We had a great workshop in Harlingen! Take a look!

I love hearing success stories from former students!

Lauren’s Star by Deb Lockwood

Jan, here it is! This is my first ribbon for a quilt (I’ve won 2 for blocks)…I was so excited! I was also very pleased with how it turned out since in class I liked most everyone’s colors better than my own! Thanks for a great class!   Deb Lockwood

Safari Salsa Star by Marlys Cordes

Hi Jan, I am very excited to show you a picture of the top finished of the Lone Star Quilt I started in Boca Raton with you. I had e-mailed you about how to put it together, and I want to thank you for getting back to me.  I found the information I needed and finished it, but decided that it needed a border. 

It was difficult working with the octagonal shape, but I finally got it.  The border made all the difference.  I’m enclosing a picture for you to see.  I’m going to have Linda Wilson who was at the workshop and is a long arm quilter quilt it as I really don’t know what to do with the quilting part. Thanks a million.  I’ve committed to my daughter that I’ll make her a star quilt also.  I’m hooked!   Blessings, and thanks again,  Marlys Hasey Cordes

Whoo-hoo! Just look at the progress of the Apple Valley quilters during a 6-hour workshop! They did do some advance cutting and sewing in preparation for class. Diamonds were cut, marked and partially constructed in class. The small scale mock up designs show the finished design – just beautiful, ladies!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

The new Open Star workshop – from my Quick Star Quilts book. Here are some photos of quilts in progress during the one-day workshop. Click on any image to see a larger view.

The Pine Tree Quilters are a state-wide guild, founded in 1978. They hire a national teacher once or twice annually. The meeting presentation and workshops are offered in different communities to allow members statewide the opportunity to attend.

I arrived in Portland, stayed in Waterville, and traveled to the surrounding communities of Augusta, Gardnerville and Bangor for workshops & presentation. My hostess, Mary Coombs was a delight! A highlight – one night we had dinner at the Lobster Trap in Winslow. Have you ever eaten Lobster Pie? WHOA! This delicious dish was lobster pieces, butter, bread crumbs & seasoning, all broiled in a little casserole dish – I wonder how many calories in that dinner!???

Today was a travel day – Don and I got up about 3:45 am, and left home at 4:15. After arrival at San Diego Lindburgh Airport, I learned my 6:27am flight would be delayed due to weather issues in the Chicago area. We took off about 90 minutes late. I changed planes in Chicago and flew to Portland, Maine.

The 2nd flight landed about 90 minutes later than expected (about 6pm), and my friend Carol met me at the airport. We learned that the luggage would be on the next flight, so we decided to wait for it rather than driving to Waterville (about 75 miles away).

We asked about local Portland restaurants, and ended up going to the Miss Portland Diner – a historic little place that has been moved to its current site and restored.

After dinner, we drove all over the place in the dark killing time until the next plane arrived, eventually ended up at UNO pizza for a late dessert and hot tea. About 10pm we returned to the airport, ready for that 10:20 flight………… which was delayed until about 11:10 pm.

Hallelujah! The bags arrived!! Carol drove me from Portland to Waterville – and we arrived at the hotel about 1 am. She still drove on to Mercer, another 30-45 minutes. What a long day!! THANK YOU, CAROL!!!

Hi! My blog entries have been sporatic recently! Sorry about that!

From Boca Raton I flew back to Poway, spent a few days washing laundry, answering e-mail, writing contracts & re-packing to teach for the Pine Tree Quilters in Maine.

Here is my little “roll-aboard” 21 inch suitcase – I keep the projector, laptop and all other electronics with me during travel. On the smaller regional planes, these bags won’t fit in the cabin, so they must be checked. The airlines hand you a “gate check claim tag” that has an elastic string. I have only kept the tags on the bag from February through May, 2009 – and you can see how many tags there are!

Thank goodness the luggage and projection equipment is holding up to the rigors of travel. Speaking of luggage, I replace my larger bags every year, because they wear out. The frame or inner support gets broken, wheels and zippers break down.

April 20-23 was a lovely time in Boca Raton. The weather was unseasonably dry and pleasant. I arrived on Monday, late in the afternoon. It was great fun to meet members of the Gold Coast Quilt Guild who were enthusiastic hostesses and participants in the Summer Salsa two-day workshop. Here are a few pictures from the workshop.

I learned of a wonderful site by Holly Knott with an excellent quilt photography tutorial. Check it out, and write Holly a thank you note at hollyknott@hollyknott.com for posting this information! For more, see Holly’s blog:

We had such a blast on the Mexican Riviera Quilt Cruise! Here is another photo slide show!

Make a Smilebox photobook