A student's class sample... compare this to the unstitched version in the top-left of the four-squares (below)

We had an absolute GAS in this class!  I was so thrilled at how the students took my basic design and simply took off with it, experimenting and discovering, and the wide range of results….  Because I actually took a TON of photos, I’ve made some “four-patch” photos to squeeze them all in!   This is the sampler that I share with the students (it’s also in my book–click the photo to view larger):

Sarah's Tossed Leaves Sampler

Well….here are some samplings of leaves the students made.  They were given the choice to make a larger composition or smaller blocks (which is what I used in my blue vest…I promise that post will be up before too long!):

I knew that Deb in KY from the Janome 6500/6600/7700 yahoo group would be in the class, and was pretty sure that Kathy Schmidt (author of Rule-Breaking Quilts from AQS and also in the group, and her blog is here) would be there, but so was Marie!  What an unexpected surprise and fun!!!!!  Kathy and I have been writing to each other for about a year and half or more as she worked on her book proposal, then manuscript, now marketing the book, and it was such a joy to finally meet her!  She is teaching at NQA next year, so sign up, folks!  And I PROMISE, a review of her book is coming, too!

L to R: Sarah, Deb in KY and Marie from the Janome 6600 yahoo group

Kathryn Schmidt, author of the fun Rule-Breaking Quilts, and me (Sarah!)

I think we all look a bit WARM!  After class, Kathy and I then went to a local brew pub and had a wonderful dinner…it felt SO GOOD to (a) get off my feet and (b) have such fun company for supper before she drove the several hour drive home.  I’m thrilled they could all attend my class—THANK YOU!

I encourage students to do stitch-outs. Here is her test-sample

And some stitched leaves. She wanted to control the variables to just one thread, so it gives a really good comparison of what the different stitches can do for your applique.

Then

Another stitch out, again with notes made on the sample; that green thread is great on this peach!

Another good stitch sample, with notes on stitch length and width

At the end of the class, we pinned the samples up on the wall and all took photos so we could go home and be inspired by everyone’s work and try out more:

Student samplers and compositions

More student samplers

and more

even more tossed leaves

and the last one....

Thanks to the ladies of the class….. I had a ball, and I think they did, too!   Here’s to hoping I get to return to teach at NQA again!

In June I had the great good fortune to be invited to teach at the National Quilt Association show in Columbus, Ohio.  What FUN!  I had never been to the show, tho last year had a quilt in a special exhibit and won an  Honorable Mention for my Bijagos Warrior quilt.  So this year was an all-new experience for me.  I thoroughly enjoyed the show… it had top level quilts (entry is first-come gets in, not juried! the  only show I think at the national level that isn’t juried), great vendors, but was not so  huge that you felt overwhelmed.  I knew Marjorie Hallowell, owner of my local Maine-ly Sewing shop would be vending, but didn’t expect to meet anyone I knew other than two ladies from the Janome 6500/6600/7700 list who were to be in my classes.  Imagine my surprise then when I went into the hall on set-up day to take something to Marge, when I hear “Sarah Smith!  What are you doing here!” and turn to see Judi Yakab, hand-dyer extraordinaire and owner of Mamaw’s Hand-dyes.

Sarah and Judi Yakab

Judi and I met in a Carol Soderlund dyeing workshop a few years back held at ProChem in Fall River, Mass.  It’s wonderful to see how her business has taken off!  An aisle away I found Marge, then while strolling along a tall woman pops into the aisle (I was nearly asleep at this point) and shouts “Sarah Ann Smith”!  And there were mom and daughter team Jan and Kirsten from Fiber on a Whim!  A couple days later, I met Nancy Z. who runs Maine Quilts and was there with her sister and mom…. AND, remember that trip to teach for the Arizona Quilt Guild?  Well I think about 80 percent of that guild’s leadership is ALSO part of the leadership of the NQA, and everywhere I turned were familiar faces…what FUN!

Here are some of my favorite quilts, and I will confess… I committed the cardinal sin and forgot to get pics of the makers.  If any of you know who they are, please tell me and I’ll add the info:

This one made me stop and gasp!... GORGEOUS!

Diane Rusin Doran made the orange and yellow quilt with the ribbon–way to go Diane!

Oh my! Another beauty!

My quilt, Be Inspired No. 1, is on the right; Gloria Hansen's Blushing Triangles is on the left and...yeah! won a ribbon. Gloria is co-designer of my website, too!

From the Trees exhibit...this is paper pieced!!!!!!!

Another one that stops you in your tracks!

And the last morning….the sunrise sky wasn’t quite that lavender in real life, but it was beautiful:

And a close up:

Sunrise, the day I headed home

I’ll have some pictures of my classes…alas I was so busy in two of them that I forgot to take many pictures!