Mexican Stars Class

What to do on Cinco de Mayo??? WHY take a class and learn how to make a Mexican Star quilt block!!

Mexican Stars by Southwind Designs

Had the most fun with Annette Ornelas of Southwind Designs  ( http://www.southwindquilts.com/ )  .  I booked her for Ocean Waves Quilt Guild last year for a lecture and class this week.  She came to Lewes Delaware from her home in Fayetteville NC to speak, do a trunk show, and teach a workshop!  The trunk show was awesome.  She showed over 50 quilts. Sorry no photo’s because I was helping to hold the quilts and show them around the room.  Our guild meeting had at least 100 members present.  The feedback I got was great from the members.  I also helped Annette when she was selling her patterns and kits and I think she sold a lot.  She had over 40 patterns available to purchase; and of course, I bought 3 or 4.  (Ssshhh….).

Three more patterns!

Our workshop on Tuesday (Cinco de Mayo) was great fun.  Annette’s patterns are clearly written and she really helped us with our color choices and any difficulties we might have had.  A fun workshop for everyone I think.  Here are some photo’s:

Class members blocks

Connie’s block

Edna chose pretty colors

Trying to hide her face

Connie was very productive

My Mexican Star center block

The center block in this pattern is unique.  The rest of the blocks “look similar” but they all contain “different parts.  The interesting thing about Annette’s patterns is that you end up with “curves”.  If you look at the last photo “My Mexican Star center block”  you will see the triangles that have pins on them.  Once the entire top is built (like Connie’s); you can “turn the edge of the triangle back” to create a curve and that gets stitched down along the edge.  It is a very creative way to get a “curved pieced block” without having to stitch cut curves, and fighting the challenge of easing things in.  And; what looks like little  dark triangles in my block (the last photo) was really done with strip piecing.  The lighter big triangles lay on top.

I like this pattern; and look forward to getting back to working on it.  But first….a trip to visit the grandkids.  Before I can go at the end of next week, I have many projects I need to get started & finished.  I did finish 4 projects for my little granddaughter.  She has asked to have a Robin Hood/Maid Marion 5th birthday party; so I have made her an outfit that she can have for the party; and for subsequent play dress-up!  Since her exposure to Maid Marion comes from the Disney movie; I went with a look that might seem familiar to her.

Maid Marion Amulet

I saw in the movie clips that Maid Marion had a turquoise necklace; and thought this was a way to do it easily; velcro on the ribbon so she can learn to put it on & off on her own.  (Also a close up of the “jeweled” trim on the dress I made for her.)

A friend shared a pattern with me and the costume was perfect. This was easy to make out of pink satin.  The pattern called for the ties to be a long cord and independent of the garment, but I chose to include them in the waist band.  Making them shorter and stitching them in the side seam so the child won’t get choked.  I also added elastic to the bottom of the sleeves for safety purposes…

 

Pink Satin Maid Marion dress

Of course; Maid Marion needs a cape — this one has a hood which you may find hard to see….

Maid Marion hooded cape

Can’t go wrong with purple sparkle fabric!!

Cape over dress

and lastly; in the Disney movie the wedding ring was a flower…..so I made a batch of “rings” for the birthday girl to give to her guests.  Simple easy and fun stuff for Grandma to do.

 

Maid Marion flower rings

Now; it is time to get busy.  The little sister is getting a pink satin skirt with an overlay of sparkly fabric once I get waist measurements; and I have several nightgowns to make; as well as finishing her quilt (needs border quilting and binding); and then there is the cradle that was gifted to me for her; that needs sanded, stained; a mattress and doll quilt.  All are in various stages of “consideration”.  Home all day today so time to get busy!!!

Hope you are having as much fun with your projects as I am!

Oh; don’t forget…we are having a quilt show – July 17 & 18, 2015 in Lewes Delaware.  Over 250 quilts are registered and we have 19 vendors coming.  Details here: http://oceanwavesquiltguild.org/qs15.html       Check out the link and come to Lewes Delaware for the show!!

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