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Compulsive, Oh Yeah!

Before I even start about how compulsive I can be about my quilting, I thought I'd share something I read this morning from Liann Moriaty's new book, Apples Never Fall. There's a paragraph where one of the main characters is thinking about the possibility that she might have dementia:  "Her friend Linda, who worked at a nursing home, said a wave of restlessness swept through the place at school pickup time each day as the elderly ladies became agitated, convinced they should be rushing to collect long-since-grown children."   Wow!  that made me think about how I get agitated when I haven't quilted on my longarm, sewn blocks on my regular machine, cut out a block or two, petted my fabric or done something that connects me to quilting at some point in the day.  It's weird!  I guess it does have something to do with compulsive nature, but it was an eye-opener to me.  Am I really that connected to quilting that I feel that "wave of restlessness" when...
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Borders, Backings, and Bindings

 Usually we think about the quilt blocks when we are picking out a quilt pattern.  And, of course, that's the great thing about quilting - those wonderful blocks that help develop our basic skills or those that push our creativity!  But quilts are more than just blocks - you've got choices in adding borders to enhance your block arrangements.  You've got backings that can also add to the quilt and those bindings that frame your quilts. Just finished my first "Borders, Backings, and Bindings" class at The Montgomery Quilt Company last night.  We just went over the basics of these three pieces of the total quilt, and it was a lot of fun!  I think I'll have to have a second version so that we can really look at how to use these three to jazz up the quilt tops that we finish.  My students wanted more! I'd like to recommend that if you are looking for a basic measurement app for these you should download Robert Kaufman's "QuiltingCalc" from your p...
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Creative Juices Flowing

A disclaimer first!  Not sure how this happens but it seems that I am always placed in the best place at just the right time in my life.  It's happened so many times and at this point in my life, I can actually trace the events that lead up to these amazing opportunities.  I am blessed.  And so, here I am --- in Montgomery, Texas at a great little quilt show called the Montgomery Quilt Company. Met with my Beginner Piecing class last night for the second time and we had a great time.  We started the evening laughing and sharing stories about our lives at Ransom's in Montgomery.  I remember commenting that this is why I love quilting because it brings together all of these creative people.  We checked out new patterns for a next class.  That promise of new learning is always so much fun!  It will be hard to decide and we keep finding ones that we want to do.  Decisions.  Decisions. We worked on Half-Square Triangles tonight, yep, the...
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A New Beginning

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I have to say that I love Beginner Piecing classes.  Everyone, including me, is excited about the pattern, the choosing of the fabrics, and the meeting of new people.  This evening was no exception - full of laughter, stories and sharing of ideas.  Miss Sock Monkey, the store's kitten, entertained us and everyone accomplished so much.  It was a night of cutting as everyone worked to at least finish cutting the body of their blocks.  Our pattern is "Figgy Pudding," a quilt by Lella Boutique.  Big blocks, basic skills, and good practice in cutting and organizing prior to actually quilting.  Homework was to finish cutting the background pieces and to organize everything into plastic bags.  Then, next Monday it's time to start piecing those big blocks!             Last night was my first Beginner Piecing class at The Montgomery Quilt Company, and it felt good!  Really excited to be back with a group of new quilters ...
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