PRODUCTION MODE

 So far this month I have completed 4 quilt tops and the month is not half over. Deadlines have a way of forcing production.

LUCKY STARS got off to a good start. I wrote about this project before: NEW HANDWORK PROJECT and LUCKY STARS PROGRESS. But I just wasn't feeling this quilt.  I LOVE swapping fabrics with my Sunday Sew and Sew friends. That continues. So, after making 4  blocks I called it  "DONE".

Here is the completed wallhanging top:

LUCKY STARS, 35" square

As soon as the 2027 Block of the Month quilt top FLIGHT OF THE BUMBLEBEE was completed, I took it to longarm quilter extraordinaire Patty Wilson. She is working on it right now and I will have it back soon. Here it is again, 84" square:

Then it was time to complete two new WORKSHOP SAMPLES for a wonderful Caribbean Cruise March 17-26, 2028. Yes, a year and a half from now. We have to work well in advance. The cruise is through the American Quilters Society (AQS) Registration won't open for at least a few months. Their website in that link lists other cruises so you can get an idea how it works. Holland America is the cruise line and I am excited to try them. The ship has less than 2000 passengers, a nice change from the 7000 passenger cruises I have done lately. Save the date and start saving your pennies, we will have a fantastic time!

UPDATE: This is the FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT about this cruise. You can see the instructors, the itinerary and the prices. The  Workshops will be announced shortly when official REGISTRATION opens. PLAN NOW TO JOIN US:

AQS Southern Caribbean Cruise 2028

Here are my two WORKSHOP SAMPLES. There will be optional KITS for those who want to order them or you can bring your own fabric. Each of these is a Two-Day class, while we are at sea:

LONE STAR AT SEA, 25" square

TROPICAL ROSE STAR, 28" x 32" 

Now I have to do all the paperwork. And I will make two additional samples before this year is out so I can have two quilted/finished samples and two that are just tops. You can learn a lot from seeing the back of a quilt top.

Then it's time to start packing for the FALL RETREAT in Livermore, CA--I head west September 27 for a week of fun AND teaching two great classes. 

Let's quilt.

Barbara

Handwork is Still Alive

Quilters still want to learn handwork Having a project that can be taken on the go allows us to use bits of time to create when we cannot be at the sewing machine.

Recently I taught a group of women the basics of both English Paper Piecing and regular hand piecing of quilt blocks:

Class samples:

We started with a small English Paper Piecing project, a hexie flower. They learned how to either glue or thread baste the fabric to the paper shape. Then they learned to join the prepared shapes with either a whip stitch or by laying the pieces flat. Try both methods to determine your favorite.

Next we took on the 60 degree diamonds for regular hand piecing with a small running stitch. They learned how to quickly cut the diamonds with no templates, only rulers.  They learned to make short work of drawing the sewing lines, if they wanted those lines as a guide.

In less than 4 hours each of the women had gotten a few new skills and can go on to make whatever they like. This was a "process" class, not a specific "project" class.

The biggest hit of the supplies I showed was the Clover Desktop Needle Threader--we sold several of these. Do you have one or more of these? I couldn't sew without it, a great tool:

Let's quilt.

Barbara