Spinning Parasols!

Elsie's Parasol block and partial border

My Spinning Parasols Tablerunner class went well on Saturday. I loved seeing the different color choices come together. 

Patty's Parasol block and partial border

They were fun and playful...I made them promise to send me pictures when they have completed them. They had such a good start, it won't take long.

Dan's Parasol block and partial border

I want to make a quilt using these blocks, wouldn't that be cute? I have a baby quilt to make, so maybe....

My Spinning Parasols runner

I'm finally feeling better and hope to get some quilt planning/sewing done this week. I have class tonight and tomorrow night, so maybe Wednesday.....

The Laugh, Love, Quilt fabrics came from Henry Glass for the Desire to Inspire Challenge on Saturday. I still need to take a picture, and will share with you soon. Now...what should I make? I have to have something made by the end of the month. Stay tuned!

New little iron pouch

 I have been meaning to make a little carrying pouch for my traveling iron for awhile now, but haven't gotten around to it. I have made many pouches using the Boxy Quilted Zipper Pouch tutorial on Craftsy. They are so fun and easy to make. I used the same instructions, but changed the dimensions of the rectangle to 10" x 16".

 As you can see it fits my travel iron and cord perfectly. I put a large handle on one end, not sure if I will need it, but thought I might. I can always tie it in a decorative knot if I find it's not useful.

I love making these pouches....they make great gifts too!

New class, new location....

The new Larkspur Sampler 22 met at Hobby Lobby Monday night. This was my first class there, so had to figure out the logistics of plugins, table arrangement, etc. I'm sure we'll try many different things before finding the perfect arrangement! 

 Things went well, though, and everyone got their first block finished or very close!

 David is making the Double Four Patch out of his two favorite team fabrics, and will start making blocks next time. He got some of his Four Patches finished.

 The others worked on Tiptoe. Lots of different color choices will make many interesting quilts.

Marilyn and Kelli's blocks

Dorothy and Lora's blocks

 The next night I met with another Larspur Club, they are farther along on the quilt and made the Crosstown block this time. Dianne got her block finished....soft and pretty.

 Here are all of Dianne's blocks so far. She usually opts for bright fabrics, so it's interesting to see her using the more subtle prints.

I only have 2 sessions left at Hancock, and then all will move to Hobby Lobby. 

Oh where, oh where has my time gone?

...Veronica's More Peas in a Pod

The past few weeks have slipped right past me and in a blur. I have been fighting a cold, working at school and teaching quilt classes a couple nights a week. Here are some pics I took recently at classes. The beginners are working hard to finish their first quilts. I haven't ever taught this class monthly before (usually teach it 6 weeks in a row), but it seems to be going well and they are happy with the schedule. Next month the borders.

Amanda's More Peas in a Pod

I've also been trying to get things figured out as far as where I will move my classes since Hancocks is closing. For many years, Hancock Fabrics (formerly a Northwest Fabrics) was the only fabric store in our city. Hobby Lobby moved here about 6 - 8 years ago (not sure, really just guessing) and my favorite quilt shop, Cut Up and Quilt opened 3 years ago. I started teaching about 12 years ago and taught evening Sampler Clubs, Beginning Quilting and Sat. classes at Hancock. I started designing my own patterns to teach that first year so that I would have different classes to offer. When Cut Up and Quilt opened, I started teaching there too, once or twice a month on Saturdays.

Sharon's More Peas in a Pod

Bev's More Peas in a Pod

So with Hancock Fabrics bankruptcy and closing, I needed to find another place that was open nights and had a classroom. Renting a place is out of the question right now, though it would be so much fun to do! So I will be moving my night classes to Hobby Lobby soon. The whole process is different there, so I have been working on getting the things I need ready so I can start my first new class there Monday night.  I will be teaching Larkspur, Sampler 22.

Larspur, Sampler 22

Jane's Larkspur, Sampler 22 blocks from the Second Monday Club

Since all of my night classes are 6 month sessions, most are not finished, so they will finish at Hobby Lobby and then maybe start another club. I need to come up with a new sampler design by June and it's not even close. Oh, I shouldn't tell you that part, huh? So you see where my head is at.

Billie Jo's first Modern Cathedral Window Pillow block

Melinda's Modern Cathedral Window Pillow blocks

Things are starting to fall into place, though, so I am relaxing a bit and excited to see how it goes in the new classroom next week.

Marta forgot her machine cord, so she worked on having a snack and pressing for the others.

I see my quilt in Maine!

I was excited to see my quilt Shortcut on the Original Sewing and Quilting Expo's Facebook page this morning ( back row, right corner). This is the 4th show that the exhibit has been to, but I hadn't seen any pictures yet. I will get to see the exhibit in May when it comes to the America Quilts Expo in Des Moines.

If you happen to be at the show this weekend, please take a selfie with it...I'd love to see you with it!

Shortcut 

Almost finished....

I realize these pictures aren't the best lighting-wise, as the lighting in my quilting room isn't great for pictures,  but I'm excited to have Spinning Parasols quilted. I am going to bind it tomorrow night with the green floral that is in the border and on the back of the runner. It's a favorite of mine...well for now...

Spinning Parasols backing

I used the Starburst Panto and Signature Pastel thread for a tiny hint of color.

I will be teaching a class on this soon at Cut Up and Quilt. 

Close up of Starburst quilting

Two finishes!

I didn't get much quilting done on this new Circle and Spin series quilt ( unnamed as of this AM) through the week, so I was determined to finish it Friday after work. I came home, didn't sit down to relax first (that is my key element to getting something done after work!) and got busy. 

 Here it is coming off the frame. I always take some pictures at this point so I have a record of each quilt, the backing and the panto design.

 Because of the flowing nature of this design, I used the Ebb and Flow panto by Hermione Agee and variegated thread. I love how the quilting design flows with the quilt design to enhance it. I am having difficulty naming this quilt, as I see mountains, I see a flowing river...

 The backing is a batik fabric with a basket weave effect, so it flows as well. I used a darker blue/green batik with shots of orange and gold for the binding to bring out the colors in the quilt.

 Since I had some cancellations in my Stitching Oasis Machine Apron class yesterday, I took the quilt with me to trim and work on binding while my student sewed. I never cancel classes because of low student signups, as I know they have already carefully chosen their fabrics and are excited to make the project. I don't usually sew while teaching a class unless I'm demonstrating a technique, but since I only had one student I didn't want to spend the day hovering over her (that can be unnerving for them).So I took her through each step and then trimmed, and made the binding while she sewed. It worked well, we had some great conversations and she got her project finished except for the final sewing down of the binding. She has it all pinned and ready to sew. I love her vintage look fabric! She made this for a gift, another good reason for the no cancellation policy.

Plus I got my quilt bound in between. And no hovering!

As I'm working on a project, names flit through my head as I work. Sometimes I think of the perfect name right away, other times it takes some brainstorming. Since this project has been waiting to be quilted for awhile, so has the name. Here are some of my thoughts on names:

Riverflow

Sleepy River

Sunset Mountain or Mountain Sunset

Slow Dance

Valley Trail or River Trail 

(yea the whole river/mountain thing is what I see when I look at it, can you tell?)

Any thoughts on these or any other ideas?

I tried to do a closeup of the binding but you still can't really see it. I need to take some better pics outside. 

 I have a busy day of paperwork (ugh, not my favorite) and then want to load Spinning Parasols on the frame and begin the quilting. It won't take long to quilt if I can just get to it! Happy Sunday!