This summer, as many of you have read, Joshua got hit by a car and had a lengthy hospitalization. One kind soul had an idea: make simple blocks to send Joshua to let folks know they were thinking of him…he was floored! They spread the word on the Janome 6500 list, the QuiltArt list, my pattern testers yahoo group and more. Well, we have 73 blocks (ten from Sue Franck!) coming from the length and breadth of not only the US, but also Canada, Australia, Singapore, England, Scotland… amazing!

After many distractions, family upsets, surgeries, healing, laughter and joy, I finally was able to put up nearly 35 of the blocks on the design wall. This is what love looks like:

Cindy Sissler Simms also sent each of the boys a gorgeous Mariner’s Compass block:

Joshua wants a single large bedquilt, which is what that many blocks will make! And thanks to another generous soul (K.McN) from the QuiltArt list, we have a queen sized batt to make that happen, too! Joshua will give Eli some of the blocks, and I’m sure it will take me months to get the tops done and the quilt quilted, but I’ll be sure to let you know when I do. Ilana in Lancaster, Calif., sent Eli a pillowcase with cats and dogs which is well-loved and used already, and the Blockbuster video card was well enjoyed. Rosemary Claus-Grey’s boy with a broken leg mini fiber artwork was on the wall in Joshua’s hospital room, and is on the wall here at home now! The generosity of so many whom we have never even met in person is overwhelming.

We cannot express how much this outpouring of affection and concern means to all of us. Before separating the blocks from the cards and envelopes, I wrote each person’s name, town and state/country on the block, so we can look at each block in the quilt and know who sent it and where it began its journey. Thank you, thank you, thank you, from all of us, with abiding love.

I know I’ve said it before, but I LOVE winter, and I love winter in Maine. Imagine getting to see this sort of beauty and inspiration within (literally) a snowball’s throw from the garage doors and while walking the dog-beasties?!!! I’m on to do a small challenge quilt by the end of February on “Winter,” and I think after my walk at 5 yesterday (pitch dark!) I’ll do moon on snow with trees…… Here’s the neighborhood:

In the backyard:

The woodpiles:

Taking a gamboling puppy out for walkies (bunnies do the bunny hop, ‘Widgeon does the pug hop!)—and the deeper the snow, the more his short little doggie body loves it!

St. Francis on watch…. this was in my late father-in-law’s garden in southern California, moved with him to Washington state, moved to our house on San Juan Island when he died (St. Francis’ feast day is the same date as my birthday… I knew I liked him!), and then came to Maine:

The snowy branches, undisturbed by winds, look like the tracery on medeival cathedral windows:

And the trees in front of the Squibb’s house and the dangly branch next door:

Well…. it’s tough not being able to share my latest art quilt! But it is done (except for the label, of course!). It is 18×45 inches by ab out 1 1/2 inches deep (you’ll have to wait to find out the why and how until March!). But I have been working, and will share this wicket little tease…the last part quilted. It is of the riverbank area, with reeds made of yarns twisted and combined in various ways to make the reeds:

The narrowest of the reeds is one of my favorite embellishing yarns, Lion Suede (from Lion Brands…an inexpensive acrylic yarn that is round…many of the chenilles are fluffy but flat) twisted with a tufted decorative yarn. The thicker reeds are three strands of Lion Suede or a similar variegated Plymouth yarn) wrapped in a ribbon/tape yarn that is like a checkerboard. Finally, the shorter grasses are made from a single yarn—that one ball cost about $12! But if I could find more of it (I tried in vain a few years ago and it is long gone), but no luck, so I hoard it and enjoy the wonderful color and texture.

This past Sunday night, Monday and Monday night we had our first glorious snowfall here in Maine! On Friday, Joshua said his science teacher had written on the chalkboard under Monday “Snow Day.” So what do you do on a freebie day at home? Build a big fire in the woodstove and, if you are Eli, read a book with Zeus the cat and ‘Widgeon the pug:

If you are Joshua, you eat while IM’ing your friends:

If you are Yeti the dog-beast, you do the same thing you always do:

If you are ‘Widgeon the adorable, and this is your first real snow experience, you do the pug-hop with glee and abandon at every opportunity:

It’s really true…. I knew it was because I had the signed contract, but the brochure to register for classes at Paducah arrived this week:

And guess what… I’m IN IT, as one of the teachers! Here is the class schedule. Each day’s classes run across the page, with the vertical columns showing which classes/teachers are in which rooms. I’m in the Roosevelt I (in the middle of the middle page) for portions of Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and in the Museum G1 room for one class on design on Friday afternoon. I’ve highlighted the places I’ll be, including (on the first day) the Awards Presentation to watch in awe and (I hope) the Sneak Preview (there is a teachers’ meeting after the Awards thing, so I may not be able to go).

Paducah prefers to offer half-day classes, and most of my regular classes (to learn more, click on the Classes link in the menu bar above) are full-day sessions. So, I offered to split some of the full-day classes into segments. I’m so thrilled…. one lady I met recently on a yahoo group has already signed up! WOOOOHOOOO! Anyway, here is what I’m teaching (and if you have questions about the suitability of a class or whatever, please write me!):

Wednesday morning, April 23 — Looks Like Hand Applique (but Isn’t) uses washaway paper / stabilizer to make a machine applique that looks like hand-turned (almost) but that is done on the machine. Best of all, no freezer paper to remove!

Wednesday early evening (5:30-8:30), April 23 — Chunk and Jigsaw Fusible Applique–this is the easiest and most playful class, so perfect for this time (which startled me…first I saw the 8:30 pm and gasped as I’m not a night person, but 5:30 to 8:30 works perfectly for this one!)

Thursday all day, April 24 — Introduction to Machine Quilting. This is my most popular class and fills regularly. It is suitable for folks who have never machine quilted a single stitch up to early intermediate–folks who have done machine quilting but want a lot of background about the basics plus hands on help and practice using both the walking foot and free-motion.  It is jam-packed with information, so bring LOTS of notepaper and be ready to learn!  I’ve not had a soul yet who didn’t quilt their name (and someone else could read it, too!) by the end of the day!

Friday morning, April 24 — Machine Quilting: Dabbling with Decorative Threads. This is the play part of my all-day “more machine quilting” class. I will have kits ($15 each) containing seven types of threads on ten “bobbins/ micro-spools” of Superior Threads so students can try 50-wt cotton, 40-wt. single-color and variegated polyester, 35-wt variegated cotton, a metallic, a holographic (the shiny fancy stuff!), and 60-wt “Bottom Line” polyester (the Bottom Line, a fine thread designed for use in the bobbin but also a fantastic applique thread for either hand or machine work)

Friday afternoon, April 24 — If You Can Write Your ABC’s, You Can Draw Your Own Designs. This is a brand new offering, and I’m excited (and a tiny bit terrified). I’ll teach you that even if you think you can’t draw, you really can, because you “draw” your letters every time you write. It will be a fun class and I hope it will help you learn to see the world in a new way–how to identify shapes and then use that knowledge in your quilting.

Saturday morning, April 25 — Nearly No-Mark Machine Quilting. This class overlaps with the Intro to Machine Quilting class, but focuses on the doing, not the basics and foundations you need to know to get the best results. If you think you know what you need to know about needles, machine basics, ergonomics, basting and such, but really want help only with the free-motion portion of the class, this is for you. Of course, I’ll have extra handouts for this class featuring different designs and processes so if someone wants to take both classes, there will be new material and more one-on-one time (I hope!).

Saturday afternoon, April 25 — All Star Review. I’ll be one of a LARGE number of teachers doing demonstrations on special techniques. I’ll be talking about Decorative Threads on the Machine. If I recall correctly, 400 people are allowed to purchase entry to these reviews (I’m doing the one on Saturday only, not the one on Tuesday). Folks are given a booklet of one-page handouts for all the teachers, then can go from station to station watching the demos. It is a great way to get a feel for the teachers (and hopefully I’ll be able to make some contacts that will lead to future teaching gigs around the US or, dare I hope, beyond!) and be exposed to a lot in a short time. During the last half-hour of the 2 hour period we are permitted to sell patterns, items and kits. If I have any leftover thread sampler kits, they and my patterns will be available here.

To read the class descriptions, class supply lists, kit fees and whatnot, please visit the Paducah class information webpages. The hotlinks on this page will allow you to download pdfs, including one for the full brochure, and others that are sections of the brochure. My classes are in the School of Applique, School of Color and Design, and School of Quilting and Finishing, as well as the Complete Registration Guide.

To register for the classes, click here.

And on Sunday, I have a FIVE-leg journey…yes, car shuttle to the airport 2 hours away plus five flights plus short drive… to get home.   I think I’ll be a happy blithering idiot by the time I get home.  I am thrilled, honored, praying and working hard to live up to this incredible opportunity, slightly terrified, and mostly excited about being able to teach in Paduch.