San Juan Island trip

Last weekend I had the pleasure visiting Friday Harbor, on San Juan Island.  The Rainshadow Quilting Arts Guild  invited me to speak and teach my fusible applique technique, and I was excited to be able to go visit them!  Their guild is filled with lots of wonderful people, so the lecture and class were lots of fun to do.  I was surprised to hear that one of their dedicated hand applique ladies was in my class, and had enjoyed learning my technique!  There was also a new quilter-to-be whose first visit to their guild was the Saturday meeting, and she decided to come to my class on Sunday.  I bumped into her again as we were waiting for the first ferry to Anacortes, where she was on her way to pick up a sewing machine from her mom.  She's off to a wonderful start and I hope someday I'll see some of her quilts!

While I was there I stayed with Barb, the Program Chairman, and it was like a mini retreat at her house!   Her friend Mary was also there, and we were able to work on our projects in the evenings.  Just look at the view we had:

After class on Sunday, we were able to visit a local quilt artist's studio.  Penny makes such gorgeous quilts and had wanted to come to my class, but she is busy preparing for a one person show.  The finished quilts and ones in progress were all beautiful, but the 3-D quilts were gorgeous!!!  Wish I could see them hanging in her upcoming show.

While waiting for the ferry, I was able to hear these gypsies from my spot in the ferry line.

There are many cafes and restaurants near the ferry lanes, which is a good thing, because you need to get there early to get your spot in line, and then wait for it to arrive.  Only one street away are the shops, so those leaving a bit later in the day can shop while they wait.

The ferry is arriving.

There are so many boats in the harbor, it's a maze to walk through it.  From here you can't even tell one boat from another (except for the few in front).

Can't wait to return again...

Quilting Classes in Sisters

I'm still unpacking and getting caught up around here after a week of fun in Sisters, OR. Instead of one extremely long post, I thought I'd break it up into a few separate posts, with pictures of my class projects as I get them unpacked.

Since I don't often have the chance to take classes, I thought I'd fill my days with them while I was there. My week started off in Karla Alexander's "Critical Stash Mass" class, and yes, I cut all the pieces from my stash!

Next up was Unexpected Combinations with Janet Fogg, which was a two day design class. Since I came to class with interesting, but more complex pictures and Dover images, I was happy to have an almost finished design! Here's Janet with her "Caddy and the Cakes" quilt:



Thursday was spent in Barbara Shapel's "Painting with Thread" class, where we learned her method of quilting beautiful double sided quilts. We worked with stencils, embroidery of a heron's head and shading the moon, as she does in many of her quilts. Here's a close up of one of her quilts, showing heron's heads and the moon:



Friday was another easy day spent working with fabric strips to make an abstract landscape in Vivienne Moore's Oasis class. Again, all the fabric for my quilt is coming from my stash (yes, I have a lot of fabric!), although I'm working in quite a different colorway than her quilt. Mine is in blue / green / teal, with peachy pink as my accent color. Here's the sample she had in our classroom:

The week was so much fun, I can't wait until next year!!!

Summer Classes added to schedule

I've just finished scheduling the following classes with Gathering Fabric in Woodinville, WA. Classes will be held at Fresh Air Farm, which is just up the hill from the quilt shop, but you will need to register at Gathering Fabric. I know for some of you this is short notice, so if you are interested, but aren't able to make it to class on these days, or are wishing for something else please email me.

Artistic Free Motion

July 22, 2009 from 10am-3pm (Wednesday)

Awesome Amulets

August 19, 2009 from 10am-3pm (Wednesday)

Adding Texture and Dimension / Details make the Difference
August 26, 2009 from 10am-3pm (Wednesday)

Creative Twist classes in June and August

By popular demand, I will be teaching you to create a water quilt, like mine, although you can take your own creative detour whenever you like, and end up with a more personal quilt. The dates for this class are June 9 and August 11, from 10am -2 or 3pm at Fresh Air Farm in Woodinville, WA, just up the hill from Gathering Fabric quilt shop. Please register for classes at Gathering Fabric. The current Creative Twist class schedule can be found on my website.





In the June class, we will do free hand piecing, making Angelina sheets, fabric / fiber collage, choosing / applying a layer of netting, as well as a bit of quilting. (There are 2 months between the first and second part to give everyone time to piece, collage, and quilt their project, even if they will be busy during the summer. )


The August class will repeat quilting the layers, making the 3D waves, beading, and finishing the edges. (At a minimum, you should have the quilt top complete before the second class, so you will be able to determine what size to make your waves.)

Even though this project is split into 2 classes, the Creative Twist classes are meant to be technique classes, so if you are only interested in the techniques covered by one of the lessons, or can't make it to both, feel free to sign up for just one, and email or comment if you have any questions.

Artistic Free Motion Online Class

begins this Friday, February 13th! There are still a few openings, so sign up if you are interested in learning to free motion quilt with me. Although you can still sign up once the class has begun, and all questions and answers will be saved in the forum for the duration of the class, it's best to sign up before it starts, so that you will have as much time as possible to practice and ask your own questions. It is a four week class that is as similar to my "in person" class, as possible.

A couple things that are different between taking an online class and an "in person" class, is that you can't look over my shoulder or from the side to see how I work, and I can't look at your work "in person". Because I am not able to demonstrate in person, I have included a short video, so that you can really see how I stitch out many of the designs, as well as many more pictures, showing examples of the designs we are working on at the time. You can show me your work by uploading pictures in the forum to show off your work, or so that I can help you if you are having trouble with something. Instead of one day to try to learn everything, the lesson is broken up into smaller chunks, so that you will have more opportunity to practice before continuing on to the next lesson.

Come learn to free motion quilt with me!

Class Reminder

Don't forget, next Friday is my Artistic Freemotion class at Gathering Fabric in Woodinville. Come learn to free-motion quilt with me! A large collection of quilting motifs and fill patterns will be demonstrated, followed by your working on practice quilt sandwiches to begin or expand your free-motion quilting styles. If you wish, you may also start a free-motion stitch sampler to use for ideas when you are working on quilts in the future. I'd love to teach you how to quilt so you can finish your quilts yourself!

Here's one of my samplers from class: