Fall Blows in with Whirlwind of Learning!

 

Learning new skills has been the most recent theme in my quilting journey. September and now October have been filled with opportunities to develop my craft and to share my knowledge with other quilters in the classroom.

HQH had a national speaker come to guild in September. Tammy Silvers of Tamarinis shared with us how our choices in fabrics really can take the look of a quilt to a different level. 

I took Tammy's Melon Blossoms workshop and had a fun time putting her lesson into practice. The look of the melon block can change a lot depending on where you put your lights and darks. I had a ton of different ideas for fabric placement. But, in the end, I played it a bit safe – didn’t want to fail my class! – to make sure I had enough contrast and here is what my final block looked like:

 

As I go further with the Melon Blossom quilt, I might experiment more with the values and tones of fabrics to get different looks in each block.

The best part, really, of the Melon Blossom class, was getting to sit next to my friend Helen, and to be in class with other friends, including a few new friends from Birmingham.

I took Tammy’s lesson on fabric selection to heart as I prepared to teach the Message in a Bottle class at Southern Charm Quilting in September. The color scheme of the original quilt – made by Irene Blanck – is subdued. It's a softer than the palette I usually work with, but I stretched myself by making it in fabrics similar to those chosen by Irene. My resulting quilt is now in Houston getting ready to be displayed at the International Quilt Festival later this month. So, since I would be teaching both the September and October classes without my quilt as an example, I decided to make it again! Except this time I am going with very, very loud fabrics to get a completely different look. 

One of the best things I did in September with my sewing was to delve into my Bernina 770 QE’s embroidery capabilities during the Bernina Users Group at Southern Charm. Sue took us through the mastery class and we spent all day learning – in my case, relearning – the basics of using the embroidery module. It was an exhilarating day!!

The best way to herald in a new season – and it is now fall, you all, even if the temperatures don’t say so – is to have a Stitchers Stitch In. I always love sitting with friends on a Saturday and sewing the day away, and that’s what we did toward the end of September. The day was filled with quilting projects, lots of ideas for quilts and catching up with everyone. Sam and I decided during the day that she and I are going to work on a New York Beauty quilt in the new year. Linda and I helped Joanie with a very special project. Volunteers with the HQH Comfy Quilt program spent the day organizing their stash into quilt project kits that will be used by even more volunteers to make quilts for underserved children, those going through a crisis and veterans. We all had fun sharing our projects and the sewing day together.

Beverly putting the binding on her gorgeous quilt.

Tamara working on a new project.

Karen and a new applique project.

Eileen, Sharon and Pam having fun
sewing together.

Vangie working on a Comfy Quilt.

Sam and Beverly working side by side.

Pat working with bright fabrics.

Joanie and Linda sewing the binding on a special project.

Other highlights of the last six weeks include:

* Completion of a baby quilt for one of my son’s co-workers.

* Learning how to make fabric bowls so that I can teach them at the October Bernina Users Group.

* Showing off my flower pot quilt with other Stitcher Etc. members who participated in our flower pot block swap.

* Working on completing several of the Kim Diehl What Nots 13 mini-quilts to wrap up a series of classes I taught based on the quilts. The quilts are great for fall decorating!

Looking forward, at the end of the month I will be traveling to Houston for several reasons – to celebrate my daughter’s birthday, to go to the International Quilt Festival with my daughter and to see my two quilts in the show! I will share more on that adventure in my next blog!

Until then …

Hugs, Hope and Happy Quilting!

Kari