March String Madness!

The Richmond Express is chugging along!

We started our Emerald City workshop from my book String Frenzy yesterday - and as string quilts are my favorite thing on this planet - it was so much fun to see folks digging in and learning how fun simple string units could be - 

And there are so many things you can do with them.

Strings are so versatile.  You can cover any shape, trim them to any size, combine them with traditional units, use them as block corners, centers, setting blocks, and borders.

This is not your grandmother's string quilt!

It all starts with scraps, old and new!

And don't plan on keeping things neat and tidy - because we've got to shuffle and dig!

Finger pressing, roller pressing or iron pressing works - don't worry about bubbles or shifting.  

With paper as our foundation, it is easy to release the paper before pressing completely flat with the iron before trimming, and then the paper comes off anyway - it's just there to add stability and give you a size to shoot for so there is as little fabric waste as possible.

We moved the round table out o the foyer and set up a cutting station here too!

It's much like conversation at the water cooler....what is said at quilt retreat stays at quilt retreat! LOL!

It may look like they are seriously sewing - but if you could hear the laughter and chatter - it was infectious!

And no, it's not just green being sewn.

How about Amethyst Castle?

Pretty neutrals!

This is going to be so lovely in blues!

Keep those blocks going in chains of TWO!

Long chains of units get too unwieldy and hard to manage and it starts feeling like you aren't making any progress.

Try working on two blocks in your chain ONLY.  One is the leader, the other is the ender.  One is the engine, one is the caboose.  They go round and round until one is completely covered, and then another foundation is pulled in to take its place.  Stacks of blocks grow rapidly this way without twisted long chains.

Keep your train short!

First alfresco lunch on the back porch!

It was a bit March-breezy.  But it was too lovely of a day not to enjoy ONE meal out there - as rain is expected to begin today.

Things are turning so green, and I love it!

Today we'll jump back in - it's half-square triangle day.  And we need a mess of them with loads of variety so I'll have them working with short strip sets and maybe even swapping half-strips to keep that variety at the max.

Workshop instruction goes from 10am to noon and then we enjoy lunch together as a break, and then they are back at it for however they want to continue through the day - to pull out a different project - to run to the grocery or the quilt store, or to take a nap.

As for me - I was at my desk all afternoon working on Monday's Big String Quartet PDF pattern release - I'm almost ready!

I want this done so that I can spend more weekend time with my son while he is here.  The plan tonight is for movie night at the Blue Ridge Movie lounge - Jason has heard is talk about it so much he wants to experience it for himself.  I'm game!

What's up for your Friday?

Quiltville Quote of the Day -

It doesn't matter what they are doing. It only matters what you are doing!

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Follow your own heart.

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Have a wonderful Friday, everyone!