I'm Back! Christmas in July!

First off ~ I'm sorry for being gone so long.  It's been C-R-A-Z-Y since quilt market.  I really appreciate those of you who visit and read my posts.  I vow to post more regularly.  I actually have quite a bit waiting in the wings (or in my camera and brain) for future posts.

This time I'd like to tell you about this past weekend.  I took a little time for myself and took a class at Hollyhill Quilt Shoppe.  What a delight!  I enrolled in Debbie Busby and Sharon Stewart's "Gingerbread and Holly Woolly Workshop".  I'm not a wool stitcher (well I guess I am now since I've taken the class) but love the look of wool and have seen some wonderful projects lately so I thought I'd try something new for me.  I love occationally stepping away from what I normally work on.  When I come back I'm alway refreshed and excited about gettting back into my designing.

Here's some of the weekend in pictures~

Our Teachers:

On the left ~ Debbie Busby of Wooden Spool Designs

On the right ~ Sharon Stewart of Liberty Rose Patterns

These 2 are a hoot.  Besides teaching us the MANY different projects for the weekend we heard lots of funny stories about their friendship and their families.  It's a long story but.......after the more "serious" photo's they posed for their "sexy hair" photo!  They flipped those heads down, fluffed the hair and whipped it back up for this shot~

My table mates ~ from left, Charlotte my friend that came with me, my new friends Peggy and Gayle.  We had a great time!

Some of the other students working away.

"Holly" one of Sharon's designs from the weekend.

This little Holly Purse was one of Debbie's projects.  I actually finished this project in class.  I know you probably can't tell in the photo but the holly leaves and berries are needle felted.  This is the first time I've done a project with needle felting before.  It was fun.  Totally different than anything else I've ever done.  For those who aren't familiar with this technique, you use a special needle to poke wool fibers into a wool/fabric base to create a design.  It's very FOLK ART.  I'm going to fill my little bag with Candy Canes at Christmas and hang it as a decoration.  Cute huh?

The photo below is Jen's bag (Sharon's holding it).  She needle felted a bird on her bag that she'll be giving her granddaughter.

Much to our surprise Jan Hill (shop owner) brought all the students a gift!  In our cute little bag were 2 little kit projects for us to make and a fat quarter of a homespun fabric, just perfect for more gingerbread men (a project we'd made earlier).  So sweet!

The whole weekend really felt like CHRISTMAS!  Each of our projects were packaged so pretty.  Each felt like a gift!  And then our gift from Jan............ I could go on and on but I just love participating in events at Hollyhill, whether as a student or teacher.  You always feel special and definately get your money's worth and them some.  

Other fun projects by Debbie and Sharon.

So I'm now a wool stitcher!!  I had lots of fun and am off to a great start with my projects.  I'll post pictures as I finish them.  I'll use some as gifts and keep a couple for my home.  It was fun to experience a little Christmas in July!

Thanks for stopping by!

Blessings ~ Terri