Quilt Beach and QuiltCon Prep

As I pack for QuiltCon, I want to share pictures taken a week or so ago at QuiltBeach.  I only went for one class and their VIQ Cocktail party.  What a blast!

Luke Haynes at work

Me, Luke and Allison

The one class I took was From Clothes to Quilts taught by Luke Haynes.  I was pleasantly surprised to see and meet Allison in Luke's class.  She was the recipient of my Angled Camp pillow swap.  It really is a small quilty world!

mini quilt top

The fabric for this class came from the closet of my boys.  I don't think they will miss their old button downs.  One shirt in particular was not suited for this project as what I took for nice stripes were really embroidered sections and frayed when placed near a seam.

Luke's class work - why can't mine look like that?!

I sometimes need to remind myself that I am in class to learn a technique and not necessarily to walk away with a masterpiece.  Otherwise I am quite disappointed in what I create in class ;-)

nice backdrop, wouldn't you say?!

love the cover quilt

Victoria was also at Quilt Beach teaching, lecturing and signing copies of her new book.  It was great to see her again and grab a few copies of her Double Wedding Ring Quilts book.

Cheers!

VIQ cocktail party

I am so thankful to Shelagh and Treasure Coast for bringing Luke Haynes and Victoria Findlay-Wolfe to our area!  I have taken classes with Victoria before and there is always something new to learn.  I did not get into any classes or the lecture with Luke at QuiltCon, so I was excited to take his class in Vero Beach.

If you're taking a class or attending a lecture with Victoria or Luke at QuiltCon,  you're in for a real treat!

how to best use my handmade pouches

I am basically home two days in between winter break in Montana and flying to Austin for QuiltCon. My unpacking and repacking was quite frantic.

organized by class

I am taking four classes, attending several lectures, staying for the Leadership Conference, and plan to meet up with old and new friends!

Alison and Penny's books

Packed a few books for author autographs.  I'm disappointed my copy of Krista's new book Make It, Take It did not arrive in time.  I may need to buy another copy while at QuiltCon so she can sign it for me.

Want to swap?!

I'm also "reporting live" for the 52 Quilters project while I am there.  I have pins for trading so if you're there, stop me and let's swap!  I will be swapping Rene' Creates AND 52 Quilters pins.

Somebody was trying to stow away in my carryon!

Thanks so much for stopping by!
I'm not sure if I'll have a chance to blog while I'm away, but I am taking my laptop just in case.

Choose Your Own BlockAlong 2/16/15

I just returned from my daughter's winter break and am preparing to leave for QuiltCon.  So excited!  

I have a visit from my grandson to look forward to immediately when I get back.  We'll see if I can keep up with my Dear Jane blocks.  I'm going to try.

Block B-5 without the appliqué 

Anyway, here's a quick simple four patch block with some appliqué.  Since I am taking an appliqué class at QuiltCon, I am leaving that part until later.

90% complete

The print fabric is from my stash, originally part of a pink bundle purchased for my Have a Heart quilt.  The background is Cotton+Steel.

Progress so far- 36 blocks

I am up to 36 blocks now.  Whoo hoo!  Linking up with Live a Colorful Life.

A social experiment in quilty communication.  Each week of 2015 a different quilter takes over the account.

Oh, and I almost forgot.  This week I am taking over the accounts of 52 Quilters.  You can find me over at their blog, Instagram and Twitter accounts.  Please go say hi!

Thanks for stopping by,

  

Friday Finish: Sew Together Bag

Do you ever make a gift for someone that when finished you'd rather keep for yourself?  I made this Sew Together Bag for my sister who is attending QuiltCon for the first time, and I have to say it was difficult to put this in the mail!  However, I did put it in the mail, she has received it, and so now I can share the ton of pictures I took ;-)))

Sew Together Bag gifted to my sister

Michelle is totally obsessed with loves Cotton+Steel, so I made her bag entirely with prints from their first and newly released collections and linen.  I love the fussy cut centers!  There's Georgia and Mississippi represented along with her favorite kitty cats tigers in the centers as well as the pocket linings.

Georgia close-up

Back in the day "Mississippi" was abbreviated "Miss"!

When I made mine before QuiltCon 2013, I didn't piece the outside of the bag, but with Michelle's I made wonky stars with 1" finished squares.  I had forgotten how much fun wonky stars are to make.  I also forgot how much linen frays...ugh!  I did not have any quilters linen in my stash.  That would have been much better.

love these tiny squares!!!

The outside panel of the bag measures 13.5" x 9.75".   You do the math...that's quite a few 1" squares.  After piecing all those tiny squares, I felt like I had assembled a quilt top!

love my product placement?!

I am proud that I thought about the directional prints and not having the state names or the tigers upside down.  This was a concern on the outside of the bag and the pocket linings.

zippers and pockets

Each zipper is a different color which helps in remembering what is in each pocket.  Notice my zippers are all going in the same direction;-)  I regret being lazy and not switching to a darker thread when attaching the bindings.  My not-so-straight stitching lines are too apparent.

zipper installation

The optional pincushion would have obscured the pretty viewfinder reels, so I opted not to make one. I did add the felted wool needle landing (even though it covers up a cute bee) because I know Michelle is taking an EPP class and this should come in handy.

inside of the bag

Michelle says she loves her bag, and I really loved making it for her.  Have you ever made a Sew Together Bag?  I love seeing all the creative versions.  There's a hashtag on Instagram (#sewtogetherbag) if you're interested in browsing.

you can see my bag in the background

I'm beyond excited for QuiltCon 2015, and so happy Michelle is going too!
Will you be there? If so, please stop me and say hi!

Linking up with finish it up Friday!  

Happy Friday the 13th!

Pillow Swap

It's my daughter's winter break from school, and she's been snuggling under a quilt and taking tamiflu.  We've been watching lots of TV and reading books.

pillow cover

I've also been going through and organizing my photos on the computer.  Remember this pillow I made for the Angled Class swap?   I realized I didn't show the pillow I received in the swap.

Mine traveled all the way from Canada.  I love this pillow cover and zipper pouch that Laura made me.  It now has a pillow insert and goes perfectly on our new recliner.

I don't participate in many swaps (too stressful for me!) but have been the lucky recipient of a few!

What about you?

Bee Blocks for January

Starting in February I am participating in a third bee, but for January I had sent off blocks for these two bees.

Chevron blocks

Two double chevron blocks were requested for Wish Circle of do. Good Stitches using this Jeni Baker's tutorial.

Six inch blocks for Elizabeth

Elizabeth requested blocks for her version of this quilt for Mid-Century Modern Bee.  I selected the friendship star block and the spool and bobbin block.

February block instructions have already been posted, but block making may have to wait until after QuiltCon!

Thanks for stopping by,

Choose Your Own BlockAlong 2/9/15

Another Monday means another Dear Jane block pieced!

Dear Jane Block H-1

I used more beautiful Doe fabric from my stash in this block.  I actually finished this for last week's post but forgot to publish to the blog.  Just as well as I am busy preparing for QuiltCon and may need the extra block for another Monday ;-)))

Anyone else working on a long term project?  How's that going?
Linking up with Live a Colorful Life.

Happy Monday and happy stitching!

Thanks for stopping by,