Crazy Saturday!

What a crazy day!   I did manage to sneak out for a few minutes at lunch to switch bags and it was a gorgeous day.  I missed it completely!

But we had FUN!!!!  Oh my goodness - it's going to be a fabulous year with our Saturday Sampler at Sew Sisters.  There is room for a couple more in one of the classes - so if you want to be part of the fun - well it's plain crazy!

Started off with our Vintage Moments.

Vintage Moments by Marsha McCloskey

 I taught this class a couple of years ago at another store.  As is usual fashion for me - I haven't completed my top yet. Most of the bits and pieces are done so my goal is to get it complete this time around.

My version (to date) of Vintage Moments

You see my problem is that I like to complicate things.  Yes - it is bad enough to have to piece an eight pointed star, but when you have to fussy cut a striped fabric to do it - well it makes the process that much more complicated. There are 16 stars in one of the borders and I'm INSISTING that they match the center.  Call me an idiot.  My goal - start cutting those so I can make the stars and get this quilt done!!!!

Check out my tutorial to make your own eight pointed star.

If you want to see the results of the previous class that I taught - check out this post.


We did have some show n tell from that class - none Vintage Moments - I'll show all that show n tell at the end of this post.

Next up was  Farm Girl Vintage .     (Yes TWO classes with Vintage in the name!)

Farm Girl Vintage by Lori Holt

Oh - I'm so excited about this quilt.  This is the class that we have a few spots left. Call Sew Sisters if you are interested in joining. It's not too late. We are all going to pick our version of the quilt we want, custom designing them no less so I doubt anyone will have a quilt that looks like the one on the front.

I did take in my laptop and Ronda brought me a projector which worked just fine. Except that I'm trying to focus it and it won't focus.  OH - I need my glasses on to do that job!!!   But I think the class got a good appreciation for what can be done with EQ7 and the designing stuff. Now we each have to figure out what we are going to make, how big, what fabric, how many blocks, etc.  It will likely take a month or two for all that to gel.

We looked at THREE blocks yesterday - a pinwheel, postage stamp and kitchen window.  Many of these blocks would make a good quilt all on their own.  On my way home, I got really excited as I thought about the day.  I had seen a quilt on the internet just recently that had me drooling, then seeing the postage stamp block again and remembering that I had this bag at home.

Bag of 1 1/2" squares

Do NOT search for confetti quilts on the internet.  You did didn't you!!!!!   Your mouth will drool - I've just added another 10 projects to the list of those I want to do.

But do check out this post because I absolutely love the quilt and read until the end to see what her husband did for her. It's pretty funny.


HA HA - as if I needed another project!!!!!    This surfing the internet for inspirations at work is VERY DEADLY.   If you thought I was in over my head before - you don't want to even know the half of it now.   I'll keep that as my little secret.

But if my studio is any indication of what's going on - well one picture tells a thousand words.  Have a peek.

My studio

Normally things aren't on the floor like that, but well - it's been a bit crazy and not much time to tidy up.  Hopefully today - a bit!

But we did have some Farm Girl Vintage show n tell.  Karen won't be able to make it next month and so she found something she liked and made a block.

Karen's Farm Girl Vintage homework for February

It's pretty cute and what a way to use fabric.  I LOVE that barn door and look at what's in the barn - cute little pink piggies!!!!!   Nicely done Karen!!!!

At last - here is our show n tell from yesterday.....................



Let's start with Raili - this is from one of the ongoing classes, but from a couple of years ago.  I'm going to say 5?   It was taught at Cockadoodle - a quilt store which doesn't exist any more.  RIP Joann - we miss you!!!!

O Tannebaum   by Sue Garman

Raili did a fabulous job on the quilt and it is done!!!!!!    She is a machine these days - she bought a quilting machine and it's smoking!!!!!!

The back of Raili's quilt

 A super way to use up odds and ends!!!!


Next up was Suzi with a hexagonal quilt.  It is gorgeous with Kaffe Fassett fabric in it. She's going to have fun with binding that top and bottom.  That becomes a love/hate situation, but I'm know she'll do a good job.

Hexagons quilt!

Marilyn is also a machine. I think she brings in some show n tell every month!!!!   This time is was "quilt as you go" that she made with her scraps.

Marilyn's quilt as you go!

 And then there is Karen.  We always know that we are going to be "surprised" at Karen's show n tell.  She has a very unique style and it's always fun to see what craziness she has come up with.

This was a tinners project (a group project) that a number of us in the class had worked on - many years ago - again this was run through the Cockadoodle store).  If memory serves me correctly, Karen's theme was Wine, Women and Song. See - I can remember things - this was done years ago!!!!   My block is the middle one on the bottom row.  Yes an EIGHT POINTED STAR - see I'm an idiot.  I love what Karen did with her quilt and it is finished.  Sadly, mine is still in a box.  I so want to get to it - but not right now.

Wine, Women and Song - Karen!

 And then Karen tried to blame this next quilt on ME!!!!!   Fancy that.  She said I told people that working in series is a good thing.  OK - I did say that!   You remember that last year, one of the quilts for the Saturday Sampler was Tiny Town.

Tiny Town by Bunny Hill

Here's a link to the final quilts of Tiny Town in last year's class.    Have a look specifically at Karen's.  Oh - heck - here is Karen's quilt. 

Karen's Tiny Town 

You can see it is quite different from the original.  There are detail shots on the blog post above. 

Well Karen made a second Tiny Town - this is the night time version of Tiny Town. 

Tiny Town by night

It's pretty funny and again - so much detail - I didn't get a chance to take a lot of picture, but look below in the top left.  There's a coyote baying at the moon and a hottie guy!!!!

Detail of Tiny Town by night

Let's just say that Karen has a great imagination, a wicked sense of humor and has a lot of fun in what she does and her level of creativity is off the chart!!!!!   Well done Karen!!!!   By the way - this was a total surprise to me and to everyone else who had been in that class.

On that note, I've had a wet nose hitting my arm for the last hour.  I must get going before Lexi gets insulted that I don't pay attention to her!!!!!


Have an AWESOME day!!!!!


Ciao!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tinners reveal (from Christmas Club)

Wow - in case you are wondering - yes I survived the mall. Was at the mall as it opened and I hit a couple of stores and I was out in ONE HALF HOUR!!!!   Oh yes - when you know what you want - there is NO wasting time. My biggest problem was figuring out where the stores were that I wanted. The mall has a new 3-D map that - well I should have downloaded the app that would direct me around!!!!!


Let's get onto tinners. As you know - this is a project that we have been working on all year and while I am thrilled that I participated, it became a bit of a monkey on my back. OK - it became a GORILLA on my back.

If you want to see the original post - check out this link..............   ( I am sure I had of witty comments to say about it when I was all excited!!!)

Start of the tinners project


BUT - I will be nice and repost all the original blocks HERE. There were eleven of us in the group so technically there should be ELEVEN blocks in each of the group shots below. There are a few missing - so hopefully those will get done so people can get working on their projects.

Grab a coffee - this might be long.

We can start with me!!!!   This is Randy the rooster - my theme was Randy the Rooster and his chicks, so I made a rooster to go in the bucket.

Randy

And this is Randy admiring himself!!!!!

My Randy the Rooster block. The only requirement - the backgrounds were to be black/white (I was wondering what happened to my black/white scraps - I forgot I included them in this project!!!!) and the block had to be a "chick"

  

My blocks that I received back!!!   There are some pretty cool "chicks" there!!!   Randy is in poultry heaven!!!! I believe I am still missing TWO blocks.  No worries girls - I know who you are and where you live!!!!!!!   Just don't be surprised if Randy shows up on your doorstep one day looking for his lost chick!!!!!

Karen's theme was Wine, Women and Song. We had to make a  12 inch block and use that musical note fabric somewhere in the block. 

Karen's blocks that she received (HEY - did you all note that through the magic of PhotoShop that Karen NOW has ELEVEN blocks in her show n tell, not just the NINE that were actually at the class). You just gotta love Photoshop

This block was the one that caused me the most grief. I just could NOT come up with an idea that I liked. So while quilting the other day and with the deadline LOOMING over my head and knowing that Karen was the MOST likely of anyone to work on this project, my brain went into PANIC mood. I ran to Ruti's and said I NEED fabric with women on it,  musical instruments and wine!!!   The girls scurried around seeing my stricken state and came up with exactly what I needed. Then not to be frightened by the fact that this block would be delivered the NEXT DAY - I decided that an EIGHT pointed star would be the ideal way to show case this deadly mixture of topics!!!!   I quickly drafted the pattern on EQ7 - printed it out and started cutting. I have to say that the quilting gods were on my side that night because EVERY Y seams went in like a charm!!!!!!     I think the results are super and I'm very happy with the block. Did you see that women are at the center of all things involving wine and music???   Not bad for a panic block - but should we tell Karen this?????

Nancy was making butter fly blocks. It was REFRESHING to get this box. The grey fabric was provided, as was the pattern. So we just had to choose four fabrics and make a couple of seams and VOILA - butterflies. Thanks Nancy!!!!! 

Nancy's blocks. Some of us made the blocks and did not sew them together (into a four patch group) - some did. 

My blocks that I made for Nancy - I was so lazy - I didn't even trim them - I think Nancy can make that happen. 

Next up was Linda. Her theme was hearts.

Linda's heart blocks. We were all trying to do a DIFFERENT style of heart and by the time I got the box, and did an internet search - a lot of  block styles were already done. THEN I quilted those two heart quilts for that customer and there were LOTS of ideas there. Shoot - could have used that quilt a LOT sooner than when I got it. Oh drat  - Ronda came late and her block is missing from the picture. We were allowed to make several sizes so I think Linda has all her blocks.

Linda VL - I am reposting the heart quilt in case you need MORE ideas!!!!!

My two heart blocks for Linda VL. 

Marlene was next with a theme of BLUE/WHITE. Ah - another nice and easy one. Well sort of - at least the colours were chosen and we could piece, not applique, but still had to choose a block and I believe the size was 10 inches

These are the blocks that Marlene received back. All of hers are there - someone made a LOT of small blocks instead of one big one. That is going to be one awesome quilt!!!!!

This is the block that I made for \Marlene

Annadele was next. Again another SUPER EASY block. I love you Annadele. She provided us with the black/white four patches. It was our job to add scraps from quilts that we had made and make a block.

The blocks that Annadele received. YES - all eleven are there. If they weren't - well that would just be BAD!!!!!

My block. That fabric in the bottom left was from the baby stuff I made for M. The cushion on the rocking chair was made from that fabric as were the bumper pads and a little quilt. Hmmm - maybe not a quilt - I don't think I made a quilt, but I made a cushion for the chair. That burgundy fabric in the top was from the FIRST quilt I made (well the first one since I seriously started to quilt). The blue vine in the top left was my BIG AMBITION quilt - I was going to make M a tumbling blocks quilt for her queen sized bed!!!   I know - I learned fast!!!!!  Never got the quilt made - well I made Ocean Waves instead. The green in the bottom left was from my SECOND quilt that I made when I got hooked. I still have both quilts. Annadele - thanks for the trip down memory lane!!!!

Suzi\s theme was houses or Home Sweet Home. Something to that effect. I don't think we had to worry about size, but the colour was very distinctive. 

The blocks she received. Looks like there is ONE missing. 

This is the block that I made. Now for some reason - this block just instilled a sense of dread. Why?????   Well - I have no idea. I picked out the fabric - had the pattern all set and yet it took MONTHS to build. I guess my point was - quality construction takes time????   Although I notice that one of the shutters is slightly askew. Oh dear - well nothing is perfect so that means it is more homey!!!!

Liz had a great theme - The Twelve Days of Christmas. I think she had provided a fabric that we were to use and  the block had to be 12 inches.

Liz's blocks. She received all of her blocks, but there is one missing since there are 12 days and we were only 11. She will have to figure out the missing block and make it up!!!!!!!!!!!

My block - guess I don't have to tell you that this was THREE FRENCH HENS.  I forgot to get a picture (maybe I took one when I made the blocks - but the wings are 3-D and the fabric on the underside of the wing is fabric that I bought when I was in Paris. I figure it would be worthy of this block. Shoot - I am not sure where that picture would be or even if I took it - I will look later. 

Kirsten's theme was SNOW. I believe there was a size required - 12 inches???

These are the blocks she received back. Hmmm - looks like one is missing. These blocks are COOL and it is going to make a gorgeous quilt. 

The block that I made - I took this from a Lydia Quigley snowman pattern.

Let's see - Oh yes - we still have Ronda

Ronda's theme was Crazy Christmas Penguins.

Here are the blocks that Ronda received and did you notice that AGAIN through the magic of PhotoShop, the block that I made for Ronda appears in this show n tell??????   I rush around like an idiot that morning to get it at least stuck down and then I couldn't find it when I arrived at the store. I got home to find the block sitting quite comfortably on my ironing board.

My funky Christmas penguin block - OK - so has NOTHING to do with Christmas, but purple is Ronda's favourite colour so I went with that!!!!   I still need to do the satin stitching. That will come after my Christmas panic of over!!!!

Last, but not least is Linda P.

Linda's theme was autumn and she included scads of yummy fabrics. We had to make a 15  inch block. 

These are the blocks she received back. Nice blocks. I think only one is missing. 

This is the block that I made and yes I had to BUTTON HOLE stitch around all those edges. 

And there you have it - the results of our tinners project from Christmas Club - had NOTHING to do with Christmas Club, just that most of the participants were also in Christmas Club.

Can you see why I am NOT doing any exchanges this coming year. The blocks are time consuming. Now just making the block, but figuring out what to make, then choosing the pattern, getting fabric. Well it is not so bad if you are doing one, but at one point, I was doing THREE every month - just too much and I burned myself out with this. So I am taking a well deserved break.

My thanks to everyone for the WONDERFUL blocks I received. As much as I complained about this - I did enjoy it and I LOVED seeing what everyone did!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Hmmm - just did a count - not as bad as I thought - there are FOUR incomplete boxes - three are missing ONE block and OOOPS - mine is missing TWO. Randy and I will be patiently waiting for the missing chicks to come home. Those young chicks - don't want to come home!!!!!


Have fun putting them together.  Perhaps we should set a deadline as to the completion date?????   How about at the next show n tell of Christmas Club in December 2013 - have your tinner quilt done!!!!!


Have a great day!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Ciao!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!