Author Archives: Becky Goldsmith

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About Becky Goldsmith

I am a quilt designer/teacher/author, a wife/mother/grandmother, and certified yoga instructor who is searching for balance, strength, and happiness in all things.

Nepenthe @ Big Sur, CA

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I spent yesterday with Caryl Bryer Fallert on the California coast. We drove down Highway 1 from Asilomar to a restaurant/gift shop called Nepenthe in Big Sur. Caryl had been there before in the late 60s. She says she thinks it hasn’t changed much. 

The view from the restaurant is amazing! We ate outside and enjoyed both the view and the weather—and the food! Then we went to the gift shop (it’s called Phoenix). I had way too much luck finding all sorts of things. I’m going to have to quit shopping soon.
The owner is a painter and he adorned the restrooms with the most amazing paintings. That’s me posing in the ladies room. A very helpful man working in the store is the one who made sure we visited the “paintings”. He even made sure the men’s room was empty and then let us look in there. Should have taken a picture of it too but wasn’t thinking.

Happy Easter to you all. I start my class with Ruth McDowell today. I think I’m ready. I guess I’ll find out soon if I really am ready.

My class at Empty Spools

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This week at Empty Spools is winding down… we’ve had 4 1/2 days of class. We have one more 1/2 day tomorrow when we’ll talk about quilting and any other topics that come up. 

It’s been great! Everyone has done a wonderful job. We worked on color, on constructing a more “organic” background, and on applique techniques. That’s us in the photo: from left to right in rows, starting in the back, that’s Karen, Gail, Christy, Bran, Linda, Janey, me, Kay, Tanya, and Trudy.
One reason that I really like multi-day classes is because I get a chance to get to know the people in my class. Everyone has a story and I enjoy your stories. 

My grandson is eating corn on the cob!

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If you click the link on this blog to my son’s blog over there on the right (Becky’s son’s blog about her grandbabies) you’ll see a picture of my grandson eating corn on the cob! He’s 4 1/2 months old and he’s pretty cute! And, yes, I’m Nana.

Empty Spools

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I’m teaching at the Empty Spools seminar March 16-21. What a great place to go—both for teachers and students! I get to be both this year. I’m staying on for another week to take a 5-day class from Ruth McDowell after I teach for a week. I’m very excited!

Empty Spools is held at an historic conference center called Asilomar in Pacific Grove, CA, on the Monterey peninsula. Carmel is just minutes away. I’m from the land-locked prairie so I particularly enjoy any time spent at Asilomar.
If you’ve never heard of Empty Spools, I encourage you to check it out. Students take one 5-day class from one teacher. It’s amazing what you can learn under these conditions. And the site is spectacular! It may be cold and rainy (I hope not but it is March after all) but I know it will be invigorating.

Where to look on the sewing machine…

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Linda and I each sew on Bernina’s. Did you know that there is a little mark in front of the presser foot that marks the 1/4″ line? I’m finding that if I keep my fabric lined up with that line and don’t worry so much about the edge of the 1/4″ foot, I get a more accurate seam. I don’t know if other machines have the same kind of mark… but if they do, try using it. It’s handy.

More Pin Cushions

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When I was out of applique to work on last week I made some new pin cushions from the wool beads we sell on our site. They are both easy and fun to make—a winning combo! A word to those of you with cats: Cats love these things! If you don’t want them to play with your lovely pin cushions, you’d better hide them. In a drawer.

For the dotted ones, I cut ovals out of felt and felted them to the big wool ball. You can see that I also added some leaf shapes on 2 of them. Use the Clover felting tool or a felting needle to do the felting.
I’m calling the other ones “atomic” pin cushions. (Steve likes these the best.) I sewed small wool beads to the big wool bead with 3 strands of embroidery floss. Run the floss through the bead to each spot where you want to add a new bead.
I cut little squares of felt in contrasting colors to put at the outside of each of the little beads. As I pulled the floss tight, it gathered up the felt and cinched the little bead to the bigger one. Knot the floss out of sight at the base of one of the little beads. Too cute!