Since we didnt have a chance to see each other in September... Oct mtg

 Yeah!!

Finally got together after missing out on last months mtg (and NOT mtg all summer).

We only had 4 of us, but we got lots done

1. Finished the binding on a donated quilt.

2. Pin-basted 2 tops.

3. Machine-quilted and trimmed one of those quilts. Marilyn's "Hawaiian Paradise" has now had the binding pinned and will go to Kathy (a member who quilts from home) to finish. This quilt will then get presented to Marilyn, who has made/donated hundreds of quilts and never kept one for herself. We've all shared in the process of finishing her quilt from the top that she made for us.

4. Decided on an outer border and flange (green batik) for a busy orphan block quilt top. 

5. Took an assessment of quilt tops to see what the plan is, going forward.

6. Decided to hold off on a trip to Mardens in Maine until Spring. Also, held off giving ladies homework until we need to work on those types of quilts. 

Nicely done ladies!

Summer news

 Here are some updates of projects done by members during the summer.

June:

Guess what just got finished?... 

Machine-quilted and binding done with a red flange peeking out.

Thanks to Kathy (long time quilter who helps us from her home), she used up some of our orphans and made 2 adorable Project Linus quilts! She also sewed the binding to this large wonky log cabin.

Got a great deal on batting! 90" wide x 20 yds for $95.00. Averages to $4.75/yd.

Cheaper than Mardens which was 8.99/yd. (And saved on the gas)

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We are sending three quilts (TBD) to be given in honor of Jane, Bart and Sharon, to three members of their congregation that are also going through difficult illness/injuries/surgeries.

For the news article regarding this tragedy, so article below....

https://apnews.com/article/alabama-birmingham-shootings-religion-1c773c7332c344e5ac30a1101cedeeef

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Boxed up 3 quilts to send to St Stephen's Episcopal church in AL, to be given to 3 people who are going through any type of illness, in memory of the 3 parishioners that were shot during a potluck dinner.

Hope they bring comfort to someone.

Last meeting for the season

 Nice meeting yesterday... even had a guest, who I hope comes back, when we commence in Sept. (We have decided to take the summer off). She's an old friend of mine that reconnected recently (online). She fun, so I hope she is able to come back as often as she wants.

We added 3 sets of bars on "Marilyn's Batiks" to lengthen her quilt. Loved what the girls picked out for widening strip on the back (purple).

Taught the group about using pool noodles to sandwich quilts (only Dee and I know the near disaster that we discovered, after she was pinned. I'm sure we figured out a quick fix on it. I took it home to repair...

Dee and I,  also pieced a backing for a teen quilt (thinking of calling it "It's My Room, So What..."). We can have the next meeting be a Sandwich Club meeting. Thanks to all the input from you ladies...

Upcoming Season- next years meeting Dates

Here are the dates for this coming year (2022-2023).

Sept 10th.      Feb 4th

Oct 1st.          Mar 4th

Nov 5th.         Apr 1st

Jan 7th.          May 6th

                        June 3rd

Unless, we get snowed out (winter months), we'll be meeting 9am- 2pm at St Peters Episcopal church, South Windsor, CT.

The Struggle is Real

 Just delivered "Midnight Carnival" to someone who's been struggling since 2021 with Ulcerative Colitus and other health issues compounded from that. Its affected so many parts of their life that were the "norm" for her.

Because of a career with children, this quilt spoke to her, since the blocks are all "orphan blocks" put together.

Keeping our prayers going...

Meeting in Person

 Thankfully, we've  been able to meet in person since September 2021 and while we dont meet in December  (and cancelled January due to covid numbers), we have gotten some things done.

Sept mtg for 2021

Hi ladies!

Guess what's coming up in a week? YES! Our first in-person meeting at our new facility will be Sat, Sept 11th, 9am-2pm.  at
St Peter's Episcopal church

Ok... so here is the deal regarding meeting during the pandemic.
I will have a bright paper on the door to enter in (parking lot side, looking at church, door on left ), or I'll have that door open.
Mask are to be worn inside. You can take them off to eat, but we may not all be eating at the same table... close, but not on top of each other. We'll hug from a distance.

Work tables can be set socially distant and only 2-3 persons per table at a time.
Please bring your own lunch/drinks. No sharing food/snacks.
While you may come for any amount of time during the 9-2 timeframe, we will have a tour of the space at 9:30am. (You know you can stay as long as I'm there.)

I hope to have homework for you to take home and then bring back to the next mtg (or I can arrange to pick up when done- I'll be back to work by then- dont ask, lol, so it may wait for evenings or weekends). Homework won't be ready to pick up until after 12:00 pm.

Sept's mtg will be focused on making quilts for Canada's "quilts for survivors". If you have blocks made and CANT make the mtg, please let me know and I can pick them up before the mtg. We hope to complete as many quilts as our blocks make, then send leftover blocks to Vanessa (coordinator of the project) and send finished quilts directly to survivors.

Please let me know if you are coming.

New chapter!

Finally getting to move all our supplies to our new meeting place, St Peter's Episcopal church in SW. I still have more to clean/iron and re-box before moving to our double closet. So excited to start meeting in-person on Sept 11th! Even though we'll be masked and limited to 2 persons at any setting of tables, to work on our quilts, it will be great to see everyone!

Canadian Indigenous residential school quilt project

 I was trying to think about what block pattern i could make for our "fall project" for the Canadian residential school survivors, when I came across the "orphan" block box! What a perfect choice!! Any of the "orphans" that had orange/rust in it, 

I pulled from the box and tried to pair it up with others and then add a border if needed. I finished 4 blocks this morning and have a few more to figure out how to make them "find a new home"/purpose. Feeling pretty accomplished and very excited!!

Update: finished the other three orphans I had to make them into 16.5" blocks.

I'll send some orange with the middle one, in case the 'unbalance' bothers Vanessa (woman in charge of the donations).

Trip to Mardens!

 MARDENS!!!! MAINE DINER, lobstah rolls/ seafood chowdah...YUM!!! Oh yeah, AND FABRIC! 

 What a great day to travel...great friends, great snacks (thank you Jane)  and very interesting conversations! Maybe we DO need to go back next week for "Christmas in July" sales (bringing out their NEW fabrics!!- do we really need more?!) And hubby said GREAT WHOOPIE PIES, for only $1 ea, from Mardens! Here are some of our acquisitions! Enjoy the photos!

Donna and Jane Checking out my pile, more in the carriage.

Diagonal backing on left

My favorite

This selvedge belongs to the panel below, "

Backings!

More backings

Pillowcase fabrics for me

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