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!

Creative lettering

A quilting lady I know sent me this picture of the perfect Scrabble game she made! I asked her if she was going to reproduce it in fabric and she said probably not! I wonder how long it took her to work it all out?

The first session of the Snake Dance Mystery went well last Sat. They worked on one clue and got another clue for "homework". I had to make them take a vow of silence since the other group hasn't started yet. We do have one German quilter joining this group for the mystery, Kerstin of Cookie's Treasures. She is working on the clues on her own, but we are chatting in a Yahoo group so that she can be part of the group and join in on some of the speculation!

We are counting down our last days of the school year...8 days left. We have to come back for one day after Memorial weekend because of all of the snow days this year.  Today is my last day to check out books to kids, then I begin taking inventory of the library. I would really like to get the shelves labeled before summer break too. It's been so busy since we moved back in January that I haven't gotten it done.

It's been crazy spring weather too, we had snow about 10 days ago and yesterday it was over 100. Yes, we do live in Iowa, but still! Thankfully it cooled off overnight and today's high is supposed to be a more May-like 83.

Happy Mother's Day!

My daughter and I went up to my hometown yesterday after class to give my mom her Mother's Day gift. Many of my family gathered to work on their garden. It is huge and a big task, so we decided it was the perfect gift! We started out with 50 bags of cypress mulch and when I arrived about 1:30 they had already gone through that on one half of the garden and got 40 more. So we joined in and worked the rest of the day, and ran out again! So off they went to get 15 more bags and some red wood mulch for the path. All in all, we used 112 bags of wood mulch, laid down over cardboard, but it should be good for awhile now. They also did some tree trimming at the back of the garden. They were out there working with us too, so it was a fun family day. Work goes so much better with many involved!

The first class of the Snake Dance Mystery went well...they got off to a great start and seemed very excited to be working on it. I can't post any pictures until after the second group starts their quilt on May 22, because I want them to be surprised with each clue.

Have a wonderful Mother's Day! I celebrated with my daughters on Friday night, my mom yesterday and am going shopping with my daughter in a little bit. 

Another Cathedral Window finish

Gisella finished her Modern Cathedral Windows pillow within a few days of the class and sent me this awesome picture. I love it when people send me pix of their finished projects from classes I taught!

Here is her start during class. Such pretty florals. You can visit her blog here.

We have another planning meeting tonight for the June 15 Council Bluffs QuiltFest. It will be here before we know it. We are using a different location this year, and plan on touring it tonight to plan our set up. I am getting a bit nervous about the number of quilts have been promised to us to display, so I will be calling people to firm up how many each plan on bringing. We are focusing on traditional patterns this year. 

Playtime and a little hint.....

I sewed the back together for the Snake Dance Mystery quilt and loaded it on the machine on Sunday.  I got a few rows quilted before I quit for the day. I am using a panto that I have used before. I like the way it covers and interlocks. 

Since I can't post pictures of the quilt, I got very close and took a couple pictures of the quilting.

Yea, I'm a tease, so what? You will see it eventually.....

 The mystery begins on Sat. at one location as well as for online participants, even though online students could start anytime after Sat. I was printing the patterns last night and I ran out of ink, so I have to stop tonight after work and get some more so I can finish printing the pattern for that and the new Sampler beginning on Monday.

Modern Cathedral Windows Pillow class

 It might have been gloomy and rainy outside Saturday, but it was sunny and springy in the classroom at Cut Up and Quilt as these quilters worked on a new technique.

They enjoyed learning this technique for making an old favorite. Midway through the day, I demonstrated how to make a Cathedral Window block the traditional way too, as I think many of them were as mystified by that block as I was the first time I saw it. 

 I also have a sample of Cathedral Windows blocks put together in the traditional fashion, that a student gave me awhile back. She found them at a thrift store, and gave me one. You can tell they are made from muslin and scraps, and have been washed. We couldn't believe how heavy it was! It's only about 16 - 18" sq.

 Here it is from the back. She had more pieces, so I think the quilter had put them together in sections, and was going to make it a large quilt, but never got it finished sewing the sections together. Sort of sad.

I wish I would find good stuff like this when I go thrifting!

 Several of the quilters seemed worried about making this, but once they got a few windows done, they agreed that this method is very doable!

 They made so much progress, two even finished their pillow tops!

If you missed this class, I will be teaching it again in June, just check the Upcoming Class Page for dates and times.

Tonight I'm getting together with a small group of quilty friends for our bimonthly gathering. We always have a great time! We need to talk about a new group project to work on. I have a few ideas, hopefully they will too!

Off to another Monday at work. Three weeks left until summer break!

New project

This is the fabric for a new project I want to start soon. Isn't it a pretty combination?