Workshop

All day (from 9 to 5) on October 13, we're having a Santa's workshop. We will be offsite and have a lot of great classes planned, and we'll also be sure to feed you healthy snacks and a healthy lunch! You won't have to do anything all day except work on projects.

You may choose your own project, or you may pick any or all of these:

1. Christmas stocking. This simple stocking can be sewn in a jiffy! It makes a great decoration--or fill it with goodies! 

2. Crazy-quilt ornament. You'll learn a little about crazy quilting, and you'll have a beautiful ornament when you're done!

3. Felted soap. It's fast, it's fun, and it makes a perfect gift!

4. Knitted Necklace. This is a quick project that you can do in just a few hours! 

5. Placemats. Kim will show you how to make this great placemats. They're perfect for large-scale prints! Fast, fast, fast!

6. Baked-potato bag. We have the special batting and the perfect fabric! Whip up a gift that everyone will enjoy all year! 

7. Crocheted snowflake. It is not only gorgeous, but also fun to make!

8. Mochiland snowman. This little guy is just 1" high, but packs in more cute than you can count!

9. Towel edging. Everyone can always use hand towels--so make them pretty, and make them a gift!

10. Beaded tree ornament. Elizabeth Zimmermann knew how to knit things that are super clever. This tree is no exception. Cynthia added beads for a little sparkle! 

If you are interested in signing up, please give us a call at 814-238-4151, or stop by. We'll help you pick out what you need to get going--and we'll see you on Saturday, October 13!

3 in 1

I'm not quite sure where I got my idea, other than wanting to do a block of the month lap quilt that we could all finish before Christmas. That meant, if I wanted to do 12 blocks, that we had to do 3 blocks a month. Not just any 3 blocks a month, but 3 blocks a month during a busy time of the year.

I fiddled around with designs, and slowly one took shape. What if we did something that took about the same amount of time as making one block? The secret to that would be in easy cutting and mass-production sewing. That means that you need all the same block. Three of the same block is a bit dull, so to change it up, I figured that at least the fabrics should be different.

We had 4 months. That meant 3 blocks per month. So therefore, we would cut 3 blocks' worth of layers at the same time. I figured that we could layer different colors, and therefore come up with different blocks--in this case, 3 colors for 3 blocks. As long as you have a sharp rotary blade, cutting 6 layers of fabric is no big deal.

I wrote up the instructions, and then began cutting and sewing. I decided to do not only a Christmas one, but a bright one as well. I'm happy with both of them so far! Cutting out each one took no more than 15 minutes, and sewing all 6 blocks took a little longer than 2 hours. As I sewed, I wasn't quite sure what I would get, so part of the fun was in the mystery.

So far, here's what I have for the Christmas one:

And the bright one:

(You'll only like it if you like pink!)

There is still time to join in, given how fast this quilt makes up. Kim and I can fix you up with the instructions and fabrics.

Stop by anytime, and we'll help you choose your fabrics!

Being in a Quilty Mood

I've been in a quilty mood lately. So for fall, I decided to do a quick block of the month. I was trying to figure out something that was bigger than a table runner, but that we all could get done quickly. It is fall. We are all busy at this time of the year.

I'm not sure how I came up with the idea, but I decided to do a star quilt that had an interesting element of construction: Each star would be made up of 3 colors of fabrics, and we would make 3 stars per month. To cut the fabrics, all you would need to do is layer all three, cut the pieces, and voila! Three blocks cut out in the same time that it normally takes to cut out one!

For example, if you were doing red, green, and gold as your three colors, you would layer those fabrics and cut all your pieces from them. Then after, say, you had cut out the star tips, you would have one red-tipped block, one gold-tipped block, and one green-tipped block.You choose four quarter-yard pieces of fabrics for each of the three colors; this gives you some variety and some shading.

I called it a Christmas Block of the Month, but you can choose any fabric you like. I'm actually making two of them--one Christmas and one brights. Let me remind you of the design first:
 

See how the star-in-star blocks on the lower left, upper right, and lower center look similar but have different colors? That's the idea. (I reserve the right to change out every star as we go along, but I promise that I will stick to all stars!)

While I didn't draw it this way, I thought it would be fun to have a print inner border where the red is, and to have a more plain outer border--but of course you can do it however you'd like. 

Here's my Christmas one:

I substituted black as the background for the stars rather than the white of the picture above. Last-minute change today. I love black! And the birds on black will be my inner border.

And here's my bright one.

  

Here, the pink color is my background, the large orange print will be my inner border, and the blue will be my outer border. I'm shivering with excitement over this one. It has pink and blue in it!

I did my cutting this evening. I discovered a few cutting tricks by the second set, and it took about 10 minutes to cut out three blocks! In the instructions, I'll give cutting tips to make yours go just as fast, if not faster, then mine.

We begin Monday, and as is usual for block of the month, have sessions all day long. The class is free if you buy our fabrics, or $25 if you use yours. I hope to see you there! Give us a call to sign up (814-238-4151)!

In the meantime, I suppose I should actually sew the blocks now, huh?

Relay Race

I have been struggling for a few weeks, trying to figure out what my big "games" project will be. As you probably know, Stitch Your Art Out is joining Ravelry for the "Ravellenics," but we are adding one thing to our own games, which is that quilters should feel free to join in. The idea is that you pick a project, start it the day that the world-wide games coming up on Friday start, and end it by the day the games end.(The world-wide games committee is not allowing businesses to use the official word for the games without permission. I do not have permission.)

My problem (so to speak) is that I am working on a number of things in anticipation of a photo shoot for my patterns that is coming up on August 9. The timing for one big project is a bit off here.

A customer came in a few days ago and said that what she needs to do is a relay, where she finishes up one project after another--and as soon as she said it, I realized that that's what I need to do as well. And so this is my commitment.

My vow is that I will work on the item until finished. "Finished" means that I must also have a good draft of a pattern completed as well as the knitted item. Most of these projects have an almost-finished pattern and an almost-finished item, and it's time to get them finished.

Fall is almost here, and the world needs new patterns!

Because it is a relay, I vow also to finish the patterns in order. (Discipline will be fierce.) I also vow not to begin anything new for 2 entire weeks, unless these projects are all complete first. I am allowed to alternate quilting and knitting, however, if I so choose. I can make my own rules, baby.

Knitted Stuff

1. Shawl. I am working on a shawl that is knitted in sections of striped colors. Estimated time to completion: 10 hours of knitting.

2. Headbands. I have designed headbands. I even have good photos of them. But I used yarn that had too little contrast, and the design did not show up in the photos. I am making 2 new headbands, one for a man, one for a woman. I would prefer making four new ones, but I will do that only as time permits. Estimated time to completion: 7 hours of knitting.

3. Pillow. The front of a pillow I designed is finished. I must finish the back: Pillows look sad without a back and stuffing. Estimated time to completion: 6 hours of knitting.

4. Necklace. I have been meaning to design a beaded necklace for about a year. It is time. Estimated time to completion: at least 6 hours of struggling with design, 2 hours of knitting the final product.


Let's say that I knit for 2 hours/day on average.That brings us to 14.5 days. That, however, is not serious challenge, since it is probably what I do on average anyway.

So let's add a few quilting projects in here to make it interesting.

Quilted Stuff

1. Finish the re-do of my beginning placemat for my quilting 101 pattern. I want something a little more coherent/coordinated than what I have for the cover. Estimated time: 3-4 hours.

2. Catch up on the blocks for the 2012 block of the month. It is SO pretty. I must have it! I cut all the blocks out a few weeks ago, so I'm going to get them sewn. Estimated sewing time: 3.5 hours.

3. Finish a Unicorn quilt I started that we are doing as kits. I just need to do some quilt quilting and then bind it. Estimated sewing time: 2 hours.

4. Quilt a tumbler quilt top I made and write up the handout.(Estimated time: 5 hours of quilting.)

So this is it. This is what I want to have finished in 2 weeks. The most difficult part of all is that rule about how I am not allowed to start anything new for 2 entire weeks unless this list is finished. That is completely out of my comfort zone.

Now this is all in writing and you are reading it, so it is real. I will let you know if there are any last-minute changes between today and Friday.

Let the games begin.

Enjoying a Beautiful, Sunny Arts Fest Weekend

Are you having fun at the Arts Fest? I have been. It's been kind of a lazy week, and we all need those sometimes. I spent Thursday knitting, walking around to see the exhibits--and taking a little peek at the Alumni Center wildlife. This turtle was enjoying the day too, sunning itself.

 

And this mama had her ducks in a row. Kids sure do grow fast, don't they?

Friday I worked and enjoyed many people from out of town. (Apparently you all have out-of-town guests this weekend.)

This afternoon (Saturday), while Kirsten watched the shop, Kim and I went to the Palmer museum, where we joined with some wonderful women from the Centre Pieces quilt guild to demo quilting--thank you, Pat, Claire, and Diane for helping us! (And an added thank you to Becky, for the beautiful quilt she loaned us to display.)

Kim talked to people about how to quilt, how to put colors together, and she showed everyone some of the quilts she has made over the years....

Claire sat next to me and showed people how she did foundation piecing. Everyone was fascinated by her 1953 Singer Featherweight. (Any number of times, she answered the question, "Is it a treadle machine?")

And I showed people how to rotary cut. (Here I am demonstrating that it is highly unsafe to look away from your work when you have a rotary cutter in your hand.)

We loved being at the Palmer. (Thanks, Dana, for asking us. And start quilting--you know you want to.)

I suggest that even though we are no longer demonstrating our work, you get yourself to the museum ASAP. There is a stunning exhibit of quilts in one of the upstairs galleries. And after you've been inspired, come on over to our store to stitch your art out.

Sometimes You Need to Retreat

People have been bugging Kim and me to have a retreat for years. We were always kind of intimidated. In our minds, we needed to have an elaborate setup with many teachers, and many more customers--possibly hundreds of both. We weren't quite sure where to have it--Europe and Montana both seemed kind of far away. We talked to all kinds of people, got all kinds of suggestions, and just spun our wheels. 

Last June, however, we had a breakthrough. We took a class on how to hold a retreat. Everything seemed pretty straightforward, but we were still unsure if it was possible. And then it happened. One thing that the instructor said in passing changed us instantaneously. She said, "Decide what your minimum is--say, 8 or 10 people." 

We looked at each other. That was it? You could do a retreat with just 8 people? 

Suddenly it seemed possible. And during the break in the class, the instructor further convinced us that there just had to be a place near our home, given our lovely location in Central Pennsylvania. 

So we started planning. We indeed found a place--Lake Raystown. It seemed like a perfect spot--just over an hour away--far enough to be away, but close enough not to eat into retreat time and energy. We spent the next 6 months organizing the whole thing. 

And suddenly, this past weekend, it was time to pack and go.

Now, anyone who knows me knows that I am not exactly an early bird. Frankly, I'm not all that interested in worms. So when I had to leave the house at 6:45 to get there by 8:00 Friday morning to set up, I did not begin as the most cheerful person in the world. 

But I took route 45, which is one of my favorite roads in Pennsylvania. And within minutes, my attitude changed to one of great joy. Once a year or so, when I have to get up early, I am reminded once again that there is a reason other people think morning is beautiful: And that reason is the sun. I stuck my camera out the window (with the strap around my wrist to keep it secure), and shot blind photos of random scenes. Like this.

And this.

And this. 

Cows, baby. I love me some cows.

In no time flat, we were both there. Set up went quickly, and soon Kim and I were sewing before anyone else arrived.

Surrounded by this. 

By 2:00 everyone had arrived, and the room was humming with activity.

Mostly, when you take a shot of people working in a room and post it to your blog, it doesn't look great. People's expressions are weird. We've all seen those dreadful workshop pictures--right? My shots were no exception.

But Photoshop came to the rescue, turning my bad shot into a painting that gives you a real feel for the energy of the room:

 

The entire weekend hummed like that.

As the days went by, I loved looking at all the beautiful colors people were using.... 

And seeing what they were making. Here's a basket in process:

(I nearly stole one I loved them so much.)We had cool but pleasant weather most of the weekend, and spring was in full bloom. I found this pretty little thing on one of my walks:

Okay. I admit it. I took exactly one walk. But it was an extra good one, what with the butterflies!

I did, however, eat every meal. This was my favorite meal, I think--chicken and veggies and fruits in an Asian sauce. We were each allotted 3 kebobs, but since we were a group of women, and we are all scared to eat for fear of Pounds, there were a lot left. So I ate 6.

Kim and I have stopped eating sugar. Normally we're not even attracted to it. But the smell of these cookies nearly sent us over the edge:

But best of all, by Sunday we all had some finished projects--or something darned close! There is just nothing more exciting! These are just a few of them:

And so it was a great weekend, even for Kim and me. She worked on some art quilts. I finished quilting my Jelly Roll Race (photo to come later, or stop by the shop to see it), and I finished a necklace, and I finished a headband, and I made the nametag we're supposed to have for Quilt Guild, which I have not had for NINE YEARS, and I worked on the beginning of a new quilt. And after all of that, I thought I would have time on Sunday to finish putting the buttonband on a sweater that I steeked 2 years ago. No such luck.

So I did it when I got home.

I am certain that without the retreat to motivate me, this sweater would still be languishing in a bag in my closet. Sometimes you just need to get away.

We'll be having another retreat next year. Pay attention to the fall newsletter and sign up right away. I'm already looking forward to it.

Happy New Year!

Did you make Christmas or Hanukkah gifts this past year? Many of you did, I know for a fact.

It seems odd, given my profession, but I never used to make gifts--I bought everything. A few years ago, however, I started making a few. I discovered that I really enjoyed giving something different and special to people. Yes, another stunning revelation comes my way.

This year, however, I didn't make as many gifts as I would have liked. Time can get away from you.

I'm not much for resolutions. They tend not to last. But this year, I think I'm making one. Every month, I am going to make sure that I make at least one gift, and.....

Wait. 

Something in my head is suddenly feeling awry. I suddenly sense that I need to do actual math. [Insert muttering-type counting sounds.] Uhm.... okay. There are 23 people on my gift list.

GPS: "Recalculating."

So this is the plan: Every month, I am going to make sure that I make at least two gifts. By December, I should have at least one handmade gift for everyone on my list. I'm planning to make most of them simple so that this plan is achievable. I have no desire whatsoever to burn out or injure myself.

So that's the goal. We'll see if it works. If it doesn't, I'll probably still have more done than this past year.

But I'm quite serious about it and have already started a list of ideas for people and am even writing them into my iPhone. For obvious reasons, I can't blog about the results of this plan very well, but, provided that you are unrelated to me and/or not on the list, feel free to ask how things are going and what I am doing. You might even get a few ideas for yourself.

Anyone out there care to join me?