Cool Little Iron for Applique and more

Earlier this week, we were discussing irons for applique in my Crepe Paper Poppies class and I promised to take a picture and post information on the little iron I was telling them about in class.  I got this one several years ago, when I was working on a hand appliqued quilt and the tacking iron that everyone else thought was great, wasn't that way for me.  I do have a little Clover iron, but it is too tiny, and my regular iron is larger than the tacking iron, which was way too large for the tiny pieces I was working with, but this one was suggested for the quilt I was working on so I ordered it.  I love it, especially for little applique pieces!

This cute little iron is wonderful for applique of all types.  No holes to interfere with bonding, the angle of the head is adjustable, and the handle is so comfortable it's great to use!!!  Recently, I noticed it as one of the recommendations when I was on Amazon, and although I think the packaging has changed, it looks the same  and is called the Dritz Petite Press Portable Mini Iron.  So for those of you who are interested, you now have a link to find it.

Teaching Local

Starting in March, I'll be teaching at Quiltworks Northwest in Bellevue, WA!   Some of the classes are designs from my book or pattern line, but others are brand new, like my floral vest, embellished bag, and stamp carving for quilters.  To see more and sign up for my classes go to their website HERE.

Floral Vest:

Sunflower Garden:

Stamp Carving for Quilters:

Crepe-Paper Poppies:

Beaded Bags:

Summer Blooms:

Sunflower Garden

Earlier this year, I taught my Sunflower Garden quilt class at Gossypium Quilt Shop, and Shelly L. sent me a picture of her finished quilt.  Isn't it beautiful!!!

Dorene's Basket Quilt

Isn't this quilt beautiful!  Dorene Mittwer made it from a combination of my Summer Bounty quilt pattern and flowers she made with her embroidery machine.  She's such a nice lady too, driving me around while I was visiting her quilt guild in Southern California, and even taking me on a mini shop hop!

Another Jewelry Class

Yesterday I had such fun in Tracey Stanley's Stamped and Riveted Charms class at Fusion Beads in Seattle!  She showed us lots of techniques and I learned to add texture to metals and attach metal pieces together with rivets and a riveting hammer.  When class was over, I had one finished and another almost finished, but today I was able to complete a few more:-)

Quail Family

This project has been waiting for me since last year, when it was packed up to take the class with June Jaeger in Sisters, OR.  Not only is it out of the bag, but the center panel is complete and waiting for borders!

The quilt pattern is called "Quail Family", by June Jaeger and published by Log Cabin Quilt Works.  I noticed it is still available from the Stitchin' Post, which is where I bought my copy.

Always the Student - Jewelry

You know I can't resist playing in different medias.  A couple weeks ago I took a basic fusing class with Allison Thompson to learn how to take fine silver wire and fuse it into rings, which we learned to shape into rings, squares, etc., and I made this bracelet.

Today was my second fusing class, this time making fused rings with Janice Berkebile, and what fun we had!  I made these 5, making one of each style, but I heard another student managed to make 7!  You probably can't see it in the photo, but the finger with three rings has an octagonal ring closest to the tip of my finger.

In case you're in the Seattle area, the classes were at Fusion Beads in Seattle, WA.