Oh! How excited you must be! I used to teach a beginning quilting class and believe me, when you are learning something new, smaller class size is better. You should gain a lot of one-on-one attention which will be invaluable. Don't be afraid to ask lots of questions! You'd be surprised at the kinds of things people will ask in a class. Just know that your instructor does NOT expect you to know everything; that's why you are taking a class, right? To learn something (and perhaps many things) new? Even what seems like a stupid question to you is not stupid if it helps you to understand how to accomplish something or why it's done a certain way. I would also recommend you pay a little visit to the shop between now and your class. Explain that you just signed up for this class and you want to make sure you bring whatever is necessary. They may recommend you bring along some fabrics (or they may want to sell you more! Always a plus for the shop) to work with, and they should be able to give you some kind of handout that will assist you in packing just the right items to take with you. It's great that you've found a place to learn this skill. Good luck, have fun, and show us some progress!

Yes, Kate, we are ALL enablers here -- how else could we each justify our own passion for all things fabric-y??? Honestly, you have made a lovely quilt here ... you've become so prolific you are putting me to shame! The little one who receives your quilt will surely love it and appreciate it, and I'll bet his parents will, too, for all the time he/she will be able to spend with it just admiring the pictures and looking for all the little "treasures" in the fabric as he/she heals. I would love to be able to give some time to this cause (or the Downy QFK drive), but time is NOT my friend these days ... just ask the grey hairs on my head! I used to say I get them from my children. Then I said they were given to me by my husband. Now I just let them go and try to ignore the rushing sound of life passing me by ... Thanks for sharing your talent with us. Odessa

Thank you for all the comments! I am hand quilting :) I don't mind some mistakes, they just always seem to look bigger when you've made it yourself, you know? You already know where they all are, so it is the first thing that your eye is drawn to. I was trying to figure out what quilting pattern would highlight the heart. I like the idea of sine waves. I also like the idea of some template hearts, they would go with the theme. I do want to put something in the corners. I was thinking of putting their initials on it somewhere, maybe inside the middle heart ... a flower with leaves sounds nice as well. I guess curvy shapes would look better than straight lines :) I thought of variegated thread as well, but some of the quilt is dark blue, and some is purple so I didn't know which colour to choose. I wasn't sure if I should keep the same colour throughout or change for different fabrics. As I am doing it by hand, its not too difficult to switch over. I didn't think of checking the batting to see how far apart to quilt . . . that's a great tip, thanks! I will try to borrow a camera to post a picture when it is finished. I'd like a copy of the photo for myself as well, as I won't be keeping the quilt. I "birthed" the quilt instead of binding it -- and I turned it right-side out and stitched the opening shut -- took a look and saw the whole thing . . . oooh, goosebumps :)

I forgot to add the owner told me from the front steps as I left that in the side and backyard they are going to restore the Victorian flowergarden that has much gone to weed and wilderness.....but she said there are lovely old plants awaiting discovery once again and she is planning on putting in garden benches and tables out under the large shady trees for fellow quilters/sewers/needleworkers to drop by and sit out of the sun, to visit and work. This will be a fenced, semi screened off area and with the large trees I could just picture myself enjoying a few hours of leisure with like minded people in such surroundings enjoying the scent of flowers in the air. I certainly hope all the lady's plans work out --I don't know if they are planning on living on the premises (upstairs would be quite roomy) but for now it is a work in progress but aren't dreams like this lovely?