Hi all!

Sorry I have been so negligent!  Time has gotten away from me again.  Last Saturday was our first Underground Railroad class.  Marilyn was the only in class so we decided to start the first block in March.  We are hoping to have more ladies to add to our fun.

Just for your information, I am still teaching at Tomorrow’s Quilts in addition to here at home.  There are several classes coming up that you might find interesting.  At 10 am we are an embroidery sampler.  If you like or want to learn some hand embroidery, this will be a fun class for you.  We are patterns designed by This & That.  There are 6 seasonal patterns in the series.  There is a neat setting pattern on line if you want to make a quilt.  The additional block are pieced so you end up with a quilt that measures 40″ x 54″.  Of course you can add to the size by adding more borders or adding to the setting.  The first block is on display at the shop on Lake Air.

Another class that begins in March is Santa’s Village.  There is a fun appliquéd center block surrounded by 12 pieced blocks and bordered by tree and house blocks.  The plan is to make 2 blocks a month and several house and tree blocks to be ready to put it together is month 7.  Ready in time for Christmas!

In April or May we are planning to begin the Stonehenge BOM.  This a gorgeous pieced quilt brought to you in 2 color ways.  This class will meet the first Sunday of the month following Sunday School at 3:00.  No  machines needed; this will be a cutting class. The quilt uses templates from the Marti Michelle collection.  Since many people are not comfortable using templates we thought a cutting class with instructions for construction the blocks would be a good idea. The posters showing these quilts are hanging in the shop behind the register.  Come decide which one you want to make.

NOW for the classes here at The Stitchin’ Place.  As you already know, Underground Railroad is ready to begin.  I also have a baltimore album scheduled for the 3rd Saturday every month at 10 am.  We will use the book Baltimore Beauties and Beyond by Elly Sienkiewicz.  Each month we will learn a new technique.  there are several blocks available that will help you perfect your stitching so you can make you quilt as large or as small as you choose.  There are 12 lessons and 27 patterns.  If you are interested in this class please contact me by email or phone.

My mother is having a pacemaker installed in March.  I will add classes when I get back from New Mexico.  I am also going to Brownwood to make a presentation and teach a couple of classes for the guild there.  I am very excited about it!  This is my first public speaking engagement, so I am a little nervous.   But…I’m excited.

If you have any suggestions for classes, please let me know.  I’m always open to suggestions. Talk to you again soon.

Gretchen

Hi everyone.  I am learning more about blogging and maintaining this website.  I’m sorry it has taken me so long.  Technology is a mystery to me.  Thanks to Chris Carlson, I am getting educated!  Ok…I have scheduled the Underground Railroad Sampler quilt for the 2nd Saturday of the month beginning in February. Here are a few of the blocks we will make.

I would also like to add a hand applique class, Baltimore Album for the 1st Friday afternoon beginning in March.  These are samples of the first few blocks.  There are more techniques later in the quilt.

More information on these classes is in the Available Classes section.  Let me know if I can help you in any way.

Have a good week!

Gretchen

the plan for today was to be on the road to New Mexico to spend Christmas with my family. All the roads are closed leading into Albuquerque…so we hope to leave about 3:00 Saturday morning. Hopefully, everyone else has a wonderful time with family and friends this weekend.

I am looking forward to the new year. I have been making small bags/pouches and they are so addictive! There will be several classes for making small pouches. My goal is to get you addicted too! There will be several hand embroidery classes too. One of the pouches I made had an embroidery design on the front and back. It is so cute! Hence, embroidery classes. These projects are so easy to take with you when you have to go somewhere knowing you will be sitting and waiting.

I also love hand applique. Let’s add a Baltimore Album to the list of quilts we work on. There are many new techniques in these quilts that are quite different from most hand applique you see. Elly Sienkiewicz is my favorite designer for these beautiful quilts. We will begin this quilt in March.

Merry Christmas to all!
Gretchen

Hasn’t this week been something?! Rain, freezing temps, sunshine, warmer days; we have run the gamut of weather this week. Holidays are coming. Everyone is busy getting ready. I love the holiday season, but must admit I do like things to be normal. Looking forward to the new year and meeting new people.

I am scheduling 2 block of the month classes to begin in January. One will be Eleanor Burns’ Underground Railroad. This class has traditional piecing. Eleanor tells some wonderful history along with the blocks. The other class will be another Eleanor Burns quilt called Christmas Traditions. I love using her material. Her books are incredibly well written. I am also planning some single or double session classes. I just haven’t decided which to start with. As I stated earlier, I will have them all ready to go before Christmas. Well, have a good week.

I am so excited to tell you that we are so close to being ready we are “gearing up”! Classes will be posted by Christmas. Be sure to check out About and General Info. They will be ready by Christmas too. Looking forward to seeing old friends and making many new friends! Come play with me!