Hello Again!

Happy Memorial Day to those celebrating it.  It's good to remember and reflect on the sacrifices our men and women in uniform have made for our country.  I come from a military family, so I understand what some of those sacrifices are. 

Stars for the 4th - 1989

Here's an oldie that I don't think I've shown before. 

I loved my class with Gwen, way back on May 13 & 14, and my visit with Grass Roots Sharon, who very generously had me as a guest in her home.  It was Quilt Heaven!  We ate, slept and talked quilts for 3 days!  And Sharon has quilts all over her house - all of them finished!  It was so much fun - thanks again, Sharon!

We had a blast with Gwen.  There is nothing like a room full of quilters having a good time to really get you going.  And a huge Thank You to Lee of Two Thimbles Quilt Shop of Bellingham, who got Gwen to come give the class.  Lee did a bang-up job of making everything perfect for this class.

Here are a few of the inspiration samples Gwen brought for Friday's Liberated Log Cabin class:

This was her latest one - a "summer spread" (no batting).

Of course, I loved the plaid one!

Here is what I got accomplished in class that day.  I can't wait to get back to this and do more on it.

Saturday's class was 19th Century Folk Art Applique.  Now, if you know me, you know I'm not really "into" applique.  I do a little, but it really doesn't excite me much.  But I just couldn't pass up this class!  I've always loved Gwen's approach to applique and I've always loved Folk Art.

This is Gwen's latest Folk Art applique piece.  All of her pieces are about this size, about 18" by 24" or so.  I can't remember what she called this - it's some tree that grows in the Midwest, that I had never heard of before.  I love the quilting she added to the fruit.  I guess this tree has very textured fruit on it and she wanted to capture that.

Gwen taught us how to fold and cut paper free-hand for our "templates". Lots of fun and very freeing.  Here's what I've come up with so far.

view 1



view 2

At the time, I couldn't decide which way I liked it better, but I've decided to do a combination of both views.  I may add something to the middle of the flowers, but that's it.  It's not too "purty" at the moment, but the possiblility is exciting me.

I also got to meet "in person" with Nifty Quilts, who was also in Saturday's class.  Check out the piece she made in the Folk Art class - it's super!

Next up for me is my guild's challenge.  We're supposed to do "an element of nature" - an art quilt.  I've got some ideas floating around in my head, and just have to get them transferred into fabric.  I'll keep you posted on my progress.

More hand-me-downs and a Naughty Cat

Here's more of the goodies I got from my sister.  This top is all put together and ready to go.  I think it's small enough that I can quilt it myself.  She washed it before she gave it to me, so some of the fabrics shrank more than others.  Which means, it's a little bumpy and I don't think it's gonna quilt out.  But so what?  Finished is better than perfect, right? *grin* 

Oh, and that light spot on the quilt top near the bottom left?  That's actually sunlight! Yay!  It hasn't happened too much in this neck of the woods lately.  We've had a very wet, late spring this year and all of us are more than ready for spring to show up.

Here's a closeup of the two blocks in the quilt.  I love that stripe!

Here's an odd collection of patriotic blocks.  This is just wallhanging size right now.  I need to add more blocks to it, obviously.  I made the Ohio Star in the upper left corner, and the three tiny blocks.  I don't remember when, but I remember the blocks.  Isn't that funny?

Sunday was a glorious spring day here, and my azalea just burst into bloom.  I love the color of this one, and it's where I can see it when I'm sitting at the dining table.  I actually got out and did some yard work.  That felt good.  I have more plants to get in the ground still.  Soon. . . .

Here is the naughty cat.  DH got in the cupboard where we keep the pipe cleaners and apparently didn't close the door securely.  Dunkel just helped himself! He loves pipe cleaners.  You can see the bag on the step below his tail.  Somehow he got it out and across the room and up the stairs.  Smart kitty.

And here's the rest of the pipe cleaners!  I think Dunkel had a good time with them.  (Please ignore the fir needles . . . they're everywhere all the time.  A constant battle.)

I haven't done any sewing lately.  My quilt studio is a total disaster, and I'm supposed to be cleaning it up, but I'm kind of in the mood to ignore it.  No inspiration, somehow.  I have made some pot holders (no photos yet), as my guild is making pot holders to sell at our quilt show this fall.  They're fun and pretty easy to make. 

However, I'm taking a 2 day workshop with Gwen Marston next week (Woo hoo!!!), and I need to get in there and get some stuff together to take with me.  I'm having a terrible time deciding what fabrics I want to take with me.  I've wanted to take a class from Gwen for about 25 years now, and I'm so excited to be able to do this.  So, I guess that's some motivation, huh?  'Cuz I know when I get home from the workshop, I'm gonna be all inspired and will need a place to work.  Time to get to it. 

What do you do when you need to get inspired?  Please share what works for you.  I could use some inspiration! 

I know I'm pretty late but . . . Happy Star Wars Day!  'May the 4th' be with you! (get it??)