An Umbrella Workshop & A Guild Friendship Block Exchange

This year I have these "have-to" projects that I have mentioned ad nauseum lately. It always makes me happy to consider projects for all of the time I like to think that I will have "after". Better yet is taking the time for a break from have-o's now and then. Nothing better to get ou loosens up and ready for more.

Our Textile Guild invited Joan Buse, otherwise know as "Umbrella Joan" or "the umbrella lady" to our island to teach a class. I am not a huge umbrella kind of gal, but that is partially because they tend to be so boring. Shelter from both sun and rain can be appealing at times though and I was eager to take the class. Our team leaders, Tori and Robin, helped to make to sure that we were all well prepared by encouraging us to cut out the pattern in advance of the class. Robin had made them before and so the pattern was available and she graciously opens her wonderful home to those of us who waned to her up on the pre-cutting offer. Talk about a win-win situation!

Our teacher, Joan Buse (in the image below), and her helpful spouse, Bob, arrived on the ferry at about 10:15 am and we for going. As things turned out, having the pattern pre-cut saved about 1:15 minutes. The total wonder of the class is that we ALL had our umbrellas sewn together and pinned to the frame by about 3:30!! That is about the time I generally need an afternoon respite. We all needed to do some fishing hand work at home ....nothing very taxing or difficult though. The umbrellas are treated with a water proofed before the finishing work is done. Our hardware stores were out of the best ones anyway!

Suggested options are :

Scotchguard Outdoor Water Shield

Thompsons Waterseal for fabric

Candy Hoeschen (above) was the first to complete her umbrella

and shop owner, Bonnie Turman (below), adds cheerful Pom-poems to her colorful Mickey Mouse umbrella

Blow: Brooke, crafter extraordinaire, and new sewist, finished hers in record time!

Above: Guild member...I believe her name is Barbara ...finished her colorful version

Below: Cool Strum used some of my all time favorite Diamond Textiles embossed fabric in roaring red

Lovely Diane made hers for her historical recreation work...circa 1860-ish

Below: our wunderkind sewist, Barbara Snider, made this fantasy umbrella of her grand-daughter

Below: Sheila and her version

Below: Krispi Staude made us all smile

Joan's husband, Bob, brought sound the samples....

My ' fabric find' was a brilliant cobalt blue with white lightening bolts.

A great EBay buy and made by Anthology Batiks.

In another break from the "have-to's" is quilt guild project. Friendship blocks! We have not done this sort of exchange for a long time....years really. Each month one person chooses a block design and color and those of us who have signed up make a block. Next week, July, is "my" month. In the past I was fond of asking for circles of one kind or another. Wanting o not hear sighs I chose one of my all I've favorite blocks - the versatile, traditional log cabin. I am asking for a red and white color scheme using cut 2" strips to finish to finish at 12" (12.5" unfinished). If anyone has a hankering to make one I would be thrilled to have a bit of your work in my friendship quilt! I can send you the simple directions....

Breaks over ...back to more hand sewing!

I hope that everyone is enjoying the summer (here in the northern hemisphere) and that, for us USA types, I sincerely hope that your 4th of July will be happy, safe and filled with good memories .

 

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