Last Thursday, our guild, Cotton Patch Quilt Guild, hosted art quilter Rose Hughes. Some friends and I took her workshop on Friday. I love taking classes and learning new techniques, and my friends make it all that much more fun! Christiane and I wanted to use Dupioni silks in our pieces, and our table looked like a silk explosion had taken place! We had 3 bags of fabric in the most glorious colors! We were like kids in a candy store. 
As is usual, the project had to be finished at home, so here’s a picture of what I was working on.
This technique is explained in the book Dream Landscapes, Artful Quilts with Fast-Piece Applique. If you use silk, you’ll have to fuse stabilizer to it before cutting into it. That makes this technique no so fast, but it was still fun to watch it all come together. Rose’s book is full of funky projects, and I’ll do more of them. I’ve also been drawing out some pieces of my own design and diving into my batik stash. I still have a lot of embellishing to do on the poppy piece, so it’ll take time to finish. I haven’t gotten to play in my beads and yarn bucket for a long time! Now, to come up with some interesting quilting designs!
Garden Update:
We planted a small space with some veggies this year, just to see how well things would grow. I’m quite proud of the way it’s going, and I’m eating lots of fresh zucchini and crook-necked squash! I also had sugar snap peas, but they are almost finished for the season. I’m finally getting some tomatoes, the carrots are almost ready, and I should have all kinds of brussels sprouts by the fall. I’m loving it! We’ll probably expand our garden next year.
This was just a shot of an odd group of mushrooms growing against our block wall. For some reason, I found it interesting.
I have 5 of these tubs planted with succulents, herbs, and peppers. See the tale of the photography assistant?
I have a customer coming to pick up a quilt and another quilt to get loaded for quilting. I’d better get to work!
I love your poppy landscape. It’s always fun to take classes with your friends. I’ll have to check out Rose’s book. It might look pretty cool with hand dyed fabrics, don’t you think?
One of her pieces would look awesome in hand dyed fabrics!
I love your poppies! I like having a garden too, espeically since it it Chris’ to maintain. I only have to eat the produce!
Love your assistant – I have one almost identical called Delta – LOVE my ginger boy!!
Your poppies look great!! And your assistant is too cute! I can’t believe you already have veggies when we just started are planting season…. The WA coast is not all that warm!
your poppies will be stunning! can’t wait to see it quilted. ok, i will; but only because i have no choice.
Lynn, Heres the plan for the squash!
in a large skillet saute a few cloves garlic in olive oil. Add sliced squash, different varieties, and sliced onion. saute a few minutes,add diced tomatoes ( fresh if ya got em)cook only to heat up…vegies are now al dente. tranfer to a casserole dish, sprinkle with your favorite shredded chesses,( i use jack/cheddar) and zap in broiler to melt.
this is a mex dish called,
Kala va seetas:)
OR: send em over…lolol
Woohoo!!! Yummy! Shall I send some via carrier pigeon? Thanks for the recipe, Gina!