Update on Annie's Quiltmaking 101 Class

In a past post, I had mentioned that I had won an opportunity to participate in an on-line quilt class the-one-and-only Annie Smith of Simplearts.com. Here are some of the blocks that I have finished:

Lesson 2 - Rail Fence Block

Lesson 3 - Log Cabin Block

and Nine Patch Block

Lesson 4 - Madison House

and Madison Trees

Lesson 5 - Heart Block

and Postage Stamp Block

Next lesson will be Drunkard's Path, one of my favorites.

I am using fabric from Moda's Cotton Patch. I love the colors, the oranges and the turquoises, colors that I may not normally use. I am really enjoying the class, even though it may not be the typical "classroom" setting. One problem that I am having is that Annie's blocks look SO MUCH better than mine, but that just my opinion. Another is that I am having a problem envisioning the final product, the finished sampler quilt. I just don't know if I made the right choices in fabric and color selections and if they will look right once they are set side-by-side. I'm just gonna have to trust Annie.

There are 11 lessons total and I will post more block as I finish them.

Later,

Jane

Now That Halloween Has Passed

One of our favorite holidays, in our house, is Halloween. The boys get to go trick-or-treating while disguised in their costumes and receiving an abundance of candy. What more could a child ask for?! I love this time of year because it gives me a break from quilting to make my two boys their Halloween costumes. It gives me another creative outlet and it also gives my boys an opportunity to think up a costume idea that they might not find in a store.

This year, my boys wanted to be a Jedi Knight from Star Wars and a Power Ranger. My older son wanted to wear the costume that I had made for him from last year. That made it easy for me. My younger son wanted to be a Power Ranger. He had watched an older Power Ranger dvd that his brother had and wanted to be the White Ranger from those episodes. I couldn't find a Power Ranger costume pattern from that series, so I had to figure it out on my own. And I did have to practice my machine applique on his costume.

And for me, I didn't actually dress in a costume. I had made a vest the represented a movie that I really like, "Nightmare Before Christmas." It may be more of a Christmas movie than a Halloween movie, but I love the characters in it, Jack and Sally. They remind me of me and my hubby.

I used fabrics that would represent for each character: black and white pin-stripe for Jack and crazy patchwork for Sally. It's quilt making yet not a quilt. I know, kinda geeky, huh?!

I'm planning a another vest that is Autumn themed. I'm hoping to get it finished by the end of the week so that I can work on some of my other projects.

I'll be quilting until the next time,

Jane