HAPPY SCRAPPERS MEET AND HAVE TWO TUTORIALS

The Happy Scrappers met Saturday at the Attic Window Quilt Shop.  It was a fantastic, fun-filled and educational day.  I’ll show you some pictures.  Above Rosa shows us her new Quilting Buddy.  She said he sits on her computer and stares at her (like it's saying “get to work.”)  He will kiss her (we all need that now and then), and he helps her deal with her frustration because when she gets frustrated she can just scream and throw him across the room.  Now I ask you, what woman doesn’t need a quilting buddy like that?

We had a “Future Quilter Of America” with us Saturday.  This is Makayla.  She is only 4 ½ years old and loves to quilt.  She showed me some squares that she had made with her proud grandma Yvonne, the woman on the left smiling from ear to ear.  I’m so glad Makayla joined us.  I love to see this kind of addiction being passed on to future generations.

Nancy shows us her newest project.  I love the fabrics she is using.  She is using the storm at sea pattern.

Chris (shop owner) gave us a wonderful short class and demonstration on paper piecing.  Above she had lots of samples to show us as well as tools and handwritten instructions.  How wonderful of her to do this.  I imagine over the past months she has watched us struggle with paper piecing and wonder if she thought: I need to give them some instructions and techniques and tools to make things easier.  And she sure did!

She told us about Wash Away, a product she uses when she paper pieces.  You never have to tear away the paper, as you just wash it away!

She also uses these various rulers.

This small ruler has a 3/8” mark and she uses it to draw her pattern.

And she uses this same ruler to mark the 3/8” space around the pattern.  I have aways used a quarter inch but Chris says that making the wider border around each piece gives you lots of room for error.  Trust me, I tried it and it really works!

Above, Chris shows us a pile of patterns made out of freezer paper and ironed onto the fabric, trimmed and ready to sew.

Chris also used the Add A Quarter ruler to trim the pieces once sewn.  She also showed us a “creasing” technique that helps place the piece to be attached correctly.  I’m sorry I don’t have a picture of that and find it difficult to explain.  If you are really interested you could take a Paper Piecing Class from Chris.  Just call the shop to find out when the next one is.

Above Chris shows us her cutting technique and the “creasing” technique.

Here she shows us how to stitch the pieces together and also tells us about basting the completed square around the edges.  All in all it was a wonderful and informative demo and I can’t thank her enough.  I came home and that evening made so many more pieces completed by using Chris’s techniques.

Above, Janalee shows us her very first paper pieced block.  Looking good!  I bet she’ll have lots of fun with her new project now that she knows the ins and outs of paper piecing.

Here is just half of Marcie’s stack of paper pieced blocks on the ironing board waiting to be ironed.

Then, when Judy F. wondered if anyone remembered how last month Stephanie sewed that zipper on her bag, Paula said she did and gave us a quick demo.  Aren't quilters the best, so willing to share their talents!

Paula said you just take any width of fabric you want to use and fold it in half and sew it to each side of the zipper.

Above, Paula shows us how her bag is shaping up.  Paula you are so nice to share your skills with us.  Thank you so much!

It was a wonderful day and I hope everyone will come to Happy Scrappers on Wednesday.  I know a good many of you will be at AQS but if you  get bored with the show, stop by the shop and sew with us.

DON’T FORGET:

• Happy Scrappers meets Wednesday at the Attic Window Quilt Shop. 
• AQS Quilt Week is the week of August 14-17 at DeVos Place Convention Center.  The Attic Window will have a vendor booth, so be sure and stop by.

ON ANOTHER NOTE:  I’m not ready to think about it, so I’ll close my eyes when I tell you that Christmas is just around the corner.  Ivory Spring has a cute free Tied With a Bow pattern that will be perfect for that time of year.

Until next time,
♥
Stay Calm! Stay Kind! Stay Positive!
Caroll