We LOVE the Homestead Blessings DVD series from Franklin Springs–and when I saw they were offering “The Art of Quilting” I was so thrilled! I’ve always wanted to learn how to quilt (I’ve made a few feeble attempts on my own with crazy quilts) but I really wanted to learn some REAL skills in this area. Enter the West Ladies, they are great teachers of some of my favorite homestead skills and they are so easy to learn from, so I knew I would be able to have success in the area of quilting with them as my mentors!

I love their step-by-step easy to follow instructions, I also love their frugal, make do with what you have attitude too!  If you don’t have ‘quilters chalk’ use a white colored pencil or regular chalk! No “quilting thread’? Use plain ol’cotton or cotton poly thread, it’s OK!  The West Ladies helpful, simple ways of doing things, tips and hints are always such a blessing to us! You always walk away from their DVD’s with a feeling of confidence and a ’hey, that doesn’t have to be so hard after all!’ sigh of relief!

The West Ladies show us how to put together a quilt, explain about quilting history, how to plan and cut for your quilting project.  (I also  finally understood some of those terms and words of the quiliting world and how they apply to the art of quilting: basting, binding, sandwiching, backing, quilt block,etc.!) The Wests’ share how to choose contrasting fabric colors, measuring (this CAN be simple, yay!) how to cut and piece your fabric / blocks together, how to put your quilt top together with your batting and backing without tears. How to stitch and bind– they make it all so simple  

I thought another really fun thing was the potholder project (my girls and I can’t wait to do this one, too!) not only can you make a potholder (VERY easily!), but the really neat thing about this is it is also GREAT practice for making fun and vaired quilt blocks for your larger quilts.

As always, I highly recommend “Homestead Blessings” DVD’s, they are wonderful for learning all those skills your mama never taught you, that you always wanted to learn! I love being able to teach and share homestead skills with my daughters, but also to learn alongside my girls, and make things together, so we can carry on these skills & teach & share them with future generations too! Now THAT’s a BLESSING! Thanks West Ladies!

Happy Homestead Blessings,

Lisa