I was invited by Country Living Quilts to come teach a workshop for them. We decided to also have a trunk show the evening before the workshop. I drove over to Flynn, TX on a rainy Friday and drove 8/10 mile down a dirt road to the quilt shop! I was greeted by Dixie! There were numerous cars in the parking lot as it was day 2 of the 3 day “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” Shop Hop! While Country Living Quilts may be a small shop, they pack a lot of fun into their environment! I loved the selection of notions, many I had not seen before and I even had to pick up a couple. The shop is neat and orderly and the staff very knowledgeable and friendly!
This shop also has a FABULOUS class room. Where many shops are removing or shrinking their class space, Country Living Quilts just added a whole new wing for their classroom!
For our class they had chosen Seasonal Table Runner! They have also asked me to come back in March for a “Quilt til You Wilt” We will sew Friday, Saturday and Sunday with extended hours. The class fee includes lunch and dinner on Friday and Saturday! The pattern is Summer Solstice and with some cutting prep work prior to class you might even go home with a completed quilt top! PS – Teri is ordering the Reclaimed West Fabrics so you can make a Summer Solstice just like the one I made for Quiltworx – see photo at the end!
Here are a few photos from the Seasonal Table Runner workshop! We did get to do some curved piecing in class – but I forgot to take some photos!
These fabrics were from her stash!This blue and white quilt is going to be stunning!Lots of blue bonnets – we are all wishing for spring!More blue bonnetsOur class, minus Teri who was taking photos! (I am holding her grey with pink pieces!Summer Solstice with Reclaimed West Fabrics!
The drive home after teaching was fabulous – no interstates for 2 1/2 hours. And the sunset was breathtaking – I really should’ve stopped to take a photo to share it with you!
One of my favorite patterns to teach is “Summer Solstice” by Judy Niemeyer. Several techniques are used to make this fabulous quilt and I call it a weekend quilt – once you know the techniques – you can make it in a weekend. I have made 4 of these quilts myself.
A couple of weeks ago I was the guest speaker for the Baytown Area Quilt Guild.
I always enjoy when guild members bring their “Judy” quilts for show and tell on the night I am there. We had 3 Judy quilts, 2 of them were Summer Solstice. A fellow Certified Instructor had taught this class at Painted Pony in 2013 and these were 2 of the quilts finished in that class. (Please forgive the photography on these, during show and share the quilts are moving targets!)
Kathy’s Gail’s Summer Solstice – quilted by Cindy Gravely.Kathy’s Gail’s Summer Solstice – quilting by Cindy GravelyJanie’s Summer Solstice – quilting by ME aka HollyDee QuiltsThe 2 quilts side by side!
I also recently volunteered to make a sample for Quiltworx aka Judy Niemeyer Quilting for fall market here in Houston starting next week. The pattern – Summer Solstice – the fabrics the new “Reclaimed West” line designed by Judy and Judel Niemeyer and distributed by Timeless Treasures. If you will be at Market stop by the Checkers booth to see it in person! Many more samples for this fabric line will be in the Timeless Treasures booth!
My Summer Solstice made with fabrics designed by Judy and Judel Niemeyer “Reclaimed West” distributed by Timeless Treasures
Here also are a few other quilts from the guilds “Show and Share”
I love the quilting on this simple quiltClose up of the quiltingWhat a fun quilting – I LOVE the colors! Fabulous motion happening here too!One of my favorite Judy Niemeyer patterns – “Raindrops”Aren’t these sailboats great! This quilt was made by Liz and quilted by Kim Norton
This was my last stop for the year – I will hit 2015 running starting with The Kingwood Quilt Guild, Kingwood, TX. January 8 evening lecture. Workshop January 9 & 10.
I know I already posted about my visit with the Golden Needles Quilt Guild in Conroe, TX, but there are a few quilt photos that I did not share that I really should. I tried to capture the quilting designs they used, I hope you can see it.
Lou Ann’s Summer Solstice – it won a ribbon at their show last year!Desert Sky by Valerie.Close-up of Valerie’s Desert Sky – I hope you can see the quilting.Valerie’s Bali Wedding Star – it was GORGEOUS!A close-up of some of Valerie’s Quilting
I also wanted to wish their Guild a Happy Birthday! They get to celebrate it twice because their efficient hospitality hostess panicked in August because she thought she forgot the cake and ordered it at the last minute, then after getting to guild meeting realized their Birthday month is September – so if you are looking for something sweet in September stop by they Golden Needles Quilt Guild for Birthday Cake! 27 years and going strong!
Happy Pre-Birthday Golden Needles!
Another idea from their guild I want to share is how they promote their upcoming workshops. Lou Ann you did a great job!
Hey – that’s me!
Prior to going to Conroe I hosted Niemeyer Wednesday at Pinwheels and Posies. (Due to my upcoming move we will not have one in September, October or November) Stay tuned for word on an event for December! So keep working on your projects we will be having a giant show and share!
Ann started this Celebration Tree Skirt in a class with me 2 years ago – and then put it away. She finished this wedge in bee and I have since seen a photo of the finished top! Congratulations Anne!Sharon’s Captain’s Wheel from the Retreat, she joined us at Bee to keep on sewing. And Sara’s done in all neutrals from her stash! Just read a report on the Quiltworx Support board that Sara is loving her quilt!Carolyn attended my workshop with the Bay Area Quilters Guild in June. She brought her finished top in to share. (She also worked on her Captains Wheel from class!)
I hope you are inspired! I am on my way to teach the Judy Niemeyer Wedding Ring Quilts – make it a great weekend and be inspiring to those around you!
As a workshop leader for quilting classes I so enjoy watching students learn new techniques and take on projects that they never thought possible. This last set of Oh My Judy Stars students were just amazing. They did their pre-class homework, then did their in between homework and they just really had a good time.
Here are a few photos from the group, not all the students were able to attend the final class, if they send me photos of their quilts I will share in the future.
Agnes chose Amazon Star for her pattern, this quilt is 104×104 and she added an additional border to make it approx 114×114 prior to quilting.
Agnes and her husband chose the fabrics together for this quilt, I think they make a GREAT team!
Because of the size of this quilt I had to take the photos in stages. This quilt has such fabulous visual impact!The paper-pieced borders, prior to Agnes adding an additional 5″ all the way around.
The quilt below is Mariner’s Compass. Pat will be making this quilt queen size, she will be adding 4 corners to this octagon to square it up to 60×60, then she adds 4 more corners to put it on point along with a fabulous paper-pieced border that will have a white background with chocolate accents. Pat’s center wasn’t laying quite as flat as I thought it should, I was able to show her how to “spin” her seams and now it is flat flat flat. She was over the moon thrilled with learning that new tip! Pat has already made Glacier Star and it is in my studio awaiting it’s turn for quilting – will you want to see photos of that one?
Pat’s Mariner’s Compass – white background with blacks, grey’s and browns. This quilt is so elegant and rich! Can’t wait to see it done!
Sara had purchased this kit from Pinwheels and Posies, she changed up the color placement in the Lone Star center and I just love how it turned out. After a few tense moments while working through her Y seams Sara is now very pleased with her quilt – AS SHE SHOULD BE!
Sara made Summer Solstice, we all LOVE how it turned out. Her fabric placement for that outer border is FABULOUS!Here is the original from the kit – Sara’s subtle changes, the inner border in the kit is orange, Sara’s is the dark blue – and see how her fabric placement in the border changes that entire outer border?
And here is Sandy’s Summer Solstice – don’t you love the tropical feel of her colors!
Thanks Sandy! She sent me this quick photo to add to the blog – Sandy was unable to make the last class. She had actually finished her quilt top prior to the 3rd class! And we had 4 classes!
My students were doing so well in our final class that they encouraged me to pull out my project and sew – here is my Fire Island Hosta. This quilt is going to be a lot of fun to teach, new techniques that will be used in several of the upcoming patterns from Judy Niemeyer Quilting. While it may look difficult at first glance – if you read the pattern and use all of the helpful registration points this quilt will go together quite easily.
Fire Island Hosta – watch my schedule (left side of the screen) for when I will be teaching this!
And below is a teaser – I am teaching at a retreat in August in Wimberley, TX. I will be teaching the Captain’s Wheel pattern. One of our retreat attendees as been busy with her pre-class homework, here is one of Sharon D’s “Compass Rose” blocks for her quilt. Linda L and Sharon J have also been busy, they have all their fabrics cut and they have each made at least 1 Compass Rose Unit. Do you want to make this quilt? I am teaching this class at Pinwheels and Posies in Dickinson, TX – class #1 is July 30 and the 2nd class is August 13.
Sharon D’s Captain’s Wheel – she is attending the retreat in August where I am teaching this quilt! She is on the ball for pre-class homework!
Which Judy Niemeyer Quilt do you want to make? What is stopping you?
