Show n Tell - Little Sew and Sews

I used to be very good about posting show n tell from the classes I teach. This past year - well, I did NOT do a good job at all. I went back to my blog and noticed that I posted show n tell ONCE last year for this class. Yikes!

I will try to be better this year?  So far, I don't think I'm doing great either. Let's see what we can get done this week.

A hand full of students took on the Little Sew and Sews which is a super cute project, but a lot of work - a LOT of applique.

Little Sew and Sews

The pattern was designed by Nancy Barrett by With Needle and Thread.     I have so many of her patterns and I have to confess that I've not made a single one of them.  Yep - when I retire!


I didn't want you to think you missed out on something, so I went back through my pictures and found some of the missing photos. I have a feeling that there were some months that there were no photos to take. There could be one or two on my phone but I think you're going to get the idea of how it went.

A large tote bag

 The bag was NOT part of our class, but I always like to see show n tell.  I do believe that was made with some of the small Northcott pre-cuts that I had a while back.

I'm not going to put names in - I don't remember them all.

This mouse looks happy!

 And look at the stitching around the mouse. Does that not just add something to the character of the mouse? We get so caught up in making things perfect, but sometimes whimsical is OK too and in this case - it's gorgeous.

Whimsical stitching around the edges of the applique

That is one huge pile of fabric and this mouse looks lost.  Do you know why?

The mouse looks a bit lost

 Yep - he or could be a she mouse - well look at that shopping list. There's nothing on it!  Now is that a good thing or a bad thing?

Empty shopping list

 I just hope they have a great limit on the credit card!!!

Look - I found the perfect ribbon in my stash!

Tug a war - this person wasn't brave enough to cut the ribbon yet

Cut the ribbon and let's hope it matches!

I'll take some of the lace that she has

What about me? I want some lace too!!!

The top half is finally together

Progress is being made

Lots of blocks are completed

Another BIG stack of fabric

So true!!!

Cute embellishment for the hair

 I always love to see when the students take the pattern and make it their own. In this case, they made fewer blocks and well, just wait a minute until you see how they put it together.

Half of the quilt

The other half of the quilt

 And when the quilt is together one half looks upside down. BUT the quilt was made to hang over a railing, so it needed to be done this way.  I think it's a brilliant way to display a quilt.

The whole quilt

One half now quilted

The other half quilted

The quilt is completed!!!!!

 That is always exciting to see a finished quilt at the end of the class.

One of the quilt tops together

As I mentioned, there was a LOT of applique in this quilt and I know people (including myself) are still working on it.  But it was loads of fun.  Check out the website for With Needle and Thread. There is a video of when Nancy was on America Sews Creatively  (in the TIPS sections). It's pretty interesting and shows how she shades her designs with inks. Adds a cool effect if you're into that kind of artistic thing.

On that note, I'd better get myself organized for the day.  It should be a quilting day, but it's going to be a sewing day. I've got a guest coming!  I'll tell you more tomorrow.

Have a super day!

Ciao!

Little Sew and Sews Show n Tell

In order to keep my classes happy, I better start posting some of the homework.  Before I get into that, I found a wonderful article on Maintaining your sewing machine. 

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They do go into great depth in this one, but the basics, change your needle FREQUENTLY  (I change after every four bobbins), get rid of the lint in the bobbin case area - it's extremely important.  Those two things alone can seriously affect the tension.  And here's something else that I want to do a bit more experimenting with.  While I was at the retreat, I was sewing away with a Size 10 needle and Aurifil thread.  No problems. BUT when I went to topstitch, I was getting skipped stitches like crazy.  Why?   The needle was TOO small to carry the thread through all those layers.  As I said, I want to play around with this a bit more.  Hmmm - I have a QUILTSocial blog that is due - I might do that!

At our June class of My Little Sew and Sews there were a few people missing. OK - there were a lot missing. 

The blocks are absolutely adorable and I can't wait to see the finished quilts.  

I shipped my quilt to the magazine yesterday. I'm thinking it's going to be one day late. NOPE - it's going to be right on time as it's due today!  That's pretty exciting.

When I got home, I laid out the next quilt on the wall that needs to be delivered by Wednesday. Hmm -  I had made a whole lot more HST than I needed and well - why not try to incorporate them into the design.  I did and in fact, I like this better than my original design.  Might be easier to quilt as well.  It's going to be hanging at Quilts in the Creek next week as one of the challenge quilts.  HEY -  no comments. You know this is normal for me by now.    Sometimes, I wonder what the organizers would say about me.  "Oh Elaine - she entered a quilt in our show. I bet she hasn't even started it yet." NO - I would never do that!

Speaking of Quilts at the Creek - you MUST plan to attend. There will be vendors there and I sure hope they bring their license plates since I'm not travelling around and getting any.  I'm not adverse to buying them, just don't want to travel around to get them.

Check out the list of activites above.  I'll be doing a walk about at 2:30 PM on Saturday and Sunday.  It's going to be loads of fun as we wander around the village checking out the quilts.   I'll be focusing on the quilts from the challenge "Blue by You" and you'll get to hear first hand my story and loads of others. Even if you don't want to hear my lecture - come on out and see the quilts.  This is an OUTDOOR show and well - we need to make a big deal of this.   Book you calendars!  Gather your friends.  The dates are July 23 and 24 (Saturday and Sunday).    Hope to see you there and I guess after Quilt Canada - I had better were ORANGE so you can find me!!!!

On that note - have an awesome day!!!!

Ciao!!!!!

Updates and new classes

I've got two new classes and there isn't a lot of time to sign up for them.  They start TOMORROW.  Yes - it's been crazy busy and no time to post the pictures.

These two classes take place at the Hobby Horse Quilt Shop.



The first one is absolutely adorable.

Little Sew n Sews by With Needle and Thread

Yes - it is appliqué.  Yes there is going to be opportunity to make changes and we're going to learn how to create fabulous designs using markers, crayons and paints (if you want!!!!).   The images are little sewing mice.  Where's Cinderella?

It promises to be loads of fun!!!! I can't wait to get started on it. Well get the class started on it!

The second one is a pieced quilt - not too big and it's called Reminisce  by Lori Smith of From my Heart to your Hands

Reminisce by Lori Smith of From my Heart to your Hands

It is 60 inches square - lots of opportunities for learning to piece accurately.  I'm not sure, but I have a feeling this class is FULL.  Check with the Hobby Horse if you need more details.  The classes will be held on the fourth Saturday in the morning.


I've got TWO links for QUILTSocial today.  I believe I forgot to post one yesterday.

QUILTSocial - Thursday - my "modern" crazy patch project


QUILTSocial - Friday - Top 10 reasons why I love the Husqvarna Viking Jade | 35


I've got the next sewing machine and if I was a smart person - I'd be starting on those next posts this weekend.  As I have mentioned numerous times - while I now have a great system in place for keeping up to date with things and not letting anything slip through the cracks - I'm still working on the daily task items to figure out how best to list them.

I've had one thing on my task list since the beginning of the year and that was to design a specific quilt.  I won't go into all the details because I want to talk about the quilt in my presentation to the Brampton Quilt Guild next week.  Suffice it to say, I had to edit some photos in a way that I didn't know how BEFORE I could design the quilt.  So technically I should have said - edit the photos as ONE task and then design the quilt as a second one.  You also get to check off more items that way!!!!

However I'm happy to report that with a little research last night, I was able to edit ALL the photos in the way that I need.  Now I can actually design the quilt.  Those tasks MUST be very specific and the more simple you keep them (by breaking them down) - they are not all that unsurmountable.  Hey - I'm learning!!!!


And I think Lexi has written a blog this morning.  I'd check it out.  She can be pretty persistent.

On that note - I'm out of here.

Have an awesome day!!!!!


Ciao!!!!