Love, Laugh and Learn (Beginners Class)

Just finished teaching another beginners class at Patchwork Cottage.  Again another great class and a great group of ladies.  I am always so excited to meet new quilters and teach beginners.  They are always so excited about learning to quilt. 

The first class seems a little intimidating when you learn to measure and cut fabric, how to read a ruler and most scary is how to use the rotary cutter. Then you start to sew and learn about the 1/4 inch seam.  Now you are sewing and your machine messes up and you feel like you want to give up, then comes squaring off those blocks, learning about the sashing and borders.  Don't give up because at the end you will have a beautiful quilt.  It won't be perfect (because after all it is your first quilt) but it is your quilt that you make.  Just remember how far you came in just a few weeks, look at what you have learned.  When you stop and think that when you walked into the class, you didn't know how to properly read a ruler and were scared to make that first cut.  OK, maybe some of your points are off, but in the class you learned why they were off so next time you know what to do different.  Pat yourself on the back, you stuck with it and you have your first quilt.

Remember advanced quilters, we were all there and we all make it through that first quilt. We kept practing and we got better.  One day it clicks and you say I remember that from class. Then we are out shoping for new patterns and new fabric and the quilting bug has you.

I do believe as a beginner you have to relax, have fun and laugh.  When Mita asked me to teach the beginners class at her shop, we wanted to come up with a catchy name.  We
came up with "Love, Laugh and Learn".  We wanted everyone to "love" what they were making "laugh" along the way and "learn" to quilt.  Don't give up, take another class, meet other ladies that quilt and your quilting journey begins.   You will meet so many wonderful people in quilting and will make some everlasting friendship. 

Below are some of the blocks we put on the design board.  Each one is different.  It is fun to see how a block can look so different by your color choices.  They really did a great job.  Once they sew the sashing, corners stones and borders their blocks will pop and they will see all their hard work paid off.

The Next Step

Had a great class at Patchwork Cottage tonight.  The class is called "The Next Step".  In this class, they learned to square up their quilt, measure, cut and sewing on the binding.  They also learned some basic information on labeling your quilt.  I enjoyed meeting some new quilters.  Another fun class tonight.

Christmas Trees

We have had a blast in "The Sassy Stitchers" with this Christmas Tree pattern.  This pattern is called "Trees For Sale" from "Pieces from my Heart".  Below are just a few of the pictures.  They have been creative and made so many different projects with this pattern (pillows, place mats, wall hangings, table runners and lap quilts).  It is so much fun in each class seeing every one's different fabrics and what they are going to make out of the trees.

Website Links

Happy Monday to everyone.  I know I haven't posted lately, but I have been busy making sample quilts for classes and working on the upcoming quilt retreat being held in Blue Ridge, GA in January 2011.  I am so excited about the response and look forward to a great retreat.

Just wanted to tell everyone about something new I have added to my blog and website.
It is called "Websites I Follow". I have been talking to some quilting resources and have received permission to add their website to my blog and website.  I want to share with everyone the products I use and have liked.  I also wanted to add other resources that may be helpful and list quilt shop for you to visit.  Keep checking back.  I have alot more to add in the coming days. 

Georgia Quilt Show

What a day.  This morning we had our Saturday, "Sassy Stichers" at Patchwork Cottage.  Carol is a member of the Kiwanis so she started our morning off with a Pancake Breakfast.  She was kind enough to bring us pancakes, sausage and coffee.  Elaine brought the Halloween dipped pretzels.  After our club it was off to the Georgia Quilt Show.  What a fun time.  You really need a full day.  As Lisa, Elaine and I were talking on our way back, I realized I missed a lot of booths.  I thought for sure we could see it all in 4 hours.  There were so many great things to see.  All the vendors were great.  It was fun just talking to them and seeing all their fun stuff.  The quilts were all beautiful.  I would hate to have to be the judge.  Where do you begin?  They were all so unique in their own way.  I just admire any quilt because as a quilter I know how much love and time goes into each quilt.  Elaine was missing in action for the photo.  Too busy shopping and finding all the deals I missed...  Tomorrow it is Gold Rush Day in Dahlonega, GA.  Another fun day ahead.

Friendship Star

Even though it is fall and I love the fall colors, I still like to work with bright and happy fabric.  In July, I taught a Girls Sew In at Dragonfly Quilt Shop for girls ages 10 and up.  They had a blast and wanted to make another quilt.  We will have another class in December.  This time they are going to learn 1/2 square triangles and make the Friendship Star Quilt.  It makes me so happy to see young girls wanting to learn to sew.   Sewing was lost for awhile, but I think it is making a big come back.  In 2011 we will be starting a club at Dragonfly for the young girls.  We will be doing a make in take project every quarter.  Come join us if you have a daughter, granddaugher, niece or friend that you would like them to learn the wonderful world of quilting and sewing.

Quilt Retreat

I am excited to announce, The Sassy Stitchers First Annual Quilt Retreat will be taking place in Blue Ridge, GA on January 27th -30th, 2011.  Pam and I took the beautiful drive to Blue Ridge this past Saturday to check out the facility and it is perfect.   Details will follow in the coming weeks. 

Making and Preserving Memories

In April of this year, I lost one of my best friends to lung cancer.  She was way too young, but she was a trooper and fault the battle for almost 2 years.  I have remained very close to her family. She had 3 children and 5 grandchildren.  This past week seemed to be hard for all of us, so on Friday evening I went to her husband's house with her children and grandchildren.  One thing we found sad was how lonely and empty her quilting room has become.  (We used to sew on Friday evenings together).  So Friday night after a delicious dinner we brought her sewing room back to life.  I showed the two daughters (Laura and Shauna) and her daughter-in-law (Tiffany) along with the 5 grandchildren how to make pine cone ornaments from fabric.   We let the kids pick their fabric from her stash to make their ornaments.  We had a blast.  They enjoyed it so much that everyone went home with fabric to make more ornaments.  We made new memories that night and preserved her memory with her love of quilting.  Her daughter, Shauna, has two daughters and I will be teaching them how to sew.  We are going to work on a table runner.  My dear friend would be so happy.  She always hoped one of the girls would have her passion for quilting.  We are on our way.  I know she was looking down on us that night with a big smile on her face.  Below are a couple of pictures of our fun evening.

Love, Laugh & Learn Class

In September we completed another beginners class at Patchwork Cottage.  I am so glad to see so many new people getting interested in quilting. We call the beginners class "Love, Laugh and Learn".  Below is a picture of the quilt top completed by Sharon.  She did a fantastic job as you can see.  Also, a great choice of fabric.  Great job Sharon.  Keep up the good work. 

Hall County Quilt Guild

This morning Mita and I visited the Hall County Quilt Guild.  They invited Mita from Patchwork Cottage to visit and talk about her shop.  Everyone was so nice.  I had a great time and enjoyed meeting so many new people and it was also nice seeing some familiar faces that I hadn't seen in quite some time.  Below is Mita giving her talk. 

Star Burst Class

Another fun day at Dragonfly Quilt Shop today.  The class made the "Star Burst" Quilt from the "Charmed and Dangerous" book by Heather Mulder Peterson.  This is the 2nd quilt they made out of this book.  The first was the quilt on the cover "4-Patch Fusion".  I think working with charm squares really makes some people step out of their comfort zone because quilts are scrapper when using charm squares.  I think it is good to challenge ourselves to step out of comfort zone sometimes.  At the end the quilts really are beautiful.

Celebrate Hope for Breast Cancer Research

Several of us attended the 7th Annual Fund Raiser Luncheon  for Breast Cancer Research in Dawsonville, GA on September 26th.  We had a great time.  Everything was so nicely set up, lunch was great.  There was a lady that sang a beautiful song without any music.  She had an incredible voice.  The auction was so much fun.  I hope they raised alot of money for this great cause.   As you see Paula was alittle cold so she wrapped up in the quilt she won at the auction.

 

Chattahoochee Evening Star Quilt Show.

Pictures of the Chattahoochee Evening Star Quilt Show. There were alot of beautiful quilts on display.  Mita and I had a great time and all the ladies from the Quild were wonderful.

Welcome to my blog.

Thank you for visiting my blog.  I hope you will enjoy the stories and pictures I will be sharing.  Quilting is my passion and I truly enjoy teaching quilting.  I have met so many wonderful people through quilting and want to share this incredible adventure with everyone.  I will be sharing stories and pictures of my classes, our quilting roadtrips, family and friend stories and  any other wonder stories along the way.  Please check back often and feel free to leave any comments.  I would love to hear your stories also.  I hope this blog will capture many friendships along the way.