Class Wrap-Up...

Brynwood Needleworks - Dressed In Joy - Our Latest Dress

I arrived early on Saturday to set up for our Pineapple block class and was met by Jamie. She handed a gorgeous dress for our "Dressed In Joy" campaign to me, and she even created a little doll for the pocket!

We now have 176 dresses, and I know there are still more coming before I deliver the entire batch on September 17th. Thanks to Jamie for our latest dress. I just had to give her a big hug!

I got all my class models and my machine set up and was finishing up as my students began to come in for class.

Brynwood Needleworks - Pineapple Quilt Block Class

Being the good blogger that I am, I remembered to take photographs to share with you. I enjoyed showing my students each step they would need to accomplish to make their blocks, and waited (or helped) as they did that step.

Once everyone had a finished row, I'd share the next step and then go to each student to be sure they understood how to use the trim tool correctly for that portion of their block.

Brynwood Needleworks - Pineapple Quilt Block Class

I had a total of sixteen students, and our class ran from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm. Because I wanted them to get into the habit of using spray starch (Faultless Professional Spray Starch is my favorite), they needed to get up and head to the iron a lot. They were joking that it felt like church with all the "sitting and standing".

I should have worn tennis shoes, with all the walking I was doing. It's so gratifying to be next to my students when you see that they understand what I've been teaching and are ready to fly solo. It didn't take these ladies long at all!

Brynwood Needleworks - Pineapple Quilt Block Class - Finished Blocks!

We decided that we'd stop for lunch as soon as the ladies had their first block finished. We ate lunch around 12:30. Not bad, right?

After we ate, the ladies went back to their machines to begin work on their second block. I let them do the second block on their own, only helping by double-checking their tool placement prior to cutting. They were pros by the time we all headed home.

I can't tell you how much I enjoyed teaching the class. I'm already looking forward to my next class in the spring. It was wonderful spending the day with my quilting friends, but even more so because I was able to share a new technique with each of them. 

This week, I have more commissions to complete. Tropical Storm Erika will drop more rain on us, but nothing like originally expected. Perfect weather for staying inside and sewing.

I hope you have something creative planned for this week. I'm praying for rain for my friends in California; good health for a few of my friends who have been ill; and great days for those who are experiencing a rough patch. One of my girlfriends' basements flooded over the weekend...and it's where she has all of her sewing projects, machines and furniture. I saw photos and it's not at all pretty. I'll be praying that her space dries up and she can get back to normal, too. For everyone else, I send out wishes for a happy and creative week.

Tomorrow is September 1st. 

Aaaaargh! Where is the time going?