Spend Some QT (Quilt Time) With Veronica

As we begin the last quarter of 2013, we are already looking forward to 2014 and beyond. One of Veronica's favorite activities is traveling and providing lectures and workshops to quilt guilds across the United States. Not only can she teach about one of the things she is most passionate about, but she also has the chance to meet quilters from all over.

If your quilt guild, group or bee is looking for a a fun group activity, look at some of the programs Veronica has to offer. 

Veronica has taught quilting classes for more than 20 years. She has taught at quilt guilds nationwide as well as being a featured instructor for more than 8 Sew Fun Cruises by Round Bobbin and served as a consultant for Janome. She is currently an adviser for Quilting Treasures. She offers a variety of lectures and workshops for quilt guilds, community programs and other groups to choose from. 

Lectures include:

• Take A Walk on the Wild Side:

• Miniature Quilts

• The Nine-Patch's Niche

• Sized to Perfection

• Fun with Flying Geese

• Quiltsmart Lecture: The Ease of Printed Interfacing

• A Different Point of View/Sew Surprised

Workshops include:

• Pick a Chick (Class accompanies Talk a Walk on the Wild Side Lecture)

• Bitty Lonestar (Class accompanies Miniature Quilts Lecture)

• Glorified Nine Patch (Class accompanies Nine Patch's Niche)

• Sized Sew Perfectly (Class accompanies Sized to Perfection Lecture)

• Grab Your Geese and Fly (Class accompanies Fun with Flying Geese Lecture)

• 3 Quiltsmart Classes (Classes accompanies Quiltsmart Lecture: Ease of Printed Interfacing)

 

Veronica loves sharing her quilts. Not only the creation techniques and tips, but in being up close and personal to better understand the art behind each creation. Her lectures do not include slide shows, she prefers passing around the quilts so that the attendees may better under the techniques used to create them. Veronica has more than 600 quilts that she uses in various classes and lectures, making each one unique and different.

Lectures are approximately 1 hour. Fee for a lecture is $300 without a workshop, $275 for a lecture with a workshop. The workshop is $225. If you have a smaller guild, and would like to schedule Veronica, contact her to talk about working out a price.

To receive a complete description of programs or schedule a lecture or workshop, contact Veronica Cox at (281) 462-0661 or at vlcox@live.com.

Cruise Into Fun & Adventure

Well, one thing that will never be said about Veronica is that she doesn't love adventure! She loves traveling almost as much as she likes quilting, and one of her favorite ways to combine adventure, quilting and traveling is quilting cruises.

I'd posted earlier this month about the Sew Fun Cruise she does each year with Round Bobbin, but we've had some quilters who were sad that they couldn't participate for various reasons. Don't fret, you'll have another chance to cruise with Veronica.

She is teaching on the Cactus Quilts' sponsored Quilting Cruise February 9-16, 2014, roundtrip from Galveston, Texas. The ports of call are Key West, Florida; Nassau, Bahamas and Freeport Bahamas with three fun days at sea on Carnival Cruise Line's Carnival Magic.

There are a variety of classes that will taught while at sea, and them participants are encouraged to explore while in port.

For more information or to register for the cruise, visit Cactus Quilts website or complete this form.

We hope you have the chance to join us on either cruise!

"Fall" in Love with Crafts Again

Its officially "Fall" and even the Texas heat is allowing cooler temperatures to greet us in the morning. That's a good sign for us because it is the start of our busiest time of the year and cooler weather will certainly help. 

As the seasons change, so do our quilting projects ... or at least the theme. I took a peek at Michelle's personal craft blog a few days ago and saw that she was already knee deep in Autumn-themed quilting. From Halloween to Thanksgiving and even a little Christmas fun.

This quick and easy pumpkin is one of a few Fall-inspired patterns that Bear Thread Designs carries. Veronica likes to crochet in the winter as well as quilt - she says it helps keep her warm. In fact the whole team gets a little "craftier" as the holidays approach. What are some of your favorite fall crafts? Are there activities that you prefer to do when the weather gets cooler?

It seems like we are not to only ones getting into the holiday spirit. My friend Popcorn and his team at Quilting Treasures are welcoming the season with a collage of color. I really like the Elf on the Shelf Collection, though Michelle informs me that she and is already dreaming of projects for the Harvest Fare Collection.  

Veronica is working on a two new quilts using Quilting Treasures fabrics and is hoping to have them completed by International Quilt Festival, if not sooner. I'm not allowed to look at them because I can't keep secrets, but come back and visit soon and maybe I'll have a sneak peek.  

Well, I'm off to find some adventure. Maybe I'll run off to the Creative Room and pick out some fabric while no one is looking so someone can make me a new quilt. 

Sew Many Samples!!

Whew! What a long week it has been already - and its only Wednesday! Veronica is already on the road headed to the Round Bobbin Quilting, Sewing and Fiber Arts Expo in St. Charles, MO this weekend. 

The past few days have been really busy for Veronica and Michelle as they feverishly worked on putting more samples together for upcoming shows and expos. Here is a look at some of the projects they did this week.

I really like the bear, but then again, I might be a little biased! They had quite the stack to start with. Many of these projects were done at shows as we demonstrated fusible applique using the Applique Pressing Sheet. So eventually, we have to stop and start putting them on the background fabric, which is a little hard to do in a hotel room! 

This week, I stayed at the office to help Michelle. We are redoing the entire website! I am so excited! We have some great things coming in the future and we decided it was time to update the website. We'll let you know when the new look is up and running.

I guess I should go help with that now. They love my creative genius!

Happy Hump Day!!

Cruise with Me! 2014 Sew Fun Cruise Classes Announced

NOW BOOKING Round Bobbin Sew Fun CruiseEastern Caribbean March 30-April 6, 2014 Ports of Call: Philipsburg, St. Maarten • Basseterre, St. Kitts • San Juan, Puerto Rico Departing from Fort Lauderdale, FL, March 30, 2014 for seven nightson Celebrity's Silhouette There are a variety of classes offered on this cruise will include garment sewing as well as quilt, applique and embroidery techniques. Leave your sewing machine at home! Sewing machines used on the ship are sponsored by Janome America. Price includes class fees, however, kit fees are extra when applicable. Prices start at $1195 per person. To book your cruise contact Bonnie at CruiseOne 800-784-4480. ** Note: Price listed includes taxes and fees. These prices cannot be combined with any other promotion. Included in your price: Class fees, (except kit fees,) Shipboard accommodations, ocean transportation, most meals, some beverages and most on board entertainment.  Not Included: Kit fees for classes which will be paid to instructor at class time, Air transportation, transfers, items of a personal nature such as shore and land excursions, specialty restaurant fees, some beverages, photographs, gratuities/service fees, medical services, etc.  Veronica will be teaching 6 classes on the cruise. They include: Gilligan's Island - limit 20 Monday, 1 pm – 5 pm, Room Sky A Let's make an island wall hanging complete with huts and palm trees. We will embellish our island and you can add little fish using Angelina and Crystalina fibers. Kit fee: $20 One Hour Shirt - limit 20 Monday, 8 pm - 10 pm, Room Sky A Using one piece of fabric, we will sew, cut and sew some more. You will walk away with a cute shirt made from black rayon. Kit fee $20 Puttin on the Glitz – Tote Bag - limit 20 - hands-on workshop Friday, 8 am - noon, Room Sky B In this class we'll make a tote bag and embellish it with different stitches from our machines. Using glitz threads you'll ad that extra zing to your bag. This class was full on the last cruise. If time permits, we may be able to add more bling. Kit Fee: $25 Mystery Go Baby - limit 20 – hands-on workshop Friday, 1 pm – 5 pm, Room Sky A We will use the Go Baby by Accuquilt to make a mystery project. Come and join us as the mystery unfolds. Kit Fee: $20 Posy Pincushion – 1 ½ hour hands-on workshop Saturday, 1 pm - 3 pm, Room Sky A Cute little posy pincushion made from a pattern that can also be used to make a small posy wall hanging or quilt. We'll use felt to construct our pincushion. Kit fee: $20.00 Red Hot Mama – Mystery Project – 2 hour workshop Friday, 8 pm – 10 pm, Room Sky B. Join Veronica for a special mystery class. You will be sewing something special that you can use during the cruise and beyond. Kit fee $20             Participants of the 2013 Sew Fun Cruise, gather for a final photo.

Hanging Out in Madison, WI

Jaggie here. I see Michelle has been posting again. Oh, well, it was nice to have a few days off and she was really excited about all the quilt tops she got done over the weekend. We just got back from the "hanging out" at Quilt Expo in Madison, WI. and as Michelle said, it was a lot of fun. We met some great new people and had the chance to catch up with some friends, like Barbara from Crawford Designs. 

It was much cooler there than it has been here in Texas, going from 100 degree temps to 60 degree temps can really fluff your fur. It was a nice change.

I helped Michelle with demos over the 3-day show. Tracing, cutting and fusing ...well o.k. Michelle did most of the work. Anne, one of Veronica's friend, does most of the tracing of sample patterns for us and we realize how much more we can get done now. 

I also spent some time hanging out on the batiks rack. {Are you surprised!?!} I didn't nap this time, but I really enjoy looking at all the bright colors. This quilt, My Favorite Earrings, by HissyFitz Designs, is one of Michelle's favorites and we got to help lots of quilters pic out fabric to make their own. (If you like it, you can send us an email to order it. Its a quick and easy project!)

It was a great show. There was lots to see ... beautiful quilts on display, almost 200 vendors and continuous raffle prizes and classes. If you're in the area next year, you should definitely attend! So many people stopped by our booth! We were so busy, I was put to work, although I'd rather sit-n-chat.

Next we are off to the ...

Round Bobbin Expo in St. Charles, MO
September 20-21, 2012
at the St. Charles Convention Center

If you are in the area, stop by and visit us. Admission is $8 for adults and under 16 is free. Fore more information, visit the Round Bobbin website.

Until next time, keep quilting!

A Garden of Color in Madison, WI

Michelle here! I was able to get the computer away from Jaggie while he is sleeping and recovering from our whirlwind trip to Wisconsin. 

We had a great, but VERY busy weekend at the Quilt Expo in Madison, WI, where an estimated 17,000 are quilters and crafts (and some husbands) in attendance and I can tell you, it was fun both as a vendor AND as a attendee (Mom let me go shop a little each day when things slowed down.)

On the work front, I was lucky and mom had me working the demo table all weekend, so I got to fuse art quilts all weekend, specifically floral ones, my favorite.

The first one I made was for me! It was called Country Charm, by Happy Stash Quilts, though mine was a little less country and a little more rock-n-roll. Instead of the country colors on a light colored background,I decided to do mine in jewel-tones with a black background. Mom really like the color combinations so I guess I chose well. Usually I am really hesitant and ask her a lot about color choices or give her a palette and she helps choose the fabrics. So, I'm a little proud I guess. I totally get how nerveracking it is for newer quilters or those new to fusible to choose colors, and why so many ask for fabric kits. Why mess with a good thing ... But I did and it turned out great.

After finishing mine, mom asked me to make the one for her sample. We make a lot of sample so that we have them on display and she can change them out according to the area that we are going. She also teaches a variety of classes and brings anywhere from 60-100 quilts, so she is always making more. She added a new class recently where she shows different changes to a pattern that can make it unique.

So I let her use some of the ones I make as a teaching tool, because really, I haven't even got my son's school pictures from last year up, so I'm a little behind on hanging my wall-hangings as well. 

Ok, so I did Mom's Country Charm as well, at least the tops. We have to put them on background fabric when we get home and have more work space. I still need to decide what I want to do for borders on mine ... Hmm ...

Here is a photo of both, side-by-side. Mine is on the right, Mom's in on the left.

Since I finished two quilt tops on Day 1 with Jaggie's help. On Day 2 I started working on McKenna Ryan's Bella Garden, a sample for Mom. It is a nine-block pattern when put together creates a large "collage art quilt" as I like to call them. I have loved McKenna's work for years, but never did one because I was a bit intimidated and also, it's been years since I demonstrated at a show- like 10 years! Usually, I usually do the sales and cashier part of shows since I wasn't too comfortable answering off-the-cuff questions that come with the demo part of it. I know the facts (the marketing side of me), but never really did the quilts, so I couldn't really talk about technique or experiences. Yesterday, someone called me "an expert on fusible" and I turned looking for my mother! I guess I answered her questions sufficiently!

Wow! This post is getting long ... Ok, so back to McKenna's Bella Gardens. I did Block 1 {Garden Party}  and half of Block 2 {A Vine Buzz} on Day 2 of the show. So easy, so fun ... But mainly so beautiful. The flowers are so much in the realm of what I love, being a girly-girl and all. I like the animals of Bigfork Bay, but the floral ones win my heart!! Here is Block 1. We have to put it on background fabric, but Mom will do that when they are all put together.

Here is Block 2. I loved putting the grape clusters together and the intertwining tree truck was awesome. I was so happy that McKenna chose to intertwine the fabric pieces rather than piece them, it is so realistic. 

I started fusing Block 3 {Lily's Pad} to fabric, but we didn't get it cut or start fusing together. Maybe I'll get to work on that one later, but either way, I'll try to post photos of all of the ones we worked on when they are finished. 

Happy stitching, and I'm sure Jaggie will post some photos of his adventures when he gets some sleep.