Table Runner Christmas Present

I picked up a new book about a month ago Stars by Magic by Nancy Johnson-Srebro. The timing was just perfect because my small quilt group, Scrapbaggers, decided to exchange table runners at our Christmas party. The techinque from my new book was just great; however there is a lot of waste. The projects in the book utilize a unique twist on the snowball technique. I really enjoyed how the stars were made. It made easy work of stars that are usually complicated. I would love to make more from this book. I give the book and technique 4 stars!!!

Happy quilting,
Annemarie

Jo's Little Women Club #9

On the 5th of January a new Jo's Little Women Club begins. For all you Jo's club fans now is the time to sign up. The class starts in a little more than a week. There is an afternoon class and and an evening class.

The first quilt will use bunches of fabric. You will get to pull both lights and darks from your Jo's scraps. The sample quilt pictured has a piece from each of the 'pack' fabrics...plus a lot more. The center could be the embroidery or a favorite focus fabric or maybe even a photo on fabric. You pick! I'm excited for class to begin. Hopefully, I will see you there. Give the shop a call and get your name on the list. Have a happy and safe new year!!!

Fall Quilt Classes Are Just Around The Corner

It's that time of year again when the kids go back to school and fall quilt classes begin.

I will be teaching several classes this semester. A new crop of beginners will learn about the all important quarter inch seam allowance and become familiar with their sewing machines and rotary cutters. The class is called, Rotary Star Sampler. I look forward to bringing new quilters into the fold.

For those more experienced quilters I will be teaching Invisible Machine Applique. This method is quicker than traditional needle turn applique and utilizes your sewing machine. After completing the applique block it can be finished into a pillow, wall hanging or added to a larger quilt of your choice.

The quilt top pictured is Jan Patek's Girl Gang sample called 'Favorite Things'. Last night was the 12th and final class in the series. All of the applique was completed using the invisible machine applique method. Finishing the top would have been a challenge if not for this method.

There's one more class on my schedule. I will try to post a picture next week. It's a 'bridging' class called 'Little Women' Signature Block Party. Since Jo Morton does not have club 9 ready yet I have planned a different project(s). Stop into the shop to see the sample and pick up the info. The class will meet twice and I promise it will be a lot of fun. We will share ideas, patterns, friendship and fabric. It will prove to be a couple of great nights out.

I Needed This...

The dreaded day finally arrived. I had to take my one and only off to college (Iowa State). He was excited. I, on the other hand, was scared to leave my baby. OK, 18 isn't exactly a baby but those of you who have left your child on the curb holding a bean bag chair and a floor lamp know what I mean. He's a good kid and will do fine. At least that's what I keep telling myself.

Needless to say. I was depressed. Could hardly go upstairs to bed...I'd have to pass by his empty room. Didn't get dressed for 2 days. My husband was starting to roll his eyes at me. He just didn't understand. So I thought maybe it was time to get out of my funk and find a purpose again. I'd have to start simple.

I'd start a new project, a quilt...that always makes me happy. But which one would I pick? I have so many kits, patterns and ideas it's a wonder that I made a decision. (You know sort of like Bret Farve!) So, like him, I made up my mind and here it is. The quilt is called Prairie Vine from the cover of BH&G Quilt Sampler magazine. I have 9 blocks completed. Only 21 more to go and of course the 9-patches and applique border. It does get my mind off my empty nest and that makes my husband happier too. And yes, I am dressed and feeling human again!

Enjoy the pictures!
Happy quilting,
Annemarie

Antique Doll Quilts and Stuff

The Hudson Heritage Quilters had me over to give a lecture on doll quilts. I brought much of my collection. The collection includes antique quilts, new quilts from Jo Morton's Little Women club and pieces from my Quilts Remembered pattern line. I brought about 65 quilts and another collection of antique child and doll related items.

There were approximately 40 women there. They pulled up their chairs and had a good look at what I brought. My lecture covered, what makes it a doll quilt, what to look for when shopping for an antique doll quilt, what life was like for children in the early 1900s, the toys available and the importance of these toys. The comparison to today's life of a child is like night and day. The children of these bygone days certainly did not have Toys "R" Us or Facebook to occupy the time.

It was a nice evening and I hope everyone went away with an appreciation of these little gems.

Happy quilting,
Annemarie

Wisconsin Quilt Trip

Last Monday was a beautiful day for a road trip. There were 3 of us. We began out travels in Southwestern Wisconsin. The rolling hills along the river are beyond gorgeous. We hit several quilt shops along the way. Our travels took us from Onalaska to Sun Prairie and all the way north to Green Bay. 3 days and 600 miles in a new car was a whole lot of fun. We ate really great food and stayed at very comfortable hotels. I can't even begin to guess how many bolts of fabric we saw...maybe half a million =-) Pictured are my road trip companions, Laura and Ann...I'm the one in the middle. Fun was had by all and now back to reality.

Summer Quilts On The Ladder

I posted my spring quilt ladder earlier this year. Now you can take a peak at my summer ladder. All of the quilts are from the 1930s . They are not family quilts...unfortunately. The top quilt, a fan pattern was purchased at an antique shop in Wisconsin while visiting family. The second quilt on the ladder is a grandmother's flower garden I found years ago (probably 20) at an estate sale in Minneapolis. The third quilt I bought from an antique quilt dealer at the Houston, TX quilt show. This quilt needed a little repair. Some of the flowers had holes in them. The dealer gave me scraps of 30s fabrics that I used to applique over the bad fabric. Next on the ladder is a spider web quilt that I found at another estate sale right down the street from where I live. Last but not least is one of my favorites. This one came from French72 on Ebay. What you can't see is this quilt has 9 borders.

I love the hunt. Antique quilt shopping is one of my favorite pastimes.

Happy quilting,
Annemarie