Clouds, from above…

I found myself sitting by the window when I flew from California to Chicago last week and was treated to a spectacular show!

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I loved seeing the shadows of the clouds on the ground below.

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Every now and then during the flight I put down my kindle and took some more pictures. We flew over snowy mountains…

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Clouds are lovely from above, and ever-changing.

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I was not by the window when I flew home, into Dallas, but my seat-mate let me lean over her a bit to take this last one, right before we went into the clouds to land. It’s my favorite.

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Wednesday Giveaway

UPDATE: Congratulations to Jessalyn Matthews Frank, the lucky winner of this book! I’m sorry to all who were not chosen by the random number generator. Luckily, if you want the pattern, you can still find it here, as a downloadable ePattern.

This week’s giveaway is a copy of All Around The Neighborhood. It was published in 2000  and is out of print. Click here to find the downloadable pattern for the cover quilt. There are other patterns in this book and one of these days I’ll make them into downloadable patterns… but not today.

Leave a comment to enter the drawing.

To leave a comment click the little icon that looks like a thought bubble at the upper left at the top of this post. That will open the comment section. Scroll to the bottom to find the box in which to leave your comment/reply.

I’ll use a random number generator to choose a winner Thursday morning, March 30, 2017. Good luck!

More independence at Empty Spools

I’ll pick up where I left off yesterday. Suzie was also foundation paper piecing. She stayed focused on these lovely blue blocks. 


April came with the large star blocks made. She got them set together and began work on the Ohio Star border. 


Haley came with our Piecing book and fabric, ready to make Weave A Rainbow. She made great progress and her quilt is going to be a stunner!


Michelle was very focused all week long and got a lot of the units made on her foundation paper piecing project. 


Ida came with a vision to make crazy quilt hexagons that will be heavily embellished. She left ready to begin the hand sewing. 


My job through all of this was to make suggestions, solve problems, be encouraging, and learn from my students. I always come away from a class having learned something. Classes are a win-win for everyone. Thank you, students everywhere!

Why an independent study class?

An independent study gives you time and space to work on your own thing in a creative environment. And, in my class, you get help if/when you want it. 

I had 11 women last week all working on something different. Some were more relaxed (it was a vacation, after all), others sewed relentlessly. It was great!

Jean honed her applique skills. 



And taught herself to sew a diamond block, with y-seams, using our Piecing book. 


Margaret focused on a quilt that she is making for a guild challenge. She nailed the mitered corners and the perle cotton applique stitches. 


Yolanda completed so many things that I sort of lost count. I especially liked this top that is the result of a log cabin block exchange. 


Susan was also knocking down the projects. She has a system for keeping up with her piecing that is very efficient. I was impressed. 


Marie sewed on a foundation paper piecing project and left with her arcs nearly finished. 


Louise made the foundation paper pieced blocks all week and worked right up to the last minute to get them ready to together. 


I kind of like the quilt turned sideways. 


I’ll post more tomorrow, promise :-). 

Wednesday Giveaway

And the winner is… Mary Grogan! I thank you all for leaving comments and I look forward to hearing from you again!

This week’s giveaway is a copy of Covered With Love. It was published in 2006 and is out of print. Click here to find the eBook.

Leave a comment below to enter the drawing. I’ll use a random number generator to choose a winner Thursday morning, March 23, 2017. Good luck!

Seen on my morning walk…

You just can’t beat a morning walk that includes the ocean. That may be one of the most rejuvenating parts of taking part in an Empty Spools seminar. 

I would happily live in this house…

There were people snorkeling this morning, in wetsuits. And fishing, and taking photos. 

Someday I’ll master the art of the selfie. As it is, at least my nose isn’t huge :-). 


Lots of purple/pink/blue flowers are blooming. Wish these would grow for me in north Texas. 


The quilting fun starts later today. I am looking forward to spending the week with 13 happily sewing women!