Beyond the Stars quilting

 I've been working on quilting the Beyond the Stars Sampler 15 this week, along with doing some fabric sorting and other cleaning. The room the quilt frame is in can be a dumping ground for the leftovers from projects since I store my fabric in that room, too. When I'm working on a project, I save most scraps because you never know if you'll need every bit you have until you're finished. I've been going through those scraps and organizing them into usuable, unusable and won't use. Some pieces are big enough for a pillowcase, so I have a pile of them to make now. 

Question of the day: Would Conrad use a hammock if I made him one? 

Two are finished. What did I think I was going to make out of that Duck Dynasty fabric anyway?

I'm updating this with a picture of the finished quilting. 

This and that from class

Cindy's Beyond the Stars Sampler

 I started the week off with two sampler clubs Monday and Tuesday nights. It's always fun when quilters bring in finished tops from my classes to show off! Cindy made another version of the Beyond the Stars Sampler recently using her stash of frog fabrics. There are frogs in some of the centers of her blocks. She says this quilt is HERS!

Dianne's Lone Star

 Dianne is part of a group of quilters that meet on Tuesdays to sew and this is what I saw when I walked in to class Tues. night....she is ready for her set in corners! Those Lone Stars do make a splash!

Marilyn's Row by Row

 Monday night's Sampler Pick quilters are all working on different samplers and coincidentally, three of them had repeating blocks.  Marilyn got one of her three Lady of the Lake blocks finished.

Christine

 Two are working on the Carpenter Wheel Spin and have to make eight of these Half and Half blocks. Even though the block looks simple, we worked on some tips for matching up those HST to make straight lines.

Judy

Dorothy worked on cutting two blocks at once and didn't get either finished, but will have them finished by next time!

It's challenging for me to keep up with several different quilts being made at the same time, but it keeps things hopping and the students learn a lot from each other during these classes as they see what the others are working on.

Tuesday night's Highlights class went well. They worked on the Eccentric Star blocks, which is the alternate block for this quilt, so they have to make eight, They all got a good start but no one finished. That's ok as they have several months to get them done.

I quilted a couple more passes last night on Summer Fling, and am getting closer to the end. I'll try to work on it a bit tonight too. 

I had two Sampler Clubs meet this week. I didn't remember to take pictures Monday night, but did take some last night. Usually everyone makes the same sampler design, but this class is called Sampler Pick. They can choose any sampler quilt from the 17 I have designed over the years. We meet once a month for six sessions and they work on the quilt during those classes, sometimes with "homework" to finish before the next class. It's a great way to teach new techniques, plus the students can try out a block that they might not try otherwise. You can do anything once! 

I always use different blocks and a different setting for each quilt design, so it's a challenge for me to come up with a new design every 6 months or so.   Actually the challenge is what drives me, though it doesn't always seem like fun while I'm in the process!

The blocks in the top picture were made by a student who has made thirteen of my sampler designs. She is a meticulous piecer and enjoys the process of trying out different blocks. She also likes learning new techniques.

The other two students in the class are working on their first sampler with me. They each chose a different one and are beginners who are jumping in with both feet and doing a really good job! They are  working on the Snake Dance Mystery quilt as well. I have met so many nice quilters teaching classes. It's very rewarding in many ways, but watching their skills grow and their enthusiasm is wonderful!

Fa lala lala

 We are having a great time on our retreat. I worked on these block parts yesterday. Love how these turned out They are part of the new sampler.

 Dianne finished the binding on this quilt as her first project, then put the borders on the next one.

 Rose has her sampler on the design wall. She finished the blocks yesterday and is busy sewing it together.

 Cindy working on her Circle and Spin layout. She made us stay up until she got it sewn together and did the happy dance!

Pat and Diana are coming today to join us. Pat has been sick so couldn't come when we did, but is feeling better now. Diana had commitments so couldn't come til today. I think we are going to Stitching Tree in Harlan later to shop a bit too. I have a lot of HST to press and square up so better get to it!