Kimberly Einmo Workshop

We had a full class for Kimberly's Lone Starburst workshop. We learned how to cut jelly roll strips accurately on the diagonal and piece this quilt using no set in seams.

Here Kimberly plays with the layout of one of the students projects.

Kimberly also took the time to sign books for us. Her cheerful and generous demeanor was a real treat and her good humor was definitely infectious. I do think that the chocolate had something to do with it though : )

And here we all are showing off our handiwork. Hopefully we'll soon have some completed quilts to show off here on the blog. Stay tuned!

March General Meeting - Kimberly Einmo

What a wonderful program we had in March. Kimberly Einmo was our guest speaker, and what a cheerful, energetic guest she was. Kimberly is an author, award-winning quilter, designer, international instructor and quilt judge. She has written five books published by the American Quilter’s Society including her newest, Modern Quilts & More, plus Jelly Roll Quilts & More, Jelly Roll Quilt Magic, Precuts Bonanza and Quilt A Travel Souvenir.

She is the host to four popular online classes on Craftsy.com. She has also appeared on television and radio programs and has written many articles, and designs original patterns which have appeared in numerous publications. Kimberly also has a signature line of innovative quilting tools.

Here are a few pictures from Kimberly's presentation to the guild. The last picture is the quilt from the workshop that she gave the next day.

Susan Edmonson Workshop

Well a good time was had by all at Susan Edmonson's Twigs and Tweets workshop. We learned all about working with wool and learned more than a few stitches to embellish with. 

Here's Susan demonstrating some stitches to the group.

Here are a few close up examples of Susan's work. The birds are from a Sue Spargo pattern that she's been working on for awhile. Really really beautiful work.

Upcoming Programs and Workshops

February:  Susan Edmonson, “Creative Journey”

Susan Edmonson is an award winning quilt maker who started this journey in 1981 and today continues to wow her audiences with her unique artistry. She has designed quilt patterns and kits for two national stores as well as her own pattern line.

Her specialties have been folk art, crazy quilted purses and wall quilts, and “flower doodles.” Fabric collage books and mini art quilts are among her newest creations using mixed media techniques. All of her work is lavished with beading and embroidery. She loves working with vintage style fabrics and colors. The patterns she designs have evolved from original pieces inspired from vintage quilt designs and nature that showcase her own unique style. She will talk to us about her creative journey.

Wednesday, February 18th -- Twigs and Tweets workshop
We will make one block from this unique project.

Where: Creative Sewing Classroom
What time: 9:30 a.m. Classroom opens at 9:00 for set up.
Cost for this 6 hour class will be $40.00. There are 2 openings left.
www.susanedmonsondesigns.com

March:  Kimberly Einmo

The March monthly meeting, March 17^th, will feature Kimberly Einmo, an author, award winning quilter, designer, international instructor, and quilt judge. She has written five books, including her newest, Modern Quilts and More, plus Jelly Roll Quilts & More and Jelly Roll Magic. Kimberly has been referred to as “The Jelly Roll Lady.”

Wednesday, March 18th -- Lone Starburst Workshop
What time: 9:30 a.m. Classroom opens at 9:00 for          
Cost for this 6 hour class will be $45.00              
Supply list is available at the February meeting.
Where: Creative Sewing Classroom set up.
www.kimberlyeinmo.com                                                                                 

April:  Susan Lenz 

Fiber artist Susan Lenz will present a program on her ‘Last Words’ project.

Upcoming Challenges To Get Those Creative Juices Flowing! 

• Cowlumbia! Check out the Houston CowQuilts that have taken the pasture by storm. Mary Lou Weidman started a twist on words using the “Out of the Box With Easy Blocks” ideas. We will learn more about joining this herd, but google Houston Cow Quilts for your ideas!

• July’s Christmas fabric “exchange.” Buy your yard of beautiful Christmas fabric now and bring it to the July meeting. We will start our Christmas projects early with a bag of Christmas fabrics! Learn more at our meetings! Just buy the fabric now!! (And if you think you might forget where you put the fabric between now and then, let Anita know and she’ll remind you where you “hid” it for safe keeping!)

• A 6 part mystery quilt will start in April. This is an easy project that would be great to work on during our Sit and Sews or to make for a charity quilt. Cost will be $5.00.

Sue Nickels Workshop Review

Sue Nickels  presented 2 workshops for GCQ in August -  “Fabulous Feathers and Fillers” and “Folk Garden Borders: Machine Appliqué Techniques.

After having taken the ”Fabulous Feathers and Fillers” workshop from Sue Nickels, I had more confidence to make my feathers look more interesting using fillers.  Isn’t it usually the case that breaking down the process like she did makes it simpler or more manageable?

Using the techniques I learned from the machine appliqué workshop, my appliqué projects show much improvement.  I still want to do a little hand appliqué but using Sue Nickels technique makes for a faster finish.  And don’t we all want to get those projects finished so we can move on to the next one?

For anyone who missed the workshops, Sue Nickels’ books “Fabulous Feathers & Fillers” and “Stitched Raw Edge Appliqué” are two good books that explain her techniques in detail.

Linda S.

Here are some more photos from the workshops shared by Lari.

Sue Nickels Coming in August

International quilt teacher Sue Nickels will be joining us August 20th. She will present her lecture, "Machine Quilting for Today's Quilts".  Guests are welcome and encouraged to join us for this lecture but $5 will be collected at the door to recoup some of our expenses.

Sue Nickels has been quilting for 32 years, starting by hand and gradually focusing on machine work. Sue has been teaching machine techniques for the past 20 years. Sue has taught and lectured nationally for shops, guilds and major conferences, including AQS, IQA and NQA. She has also taught internationally in England, Norway, Australia, New Zealand and Spain. Sue's major awards include 1998 AQS Best of Show for "The Beatles Quilt" made by Sue and her sister, Pat Holly. Their quilt, "The Space Quilt" won the 2003 IQA Master of Machine Artistry Award and the 2004 AQS Machine Workmanship Award. Most recently, Sue and Pat's quilt "Tea at Tenby" won 2009 Best of Show at the Birmingham Festival of Quilts in England. Sue's current books are "Machine Quilting:  A Primer of Techniques" and "Stitched Raw Edge Applique" co-authored with Pat. Sue has also been a judge for many quilt shows, most recently part of the team judging the 2009 IQA Show. Sue's priority in the workshops she teaches is to provide a relaxed environment for students to learn machine techniques that are timesaving. Sue emphasizes the best quality workmanship, never compromising quality for speed.

Sue Nickels Workshops -- Guild members will have exclusive access to these workshops through the June general meeting. After this time we will be opening them up to non-members. 

August 20th -- Half Day Workshop following general meeting  

Machine Quilting -- Feathers and Stippling. 

Cost: $25 for members, $35 for non-members.

In this workshop explore the beautiful feather design and how to enhance it with traditional stipple quilting. Sue has used the feather design successfully on many of her quilts and uses traditional stipple quilting to add dimension. The feather is the ideal design for free motion quilting and is easier than you might think. Students will work at the machine on a small feather project that Sue has created just for this workshop. Fall in love with this fabulous combo -- Feathers and Stippling! 

  

Wednesday, August 21st -- Full Day Workshop

Folk Art Border and Machine Appliqué Techniques.

Cost: $45 for members, $55 for non-members 

In this workshop, learn Sue's Stitched Raw Edge appliqué technique while creating a folk garden border from Sue's Quilt "Blue Tulips on Pink Skies." Nineteenth century folk art quilts were the influence for this completely machine made quilt. Learn all the details of the technique including bias stems, points and circles. Make your quilts spectacular by adding beautiful appliqué borders. Project can be the start of the quilt or can be made into a small runner. 

January Meeting and Workshop

January 15, 2013 -- Deb Karasik from the Raleigh/Durham area will be our special guest  and will present a trunk show featuring work from her two books, Quilt Mavens: Perfect Paper Piecing and Quilts With Attitude. 

On Wednesday, January 16th Deb will do a full day class on her quilt "Inner Light".  

Check out Deb's website: www.debkarasik.com.  On her workshops page you will find our workshop quilt. Click on "find out more" and then the link at the bottom of that page to see the supply list, a line drawing of the quilt and detailed fabric requirements, especially if you want to use fabric gradations like the sample. Remember that you do not have to use the fabric gradations to make a fabulous quilt, you may make this quilt completely your own. Either way, these pages are extremely helpful in planning your quilt. Please print out the supply list for your own use.

We have made arrangements with Pieces and Patches Quilt Shop in Lexington to have the workshop in their big, new classroom. Lunch break will be at McAllisters or you may bring a sack lunch. The cost of the full day class is $45 plus $15 for the pattern that includes all the papers for the entire quilt. Non-members will be charged $55 for the workshop; pattern is extra.  If you have Deb's book "Quilts with Attitude" you may use the pattern on the CD that accompanies the book instead of buying the pattern. 

There are still spaces available for the workshop. 

If you have any questions, please contact me at email gcquilters@gmail.com. 

Thread Painting Workshop

At our October meeting we were excited to have Jody Raines show her projects in thread painting.  After the meeting we gathered for a quick lunch before the class.

Linda and Zohra were busy finishing lunch and getting ready for the fun to begin.

And here is the finished project.  What fun it was to just sit and scribble with the sewing machine and to come out with this cute little bird.