Make your own kind of music! Make your own kind of quilt!
Your neighbor may have a completely different vision for her project than you have for yours, and that is the BEAUTY of coming together and taking a workshop where kits are not provided.
We learn so much more when we see what the other 38 students in class have chosen to work with. We are inspired with what we might want to try next, combos of colors we never ever considered coming together right in front of us as our neighbors work their magic.
Classes from kits may be fast and prep-free – but learning to work with your own fabrics is invaluable.
38 students making the same exact identical project with fabrics chosen by someone else? Or working with your own scraps and pieces to create your own design as the others in the room go their own directions as well? I’ll choose the no kit, no identical quilt option every single time.
And these quilters had it going down!
Some working in 1930s repros, some working in batiks. Others working with recycled shirt fabrics, or Christmas, Some with graph paper diagrams of how they want their rainbow variations to come together. This is where the individuality of everyone’s own artistry shines through!
Ella is working hers in Civil War browns and pinks – delicious!
Claire & Larry sharing their own visions!
A Rainbow of Possibilities!
A roomful of individual wonderfulness!
Way to go, everyone!
I am having a Blast in ‘Bama!
A shout out to Lalani – we missed you!
I love posing for photos being sent to friends of workshop attendees who were not able to join us for whatever reason. Lalani – I hope to catch you the next time I am back in this area!
You’ll find the rest of our workshop fun in the slide show below.
Smith Mountain Morning is from my book Scraps & Shirttails II, and signed copies of this book along with Scraps & Shirtails I are found at deep discounts in the SALE section of the Quiltville Store! Have you picked up your copy?
It was another beautiful evening. I couldn’t let it go to waste by staying inside as I'd been inside ALL DAY so I headed back out, down the steep hill behind the hotel and down into the little village area of Mountain Brook below. Off to the right I went this time, and found myself along a beautiful greenbelt area!
I didn’t get to explore as far as I wanted to. Sunset was creeping up on me and I didn’t want to get caught out in the dark where there are no street lights along the creek, so I have more plans to go back As I am here through the 12th before moving on to Cullman.
This was my evening!
I just didn’t feel like settling in at the sewing machine. I needed to do some more kit-making as I had already sewn up all of the block sets I had brought with me. I cut and cut and cut! And I’ll be ready to sew tonight.
Today’s Carolina Chain workshop from the Addicted to Scraps book begins at 1:30 which means the morning is mine, and it is absolutely beautiful out. The botanical gardens are no more than a mile away from where I am staying so as soon as this posts, I am headed out to go wander the gardens, come back for a quick shower, and head over to the workshop when it is time.
Quiltville Quote of the Day!
Vintage spider web quilt found in North Carolina.
You are a work in progress! Never stop learning, never stop exploring the possibilities, never stop growing!
Have a lovely Sunday, everyone!
You are so right about the kits. Every single time I buy a kit or sign up for a BOM, I regret it! It's not that I don't love the quilt, it's that I don't want the exact same quilt as a bazillion other people! Looks like beautiful scenery and a fun group - hope you have a great day!
ReplyDeleteMarvelous post! You've taught me to love, embrace, and make quilts with the scraps I've collected over 20+ years. You breathed new life into my quilt making and I'm forever grateful. Enjoy wandering the greenbelt and gardens. You'll be all refreshed for your students this afternoon. I'm always so inspired to start my day with your blog. Hugs, Allison in Plano, Texas USA
ReplyDeleteBonnie, sounds like everyone is having a great time. It is special they way one pattern has so many possibilities determined by the fabric choices. I hope to learn more about how to choose fabrics and laying them out in to blocks, so it doesn't look like a hot mess.
ReplyDeleteSmith Mountain Morning is another of my favourites, and Ella's pink and brown one is particularly appealing! Thanks for all the ideas (I think!).
ReplyDeleteI don't have that book, & I love that quilt! How you kit your blocks is interesting to me! I'm coming to Texas in a couple of weeks to take 2 classes. Since Idaho is so far from Texas, I want to make sure I'm as organized as possible & have what I need. If you do another quiltcam before then, can you talk about how you travel sew?! Looks like you're having fun! Have a great Sunday!
ReplyDeleteBonnie Now that I am home and have looked again at all the photos of such a great two days spent with you, I feel so blessed to have been a part of these workshops. I am so grateful how you personally took the time to encourage my daughter after she showed her En Provence. Your attention and affirmation of each quilter no matter what level of skill they had, was just so great. I feel pretty certain you will see us again at other workshops. I pray you will have wonderful workshops the remaining days in Birmingham and safe travels on to Cullman and eventually home.
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