My first quilting class...

This Thursday I go to the second session of my quilting class. I have Nichole to thank for sparking such an interest in quilting in me. It was her beautiful Quilter's Sampler set that won me over. So here I am, packing my supplies for quilt class! Can you believe it? My instructor is fabulous and I just LOVE her!! Her name is Trudee, and I know she will be one of the most patient and kind teachers. There's one other student along with me and we couldn't have MORE DIFFERENT styles. She selected bright Batik fabrics for her quilt. I selected the fabrics below. It should be very interesting to compare our quilts when we're all done.

We'll start out making a sampler quilt that will showcase 6 different 12" blocks. Each block will use some different quilting techniques so that we get a good start with the basics of quilting. At our first class, Trudee had us walk around the quilt shop and select a fabric we liked. She then helped us find coordinating fabrics and taught us about contrast, lights and darks, etc. I pretty much knew all of these concepts but I saw them in a whole new light when they were applied to quilting. One of the main things to keep in mind with quilting is that for the patterns to show up in your quilt blocks, you really need the right amount of contrast in the fabrics. Trudee could pick out fabrics that you would never believe would look good together. Like the red fabric below, I never would have picked it but it blends perfectly and this wonderful brown polka dot on it. I also selected a brown fabric with polka dots (gotta love 'em!). The beautiful blue-ish floral fabric on the left will also be used for the backing of my quilt.
Now here's a question for ya. Do you remember the first supplies you purchased as a scrapbooker or stamper..or quilter for that matter? I have SO MANY supplies collected from my 10+ years of paper crafting that I couldn't begin to think what my first supplies were. But I made sure to take a photo of my first quilting supplies and first quilting fabrics. They'll make for a great scrapbook layout, don't you think? Stay tuned and I'll be sure to show you some photos of my first quilt blocks! I'm a quilter...yay!
And how about some quilting cards? I reached for my Lockhart quilt blocks and created two beautiful cards. I paired them up with Papertrey's Quilter's Sampler and Sentiments sets for some great phrases. I forgot to take shots at an angle, but I embossed the quilt blocks and the sentiments with gold embossing powder. Ohhhhh, they're so beautiful and rich looking. Embossing is back, baybee!! Check out the new silver and gold powders over at Papertrey Ink. Nichole says they're her favorites!
I colored my Lockhart quilt blocks with Copic markers. When you emboss images, it's so easy to color with the Sketch markers. The embossing adds a raised edge so it's very easy to stay in the lines. I layered my images with Spellbinder's square and scallop square dies. The patterned paper is from K and Company and reminds me of the colors of my quilt. I added machine stitching to my cards to complete the home spun feel I wanted to create.
The friendship card is going to my quilt teacher, Trudee. I know she'll flip when she sees quilt cards! The birthday card is going to my Aunt Betty. She is a fabulous quilter and I can't wait to pay her a visit so I can marvel at her beautiful quilts.

Sooooo, wish me luck friends. I'm so excited!! P.S.....if there's any quilters out there, please share your great quilting blogs/websites with me. I'd love to start a quilting blog list!