I know they say you can’t go home again, but sometimes I have the privilege of returning to visit a quilt guild that I have visited before. That was the case this January when I returned to McAllen, TX to visit the Rio Grande Quilt Guild for a second time. Since the weather here in New Hampshire was very cold with snow and ice, visiting the balmy temperatures of southwest was a bonus I was eagerly anticipating. 

I taught the Sunrise Mariner’s Compass workshop the first day and the Perfect Points workshop on the second day. We all had lots of fun and several students completed their projects.

Everyone was smiling and ready for a good time.

Then on Saturday, the meeting of the guild took place and I brought my trusty camera along. The large room was overflowing with several hundred quilters. I was impressed so I snapped a picture of the audience. I presented my lecture, Paper Piecing: When, Why and What if? for the morning program. I was sincerely touched to receive a loud and happy standing ovation from the guild members.

Look at all those perfect points!

Then it was time for Show and Tell. My students all came up on stage to show off the projects from our two days of workshops. Wow, it was really impressive to see all those perfect points and and Sunrise Quilts.

A group of students got together prior to my visit and made paper piecing tool caddies to use at the workshops. (This is a free pattern here on my web page.)

Just a stunning quilt!

And then…..I was treated to a stunning medallion quilt that was shown by one of the members featuring a border of star blocks from my book, 50 Fabulous Paper-Pieced Stars.  In my excitement to snap a photo of this quilt, I neglected to write down the name of the maker. If anyone knows, please post it in a comment so we can give credit.

Lunch time giggles

After the meeting, about 25 of us went to a darling Tea House for lunch. We had a ball playing with all the hats hanging around and trying to decide which one was our perfect hat.

I returned home the next day to single digit temperatures here in NH and so many fond memories of my trip. Thank you Rio Grande quilters for your warm hospitality and the fun. And many thanks to Susan Flarity for your friendship and wonderful organization. I look forward to returning to the Rio Grande in 2012!

Until next time, all the best,

Carol

This is the first post of my new blog at my website, so it truly is a new beginning using an entirely new system. There are lots of neat options, I just need to figure out how to use them all. The only way to learn is to jump in and start. I am also writing this on New Year’s Eve day, with a brand new year starting tomorrow.

The block above was made by Mary D. from the Carol Doak Yahoo Group. I started a Block of the Month for the group last September, so the beginning of the month means a new block is uploaded for the group. Members make the blocks using their creative ideas and upload their pictures. Each block represents a scene and living in New Hampshire, a snow-covered mountain scene is perfect. This block is also a pretty plain block so it offers lots of creative options for embellishment.

4500 Member Celebration Block

I started the practice of uploading a Celebration Block each time we hit a milestone membership. Well, we just reach 4500 Members!!! Trust me, when I started this group a couple of years ago, I had no clue it would grow so quickly to thousands of members from around the world. I just uploaded a couple of days ago, our 4500 Member Celebration Block. I provide the design and the members provide the creativity as no fabric or color suggestions are given. This block was made by Karen. I will show more of these blocks in future blogs.

New Zealand Block from Mariner's Compass Stars

I am also beginning my 2009 travel schedule. I leave next week for Texas and then am home just a few days before heading to New Zealand for a couple of weeks. I will be helping Beth Hayes lead a group of quilters on this exciting and fun trip. I have traveled to New Zealand to teach many years ago, so I am looking forward to returning to this lovely island. When I wrote the Mariner’s Compass Stars book, I named each of the blocks in the book for different countries and areas of the world. When I designed the New Zealand block I was reminded of the beautiful gardens represented by the reds and pinks, the color of the water in the harbors, the gorgeous green and snow-capped mountains.

Speaking of snow, we got several more inches yesterday. Heading south is looking really good.

Until next time, all the best,

Carol

I recently completed my final trip for the year to the Dallas, Texas area. I visited four guilds in the area, Granbury, Fort Worth, Arlington and Parker County where I presented a lecture and workshop for each. It was a busy week, but a really wonderful week too. It takes some organization to put all the pieces together for four guilds and the unsung heros are the Program Chairs who do a wonderful job of organizing events. Here I am with Heather from the Trinity Valley Guild in Fort Worth just before presenting my lecture. Speaking of lectures, I was so sincerely moved to receive standing ovations after presenting my lectures. Wow, what a great way to end the year!!!
The students in the Perfect Points class had the opportunity to show their finished projects from the class.
Everyone was all smiles!
In Granbury we did the Simply Sensational 9-Patch Stars class. Here one of the Granbury students is tickled pink with her first block.
I also am delighted to receive photos of finished projects from workshops long after the workshop is over. This “Fire and Ice” quilt was made by Dottie Szypulski, who took a workshop in Canton, CT. Dottie put a little twist in the outside corner blocks. I love to see students add their creative ideas.
And sometimes students take off after a class and work on new projects. Barbara McCarty wrote: “I took a workshop from you with Wayside Quilters in Massachusetts a few years ago. I just completed a queen size quilt using Rhonda’s block and variations. I love the different patterns that form. I hope you enjoy the quilt pictures!”

Sometimes, I never actually meet the quilters who share their creativity with me. Cheri’ Radliff wrote: “I have to tell you, I have held on to the January 2003 edition of The Quilter Magazine since November of 2002 in hopes of building up to your pattern. I began quilting in 2000. After doing 13 quilts I decided it was time to try. I hand quilt all of my quilts so I don’t pump them out as fast as others can. Here’s a picture of my version of your spinners quilt pattern. I just LOVE patterns that intermingle from square to square so I absolutely enjoyed this pattern. I know it’s not perfect since some of my green squres are a little lopsided. Oops! But overall, I am happy with how it turned out.
Thanks for sharing your creativity. I’m now looking for a pattern for my next quilt.”

But today, I received an email and it reminded me why I do what I do:
It is being shared with Mary’s permission:
Dear Carol,
I simply had to tell you again just how much I enjoyed your class. When you discussed color and showed us how to arrange the samples to decide the best ones for the project, I thought to myself–that was worth the price of the class! Then when you showed us how to line up the sections of the block and random sew to make sure it fit–again I thought, Wow, that was worth the price of the class! Then you showed me–the practicing to be a novice–quilter how to cut properly with mt lefthandedness–one more time, I thought, well, that was worth the price of the class! As the day progressed I would think that phrase over and over. I learned so much from your class and feel SO much better about my quilting efforts, I have promoted myself to novice quilter!!!! Thanks so much for your expertise. I loved your methods (that’s plural!) because I learned SO much from you other than paper piecing–but, by golly, I learned that too!
Many thanks,
Mary Wimberly, Trinity Valley Guild Member, Fort Worth

When I read Mary’s comments, I smiled with such satisfaction. You see, I really enjoy making quilts and I love to show others methods that will add to their enjoyment of making quilting. It was a wonderful reminder of why I do what I do.
All the best,
Carol

In September, I made a trip out to Vancouver Island, BC to film my new Easy Reversible Vests DVD. It is one thing to read about making these vests, but actually seeing the process evolve from beginning to end is such an easy way to learn and a perfect companion to the book. The outtakes also show some of the really lighter moments we shared during the filming…..trust me, there were many light moments. I am delighted to share just a bit of the new DVD with you.

This past week I had the pleasure of lecturing and teaching at The Gathering in Nashua, NH. It was a pleasure for me to be there to help celebrate their 20th Anniversary. I taught the first year of The Gathering and my how it has grown. Marie Geary and Jeanne Glenfield started this show and ran it for many years. We lost Jeanne last year to cancer but her daughters have taken over the reigns and are doing a super job…….They even managed big smiles at the Opening Night Banquet. The room overflowed with well wishers and Jean’s daughters grabbed a small nearby table to eat. Not sure what the “sign” was for, but it was not for our event. We all did have a chuckle about reading it very carefully. Jeanne, I am sure, is looking down from above so proud of her daughters and their labor of love and carrying on a legacy.
There was a special exhibit of Jeanne’s quilts. The quilt above is called, My Lancaster Tribute. I enjoyed looking at the wonderful exhibit of all her quilts and reading the descriptions.
This quilt caught my eye! It is called Mini Big Quilt by Caroline Murphy. I even recognized some of the blocks from my books in this quilt. It has 49 mini quilts using 16 2″ squares and has over 14,000 pieces…..that is a labor of love.
I live in New Hampshire were we are treated to beautiful fall foliage. This quilt made by Patricia A. Bruno and is called Autumn Birches II. Just stunning and great depth.
I’m not usually a “pink” quilt person, but the award winning quilt was just stunning! I usually take photos of the labels so I can tell later who made it. Oooops. I forgot to get this label.

This red and white award winning quilt is another show stopper. I did get a close-up of the workmanship in this quilt. The quilting was just amazing.
Isn’t it funny how a quilter is often asked how long it took to make a quilt? I imagine lots of hours went into the quilting and piecing of this red and white quilt, but I don’t imagine the quilter was counting them. She was just enjoying the process.
Life in Holly Ridge made by Nancy Prince was another amazing artistic quilt. Nancy wrote that there were 50,000 yards of thread and 5 million stitches used to create the thread painting design.

I stood there and studied the details in this quilt for quite some time. Her grandchildren are the merchants in the town. I would imagine that anyone who can create that much detail in one quilt considered it a labor of love.

I came home from The Gathering feeling filled up with the priviledge of seeing so many labors of love.
All the best,
Carol

I left yesterday to travel to Houston to attend the International Quilt Market and then Quilt Festival. It is such fun to meet up with old friends and make new ones. One of the first people I ran into last night was Mimi Dietrich. Mimi and I go waaaaay back and it was fun to catch up with each other last night at dinner. Here is Mimi and Norma smiling and ready to go.

This past week I fullfilled a request to come to my local Barnes & Noble book store to sign books. Now typically I am at quilt events where everyone is a quilter so it was a bit interesting talking to lots of people who are not necessarily quilters. There were lots of oohs and ahhs over the quilts and vests and lots of conversation about my quilts and family quilts. There were some quilters who were delighted to see some of the projects from my books and add a book or two to their library. Surprisingly there were lots of gentlemen who stopped by to tell me their wife or mother was a quilter. See, they do notice. One delightful husband called his wife and purchased two books for her and one for himself. I would say he is a keeper!
The Carol Doak Yahoo Group is getting in the swing with our new Scenic Block of the Month. Creativity is alive and well in this group. Joan made this delightful October Block with a wonderful feel of fall and Holloween.
The deadline date for me to select a random winner from all of the 4,000 Member Celebration Blocks that have been uploaded was last week. Carol in New York won 60 Fat Quarters!!! I had the chance to look through all the submitted blocks again and just marvel at how different they all over. Isn’t this block above made by Gloria in Moline just gorgeous and so different?
Members have been completing their tops from the past block of the month and showing us their creativity. The quilt settings are quite varied as are the color schemes. This quilt was made by Amy Robertson. If you want to join in the fun, just click on the link above!

Me, I am beginning to pack for my trip to the International Quilt Market and Festival in Houston next week. With talks, demonstrations and classes to teach, I have lots of packing to do!!! The thing I bring the least of is my clothes because my suitcases are filled with quilts but this year I am bringing about 15 Reversible Vests so I am all set. If you will be in Houston, this is my schedule:
Carol’s Houston Schedule Appearances

Friday, Oct. 24
10:30 a.m.Schoolhouse Presentation on Easy Reversible Vests

Saturday, Oct. 25
1 to 2 p.m. In the Martingale & Co. booth

4 to 5 p.m. In the C & T Publishers booth

Sunday, Oct. 26
11:30 to 12:50 In the Checkers Distributors booth

2:30 to 3:30 In the Martingale & Co. booth

Teaching Monday, Tues and Wednesday

Thursday, Oct. 30
2:00 p.m. Meet the Teachers Presentation at Festival

I am going to bring my camera and laptop and hope to make posts from Houston to keep you all up to date!
All the best,
Carol

I just returned from Klamath Falls, Oregon where I lectured and taught a couple of classes. What a fun group of quilters I had the pleasure of meeting. Above Georgie Reed of Klamath Falls, is showing off a wonderful group of Mariner’s Compass Star blocks she had made using a variety of scrap bright fabrics. Georgie is joined on the floor with a few toads.
Georgie came to both workshops with several friends….including the toads! It was really neat for me to see these blocks done in such a festive way.
After seeing the accompanying toads, I had a feeling they inspired the bright colors!
Students worked on both 4″ blocks and miniature blocks. Students are always so surprised when they discover that making minis is really quite easy and lots of fun.
I do try to make the workshops fun….but I don’t often see students with scissors through their heads…gotta love the fun quilters in Klamath Falls!
All the best,
Carol

Yesterday was a sewing day for me!!! I love to spend time in my sewing room, working with fabric and getting lost in the creative process. Northcott Fabrics recently sent me some fabrics from their new Oriental Odyssey collection in two different colorways. Since the focus fabric had the look of a vertical and horizontal patchwork detail, it was perfect for whipping up some new vests. When I started the above vest, I have to admit this was not my favorite colorway, but the finished vest ended up being my favorite!!!
I am definitely more of a teal type of person, so this colorway was perfect for me. I loved the accent colors of the navy and rust.
So, I was on a roll…..I got out the unfinished pieces that I used for the step-by-steps when we shot the DVD and decided to complete the vest. The above vest features a delicate batik on one side and a collection of squares and diagonal strips on the other side. The radiating paper-pieced block offers just a bit of detail.
I loved this focus fabric!!!!! I purchased it while I was away teaching on the New England cruise this summer and I mighty happy I did. Love, love this one and look forward to wearing it on my next trip.

So, have you made your Easy Reversible Vest yet?
All the best,
Carol