Hey everyone! Another glorious weekend is upon us and I couldn’t be happier! Mother Nature can sure be off her rocker sometimes, but every once in a while she does something nice to make up for it – like giving us another solid week of summer weather starting yesterday! If you’re anywhere near me, you know it was a sunny, hot and steamy 88 degrees here in WI, which I absolutely LOVE! Being mid September, the weather could really go either way… It could be hot like it’s July or chilly with frost advisories looming, so I’m absolutely tickled to have several dog days of summer ahead of me to enjoy. Thank you, Ma Nature! I will soak up every minute that I can.
As much as I would love to have six months straight of summer, I know these hot days will inevitably end and that the end will be sooner than later. I’ll be sad to see it finally go, but since I – almost – love autumn just as much, I can’t help but look forward to things to come – especially the holidays! Once that unmistakable nip is in the air, it’s hard to stop the warm and fuzzy feeling I get just at the thought of holiday decorating. I always have so much fun flipping my house from one season to the next… It takes the sting out of saying goodbye to all the good times we had during the last one!
Are you big on decorating for the holiday season at your house? Or would you rather keep it simple and enjoy everyone else’s displays? I always say, the quickest and easiest way to get the holiday décor ball rolling is with pillows and table mats! It literally takes a matter of minutes to throw a few pillows on the couch, and a nice table mat in the center of the dining room table, and voilà! Instant vibe change. Of course I have a ton of pillow and table mat projects that would help to make your decorating go that much smoother. I will do a blog post on some of my favorites later next week, so watch for that.
Those of you who are familiar with many of my pillow and table mat projects know that I’m pretty big on wool appliqué. I think it’s safe to say, it’s one of my, “things.” I love it! I will say however, I understand that along with aging hands comes arthritis and pain, which can make working with wool appliqué more difficult than it used to be. Believe me. I can relate! If you can also commiserate, this next bit is definitely for you…
If you’ve been thinking about taking a day class at Primitive Gatherings, now’s the time! This fall, our very own BERNINA Barb will be teaching “Machine Wool Appliqué with Valdani Perle Cotton” on October 9th, 2024 from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. CST.
Even if your hands don’t hurt you, this class is still for you! Students looking to improve their speed and efficiency would also benefit, along with anyone who loves wool appliqué but wants to expand on their knowledge of machine appliqué. In this class, Barb will be teaching students how to thread and adjust their machines to accommodate size 12 Valdani Perle Cotton Thread. She will also discuss several different stitches and techniques.
The class project will be your choice between my “Pumpkin Table Mat” and “Old St. Nick Table Mat” designs. Both projects are festive, seasonal pieces that are great for both newbies and seasoned appliqué artists alike. Each finishes at 18″ x 18″ – not too big to finish in a short amount of time – not too small to impress your dinner guests. And both are so stinkin’ cute!
“Where do I sign up?1?” I hear you cry… It’s easy to reserve yourself a seat for this class! All you have to do is give The Gathering a call at 920-778-8031 OR email thegathering@primitivegatherings.us and they’ll be happy to help. Class size is limited to ten, so don’t wait! I have a feeling this one is going to fill up fast!!!
Alright everyone – whew! What a week! I know the Great WI Quilt Show was last week but I swear I’m not fully recovered yet. That being said, I think a couple of days of sun soaking, boat riding, burger eating, and Vette driving are in order… You know – all the necessary therapies to get myself “right” for next week – LOL! Before I run off into the sunset let me give a big thanks to Lisa C. and Dianne C. for their comments last week! Check your email ladies… Heidi will be sending you a prize confirmation letter shortly! Want to win a prize too? You know the drill! Leave a comment and the next winner could be YOU!!! Have wonderful weekend and I will see you all soon! ~Lisa
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