I think you all know I love the Association of Pacific West Quilters  organization. They gave me the most welcoming experience into the world of quilting and they have been my “quilting family” ever since. So when they asked me if I would teach a the show a few months back, I fit them in to my already booked schedule since I was going to be at the show anyway.  I am teaching only a one day workshop because I also need to see the show, socialize with friends I haven’t seen lately and shop of course!

A one day-six hour workshop is the most difficult time frame (except those three hour classes) to try and teach hand applique technique.  Kind of like a speed reading course only I call it a speed applique course.  I try to fit in as much info as I can without making the student’s heads explode. That wouldn’t be very pretty would it?

Obviously a very detailed project would never get off the ground in six hours so what to do?  Ah ha! Let’s do a different variation of a rose for a small project pattern. I like to use roses because they go *relatively* quickly so one can feel they accomplished something with their time and a rose also offers lots of fun opportunities for embroidery details.

Trial pattern created and I am ready to get started. I am going to make this into a throw pillow for the window seat in my bedroom.

Basically, the rose is perfect and helps me teach what I do.  In the photo at the very top is the quickie sketch for the rose we are going to do in this class and I am pulling the fabrics for it.  I am so loving this tomato red with a touch of pink.

As always, this has led me to start percolating an idea for a new intricate block pattern (I am almost thinking another series). Before you get excited, it will come after the other projects in line like Jason’s quilt and the center of the Naturalist’s Notebook quilt.

Jason is already checking on me to see if I am back to work on his quilt! Uh oh, his patience has worn thin with his mom.