Sunday, September 12, 2010

Magnolias

I've been busy sewing while I was blogging about the Study Day, but first I wanted to show you the new Sue Spargo tote bags I got. They are printed with her Magnolia Quilt, and were available for the Quiltmania show in France. They were so popular that she bought every one they had left, and my fingers flew to order a couple after I got the email about them. Aren't they cute?



Speaking of Sue Spargo, I have been reading about her Australian teaching tour with envy, but my chance is coming. She is teaching at a local shop next month, and I'm taking two of her classes. The class kits were in last weekend, so I picked them up and got right to work. I'm taking the berry sampler and the bird sampler classes.



Here they are, all ready for embellishment with threads, ribbons, and beads.



I've also been working on my Stawberry Quilt. I had to get a new ruler, Perfect Fans and Shells. I'm using it to make the rows of the strawberry. You just trace around it however many times you need for that row. No making a template!



Here is the strawberry, ready to applique.




I didn't get a chance to do much sewing this weekend, because I took a couple of classes. Yesterday I took an Oral History Workshop at our local museum. My Quilt History Study Group has been listening to oral history tapes of well known local quilters, such as Betty Boyink, who started the Hoffman Challenge, among other things, and Karen O'Dowd, who was an Editor at both Lady's Circle Patchwork Quilt and Quilter's Newsletter Magazines. A few of us took this workshop so we will be able to record more of these histories. The workshop was taught by Dr. James Smither of Grand Valley State University, who records oral histories of Veterans, and he shared a lot of information on everything from equipment and setup, to how to conduct the interview, and we did a sample interview and critiqued it. I learned a lot and signed up to be available to take them in the future. People took the class for various reasons, including genealogy and other projects they were working on. I plan on doing some for my own genealogy research, too.

After that class, I dashed across town to Cascade Hospital for Animals to take a Red Cross Pet First-aid class. I am now certified in pet first aid! This was a class dear to my heart, as I love my boys dearly, and also wanted to be able to help other injured animals. It was pretty intense training. Here is my table mate practicing CPR on a dog manikin. Of course, I practiced on a cat! We each got a pet first aid kit and a manual with DVD as part of the class. Hopefully I'll never have to use what I've learned, but I'll be ready just in case.



10 comments:

Lori said...

I have seen the bags and they are adorable!
I am so happy to see someone use the perfect fan template. I've had the site bookmarked for some time and was wondering if I should purchase it. I too have the strawberry pattern and it looks like it will be a fantastic tool. I'm so glad you showed it!! I think your strawberry block is so wonderful!!

Janet said...

I love those tote bags, they're quite the thing. I have that fan template, it's really a great one. The block looks fantastic, I love it.
Wow you have been busy, good for you doing the first aid.

antique quilter said...

oh that tote bag is adorable I am going to have to order one
I love Sue Spargo's designs and color sense. wish I had a wool stash to work with like she does! OH boy the block is beautiful, oh I love it laid out like that.
great ruler, I have that have always wanted to try making a scalloped border one of these days...
What a wonderful day of classes you had. Very nice of you to do the cpr for animal training.
as always great post!
Kathie

Sue said...

Quiltmania were giving the bags away at FOQ last month if your bought a subscription to the Magazine. Great bags. The ruler looks an interesting find I have never seen one here I will have to keep my eyes peeled- as for CPR for animals again never seen or heard of it being done here in the UK - maybe the vets would do it but by the time you called the vet it would probably be to late. Lucky old cats you have knowing they can pass out and you will revive them.

YankeeQuilter said...

Gosh I got tired just reading your email! All great stuff though...

Beth said...

Lisa, I'm amazed you have any time for quilting :-) So many interests; what a great way to keep your mind young.

Beth

Susie said...

I have that strawberry pattern and would like to know where I can purchase the ruler template now. I like how yours is turning out! Please advise..............Thanks!

Karen said...

The fan template looks like a handy tool.

fabriquefantastique said...

Interesting, varied blog...I like it!

merumo said...

Ohhhh, pet First-aid class! I got my certification a couple of years ago and now feel like I need a refresh class. I love your strawberry with such yummy colors!! Can't wait to see the progress.