Workshopping

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It's been quite a creative week here, and not all of it sewing related. Last Saturday, friend Janet & I had a great day workshop learning about stained glass. We took the class with Leona Stewart here in Ayr. Her work is super and we had great tuition in her workshop , just the two of us, such a great opportunity. Leona had asked us in advance if we had any idea what we would like to make.
Janet wanted to make a panel that reflected the textile piece she had made in class last year.
Here is her wallhanging -

And here is her glass version, isn't it brilliant!

I originally thought I might try a patchwork block in glass and then changed my mind and opted to try a lighthouse as a gift for the OH who has a thing for lighthouses. It turned out not too badly, almost circular but I have to admit I was chuffed to bits with it. Neither of us had tried this before and we were thrilled to complete our projects in the day. My day was a birthday gift (yes - another one) and it was just perfect.

Today I had one of my "summer workshops", I use the term "summer" very loosely. Basically, I am just running a workshop each week for 6 weeks following the end of last session. Today's workshop was foundation piecing - most ladies who attend my classes have tackled FP before. Some have a love hate relationship with the technique and nearly everyone hesitates as they start a new FP project. Today's workshop was small, just 6 students and the emphasis was on challenge. I encouraged the ladies to choose or have me source, a reasonably challenging block that would leave them feeling much more confident about foundation piecing.

Avril already had a pattern she wanted to try and today she pieced onto paper for the first time rather than use the lightweight Vilene that I usually start folks off with. Paper is of course much quicker and more verstile as you are able to print straight from the internet etc. So this is her block, pieced in four sections. She is going to make three more.

Norma wanted to do a block with a cat in it and I sourced her block here. Probably the trickiest of today's patterns, Norma made great progress with her sleeping cat and should complete it at home in next to no time!

Elizabeth came to the workshop today after a few years away from class - she wanted to do a Pineapple block so I printed one off for her from EQ7. She soon got back into the swing of things. Her block is destined to be a cushion.

Christina had found her project in a book of animal FP projects, A Quilter's Ark, by Margaret Rolfe. 

And here is her owl! He measured about 3" x 2"!!

My final two ladies followed patterns from the same source - I sort of fell upon it and want to share with you as it's brilliant if you are looking for a meaty FP project - they do several Block of the Month programmes, some charged and some free.

Lesley chose to do their Compass of Many Colours and learned how to "chain piece" her segments. This is going to be a stunner.

Wendy is already planning Christmas projects for family gifts and when I spotted another pattern on the same site I thought she might fancy giving it a go - here is her block so far - look at those wee Santas!!

So which site am I talking about?? It's Quilting on the Square

Now they have just launched a new BOM and I couldn't believe my luck, May's block is a combo of foundation piecing and EPP.......heaven. I have made three blocks so far - once the FP hexies are made I will EPP them together, genius idea.

Lastly, I also got going on this Viewmaster block, courtesy of Kim's blog. I have plans for a quilt based on this block but will share more of that later. In the meantime I am off to Sewing Bee, I have trousers to let down!!