San Diego Quilt Show Class

Yesterday, I had the wonderful pleasure of taking a class at the San Diego Quilt Show with Wendy Mathson, and I loved it!  She created a method for Storm at Sea Quilts, and some of her quilts are truly inspiring.  I loved being able to see some of her quilts up close and personal, and I loved her class!  I prepared all week for her class (thanks to procrastination)!  Then I realized, late night on Wednesday, that I had cut some of the pieces wrong, luckily I only had to trim down some pieces to correct my mistake.

At the class we got to use her new templates, which I really enjoyed using, and were pretty simple once instructions were given.  With a full day of class I ended up with the pieces for the center of my quilt finished!  It is similar to the cover quilt on her book "A New Light On Storm at Sea."

How she taught us was well structured, and you could tell she loves what she is doing.  She listened and helped, and was so personable to just sit and talk to.  Plenty of time was given between steps to work, and it was a wonderful experience.  She is more than happy to help outside the class too, and loves to see finished work from students and the designs you create as it inspires her.  I highly recommend her as a teacher.

I am truly amazed that I got that much done and I had so much fun.  My Mom and I took the class together, and even though she did not get as much done as I did, I know she enjoyed it.  Here is a picture of hers coming together too, on our makeshift design wall.

Other people's fabric choices were inspirational, and I got to see a scrappy teal/blue/green quilt in person.  This is one I will be doing for my husband and I at a later date.  Some of the fabrics have been starched, and some are currently on the drying rack.  I'm a little sad, I forgot to take pictures of everyone else's creations!

We did not have enough time to check out the exhibit for the quilt show, so we will be heading back tomorrow to check it out.  If you are in the San Diego/Southern California area come support the San Diego Quilt Show.  It runs until Saturday afternoon at the San Diego Convention Center.  I can not wait to see the inspiration within the show too!

Sharing at:
Busy Hand Quilts
Thank Goodness It's Finish Friday
Crazy Mom Quilts
Confessions of a Fabric Addict

-Christina

A New Week

I did not get much done last week, but it is a new week and I am excited as I have to get things done. Nothing like a deadline to get projects moving.

The biggest goal I need to do is finish starching the fabric for my Storm at Sea class that I will be taking with Wendy Mathson during the San Diego Quilt Show, and then cut out the pieces to be prepared for class, plus get the usual things prepared on my machine, such as a new needle, full bobbin, and changing the foot.  I am really excited, and of course I will share my experience once I take her class.  I picked out all of my fabric for the first quilt I am going to do during my all expenses paid quilt shop trip from my wonderful husband, as a birthday gift.  Bonus, most of my fabric for this quilt came from my LQS's sale room!!!  During this trip I was able to get the last of the fabric needed for my second and bigger storm at sea quilt, plus some other quilts I have been collecting fabric for.  I want to work on it all at once!

Second is to cut out this lovely baby quilt, which will be a simple rail fence quilt.  I am going to make it scrappy, so I need to cut each individual piece out and then start sewing.  I did not make any progress on this last two weeks, so I really hope I can this week.

Third goal is to make progress on a surprise quilt.  I want to cut out the next section this week, but I can not do it while dear hubby is around, as it is a surprise for him.  Shhh, do not tell him.  (Due to this fact no pictures, I will share when I get it completed.  Hopefully before Christmas or maybe Valentines Day.)  I have not made progress on this item for the last two weeks.

The fourth goal is to iron fabric and then start cutting it to make my Magnolia Mystery Quilt, hosted by Meadow Mist Designs.  I always like her designs, and I'm excited to see how it shapes up.  I will share my fabrics once I pull them out, aka next week :)

The fifth goal is to start cutting out step 3 of Royal Gardens, which is my Breakfast Club's assignment at my LQS.  I would like to try and get it done early this next month.

The last item is when I have spare time in the evening, which is to finish knitting this afghan.  I have about 8 rows left, maybe 11 depending upon size.  I have a deadline (even though it keeps changing!), and I'm close to getting it done.

I'm excited to see what everyone else is working on!

Linking up to:

Monday Making

Design Wall

-Christina

Design Wall Monday

This week, I only have a few goals.

First is to finish planning out my quilt for the Storm at Sea class I will be taking with Wendy Mathson at the end of the month at the San Diego Quilt Show.  I have it almost all colored out, and I have found the teals that are in my stash, however I need to go through and approximate the yardage I do have vs the yardage I need.  Then I get to go and spend my birthday present.  My birthday present is an all expenses paid trip to the quilt shop from my wonderful hubby.

Second is to cut out this lovely baby quilt, which will be a simple rail fence quilt.  I am going to make it scrappy, so I need to cut each individual piece out and then start sewing.  I did not make any progress on this last week, so I really hope I can this week.

Third item is to make progress on a surprise quilt.  I want to cut out the next section this week, but I can not do it while dear hubby is around, as it is a surprise for him.  Shhh, do not tell him.  (Due to this fact no pictures, I will share when I get it completed.  Hopefully before Christmas or maybe Valentines Day.)

The last item is when I have spare time in the evening, which is to finish knitting this afghan.  I have about 8 rows left, maybe 11 depending upon size.  I have a deadline (even though it keeps changing!), and I'm close to getting it done.

I'm excited to see what everyone else is working on!

Linking up to:

Monday Making

Main Crush Monday

Design Wall

-Christina

Design Wall Monday

It has been a while since I did one of these posts.  This week I have several things on my design wall.

First thing is finish Step 2 of Royal Gardens.  It is my Breakfast club project, which is held at my LQS on the 3rd Saturday of the month.  I got it all cut out this weekend, I just need to sew it all together.  I am loving how easy it is to put together, and the directions are fantastic.  (You can get the pattern at Cozy's Creative Center)

Second is to cut out this lovely baby quilt, which will be a simple rail fence quilt.  I was thinking about doing putting it together strip piecing it, but maybe I should cut each rail out by itself and put it together scrappily.  What are your thoughts?  By getting this cut out this week, I will have made progress on my September one monthly goal.  One step at a time, each week.

Third item to work on is planning out my quilt for my Storm-at-Sea class I will be taking with Wendy Mathson at the end of the month at the San Diego Quilt Show.  I am excited to make the quilt, I have the design picked out, I just need to figure out finished size of the quilt and amount of yardage needed so I can go spend my birthday present.  My birthday present is an all expenses paid trip to the quilt shop from my wonderful hubby.

Fourth thing is to make progress on a surprise quilt.  I want to cut out the next section this week, but I can not do it while dear hubby is around, as it is a surprise for him.  Shhh, do not tell him.  (Due to this fact no pictures, I will share when I get it completed.  Hopefully before Christmas.)

The last item is when I have spare time in the evening, which is to finish knitting the ball of yarn I currently have going on this lovely baby afghan.  I have a deadline, and I'm close to getting it done.  A little bite out of the elephant goes a long way.

Linking up to:

Monday Making

Main Crush Monday

Design Wall

-Christina

Sunday Slow Stitching

Today, as laundry is going through the cycles I was able to remember what Kathy at Kathy's Quilts reminds us to do, which is slow down and stitch.  I was able to make progress on this lovely knitted baby blanket that is so nearing completion!  I have about 36 inches done and just need 41 inches.  I now have a deadline as to when the baby shower is, which is about 3 weeks away.

Just look at that lovely texture that has been created with the yarn and pattern.

One thing I would like to share.  I recently bought this yarn ball holder off of Amazon, and I like it.  The one thing I do have a problem with is the spinning is not 100% easy, especially when the yarn gets stuck at the base of the part that spins, like it is in the picture.  If you need one, check it out.

Sharing at Kathy's Quilts.

-Christina

September 2017 OMG

This is the month!  I am going to get this baby quilt cut out and pieced to have it become a top by the end of the month.  One small bite each week of the month and it will get done, as that is how you eat an elephant.

This is after I have not been able to accomplish this for the last two months, especially after setting it as my one monthly goal due to time running away from me.

Sharing over at Elm Street Quilts, and setting the challenge.  Check back each week to see if I am making progress on my goal.  If not, start emailing and bugging me about it.

-Christina

Paper Piecing Class

Last weekend I had the pleasure of taking a paper piecing class from a Judy Niemeyer certified instructor with my Mom.  I worked a little on both Judy Niemeyer patterns I have started and made progress.

The first I worked on was Woodcarver's Star.  I finished the pieces for the center star, and I am so excited for the colors that I choose.  I can not wait to see the whole quilt put together with my colors.

Because I got the technique down to finish the bigger star at home, I moved to the next piece of the pattern that I did not understand.  I got one of the pieces done, with many more to do.  There was basting involved and curved piecing, which I'm going to be pretty good at by the end of the year if I do all of the curved piecing I plan to do.

Then I switched to Vintage Rose, which is the Certified Instructor/Shop pattern only (this means you can only get it through them, not your LQS unless they are a certified shop).  I had the center section done and added the yellow and purple pieces.  Each step took some time, with the cutting out the fabric, glueing, basting stitches, trimming and then sewing onto the center piece.  The purple pieces were also curved piecing, so that took some extra time. especially since I am learning how to do curves.  I am so excited for these colors too as the end result is going to be bright and fun, which is different for me and my husband to approve!

I started to cut for the next step that will be added to these petals, which are thorns.  But the next step includes a lot of paper piecing, so it will be slow.  I am perfectly happy with that.  Eventually these quilts will be finished, but it is not a race, instead I believe it is about the experience and the knowledge I am gaining from making these quilts is vast.

Sharing with Busy Hand Quilts.

-Christina