Quilt in a Day ~ Pumpkin Grins Class

This past Saturday, I had an all day class with Doreen and her daughter, Amanda.  We made the Quilt in a Day ~ Pumpkin Grins pattern.  We actually finished both of their wallhangings.  It was a long day... but so glad we got it ALL done.  The only homework they had was to finish hand sewing the binding.  Both came out really cute.  During the day, we talked about doing another class with a couple more of Doreen's daughters..... (she has 5!!).  Hopefully, they will be interested in coming back.

Amanda

Doreen working on appliquing the pumpkin face

Amanda's before the border was added

This was my Wallhanging we used as a sample

A very busy day................

I was looking around at some clip art and found a rainbow with butterflies that inspired to make a quilt in honor of my daughter Michelle.  Lucky me... I got 25% off these batiks beauties this morning at Ginger's Quilt Shop in Upland.  Now I have to get to the drawing board and design something special.  "After the storm, there will be a rainbow".  

Went to the post office and picked up my black 1952 featherweight I won on ebay for $280.  It came with the case (in very good condition) and a few accessories.  Very exciting....but it seems to need a LOT of work in cleaning her up... the finish needs a desperate cleaning and polishing.  From what I understand, rubbing compound and wax that is used to clean up a car is also good for restore the beauty to a featherweight.  I hope so.  Hubby is going to get me some tomorrow.  :-)

I stopped by Upland Vac and Sew and brought in the finished Christmas Jelly Roll Race quilt.  They will be displaying soon and hopefully I get a few that are interested in signing up for the class on Oct. 15th.  Lou and Rosalie loved the quilt...so hopefully, they will promote the class; especially for those just wanting to learn how to quilt.  Keeping my fingers crossed.

Finished off the day celebrating Taylor's birthday! 

WOW.... when it rains, it pours

Got a call yesterday from a mom and her daughter who want to learn how to quilt.  We set up an all day class for Saturday, Sept. 24th.  We'll be making the Quilt in a Day's Pumpkin Grins wall hanging.  They are hoping to get a couple more of there friends to join in as well.  This will be GREAT!! :-)

Then.... I got a call from a local woman who wants to learn how to sew...  wow...  When it rains, it pours!!  So glad I'm finally getting some calls!!  We haven't set up a schedule yet.... we'll see how this one develops.

Now off to sit at my sewing machine to finish the applique and start quilting the Jelly Roll Christmas Quilt.
I'll post some pics later today to catch you up on the process.

Working on the Jelly Roll Race Xmas Quilt

On Tuesday, I picked up the Xmas jelly roll from Upland Vac & Sew for the race that is scheduled to be on October 15th.  I'm now working on geting the sample up and ready to show.  I already have it all pieced together and I'm very please with the results!!  :-)  Now I'm working on what to applique?  Hmmmm   ~   I found a free clipart of Santa in his sleigh with a reindear.  I enlarged it and I think this will work well with a 10" full moon behind it.  For the appliqued wording... I think I will use the last line from the story "T'was the Night Before Christmas"  ..... Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!  I'm going to use a bright gold thread with a fancy decorative stitch to quilt it.  Hopefully, it will be completed by the weekend so I can bring it into the store to show off and get some interested students.  I'll be posting some pics.

Got it!!!

Just got home from meeting with Lou at Upland Vac and Sew.  She loved my work and we scheduled my first class for October 15th.  I'll be teaching a Jelly Roll Race with wording applique.  She will have the fabric for the sample for me on Tuesday.  This is soooooooooooo exciting!!!  We 'll be doing it in Xmas fabric.... now I have to think of a very clever applique.  I'm sure I'll come up something.... my brain is already on over load thinking of all the possibilities!! I have some homework.... have to write the class description, supply list, put together and quilt the sample and get some pictures.  


Then.............. even MORE exciting.. she wants me to do a TRUNK SHOW on Dec. 22nd.  WOW... This is soooooooooo awesome!!  I have an hour and a half to show off my stuff and encourage people to take my classes that will be scheduled in January. 


HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY DANCE!!!   

my new fetherweight!

Here's a pic of my new featherweight and all those attachments that I won on ebay last night.  I hope she's in as good condition as was noted in the listed!!

A new opportunity... I hope!!! Fingers crossed.

I got a call from Lou who owns Upland Vac and Sew on Tuesday. She asked me to come in to see her this Saturday to figure out a schedule of when I can teach!!!  Yahooooooo!!!  This will be so great!!  I also have to bring in a Bio for her to post on their new website...due to be out on the web soon.  I'll be listed as one of their teachers.  This is soooooooooo exciting. Fingers are crossed that this is going to all work out...between work, harping, quilting and teaching!! 


I also won another featherweight on ebay today.  This one was born on December 12, 1952.  From the pics and description, it appears to be in great shape.. keeping my fingers crossed on this too.  Oh no.... did I find something else to collect??  I also now need to start making plans on how to better organize my sewing room.  I'm sorta outgrowing it....and I don't have any more space to bleed into.. so time to get organized!!  There's a long weekend ahead... so I'm hoping to find some time!

In 1966, I took sewing lessons at a sewing store in Midland Park, NJ. I was nine years old. My first project was a very 60's, hot pink dress with neon green rick-rack trim. My teacher hung my dress in the store window for all to see. I was very proud!! (I still have that dress) My teacher was Virginia Fawcett. During my visit to NJ on August 22nd, I stopped by the store to see her and to thank ...her.....but she wasn't there. Such a bummer. I really wanted to let her know that my love affair with sewing has been such a fulfilling and wonderful experience!!! I will have to try again to meet up with her on my next trip. Anyone in the area who is looking for sewing lessons.. you have to check it out http://www.needlecraftschool.org/.

ETSY sale!!

Yeah... I just sold a set of valances on Etsy. 

I have to get some more items listed so I can start getting more activity.
So glad I sold these valances.. they are really cute with the apple fabric trim. 

found this on Facebook.... really GREAT and had to post!!

The Story of Life…

Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they were meant to be there, to serve some sort of purpose, to teach you a lesson or to help you figure out who you are, or who you want to become.

You never know who these people may be, possibly your roommate, neighbor, coworker, long-lost friend, lover, or even a complete stranger, but when you lock eyes with them, you know at that very moment they will affect your life in some profound way.

Sometimes in life, things may happen to you that seem horrible, painful, and unfair, but in reflection, you find that without overcoming those obstacles, you would have never realized your potential, strength, willpower, or heart. "If you want a rainbow, you have to put up with the rain."

Everything happens for a reason, nothing by chance or by means of luck, it happens because it is meant to be. Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness, and sheer stupidity, all occur to test the limits of your soul. Without these small tests, whatever they may be, life would be like a smoothly paved straight flat road leading to nowhere. It would be safe and comfortable, yet dull and utterly pointless.

The people you meet that will affect your life, will be the success and downfalls you experience though out life, they are who will help you create the person you will grow to become, even the bad experiences can be learned from. In fact, they are the most important experiences because, "Failure teaches success."

If someone hurts you, betrays you, or breaks your heart, forgive them for they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious when you open you heart, how you must only give to the ones who are worthy of being loyal.

If someone loves you, love them back unconditionally, not only because they love you, but also because in a way they are teaching you about how to love, have trust and about loyalty. Give them that chance to give and receive what they deserve for and from you. "Everything in life is temporary because everything changes, that's why it takes great courage to love, knowing it might end anytime, but having the faith that it will last forever."

Make everyday count. Appreciate every moment and take from those moments everything you possibly can because that may be the only time in your life you will ever have that experience.

Meet new people you have never met before, talk to people you have never talked to before, and actually listen to what they have to say, it might teach you something valuable, but always remember who your true friends are, "A true friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words".

Let yourself live, love, and break free, make no boundaries, for you can accomplish anything as long as your heart is into it. This is your life, you run the show! Hold your head up because you have every right to. Tell yourself you are a special individual and there is no other out there the same as you. Believe in yourself, for it will be hard for others to believe in you. "If you don't stand up for something, you will fall for anything". You are in control and you can create your own life, so take chances, and go out and live it with absolutely no regret. "The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be".

Most importantly, if you love someone tell him or her, for you never know what tomorrow will bring. Don't let one moment pass because it could change you forever. Don't ever fear life, because "What doesn't kill you will only make you stronger". Learn a valuable lesson in each day that you live. "The rich person is not who has the most but who needs the least".

Life is too short to take seriously, so remember to begin each day with a smile…"Never frown, you never know who might be falling in love with your smile." Everyone who walks through your door will make you happy, some on the way in and some on the way out…but always remember to leave the door to your heart open because you never know what may come your way. Believe in Karma, because what comes around really does go around.

My try at marketing myself

This morning I went to Upland Vac and Sew and brought with me some of my quilts and wall hangings. The reason why I met with them was to see if they would be interested in hiring me as a quilting teacher. I think I made a very good impression. Since the one of the owners had an unexpected family thing going on, I'll have to go back on Tuesday night to show her my stuff. However, I was able to meet with the other owner and the manager. My task was to show them something new and different.... I showed them my jelly roll race quilt with the appliqued saying, "Blankets wrap you in warmth, quilts wrap you in love." They currently do not sell jelly rolls, however, I still made the suggestion that they might think around carrying them... I could do a jelly roll race class. I think the idea went over pretty good....we'll see on Tuesday night. All in all, I think it was a good meeting!!! :-)

My new "white" Featherweight 221K

I won a white featherweight a few weeks ago on ebay for $200.  From what I understand about white featherweights... I got a GREAT deal.  I brought it in to Upland Sew and Vac and they did a great job in getting her up and running.... she sews like a dream.   Looking at my yahoo featherweight group that I joined since winning this, it seems that most "name" their featherweights.  Hmmmmmmmmmmmm  now I guess I should think of something clever for this beauty.  I can't wait to start sewing with her.  

Certified Quilt in a Day Teacher

In June, I spent 3 wonderful day in San Marcos, CA training with Eleanor Burns and her staff at Quilt in a Day and learned Eleanor's quilting style.  It was really an awesome experience.  Now I'm excited to have to come up with a Quilt in a Day class.  I'm thinking about advertising in Craigslist for a same class to have in my home in early September.  The plan will be to make the Quilt in a Day pattern, Pumpkin Grins.  I have to come up with a snazzy ad to invite some new quilting students - hopefully, I'll have time this weekend to put something together.

Samples of my work

cafr117's photostream on Flickr.

Take a peek at some of the things I have done.

My new Featherweight!!

I won a white featherweight on ebay a couple of weeks ago for $200.  Everyone is telling me that I seriously got a GREAT deal.  I can't wait until I can start playing with it....but...it's currently in the shop getting a tune up.  Hopefully, I get it back this weekend.