More student photos!
Posted by: snugglepartyquilts on: April 6, 2011
My students’ quilts!
Posted by: snugglepartyquilts on: March 31, 2011
Here are just a few of the quilts my students have been working on. I have to say my design was quite ambitious for beginners, even for seasoned quilters. 12 different 8″ blocks, surrounding a 16″ house block, using 15 different colors or so. My idea was to teach them the basic blocks and techniques used in quilting. A few of the ladies had never appliqued before, others had never paper pieced. We learned several ways to make HST and Flying Geese. We did some hand applique and machine applique, and yes bias binding for the stems and handles. We learned to make “perfect circles” and how to nest the seams when putting blocks together. We learned to really like paper piecing! We discussed pressing and squaring up blocks, applying borders and how to make the sleeves. We talked about what we didn’t like about a technique and which ones we really liked. One thing became evident they all looked forward to seeing what each other had accomplished. It wasn’t about following a pattern or making identical designs. It was about opening up your mind to new ideas, trying new things and making their decisions on how they wanted their quilt to look. I think they turned out great! One more week to go.
AQS Lancaster-so inspired!
Posted by: snugglepartyquilts on: March 21, 2011
The quilts were amazing. 4 of our Red Rose Quilter’s Guild members had quilts juried in! Our guild had a beautiful raffle quilt in the lobby, creating a nice backdrop for many photo ops. The Botswana Quilt exhibit was beautiful. The Karen Kay Buckley exhibit-The Perfect Journey-an incredible display of Karen’s quilts from her very first sampler to a large landscape of a stone barn, similar to those seen all over Lancaster County. We are so fortunate to have had professional teachers here in Lancaster. I was able to take two classes, one from Sue Nichols on Stitched Raw Edge Applique and the other, a paperpieced block called Ocean Sunrise, from Karen Kaye Buckley. I attended a lecture by Ricky Tims and with my head still spinning came home and made blocks using the new techniques I learned.
My favorite part of the week was meeting up with my quilter friends. Quick lunches and fun photos made for great memories, as well as plans for the next time we will meet.
Sneak Peak at AQS Lancaster
Posted by: snugglepartyquilts on: March 15, 2011
I stopped by the Marriot Hotel to meet up with Sherry Rogers Harrison. What a neat lady! She will be teaching her Inklique classes all week at the Quilt Show. The Convention Center is located inside the hotel. Tonight all was quiet, except for the lone security guard. We took a peak into the main hall-all set and ready to go! Tomorrow it will be filled with quilters from all over the country and from other parts of the world.
If you attend the show, be sure to stop by the Red Rose Quilters Guild Raffle ticket booth to purchase a chance to win our beautiful quilt! This year the quilt is hand appliqued AND hand quilted by members of the guild. Ticket purchases help us to fund our projects-Quilts of Valor and the children’s quilts and tote bags we make for several charity groups in Lancaster County. The coat and package check will also be manned by volunteer quilters from the guild. Be sure to use this service to keep your packages safe while you shop or attend classes. Although pretty full, there may be some spaces left in the classes and lectures so be sure to check the boards across from the registration check in. I’ll be parking at the off site parking lot to avoid the city traffic and taking the shuttle in from Burle Industries on Route 23. Parking is $5 with a $1 for the shuttle ride each way. Hassle free this year after growing pains from last year.
Wed is the first day of the 4 day event. I’ll be meeting up with Facebook quilter friends for lunch, then headed to a class on applique with Sue Nichols. In the evening it’s the All Star Review! So looking forward to this week!
The quilters are coming!
Posted by: snugglepartyquilts on: March 14, 2011
Signs in all the stores, the downtown area is geared up and ready. For the second year in a row, the American Quilters Society (AQS) of Paducah KY is bringing the quilt show and contest to Lancaster! Vendors, quilts, contest money, lectures, workshops from the best professional quilters!! This year promises to be even better then last, with the shuttle bus bugs worked out and all events in one place. Looking forward to seeing friends from last year and meeting new ones!
Besides the big show, there is also a quilt event at the Host Resorts as well as the vendor show across the way at the Continental Inn. Lots going on this week in Lancaster because the Quilters are coming, the Quilters are coming!!
Fabrics for Ocean Sunrise
Posted by: snugglepartyquilts on: March 13, 2011
Fabric Palette
This is my palette for Ocean Sunrise, a workshop by Karen Kay Buckley. I plucked a blue batik from my stash, leftover fabric from my daughter’s wedding quilt. The greenish gold is perfect with it! The kind ladies at Bitty Kinna’s Quilt Shop helped me pick it out. The background and borders are a lovely mottled navy blue. The blocks are paperpieced and machine appliqued. The beautiful batik on the left is actually 108″ fabric for the back. Thinking It might be nice somewhere on the front! The class is all day Thursday-looking forward to learning a lot!!
Here’s the pattern: 
Getting ready for the show! AQS comes to Lancaster 3/16-3/19/11
Posted by: snugglepartyquilts on: March 12, 2011
I’m really excited for this week to start. AQS is returning to Lancaster for the 2nd annual Quilt Show and Contest. I spent the day preparing for the two classess I am taking. Wed I’ll be learning a raw edge applique technique taught by Sue Nichols. On Thursday I’m attending an all day workshop with Karen Kay Buckley. Karen will be teaching us he Ocean Sunrise quilt, a paper pierced beauty that also uses machine applique techniques. Applique is my weak spot. I find the carpal tunnel really comes out when I hand applique so time to learn other techniques! Plus I can then share what I’ve learned in my own classes.
I’ll also be meeting up with Facebook quilter friends, doing a little fabric shopping and attending a few other events. Saturday is volunteer day for me. Our local quilt guild provides the volunteers to help the show to run smoothly during those four days. Besides “white gloving” (we don’t really wear white gloves) our guild members man the coat check and package check areas and help out at the special events. Last year over 800 man hours were provided. This year should be even better, with a revised shuttle service, vendors all in one building, and a terrific line up of fabulous, world class teachers. I am so in my element when I’m around quilters.
When feeling sad about the events in the world, quilts can help.
Posted by: snugglepartyquilts on: March 11, 2011
I try to find the good in all things but today, the events of the world have me feeling sad. It’s hard for me to feel happy when there are people devasted by the untamed fury of mother nature. I live in an area where, when disaster strikes, the community gathers, and the women make quilts. The quilts are auctioned or donated to relief funds to provide warmth and comfort to those in crisis. I think tomorrow, I wlll quilt and keep Japan in my prayers.
#2 Class, AQS, other ramblings
Posted by: snugglepartyquilts on: March 10, 2011
Busy, busy, busy. Hard to believe that this is March 2011 and time for the 2nd annual AQS Lancaster Quilt Show and Contest. I’ll be putting in a volunteer shift with the Red Rose Quiult Guild on Saturday. During the week, I’m taking two classes-a full day workshop with Karen Kay Buckley!! And a half day workshop with Sue Nichols. I’m also signed up for the All Star Review and a lecture with Ricky Tims. I can hardly contain my enthusiasm!! I took vacation time from work-lucky for me it’s in my backyard-so no hotel costs-which means more $$ for fabric and other goodies. I’ll also be meeting up with some Facebook Friends. Really looking forward to that!
More excitement-my oldest is getting married on April 30th. The wedding quilt is done and the plans are all made! We’ll be traveling to CT for a clam bake and a fabulous time at Amarante’s Sea Cliff.
In Janaury, I started teaching my second quilting class. I designed the quilt and really didn’t consider that 12 8″ blocks was quite ambitious. We just completed week #5 and my students have been terrific-very patient with a new teacher and trying techniques that they have never tried. My goal is not so much to finish the quilt top as it is to instill a passion for quilting and thinking out of the box. Next week, we have the day off so that we all can attend AQS Lancaster!
Teaching my very first quilting class
Posted by: snugglepartyquilts on: October 12, 2010
