If I had known old ladies had so much fun, I would have aged faster.
Today was session two with Paula Reid. We stitched ribbons and beads and baubles. We used dental floss implements, funky charms, and fancy stitches with specialty threads. We made new friends and laughed a lot!
I even won a cone of wine thread. Yes, you read that right, wine. I told you old ladies had fun!
Not only did we disengage our feed dogs, we removed the presser foot! Sewing is not for wimps. But, man is it fun! I have a new tool in my arsenal. Now I know more ways to use those beads and baubles and fancy fibers I’ve collected.
Every member of the class was playing with ribbons and threads in a different way. Taking a class is so inspirational – not only do you have an experienced teacher who shares her knowledge, but other participants spin off in different directions. Take a class!
Simply Quilts was still on tv when I began quiltmaking in 2001. I was still working, so I recorded the show every day, then watched it when I got home. I learned most everything I know about quilting basics that way. When I heard Paula Reid was coming to town, I knew she quilted on a domestic machine as I do, using what she calls the “fluff and stuff” method. I also remembered her episode on beading and embellishments where she removed the presser foot. I felt like I knew her already, because I had watched those SQ episodes over and over.
Online quilting shows still keep me up-to-date with the latest artists breaking the mold, or perfecting the mold, but it’s not the same. I spend money to subscribe to some of the online shows (thequiltshow.com hosted by Ricky Tims and Alex Anderson is my primary resource). I watch some youtube videos, too.
I read quilting blogs. I listen to quilting podcasts. I follow links to other artists’ work from Facebook. I goggle names of people whose work I see in magazines and online.
But nothing takes the place of on-site, person-to-person contact with an expert. Thanks, Couture Sewing Center, for bringing Paula. And, thank you, Paula, for coming to GA, and sampling our grits. And, thank you, fellow classmates, for a fun two-day sewing experience!
I am creating a journal quilt again this year, Fifty-two Wednesdays. Each week, I select one image from my life and stitch it into a rectangular block.
Melanie knows that Publix uses only the best ingredients because the company was one of her customers when she worked as a salesperson for some of the world’s finest chocolate.
My friend Marie, who did such an excellent job with the layout and editing of Fifty-two Tuesdays recently worked her magic again on one of my publishing attempts. When I asked her fee, she replied, “consider it part of the original fee you paid me.” I said, “oh, it’s lagniappe.”
When I first conceived “Fifty-Two Tuesdays” I proposed to make a mini quilt each week for a year. I planned a written journal to accompany it, thinking that at the end of the year I would have a finished quilt and a book. I shared this vision with my writing group at the outset. They embraced the idea and as the year progressed, they asked questions about the structure of “the book”. My creative focus was on the quilt itself and keeping a journal of the details; fabrics included, threads, batting, techniques.
I arrived at our quilt show today to find Janet waiting for me. Janet lives in Fort Wayne, Indiana. She had read about our show, and my quilt, 52 Tuesdays, in our local newspaper while here working with Habitat for Humanity.
Janet reached in her bag and showed me some Dear Jane blocks she’s been making while traveling around the country with Habitat. She’s piecing them all by hand in their RV, buying a fat quarter in every stop they make to build a house.
