera.  This quilt is going to an heirloom.

 

 

This is Madrigal without the center applique.  My photography was definitely lacking when I took this picture.  The next time I see Gail, I'll be sure to get a better photo of this one.....you will love it and the quilting! I know what Gail is going to be doing for the next few days......binding, binding, and more binding.  It's a good thing football season is starting to keep her occupied during the games.

 

Well there you have it.....another day in the life of several quilters.  I'm so lucky I get to spend time with them, be related to them, and enjoy their company and talent!

 

Soon,

Lynn

 



Lil' Orphan Scrappy Class was in Session

Hello Everyone,

 

We had a great day in the classroom at In Between Stitches yesterday.  The girls put together some great combinations of fabrics while learning how to make their blocks.

 

This group of creative women made all of these blocks.  We almost have enough blocks to put a quilt together. (Notice how they've strategically placed their blocks)  They made so many blocks, they didn't have enough room on their body to display all of them!  I love all of the color in this photo.  The shop is so warm, and inviting.....it just makes you smile when you walk through the door.

 

Wonderful use of stripes. 

 



 
It all starts with a great center.

The girls found some corrections that need to be changed in the pattern.  I'll make changes today and the pattern will be ready to ship tomorrow!

Thank you all for another special day at the shop.  You girls are the best!

Soon,
Lynn

Machine Quilting Lil' Orphan Scrappy

Hello Everyone,

 

Lil' Orphan Scrappy can almost be put into the finished column......binding and label are next.

 



 

Talk about finishing this one just in the nick of time!  I'm teaching this class in four hours at In Between Stitches.  The quilt and the pattern all came together at the last moment.  The pattern is available at In Between Stitches by clicking HERE.

 



I'm loving the way the feathers flow across the quilt.  I knew when I was making this one exactly how I was going to quilt it.

 I managed to get the quilt loaded correctly on my long arm so the back was nice and straight.

 

I couldn't tell you how many Marcus fabrics I used in this quilt.  Every single block is different.  The good quality of the fabric was evident while I worked with my stash.  I'm sure some of the fabrics are at least ten years old.  This quilt is a stash buster.  (Of course I can't tell a difference in my bins and cupboards!)  Maybe I should stop bringing more fabric home from the shop.  It just keeps following me home!

 



Gotta scoot and get ready for class.  I'll have a classroom full of quilters making this quilt.  They will really shake out the pattern for me today.  I don't see any glaring errors, but then again I never do.  It always takes someone else to find it.  Hope you all have a happy weekend.

Soon,
Lynn