Two classes and some quilting

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Its been a busy week here at Wazoo. My two quilt guilds hosted Nancy Mahoney for lectures and classes. She did a splendid talk with quilts to show on Tuesday at the day guild, followed by a class on Wednesday featuring how to make a feathered star. It was a bit more involved than I figured it would be, but I learned new techniques and had fun.

Its coming along, and I'm sure it will look better when I finish it.

On Thursday, The same lecture was enjoyed in Blue Ridge, where I was enlisted to take pictures. Everyone enjoyed the talk there, too. On Friday, I took another class with Nancy in Blue Ridge. We started a quilt called Dot to Dot, and the picture below is as far as I got on that. Now, I have two projects to finish.

Nancy Showed us how two block quilts are more interesting  to look at and fit into different grids. I didn't realize I had her book in my library!

We girls had a fun day sewing up a storm while it poured rain outside.

Only the three circles in the top left corner are sewn down. I just wanted to see what it was going to look like. Its coming along nicely!

Meanwhile, Mr Wazoo was busy at home, doing yard work until the rain came, and then quilting in the man cave.

Pretty pinwheels

Panto: Ribbon Roses

Unique Toille type backing

Nice lap quilt for a man

Panto: Yodel

Another interestingly printed backing

This customer brought in this Grandmother's flower garden made by her mother. She was going to hand quilt it, but it was too daunting a task, so she opted to have it longarmer.

Panto: Daisy Swirl

It looks really nice on the back.

I joined the work in the studio, quilting a couple of quilts after putting away all the fabrics I left out before the classes. Somehow, Having cut a zillion pieces of fabric didn't make any dent in the stash...

Christmas is coming! We have been inundated with Christmas gift quilts, and those to be enjoyed by their quilt maker, too. The customer made this to have in her own home.

Panto: Let it snow

The backing is as festive as the top!

I love this colorful string quilt. I hope to make one soon.

Panto: African Storm

Nice geometric pattern on the back

This Take Five pattern looks nice in Black and yellow

Panto: Argus. (It is leaves and loops, basically)

Swanky Black and gold patterned back

Tomorrow, I'll be sewing happily in the studio. I'll try to get a bit farther along on the black and red quilt, as well as do at least one quilt on the Millie.

Totoro finished...in parts!

I finished the Totoro costume today, but didn't attach the arms, ears and tail. My son has the form it goes on and he can better judge where to sew them on. Who would have thought such a simple shape would be so challenging to make?! Oh well, with any luck, it will stretch over the form and look dandy!

My son and Dechen modeling the form for the costume

What the animal is supposed to look like

The body part. The arms are stuffed and have claws, the tail is also stuffed. My son made forms for the ears so they stand upright. There is a mesh area (around the nose) where little Dechen can look out. My son says he will cut a flap for the kid to put his arm through so he can collect candy, a necessary evil maiming of an innocent Totoro...

Meanwhile, I quilted this large string quilt for a customer. The foundations for the blocks are all sorts of different fabrics. 100 years from now, when the quilt falls apart, people will marvel at the ingenuity of the quilter. I like to think some of my quilts might make it 100 years and be marveled over...

The blocks are more or less color coordinated, which gives the quilt a unified, orderly look.
I like the blue vertical sashing strips, too!

The quilter wanted a loose pattern, so I chose Twinkling Swirls.

Blue paisley backing.

My Army daughter spent the night in the V.A. hospital in Tucson. She had sudden numbness in her arms while at weekend duty. While she was there, the QOV coordinator found out and called in to see her. There was a brief discussion about the QOV I made, and my Daughter said she'd love to have it. I guess it made her day to have the ceremony there in the hospital. This morning, I got this  picture and the news she had been discharged to await the test results. It's an odd finish to the QOV story, but a nice one.

God bless our troops, and thank you for your service!

More work and some Totoro!

If you have never heard of Totoro, he is a Japanese Animated smash hit. The movie, My Neighbor Totoro is one of my grandson's favorites, so my son wants him to have a Totoro costume for Halloween. Here is what he looks like, and how far I am with the costume.

I had Mr Wazoo model for me...unfortunately, he is much taller and bigger than a three year old. The costume needs its ears, arms, tail and face. It should be done tomorrow.

Meanwhile, both of us did some customer work while it rained outside.

This will be a wedding shower gift.

Panto: Mid Century Mod

I love the fabrics in this camping/village scene quilt

The cute campers are scooting around in the panto Popcorn.

The backing is this outdoor print.

I did this Halloween quilt with a themed panto.

Hard to see, but there are witch hats, pumpkins and bats!

Boo!! This is the backing.

Mr W also did this I spy baby blanket

Panto: Popcorn

Green outer space fabric on the back

I finished this cat quilt at quitting time. I'll trim it tomorrow.

The panto is Beauty, with blue Glide thread.

I don't care for dark thread on light backs, but I guess the customer is okay with it.

Yesterday, I went with a friend to a local quilt airing at the Presbyterian church. They held it in the sanctuary, and it was beautiful.A few guild friends go there and were on hand to answer questions and  show off the quilts. I thought t was a nice way to spend a rainy afternoon.

They opened this one up for me to see. I love the pattern of ornaments that make a tree!

This Australian quilt was stunning. Look closely and see a boy  looking out the shuttered window. 

Here is a Dear Jane quilt top just finished by one of the ladies working at the show. Wow!

Loads of pretty quilts to see and enjoy.

After so many inspirational quilts, its hard to focus on Totoro...