Block of the Month - Jessica's Wedding Quilt

Let me tell you a little about the new Block of the Month Class I am having for 2011.  I have had a Block of the Month class for the last seven years or more, most of them are designed by me.  The busier I get with my quilt business, especially now that I have a published book, the less time I have for sewing for my family.  Since my daughter is now 23 and her friends are starting to get married, I realized that if she were to get engaged (and that is not even in the picture right now) I would never have time to do what I do, plan a wedding and make a quilt.....so I am taking advangtage of my BOM (block of the month) Squad. 

The design I have for 2011 is one I designed for my daughter and as we go month to month I will be sewing my blocks with her finished quilt in mind.  Some of the blocks are from the Elm Creek series, others are common designs.  The setting is one of my "Square-agonals" designs and the fabric includes the entire "Zuzu's Petals" fabric line.  When she was small we called her Zuzu, since "It's A Wonderful Life" is my favorite movie.  When I saw the fabric line last year I knew immediately that I was going to use it for her quilt.  It is a bit adventurous in color and design, but so is my daughter.

So if you like, please join me as I present to you the blocks as they are presented to my BOM squad month to month.  Our classes take place on the fourth Monday of every month (unless a holiday gets in the way) and I will post a photo of each completed block after the class is held.  Our first class of the new year is tomorrow, so look for a photo in a day or so.

My daughter is a follower of this blog and knows about the quilt, so there are no secrets being revealed.  Since she is currently volunteering in Uganda, she can watch the progress with everyone else.

Enjoy your weekend, and all the football (it is Go Steelers! in this house) and watch the progress of "Jessica's Wedding Quilt" throughout 2011.

Gotta Reschedule.....

Okay here are the changes for the classes in January:

Pine Tree Quilt Shop, Waynesburg, Pa. on Saturday, January 15  Rescheduled February 19
724 833-9147
 9-Patch Table RunnerClass 1 to 4pm or 5 to 8pm

Theresa's Fabrics, Moundsville, WV on Monday, January 17  Rescheduled in Spring TBA
 304 845-4330
Charming Table Topper Class 10 to 1pm or 6 to 9pm

Karens' Quilt and Craft Connection, Barnesville, Ohio on Wednesday, January 19 Rescheduled March 16
 740 425-2100
Charming Table Topper Class 1 to 4pm or 5 to 8pm

From Past to Present, St. Clairsville, Ohio on Monday January 24 Stays on Schedule
(snow day January 25) 740 526-9371
9-Patch Table Runner Class 6 to 9pm

Thank you for your understanding, please contact me if you have any questions.

Snow way!

Well the weather is wrecking havoc with my teaching schedule this month!  I am in the process of canceling and/or rescheduling all my classes for the rest of the month.  Please check back here for updates later today!

Thought for the day!

"See the rocks in your path not as obstacles, but as opportunities to climb higher."     —Eleanor Wiley

Here comes the snow!

What a winter, trying to catch up on computer work and watching the heavy snow coming down, we are supposed to get 3 to 6 inches by morning.....good time to stay in and sew.   What would you do if stuck at home for a few days?

Class reminders!

I will be at the following locations for "Square-agonals" classes in January.  Please call the individual shop for information on pricing and supply lists.

Pine Tree Quilt Shop, Waynesburg, Pa. on Saturday, January 15
(snow day January 22) 724 833-9147
Charming Table Topper Class 1 to 4pm
9-Patch Table Runner 9 to 12noon or 5 to 8pm

 Theresa's Fabrics, Moundsville, WV on Monday, January 17 
(snow day January 31) 304 845-4330
Charming Table Topper Class 10 to 1pm or 6 to 9pm

Karens' Quilt and Craft Connection, Barnesville, Ohio on Wednesday, January 19
(snow day January 26) 740 425-2100
Charming Table Topper Class 1 to 4pm or 5 to 8pm

From Past to Present, St. Clairsville, Ohio on Monday January 24
(snow day January 25) 740 526-9371
9-Patch Table Runner Class 6 to 9pm

Hope you can join me!  Feel free to contact me if you have any questions!

Getting Ready!

Now that the holidays are over, decorations put away, and the kids are where they need to be (my son at Veterinariay school in Alabama and my daughter doing volunteer work in Uganda), I am getting ready for my cruise!  I have received all the fabric I need, the batting donated by The Warm Company, and the thread donated by Aurifil.

The cruise is 8 days through the western Caribbean and should be a lot of fun and sun.  My quilt project is "Caribbean Sunset" made with batiks.  I will be sure to show the design after the cruise along with plenty of photos.

There is still time to sign up!
http://www.sewmanyplaces.com/tours/caribbean_0211c.html

And a big thanks to Jim West of Sew Many Places for this dream of an opportunity!

Quote for the day:
"Begin now. We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand and melting like a snowflake"
                           —Paula Best, mixed-media artist

Fight for your dreams in 2011

"Dreams are renewable. No matter what our age or condition, there are still untapped possibilities within us and new beauty waiting to be born"

If you haven't done any dreaming yet this year, set aside some time to explore possibilities and commit yourself to new opportunities. It's never too late to dream.
....adapted from the book "Put Your Dream to the Test" by John C. Maxwell

Dreams can be small or big, just dream and they can come true.

Write down your dreams, they can come true.

Sent from Sandi's iPhone

The New Year 2011

Well here we go again, like most of you, I hope for a safe, prosperous, and exciting new year.

To start off the year I plan on dropping bits of life advice (not my own) and quotes to inspire you as life and the year goes on. This is my favorite quote:

"Life is not a journey to the grave with intentions of arriving safely in a pretty well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming....WOW! what a ride!"

Start the year with a positive outlook and keep in touch!