What a super day!
We drove up to New Braunfels from San Antonio, the car loaded not just fabric and machine, thread, notions and mats and cutters ---but with excitement for the day ahead!
I’d never been to New Braunfels before, even though I spent 3 1/2 years as a Texas Resident from late 1999 to 2003.
I never witnessed the glory of the bluebonnets in bloom in the hill country ---and still missed it this time. Gotta be here in APRIL for that to happen, but there were signs of spring just about to pop everywhere.
Those who live in the frozen northern areas might find some hope around the bend in these photos:
Bushes awash in yellow!
This is blurry, I know..but these are baby leaves about to burst forth on this tree!
SPRING GREEN!
Our moods were springy too! 29 ladies came and set up their machines for a day of sewing Star Struck units.
Star Struck is one of the free patterns found under the Free Patterns Tab and is a great one for just separating fabrics into two groups: Background and Color.
We had a good discussion using stacks of people’s strips and sorting as a group and discussing as we went….is this too dark? Is this too light? What gives the best result if you want the dark stars to really come forth, and the background to be just BACKGROUND.
I think all agreed with me that if the light fabrics hit medium in value, they have "Crossed Over" need to be kicked “to the dark side” so the stars don’t disappear. You can put “baby pastels” in with your neutrals as background, but if they cross that medium line, they do better as foreground, not background. It was a good lesson to play with!
Irene’s Tan Featherweight Baby!
Irene brought her new tan 1950s featherweight for it’s first workshop run. You know how sometimes there are those folks who are just unbelievably lucky? On a trip from Texas to Washington state, Irene found herself on Craigslist – saw the ad for the machine and called the lady right away. $100.00!! Irene was traveling by train, so the lady brought it to the train station for her ---and Irene sat on the train for 4-1/2 hours and SEWED her way to her destination – there was electricity and a table for her to do so on the train!
Okay, I think a train trip like this has to be on my bucket list. Can you imagine a quilt retreat on a train? Or just maybe a couple friends featherweighting together on a trip on a train? It’s sure a sweet machine, is in nearly mint condition and purrs like a kitten.
We had several featherweights in class – and a whole lot of fun scrap sewing.
Click the image below if you can’t view the slide show on your mobile device. You’ll be taken to the photo album for viewing.
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| Star Struck, New Braunfels TX 2014 |
Easy Street made an appearance!
Thank you, Machine Quilting Unlimited!
Thanks for the spring photos. I don't expect leaves and flowers appearing near me for another 2 months here in Michigan.
ReplyDeleteI am not to your calilber and my designs are not in any magazine but when I see someone finish one of my own designs, it is exciting! I have created and designed two mystery quilts for my guilds.
ReplyDeleteLove new Braunfelds... Lived in SA for a while... and yes, a train quilt in sounds great! I will buy that machine quilting magazine as I am taking a lesson in machine quilting today! Oh the wish for amore room in my house and more money... to purchase a long arm!
ReplyDeleterscottsdale1@yahoo.com
Bonnie
ReplyDeleteLooks like everyone is having a wonderful time in the class and what a variety of fabric colors. I enjoyed the slideshow and was instantly drawn to the black Featherweight that looks like mine... bought in Canada in 1955, well used, well travelled and still clicking! It bounced around the country with me from Canada to California, Washington, Florida, Oregon, Hawaii and back home.
Really, really liked the ones with the black-talk about making the scraps sparkle! But, my favorite one was the brights-made my eyes pop and a "whoa" explode from my mouth! Going to be some very special quilts from this workshop!
ReplyDeleteBonnie, are sure Spring is coming ... soon? Yellow flowers are gorgeous! After these months of dead looking foliage everywhere, that photo gives me hope.
ReplyDeleteEast Tennessee gets bouts of snow and all, but nothing like the plains and northeast USA has had.
You know the more I look at that stars patterns, the more I want to up that one the top of my make-this-year list.
So many quilts to make ....
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWow! What a creative group of quilters you had there. I enjoyed looking at each one's fabric choices and the differences they made in the block, especially the one with the 30s prints and black (just a little bit difference in the piecing) and the one with the Christmas fabrics. Of course, any one of the others could find a place at my house. Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI am interested in finding out what the cutting and ironing tables were standing on - looks like terracotta flower pots - to raise standard dining tables to the correct height. Do you know, Bonnie? Looks like another creative, portable idea to help transform dining hall furniture to sewing friendly furniture.
ReplyDeleteThe blocks look great, too.
I always love the photos of your classes, Bonnie. There are some gorgeous blocks in this class. They are going to make up into beautiful quilts. Well done to all of the ladies in the group.
ReplyDeleteBonnie, I love the "Star Struck quilt" and as usual there are smiles all over.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait until I can attend another of your workshops. I'm a little bummed out after noticing some of the ladies had you sign their blocks. Why didn't I think of that with "Winston Ways"? I'm almost finished but if you will sign a block I will gladly use the seam "picker".
Thanks again for sharing your passion!
Myra
Myrasal@aol.com