January is nearly at a close

January started with rain, however that didn't last long and we have been having high temperatures every day, all day and with little relief at night. This isn't quite what we are used to and I look forward to going out in the car with the air conditioning blowing at full blast. 

I have been working through January when most people are away having their summer holidays and that's okay with me, we will take a break later in the year when the temperatures aren't so high and it is more comfortable moving around. 

I did however attend a very special class last Friday in Whakatane, about an hours drive south from here in Tauranga. The class was with Kaffe Fassett and Brandon Mably which was organised by Daphne of Pins to Stitches in Whakatane. 

Wow, what a class. A lot of work had been put in to ensure the day was a success. The pace was quick but without stress and everyone worked steadily all day. Daphne had the most amazing range of fabrics available for purchase throughout the day, which was fabulous especially when it came to choosing a border fabric. Isn't it funny how you don't necessarily go with what you think in the beginning.

Kaffe and Brandon doing their critique of our days work. This was Daphne's quilt design working in black and whites, pushing her out of her comfort zone.

Lovely soft colours on this one. Each design was different even if using similar colours and there were a few lighter quilts and two black and white ones.

Kaffe critiquing my quilt. I decided to make the most of the fabric available and get what I needed to get this quilt done. I'm not wanting this to become a UFO. You can see the chosen border fabric hanging on the side.

I wish that I had taken a photo of the room before we started with our design walls up but empty. As the day grew the room was filled with the most glorious colour as the design walls were covered with everyone's designs. The morning was filled with everyone cutting and placing, however in the afternoon there was a lot of standing back and pondering especially when auditioning the border fabrics.

The room was air conditioned and those babies worked hard all day pumping out cool air for us to work in, it was fabulous. Part way through the day one of the ladies recognised my name and showing me her phone asked me if this was me on Instagram? It is fabulous meeting fellow instagrammers face to face like that and I look forward to seeing the progress on her quilt too. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this class and have never felt so relaxed when attending a class. There were four of us from Tauranga that travelled down for the class and I look forward to attending classes again with them in the future.

I have had this weekend off work which has been fabulous and I have the quilt half sewn together. 

I have some setting triangles to cut out and then I can get the last of the top together.

Check back soon to see how I got on with it. Until then, happy stitching everyone

Donna-Maree