Ramping Up Class Samples

Do you ever look at something that you've had around for a long time...looked at a thousand times...and then suddenly discover it just isn't as good as it used to be???  I've been feeling that way about some of my class samples for my Heirloom Feathers/Backgrounds class and decided I need to do some housecleaning and redecorating.  Out with the old and in with the new!

When I teach this class I like to break things down into achievable smaller parts...I call it "divide and conquer".  It takes the fear out of almost everything and calms my students down a bit.  They realize that by designing and quilting smaller areas, and doing them one at a time, the final result is spectacular and a lot more fun!

 I use Cherrywood fabrics and create a two-color panel for each student to play on.  I call this their "sandbox".  They are instructed to divide and conquer with simple shapes and then fill those shapes with free form feathers, repetitive lines, backgrounds, etc.  I am in the midst of creating three new samples for class...I threw my first ones out about a year ago and never got around to creating new ones.  I'm long overdue for these important class samples.   

The students are instructed to fill in their "focal point" first and then start working around this main part.  These shots show the focal points of my samples being born. 

I also needed some fresh new background samples and here are a few of those...

I LOVE Zentangle designs and Rick's Paradox is one of my favorites...VERY easy to do.  Cool background, huh????

I love repetitive line designs in a grid...

...and LOVE clams!  There are a million different ways to dress up a clam.







I'm hoping to have most of these samples completed by the time I visit Quilt Canada in Lethbridge in June along with a few more.  I have some quality sewing time in hotel rooms coming up soon so will take advantage of that to work on these.


I have some time tomorrow and Saturday to get some more YouTube instructional videos done  so either subscribe to my channel or check back often on the YouTube section of my  website for more inspiration.

Hugs, Cindy :)