Pics from Square in Square class

Here is Cyndi McChesney (our teacher for the class). She is a certified teacher for this technique and she is great. Here she is showing us how the 1/4 seam is built into the block.

Here are some of my fellow quilters working away.

Here is my friend Mari, she sat down at the kindergarten table to lay out her topper

Isn't it pretty? I should have taken more pics, because everyone picked such pretty fabrics. 

Labor Day doings and Quilt Class

Well, last weekend was pretty peaceful.  We never did make it to the Kid's Day Parade due to some misinformation, but the kids did go to the State Fair and we had a nice barbecue and the evenings found me sitting outside on the porch watching my granddaughters jump rope and shoot hoops.  OH yes, the tooth fair pillow was a big hit with my GD! We even had a little sewing time together and they got to sew on "gramma's big machine" with gramma sitting right next to them of course. 
I have been in a strong high energy mode for several weeks now (what gives?) and have several projects going.  I have managed to keep up with the quilt along, doing my practice pieces as instructed.  I put together several more practice quilt sandwiches and am going to experiment with what I want to put on the Halloween quilt (which is all pin basted and ready to go). How is everyone else coming along? I see that Erin is following along, she posted pics of her first exercises and they look great.  http://vesuviusmama.blogspot.com/
I spent most of Thursday and Friday evening getting ready for the Square in a Square quilt class I signed up for months ago through my quilt guild.  I am here to tell you I am so pleased with this method.  We had a lot of fun in class, but best of all I felt I really came away with a good product and great results.  I had purchased the special ruler and a book years ago at a quilt show after watching a demo, only to get it home and not really understanding what to do and to lazy to figure it out - so - the ruler and book were put away in my ruler basket and there they sat until I heard about this class.  Our teacher's name was Cyndi McChesney and she gave us a LOT of information in six hours time.  I have known Cyndi for a few years.  I met her when I went looking for a longarm quilter to do some of my tops.  She has her own longarm business and I have been really happy with the tops she has quilted for me.  Long story short -
I would never have attempted these stars on my own.  I am so tickled with this I have to share. From this

To this

and finally this

It still needs to be sandwiched and quilted of course, so this will be another piece I will use for the quilt along. :) More pics of the class in a few days.  Just wanted to share before bed.  Hope you all had a great weekend. Bernie

Tooth Fairy pillow sneak peak

Looking around the blogspots it seems to me that lots of quilters are rejuvinated and ready to quilt - the lazy days of summer are winding down unless of course, you live in Australia.:)  My oldest DD (and wonderful mother to my two beautiful granddaughters) called to say they might come down this weekend for the state fair.  There is a kids day parade on Saturday that the girls really like.  There are three parades during the Fair.  The big parade downtown to kick off the Fair, the Kid's Day Parade and then the Fiesta Day Parade on the last day.  They are all fun, but the kids day parade is the best.  It is made up entirely of children and is held in a small area of town called Mesa Junction which is like an old fashioned downtown area with little shops. This parade has been going on for as long as I can remember.  I remember being in it with friends (we rode our bikes, which we decorated ourselves) and my children were in it (we built a float out of a wagon for the younges to ride in). 
I will post pictures if they come early enough for us to attend.  Of course that prompted me to finish up the tooth fairy pillow, so I can give it to -

                                    AMIA

My youngest grandbaby, as you can see she needs it for the tooth fairy! I decided to try to put some ribbon embrodery on it so it is not quite done yet, but I think I can finish it up by Friday.   In progress sneak peak.

Close up of my attempt at ribbon embroidery.  I will also have to add some sparkly crystals cause my girl loves bling! Then I just need to sew the back on and stuff it. 

I free motion quilted the background with loops and hearts, I will try to get better pics when it is all done. This was one of those preprinted panel sewing projects that I keep an eye out for in the clearance bin.   The little black heart stitched area will be covered with a little heart pocket for the tooth.  I have yet to write anything in my quilt journal book - I should start it with the quiltalong quilt information, does anyone else keep a journal of your quilting? What kind of information do you write in it?  I have a few projects I am actively working on right now, I do want to add a future quilts list to my blog list.  You know, those quilts that you want to try to make because you like the pattern or have an idea for a particular fabric?  Nuff, said for now.  Hope everyone is having a good week.   Bernie