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Archive for June 17th, 2005

The Next Generation of Quilters

Friday, June 17th, 2005

I had the best time this afternoon. The contemporary music director of our church has two daughters, ages 8 and 13. She called me last week and said that Myra, the eight year old, wanted to make a quilt to enter in the fair and what should she do. I said bring her to my house and we will get started and to bring Inanna because I was sure I could find something for her to do also. They arrived this afternoon and, happily, Mom decided to leave and go get a cup of coffee.

I gave Myra 3 options of simple quilts that she could make. She chose to do a 4 patch alternating with a solid block. I then let her have at my fabric stash. I was expecting her to select pinks and purples and lime green! Instead, she chose a very sophisticated color scheme of warm browns and creams with some orange thrown in. I cut 2 1/2 inch strips and showed her how to strip piece. I set the Bernina at a low speed. Myra was a pro. She churned out the strips. Here she is:

Then we cut the strips into 4 1/2 inch pieces which she then strip pieced into the 4 patch blocks:

Here she is hard at work on the design wall:

Here is Myra looking very pleased with her design:

We selected a nice border fabric and she and her mom are going shopping for a dark brown inner border and binding.

Inanna loved my fused abstract quilts so I had her select a palette of fabrics which we fused. I thought it was best for a thirteen year old to take her stash home and work on her own. Her she is with her fused fabric choices.

Notice Maggie’s wagging tail. She is always in the middle of whatever is going on up here in the studio. Anyway, I had a great afternoon.

Day 12 of Twenty Days of Virtue Hanging in there! Got in 45 minutes of aerobics this morning and am really not missing adult beverages or sweets. I gave the girls cookies and lemonade and I drank water! I’m feeling smaller. The pants are buttoning more easily so I think this is working!