Snippets from Barb
April, 2013
UFO Rewards: If
you haven't been attending UFO night you missed an exciting
announcement in March. Many of us who went cruising started a charm
bracelet by visiting designated vendors to collect charms. We have
carried the concept home to QQ. Points can be earned by completing UFO's
and attending QQ functions. We have completed the list of qualifying
activities and the points earned at them, we are stocking up on special
charms to commemorate your achievements. The particulars will be printed
in the newsletter and on the blog. Each person who attends the April
UFO Night will receive a printed list of the point system. Drag out your
UFOs, finish them and get a little something to recognize your
accomplishment.
Class Schedule Changes: Changes
will be coming to the evening QQ class schedule in the near future.
These changes are being made to minimize the heating, cooling, and
lighting costs. We are seriously looking at having the shop open only 2
nights per week for classes. Which 2 nights will be decided with the
help of you. We will have short questionnaires at the shop for you to
have your input considered in the final decision. Please help us find
the 2 nights that would be most beneficial for those interested in
classes. Thanks for your help and we do appreciate your input. (Remember
that you earn UFO points by attending classes.)
August UFO Night (Aug
9th) will be dedicated to completing charity quilts in assembly-line
fashion. Come join the fun and take home a feel-good feeling. If you
have tops that have been assembled that you would like to contribute to
the cause, you have until August to drop them off at the shop.
Singular Sensation has
quickly become our best selling pattern book. It is a very simple block
to assemble (suitable for beginner level), instructions include 3 block
sizes, it is easily adaptable to different fabric designs. SS is based
on a 3 fabric/color design. It can be completed with minimal yardage or
leftovers from previous projects. You can easily make a small (baby or
lap size) over a weekend. The book shows variations of the basic pattern
while the block remains the same. Variations are possible by simply
turning the blocks or adding setting triangles.
Quotes from Singular Sensation fans:
Elizabeth Ray: "Simplest pattern to do in a hurry...easy to teach to new sewers... easily adaptable to multiple fabrics."
Bobbie
Owens: " easy and simple...fun to make...you don't have to fussy cut
the center block if you don't want to...minimal seam matching..."
Carolyn
Hanks: "I love this pattern....no matter what fabrics you use it looks
great...different fabric choices can make it look so different... I'm
not good with new patterns, but I love this one...."
Barb B: "This one is catching on like Turning Twenty did when
it came to QQ. Singular Sensation is so much easier and quicker."
Come
to QQ to get your copy of the Singular Sensation book ($24.99 and worth
every cent) Even beginners don't NEED a lesson for this one. (Did I
just shoot myself in the foot with that last sentence?)
Rotary Cutting Class is
now being taught by Vicky Walser and it is fantastic. This class is so
good that it is being added as an additional part of Beginner Class. But
this class is open to anyone who wants to become more proficient with
using rotary rulers. Vicky includes using the mat vs. the ruler to
measure accurately AND she shows you how to use the angle lines on the
ruler. She includes many other handi-hints in this class. Anyone is
welcome, not just beginners. Watch the schedule boards and the
newsletter for scheduled class times.
April Classes
Beginner Class continues, daytime Wednesdays thru April 17th.
Evening Beginner Class/Lrn2 make a Quilt: Note that Beginner Class is now 7 wks long because week #1 is Rotary Cutting Class.
Start new Evening Beginner Class: 7 consecutive Thursdays from April 4th thru May 9th; 6:15pm - 9pm. Cost: $70.00
Beginner Class has been increased to 7 weeks because
of the addition of Rotary Cutting. The cost of the class has been
increased to $70.00 which still equals $10.00 per class.
Bargello Quilt:
Instructor, Lynne, April 2nd, 9th, and 16th, from 1-4pm or 6-9 pm. This
is a three part class, cost is $35. Quilt is on display at QQ.
Rotary Cutting: Thursday, April 4th, 6pm - 9pm. Bring
your rotary cutter and ruler or use the ones at QQ if you don't own
them. No charge for enrolled Beginner students; Cost is $10 for
non-Beginner students.
Quilt as You Go: Saturday, April 6th, 11am - 3pm; by
Charlene Hamby. This technique can turn any quilt into a portable
project as you quilt each block with batting and backing individually,
before the blocks are assembled into a quilt top. I'll be in this class.
Cost: $15.00
Beyond Beginner- Crazy quilts, Monday, April 8th, daytime 1pm - 4pm or evening 6pm - 9 pm. Bring
your machine and scraps of fabric to learn how to make those scraps
into a fun block. This class is open to anyone who wants to learn to
crazy quilt. A great follow-up class to consider is Embroidery
Embellishments (April). Cost: $15.00.
UFO Night: Friday, April 12th, 6pm - ???.
Food theme is hot dog fixin's or sides to go with hot dogs. QQ will
furnish hot dogs and buns. Don't forget to bring your completed UFOs for
Show & Tell to earn points and rewards. UFOs must have been
completed after the March 8th announcement. Cost: $5.00 and a topping or
side to share. Desserts are considered a side.
Quick Trip Water Lily: Instructor, Virgie, April 18th, and 25th, from 1-4 pm. Cost is $25. Wall hanging quilt will be on display at QQ.
Daytime Beginner Class continues; Wednesdays, 1pm - 4pm.
Fire Escape, daytime only, 1 - 4pm, Tuesdays, April 23 and 30th,
by Vicky Walser. This is a 2 -part class. Two demo quilts are on
display at QQ by the cash register. This is a surprisingly easy weekend
project. Cost: $25.00 + pattern purchase + fabrics.
Bargello Flag, Wednesday, April 24th, daytime 1pm - 4pm or evening 6:15pm - 9pm by
Vicky Walser (day class) or Barb B. (evening class). Demo flag is on
display near classroom. This is a great gift for soldiers (former or
active) and for the upcoming flag-waving holidays. This is a
surprisingly easy project. Gather your mixed scraps of red, white, and
blue prints. Cost: $15.00. (Pattern will be furnished).
Happy Scrappy, Friday, April 26th, 6pm - 9pm, by
Barb. This is another attempt to get you gals (and guys) to use up your
scraps. Start gathering light, medium, and dark scraps and cut them
into 3 inch squares. I have another great pattern to share. Cost: $10.00
May Classes
Wednesday, May 1st and 8th, DayTripper (2 -part class), 1pm - 4pm,
by Barb. This class will not be offered again until fall. Several
DayTripper bags are on display at the shop. Cost: $25.00 + supplies.
Thursday evenings, May 1st and 9th, evening Beginners continues.
Monday, May 6th; Beyond Beginner: Curved Seams, 6pm - 9pm (evening only), by
Barb. After this class you will be able to sew those curved seams.
Bring your machine and straight pins. I will furnish fabric, templates,
and pattern. This class is open to anyone wanting to learn this
technique and is not limited to Beginner Grads. Cost: $15.00
Friday, May 10th, UFO Night, 6pm - ???. Food theme to be announced later. Bring your completed UFOs for Show & Tell. Cost: $5.00 and food to share.
Monday, May 13th and 20th (2 - part class), 1pm - 4pm by
Barb. This class revisits the original Turning Twenty pattern. This
class is offered on a limited basis. Twenty different fat quarters are
required. Part 1 is for cutting and assembly of the 2 different block
patterns. Part 2 is for assembly of the blocks. Cost: $25.00 + 20 fat
quarters.
Super Woman Turning Twenty: Instructor, Virgie, April 16th and 23rd, from 1-4 pm or 6-9 pm. Cost is $25. Quilt will be on display at QQ.
Friday, May 17th, Flip Flop Quilt, daytime 1pm - 4pm or evening 6:15pm - 9-pm by
Barb. Demo is on display at QQ. This is a repeat class for those of you
who have missed it in the past. The class will get you started on your
own interpretation of mine. You will receive instructions and flip flop
template at class. Cost: $15.00 + your fabric
Monday, April 20th, Turning Twenty continues
Wednesday, May 22nd, Embroidery Embellishments, daytime 1pm - 4pm or evening 6:15pm - 9pm by
Barb. This is a great opportunity to refresh yourself on a multitude of
embroidery stitches you learned years ago, or want to learn now. In
this class you will learn approximately 14 different stitches that can
be used to embellish crazy quilting or decorate towels, pillowcases,
etc. You will complete this class with a sampler of your stitches and a
life - sized embroidered pear that can be used as a lovely pin cushion.
Demo pear will be on display soon (I'm working on it.) Cost: $25.00 +
floss (floss skeins cost 40 cents each at QQ). I will furnish pear
pattern, pear fabric, design transfers, sampler fabric and needles. A 7
inch embroidery hoop and thimble is optional. (Yes, Barb is teaching a
class that uses a hand needle!) :o
Thursday, May 23rd, Intro to Free Motion Quilting; 1pm - 4pm or 6pm - 9pm, by
Barb. I'm repeating this class after multiple requests when it was
first offered in January. This is an Intro class because free motion
just takes practice, practice, and more practice along with the ability
to doodle or a bit of your own imagination. I will show you tips and
tricks and a handful of patterns. For this class you will need a machine
in good working order as well as a darning foot that fits your machine.
(Know how to install it BEFORE class.) Check your manual to be sure it
can be set up for darning (lower the feed dogs or have a cover for them
as well as a darning foot that fits your machine). Know how to lower or
cover feed dogs BEFORE class. We have one school machine that is
available for one student per class, but it is best to learn on your own
machine. Bring 2 quilt sandwiches that are approximately 18" square to
class. Low loft batting is best to learn on. Please review darning set
-up BEFORE class. Bring your machine manual to class for a back-up
reference. Come learn the basics so you can quilt outside the lines
after a bit of practice. Cost: $15.00 +plus your machine in darning mode
+ darning foot + 2 practice sandwiches.
Wednesday, May 29th, Part 2 of Embroidery Embellishments
Please pre-register for any classes you wish to take. This
is a good habit to get into as evening classes will soon be offered on 2
evenings per week only. If the minimum number of students have not
pre-registered, class will be cancelled. We can notify you only if we
have your contact information. We don't want someone to drive to a
darkened QQ shop to read a cancellation notice on the door. Please, pre
-register.
I
know change is a hard thing to deal with for all of us. As instructors
and employees of QQ, we are having to deal with it too. We'll just be
doing it all together. We are pleased to see new QQ family members as
fellow quilters (old and new) find us. Please make our new folks feel
welcome. Watch the class schedules as offerings of one you had your eye
on and interest in may have limited time slots. If you missed one that
you wanted, let us know so we can reschedule it. Consider inviting a
friend to take a class with you to help ensure that the minimum
enrollment is met. The bottom line behind these changes is to keep the
QQ institution healthy so it can continue to grow. (Look, we've taken
down walls and added new fabrics at great prices.) And where else can
you join like-minded friends for such fun (and great food on a Friday
night?) We just want to keep it growing and finding new ways to have
legal fun. If you have an idea, share it with us.
May all your stitches be even and snag -free,
