WINNERS! (Announced from my soapbox)

"get on your soapbox"

to start expressing strong opinions

(a soapbox is a wooden box people used to stand on 

when they were making a speech in public.)

(Imagine me stepping up on my soapbox!)

My gosh!
You ladies need to get out there
and take some classes!
I am shocked how many of you have never taken a class
and even fewer ladies have taken a class
from a "famous" quilter!
There is so much to learn!
And at the very least -
the ENERGY in a class
can be electrifyingly 
amazing!

(Imagine me stepping down from my soapbox)

LOVE 

those winners!

Jan Mullen fat quarters - Bella Quilts
http://blueribbondesigns.blogspot.com/


Aneela Hooey's squares - Barbra O.
http://naehtante.blogspot.com/

Black and white scraps - Michele T.

4" strips I used in Kathy Doughty pattern - Wendy 
http://wendysquiltsandmore.blogspot.com/

Enjoy!

HIP HIP HOORAY GIVEAWAY DAY!

YIPEE YAHOO!

I just love love love giveaway day!

I am hooking up with

http://www.sewmamasew.com/

Check out all the wonderfulness in giveaways!

This time, I have gathered 4 prizes

from 4 great quilting women I admire!

#1 - 11 Fat Quarters of Jan Mullen Fabric!

http://www.stargazey.com/

#2 - 35 Ten Inch Squares of Annela Hooey Fabric!

http://comfortstitching.typepad.co.uk/

#3 Quart Size Baggie of Black and White Scraps

In honor of Victoria Findlay Wolfe

http://bumblebeansinc.blogspot.com/

#4 - 9 Four inch strips of fabrics I used in a

Kathy Doughty pattern.

http://www.materialobsession.typepad.com/

I have taken many quilting classes

and am having lots of fun 

planning quilting classes with "famous" quilters.

With each experience,

I try to take away at least one idea.

A friend of mine calls it "adding to her tool box of tricks."

SO -

chance 1 -

to win some fabric...

please leave a comment telling me 

who you took a class from

and what you were able to add to your tool box.

(also tell me which prize you would like)

chance 2 -

become a follower and let me know

chance 3 -

tell a friend about my giveaway

Everyone is welcome!

Winners will be chosen randomly by youngest son

Friday at 7:00 pm PST

Good Luck!

A BIT OF VICTORIA LEFTOVER!

I know you know this quilt...

Vintage Spin by Kathy Doughty.

Love it!

It's more than love really...

it's a slight  consuming addiction!

You start with making these bladed circles.

While teaching Vintage Spin as a class,

Deb said, "Hey, I have a template for a twenty inch blade."

Hmmm...

they say the first hit is always free.

One became four and

four became six

and then I had nine!

So...

now what?

Fold them up and move on...

until the workshop with Victoria Findlay Wolfe.

She moved so fast and packed our day with so many ideas

it's taken a while to process all the information.

One message she kept repeating was the fact 

that she tries to do something different 

with every quilt she makes.

(Were my circles folded up because I didn't want to do another

Vintage Spin the same way?!)

Here's some of what I think I heard Victoria say..

"It's play, right?!"

"What can you do to change one thing in a quilt to show your personality?"

"I keep playing until the hair on my arm stands up -

that means a connection was made."

"Move quickly and let something grow."

"I work very quickly and think that it's not possible to make a mistake - I can always make another quilt."

"Get going and wait for surprises to happen."

So....

last Friday 

while sewing with Judy, Dorothy, and Opal...

I pulled out my 45 inch circle

and we reflected on the workshop

and the ideas Victoria shared...

and...

we knew what to do

(Well, Judy did!)

the circle was sliced!

In the picture below,

we are auditioning back ground fabrics.

While I wait for the background fabrics to arrive...

I have played

until my hairs stood on end and

a joyful giggle escaped...

I have released the worries...

I can (and will) most definitely make another quilt...

until then...

let the surprises begin!

Stay tuned for giveaway day

with 

http://www.sewmamasew.com/

on Monday!

CLASS AND LECTURE WITH VICTORIA FINDLAY WOLFE!

 I arranged a one day workshop and lecture 

with Victoria Findlay Wolfe!

She was here yesterday...

I am still smiling

and will be smiling for a very long time!

She was a fabulous teacher

in that we started out 

a bit hesitant 

to sew scraps together...

and by the end of the day had 

enough confidence 

and enthusiasm

to start a double wedding ring!

In the evening

Victoria gave a peek into her amazing quilting journey...

from grandma's quilts 

keeping her warm on below freezing Minnesota farm nights...

to being able to carve out only "15 Minutes of Play"

as she raised her daughter...

to making thirty double wedding ring quilts...

soon to be published in her new book.

Check out her site

where you can preorder her new book - signed!

and buy some of her amazing templates!

http://bumblebeansinc.com/

This was the last slide she showed...

ahhhhh...

I am sew inspired!

THIS AND THAT...

 Fall...

Trying to get to the beach as much as possible...

Spending time with my youngest 

(before he grows up way to fast like his older brothers)

riding my cute pink bike 

listening to the delightful crunch of the leaves

and walking Walter...

Getting in touch with the natural rhythm of the days...

Taking in some quilt shows...

Here's a few pictures from the Japanese quilts at the LaConnor Quilt Museum.

Here's a quilt by Janet Fogg,

the featured artist at 

Block Party Quilters' recent show.

Enjoying my favorite quilt...

(Turns out it was made by Mary Washer!)

Laughing at their challenge...

Noticing that the show was in a great venue,

the Issaquah community center.

Looking at this old picture on the wall.

(It was the great hair doos/don'ts that caught my eye.)

Marveling at the coincidence of the pattern on their floor!

Sewing...

(of course!)

Contemplating the next step of my 20 inch blades...

(YES! Over 40 inch blocks!)

Considering tiny 4 inch blades in Dresden plates!

And anticipating...

(I am enjoying arranging quilting workshops and lectures!)

Look who is next!!!

Join us the Tuesday before Thanksgiving

for a delightful lecture by Victoria Findlay Wolfe - 

woman extraordinaire, author, teacher, blue ribbon winner,

a leader of the modern quilt movement!

http://bumblebeansinc.blogspot.com/2014/11/seattle-nov-25th.html#comment-form

email me at kwiltzbystephanie@gmail.com for more info