An Island Class

On Mother's Day weekend our son T participated in a rowing regatta on Vancouver Island. The weather was perfect and the kids had a great time at Shawnigan Lake. On the Saturday, I had a great time teaching a workshop for the Modern Quilt Guild of Victoria! I didn't realize that it was the guild's first formal workshop.  I gave them a couple of class options to choose from and they chose the 241 Bag, which is always a fun one to teach.

People love to customize Anna's pattern and I've made so many of these bags that I'm able to work with students individually to support whatever combinations of pockets and zippers they choose.  I love seeing all of the different fabric combinations that people come up with!  For one of my class samples I paired one of my all-time favourite prints, Martha Negley Farmington feathers, with Essex yarn-dyed linen in steel.  The two look gorgeous together.

I always like to include a fun surprise inside zipper pockets. These ones have a pop of Lizzy House pearl bracelets and I used Joel Dewberry Deer Valley rustic dots for the inside slip pocket on a lining of shirting stripes.

The topstitching on the handle was done with a variegated Aurifil 28 wt thread that runs grey to light blue.

I love this bag, but I think I'll include it in the items I'll be selling at the quilt show boutique later this month.  My other sample has side pockets in lieu of the slash zips, but it's not quite complete yet!

It was really fun to meet an entire classroom of enthusiastic tote-makers; for some this was their first ever tote or purse construction.  The guild president Nicole coordinated the workshop, participated AND brought a delicious lemon cake to celebrate her birthday the following day (Mother's Day!!).   

Here are some of the bags at the end of class.

Thank you so much MQG Victoria - I love my super cool guild button (with killer logo designed by Berene!).  Thanks also to my lovely friend Lise-Lotte who not only hosted B and I, but joined the guild and came to the workshop, too.  It really was the best weekend. I love Victoria and can't wait to go back!