Ultimate Quilt Block collection - show n tell

I'm happy to say that I went to bed with an almost clear conscience last night and I slept right through the night. Amazing how those little voices in our head are our own worst enemy. My job is to keep those little voices out of the picture! But that means that I have to get my work done on time!

It's time for show n tell today! This time it's about the Ultimate Quilt Block Collection. A book by Lynne Goldsworthy. This was the last class for this session - we're moving on to something else for next year. The goal of this class was totally left up to each student. If they wanted to make a quilt - great, if they wanted to make smaller items - great, if they didn't want to try one of the techniques - that was OK.

I had gone through the book and loosely sorted the blocks into categories and each month we worked on one technique. We had a few interesting moments with a few errors in the book, but for the most part, things worked just fine. From the show and tell over the year, I think everyone learned at least one thing and that's really what it's all about.

I think one of the more interesting things these classes teach you is how important or not important color and value are. You are NOT going to be making multiples of each block in different colorways and this is one way to see a lot of the same but in a totally different.

Matter of fact, I was showing the new projects for next year to my Sit n Sew group and someone said how much they liked a particular pattern, but didn't have that fabric. Well - that's an opportunity waiting to happen. Think outside the box - get creative - use up your stash, but whatever you do - remember if you're not learning something new - well what's the point????

Oh - I've got my work cut out for me for next year's classes which are all finalized and I'll be sharing them all with you this week. I now have SIX quilts that I have to find a color scheme for. I do NOT want to copy the fabrics shown on any of the patterns. Not because I don't like what the designer has chosen, but I want to do something different so I can learn. I also have a few options that I need to experiment with and why not do it now???

Onto the show n tell.

Ultimate Quilt Block Collection

I have to say that the students in this class were very adventurous and learned very quickly. We did curved piecing - now keep in mind - this was just a lecture - they didn't get to practice with me around. Perhaps some of them may have watched a YouTube video (gasp!) but I think a lot of them got the concept of using the three pins and honestly - it works like a charm. No need for massive pinning on those curves.


Let's start with Sandra. Sandra made at least one block every month, but her goal was to make the block and then create a finished item. And she succeeded. This time, she made a cushion cover. Sandra is a beader first and second a quilter. So she has to put beads on everything she makes. She beaded the seam between the blocks and used a decorative stitch around the outside. Well done!!!

Sandra's beaded cushion cover

Judi is making a quilt and this is her curved piecing block. She didn't get the quilt top together as she has more blocks to make. I can't wait to see this quilt as she has used a beautiful teal throughout and it's going to be awesome. This is an example of using a busy print for the background and while it works, the contrast could be more pronounced to truly appreciate those curves. There's absolutely nothing wrong with this.

Judi's curved piecing block

Kathi is (was) a new quilter at the beginning of the year. She can no longer call herself that. Those sections are paper pieced (the freezer paper way) and then she sewed the block together using three pins. She did an amazing job and the coloring is great. Should I say this? but it looks like an eye on one of her fabrics!!!

Kathi's curved piecing block

Barb is also making a quilt and hasn't got the top together, but this block looks awesome. She did make her backgrounds a wee bit bigger as the seam allowance at the joins is just ¼". Again - another super job!!!

Barb's curved piecing block

Lynne made a table topper using one of the curved flying geese blocks. The center block is paper pieced and then she added some swirls on the outside. It was quilted with a decorative stitch. It doesn't have binding, but she used the envelope method to turn it.

Lynne's table topper

Lynne also made a quilt top. I love the way the white sashing just makes the blocks pop off the quilt. And I love the colors - for anyone looking for a color scheme for a new quilt - looking at what others put together is a great way to choose a new color scheme. I might just steal this idea. It's hard to see in the photo, but there's a small block in each corner. An error in the book led Lynne to make a small block instead of a large one. So instead of wasting the small block, she made three more - one for each corner. Now that's the mark of a true quilter!!!

Lynne's quilt top

Heather - oh dear Heather. At the beginning of the year, she came to the first two classes - I think a little terrified that she had gotten in over her head. She didn't bring in any show n tell for two months. Then something happened and she was flying. She brought in a FINISHED quilt - that she had quilted herself. I love the colors in the quilt. She did the most amazing job for a "beginner". Here's another one who can no longer claim to be a beginner.

Heather's quilt

 I was busy holding quilts and trying to take pictures so I didn't really get a good close up of her quilting, but it was amazing. Heather took my quilting classes over the year and she took to free motion like a duck to water. Her philosophy? Just do it!!! And I agree with her 100%. If you're not good - you'll get good but if you don't start, you'll go nowhere.

Close up of Heather's quilting

My quilting classes help you to eliminate all the variables in free motion quilting and all you're left with is one thing. Steer the fabric. If you haven't taken one of my classes, you should. I know - if you're far away, that's not going to happen, but - there's always the internet! You never know.

I have to say that I'm very proud of all the students in this class. These blocks were NOT easy. Oops - did I say that out loud? The class is finished - I can say that now! Well, some of the blocks were challenging and each and every one of the students rose to the challenge and made some magnificent projects.

I also asked them to bring along some other show n tell so everyone would at least have one thing to be oohed and aahed over.

For the life of me, I can't remember whose quilt top this is. The center is a Frozen II panel (up to the first dark blue border). Then a border of disappearing nine patches and some half-square triangles and it looks absolutely amazing. Shoot - whose quilt is this???? I think it belonger to Sandra.

Frozen II panel quilt

This is one of Susan's quilts. It was part of our UFO club earlier in the year. I think she only needed to put borders on this quilt and now the entire quilt is finished. And if those of you from away are jealous of the UFO club - don't worry - we're going to be accommodating you this year. Watch for the details on that.

Susan's finished quilt

This is another quilt of Susan's. Again - it was one of the quilts she finished in the UFO club. This one was partially quilted if I remember correctly and she completed the quilting herself. I absolutely love the quilting  - the texture is amazing!!!

Susan's finished quilt 

Susan V brought in the most adorable block from the Farm Girl Vintage II book. It's a horse with a quilted blanket. I love this!!!!

Horse block from Farm Girl Vintage II

Susan V also made this little zippered bag. I've forgotten the name of the bag, but it's got lots of pockets to keep everything super organized. I might need to make one of those someday. I actually have a lot of bags so I think I'm good. But it's cute!!! And the recipient loves llamas so the pockets are lined with llama fabric.

Susan V's zippered pouch

Susan V also showed us her latest quilt top. HOLY - this is amazing!!!!  It's made with Kaffe Fassett fabrics and that stunning blue grunge fabric from Moda. She wanted bright and she got bright. Although her husband did ask why wasn't it brighter - you know - with oranges and yellows! I love his comment, but I think it's TOTALLY bright and I love the colors.

Susan's bright (beat the blues!) quilt top

The big print is her backing and the strips of Kaffe Fassett will be the binding. It's going to be an amazing quilt. Imagine getting up on a January morning and seeing that on your bed? How could you not feel good about life?

The backing and the binding for Susan's bright quilt

This is Sara's quilt top from the Lillaclass that also finished up last week. Hey - we need to get as much mileage out of our show n tell as possible. It's a great example of how you can make a modern quilt without using modern fabrics. She quilted it herself (YEAH!!!) and it's bound. Ready to be used.

Sara's Lilla quilt

 Kathi, who is a total fan of anything Grinch - actually, I think it's her husband who is the Grinch fan. She made this advent calendar for him. She's going to put goodies in each pocket and there's a little stuffed Grinch that you can move each day as you await the arrival of Santa. You can't see the red/white striped ties at the top to hang it up. Super cute.

Grinch advent calendar

We all went into oohs and aahs when Barb showed this quilt. It's Imagine from Art to Heart. She did all the applique by hand - mostly black thread using a buttonhole stitch. The quilt is absolutely STUNNING. It was a year-long BOM kit from The Hobby Horse. Shoot - I wish I had done it. OK - I have the pattern - now get off my butt and make it! It is absolutely gorgeous!

Barb's Imagine quilt

Wow WOW WOW!!!!  What eye candy. They are a very talented group of people and you can see how some total newbies became seasoned quilters over the course of one year. I've seen this time and time again and it never ceases to bring a huge smile to my face to see that. We learned from each other (oh yes - I get as much if not more from the students than they get from me - so THANKS to you all), we shared many stories and had a lot of laughs. It was a great class and I thank everyone for all their hard work!!

As I was on my way to the class that morning, I got stopped at the railroad tracks. As I was sitting there contemplating life, I noticed all the amazing graffiti on the trains. This picture doesn't do justice to the artwork of these graffiti artists. Imagine doing this with a spray can? I'd loved to watch them at work. OH - I know - there's probably a YouTube video for that.

Graffiti artwork on the train

I know I make fun of YouTube, but here's the thing. I like to watch YouTube videos. I like to mostly watch for entertainment rather than learning, but on occasion, YouTube has saved the day. Like the time we were at the retreat with a can opener that we had no clue how to use. YouTube showed us how. On the other hand, I watched a video on how to groom a dog, which turned into total advertising. And the way she was brushing the dog was shameful.

Like anything - if you watch YouTube videos - it's buyer beware. And I'd follow Sara's excellent advice - don't just watch one. Watch several on your topic or watch only those from WELL KNOWN people in that industry, although that isn't always safe. Anyone with a camera can make a YouTube video and what you get isn't always the best information.

On that note, I'm out of here! I've got loads to do - OH - Elle mentioned that a group she is in, set goals for the remainder of the year! I'm not sure that I have time for that. But I think it's a great idea. At the very least - keep a list of all the things you get done between now and the rest of the year. I might do that!

OH -- don't forget to check out my blog post on QUILTsocial today. I'm exploring a new feature of the Husqvarna Viking DESIGNER EPIC 2 and how it can save a ton of time for quilters!!!!!

Have a super day!!!!


Ciao!!!!!

Ultimate Book of Quilt Blocks - Show n Tell

I'm catching up on all those posts that I had prepped a while back. After today, there's one left and then there are a ton more pictures to edit and the process starts all over again!

So much to do and say and so little time! I made a new TO-DP list and it's mostly e-mails that need to be answered or sent out, invoice and expense reports to prepare and a few technology things to get updated. I need ONE good morning and I would be in better shape but that's not going to happen for a week. How crazy is that?

Today, the show n tell is all about our ongoing class at The Hobby Horse from the Ultimate Quilt Block Collection by Lynne Goldsworthy.

This was the show n tell that came back from the summer. Hmm - notice that with this large of a group that the show n tell is rather small. They are NOT obliged to make anything, but perhaps I'm going to have to start making them some deadlines!

Anyway, here is the small, but mighty homework.

This first one belongs to Sandra. The theme of the month was half square triangles. This is an interesting way to use half square triangles and she's having way too much fun with her embroidery machine. These cute little coasters can be detached from the wall hanging. Hmm - I like those coasters and I know where she got the pattern. I might have to make one or two.

Sandra's coffee quilt

Heather is making five of these table runners! I think she has almost completed them all. The block is from the book and uses half-square triangles and flying geese. She's doing a great job with the free motion quilting as well!!! I hear so many people say "I CAN'T" do free motion. Well, you can't and you won't unless you try. So just give it a whirl. Trust me - the more you practice, the more proficient you become. Remember the 10,000 hours required to become good at something. What would you say to your children if they said: "I can't"?????? Check out that link  - the "experts" are saying that DELIBERATE PRACTICE is way better than the 10,000 hours. That sounds like that takes less time as well!!!

Heather's table runner

This gorgeous block belongs to Judi. It's a pretty neat way to use flying geese. Paper pieced of course.

Judi's flying geese block

This block belongs to Mary. Another very exciting way to use flying geese in a block. Again, this block is paper pieced.

Mary's block

These next couple of blocks belong to Lynne. I love the fabric she used. Except for the very center, the remainder of the purple came from the same piece of fabric. It's one of Northcott's Stonehenge fabrics.

Lynne's block

Lynne's block

Unfortunately, we're finding a few mistakes in the book. One of them was the size of the center section for the block above. The paper pieced pattern was shown at 100% and stated that it was actual size, when it needed to be enlarged by 200%. Hence, Lynne is now the owner of a nice little block. She could reduce the remainder of the sections and make a six-inch block instead of a twelve-inch one. Should we make her do that? Or she could make a coaster from it.

Lynne's teeny center block

These next two blocks belong to Barb. I'm loving that dark background color she has used and the two print fabrics have a touch of that background color in them. The final quilt is going to be spectacular.

Barb's block

Another block by Barb

The last block for today belongs to Kathi. This is from a couple of sessions ago - no worries. There's no time limit. These are the hour-glass blocks. Notice how the color changes in the center create a pinwheel pattern. So much you can do with the hour-glass block.

Kathi's block

There's been so much moving of stuff around and stuff sitting in the hallway, that some people have asked me if I was moving! Nope - that's stuff that needs to be dropped off or picked up! However, I have lost my glasses. I had the darn things on Sunday morning and now I don't. I searched in all the normal places where I would leave them. I was also missing my debit card, but I found that in my wallet! I wasn't using my wallet during the CreativFestival and it wasn't in my little pouch. I didn't move it over. Oh well. One down and one more thing to find.

I don't have a good feeling about the glasses. I'm not sure why. I do have prescription sunglasses that I can use to drive the car or well, I can drive without if I need to. I'm sure they will turn up. Like the time I found them in the Christmas tree when I was packing the tree up after the season was over. Apparently, they were on my head when I was decorating the tree and got lodged in the tree. It was a pure fluke that I found them when we packed the tree away! We got a good laugh over that. I wonder where they could be??? I guess I'm going to have to resort to putting them on a string around my neck!

On that note, I have some paperwork that HAS TO BE DONE this morning before the ladies come for the community projects day.

Have a super day!!!!!


Ciao!!!!

Ultimate Show n Tell

What a crazy day yesterday was! I'll share that tomorrow because I've been promising to share these show n tell photos for two days and I need to follow through on that.

We had a couple of make-up classes this summer due to a couple of classes being canceled early in the year because of iffy weather. That was a first for us to have these make-up classes, but that's OK.

Here's what happened.

Keep in mind that the class has the choice of making the block/technique that we work on. It's not a requirement. While a good part of the class was in attendance, not everyone had show n tell. I would say that's because it was summer more than they didn't want to work on the block. But that's OK!!!

I'm going to attempt names this time! The first piece was done by Sandra. I should mention that the unit we were working on was the quarter square triangle also known at the hourglass block. We were so engaged by the teacups that Sandra put on her piece that we barely noticed the hourglass blocks! That can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on what you want people to see (or not see) on your piece. The hourglass parts were very well done. And so were the teacup coasters!

Sandra's interpretation of the hourglass block

If I remember all the names right, this belonged to Judi. This is how the block appears in the book. She'll be putting several blocks together and making a quilt at the end of the year. I love those colors and those centers were nicely matched.

Judi's hourglass block

Mary made a small wallhanging with her hourglass blocks. It's very soft and pretty, but what I love more is that she said: "I wonder what would happen if I changed up the coloring?" That's the most important thing about quilting. Make one version and then ask yourself that question. You don't need to remake it, but this is where the design software (EQ8) comes in handy because you could just substitute the fabrics and then you would know. Hmm - I don't have time to do that this morning, but I'll make some examples tomorrow for you to look at. If you don't have the design software, you can simply cut up a couple of fabric squares and lay it out on your piece and see what happens.

Mary's hourglass blocks

OH - I couldn't help myself. Here are three versions of this quilt.

This is the same coloring as Mary's original quilt

Changed up the colors a bit

Only used two colors

Anyway - that gives you an idea of how you can play with the colors and each design in EQ8. And it's fast. That little exercise took about five minutes if that and that included saving the pictures and uploading them to the blog.

This is Donna's block. Love that green/blue combination.

Donna's block

Donna was also working on a Bonnie Hunter quilt and this is a variation of the hourglass block. See what it looks like on the left, but if you rotate each block, you now have a ribbon effect. I love the one on the right!!!

Two different border treatments

This is Barb's block. I love the bold colors and those points match up very nicely in the center!!!!

Barb's block

Heather wanted to try using three different colors in her hourglass blocks and ended up with pinwheels. Nicely done!!!

Heather's hourglass block

We only had one non-class show n tell piece. Sandra (who bought this at the previous class) made this bed runner. It's done! Sandra's a finisher! I think we'd have a hard time working together, but I could learn from her. Although I'm so much better than what I used to be.

Sandra's bed runner

The book we're working from is called the Ultimate Quilt Block Collection. One thing I've noticed is that back in the '80s and '90's and probably even earlier, making a quilt sampler was THE quilt that everyone made. It was like a rite of passage. If you didn't make a sampler quilt, you weren't a quilter. Well, have you noticed that that trend is back? BIG TIME. The blocks may be different, they may be different sizes, but they are samplers!!!!  Only the fabrics have changed - thank goodness for that.

Ultimate Quilt Block Collection by Lynne Goldsworthy

We looked at more units in the book and there'll be more show n tell at the end of September.

That covers it off for today. After doing basically nothing yesterday (and enjoyed every minute of it), it's back to work today. I MUST get some computer work done and I've got a date with the sewing machine for some projects as well.

Have a super day!!!!

Ciao!!!!

Ultimate Quilt Block Part 3

Today is the last day of the show n tell from the Ultimate Quilt Block class at The Hobby Horse. Make that the last post from the June class. We don't normally have classes in the summer, but to make up for a couple of classes that we missed because of inclement weather, we have a class in July and August. So we'll have more show n tell soon!

Ultimate Quilt Block Collection by Lynne Goldsworthy

The theme for the last month was small piecing. You already saw the blocks that the group put together from the book. The blocks today are their own creations.

We start off by viewing a quilt that we did in this ongoing class several years ago. It was called Snow Days by Crabapple Hill.    The photo below is the original quilt. I didn't get a picture of Susie's quilt that is finished!!!  There's loads of piecing and embroidery in the quilt.

Snow Days by Crabapple Hill

So why are we viewing this quilt? Because Susie saved (and USED) the little cut-offs from the flying geese blocks. And this is what she made with them. A girl after my own heart - she saved those cut-off pieces!!!!  I know - not everyone is crazy but some of us are!

She also likes embroidery so after making the center with the half-square triangles, she added some embroidery to the middle border. I LOVE it - very creative and uses up some scraps. I've forgotten how big those finished half square triangles are, but they are fairly small. I believe they are less than one inch finished.

Susie's piece made from scraps

Shoot - I've forgotten whose piece this belongs to. Those little squares are one inch finished. That's small - much smaller than most people want to work with. I love the variety of greens but looks like there's only one pink. Notice how the different colors and values change what pops in each block. It's actually a very interesting color study!

Color study in green and pink

Mary went crazy!!!!  Look at all those half square triangles and she does NOT do small. But look at those colors!!!!  I believe the half square triangles finish at ½". Yep - that's small. Way to go Mary! This will make a super mini-quilt when she finishes it off.

Mary's small piecing piece

I believe this is from the other Mary in the class. She didn't have anything specific for the small piecing. Hers is an on-going project. There's her little tin of half square triangles that she's made from cast-off pieces. And she's started to make pinwheel blocks with them. This is an ender/leader project.

Mary's half square triangle project

More of Mary's small piecing project

It's so exciting to see how creative the group is. We are all at different stages of our creative journey. I think everyone in the class wants to move forward, otherwise, they wouldn't have signed up!. It doesn't matter where any of us are on our creative journey. For me, the important thing is to keep moving forward. Some will go slow, some will go faster and some of us will take a pit stop along the way.

After 20+ years as a quilter, I'm feeling much more confident in what I make. I've been doing some reading on the subject and it appears that almost all of us suffer from lack of confidence in our work at some point. I'm not always happy with what I make but I try to learn from those pieces to figure out how I could have done it differently.

While I'm a maker, I want to make things that I'm proud of. If something gets made and I don't like it (like my Prince challenge from yesterday), how can I change it so that I will like it? I think I have a couple of ideas. Yep - I'm going to resurrect that piece.

I've got a lot of work to do this week and we have Sit n Sew on Thursday. Still a lot of work to get prepped for that day and I have to find something to sew!!! I'm looking forward to the day!

On that note - it's Monday sewing. I've got to get ready for that!

Have a super day!!!!!

Ciao!!!!