Saturday, November 4, 2017

Prepping for Louisa Smith Workshop

The next US Election Day is November 7. Go vote.
At Ellis Island I saw a photo of citizenship classes with this instruction on the chalkboard:


"It is the duty of every citizen to vote on Election Day."

There is always talk of our rights but very little mention of responsibilities. I wish everyone would heed this message.


Double Vision Workshop
Louisa Smith spoke to my guild last month about her new book, Double Vision Quilts, and showed examples of her gorgeous work. She has such a wonderful sense of color and is always interested in curved piecing, especially Drunkard's Path variations.

Book cover of Double Vision Quilts by Louisa Smith
Double Vision Quilts by Louisa Smith

You can see the relationship between these quilts and her earlier series, Strips 'n Curves. We were the first group to hear her newest lecture, What If? That phrase inspired her to develop ideas into quilts and turn a series of quilts into a book.

Book cover of Strips 'n Curves by Louisa Smith
Strips 'n Curves by Louisa Smith
During Louisa's Strips 'n Curves class, I made a safari quilt for my sister but had lots of "made yardage" left. Her upcoming visit spurred me to finally finish the leftovers from her Strips 'n Curves class.

Now I'm ready to cut up more fabric for a new class. And somehow my stash never seems to decrease. I think it multiplies like Tribbles.  The two colors occupying the most space in my stash are sky blue and cherry red into pink. No idea how this will turn out but, "No fabric was purchased for the production of this quilt." With this King's X: friend Gayle gave me several bits from her stash. They aren't reducing my stash but at least I didn't purchase them. Perhaps they're helping reduce her stash. How altruistic of me. ;-)

Fabric pull of blues and reds for Circular Anomaly quilt
My fabric pull for Double Vision class

Last time I took all my fabric to cut during class. I won't make that mistake this time. I'm pre-cutting everything into squares. It's a lot less weight to lug around.


If It's October, It Must be Time for a Cold
As seems to happen every fall, I'm again fighting a lingering cold. The older I get, the more these drag me down. We have lots of supplies on hand, just need a minion to make and serve them. Ha.

My mother made tiny dishes of soup, jello, fruit, and sherbet when we children were sick. She brought them to our bedside on a lovely tray. Only three or four bites of each, then more medicine and back to sleep. What a tender memory.

Once when my sons were in grade school I woke from a fever to find they'd left a note for me under a small silver bell. It was so touching to think they were channeling their grandmother and me. Nope. The message read, "We took your TV. Ring the bell if you want it back."

Enjoy the day, Ann

28 comments:

Pamela said...

I love reading about your mother's small dishes of food and you sons and the bell!

KaHolly said...

Sweet story! Feel better soon! How much fun to feel so inspired by another Quilter. Thanks for sharing and have lots of fun! I’m going to check out her books further! I like playing 'what if'.

Judy H said...

I checked out the Double Vision book from the library and now it's on my MUST HAVE list. Jealous you are taking a class with her. Can't wait to see what you create.

LA Paylor said...

looks like your style and mine

Glen QuiltSwissy said...

I had her books, before the flood!

Ann said...

Thanks, Pamela. I love both those memories.

Ann said...

Thanks, Karen. I think I'm on the mend. Her lecture enlightened the structure of her books. I can really see how she develops her ideas now.

Ann said...

I'm glad you like it, too. This time I promise to stick to one of the easier ideas. Haha.

Ann said...

You would really like her class. She lived in Denver for the last twenty years or so but just moved to Phoenix. Still, she'll probably return to teach so perhaps you can catch her easily.

Ann said...

I've been buying e-books recently because we travel so much. Since I prefer idea books more than pattern books, I'm finding I like them better. I hadn't thought of flooding but it would be another good reason.

Linda @ kokaquilts said...

Look forward to hearing all about Louisa's class, looks like it will be inspiring! Loved the little note your boys left you!

liniecat said...

LOLOL love that note about the tv !
Bless them - sighhhh
I almost bought the Double Vision book last week off Amazon for our stitch club library.
It seems interesting so may have another look at it - for club - or me lol

Ann said...

I hope to share details of her class. She’s such a good teacher. That note from my boys’ is one of my favorite memories.

Ann said...

Yes. Bless their hearts; they can be so funny.
I bought the e-book. Not sure how that would work for a club since I’m not sure how many people can read it. But it works so much better for me with all the back-and-forth traveling I do. I’ve seen several Double Vision quilts on the web recently.

Deb @ Frugal Little Bungalow said...

LOL I was all immersed in the sewing, deciding to follow the links after reading the post, and then feeling sorry for you and your cold but in the end I just busted out laughing! I have 3 sons. They were as awful and funny as yours :)

Monica said...

LOL, what great memories! I hope you are feeling better soon, and have a great time at the class!

Ann said...

Our sons are a constant source of amusement... when we aren't tearing our hair out. "Awful and funny" describes sons to a T.

Ann said...

They are, Monica. They were such fun growing up and now are so fabulous. It's a great class.

Janie said...

Yes, sweet memories of your mom. Take care and dress warm!
I look forward to seeing what you're going to work on in your class.

Helen L said...

Great memories of your mom, and the boy's note just made me laugh!!! And next time you feel a cold coming on, run to the store and get the Zicam spray and take it FAITHFULLY till your cold goes away: it will get rid of it in a few days. I ALWAYS keep it on hand and swear by it! I hate colds, because mine turn into sinus infections! ugh!! And I got to take a Louisa Smith workshop years ago and still haven't finished that quilt yet. I had a certain idea in mind for it, and couldn't make it work, so it got put away for me to "think" about it. Well, you know what putting it away will do!!! haha!! Glad you were able to get farther on yours than I did on mine!! Hugs, H

Ann said...

They are very sweet. I hope everyone had lovely family memories to recall. Hopefully I'll be better soon. The class is fabulous.

Ann said...

Thanks, Helen. Those are some of my favorite memories of my childhood and my children's. Chicken soup is my home remedy. Like you, I get sinus infections frequently.
Louisa has highly nuanced books and workshops. They certainly spark lots of ideas. And they take lots of time to finish, don't they? Hopefully you'll get yours done soon.

patty a. said...

Have fun at your workshop! Sorry to hear your cold is still hanging around. After 4 weeks mine finally went away. I sure wish I had someone to bring me food and snacks when I was at my worse. I did lose a few pounds because I felt so bad I lost my appetite. So now I just have to try and keep those off! Feel better soon!

Ann said...

I'm much better now although still have sinus issues. Unlike your, I gained a few pounds. Darn it.

Mystic Quilter said...

Oh what a wonderful story about your sons and the bell!! Hope you soon recover from your present cold all ready for your Double Vision class - tell us all about it won't you! You've pulled a lovely collection of fabric to work with, have a good time!

Kaja said...

What lovely memories, of both you mum and your sons! And what a good friend you are. :-) I'm looking forward to seeing what this class brings.

Ann said...

Thanks, Maureen. We never forget a funny story in my family. I keep thinking I’m well then get a cough or asthma flare up. It will pass. The class is great although I think you could make these quilts from her book if you wanted.

Ann said...

They are happy memories. Oh, yes. I. The best friend a quilter could have. Imagine what it would be like if we lived closer. ;-)