Wow - the bar keeps getting raised higher and higher each time we do the Challenge.  Here are the spring entries in the order in which they were numbered for hanging...

#1  Virginia Astfalk's star       quilt using "Stonehenge       Gold Leaf" fabric.	#2  Jodi Cantler's own   garden path design using   "PaintedGarden" fabric    line.	#3  Pat's Bond's quilt using       "Prima Flora" fabric line.
#4  Donna Bailey's    geometric design using    the "Morris Meadows"    fabric line	#5  Eleanor Friel's quilt  using the "French Quarter" fabric line.	#6  Lydia Mack's circle quilt   using "Brook" fabric line.
#7 Jackie Spencer's quilt using just the stripes from the "Fresh Flowers"  fabric line.	#8  Daryl Atlhouse's fun camping quilt using the "Are We There Yet?" line.	#9  Marilyn Reich's own     design of the Liberty Bell     using Stonhenge "Stars     and Stripes" line.
#10 Jenny Hokuf's all     paper pieced tree quilt     using all blacks and whites.	#11 Sue Walter's own     design using "Apples to     Apples" line.

 Check out the photos of the products of our most recent Beginner Quilting class!  The only thing left here to do is the binding in our last class last night.  The color choices and the planning that went into these projects were outstanding!

 We had a great time at the 2013 Spring (February) Getaway at the Amishview Inn outside of Lancaster.  Lovely hotel, friendly and helpful staff, delicious breakfasts and above all... fabulous company!  Here's just a sampling of what was done at the getaway...

 It's always so much fun for me to see our beginner quilters and their first projects.  The color are always radiant and I like seeing each new quilter's confidence grow.  The projects are the same pattern but the finished products are as different as the quilters themselves.  Here's the projects from our most recent Beginner Quilting class:

Well the votes are in.  As before every quilt got multiple votes - in all three categories this time.  We had quite a few customers come and look at the quilts and decide to come a second time before voting.    At month's end, this is how the votes came out...

Viewer's Choice - #7 Virginia Astfalk's quilt using the line "Impressions" - $50 gift certificate

Most Creative - #1 Cathryn Harjung's quilt using the line "Anchors Aweigh" - $25 gift certificate

Most Difficult Line to Work With - #4 Marilyn Reich's quilt using the line "Jungle Groove" - $25 gift certificate

Quite a few customers came upstairs after they looked at the challenge quilts and wanted to know the name of the line and patterns that were used.  But in several cases our quilters designed their own quilts so I couldn't help the customers with that.

As before, life got in a way for a few of our challenge quilt participants and their quilts couldn't be finished in time to be included in the judging.  But I know these women - and they'll be back in January to pull a new mystery line from our basket and try again.  And because the staff has nothing to do with the outcome which is decided purely by customer vote, maybe I'll even talk Dana into being part of it!

Congratulations Virginia, Cathryn and Marilyn!

 We had a great time yesterday in the "Fringed Stars" class.  Jeanette Pie, the author of the pattern that's featured on the front of Fons and Porter's newest edition of Patriotic Quilts, taught the class.  What fun it was to watch the wobbly layered stars turn into fun raw edge appliqued stars of many hues!

Here's what our blocks looked like on the design wall (before sasing and borders):

     Pat Wilkes' muted patriotic shades for a soft look.     

    Phyllis Clancy's brighter reds. beiges and blues

  My wildly bright stars for a wildly active 2 year old granddaughter

It's so much fun to take a class - to see your own efforts turn into something beautiful and then admire the work of others.  And, of course, the comaradarie.  There's nothing like a group of women sitting and sewing and talking the day away!

 We had the best time in class today!  I wasn't able to take the class - and I still had a good time.

This simple quilt "Taking Turns" that was featured in Better Homes and Gardens was discovered in the magazine and taught by Laura Mattick.

Each of the 5 students had her own take on the pattern.  I can't wait until they're all sashed, finished and quilted.  We decided the best way to remember how to put them together was to take a picture and print it out.  Here's what they looked like today on the design wall...

From top to bottom, left to right:  Laura's original sample, Peggy Sneeringer's peaceful aqua and white version, Amy Dedrick's daughter's vibrant college quilt (daughter, Katie, chose the colors), Lois Capone's stained glass beauty, Ethel Alderson steps out of her reproduction box and brightens her world with these happy colors - and the bottom is a smaller version Laura put together for a little boy who loves pirates! 

All of these different interpretations from one pattern.  What a great time we all had!