Oops!

I have just realised that I didn't blog about last Wednesday's class!
Anyway the ladies had a go a making the log cabin block and initially they got a bit confused about the order in which to go around. Anyway by the end of class we had a variety of Chickens!! And here they are in a variety of colour combinations.

This one we called sexy, as he/she was in creams and reds!

All was left was for the ladies to stuff them when they got home. I wonder who managed to finish their's?

Hopefully this week I won't forget to add a report!!

This weeks classes

Wednesday, the ladies were working on their own various projects. Fernanda was busy with her quilt and the instructions were causing problems (sizing problems), that after some help from Paula she was back on track.

And Madalena got on with finishing her Dresden Plate on her Elna sewing machine which she has had for a few years. It is so dinky!

And a mother and daughter joined us for the first time and started on their Rail Fence. They chose the same fabric but one did in pink/chocolate and the other blue/chocolate, placemats.

And later when Madalena had finished her pillow, she decided to go on and make small wallets using this fabric and also Manuela joined in as well.

We were joined in the afternoon by Maria Helena, who wanted to have a go a making the Dresden Plate, which she was going to finish at home with handsewing.

And on Saturday, unfortunately I had no time to take any pictures, as it was non-stop helping the ladies with their individual projects they had decided to do, from bags to journal covers and helping a lady cut some wonky strips!

Hopefully this Wednesday I will have some pictures to share with you! Check the calendar at Arco Iris Ao Metro as to what we are doing on Wednesday 9th February and if you are interest come along, but please don't forget to confirm with the shop that you will be coming to class.



Mug Rug Swap

Well, I have now made my two mug rugs. I used the same fabric for each, but with different designs. One had to be the dresden plate, as we have been working on this in class last week, but this time it was obviously on a smaller scale.



All it now leaves is for me to send the two mug rugs off to the respective receipent. I hope that she likes them. I wonder who I shall receive from this time?! This is the second swap I am taking part in and it is fun and also not too time consuming.

Wednesday's Class

On Wednesday the ladies all had a go at making a Dresden Plate cushion and came up various colour combinations. Fernanda with her blacks,

she is going to add the remainder of the strips to make the border.

And Gaby brought scraps to make her's

And Gurterdos used only two colours for the wedges

as well as Madalena

and this lady (she likes reds and blacks!) for whom this is only her second project, chose two colours as well.

Almost all decided that they wanted to piece the dresden plate by hand, especially the centre, as they thought it would be much nicer. I hope ladies that next week I can see the finished cushion!

Gaby brought in her cathedral window with a twist top, of which she decided to add squares to the centre, very effective, I think.

Well on Saturday afternoon, we are making Mug Rugs using paper piecing, for those ladies that are unable to make class on a Wednesday. I hope tomorrow to be able to show my Mug Rug Matts that I have made for the swap.

Wednesday's Class

We were a small group today. Some of the ladies were still doing the Mug Rug.

And Feminadina, not sure I have spelt that correctly, was continuing with her Rail Fence Project. She loves Reds!

And I showed the ladies how to make this block (this is actually Fernanda's),

that Angela had made and here is the link where you can find a short video explaining how to make the block. And it comes together so quickly! This is mine using 2 Charm Packs that I got from here.

From a distance it looks like half circles, very clever. All I have to do now is quilt it and bind it together! As you can see from the picture the sun is shining today, with lovely blue skies, which Portugal is known for even in January, but rather chilly today.

Saturday's Class

Yesterday we had 8 ladies turn up to work on various projects, as it was the "Livre" class for the month on Saturday. I must admit I get a bit nervous because I normally don't know what to expect. But after checking with Paula on the Friday, she gave me an idea of what people wanted to work on, so it wasn't too bad, in fact it was a very enjoyable Saturday afternoon with these ladies. Hence the lack of photos!!
We had three new ladies, who started on making a Rail Fence, two are making Table Runners and the third has opened to make placemats.

And these two ladies were using the same fabric up in a different order who hadn't been to class since before Christmas.

We also had two ladies making journal covers and another making a bag. Sorry no photos!

Wednesday Classes

I don't know where the last couple of weeks have gone! We have had our Wednesday classes, but sorry I have not blogged about them, how bad is that. The first Wednesday back was only a morning class and was where people could get on with their own projects that they still hadn't finished (UFO's) or try something new. Gaby wanted to have a go a log cabin's

And Manuela decided she wanted to make a X Block quilt for her grandson.

And here is a close up of the fabric, just love the turtles.

And this last Wednesday the ladies had a go at making Mug Rugs. I have decided to participate in the Mug Rug Swap this month. If you are interested in participating, click on the Swap Banner for more information. We combined it with foundation piecing of a cup and saucer. Here are some of them.

And Madalena after finishing her Mug Rug stayed on for the afternoon class to start this applique, which will eventually go onto to the front of a sewing bag. The kits are available here.

 

That was pretty much what went on the last two Wednesdays!



HAPPY NEW YEAR

I can't beleive that it is already 2011. I must admit that the last two weeks of 2010, I did nothing in quilting, but instead spent quality time with my DH and DD. My DH has been away working in Tanzania for the last 7 months, so I think I had a very good excuse not to be teaching or doing any quilting.
He was very lucky he arrived on the 18th Dec because his connecting flight from London was cancelled on the 17th Dec, due to the bad weather that London Heathrow had to contend with, I could go on .... His suitcase turned up on the 25th Dec!! Which had these fabrics he found in Tanzania.

They will need to be washed as they are a bit stiff and also to check if the dye runs out. Not sure what I shall use them for, bags is one idea. We will see, but it was lovely of him to bring them.

What 2011 has in store I don't know really other than more quilting for sure and it would be lovely if we as a family could be together rather than this distance apart, we currently have. All I can say is thank goodness for Skype and computers which enables us to be able to keep in touch.

All it leaves me to say is Happy New Year and keep on with the quilting.

Wednesday's Class

At class we had Helena showing her X-Block tablerunner and how to use up the excess triangles you get after cutting your X-Block. They will be used in the border.

Teresa had taken a day off work to learn the Cathedral Windows technique and was going to continue with it more at home to make a pillow. She knew that the 3inch squares that she had bought would come in useful one day!

And Madelena was making small purses to give as last minute Christmas presents, but her faithful Elna machine had decided to play naughty at class. It has such a lovely sound when it sews and she has had it for about 20 years, but still going strong.

And this lady (sorry name problem again) was still working on her Bag from a workshop we had done earlier in the year,

but she is only able to visit about twice a year, she also had forgotten how to attach the binding, but we got there. I remember Angela when she was here in Portugal saying to make a block and add the binding around with pins with the various stages, still have it! She also has a tutorial on her blog for attaching binding. Check it out.

Well that was my last workshop for this year before my DH returns home after working almost 7 months in Africa. Sara is so excited to be getting to have her Papá home for the holiday's after all this time, me too.

So I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, Feliz Natal and all good things in 2011.

Helen

x

Wednesday's Class

It was a public holiday yesterday, but we had a workshop in the morning as some ladies that work wanted to make Christmas Balls and purses. It was so busy that I had trouble in taking pictures so the only picture I was able to take was this of Teresa's balls that she had done at home after the workshop she had attended.

The 3 ladies making the balls.

The remaining 5 ladies were around the otherside making purses, which I didn't manage to get photos of.

And then........ it was off to lunch to reveal the Row by Row we have been doing for the last couple of months. It was hard to keep the secret and not show any of the work we have been doing these months on my blog!! It started by everyone making their own row of blocks or in Mariya's case applique and she chose to repeat this process through everyone elses rows when it came for her turn to the other ladies. So it will be a reminder to all of us of the lovely work Mariya does in applique and stitchery.

Here is Mariya's

Helena's

 Manuela's

Fernanda's

Irene's which has a handpainted chicken scene by Fernanda

and mine

and finally a group photo of us all! Including I hope our next generation of quilters.

A final note to say that I really enjoyed taking part in the Row by Row and hopefully the ladies did too. I think Paula and I are thinking of doing another in the new year, but slightly on a different theme and over a longer period of time!