I LOVE teaching jobs that are close enough to reach by car in a day, and this trip was just a blast! Life has been a bit hectic–we are still settling in to the new house and I am working on my studio so this was a few weeks ago in Late March. As usual, I was so busy teaching that I didn’t take too many pictures (sigh).
A while back the Bayberry Quilters of Cape Cod invited me to give two lectures and two workshops! What fun! I drove down on a Tuesday (when we got another dump of snow…why it couldn’t have done that on Monday or Wednesday I do not know!) and gave my first lecture (The Decorated Quilt) that evening, then another (the journal quilts) the following morning. After the lecture, we had lunch at a FABULOUS little restaurant, Morrell’s Restaurant and Catering (in South Dennis); I had Shepherd’s pie that was so good I went back for dinner a couple nights later!
A Woods Hole back street with the typical weathered shingles and white trim
On Wednesday afternoon I was off, so I drove to Woods Hole in hopes of seeing some of the Oceanographic institute (Eli is really interested in Marine biology and oceanography) but pretty much everything that is usually open to the public was closed for winter. It was still a lovely drive–very (well duh!) Cape Cod-ish! For the ride back I stopped here to get a cookie and latte…loved the name:
Pie in the Sky bakery
On Thursday I taught Balinese Garden, which is a pattern of mine (here) so this is –unusual for me–a project class whose goal is to familiarize quilters with the decorative stitches on their machines and some decorative threads (the fiddly ones!). Here is my table runner take on the pattern:
The table runner I made from my pattern (still not quilted...sigh...time, I need time....)
I strongly encourage quilters to do their own thing, and this group did! Some stayed fairly close to the pattern, others completely changed the set-up and two more totally did their own thing using their ideas for a quilt (one was jellyfish, another an Asian-inspired pond scene). I totally loved it!
Laying out the "vine" on the background
Cutting leaves, buds and flowers
Using a more traditional wreath setting for the multi-yarn vine--so springy and cheerful!
A more traditional and lovely take on the pattern--she used a lovely echo method of outlining the main flowers
This student used a landscape printed fabric with a beach, shore and ocean as her background, and it is lovely!
One delectable stash for using to decorate the quilt and make the vine
Another version, closer to the pattern
Jellyfish...same techniques totally different subject--yeah!
Another student wanted to use some Asian-inspired fabrics and do a moon / pond scene. She adapted my techniques to her design--way cool!
On Friday, I taught a favorite class to teach: Quilting Design. We had a grand time, I showed the ladies that they can indeed draw (!), and learned some easy-peasy ways to draft what might seem (but aren’t) complicated patterns. In the afternoon we used the quilt tops they brought to brainstorm quilting designs, talking about hand versus machine, easy versus complicated, and so on. That was SO MUCH FUN, but alas I was busy crawling on the floor showing how to use the clear overlay sheet to test-drive ideas and didn’t take any photos! I really love teaching this class because students always walk away enthused and energized and realizing they can do their own designs. Alas, it is rarely booked, and would be even better as a 1 1/2 or 2 day workshop. So if anyone out there wants FUN…book this one! It looks like I’ll be able to teach it as a 1 1/2 day workshop at Vermont Quilt Festival in 2012…hope to see you there!
(1).png){kind=small}
.png){kind=small}
.png){kind=small}
