EMPTY SPOOLS SEMINARS 2025

 It is hard to describe the Empty Spools Seminar experience to those who have never been there. For 40 years quilters have gathered at the Asilomar Conference Center in Pacific Grove CA to attend one of 5 seminars. Each session lasts 5 and a half days, and each student is with the same teacher for all of those days.

First, I will just show photos of this magical place. This is my second year teaching there and it is such an incredible experience--for both students and teachers:

My bedroom with the class quilt: Two For One

The view of "my tree"

Deer are just some of the wildlife we see here every day

Power breakfast to keep me going all day

The ocean soothes my soul--I arrived a day early so got to enjoy walking the beach trails in the daylight

The landscape is wild and craggy, unlike beaches I am more familiar with

Many of the buildings are historic--the place was begun in 1913 as a YWCA camp. These steps lead to Merrill Hall and show some of the amazing stone work around the campus

"My Tree" from the outside

The Pacific Ocean ahead

A CA State beach, the property is well-maintained. I enjoyed the educational signs

My daily walk starts at 5:30 am, it's dark. I use a flashlight and feel like I have the place to myself

 Sunrise on the way

I love the ocean, sand, waves, everything about the beach

As if the PLACE isn't wonderful enough, the chance to spend almost a week with truly great students and other well-known teachers makes this truly a very special experience:

Merrill Hall. The Cotton Patch sets up a small store for the week. Evening events are held here. And my classroom was in this main room--a wonderful place to teach

My students were the best! They worked hard and learned a lot. Two of them where in my Full Circle class last year and one took a class with me in Houston last Fall. Another one follows my blog regularly. All four of them are already to register for my class next year, when Registration opens April 26, 2025 at 10 am PST. 

Work from all my students on the wall--it could be a full quilt!

The last afternoon is "Walk Around" when all other classes are invited to tour each of the other 9 classrooms to see what's been happening. My students filled their design boards to show their work.

Happy students, wonderful blocks, amazing weather! And the Pacific Ocean in the background is included in the price of the Seminar--no extra charge!

Many students come to Empty Spools Seminars every year, they wouldn't miss it. Lifelong friendships are formed. And the opportunity to study with one teacher over an extended time is very beneficial. I was very happy to see several students from my class last year, Full Circle, around the campus. A couple of them hope to take my class next year. 

Teachers at Empty Spools also love the experience. On the one evening there is no program the teachers traditionally go out to dinner at Fish Wife, a local seafood house we can walk to:

Jennifer Sampou, Maria Shell, me, Andrea Brokenshire, Phyllis Lewis, Sandra Mollon, Linda Neal, Judy Coates Perez and Judy's husband, Phil. Missing was Sue Heinz and David Owen Hastings. It was Andrea's birthday, another good reason to celebrate.

This year I had the most amazing thing happen on Day 1:

Linda Herrera and me

The flowers and the card 

As I was preparing my classroom, this lovely woman walked up to me and said "You don't know me but I feel like I really know you." She told me how much she enjoys the Block of the Month quilts from The Quilt Show with Alex Anderson and Ricky Tims. She has completed several of them, won awards for them, and even got her quilt juried in to International Quilt Festival in Houston last year. She presented me with beautiful flowers and a special card. Her kind words in the card expressed her appreciation for my help with my blogs and LIVE videos throughout the years. She was not a student this session, she drove 30 miles to meet me when she heard me say on the previous LIVE that I would be there.  I was gob-smacked! It is this INTANGIBLE thing that keeps me going as a quilter and teacher. The chance to share what I have learned with those who want to know it too. This one thing made my entire year! Thank you, Linda!

Another great thing that happens is when last year's students "Show and Share" their completed work:

Mollie Gilliam's FULL CIRCLE

Anne Flanigan's FULL CIRCLE

I was thrilled to see their amazing work. This is a very challenging project that takes a lot of time. Wonderful job, you two!

OH MY STARS--my 2026 class. Five days will make you very confident in precision piecing, Y-seams or how to avoid those if you want to and give you a chance to learn everything I know--or close. 

    

The quilt from the pattern

My version 97" square

Oh My SMALL Stars, a sample that is easy to carry when I travel 

Find all the information you need about the 2026 Empty Spools Seminars here: EMPTY SPOOLS SEMINARS 2026. I am in Session 5--late April to early May--the weather will be perfect!

Many of the classes fill very quickly so I encourage you to be ready to register as soon as you can. This is an experience unlike any other for  those who want to learn, share their passion for our artform, and add lifelong skills to their toolbox. I hope to see you there. 

Let's quilt.

Barbara

WHAT A GREAT TRIP!

 I recently had the BEST teaching experience I have ever had, in 11 years of being a "road warrior" Traveling Quilt Teacher.

Flights to and from Austin were uneventful, even arriving early each of the 4 flights. That's "Traveling Mercies" these days.

The Fabric and Fiber Quilting club at Sun City brought me to town. They are a delightful group and the Classroom Studio was beautiful--large, bright, more than enough electrical outlets. And the BEST technical set up I've ever had. My PowerPoint was an easy set-up with their system, I really appreciate when that part of the job is all set and goes off without a hitch.

At the Podium for the Lecture Time Management for Quilters

POLL: Care to vote, long hair or short?

Electrical cords hang overhead as well as on the tables, so much power

The Home2Suites at Georgetown  Austin North was my home for 4 nights. It is an excellent hotel, with a great breakfast, and well-trained employees. There is a refrigerator/freezer, microwave, sink, dishwasher, and real dishes and silverware for bringing meals in. It was a joy to stay there:

I always sleep under my own quilt

Breakfast was good and healthy

Each day starts with a workout, 5-6 am: 

Half what I do at home but enough to enjoy all the great meals I get

Class Friday and Saturday was Western Sun. The students ranged from very experienced to very new. Everyone did great and seemed to absorb my tips and tricks. I was so impressed with what all 25 of these women accomplished in our two days together:

Student work all gathered to appear as if it's one quilt

Marthe decided ONE block was sufficient to learn the skills it teaches. Great job!

I was so incredibly well-cared for on this trip. From the Welcome Goodie Bag to the amazing meals, from Gayland's tour guide skills around the wonderful square in Georgetown, I felt honored to be treated so well. I was even treated to dinner at a member's home, wonderful BBQ prepared by Karen's husband--no photos, we just relaxed and enjoyed the evening:

My Welcome Goodie Bag from the guild, so kind and appreciated

Dinner with a friend at Tony & Luigi's--awesome!! Salmon and Salad

Great restaurant on the square

Macadamia crusted Jumbo Shrimp with mango rice and snow peas

The county courthouse--an iconic Southern square 

Dinner on my own from 2020 Market--right across the street from the hotel, Salmon and Salad

Texas Flags are everywhere--they have a lot of state pride

Sun City is a Del Webb retirement community of some size. The part I saw was beautifully landscaped, walking trails I would love, nice homes, very serene. As I went to the restroom Saturday morning I happened to explore the area surrounding the class Studio--look how lovely:

The primary reason I teach these classes all over the country is to share what I have learned how to do over 40+ years with those who want to learn. After class ended Saturday afternoon I think every woman spoke to me privately about what they learned, how much they enjoyed it, how glad they were they invested the time to be there. Those words of appreciation are PRICELESS! It is those moments that make all the travel and planning worthwhile. And they know I will be happy to come back should they want me again. It really was the BEST GIG ever. 

No class is complete without the group photo:

And a special thanks to Jennifer, who handled all the arrangements for months in advance and was the primary driver for getting me where I needed to go. We moved me to the Austin airport area after class Saturday as I had an early morning flight the next day. She is a gem!

Jennifer and I at a Jamaican Jerked Chicken food truck for the last night's dinner, what could be more "Austin"?

Chamber of Commerce weather was a special treat. The funny thing is, this week was chosen so that I might see fields of Bluebonnets in full bloom--a BUCKET LIST for me. Alas, I was too early this year, last Fall's lack of rain slowed the blooms. I did see a few in bloom beside Culver's Custard, thanks, Sherry! But for now, I get to enjoy my screensaver every day:

Until I return to Texas again, a huge THANK YOU to the wonderful women of the Fabric and Fiber Quilting Club of Sun City, TX!

Let's quilt.

Barbara

LAUREL RIDGE -- MONTH 4

 Laurel Ridge is the 2025 Block of the Month quilt designed by Lynn Wilder exclusively for The Quilt Show.  Star Members have FREE access to the patterns starting January 1, 2025. Made in two colorways, the complete patterns are excellent. You will love making this quilt. Lynn supports the pattern instructions with Videos too. 

This month we make the Checkerboard Block, 32 of them. The pink fabric here is not part of the Spring Kit, I substituted it for the Pink Parchment:

First, my most important advice is READ THE INSTRUCTIONS. Follow the cutting instructions; the number of strips to cut and how to sub-cut them are important. 

The only CUTTING CHANGES I recommend is to cut A, the large floral fabric, Ivory Amazing Grace, 6" rather than 5 7/8". And I also cut B, Pink Copper Trail, 2" vs 1 7/8".  I really like having just that little bit extra for trimming. 

NOTE: My first block was less than perfect. Things didn't fit. The problem was my SEAM ALLOWANCE. Check each step as you go. You want to find the mistake as soon as you make it, not when the block is done but not quite right.

AND I found it VERY HELPFUL to use Starch, Sizing or Best Press on the fabrics before I cut them. After my first sad block, I took time to use Best Press on all the fabrics for the rest of the blocks. 

Make the STRIP SETS as described in the pattern. BE SURE they measure the correct size! For example, ROW 1 has four strips sewn into strata--the strata must measure 4.5" high when sewn. Follow the ARROWS that indicate which direction to sew each strip--this insures you get straight sets of fabric.

ROW 2 measures 3.5" and ROW 3 measures 2.5"--just like it says in the pattern. 

One additional measurement I strongly recommend you check is as you sew the ROWS together. Pairs of rows need to be 2.5" wide. Place the 1.25" line on the ruler on the sewn seam--if the pair is a bit too wide it is easy to trim the outer edges so it is exactly 2.5" wide:

Two pairs sewn together will be 4.5" wide. 

Follow all the ARROWS--for the direction to sew the strips, and the pressing directions. They are well thought out and they WORK.

One last check I made before completing the block was to trim the "dog ears" off the diagonal edge, being sure the point where the PIECED HALF meets the FLORAL HALF was exactly 1/4" in. Using a Half Square Triangle Ruler made this easy: 

The BEST TOOL I now have is the 5.5" SQUARE RULER. What a good investment for this quilt! From simple blocks like last month's large Half Square Triangle to these more complex, "have many pieces" blocks, using the 5.5" square ruler to do the final block trimming is great. They are currently available in the SHOP:

Have fun making these blocks. They take a while but you have all month! 

And next month we will make the lovely BASKET BLOCKS. 

Let's quilt.

Barbara