STUDENT WORK

I am always delighted to see Student Work. Sometimes I get photos by email, sometimes finished projects are brought to class and sometimes I see them hanging in quilt shows.

These quilts were all on display at the recent Heritage Quilters of Huntsville Show: 

FULL CIRCLE is a Wendy Williams pattern that requires many class hours to teach. Three years ago I taught it locally as a 5 day Seminar Workshop--Ben and Lisa were both in that class. I love their work. 

Here are two more Full Circle quilts from the class I taught in 2024 at Empty Spools Seminar in California:

Mollie's

Anne's 

I am happy to announce I will be teaching this one more time at Empty Spools Seminars February 28-March 5, 2027. Registration opens in June 2026 and if last time is any measure, it will fill quickly. It is the perfect 5 day class, filled with so much to learn. Here is my version:

More quilts made by students:

SOUTHERN SUPER STAR, my go-to giveaway quilt, made by Donna D

CHARMING SAMPLER, top by Suzie W, quilted by Lois K

TWO-FOR-ONE, king size, by Caren Q.

TWO-FOR-ONE, king size

TWO-FOR-ONE, unusual color combination

TWO-FOR-ONE, love these sherbet colors

King Size completed top from LOVE YOUR LAYOUT class

ANTIQUE ROSE STAR

WESTERN SUN, Cyndi R.

FEATHERED STARS

FEATHERED STARS

FIVE EASY PIECES, by Susie F.

My most recent class was CHARMING SAMPLER at Southern Charm Quilting here in Huntsville. Six hours of sewing little 3" blocks provides the opportunity to learn a lot of techniques in just one day. All 19 Students did great and most were tired at the end of the day. A few of them were true beginners:

Lori Q did a super job with her bright fabrics--she learned to like little blocks!

I will end with these: MY FAVORIITE THINGS, my original pattern design using some of my favorite blocks. This was a 6 month, LECTURE/DEMO class: we met for two hours once a month, I demonstrated the sewing for that month's work, students brought the previous month's work, and each person made their own version. Students gave each other ideas for fabric/color choices, I showed how to improve all their piecing, it is a great class--I loved teaching it. All their sewing was done in the comfort of their own home.  

Learn how to combine blocks, with sashing/spacers, create different borders, and you can make any pattern your own. I may offer this again locally in 2027. It can't be taught in one 6 hour class as most guilds hire me to do, there is too much to learn. Meeting as a group over several months has the added bonus of creating new friendships too. 

MY FAVORITE THINGS, by Cyndi R.  

MY FAVORITE THINGS, by Holly R.

MY FAVORITE THINGS, by Kathy T.

MY FAVORITE THINGS, by Phyllis L.

MY FAVORITE THINGS, by Sally R.

MY FAVORITE THINGS, by Suzanne 

All my current classes are listed above in the WORKSHOPS tab. My TEACHING CALENDAR tab above lets you know what I am teaching and where. 

2026 is about full and I am being careful not to overbook 2027. That will allow more time to teach locally. So, if you want me to come to your guild, now is the time to reach out and let's get it on the schedule.

NOTE: if I have featured your quilt here and not identified you, PLEASE let me know so I can remedy that!

Let's quilt.

Barbara

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