Starting my first quilt

I am so excited right now! I finally bought material for my first quilt today! And my first ever rotary cutter!

I signed up for a beginning quilting class through the ABC school district. The class runs from mid- September through the end of January and it's only $25 (plus all the materials you bring, but for a beginner like me that basically boils down to fabric, thread, my rotary cutter, and my other basic supplies like pins). $25! Seriously, what a steal! Not only that I used my birthday money from my Mom, so my class is actually a gift . . . thanks Mom!

The first class was last Friday (9 am - 12 pm), basically it's a bunch of ladies (I am the youngest by at least 20, possibly 25-30 years) who get together and quilt! There are some that have known each other 35 years, and some that have only been coming a few years. There were 3 or 4 of us newbies. The teacher, Beverly, handed out a pattern we are going to be working on this session (one of the other new quilters is going to opt for something smaller and simpler, but I figure why not jump on in when I have the teacher, plus all the other ladies to get help from). The pattern isn't what I would necessarily pick, however, I can see why it's great for teaching different techniques. It's called Be-Bop-A-Lula (Rhubarb Pie . . . ok, not really the Rhubarb Pie part - my father warped me with too many Prairie Home Companion radio broadcasts while I was growing up), by Colleen Reale and Chloe Anderson for Toadusew.



I am going in a completely different direction with colors . . . I have more of a shabby chic feel going on (who, me? really? quelle surprise!) but more in a lovely sort of goldeny-green, brown sugary goodness sort of way - with my main fabric being a gorgeous blue (with ever so light a stripe) with cascading roses and vines . . . oh my, I am in raptures. It is times likes these I wish I had Anne Shirley's vocabulary.

Here are the fabrics I got today. I love getting fabric. If I had any kind of money I'd be an absolute fabric whore (what a horrible thing to say, shall I say fabric strumpet instead? ). Get this, Fabric Whore is an actual website! That entertains me greatly, but sadly it looks like it hasn't been updated in awhile. Moving on . . .





The blue is from the "Mary Rose" collection by Robert Kaufman, The paisley from "The Bailey" collection also by Robert Kaufman (I love his stuff), The taupe with flowers (which will be for the pieced rectangles going all over the quilt) is from "Sweet Dreams" by Robyn Pandolph (first time I've used anything by her), and the faded roses on the dark cream that will be used for my background is a screen print made in Japan.

I am so excited! I can't wait to get started tomorrow!

I have to go put my bag of goodies together to take with me!