Looking Back - Again 03-18-22

Ten years ago I was at Empty Spools in Ruth B. McDowell's Nature class.  I really enjoy looking back at the pictures I have taken over the years and wish I could see the finished quilts that were started in class.  I imagine that many are still unfinished.  Going from the intensity and inspiration of the class and home to our everyday humdrum lives sort of kills the direction we were going.  I learned that I needed to have a completely blank calendar for the week after Empty Spools so I could work on my class project.  So, I did finish some, but definitely not all of the Ruth inspired pieces.  Ruth is no longer teaching, but I am still going to Empty Spools.  Tomorrow I am driving up to Asilomar in Pacific Grove, CA, for five days with Sue Benner's "Abstractions" class.   I will try to blog.

In March 2012 I took some pictures of student's tables with piles of fabric to show my friends what a colorful and awesome classroom it was with each table reflecting what the student chose to work with.  

Mostly like this. 

Or this.

Or a bit more organized.  

And a few students kept it all together. 

Here are some fabrics that Ruth purchased at Back Porch fabrics that year. 

I worked on this version of Fuchsias, but never started cutting fabric.  I still have the pattern rolled up in a corner somewhere.  Maybe I will work on it someday. 

You never know what amazing talent you will find in a class.  When Suzie Constantino, who had never before taken a Ruth B. McDowell class, showed Ruth her inspiration, Ruth just stared at her.  "Are you sure?" she asked.  Yes, Suzie was sure and she worked hard every day. 

"Passion Flower"  Suzie Constantino  2012  Approximately 60"L X 40"W
Wonderful!

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Sue Benner's "Flowers" class at Empty Spools Page Two 03-12-18

My brain wasn't "online" when I was taking pictures in the classroom, so they are all mixed up and require lots of searching and moving images around.  Guess I'm getting old, it isn't as easy as it once was!  Hope these make sense to you. 

These are my cut blocks before "mix and match".  With more experience I believe one could determine which rings work best and which need to be wider or thinner.  Many of us found that we were cutting too many rings that were the same circumference and didn't play well with others. 

Here are the circles the way I mixed them up. 

These are the scissors that Sue recommends and that students found very useful. 

This is Mary Lou Weidman's table.  Several students used polka dots which worked very well, giving a sort of "happy" sense to the blocks.   Mary Lou also used some plaids and checks.  

 Michelle Joanou  took the class about seven years ago and brought her finished work to show and tell.   I think this is 16 blocks. 

Another piece by Michelle Joanou   Ten blocks?

Molly Evangelish'a blocks laid out on the table with the dark background showing. 

Molly Evangelish's blocks pinned side by side - they look so different. 

Suzie Costantino worked with one type of flower and we could name it.  

It is the passion flower. 

Joanne Hinkel's eleven blocks and her first project. 

Andrea Bair's twelve blocks spread on her table. 

Andrea Bair's 1st project plus the "reject" block which she has quartered and reassembled. 

More tomorrow if I can get them sorted.  

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