I've been doing some planning and sample-making for a quilt workshop at the Bethlehem (PA) Area Public Library on November 1.  The program coordinator asked for a gift-making workshop for adults.  She has a few others for other Saturdays in November, including jewelry making.  I needed something that could be made completely by hand in two hours and given as a gift.  I may have participants who've never sewed before.  I decided on a mat for a candle or mug.  Here are my two samples.

 

The first uses Christmasy fabrics.  It is quilted simply with a button sewn in the center.  This serves two purposes: 1) To make a quick finish for those who have had enough and want to take home a finished product; and 2) To have a quick fix for covering wonky matches at the center point.  The second can be used year-round and includes hand quilting.  If anyone is having fun with the stitching and wants to do some decorative stitching at home.  I'll give a mini-lesson on hand quilting and send them home with a needle and thread.

I chose the half-square triangles because they allow for some design work.  I'll precut dozens of triangles, and each participant can use anywhere from two to eight fabrics.  I've made these cardboard pieces to show the different ways that the four squares can be placed.

How this goes will very much depend on who signs up.  We will take up to fifteen participants.  The program coordinator is a lapsed quilter and will stay to help.  I've also lined up two young women who are new to quilting to help with knots, both making them and untangling them, as well as answering questions and helping participants to use the rotary cutter to make the backing squares.

I'll take some photos of the event and post them here in November.  It's my first time teaching quilting to adults.  I've done a bit with kids, who are either very precise or wildly wonky and either stick with it or wander off.  Adults may be more easily frustrated or unhappy with their work.  I'll let you know.

I've been away, cruising on the Danube River.  What a beautiful trip!  It's funny how I see everything through a quiltmaker's eye now.  I kept snapping pictures of patterns for applique or quilting.  I'm not much of a photographer, but these are really just for reference.

This one was a plaster ceiling in the abbey at Melk, Austria.  Another one below.

The next one is the tile roof on the Matthias Cathedral in Budapest.

And here is a doorway in the Parliament building in Budapest.

And these two small bags were irresistible.  They are Hungarian and hand-beaded.  I can see them translated into applique.  They are stunning on black, but I'm not sure I want a black background.  I'm starting to imagine a medallion quilt with a pale yellow background and some of the flower designs in reds and pinks.  Not at all sure about that, though.

When I travel, I take along a project that will probably last me for years.  I make small Sawtooth Stars, cut from templates and pieced by hand from my scraps.  (I thought that these were called Evening Stars, but maybe not.  I think that they are also called Variable Stars.)  I try to make each one pretty within itself, but I don't try to make them match each other in any way.

Meet Dewey.  Look at that arrogant face!  "You want to take a photo of a star?  Well, here I am."