MAKE IT AND TAKE IT STUDENT WORK

We had a Make It And Take It yesterday at the Attic Window Quilt Shop and the reverse appliqué technique was taught. Sharon has her piece all ready to sew. The students said (promised) they would bring back their finished project the last Tuesday in April so we could view the finished items and ask questions. REMEMBER your commitment gals, you promised. Besides, blog readers want to see them too!

After they chose their fabrics and made design decisions, the women got down to work.

You have to really think before you cut when doing reverse applique. Otherwise, you may be doing regular applique rather than reverse applique. Fortunately, these students didn't have that problem. Great students who followed directions!

The class was only two hours long so they got right down to work.

I'm looking forward to seeing their finished projects. Some women chose from various large flower designs. One student drew her own design. I can't wait to see her butterfly. Next post I'll show you a picture of the upcoming Make It and Take IT project scheduled for next week. This project is sure to make you think of those summer days ahead.

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Caron Mosey has a darling BOM on her site. Check it out.

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Until next time,

Caroll

NEW FABRIC & VISIT FROM PATTERN DESIGNER

I love this fabric. It’s called Garden Buzz by SPX Fabrics. Can't you see it in your next quilt, or as a border for a tabletopper or an edging for a jacket. Check it out at the Attic Window Quilt Shop.

Pattern designer Marsha Hoogstraten Anderson stopped in at the Attic Window Quilt Shop Saturday and signed the Quilts and More magazines on sale at the shop. They held her article “Made from Scraps.” Her High Street Quilt Design patterns are also available at the shop. I love using up my scraps and look forward to trying one of her designs.

Did you wonder about the class called Gumbo Ya Ya? I did and hurried up to the Attic Window Quilt Shop to see what it was all about. The class was in process and this is what they had put together so far. Looks like a nice easy quilt. I love those fabrics! Looks like you could have the top practically finished by the end of the day. Now that is my kind of quilt.

This is another fabric combination from a student attending the Gumbo YaYa class. Don't you just love those fabrics?

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Have you checked out JJ's Gifts and Crafts. She has a darling BOM stitchery.

♥
Until next time,
Caroll

DOESN'T THIS INSPIRE YOU?

I stopped in at the Attic Window Quilt Shop the other night to pick something up and found there was a class going on. I got there just in time for this lovely show-and-tell. Robin Carlson made this beautiful quilt. Elegant Garden is a pattern by Edyta Sitar owner of Laundry Basket Quilts. It is so lovely and Robin did such an excellent job that I had to show it to you. Way to go Robin! What an inspiration you are.

This is a picture of Garden Party. The pattern is from Blackbird Designs. Maggie will soon be holding a class on how to make this lovely quilt. I think it starts in June, but watch for dates in the upcoming Attic Window Quilt Shop newsletter.

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I don’t know how you feel about paper piecing, but it is something I would like to master. Check out this Silly Chicken Block at the Quilters Cache. Looks like something a beginner could do. It will be so cute made up in bright fabrics.
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Until next time,
Caroll

BONNIE HUNTER CAME TO OUR HOUSE TO PLAY

Well known author, quilter, artist Bonnie K. Hunter was in the Grand Rapids area this week. She gave two workshops and spoke last night at the West Michigan Quilter’s Guild focusing on her Scrap User’s System. Hunter says she gets so much done because her theory is you can do anything in 15 minutes. She will use those 15-minute increments to iron scraps, sort fabric, cut fabric, or sew, or whatever. She never lets herself think, “I don’t have enough time to do that.” She considers herself a scrap USER not a scrap saver. Above is her Double Delight quilt. Hunter says that she sorts her scraps into two piles: neutrals and colors. She may also sort by size. She cuts anything less than 12” long into squares or bricks.

This is called Cathedral Stars and is made using the Tri Rec rulers. It was the object of one of her workshops this week. Hunter says her strip widths are 1 ½”, 2”, 2 ½”, and 3 ½”. She does not use 3” strips. Her Bricks are 1 ½” x 2 ½”, 2” X 3 ½”, and 1 ½” X 4 ½”.

This quilt is made of recycled shirts. The pattern is on her website. She often scouts garage sales and Goodwill Stores to find used shirting.

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This quilt is called Crabapple. I’m sorry that the picture isn’t better as the lighting wasn’t the best, but I so loved this quilt and wanted to show it to you. What a great way to use up all those little pieces of fabric. Hunter says that if you think your fabric is ugly and should not be in your quilt, just cut it into smaller pieces. No one looks at those small pieces and sees the design they see only the color. When making a quilt, she uses her smallest pieces first. Hunter said that the most important thing about quilting is the relationship with other quilters. "Quilting is not a hobby it is a life style." You can visit Hunter at her website Quiltville where you can also find instructions on her scrap saver system and lots of free patterns.
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Looking for a cute Easter decoration: Check out the Nobel Wife. You are going to love it!
♥
Until next time,
Caroll

FUNKY FLOWERS AT THE ATTIC WINDOW

Funky Flowers is a new BOM at the Attic Window Quilt Shop. A mixture of appliqué and piecing is involved in making this pattern from The Stitch Connection. These flowers look equally beautiful on a dark or light background. This is four-month BOM begins April 24.
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Mary Quilts has a lot of nice patterns for you. Check it out.

I saw this on Quilters Paradise surfing the Quilting Board and think it is perfect and so true: “The grand essentials of happiness are: something to do, something to love, and something to hope for.”
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I hope you all have a blessed weekend,
Until Next Time,
♥ Caroll

NEW CLASS SAMPLES AT THE ATTIC WINDOW

We have some new classes coming up at the Attic Window Quilt Shop. Colleen made the above sample for her upcoming class called French Roses. You will love making this raw edge appliqué. Look for the class in the next newsletter.

This is another sample that Colleen made for her class called Cobblestone Lane. This Civil War Quilt is a BOM and for intermediate quilters. You’ll be doing two blocks a month, plus one month will be spent on the sashing. First class begins in May.

Who needs another purse pattern? This site has oodles of them, even a pattern for a duck tape purse, or a placemat purse, or instructions on how to make a purse from a potato chip bag or candy wrappers! Of course, the best thing you could do is attend a purse making class at the Attic Window Quilt Shop. Lee Ann and Cindy are excellent teachers and you are sure to have fun and come away with a lovely project. However, since not everyone lives close enough to do this, I thought you might like this link here.

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Until next time,

Caroll

START YOUR GIFT MAKING NOW

I couldn’t resist showing you this bunny wall hanging. Easter will be here before you know it. Do you have your Easter projects finished, or are you like me, still thinking about them? tia whippy wyanet did you get your redwork pattern? I tried to e-mail you but not I’m not sure if the address was correct.

I stopped in at the Attic Window Quilt Shop Friday night to pick up some material and found a group of women working on their UFO projects. Gerry Cavanaugh is starting on her Christmas gifts already. (I wish I were that organized!) She showed us some darling bags that are perfect for coloring books and crayons. No names on them yet, but I bet her little friends and relatives are going to enjoy their Christmas gifts

Don’t you love this new Benartex fabric in at the Attic Window Quilt Shop. It’s called Playful Pups. I’m going to get some just as soon as I decide how I’m going to make up the Cats fabric I purchase last week. Above are only two of the fabrics from the line. Stop in at the shop and take a look at the others. You won't be able to resist.

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Mrs. Moen has a couple nice tutorials on her blog. One is what to do with small scraps. The other one (check on her sidebar) is about dealing with flimsy fabric.
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Until next time,

Caroll

AUNT MILLIE'S BLOCK #8

It has been a busy week and before I take my mother to have her weekly appointment at the Beauty Shop, I thought you would like to see a couple appliqué pieces. Above is the eighth Aunt Millie’s block. I had to give up on these for a while as life took over, but I’m back trying to complete this beautiful quilt.

Above is a block for the Around the World Quilting Bee. This block goes to Indigo Blue. Most of her blocks included multiple pieces of pink fabrics, so I think this will look nice with the other blocks. I love her quilt. I bet Jane (Jane’s Fabrics) likes it too because she loves pink!

This Tea Time wall hanging or table topper is a fun quilt to have on hand when you have a friend over for coffee or tea. Come join me in the class at the Attic Window Quilt Shop on Wednesday, Mar. 24 from 6 - 9 p.m.

Chestnut Junction has free primitive stitchery patterns. Really cute!
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Hope you have a nice weekend,

Caroll

FIBER ARTS ON EXHIBIT

The Lakeshore Fiber Arts Group recently held a show and reception at Lakeshore Sewing. You would have loved all the variety and talent. Above is a piece called “Look Through My Garden,” by Gail Wagner Myrhorodsky. What talent it took to make this beautiful piece.

“Above is Bubbles and Balloons – Study In the Round” by MargEd Kwapil. I love the simple design and clean lines.

“My Garden,” by Yvette Ostrander is another unique piece. It is multi layered and I wish you could see the close up of this intricate work. There were so many wonderful pieces in the show. I couldn't resist showing you something different from the usual more traditional quilts. These were a delight.

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Speaking of something different, Lauren + Jessie Jung has some different appliqué patterns. Check it out.
♥
Until next time,
Caroll

CATS FOR QUILTERS

I fell in love with this RJR line of fabric when I was at the Attic Window Quilt Shop Saturday. "Caterwauling" is a must-have. (I'm sorry that the picture does not do it justice as the colors are really vibrant.) The above panel has so many possibilities. You can use it as is or separate the cats and assemble a quilt using all the complementary fabrics that are in the shop. On the other hand, you can put a cat on a pillow or the front of a purse or a book cover. You can do so many things with this panel.

Above are just a couple of the complimentary fabrics to go with the Caterwauling panel. Stop by the shop and take a look-see (Do not forget your purse. You will not be able to resist!).

Catherine Mueller was at Bee Saturday and shared a couple finishes. Above is the redwork that she recently completed. Her redwork is so nicely done that she didn’t need to use a backing to keep her threads from showing through!

Above is another finish by Catherine. She used batiks to make last year’s sampler. What a great job she did! Isn’t fun to see how quilters can take the same pattern and using their own unique style can create something entirely different? Great job Catherine.
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The Polka Dot Pineapple has a tutorial for making wire edged fabric flowers. Great idea for those of us who can’t wait for spring!
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Until next time,
Caroll

THE FABRIC OF OUR LIVES

I love the title of this exhibit at the Inner City Christian Federation Blodgett Building (ICCF) in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The 75-piece collection is on loan from Roberta Green Ahmanson. She says, “This show is about the fabric of our lives. That metaphor is apt, for like our lives, fabrics are made of many threads and many colors, they wear and unravel and need to be mended. They are approachable, inviting us to enter the many-layered worlds much like our own.”
If you get a chance, it is worth your while to stop by the ICCF at 920 Cherry Street, SE. Not only will you enjoy all the lovely works of fiber art, but a walk through this historic building is a real treat too. The exhibit covers three floors and is open weekdays through April 9th from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cost: FREE
The above is untitled and is by British artist Julia Caprara. It is multilayered and is stunning.

There is a rich variety and diversity of cultures present in the show. "A Corner of India" (above) is by Wendy Green.

Pat Selman made the above dolls in 2008. They are part of an eight-piece collection titled "Looney Figures." Aren’t they precious!

One of my favorite pieces is "Surface Memories" by an unknown artist. I love the words embroidered across each block.

"Grass Study: Spring" is another interesting piece. It is by British artist Hillary Jenkins.

Hope you get a chance to view the exhibit in person. However, I know for most of you that is not possible, so I wanted to share a few photos with you.

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The Polka Dot Pineapple has a cute tutorial for flower hair pins (lots of other tuts too).

♥
Until next time,
Caroll