Eleanor Burns – Strip Quilter

There is a cool cloud cover today, enough “cool” for a sweater…but it came off immediately. There was work to do. When three year old Ellie saw me sewing, she exclaimed she wanted to sew too. Off she went to pick out her favorite Fat Quarter in the store. When told she needed a second one, another smile and giggles of  cooperation!

Are you surprised she would pick pink?

Ellie and I lining up the fabric, she is an expert
at knowing what buttons to push….especially mine!

The fabric is going through nice and straight, it’s step one
with the Quilt in a Day method.

Obviously, there is a long way to go on this “quilt in a day”…
Ellie was off to play with the dogs after this was sewn together.

It is such fun to teach Ellie to sew. Do you get that opportunity too? Send me any hints you might have, let’s continue the quilting “bug” in the next generation.

Shipshewana, Indiana has a small town atmosphere and is  home to many Mennonite and Amish people. I was invited to the Shipshewana Quilt Show recently to give both lectures and hands-on classes. I taught the Peaceful Pastures project from my Quilt Blocks on American Barns book. See my last post. Trust me, I can make this wallhanging blindfolded!

My  host for the event was Andre Yoder who kept his promise to provide me with
dark chocolate and baked oatmeal.  Pictured with me is Andre and his parents.

I enjoyed meeting friends during book signings at Yoder’s Department Store.

One of the fun things to do is visit the largest flea market in the midwest from early May until October, (note: Tuesday and Wednesday only). This is a “do not miss” event that features everything from fresh fruit to handmade furniture.

Find the best dressed geese at the famous swap meet….they were gossiping about the
funny people they were observing, including me!

In nearby Marshal County there is a Barn Quilt Trail! This is  a relatively new trail….it was in the spring of 2009 that these quilt block murals began appearing on barns. They are rightly proud of the spectacular scenery through the gently rolling countryside as you follow this trail.

Looking for the Quilt Barns was like hunting for Easter Eggs.

After flying all night and getting nearly no sleep, Sue and I arrived in Richmond, VA to teach for All Brands, a top Baby Lock retail store. There was just enough time for a quick shower before our teaching responsibilities began. Over the next three days, over one hundred ladies made “Peaceful Pasture”, a 22″ x 24″ wallhanging from our new Quilt Blocks on American Barns book.

An entire room of gals showing off their Peaceful Pasture and of course their smiles!

I’m cheering at their combined successes….each wallhanging looked  fabulous.

I  literally got caught exploring the area.

This tempting sign led me to investigate the displays of local folkart.

This is a busy week for me. Monday I started a three day Teacher Training course right here at Quilt in a Day. It is exciting to have a gal from Australia, a gal from Canada and others from all across our great country. There are numerous reasons why they are here. Some are shop owners, others quild and church members, some wanting to teach from their homes, all are anxious to learn our methods, familiarize themselves with our products and go out and teach.

Part of the training is hands on – like making “demo in a bag”. This gives them reference materials when they teach. A business lecture includes problem solving, learning their way around our websites and fun ways to have happy and successful students.

As the training comes to an end, the skills are only a small part of the three days, the camaraderie felt by all will last a lifetime. Good luck to all of you!

Before they left, they did a little last minute shopping.

There were a few books to autograph.

Very coordinated, a purse and water bottle in pink and purple and more fabric to buy in the same colors.

My busy week continues, I fly on a “red-eye” tonight and teach first thing in the morning in Richmond, Virginia.

Each month nearly 13o ladies arrive at Quilt in a Day the second Tuesday of the month for either a day or night class. They are here for the Block of the Month, this year expanded to a Quilt of the Month!

May’s pattern was Cinnamon Swirl, a delightful pattern submitted by my sister Judy. It is made from a Honey Bun, 1  1/2″ wide strips of delicious fabric. Blocks swirl one way and then the other when placed in the opposite direction. It’s a great pattern to do in two sizes, baby or lap. 

Treating the gals to cinnamon buns as they entered the classroom was a surprise they enjoyed. I got up early and attended to my cooking duties before they arrived for the 10am class. The night crew had the cinnamon buns for dessert, just as yummy then too.

The warm Cinnamon Buns rest on two samples of the newest pattern. If the buns look extra dark, blame me. I added two TABLESPOONS, not teaspoons to the mix.  I always get the two mixed up. Do you ever do that?

The morning class gives me their full attention…..

then again, maybe not, note these busy hands.

June will feature something patriotic, it’s in the works.

My curvy drive down the hill from Julian was complicated even more with my “passengers”…bolts and bolts of fabric.  The fabric and I were both headed back to Quilt in a Day after a wonderful four day retreat in the mountains.

We had forty plus gals in camp that came from as far away as Florida. Four gals drove from Missouri and packed the car with a friend from Iowa (probably stopping at every quilt store along the way). They all kept busy with their sewing goals, making Day & Night, Tossed Nine Patch, Quick Trip and Twice as Nice. 

My truck was filled to capacity with the yardage left from setting up a store at Camp Cedar Glen last week.

An exhausted delivery driver, I’m finding help to unload!

Students look forward to a Tea Party each year at Bear’s Paw Ranch, my nearby home in Julian. It’s fun to host this event for both the spring and fall retreats.

Read the rest of this entry »

I’m back in California after our show in Paducah. My sewing school was well attended and we all had lots of fun. The ladies learned my signature pattern “Twice as Nice.” A nearby Babylock dealer provided the sewing machines and everyone liked sewing on them and several people bought one then and there! My newest book was available and lots of people took advantage of our show specials. It was great to see so many people come out to watch our stage show. Thanks to everyone who held up quilts and was a good sport wearing all those funny hats! In between the shows, everyone went over to our fabric tent and went a little crazy buying fabric but that’s what it’s all about, isn’t it! We quilters love our fabric. The barn was lovely, with all the quilts hanging and the stalls outfitted with quilts, gifts, Quilt in a Day books, rulers, and bags galore. A shopping paradise!

I’m back from the Sewing & Stichery Expo in Puyallup, WA.  We had a great time and the folks up there are just great!   Got a chance to visit with lots of quilters and customers and I’m always so grateful for all your support.  Quilter’s Night Out was a hoot.  Steve Jeffries, President of Babylock introduced me to about 800 people.  He got them chanting “Babylock – for the love!”   It was something else.  After the program Babylock gave away a Quilters Dream Espire to one very blessed lady who prayed to get it!  Miracles happen!

Valentine’s Day is practically upon us here and love is in the air at Quilt in a Day.  My precious grandbabies came to see me and Ellie is giving out lolipops to everyone here!   My baby grandson isn’t quite old enough for that yet but he will be before you know it!   We are going to celebrate today at lunch time with a Valentine’s get together with all the employees.

Shortly after True Blue was released, I started working on a new Fabric line with Benartex. I am so excited to announce my new fabric line “Perennials”. It’s ready to go to the printers. I split the line into two groups. There will be 26 colors in mocha/cream, and pink/green releasing this fall with a second group about the same selection in violet, blue and yellow the following season. The fabrics in this line have plenty of blending and contrast fabrics.  The focus fabric is a multicolored floral that is not too small and not too big. It’s great for fussy cutting and inspiration.  Here is a picture of my sister Patricia Knoechel (the color queen) and I working on the line.  Watch the website for further updates. www.quiltinaday.com