Crazy Block Construction Class

Quilt class! I had the pleasure of teaching 7 ladies a few different ways to construct a crazy pieced (or appliqued) block at an all day class on Saturday.

A most energetic woman, Lisa Encabo, spearheaded and organized the entire event. It was the first of three all-day classes on crazy quilting that we will have together, the next one to be held in March, and then once more in mid-April. The plan is that students will have time to do "homework" between classes. I want four blocks by next class!

In March we will tackle seam embroidery, and then in April, 3-D embellished flowers.
All is taking place in a lovely home in the country, 25 minutes from me.

Here is the sassy Lisa coming down the homestretch on her first block.
She teaches advanced and intricate paper piecing at the quilt shop where she works, so my fast, loose, and somewhat improvisational method was alien territory for her I think.
A paper-pieced Broken Star quilt would be no problem for her, however! She did great with this, though.

We spread out in our hostess Gloria's home, and my seven students worked hard all day.

They all brought a lot of skill to the table and it was fascinating for me to watch them work. I feel like I've gained a new circle of friends and can't wait to stitch with them again in March.

And speaking of blocks...
...I am fortunate to be part of an online group that creates a crazy quilt each year to be donated to a hospital that treats breast cancer patients. This is our fifth year together! Stephanie Novatski designed this year's block and will be the one to assemble the quilt.
I pieced mine last night.

The color scheme this year is "jewel tones" and this obviously isn't there...yet. I plan on having my embellishments be eye-poppers and thought this slightly subdued background would be the way to show them off.

To view the other blocks underway and already completed, look here on Barbara Blankenship's Flickr site. There are some dazzlers!