Any colored text on my website is a link. Clicking on the colored text will take you directly to more information about the topic.
Be sure to check out my newsletter on this website. It is updated frequently to list new classes that I am teaching here in my home studio as well as on the road for quilt guilds, shops, and conferences. If you would like to be added to my email mailing list, just let me know by clicking on the email link in the upper right corner of this page, and sending me a message.
2011 marks the 150th Anniversary of the start of the Civil War. This era in history takes on a new face in view of how quilting was affected by the strife. If quilt history fascinates you as it does me, consider having me do my lecture Quiltmaking in Civil War America for your group. You may also like to follow that with the half-day workshop Hand Piecing Civil War Style
or the full day workshop Civil War Reproduction Quilt.
I am excited to tell you about a new class called REFINING YOUR QUILTING STITCH. It is a follow-up to the Mastering Hand Quilting class that allows you to bring along your quilting project for evaluation and assistance on tweaking your technique to get just the stitch you want. This session allows us to delve further into additional ways to mark your designs, working with colored threads, and more. If you would like guidance and feedback on how your are doing with your stab-stitching, or just want to know how to procede with new avenues in stab-stitching, this is the class you are looking for.
Where, you ask, is Boscobel? My little corner of the world is in southwest Wisconsin, a little town of about 3000 people. Whenever a new shop comes to town that starts carrying quilting fabric, it is worth a mention, especially if you are coming to my studio for classes. You will now have another reason to come to Boscobel.
Literally 4 blocks from my house is a charming shop called Gatherings. They specialize in wonderful little treasures to decorate your home, such as wreaths, placemats, holiday decorative items, etc. Think "Country Living Magazine", and you have the idea.
They also carry Moda fabrics and homespuns. What a treat! They are not a full-service quilting shops with classes, but you really do have to see their fabrics. They fit so beautifully with the theme of the shop, and the gals that run Gatherings couldn't be nicer. In addition, they have started carrying my Quilting with Laura, and Scrap Bonanza 2 books. An extra treat for me!
Gatherings will also be carrying the special issue line of Wisconsin fabrics being released by Moda in Spring 2012. Watch for the quilt pattern I will be designing especially for these fabrics!
So if you are headed to southwest Wisconsin in your travels, be sure to check out Gatherings, located at 903 Elm Street (which is Hwy 61) in Boscobel. It is on the corner of Warah Street. They are currently closed on Mondays, and open Tuesday through Sunday. Call 608-375-2556 for more information.
Check out the Newsletter on this website for a listing of class opportunities here in my home studio! The newsletter is updated about every 4 - 6 weeks.
This is a chance for students to take a class with a much smaller group than what is offered in a shop or guild setting. Classes have a minimum of 4 students, and a maximum of 6 - 8 students, depending on if a sewing machine is involved.
It has been great fun for me to open up my home for these small classes, and I find that the students enjoy the smaller setting and being able to really delve into each class with more participation than in a large group.
What to do when you see a class on my offerings list that interests you? Let me know. It helps me know that to schedule next. Or, if you have a group of 4 or more who would like to take the class, contact me and we can schedule a date. Both half day (9:30 to noon, or 12:30 - 3) and full day (9:30 - 3) classes are available.
By popular request, I have added two new patterns to my Ordering section. Be sure to check out the Quick Gifts Tote Bag and the Casserole Carrier.
As is my habit, I always end up starting my Christmas Gift stitching at the last minute, and these two items were so quick, I just knew others would be as excited about making them as I was. The tote is loaded with pockets to make being organized a breeze, and I can't tell you how many times over the years I have used my casserole carrier to bring a dish to pass. Both are great as year-round gift items. Add them to your pattern collection now!
If you have been following my website for a while, you know the work of machine quilter Marcia Wachuta. She did the terrific job of machine quilting one of my quilts that appeared in Quiltmaker Magazine a few years ago.
In addition to doing exceptional machine quilting, Marcia also sells some things on her website, including lovely 108" wide fabric for backings (both prints and solids) AND she has 60" wide white flannel. This is perfect for building your own design wall. Check out the June 2010 tip in the Tips section of my website for directions on how to construct your own flannel wall. It is super easy, and such an invaluable tool for making your quilts.
To order the flannel, go to her website (http://www.craftysewing.com) , and click on Fabric. Thanks, Marcia, for being a source for the extra wide flannel!
Exciting news relating to the Hand Quilting class is that I have found a source for both the hoops if you want to clamp a hoop to a table, and for the lap frames like I use. I have a local artisan who is making the 14" lap frames for me, so if you are in the market for one, let me know. He does a wonderful job on them and past students who have purchased them are extremely satisfied. Go the the Ordering section of my website for details.
The saga of Laura Ingalls Wilders life has been turned into a musical, called Little House on the Prairie, the Musical. It opened in Minneapolis last year to sold out houses, and is now on National Tour. Melissa Gilbert, who brought the role of Laura to life in the television series, stars as Ma.
My exciting news is that they have picked up my book Quilting with Laura as part of their merchandising package. That means the book was available for sale wherever the play was being staged, which included 26 cities over the course of the tour.
The tour has now ended, but if you missed it and are interested in purchasing a copy of Quilting with Laura for your collection, go to the Ordering section of this website. And keep your fingers crossed that the tour will resume in the near future!
Did you know that I have a monthly email newsletter that I send out? If you would like to be added to my email mailing list, email me at wihalpin@mwt.net and let me know. Clicking on the link will open an email window for you. You may then fill in the subject and message, saying you want to be added to my mailing list.
I update my newsletter announcing not only what I will be teaching where, but also, quilting events that are of interest. To accommodate those with different levels of internet access, I am changing the way I send out the newsletter. I send out an email to those on my subscription list giving them a link to the spot on my website where the newsletter can be located. The newsletter will remain on the website until a new one takes its place.
I started teaching classes in my home in Boscobel, WI, and I have to say, the feedback has been great! For those of you who live in the area, it will be a chance to have a small class experience right here in my home, surrounded by quilts. Classes will have a minimum of four students and a maximum of six to eight students, depending on if a sewing machine is required or not. This is a great opportunity to take a class that has that small class feel. Check out the Newsletter page on my website for the newest class offerings.
Class offerings have been expanded to include half day and full day options. If you are traveling from a distance and want to come the night before, I am happy to make hotel recommendations. While I have not stayed at either of these locations, I did go and check them out, and both would be quite comfortable. The closest would be the River Inn in Boscobel. It is the newest of the facilities in Boscobel. The rates are reasonable, and they have a continental breakfast available from 7 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. There is a pool on site. The River Inn is 5 minutes from my house.
The River Inn
1700 Elm Street (which is Hwy 61)
Boscobel, WI 53805
1-888-375-6323
If you would like a really special treat, I would recommend the Victorian Rose, a lovely Bed and Breakfast in Muscoda, a short 20 minutes from my house. There are several room accommodations available, with lower rates during the week. They of course serve a wonderful breakfast, and are very accommodating to your schedule as far as breakfast time. Do be sure to check out their website.
Victorian Rose Bed and Breakfast
323 South Wisconsin Ave.
Muscoda, WI 53573
608-739-4319
To register, email me at
wihalpin@mwt.net
Clicking on the link will open an email window for you. You may then fill in the
subject and message, saying you want to register for a class.
You will receive a supply list and driving
directions as confirmation of your registration. Preregistration is a must so I may have
the correct number of handouts prepared.
If you can not make it to a scheduled class, but have a group of between 4 and 8 students, you can scedule your own private class session. Contact me to set up a date by emailing me at wihalpin@mwt.net. Clicking on the link will open an email window for you. You may then fill in the subject and message, saying you want to schedule a class.
The May/June 2009 issue of Quiltmaker magazine featured two of my scrap quilts. The Flying Geese quilt shown here is the design that started me on my journey of what has become my 'two-for-one' technique of making a bonus quilt out of the cutaways created in the construction of the first quilt. I machine quilted the Flying Geese quilt in the 'cyndication' technique developed by Cindy Fenster and Cathy Doyle.
The Split Rail Variation was made with the cutaways from the Flying Geese
quilt, making oh so efficient use of your time and your fabric. I was delighted
to have Marcia Wachuta machine quilt this one for me. Her choice of pattern
is perfect for this quilt. To see more of Marcia's work, or to schedule her to
quilt one of your quilts, see her website at
http://www.craftysewing.com.
If you are interested in learning how to make these quilts, I have a Flying Geese workshop. It is a full day workshop. Contact me to schedule this workshop for your guild, or to schedule it here in my home studio.
Many of you who have taken my Mastering Hand Quilting class have asked for directions for building your own lap frame. Directions are now available for only $3. Simple woodworking skills are all that is required. I quilt all of my quilts on a 14" lap frame. It supports the hoop so I don't have to, and allows me to do the stab-stitch poke-pull quilting that I find so successful for achieving stitches that are uniform on both sides of the quilt.
For those of you who don't have access to a carpenter, I have located a local craftsman who is making the lap frames for me. Frames can be ordered from me at any time. Go to the Ordering section of this website for details.
By popular demand, I have written up the directions for the luggage tags. In addition to being easy-to-spot luggage tags, they are also perfect for tagging your sewing machine or luggage cart when going to a workshop, or your laptop carry case, or even your musical instruments.
Luggage tag kits with directions are available for $7 postage and tax included, and contain enough supplies to make 3 luggage tags. All you need is a glue stick and your sewing machine. Fabrics in each kit are assorted.
Completed luggage tags are also available at $4.00 each (postage and tax included), and available in assorted fabrics.
To order, send payment to:
Linda Halpin
105 Wildwood Court
Boscobel, WI 53805
A while back I told you about some wonderful quilt-related jewely made by Chris Daly (see below). Chris has now set up a new site on Etsy, the website for buying and selling of handmade treasures, for her hand-dyed fabric. Her new site, Dye Candy is definitely worth a look. The colors are luscious! Whether you are looking for hand-dyed fabrics to add to your collection, or something special as a gift for a friend, Chris' fabrics are sure to please.
I just had to let you know about some beautiful hand crafted jewelry made by Chris Daly. Chris is a stained glass artist turned quilter, and she has blended the two into the most charming pieces of jewelry. At present, you can see her work at ShadyGroveStudios.etsy.com.. If you don't know about etsy, it is a website to 'buy and sell all things handmade'... a sort of ebay for handcrafted art of all kinds. Chris hand dyes fabric, then turns it into the tiniest of quilt blocks, capturing them in a stained glass setting to transform them into earrings, pins, and pendants. If you are looking for a quilt-related gift, be sure to check these out!
After talking about it for ages, I finally learned how to add a new segment to my website. It is called Student Showcase, and features quilts students have made in classes with me! Check it out. When you click on the photo in the Showcase, it will enlarge it and give you more details!
If you have a quilt (or quilt top... they count too!) that you have completed from one of my classes, please send me a picture along with your name and any story that may accompany the quilt. I will be pleased to add it to the website.
For thirty years, Wisconsin Quilters was the statewide quilt guild for Wisconsin. It was dedicated to providing inspiration, instruction, and encouragement in the art of quilting. Quarterly meetings offered lectures and workshops led by instructors and quilt artists from the national teaching circuit. Over the years, times have changed, and the way we receive information has changed. Wisconsin Quilters ceased operations as a quilt guild in October of 2010, but they continue to be a source of information on what is happening in quilting in Wisconsin.
Be sure to visit their blog by clicking in the link above. Read about what's happening in the area, and feel free to submit your information. This is a place to share communications on Quilt Happenings In Wisconsin.
We are so blessed to be able to quilt. For so many, it is their passion. And for so many, they share their passion by quilting for a good cause. Let me tell you about a very good cause that can use your support. Quiltmaker Ami Simms has started the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative. The goals of the project are to raise awareness and to fund research so a cure can be found for Alzheimer's disease. How can you help? Check out the Priority Alzheimer's Quilt Auction, where quiltmakers have donated quilts that fit into a flat Priority Mail envelope for on-line auction. Since January 2006, the Initiative has raised over $591,000. If you know anyone affected by this terrible disease, you know how devasting it is for patient and family alike. Whether you donate a quilt, or place a bid, let your quilting support a great cause.
I made a quilt for this auction and I have to tell you how participation in this project
touched me in ways I never imagined.
It started out as a way to do something for my mother-in-law
who sadly was a victim of Alzheimer's. The crazy quilt I made was fun to do, a collection of
bits of fabric held together with the fancy hand-stitching I so love to do, embellished with
ribbons, buttons, and beads. It was exciting to see it come up for bid, watching how people
responded to it, and seeing the price rise. What I never expected was the number of lives my
quilt would touch. I received a message after the auction closed from Kathy Ockuly
from Glenwood, (Baltimore) Maryland. It seems she and her friends had joined forces to have
the winning bid on my quilt. They have a dear friend who had recently lost her mother to Alzheimers,
and wanted to do something special for her, so they bid on this quilt, and sent it to her to
let her know how much they cared.
It didn't stop there. A few days later, I got a lovely letter from Ruth Bragg, in Meadville, Pa, the recipient of the quilt. She and her mom had shared a love of stitching, and she told me how very much this quilt meant to her. With so many groups doing charity projects, making quilts for such a wide variety of causes, sometimes we forget that the charity doesn't stop with the completion of the quilt. The kinship goes on and on and on, to all those that the quilt touches along the way: to the friends who found a way they could offer compassion to a friend who had gone through a crushing loss, to the friend who felt the warmth and love of her friends in their giving her a quilt in memory of her mother. And through all of it, money was raised to help search for a cure for this terrible disease.
While we may think there is nothing we can do, quilting is a powerful medium. When my quilt came up for auction in August, the Priority Alzheimer's Quilt Auction Project had raised close to $9,000 since it started in January 2006. Now, that figure is over $591,000! Never let it be said that what you do doesn't count for something. When we join forces, we can accomplish great things. So think about participating. Think about bidding on a quilt in memory of a friend or a relative or an acquaintance. Your gesture will lend support in ways you never imagined.
This isn't new, but just as a reminder, I am happy to personalize autographed books. Check out the Ordering section of my website to see what is available.