Another Future Quilters Orientation

I adore showing a new generation of little girls.... or big girls and even adults.... the joys of quilting.  Fabric and design, the techniques, the options, the amazing ability to create for a lifetime and never create the same thing twice.  So when Andrea, my son's friend and her 2 little girls were visiting from up north, I asked would she and the girls be free for a morning to quilt, I got a happy "YES!"

Andrea had sewn a pillowcase before.  With a friend who was also a non-sewer.  Her husband got her a sewing machine from his Grandma while they were here, so she brought it over and we unpacked it, I taught her to wind a bobbin, change a needle, thread the machine, and basic maintenance.  I also highlighted important instructions in the book.  Andrea was a FAST learner, soon sewing up a storm, trouble shootong, re-threading the machine and re-inserting a bobbin!  I wish they lived closer, Andrea was a very fun student.

The girls, Sienna, age 7 and Olivia, age 4, each completed a Christmas project.  I can see both becoming quilters in the future.  And Mom, heading home with a new machine and a lot of excitement, will surely teach her girls and pass it on.

Too Young To Quilt?

Ryan's mom April helped me take a footprint (Ryan would NOT allow a handprint!) for his Christmas ornament.  Youngest quilt class I have done yet!

When he gets bigger will he still want to paint on quilts?  I bet yes! 

Girls Quilting Day 2013

I LOVE to introduce people to quilting.  Sometimes, it "clicks!" and a new quilter is produced.  So when my friends bring their daughters over (age 3 1/2 and up!) we have a blast bringing out the paints and stamps and creating a first quilt.

The little girls were between 3 1/2 and 5, I had 3 little ones and an 11 year old over. I may have offered too many options for so little time; next time I may do only painting, stamping and sewing buttons. 

The girls were all quite proud of their creations.  I think EMMA was the most intense.......... maybe she will be a quilter some day! 

  

Passing the love along.....

As much as I love quilting, I also adore teaching new quilters to quilt!  So when my friend's daughters are around 5 or 6, it's time to have some of them over for a quilt lesson!  At this age they like to stamp, paint and spray stencil,  color with pens, and pound flowers with a hammer.....

Sabrina's favorite task was sewing buttons onto her stamped quilt!

Can't wait for the next batch of little girls to teach!

Baby Animals

When a friend asked me to help her make a quilt for an adoptee baby boy she had cared for, but confessed her sewing skills were suspect, I asked "can you color?"  Surprised, she said sure.  So, we searched google images for Baby Animal Cartoons, traced them onto lightly blue dyed muslin.  Colored with the inktense colored pencils (go on like colored pencils; add water with a brush and the inks become vibrant and color fast.) and made a simple setting with a collection of fat eights.  She was delighted!