Classes in Colusa

Hello Everyone,

 

I just returned from my 5-day road trip beginning with a workshop in Stockton, CA, and ending with two classes at Friends Around the Block quilt shop in Colusa, CA.  I taught Country Charmer and Cute as a Button in Colusa.

 

Cute as a Button was first up on Friday.  There are lots of little 9-patch sections to this little quilt. It all begins with cutting strips......lots of strips.

There were many 9-patch blocks born during class.

Then they started coming together.

The classroom at Friends Around the Block is very large, and the lighting is wonderful.

Saturday, was Country Charmer day.  Some of the girls worked on their Gold Rush blocks for my Romancing Alaska pattern, and some worked on the same block for Country Charmer.  I include a block layout sheet for my patterns that have a lot of pieces.  I call it the map to your success.  You begin by laying all of the pieces on the sheet, then take the sheet next to your machine and start stitching.

 

Mary came into the shop to show me her Country Sunshine quilt.  I taught this quilt in November in Colusa.  The fabrics she used were very directional.....and she has everyone going in the correct direction.  Well done!

My sister Gail was determined to get her Zinnie's Choice quilt together and into flimsy status.....and she did!  She had all of the parts and pieces made, she just needed to stitch them together.

Great attention to detail.  No "points" were lost in the making of this quilt.

Tomorrow I'm teaching an applique class at Quail's Nest in Sonora.  This is the block that we are going to work on from my Party In The Garden pattern.  If the class doesn't want to make the entire quilt, they can turn this block into a small wall hanging or a pillow just in time for summer. 

It feels good to be home with my dog and husband.  I think Mazey missed me the most.  She just about turned herself inside out when I walked through the front door.  Mr. Joe was a bit more reserved.  If he jumped around as much as Mazey did, he would now be in traction.

Soon,
Lynn

P.S. All of the patterns that are featured in this post are located in my Etsy shop.  Just click on the word ETSY toward the top of the blog post to enter my shop.

Row-Mancing Alaska is a Flimsy

Hello Everyone,

 

It feels good to get back to my quilting.....if only for a few days before I take off again.  Tuesday, I finished the borders on Row-Mancing Alaska.  Just a little touch of color in the borders fit the bill for me.

 



I finished writing the pattern yesterday and sent it off to my testers and readers.  I'll let it sit for a couple of days and go over it again with a fine-tooth comb.  It's amazing what will jump out at me once the pattern sits and percolates for a couple of days.

When I was approached by the quilting cruise tour director last year, she told me that she would like me to design and teach a quilt with an Alaskan theme.  After many months, several dry runs, head scratching and general procrastination, I came up with this design for a row-by-row quilt.  Alaska has such a rich history, and I could have included so many more blocks.  I had to call it quits and keep it more of a wall hanging and not a California king sized quilt.

I poured through my extensive collection of quilt block books, and looked for blocks pertinent to Alaska.   The first row is called Aurora.  I looked at many images of the Aurora Borealis and tried to imitate the color scheme.  The second row is called Midnight Sun.  I wanted the sun to be rising over my quilt, low in the sky.  Of course I had to have flying geese! 

Next comes Eagle's Nest followed by Black Spruce.  I then worked my way down to Glacier Bay.

 

There is controversy over this little block.  I'm calling it Bear Paw, but many look at it and think it's a fish.  So whatever it is, fish or bear, it is either a fish swimming in Glacier Bay, or a bear walking along the bank of the bay on top of Gold Rush blocks.  You decide.

 



 

So there you have it.....from the heavens to the earth. My version of Alaska even though I've not been there before.  Next month at this time, I'll be sailing on the high seas, and stopping to explore the coastline and interesting towns and glaciers along the way.

The majority of the fabrics came from several different lines of Marcus Fabrics.  The lines are called Jewel, Sea, and Tranquility by Sarah J. Maxwell.  Many thanks to Marcus Fabrics for providing the fabric for this quilt.

I'm now putting the kits together for this quilt.  I've scoured quilt shops, and online shops for just the right fabrics to replicate this quilt. I have my work cut out for me today....tomorrow.....and quite possibly the next day.

Soon,
Lynn