Archive for May, 2009

Patience is a Virtue

Sunday, May 24th, 2009

300quilt

I love receiving pictures of completed projects from people who enjoy using my books. However, when Pat Frazier of Florida sent me pictures of her completed projects, I was blown away with her patience. Pat used all of the block designs in 300 Paper-Pieced Quilt Blocks and some of the blocks in 50 Fabulous Paper-Pieced Stars to make the above quilt. No doubt this took some time to complete, but did it require patience? You only need patience if you are not enjoying the process. Obviously, Pat was enjoying the process.

50fabThis stunner of a quilt is also Pat’s. I love the black setting for the 50 Fabulous Paper-Pieced Star . It really makes the colors pop.

Just recently, I have been thinking about patience. I just saw the designs for my new fabric line due out in the fall. Oh, how I love the designs and the colors. I’ve been designing quilts in anticipation of the fabric arriving and find myself so impatient to receive the actual fabric. I keep reminding myself, patience is a virtue.

I also just designed a new Anniversary Mystery Quilt for the Carol Doak Yahoo Group. I’ve uploaded the fabric requirements and the cutting list for all the blocks. However, I am going to wait a bit before uploading the first block to for members to make. OK, I can’t wait to see all the quilts that will be made using this design….patience is a virtue.

And, I joined Facebook. I had heard of this site, but I had no clue how it all worked. I just wish I knew the workings now, rather than stumbling through to learn the ropes. I realized that starting a “Fan Page” was the way to go. Ok, …patience is a virtue. If you are on Face Book, do stop by and keep reminding me…lol..

And finally, I have a cold. My sinuses are clogged and the spring pollen just adds to the discomfort. I know it will be gone in a week or two…patience is a virtue.

Until next time,

May all your quilts have perfect points,

Carol


The Great State of Texas

Tuesday, May 12th, 2009

 

stitching1I just returned from a 10-day teaching trip to the great state of Texas. It is a huge state and has so many wonderful quilters. My first stop was in Huntsville, where I taught at Stitching in the Pines.

stitching2It was a super class and everyone one made great progress. We also had a few giggles and laughs along the way.

stitchingpinesHere is our graduation photo! Look at all those awesome smiles and blocks.

receptionThen we were off to the Wynne Home Arts Center for a reception. Lots of wonderful quilts were on display.

organize-quiltsThe next day was to be the Airing of the Quilts in Huntsville. We stopped by the place where all the quilts were numbered and stacked, ready to be hung all around town the next morning. An event like this doesn’t just happen. It takes a good deal of work and organization and the Tall Pines Quilt Guild does it like a pro!

stageA group of my quilts were on display at the Old Town Theatre. It was kind of neat for me to see so many of them on display in this charming setting.

auctionThe guild also hosted a wonderful miniature quilt auction in the theatre as a fund raiser.

courthouseBut the real charm of the day was the amazing collection of quilts hung from the buildings all around town. What a feeling of celebration it was!

bettyandlindaBetty Register and her sister Linda Hord kept me on tract. Not only were they just fun to be with, they were just amazing to watch as they took care of anything and everything!

featuredI was the Featured Teacher at the Airing. It was such a pleasure to meet and chat with quilters from just about everywhere you could image. The street was closed and our table was right in the middle of the street. Guess you could say…we stopped traffic.

tallpinesclass

My next class was for the Tall Pines Quilt Guild. We did the Simply Sensational 9-Patch Star class and then that evening I presented a lecture to the guild. I was sorry to say goodbye to everyone in Huntsville, but it was time for me to head to The Woodlands.

nasa1However, before I began teaching in The Woodlands I had an extra day. I was offered the opportunity to see NASA and I jumped at it. Wow! I had no idea it was so big. The tour of NASA was such a wonderful experience. Think we could convince them to add a few paper-pieced blocks to the NASA suit?

nasa2I was just in awe of the rockets, the test area and the size of the jet engines. We also saw the original control room at NASA. I just kept thinking I wouldn’t put myself on top of all those huge containers of fuel with all those wires underneath. What if there was a loose wire?

quilt-roomOK, time for another quilt shop fix. I stopped by The Quilt Room in Huffman, Texas. Claudia and Julie were just a delight to meet. I even purchased some fabric to make another new vest. Yeah!!!

sunriseI finished up my week by teaching the Sunrise Workshop in both The Woodlands and at the Kingwood Quilt Guild and presented lectures at both.

It was a super time and I came home with such fond memories.

Heading off to Rochester, New York tomorrow….

All the best,

Carol