Quilt as you go

Obviously I still don't have any idea how to put the pictures where I want them. But if they stay in the same order I'm seeing them, the one on the left is the scrappy version of a QAYG Rail Fence that we made in our QAYG class. The center one is the QAYG Rail Fence done with three planned colors (although I must have ignored the part about how pink takes over). And, the picture on the right would be the table runner I made using Bonnie Hunter's Boxy Stars pattern and my QAYG techniques.

I originally learned QAYG by making the Fun and Done version of Speedy Stars. In getting ready for this class, I was looking for ways to make it as easy as possible for those doing it for the first time to succeed. So, I picked a rail fence pattern to play with because nothing has to match from one block to the next. Then I had the students strip piece the blocks to minimize cutting
and slipping - and trimming after. I added a step where we baste the pieced block to the batting before we put it with the backing and do the quilting.

Then we talked about doing other patterns with the QAYG method. My class has already done several Boxy Stars quilts and loves the pattern, so I chose that one to make a sample. It became a table runner because I was using scraps and only had enough of the red print for a few blocks.

Happy New Year!

The images above are of the newest member of the family - Kira. She arrived with Kevin and Nicole and stayed with us for Christmas. The three resident felines were less than pleased, but in time, Kira managed to achieve a grudging truce from them. There has been a lasting side effect though. Ever since Kira went home to Oregon, our three have been playing more. I think they were just jealous cuz she's so cute.

We had a nice visit with Kevin and Nicole -- even managed to fit in some movies and games. We had cute Christmas trees and blue lights decorating the deck out front and a colorful tree in the lawn which we intended to take pictures of, but the only pictures we seem to have are of Kira, so you'll just have to take my word for it -- the outside looked nice.

We spent the week between Christmas and New Year's taking care of all the little details to close out 2009 and get ready for a great year in 2010. I even got last years quilting scraps sorted and into the bins ready for some scrappy quilts. Maybe this will be the year I get better at posting to the blog. You never know -- it could happen . . . . .