FULL CIRCLE AT EMPTY SPOOLS SEMINAR

More than two years ago I was invited to teach at EMPTY SPOOLS SEMINAR held every year at Asilomar Conference Center on the Monterey Peninsula in central CA. I have been looking forward to it since then. This is the 39th year, it began the year I became a quilter.

See my post about the place and the experience here: Empty Spools Seminar Part 1

The class I was asked to teach is FULL CIRCLE, a pattern by Wendy Williams. This is a great project for a 5 day Seminar--it has lots to teach and would keep the students engaged for the entire time. My sample turned out great and the quilting by local longarmer extraordinaire Patty Wilson made it that much better:

I have written several blog posts about this quilt, read them here for more info:

What You Can Learn

See the Quilting

Class Taught Locally September 2023

Each student bought the pattern and my 10 page addendum with tips and clarifications. 

I was thrilled to have 21 students, one of the largest classes that Session. They came from all over the country: OH, WI, HI, WA, UT, CO, and CA. The two from Hawaii had taken Western Sun with me in Houston last fall--I was so pleased they wanted another class. The two from Colorado took class with me in Durango last spring--so great to see familiar faces again. 

This class had to be fast-paced as I had to be sure we covered all 9 of the patterns in Quadrant A as well as how to assemble the outer borders and complete quilt. "We advance for the swift and repeat for the deliberate." Everyone was encouraged to ask all the questions they might have, as frequently as necessary until they "got it". 

The first day was 1.5 hours of instruction before dinner and the evening welcome program. They got right to work drawing their patterns. The first full day, Day 2, we spent the morning on more pattern drawing. After lunch it was time to sew and sew they did. 

Here is what I saw before class began the morning of Day Three:

Wow! I was so happy to see so much progress. Everyone was cheerful, eager to learn, fun to talk to and kept up with what is a pretty fast-paced class. 

A couple showed me quilts they were inspired to make from my blog:

Suzanne made X blogs from Charm Squares from my tutorial

Susan was happy to have the outer road on Color My World, another Wendy Williams pattern that was the 2021 Block of the Month quilt for The Quilt Show

And here are the photos I took at the end of day 5:

And there has to be a CLASS PHOTO. I would be delighted to see any of these students in class again. They worked hard, learned more than they know, and will be able to make the entire quilt now. Although a couple plan to make only Quadrant A. I look forward to seeing their completed quilts sometime in the future:

Empty Spools Seminars is such a magical experience! I will teach there as often as I am invited--it's just that kind of place. I came home with my cup of creativity full to overflowing. I am working on a new sample or two for future class offerings.

AND IF YOU WANT TO LEARN THIS QUILT, YOU HAVE ONE MORE CHANCE: I am teaching this at Southern Charm Quilting in Huntsville, AL as a 5 day SPECIAL EVENT May 6-10, 2024. The fee includes the pattern, my addendum, 5 full days of class instruction, lunch the first day and $100 toward fabric purchases. Don't miss this opportunity. Fifteen students attended the first of these Special Events last September. There is a great hotel nearby if you are traveling from out of the area. I hope to see you there. Register online today.

Let's quilt!

Barbara

FULL CLASS FOR FULL CIRCLE

 Recently, I was fortunate to have a full class of 15 dedicated students enroll in a 5 Day Special Event workshop at Southern Charm Quilting here in Huntsville AL. They worked hard for all 5 days and accomplished so much. I was so happy with how the class went.

Full Circle is a pattern by Wendy Williams. I saw the quilt in 2020 and determined I wanted to make one. When I was asked to teach it at Empty Spools Seminar in March 2024 I had to get the sample made:

90" x 90" 

I loved the fabrics I selected, some are 20 years old but real favorites of mine. The spectacular quilting was done by an amazing local longarmer Patty Wilson. I love everything about her quilting on this. See this blog post with more details of the quilting: Full Circle is Quilted

Hoping to get about 10 local students for this class here at home, I was thrilled when 15 enrolled. Five flew or drove in from out of state, the rest were local. Six states were represented in the group. They may have started the week as strangers but they left as friends. 

Everyone learned a lot and got so much done. As a teacher, you think you know what can be done in the time allotted but you are never sure until you teach the class. As I will have 24 students at Empty Spools I was eager to see if my plan would work. It does!

There is a substantial Supply List for this class and Fabric Selection is key. I offered a day at the shop where I would help anyone who wanted hands-on help picking fabric, about a month before the class. Here are my fabrics: 

Here are some photos to give you an idea how the week progressed.

The first day I gave each student a set of labels for each of the 9 blocks and Borders--they put them on their Ziploc bags to keep organized:

My biggest concern was Block 2, Flower Garden. It takes time to prep the circles and hand embroidery can take awhile. Most students got the stems sewn in place so they could move on--the hand work can be done later. Some used machine stitches for the circles so they got them sewn on: 

Learning to paper piece using freezer paper as a foundation was new for most students. The results were excellent:

Learning to sew curves is another technique this quilt project provides, it's not hard, just don't be in a hurry: 

By day Two we had made 4 "blocks": flying geese, checkerboard, flower garden, and houses, AND learned how to sew the arcs together: 

Mid-week we had a Field Trip--out to dinner at Guadalajara Mexican Restaurant for those who wanted to come. We had 17 including a few spouses. Joan snapped this shot and I'm glad she did. After dinner anyone who wanted to come see my studio was welcome since I live very close to the restaurant:

I was delighted my friend Jan Davis was in the class. She and I have a "mutual admiration society" thing going on. She is a local hero, having flown on the Space Shuttle three times. The first day I embarrassed her a bit by making sure everyone in the class knew who she was, most did not. Young women today may think women have always been able to do anything they want but many of us remember the struggle to succeed in a "man's world" should we have chosen to pursue such a career, as I did in the United States Marine Corps and Jan did at NASA.

Jan has just released her first book, Air Born,  the story of her dad's life as a B 17 pilot in WWII who spent 21 months as a POW. It also includes her own story as an Astronaut. Many of the students bought copies of her book which she graciously autographed, and she even posed for pictures with those who asked:

Jan with Sandy F: 

The week flew by for all of us. I told the students in advance to expect to be tired at the end of each day and they were. But they hung in there and were rewarded for their efforts.

THE WALL, the last day of class--I was so happy with how much was accomplished by each student:

Japanese/Oriental style fabrics from Lisa C:

Happy Houses and everything else from Kari:

How about making this quilt with Neutrals as Jan did: 

The mandatory "class photo" after "graduation". What a wonderful group of quilters this was, I am honored they chose to spend a long 5 days with me. They taught me things too:

There are just a few spots left in this class at Empty Spools Seminar March 2024 . See this blog post about Full Circle at Asilomar

If you prefer to take the class here in Huntsville, I am very happy to say I will offer it once again at Southern Charm Quilting May 6-10, 2024. The Class Fee includes 5 days of detailed instruction, the pattern, my 10 page Handout of "Changes, Tips and Clarifications", lunch the first day, a $100 gift card for store purchases, and a day when I will be in the shop for Fabric Selection assistance, about a month before class begins. 

I offer a huge "Thank You" to this fine group of students and look forward to seeing their completed quilts, whenever that may be. And a "Thank You" to Southern Charm Quilting, Cindy and her staff, for taking a leap of faith to offer a 5 day class with me. Several students said this was the perfect place to take this class. Those who slept in their own beds were happy and those who slept at the Spring Hill Suites hotel nearby raved about it. I hope you join us next year. Sign up now as I expect this class to fill with 20 students as people see what their friends have done so far.

Let's quilt!

Barbara

FULL CIRCLE IS QUILTED

I recently picked up my FULL CIRCLE quilt from the amazing longarm quilter, Patty Wilson, and want to show you her beautiful quilting. 

Patty's business is called SewN2U Longarm Quilting. You can find her on Facebook here: PattySewN2U. She is one of the most talented, thoughtful, hard-working long arm quilters I know. Look at how beautiful this is:

The back is almost as pretty as the front:

This class will be taught as a SPECIAL EVENT September 11-15, 2023, at Southern Charm Quilting, Huntsville AL. It is the only time this opportunity is expected to be offered here, in my hometown, and currently there are only 4 openings in the class. Register today if you want to learn a lot of amazing and maybe, challenging techniques. There will be 20 students--at least 4 are traveling here by air and auto just to have the chance to make this "Bucket List" quilt. 

The pattern is by Wendy Williams. I have written a 10 page Handout with helpful "Tips, Changes and Clarifications" to make the process of constructing this quilt achievable for most confident, dedicated quilters.

See this previous post about the local class:  Full Circle with student photos

Next year I will be teaching this at Empty Spools Seminar at Asilomar in CA. March 1-6, 2024. I have been told this class is almost sold out to the 25 student capacity. I have heard from several students who will be coming from all over the country. I am SO EXCITED about being part of the Empty Spools Faculty--this is truly one of my most important "Bucket List" jobs. And it is an event I have always wanted to attend. Now I get to be part of the Faculty.

See this previous post about Empty Spools: Full Circle at Asilomar 2024

If you want to make this quilt, I strongly recommend you join me so I can help you. It will teach you a lot and be a special part of your Joyful Journey as a quiltmaker.

I am diligently sewing the binding in place. For a quilt this size, 88" x 88", I allow 12-15 hours for the entire binding process. Hand-sewing the binding to the back takes the longest but is still my preferred method.

Let's quilt.

Barbara

FULL CIRCLE SPECIAL EVENT CLASS ALMOST FULL

The response to my local SPECIAL EVENT class of FULL CIRCLE has been fantastic. There are only a few spots left for the adventurous quilters who want to stretch their wings and fly. Now you don't have to travel to Monterey CA to take the class March 2024 where I will be teaching it at Empty Spools Seminar. You can sleep in your own bed. 

My top is done and currently with the longarm quilter. I love the colors I chose and how it came out flat and square:

This quilt will teach you a lot:

 Paper piecing with Freezer Paper

 Precision piecing of small units

How to piece curves accurately

How to make circles

How to applique, by hand or machine or both

Basic Embroidery stitches should you want to do them

And So Much More...

DETAILS and REGISTRATION can be found on Southern Charm Quilting's website: FULL CIRCLE SPECIAL EVENT

September 11-15, 2023  Class is 10-3 each of these 5 days

Southern Charm Quilting, 1847 University Dr NW  Huntsville AL 35801

Fee: $200, includes lunch the first day

Pattern Fee: $55, to be paid the first day  

  

The pattern is by Wendy Williams, who designed Color My World for The Quilt Show as the 2021 Block of the Month quilt. This quilt is easier than that one though it has a similar feel because of being a circular design. 

You DO NOT need the pattern prior to the first day of class. It is so important you wait for class instructions before starting this quilt. I have written an 8 page Handout with "Changes, Tips and Clarifications". You will receive it the first day of class with the pattern.

My Supply List provides excellent information for Fabric Selection. The amount of fabric listed for each block is for the entire quilt.

I am also happy to help you with Fabric Selection PRIOR TO THE FIRST DAY OF CLASS. Send me photos of your fabrics if you want help. 

Students are flying in from Houston, TX, driving from Atlanta and Mobile, and lots of locals have wisely decided to take this "once in a lifetime" 5 day class locally.

I did a "practice class" in March with 6 great women at My Joyful Journey Retreat. See how great they did  HERE

These women have become friends and continue to meet and encourage each other as they work on FULL CIRCLE. I got to see them recently. Take a look:

Cyndi has Quadrants A and B complete and sewn together:

Victoria is working on hers: 

Julie is making hers in Pittsburgh Steelers colors for a fan. She is also an engineer who has created several NEW DESIGNS for her quilt:

Sue is making progress on hers as well:

If you want to LEARN A LOT, IMPROVE YOUR SKILLS, and HAVE FUN, register online today for this SPECIAL EVENT. 

I hope to see you there.

Let's quilt.

Barbara