Whoever referred to the “winter blahs” simply didn't see the “flurry”--sorry, I couldn't resist—of finishing activity at both the January and February Sew-ins!  With the holidays in the rear-view mirror, these ladies put pedal to the metal to finish and share some beautiful work.  In January we were treated to Rene’s Show and Tell with more amazing quilts made by the children in the Young Piecemakers Guild--please look at the slide show!  Emboldened by success, Norma--a fairly new quilter, shared a slew of finished pieces.  We enjoyed the look of joy as Caryn did her very first machine quilting, and then did it again on a second matching quilt.  Karen pulled out her heirloom-quilt in-the-making –bent on getting closer to the finish line.  We did hand work, and childrens’ garmets, learned a new binding technique, and continued work on an historical-based art quilt, and so much more.  We shared homemade chili and bread and tried to guess the “secret” ingredient.  We enjoyed each other and the time to just play.  With spring peaking it head just around the next corner, it’s time for something new—a new skill, meeting some new friends, a new direction???  Join us for some fun in April, July, or October and banish the “blahs”!

Fall is the time to think gifts, and simple sweatshirt can easily become a beautiful jacket in a weekend.  First be sure to wash the sweatshirt and tumble dry to shrink it to the final size.  An old sweatshirt works just great too!  By removing the ribbing at the cuffs and bottom, the now flattened shape can be slit up the front.  The ribbing at the neck is cut away only to the stitching, but not completely removed, to stabilize the neckline.   The top front can now be cut into a slight curve to create a cardigan jacket shape.  After the center front is stay-stitched, the fun begins!  Your stash is your “paintbrush”, and the flat shape is your “canvas”. 

One option is to slit open both underarm seams completely and then cover the entire sweatshirt with randomly placed fabrics scraps.  These are machine appliquéd (zig-zag stitched) over the raw edges.  The underarm seams are then re-sewn and all edges are finished with binding, just as you would bind a quilt. 

A second option is the cover only part of the sweatshirt with your own design of fabric strips, or parts of blocks, or fabric appliqués or even pockets made from “cheater” panels.  Creatively bound edges can incorporate lined prairie points, lace, ribbons or buttons—whatever you can imagine! 

These one-of-a-kind jackets are easy, and warm, cozy, and fun to wear!  Let me help you recycle an old friend into a new treasure!

Full or Empty? 


Sometimes Empty is good!  

Do you make time for empty—some “down time” or “just for me” time—waiting to be filled with the joy of new experiences and new friends!  Leaving some empty time in your routine is just an opportunity to put something good into your life!

Sharon is feeling good because her project box is empty!  She and her sister Mary always come to our retreats with multiple boxes of projects and manage to go home with stacks of finished tote bags, cloth books, and small quilts to share with friends and family.  Their friends must each have a custom tote bag for every outfit--I want to be on their friend list!  Busy lady Valerie made time in her schedule for her first retreat and brought several projects—she happily contemplates their completion.  Mom and daughter, Anne and Theresa, share some bonding time--creating together and celebrating with us a major health milestone.

Emptying out some of the UFO’s in our closets is a good thing—and no, you don’t even have to finish them!  Laura brought a project that had stopped her and is now confidently on her way to the finish line, but not all projects have to be completed!  Consider what you have learned from the experience.   If you have lost interest, feel free to donate an unfinished project to your local quilt guild for completion.  Guilds are eager to have quilts to complete for their charity projects, and there is always a need at the women’s shelters for these loving gifts.  Emptying your closet is a great way to fill another person’s life!

Let’s hear it for EMPTY!

It only took about ten years!  In about 2003 as a beginner, Bonnie took my Harvest Song Class, a ten month heirloom quilt class, and she completed the center of the quilt with first 4 months.  Then she got to this 3 dimensional block with all set-in corners---and put the quilt away.  There it sat until 2013.  With a little encouragement she brought the dreaded block to to the Sew-in and in just a short while had completed  two perfect 6 1/2" blocks!!  Only 10 more to go, and then on to the easier blocks to complete this magnificent over-sized queen quilt. Bonnie has now signed up for more Sew-ins to complete her masterpiece with a little encouragement from her friends!

I'll bet you also have some ten year quilts--the ones that left you stumped with one wicked block, or a wrong turn that left you with a bunch of ripping out to be done.  I don't mind ripping!  Drag them out let us cheer you on to the finish line.

This lovely stack of uneven sized blocks were causing headaches for one newer quilter until I showed her several squaring tricks, and she got them all to the same size.  She is now happily on her way to The Finish Line!  Treat yourself to some Finishing Time!

Give a challenge to a creative lady and stand back!  Meet Devora—the one in the September 2012 Retreat photos who made the impossible tailored wool jacket from the large uneven plaid—well she has done it again.  Her friend’s mother had passed away leaving a beautiful black knitted and sequined sweater with lemon and lime motifs which she wanted to re-purpose into a usable memory of her mom.  At our February retreat Devora imagined a structured shoulder bag by first spray basting the front and back pieces of the sweater onto Timtex to stabilize them.  

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After drawing a trial pattern on paper, she cut the front and back pieces, allowing the single lime motif on black background to create the focus on a flap over the front piece.  She made sure that all the lemons and limes on the front would be “right-side up”.    Side seams were sewn and the bottom was boxed.  The strap was created from the leftover pieces of sweater which were stabilized just with ribbon to keep the strap soft.  A beautiful lime green lining with pocket was then put in place.  She used the original beaded neckline edging from the sweater to finish the detail of the rounded front flap on the purse.  She left that weekend with the purse 95% complete so I expect to see the finished masterpiece at the July Sew-in when she and friend Stephanie join us again.  Do YOU want to be inspired to create “on the fly”?  Bring on a challenge and let’s design together.  Devora showed us that “when life gives you lemons” and limes—you make a PURSE!

The faster I go—the “behinder” I get!

 Do you ever feel that way?  I didn’t even have a chance to savor and share the fun from the August Sew-in before the Fall Retreat in September was here.   Our new venue for August at the Temple Beth Tikvah in Fullerton was a nice cool respite and a chance to try some new tricks.  Georgia tried her hand at designing a purse to meet her Mom’s exact specifications, and Karen altered a paper pattern to make some custom-fitted kitchen accessories. 

AAHHH, the joy of finishing!  The pool table made a perfect staging place for the finished blocks Nilda had already completed from my 2010 Challenge Quilt class.  After lots of stitching, she proudly displays the completed top!  Who knew she was also a talented painter as she shared her vision of Machu Picchu in Peru.  Nancy, Sharon, and Mary were happily intent on cranking out lots of tote bags as gifts for friends.  See all the pictures in the Photo Gallery.  These Sew-in weekends are a great time for concentrated work time and a chance to try new things too!  Two more Sew-ins are currently open--November and February—with more dates coming!

Fall Fiber Arts Retreat brought some NEW Fiber Arts!  While Stephanie happily explored her passion for cord-making and jewelry using the Diva Cord Maker, her friend Devora played with felting using some color coordinated roving.  Up for an “impossible” challenge, Devora also mastered a two-way uneven plaid to construct a tailored wool jacket--TAKE THAT you, “it can’t be done” sayers!  I must also show you her clever use of men’s’ ties for the handle and front pocket of her placemat purse.  She used the “Backwards Tote” pattern from my Dual Pursenalities book and made it unique—great idea for you to try!

Joyce, Gina, and Diane worked on UFOs from last year’s retreat, and we lost track of all the quilts, wall hangings, fabric books, pillows, and bags completed by Lori, Jackie, Sharron, Lynette, Janeen , Dani, Marcia, Sharon, and Mary.  It looked like a sweatshop as these determined gals raced from one project to another!  You can see all the pictures in the Photo Gallery.

I am working on finalizing the new dates and locations for the Spring and Fall retreats for 2013.  Things are still fluid so your input is valuable!

 

100 + degree weather is a great motivator to go to the coast and check out a very promising site for our Spring 2013 destination retreat.  Cool 80's and sunshine on the waves, plus a charming little beach town I think you will love, and really authentic Mexican food for one of our dinners.  No more hints than that until I get it all figured out.    I might be looking at May rather than June???  

The September Retreat at the Ayres Hotel in Laguna Woods is only a few weeks away and I am already dreaming of those fabulous beds.  Cindy and Dawn will be back with their magic fingers to massage out any knots you may have.  Stop counting those UFO's and pack up a pile of them to finish--oh-- is that word even in your quilter's vocabulary?   Give yourself permission to just play at what you love!