Through Alys Stephen's Center's ArtPlay, I have been teaching a quilting class at the Woodlawn YWCA as a part of ArtReach, which offers free classes to YWCA residents. This past Wednesday, 12-12-12, we finished up our ten week class with an open house. I am so thrilled at the progress of these women. Sharon, the woman in the far left of the photo, began sewing in April of this year and had never sat at a sewing machine before. She now attends not only the ArtReach class, but Bib & Tucker sessions at DISCO as well. She completed a quilt, the one sashed with purple fabric in the picture and also two pillows. Yesterday we cut out fabric for her to make some Auburn pillows (being a child of U of Al alumni, this was quite a difficult task : ) and she texted me a photo mere hours later of at least one she had completed by hand. She has caught the sewing bug and I couldn't be more thrilled.
Michelle, shown holding the red and pink pillow along with her daughter, Ashanti, also completed a quilt this session and three pillows. Michelle had some experience with a machine, but her greatest asset was her confidence and persistence. When we shifted gears to hand-quilting though, she did not enjoy the change of pace. She likes the speed of the machine and is a whiz at it. Ms. Viola only joined us later in the class and had some difficulty with piecing fabric, but she was determined to create something before the class ended and she proudly displays her pillow in this image. All three women plan to return with ArtReach classes begin again in January. Bib & Tucker will be meeting next Tuesday and I am sure to see Sharon and Michelle along with Ms. Annie, Ms. Jearaldine and Ms. Carol. We have become quite the group as Sharon also brought a sister from her Muslin group, Shannon.
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