Wheaten Woolens ~ Class with Rebekah L. Smith

These were the two projects that Rebekah offered at Wheaten Woolens.

Mom and I chose the Wooly Thistles Table Rug and Bittersweet Stitching Sister, Kim chose the Wooly Basket.

In person the runner was even more beautiful!

In class we were able to get all of our wool pieces cut out, the linen prepped and started stitching to the linen.

This is how far I got on my project. I haven't been able to pick it up since class, but hope to this weekend.

Kim and tablemate Cyndy, the basket maker, got much farther on their wooly baskets, but of course I forgot to take pictures ~ too distracted by all the fun and shopping!

Me, Mom (Jill Zartler), Kim and Rebekah

There is still more to share from Wheaten Woolens.

He tends his flock like a shepherd:
    He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
    he gently leads those that have young.

~Isaiah 40:11

Blessings, Patti

Wheaten Woolens ~ The Shop

It was such a pleasure to return to Wheaten Woolens and to be able to share the day with Mom.

The inspiration starts before you even walk in the door!

I loved the sign: "Welcome all Wool Loving Folks"!

That's us! 

Isn't the sign just perfect?

And look at the Summer line-up :)

Very inspirational!

But wait until you see what Beth Anne has done with the shop!

And I thought it was great last year ;)

The antiques are perfect settings for all the wool!

And here are the oh so sweet store namesakes ~

Murphy and Abby the resident Wheaten Terriers.

Are you hyperventilating yet?

I know that Mom and I were!

We were so glad that we arrived early, 

a little shopping before, during and after class lol!

Where to even start?

Beth Anne started designing for wool applique this year 

and her models are even more sweet in person.

Last year I regretted not buying one of the beautiful baskets at the shop.

What a thrill it was when I found out that we were sitting next to the basketmaker in our class, Cyndy Simmons!

It was such a pleasure to get to know the woman behind the baskets.

It wasn't just the wool and the baskets that had me so excited ~ 

there were the stools from Rebekah's new book, aprons made from feedsacks,

and yes, my new favorite Rustic Wool Moire Thread!

I was thrilled to see this big selection, when Beth Anne showed my this...

Oh my stars! Can I go home with a spool of each ;)

It makes you never want to leave...

There is so much more to share.

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High

    will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,

    my God, in whom I trust.”

~Psalm 91:1-2

Blessings, Patti

Heading back to Wheaten Woolens!

A year ago I visited Wheaten Woolens in Davenport, Iowa for the first time

and took a class with Rebekah L. Smith. You can read about it here, here and here. 

I decided that I had to finish last year's project before I returned, and here it is!

"Wooly Star Table Rug" designed and kitted by Rebekah L. Smith

I am just thrilled with the result!

Tomorrow Mom and I are headed to Davenport.

Wheaten Woolens and another class with Rebekah!

We can't wait - this will be a perfect getaway before Mom starts her chemo.

Since I was able to finish the class project, I decided to work on another...

"Flowers for the Table"

design by Rebekah L. Smith 

kitted by Wheaten Woolens

The tan background is hand dyed velvet! I love it and must get a better picture for you to see as I make more progress.

Mom and I will be back with a full report!

In the meantime, you can find the Wheaten Woolen website here and their Facebook page here.

The law of the Lord is perfect,
    refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,
    making wise the simple.
The precepts of the Lord are right,
    giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant,
    giving light to the eyes.

~Psalm 19:7-8

Blessings, Patti

The Sue Daley Workshop

The Sue Daley workshop was held at Thimbles in historic downtown Lockport, Illinois.

Thimbles is housed in an incredible 1870's building.

All of the details amazed me!

From the stone walls to the back stairs.

To the high punched tin ceilings.

I love how they embraced and enhanced the history!

A beautiful backdrop to their beautiful quilt shop!

This original store ladder enthralled me, not to mention the lovely fabrics!

And the old shop shelves offer perfect areas for display.

It's a large shop even more spacious with its high ceilings.

Such inspiration - old and new

Love these bins of quilts by the check out counter.

And then there was Sue Daley's workshop upstairs!

I didn't take many photos as I was busy taking notes and stitching.

This little camera and large screen tv was so clever! It allowed the entire class to see the same thing at once.

We were focused on fussy cutting and let me say that Sue has such wonderful tools to make it so much easier!

The rotating cutting mat, fussy cutting mirror, acrylic templates and stickit glue dots were all must haves to make the process so much easier!

Would you like to see our project?

Here it is! Wow! I got a little nervous, but if you take it step by step it is definitely doable.

And can you believe that this is the exact same pattern?! 

Fabric and placement make it look so different!

And believe it or not, the center medallion here is also the same design!

And this is how far I got in our workshop. 

I was pleased and have the confidence I need to keep going!

Unfortunately I have put it aside for the business of life and also for prepping for two more workshops that I will be attending this month and next...

But I hope to pick it back up soon and will share my progress!

So as someone once told me, I will now pass it on ~ if you ever have the chance to take a class with Sue Daley, be sure to do so!

Thank you ever so much for your prayers and positive thoughts for Mom and my sister-in-law as they each battle cancer. Your prayers mean ever so much to us! Please continue to keep them in your prayers as we progress on this journey.

The heavens declare the glory of God;
    the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech;
    night after night they reveal knowledge.

Psalm 19:1-2

Blessings, Patti

Prayers Appreciated

Two people very near and dear to me are beginning their battles with cancer.

My dear sister-in-law, Joy is beginning her fight.

My dearest Mom is beginning her second battle with a new cancer.

Not even a year ago Mom was battling a different type of cancer and won.

Eight months ago today Dad lost his fast and furious battle with cancer.

Prayers and positive thought are greatly appreciated!

"The Lord will keep you from all harm—

    he will watch over your life;

the Lord will watch over your coming and going

    both now and forevermore."

~Psalm 121:7-8

Blessings, Patti 

A Class with Sue Daley

Once someone told me that if I ever had the chance to take an English Paper Piecing class

with Sue Daley I should be sure to do so!

Well, recently my friend, Aileen, told me that Sue Daley was coming to Thimbles

in Lockport, Illinois and I knew that I had to attend!

It was a Friday night lecture and Saturday workshop. It's about an hour from downtown Chicago and lucky for me Aileen was willing to drive. Not so lucky was the Friday night traffic! It took us 2 hours to get there! Luckily, we allowed extra time and arrived right as it was about to begin!

Sue is a fun speaker and her Aussie accent was a delight as well.

It's so much fun to hear stories of how someone got started

and the tales behind their fabric lines and quilt designs.

All of the small quilts were passed around during the lecture so that we could see them up close and personal.

A chance to really admire the quilting.

Such clever utilization of paper piecing!

Such wonderful combinations of fabrics!

I really loved this one - both the vintage style fabrics and the unique layout.

And who doesn't love hearts ;)

I loved this color combination and the modern yet traditional feel.

Birds and words - what more can you ask for?

Combinations that I could never dream of that work so well.

And we were so very lucky - this was before the St. Louis quilt show

and we were able to get sneak peeks of what was to be revealed there:

Sue's lovely new fabric line and new quilt designs too.

Aileen and I were exhausted as we left that night,

but we were so happy that the drive back was oh so much quicker!

As we had to be back bright and early for the workshop!

I'll be back with that soon.

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

~Ephesians 3:17-19

Blessings, Patti