Break Free, Go Bold with Modern Quilting Maven Jacquie Gering

           Set your alarm!  Synchronize your watch!  Tie a string around your finger!

On Saturday, June 1, Hip Stitch will start selling tickets to September workshops with Jacquie Gering.  Jacquie is an expert quilter from Chicago who inspires other quilters to “Break Free, Go Bold” to create their own one-of-kind modern quilts!

Come to just one event or the whole Jacquie shebang.   Here’s the lowdown:

Friday, Sept. 6, “Hexies Workshop,” 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.   $50.

Friday, Sept. 6, 5-6 p.m., Jacquie will sign her book “Quilting Modern.”   If you don’t already own this step-by-step guide with eye-popping color pictures, Hip Stitch has copies for $26.95 each.  Place your order now!

Friday, Sept. 6, 6:30-8 p.m., Jacquie will speak about her journey as a modern quilter.  And she will exhibit many of her modern masterpieces.  Tickets are $15 each.  

Saturday, Sept 7, “Improvisational Quilting,” 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.  $100 (includes lunch).

Seating at each workshop is limited to only 20 students.  So mark your calendar for Saturday, June 1, and then call us to reserve your seat at the sewing table.   

Between now and Wednesday, May 29, at 5 p.m., we’ll be taking entries for a random drawing to win two tickets to Jacquie’s s Sept. 6 lecture ($30 value).  Just post a comment below to enter.  We’ll announce the winner on Friday, May 31.  Good luck!

And don’t forget to check out Jacquie’s blog at www.tailgrassprairiestudio.com.

 

The story of a quilt

Many of you regulars know that this past school year, I not only had a daughter in high school, but that she was in the marching band, and along with that, I volunteered to be a "uniform mom".  With that duty, I shared with 2 other moms - Margaret & Teresa, the very busy but very fun job of fitting, maintaining and monitoring the kids' uniforms.  Many days starting last July began at 5:30 a.m., with band camp underway, and we'd begin fitting all the kids, one by one, for their marching band duds.  It was a great way to get to know all the kids - and see their personalities, their interactions with each other, and just be involved (i.e. eavesdrop) in their lives.

Margaret, Teresa & I also formed a friendship - over much coffee in the morning, wine in the evenings, and a shared humor and flexibility to bend with whatever was thrown our way - through football games and band tournaments - weather extremes and uniform snafus.

Then, the news came that there was a "band baby" on the way (NOT one of the kids!)....their teacher.  So we decided to have the kids help to make a quilt for her and for the baby on the way.  Throughout the winter, while fitting concert uniforms, we'd sneak kids into the percussion room to have each draw their design on a block.

And then, holy cow....the end of the school year was fast approaching, and the blocks had to be made into a quilt!  The sashing began, with plans to get together and get this quilt finished.  And just when you think life is going along alright.....Teresa's husband passed away - unexpectedly, tragically, sadly.  We muddled through with her the days of shock and grief and the hopeless feeling of "what can we do to help?"  And then we worked on the quilt.  Late nights, glasses of wine, talking, sewing, quilting.  And finished it - 2 days before it was presented to the band teacher.

So this quilt?  Made with love.....gave a bit of healing.....and now given away, to provide memories of this past school year.

Sigh....

Blocks for Boston

Will you help?  We'll be collecting blocks donated and mailing them to Boston to be made into quilts for the bombing victims, families and others affected by the tragedy last week.  Here are the details:

Blocks sent to the Boston Modern Quilt Guild should be blue, yellow, gray, and white. All blocks should be 12½” tall x the width of your choice. That could mean 12½” x 7”, 12½” x 12½”, or anything wider, more narrow, or in between. Please machine piece your blocks in any style you would like. Please use only “quilt shop quality” 100% cotton or cotton/linen fabrics. Both print and solid fabrics are welcome. Our preference is white or light gray 100% cotton thread, but any coordinating thread of good quality will do.

Please get blocks dropped off to Hip Stitch by May 18 at the very latest, and we'll ship them off.

Thank you, Boston Modern Quilt Guild, for putting this together!

Hip Stitchers

These pics are from December....our long-term goal of getting all our pics up on the blog!   Meet Mary & Brent, one of the most awesome young married couples I know. (ok, Mary is my niece, but no WAY am I prejudiced)  They came in about a week before Christmas to make corn sacks as gifts for family and friends.  They were determined to make and give hand made presents together, even though Brent had never touched a sewing machine before, and Mary's experience was limited.  So, what else to do, but throw them in the swimming pool headfirst!  It was a busy Saturday, there was a class in the lounge, so we set up one machine behind the counter for Mary, got Brent cutting at the table in front, and then set another machine up at the cutting table, gave him a 45 second lesson, and told him, "now, SEW!"  And he exceeded our expectations - they made about a dozen corn sacks and were off to finish their errands for the day.

Brent especially was composed and sewed diligently, despite all the attention lavished upon him.   It didn't hurt that they're such an adorable couple!

Debbie stopped in a week or so ago.  Her mom had moved into assisted living, and her mom's house recently sold, which meant Debbie has been cleaning out the home and getting it ready for an estate sale.  She brought in this outfit, that she made (I hope my memory serves me) in high school 4-H?  Kelly green wool, with matching reversible jacket. Oh, and a matching purse!  Look how she even matched up the plaids:

Our young quilters

Haley finished her quilt today, complete with label, for a very special teacher:

tracing the letters onto fabric label

label on back of quilt

finished quilt!

Easter goodies and other Hip Stitchers!

Meg sent these pics of felt jelly beans in a bag she made for her adorable granddaughter and grandson:

Donna has been sewing up a storm for herself, grandkids, and husband:

Keep going, Donna!