charity – Lana Russel

May 21, 2023June 10, 2023

Empty Spools Seminar

Asilomar Conference Grounds, Pacific Grove, CA

This lion is so detailed and colorful and uses foundation paper piecing, a skill that I had let become rusty. Verushka Zarate, of Pride and Joy Quilting, is the designer and teacher. She is an amazing individual! I’m so glad I decided to attend her session!

Empty Spools offers many 5 day sessions from February through May every year. Each 5 day session has 10 or 12 well known quilting instructors who come to teach a project using their specific skill. Each evening a 3 or 4 of them speak about their inspiration and quilting journey and also about the class they are teaching. There is also time for student show and tell. Many students live in California and are able to drive, but many others fly in and rent sewing machines. There is also a quilt shop set up in case you need to purchase fabric or supplies for your class – or for your stash.

Asilomar Conference Grounds are within the Aramark Park System and has simple, rustic sleeping rooms, but wonderful facilities, including classrooms, a dining hall, a cafe, and a large social hall, among many other amenities.

This is the lodging building I was assigned!

Asilomar is right on the coast and such a beautiful place for artists to create.

This is a quilt that the maker made as a fundraiser for a charity.

This was the first quilt shared as part of the students’ show and tell the first night. Here are some others…

This is a class Sandra Bruce is teaching next year.

This is one of Melinda Bula’s class samples. I’ve always wanted to take her class.

This is the progress I made on my Heart of a Lion in Verushka Zarate’s class.

The youngest student in our class finished the entire lion! Verushka is on the left.

Before I arrived at Asilomar this year, I thought it would probably be my last, but after this year, I’m not so sure. It’s such an inspirational experience…

May 18, 2023

April Quilt Retreat

Nashville, IN

The last week of April, I flew back to Indiana for a quilt retreat I began when I lived there. It was just wonderful visiting with golden friends!! I missed them so much! It highlighted the difficulties of moving across the country during a pandemic. Meeting people and making friends has been challenging here in Washington state due to masking and meetings being via ZOOM. SO being with friends I’ve known for several years was very comforting and enjoyable.

We (eleven friends) have been meeting annually in the same place for 7 years. Nashville, IN is a great locale for our retreat because we don’t have to drive anywhere once we move in. Many places to shop and eat within walking distance. Fabulous sharing and good times!!

Enjoy viewing some quilts that were completed or projects that were worked on during the 4 1/2 days together.

The two Lindas. One quilts, the other knits.

Elaine’s quilt – made from her late sister’s fabric collection for her sister’s sons

Each panel of Kathy’s tree skirt is detailed and amazing!

Three Posh Santa’s – two of Bev’s, one of Lynn’s

Bev also worked on these blocks for a Christmas quilt

Lore’s beautiful quilt for a special charity. She makes and quilts around 20 quilts for charity every year!!

Lore’s work on this Christmas Tree quilt from Missouri Star Quilts

My Strip Twist pieces for GE Designs’ Sew A Long

These are what the Strip Twist blocks look like

Our last breakfast. We failed to get a picture of everyone. A few had to leave early.

January 1, 2023December 21, 2022

Sunshine and Tulips for Bev

Kimberly by GE Designs

GE Designs released a new pattern in July, Kimberly, and offered a quilt a long. It required 2 layer cakes, so I selected these from my stash. They were identical, in 2 different colorways. I loved the ease of this pattern and enjoyed just sewing and not having to match up seams except for the blocks themselves. I did make sure the diagonal seams in all blocks were facing the same direction. I didn’t have a purpose in mind when beginning this quilt, but its purpose became clear as the next few months passed.

It was easy to take on my travels by car, along with my Singer Featherweight, while teaching closer to home. I was able to finish this top in one of those hotel rooms. It’s such a happy, lively quilt

I found this Tulip Bells digital quilt design by Quiltable.com and thought it would be a great pairing for this quilt, echoing the tulips in some of the blocks. I double batted, with Hobbs 80/20 on the bottom and a layer of wool batting on the top to provide the puffiness and warmth. By this time, it was clear who this quilt had been intended for all along.

One of my very best friends is bubbly, colorful, and lively. She laughs ALL the time – so much fun to be around! She dresses in vibrant, beautiful colors. She would love this quilt, right? Made for her.

Alas , into everyone’s life come some shadows. A difficult chapter in the book of life. Even the bubbly and lively. A difficult health diagnosis shook the ground she walked on. Of course she is tackling this with her natural positivity with all her besties rooting her on. This happy quilt was made for her. Enjoy, Bev!

April 10, 2016April 7, 2016

Quilt of Valor

After hearing a presentation about Quilts of Valor at our local Quit Guild, I signed up to be a presenter. My first presentation was a triple one – to a father and his two sons. I was very moved by the experience. I knew I wanted to start making some of these quilts for donation. But, the first one needed to be for my 95 year old father. I found the idea for this quilt on the Accuquilt website. I revised the Celebration Table Runner by adding three rows and continuing the flying geese as the border. I also modified it to make it using the Cotton Theory method.

And I was able to present it to him when I visited him in Florida in February.

Dad's Quilt of Valor — Dad’s Quilt of Valor

I’m so happy to be involved with this organization. www.qovf.org

January 31, 2016

Time for TWIST

TWIST = This Week In Studio Time

Last week I was able to finish a Quilt of Valor for my father, who is 95 and served in WWII. It is based on an Accuquilt pattern, Celebration Table Runner. I modified the pattern not only to make it quilt size, but also to construct it using the Cotton Theory method. Finished size is 60″ x 70.”

I will be able to present it to him on Valentine’s Day. Can’t wait! He has NO idea!!

I upgraded from an Accuquilt Go to an Accuquilt GO Big recently and am loving it! I am appreciating the speed and accuracy of the cuts.

Happy Sewing!

Lana

October 18, 2015October 13, 2015

Quilter in Residence!

This summer the Indiana State Museum had a quilt exhibit entitled 19 Stars. Here’s their description of the exhibit:

“Indiana is the 19th state to join the Union; the state flag depicts nineteen stars. In anticipation of the state’s Bicentennial, this exhibit presents 19 historic star-patterned quilts selected from the Indiana State Museum’s collection along with 19 contemporary star-themed quilts created by some of Indiana’s outstanding quilters.

Stars were favored patterns in the 19th and 20th centuries and appear in many variations. The historic quilts in this exhibit span a hundred and fifty years of Indiana quilt-making, from the 1830s to the 1980s. In contrast, most of the contemporary works were created specifically for this exhibit, and incorporate the star theme in any number of ways, from overt to illusory. The artists’ techniques vary widely, from traditional piecework and appliqué to improvisational collage, layering, or richly textural thread painting.”

The Quilt Guild of Indianapolis, of which I am a member, thought it would be nice to have some members sit outside the exhibit quilting and available to answer any questions visitors might have about quilting or our guild. My friend, Bev, and I enjoyed this so much the first time we did this that we signed up for double duty. Here I am working on a Cotton Theory Charity Quilt.

I really enjoyed the experience!

Take Care,

Lana

August 2, 2015July 19, 2015

Healthy Families

When I retired, I decided 20% of my sewing time would be spent on charity quilting. I just needed to decide on the organization or cause I wanted to support. I have a heavy heart for those who suffer from domestic violence, even though I don’t know anyone personally. I guess I’ve just experienced enough of the male dominated society I’ve grown up in that it touches me in that way. We don’t have a women’s shelter in our county, but there are plans for a 30 bed unit to open in 3 years. I thought I could make 10 simple twin size quilts a year and have 30 ready in 3 years. I knew it was a lofty goal, but I set forth. However, retiring allowed me the freedom to travel quite a bit and I fell farther and farther behind in that goal. But, I retired, so we could travel. I needed to reassess.

I had a friend who had mentioned she had organized a sewing group that supports Healthy Families and invited me to sew with them. They make items that support members can take with them on home visits and leave them at the home as a gift. I researched Healthy Families and liked what I found.

“Healthy Families Indiana is a voluntary home visitation program designed to promote healthy families and healthy children through a variety of services, including child development, access to health care and parent education.

By working closely with hospital maternity wards, prenatal clinics and other local agencies, Healthy Families Indiana systematically identifies families that could benefit from education and support services either before or immediately after birth. The program is designed to strengthen families by reducing child abuse and neglect, childhood health problems and juvenile delinquency.”

I ran it by my friend, who is in social worker, to give me a personal account of Healthy Families and she gave it a two thumbs up.

Mary Alice’s group is very well organized (they’ve been at this for 12 years!) and each person has their station, be it, cutting out, ironing, sewing, quilting, sandwiching batting, etc.

Quilts, receiving blankets, and burp cloths ready for pick up

receiving blankets, burp cloths, and bibs

July 24, 2015July 24, 2015

TWIST ~ This Week In Studio Time

I joined the Turning Twenty Mystery Quilt Block of the Month last week and after I found out it was going to be stars, decided I would make this in red, white, and blue and donate it to Quilts of Valor. The mission of the Quilts of Valor Foundation is to cover service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor. The Quilt Guild of Indianapolis recently had a presentation by this organization that was quite moving. Very impressive! I volunteered to be a presenter after hearing about what they do. Anyway, here’s my progress:

I love the confetti background!

My neice just gave birth to a 9 lb 10 oz bouncing baby boy, so I’ve started this quilt for Caleb.I cut half square triangles with my Accuquilt Go – so easy and quick! On the design wall…That’s my weekly recap! Take care til next week!

Lana

July 5, 2015September 19, 2015

TWIST ~ This Week In Studio Time

Comfort quilt finished! I was able to complete Megan’s gift and present it to her before her third chemo treatment. My heart is in every stitch. I gave a lot of thought as I was piecing and quilting for just the right thing to say on the label.

The bits and pieces that represent life’s ebb and flow, ups and downs, joys and sorrows are on the front.

I echo quilted the tumbler shape after I stitched in the ditch. I decided to name the quilt, Lemonade for Megan because we all know what we are supposed to do when life gives us scraps.

The label side was made of a wide single paisley printed fabric in case she preferred it over the scrappy side.

My wish is that it brings her much comfort.