Fall Quilt Classes at The Fabric Quarter Quilt Shop
Posted by WendyB | Filed under Quilting for Beginners
The end of Summer and Fall are packed with classes at The Fabric Quarter.
Two local favorite instructors, Kristin Otte and Carol Fay teach their unique versions of fun, versatile quilting techniques. Drop in the Shop to see examples, sign up at the shop to reserve your space! The walls are filled with colorful lively quilts! (And feel free to make an appointment with your instructor to select fabrics for your class – they are happy to help.)
FALL SCHEDULE INCLUDES:
Double Irish Chain – August 28th
One-Block Wonders – Labor Day Weekend Workshop
Modern String Quilts - September 11th
Log Cabin Twist - Topsy-Turvy Triangles, September 18th
Bargello Beautiful, Weekend Workshop - October 2nd and 3rd
The schedule through the end of the year is posted on The Fabric Quarter’s website.
Gotta go sew!
New Quilt Shop in Santa Barbara / Goleta California
Posted by WendyB | Filed under Quilting for Beginners
Up and down the Central Coast there is a good selection of quilt shops. They even have a Quilt Tour (shop hop) dedicated to the Central Coast shops.
But did you know that there’s a new quilt shop in Santa Barbara?
Located at 5708 Hollister Avenue in old town Goleta, The Fabric Quarter quilt shop specializes in contemporary, modern, bright fabrics.
Plus the shop is organized by collection so its easy to choose fabric if you’re a beginner. Of course there is a great selection of basics, flannels and new batik collections.
If you’re in the area, drop in… There’s classes on Saturday afternoons, and they have machines you can borrow (free of charge).
OK.. Gotta go sew!
Love the feel of fabric under the 1/4 inch foot.
Posted by WendyB | Filed under Quilting for Beginners
Sorry to be so out of the loop. I’ve been busy. Really busy. No excuse but… what’s keep my busy, and up at night is my new business venture/adventure. I’m working on opening a quilt shop. Its the smartest thing I’ve ever done. OR its the dumbest thing I’ve ever done. Not sure yet.
Now I’m an average quilter with limited creativity. I can follow a pattern – usually I mess something up along the way – but my projects come up OK and I move on to the next one. But there are two major reasons that I’m addicted to quilting regardless of how good or bad my skill:
1) I love the way the sewing machine sounds and feels as it takes those first few stitches under a 1/4 foot and watching that perfect seam being created. Even seeing videos of people quilting and piecing fabric makes me want to rush to my machine and sew.
I was just at BlockParty.com and there are some new images from Handmade by Alissa of her modern quilting projects and it makes me want to run downstairs and sew!
2) The other addictive part of quilting choosing fabric and notions for a project. Mulling around a quilt shop, overhearing what others are making (I was in a shop the other day and a gal was buying some minky to make a blanket for her cat since this cat had taken over her own blanket) is just pure fun.
So unfortunately I haven’t had alot of time to actually get my stitching fix on, BUT I have been seeing alot of fabric – an overwhelming amount of fabric. Selecting fabric for a quilt shop – NO clue. But I know what I like. I know how to prepare for business. And I know I’m a fast learner with a market that is ripe for a quilt shop. Here’s goes nothin’.
Of course I’m going to keep blogging here and sharing tips and info. I just may slow alittle bit for the next month or so but I’ll be here – gathering interesting info to post… I promise.
Gotta go sew! WendyB
My new sewing class at City College Adult Ed.
Posted by WendyB | Filed under Quilting for Beginners
Well, the week is almost quite over yet and I’m done reading all of the blogs I follow.
However, I started a sewing class this week! Its on Tuesday nights and its structured like an “open sew” time. Students bring whatever projects they want to work on. The class has Bernina machines, sergers, large cutting boards, etc. And the teacher, Ranell Hansen, is a long time sewing instructor and quilter! AWE – the best of both worlds. Ranell is quite a talented art quilter! Check out her blog.
Santa Barbara Riviera by Ranell Hansen (Photo Courtesy: Ranell Hansen)
So here’s what I’m going to do with this wonderful 3 hours of dedicated sewing time I now have per week:
1. Challenge myself to sewing something other than a quilt
2. Challenge myself to learn how these mechanical older berninas work. You know I’m spoiled with my Bernina 440 Quilters Edition.
3. Only use fabrics from my existing stash
4. Network and meet new people
Once I start my project I’ll take some pictures.
Gotta go sew! WendyB
Easy, modern quilt patterns to build your quilting confidence.
Posted by WendyB | Filed under Blocks & Patterns, Blogs to Watch, Fabric Obsessed, Quilting for Beginners
With this long weekend and my lovely, sunny Santa Barbara under a cloud of rain (we’re finally experiencing alittle winter weather), I’ve managed to squeeze in some quality sewing time.
First, let me define what I mean by “quality sewing time”:
1. Fel that I made progress in a limited amount of time
2. Felt my piecing was even and maintained the appropriate 1/4″ seam allowance
3. Didn’t have to use my seam ripper on the work I did
4. Had fun, stayed relaxed, wasn’t overly tired, and liked the outcome
5. Quilting confidence improved
Quilt top with Ginger Blossom by Sandi Henderson
This is the quilt top to my Ginger Blossom fat quarter quilt that I’ve been working on. I improvised a bit on the middle panel stripes because I didn’t have the yardage of any one pattern, and I was determined to only use fabric I currently own. The middle patterns are actually from Sandi Henderson’s new collection, Meadowsweet. She used the same color scheme for both collections so it working out good. For the back, I’m using four different yards pieced together (in big yard blocks) and then I’ll add an extra strip to the top and bottom because the back is alittle short.
The pattern: 5 & Dime – A Fat Quarter Pattern, by All Washed Up. I really like the patterns by this mother/daughter duo. They are quick, easy and colorful. Piecing them together is super fun and the layout of all the pieces is even “funner.” I did get alittle stuck the first time I tried to figure out how to separate and parse the cut pieces, but once I figured it out (when I wasn’t dead tired), it took 5 minutes.
Photo Courtesy: 5 and Dime by All Washed UP
You can just stitch in the ditch or a box design and not have to go overboard on free motion quilting this one. Or you could practice your stippling or a trace stencil on the long one pattern panels. If you use alot of patterns like I did, then even if you mess up on your free motion, no one will ever really see it!
The other pattern I own by All Washed Up is Just Can’t Cut It. Its another easy, beginner pattern – squares and rectangles, that makes a really fun, contemporary quilt. The owner of Quilt Ventura recommended that pattern to me.
Photo Courtesy: All Washed Up
Now I’m inspired to write a post all about the easy, modern day quilt patterns!
Gotta go sew! WendyB
Tags: All Washed up Patterns, block patterns, contemporary fabric, easy quilt patterns, Michael Miller Fabrics, Quilting for Beginners
Went to my first Quilting Guild meeting last night…
Posted by WendyB | Filed under Quilting for Beginners
So I ventured out to the local Coastal Quilters Santa Barbara Guild meeting last night. It was fun! I’m trying to get a temperature on the community to see if a quilt/fabric shop would work in my area. (I have a dream.) So I’m getting to know the local quilters and learning alot about quilting. I saw some women that were in my Kaffe Fassett workshop last week. And NONE OF THEM, like me, have started sewing their projects we started that day.
One of the things I’ll like about being a member of the local guild is that there’s some great little projects you can do that will keep you sewing – and motivated. Plus there’s bigger picture philanthropic projects that are constantly being created for various non-profits. Its all good stuff!
There was a guest speaker named Yvonne Porcella who has made a wonderful career for herself as a quilter, wearable artist,and weaver. She’s extremely accomplished and her work is pretty wild.
The guild was very affordable and there’s plenty to be involved with. If you have one in your area that you can join, DO IT! You’ll feel like a quilter being surrounded by quilters.
Gotta go sew! WendyB
Tags: block patterns, Quilting for Beginners, quilting guild, tips for beginning sewers