Week one of my Crazy Quilting Class

If you remember me posting my goals for this year, you will remember that teaching a crazy quilting class was one of them. I have been an absolute bundle of nerves anticipating the first class, which was this Monday night just past. Since it is a three week course, I decided to structure it so the first week was piecing, the second week seam treatments and the last week for fun with motifs. I have to say it was much better than I had been anticipating - but I'm still a bundle of nerves - have to work on that!

I had four students in the class and they all succeeded in piecing their blocks or getting close enough that they can finish at home before next week. Jasmine wanted to learn crazy quilting because she loves to sew but never manages to make a straight seam. Sounds like a great candidate for crazy quilting to me! She made her block from the tie remnants I recently added to my stash.

Pat is a long time sewer and quickly caught on to crazy quilting and got her block sewn up.

This student had never sewn before! She brought some lovely cottons to class and made a great block. Even though English is her second language she managed to follow along which was great.

This is the block Janice made, almost complete. Janice is a proficient traditional quilter and came armed with a huge bag of great scraps of quilting cotton. It was fun to watch her putting them all together.

So, with the first week of class under my belt, I am feeling a little calmer, especially since piecing is my least favourite part of crazy quilting. Next week is seam treatments, which I love, so should be easier! Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Giveaway Day! (CLOSED)

I am very happy to be joining in the Giveaway Day through Sew, Momma, Sew . I have chosen to share one of my finds from a shopping trip, or treasure hunts as I think of them. This is an antique sewing box - I could not resist it when I saw it for sale! Were you able to guess the item from the sneak peek earlier in the week? The box itself is fairly small, 8 inchs X 6 inchs and 4 inches high (20 cm X 15 cm and 10 cm high). From my research it is of Asian origin. Inside the sewing box is lined with hand-painted silk. The inside of the lid features a neat little needlebook. In the bottom of the sewing box there are more beautiful hand-painted blossoms and an attached pincushion. I hope you are as charmed by this little box as I was when I found it and that you will enter my giveaway. I will be pleased to mail internationally so everyone is invited to enter. To enter, visit my Etsy shop and then come back and leave me a comment telling me which item you like best. Feel fr

BAS - Week 79 - Feather Stitch Variations

I have about the next twenty BAS stitches scheduled and by happy coincidence this week's BAS is a series of Feather Stitch variations which coincide with this week's TAST stitch if you are following. So, we can hit two birds with one stone! These hardly look like feather stitch but they are. They are created by making the "v"'s of the feather stitch vertical on the inside. Very simple to do but a different look to an old stitch. The second variation is created by doing two feather stitches at a time on each side, again making sure the inside of your "v"s are vertical and line up as much as possible. Same thing again in this one except they are in series of three. To me these have the look of stitching on old crazy quilts so they are nice to add to your stable of stitch variations. Hope you enjoy them and have fun!

Friday Giveaway - Last Week's Winner & a New Giveaway!

The winner of last week's Friday Giveaway of the current issue of Spin Off magazine is Marilyn! lol - an easy win for Marilyn since she was the only one who left a comment. Marilyn didn't leave an email so I would ask her please to contact me - just leave a comment with your email and I will email you right back to get your mailing information. (I will not publish the comment with your email) If I don't hear back from you by next Friday I will include the magazine in with the prize for next week. Last week I asked for comments suggesting what would make a good giveaway item in the future. Since Marilyn's suggestion was the only one, I will take it! So, this week I will be giving away some specialty threads as Marilyn suggested, along with a package of these great clock charms I just received in the mail. Aren't these great charms? When I found them I bought all that there were in stock, five packages, so I have enough to share with you as well as a package fo

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