Mexican Star quilt class

A few years ago, I taught a quilt class in my hometown of Earling, IA. There were some ladies from a neighboring town who wanted to take the class, but couldn't. So I scheduled a class for them in Dunlap. These ladies belong to a quilt guild that encompasses people within a 50 mile radius of Dunlap, so I met many nice quilters. I returned to do another class the next year. I do a trunk show while they are sewing, and they saw the Mexican Star Quilt. So they asked me to return and teach that class on Saturday. The class was being held in Denison, which is not far from Earling, so I went up Friday night to stay at my folk's house, then drove up in the morning.

It gave me a chance to check up on how mom is doing after her surgery as well as visit with them! She is doing really well, though still tired and somewhat sore.

As you can see, they were all on their way to some beautiful quilts!

I love seeing the different fabrics that everyone uses and how they come together.

That sashing is only 1" finished, so you get the idea of the size. It finishes at about 40" sq. with an added border.

The pattern is from Southwind Designs. I ordered them from Quilting Horizons for this class....good prices, and service. 

They promised me that they would send me pix when they get them finished. The way these ladies were sewing, it won't be long!

Saturday class

Saturday I taught the Central Park quilt (aka the Lava Lamp quilt) class to some quilters in Dunlap IA. Sort of my old stompin' grounds...I grew up about 8 miles from there so know the town well, or I used to anyway. They have a wonderful parish hall where they meet and sew with their guild.

I will be excited to see how these quilts turn out!

After class my folks & I went to a local park where my sisters were camping. Great time...great food...great bonfire...

There were a few things I REALLY needed....

Now you know I would never buy anything at the quilt show unless I truly needed it. I found some MUCH NEEDED new pantos there, aren't they gorgeous?

 I especially like this one and am anxious to try it out.

I used some of my asian prints recently on a tabletopper...you all are my witnesses...

 so it's ok to REPLACE those fabrics, right? Plus I have plans to make my youngest daughter a quilt using these prints.

 I did find this Eric Carle wallhanging too. You might remember the wall art and pillows I made using fabrics from this line. I wanted this too, and the shops where I got the others were out of it.

The vendor selling these had many "words" to use in wallhangings and quilts of all sizes. It will be fun to come up with something cute to make with this. 

Tonight the beginning quilters meet to finish their tops, so I might have some pictures soon. Saturday I am teaching the Lava Lamp Quilt (Central Park) class in Dunlap, IA, then heading to Earling to spend some time with family.

Catching up

I taught the Circle and Spin class in Dunlap yesterday. What a nice group of ladies...after about 10 min. I felt like I had known them forever. They are part of a quilt guild that encompasses several area towns. They did very well, as you can see from the following photos.

I did something I have never done before, and hopefully won't do again. I took my camera, but had left my memory card in my computer!

 

So I went to take pictures and  no memory card! Luckily Paula had her camera and let me use it. 

 

As they worked they talked about upcoming projects and workshops they are going to have. It all sounded like great fun!

 

Several of them had shopped for fabrics, then done some trading, and they were amazed that even though they had some of the same fabrics, their blocks all looked different.

 

 

 

I will post these pictures to my flickr account too. Just click on the link on the side of the page.

 

Somehow I didn't manage to get everyone in a pic, but you can see they are hard at work. We had the class in the local parish center.

Getting ready

I spent some time last night getting the patterns ready for my class on Saturday in Dunlap. I usually do all my classes in Council Bluffs, but had a request to do the Circle and Spin class there after I taught it in Earling. I grew up on a farm in between the 2 towns (they are about 13 miles apart). Should be a fun class...it is always fun to meet new quilters!