Newsletter for Quilting in the Country

In this newsletter: See Art Quilt Show Make a mini art quilt See Jane in Ft. Collins Sue Olsen Class announced Hello ##SubscriberNameAlternative##--
How long has it been since you attended a birthday party for a one year old? Bill and I were honored to be asked to a one year old birthday celebration last Saturday afternoon. What a gift for a mother to celebrate her one year old son’s birthday on the day before Mother’s Day. For Bill and I it was pure delight to watch one year old Sawyer totally enjoy (and destroy) his birthday cake. He loved the carrot cake but the fresh strawberry garnishes were his favorites. Bill and I enjoyed the old fashioned neighborliness centered around kids, parents and dogs who flowed from 1920’s era Craftsman Style homes. We wondered if Norman Rockwell was somewhere nearby!
I hope that your Mother’s Day was special. So many of you told me you shared the poetry with your daughters. Thank you!
	Some of you attended the Barn events sponsored by the Pioneer Museum. I thought you might enjoy seeing some of the photos from that day. Unfortunately I didn’t get photos from the presentation on Montana Barns or the Wine and Cheese Reception. It was great fun! We loved the local cheese. Did you know that the Heap family is back in the cheese making business? Among other places, Vintage Cheese Company of Montana is available at Town and Country Grocery in Bozeman. The Barns of Gallatin Valley event for the Pioneer Museum was a big hit. We’re planning the second annual Barn Tour!
The Big Yellow Barn-Available for Weddings, Reunions, etc.	Inside the Big Yellow Barn
Last week I announced the “Last Best Thread” contemporary fiber and quilting arts exhibit. I had been spending quite a bit of time in the Pioneer Museum but focus on the Barn event prevented me from looking at the quilts. Last Saturday I gave myself the gift of going to the Pioneer Museum and really taking a good long look at the show. I find that taking photos to share with you also helps me really focus on the quilts. I hope that you enjoy this photo tour of a few of my favorite quilts displayed at the Pioneer Museum.	Revealed: Katie Cash Five piece set-constructed with hand dyed fabric using a variety of low water immersion, direct dye methods, and soy resist. Machine quilted by the artist with traditional mitered border.
Scrumble Tree: Regina Seagrave For many years Regina played with the idea of a tree made from yarns. She combined a variety of crochet stitches, painted batting and snippets of fabric and finished with a layer of tulle and machine stitching. Silk leaves accent the 3-D look.	Yen, Euro and $: Ann Drenk Dyed and embellished. Note from Jane: This quilt really inspired me. I have foreign coins-the Euro and $$, no yen, but other foreign coins. Now I know what to do with them!
If you live in the area join the artists for the presentation………………………………………. “The Making of an Art Quilt” 10am, Saturday, May 18. 317 W. Main Street. Pat Hamlin, of the Bozeman Art Quilter’s Club will discuss two-dozen quilts the club has on display in the museum. After Pat gives some background on art quilts, she will lead participants in a workshop that will allow each to make their own mini art quilt. All supplies will be provided. I hope you can join the art quilters at the Pioneer Museum, beginning at 10am, for what should prove to be an exciting hand’s on event. Yes, I know that all readers of this letter can't attend these Bozeman events but the Art Quilt show will hang at the Pioneer Museum until August 31, 2013.	A Log Cabin Replica built inside the Pioneer Museum is perfect for display of modern quilts.
After visiting the “Making of the Art Quilt” show last Saturday I REALLY wished that I could join in the fun this coming Saturday. BUT ………….. I am looking forward to my trip to Ft. Collins, CO. Last week I mentioned my presentation at the Fig Leaf Quilt in Ft. Collins. I was surprised to hear from readers that you would like to join me at the shop Friday, May 17, from 10:30- 12:30pm. It really pleases me that you read this newsletter so carefully! And that I will have friends in the audience in Ft. Collins. I’ll be talking about the techniques used in the projects in my Quilting in the Country book and other 3 dimensional techniques. We are driving to CO so I will have the opportunity to bring lots of quilts. It will truly be a trunk show-well, maybe not, our Subaru Outback doesn’t have a trunk—at any rate the Outback will be loaded with quilts to show! Call The Fig Leaf at 970-495-1766, if you have questions or need directions to the shop.
	If by chance you don’t have a copy of the Quilting in the Country book, order online QIC Book from us. While you’re on line take a look at my other books. It’s potluck season! Both the Daily Dessert and Salad Sampler have wonderful recipes to carry to all sorts of spring celebrations. They are available online at QIC Books, too. Ask Jane to autograph the books. Think wedding shower, graduation, anniversary, or even Father’s Day gifts!
The Fundamental Quilting Class that I’ve been teaching at MSU has concluded. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so much pressure in planning a class. I’ve taught 1000’s of beginning students. Why was this so challenging? Usually I can add a few hours of instruction if necessary, extend the class another session, and if the project doesn’t get finished—well, that’s another story. I couldn’t fudge on the timing of these college classes. The MSU students had to complete their small table runner, have it graded and take the final on time.
	There were 21 students of vastly different skill levels. I prepared hand-outs so that the students could use them when they teach quilting classes after graduation. I loved having the opportunity to teach fabric selection in a exercise I call, Visual Texture for your Quilt. It was fun to share some of the history of quiltmaking and just general tidbits to be used when MSU students are the teachers. When the semester ended, I realized how rewarding the opportunity to share my passion for quilting to others, who will pass on the tradition to their future students, had been for me.
Collin, our grand nephew in Iowa, sent us a flattened version of himself. At the request of Collin’s Iowa grade school teacher, we were asked to take Flat Collin around our area, take photos, and share them with Collin. I thought you might be interested in the places we choose to share with Collin and his classmates. We hope Collin and his family come for a visit!

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We still have a couple kits left of this fun quilt! The finished quilt is 55" X 66" and our kit includes the pattern and fabric for top and binding. Order online Scilla/Crocus Kit or call the shop. 406-587-8216. Even if cloudy, gray days return you can experience spring fever inside with this quilt. Make it in gig time!
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	ANNOUNCING A NEW CLASS! FLAG DAY FUN! FLAG DAY AND SATURDAY, 2013! For years I have hoped that Cathy Cooper would be able to teach to class at Quilting in the Country. Now she has! Cathy has to be on my "Top Ten of the Most Creative People I Know" list! And she has consented to teach you the artistic concepts behind making fabric choices. In the 2-day workshop Cathy will teach you artistic concepts and how to relax and enjoy making creative choices. The block used in the masterful quilt is the most common Log Cabin but look what happens when Cathy puts her creative spin on it. I’m counting on some of Cathy’s creative juices rubbing off on me! Please join Cathy at Quilting in the Country: Friday and Saturday, June 14 & 15. 10-4pm. $98/includes class instruction and 2 lovely lunches. Call 406-587-8216 to reserve your place. Space is limited. Call soon!
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“THE ARTIST IN YOU”...taught by Sue Olsen Friday and Saturday, June 28-29 and Oct. 18-19 $110 This class teaches quilters how to create quilts from favorite images, such as a photograph, a child’s drawing, postcards, etc. This is achieved by following a few simple design steps using materials available at most local fabric and quilt shops. Briefly, the quilting technique... “lines into designs”..., starts with a 4” x 6” colored image of your choice. This colored image is enlarged to a 16” x 20” black and white enlargement.

	Major design lines are traced off the black and white enlargement onto vinyl or a water soluble stabilizer that will be used as a quilt pattern. The vinyl (or stabilizer) is attached to a quilt sandwich and becomes a guideline for tracing mirror image pattern pieces as well as for fabric placements. Beautiful fabrics of all different textures and colors along with your imagination, makes anything possible. All pattern pieces are fused to a quilt sandwich with Steam-A-Seam2®. This class is perfect for those who are ready to create their own patterns from favorite images.
If you have ever said to yourself... “if I could draw, I would make this photo into a quilt”... this class is for you!!! No drawing experience is necessary. You will make a one-of-a-kind piece of fabric art. It is fun, fused and very forgiving. Some free-motion sewing knowledge is helpful but not necessary. This class is meant for all sewing skills. Come find the “artist in you”. Enrollment is limited. 406-587-8216.


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	We have loads of new quilts hanging in the shop! An especially creative quilt was made by my friend Wendy. We have two versions of the fabrics—Wendy’s is made from the winter version. Now the summer version of the fabric collection has arrived. Order the fabrics by visiting our shop or calling to order yardage---it’s easy---call 406-587-8216. Simple Marks-Winter Collection Simple Marks-Summer Collection
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	INNER CRAZINESS CIRCLE The Inner Craziness class was exceptionally popular! The women made great progress and want to continue getting together to learn and inspire each other. You don’t have to be crazy to join the circle, just show up on the FIRST FRIDAY OF EACH MONTH. 9-11. Fridays: May 3, June 7, July 5, August 2. No charge. Inner Craziness
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QUILT CAMP The Luccock Quilt Camp will be held FRIDAY/SATURDAY, JULY 19-21. South of Livingston, MT. Only 30 miles from YELLOWSTONE PARK! REASONABLE PRICE but very charming, peaceful and beautiful! The rustic lodging for 2 nights and 5 meals is only $90. Please call Mary Lou at Luccock Camp at 406-223-8131 to reserve a place at camp. You need to identify yourself as part of the Quilting Campers! There are several RV spaces to rent and also separate cabins for couples and families. Call me to reserve your place at Quilt Camp, to receive the supply list, and to order your kit at 406-587-8216. Please try to make these arrangements as soon as possible. We don’t want to lose out on this wonderful opportunity. Retreats
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	And announcing the Retreat and Quilt Camp project for 2013! Women of the West – Good Neighbors is coming along slowly but nicely! Here is a sneak preview from my design board. Each basket will be filled with a needlework version of something you might to take to a neighbor as a gift—perhaps a loaf of bread, churned butter, wild flowers, a thoughtful letter, or fruit from you tree, maybe an orphaned kitten! What else? You can use my suggestions of historic women I’ve chosen and gifts to embroider or otherwise embellish or you can come up with your own- maybe women from your family. Kits will be available for the project of the year—Women of the West—Good Neighbors. I have worked so diligently on creating this quilt. I sincerely hope it will captivate you as it has me.
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************* Remember the G Bar M Ranch Retreat - September 6-8. The retreat is very reasonably priced at $270. Reserve your place-- $135.00 will save a spot. And you'll love our Quilting in the Country Day in the Country**, August 16 and our Fabulous Quilts in the Garden Show, plus loads of other fun activities, August 17. Remember to place these special days at Quilting in the Country on your calendar! PLEASE VISIT US AT QUILTING IN THE COUNTRY or at the FIGLEAF IN FORT COLLINS,CO.