Pre-March mtg

Okay ladies, for those who saw my selvedge quilt and liked the idea, here is Karen Griska's selvedge blog.... check out some of the great ideas she has on it. Scroll down when you get to this site.

http://www.selvageblog.blogspot.com/

The QOV quilts were delivered to CO.

The Happy blocks were delivered (all 323 of them). (I had quite a few that couldn't be sent because of poor construction --less than 1/4" seam, curved seams, too small a block, etc. I don't remember who did them (menopause memory) and I don't want to know. I will just bring them to the next mtg to show everyone what we need to watch out for. I'll let you know how to fix the problems, so if you recognize the block as yours, you will know how to correct it for future blocks. I'm not saying this to criticize anyone or hurt feelings, but we must remember that the people we are sending quilts to may not be able to 'fix' a pulled seam, or a rip (due to poor construction) expecially after these quilts have been washed a few times, so we need to make sure that we make them WELL. I didn't have time to take them apart and 'fix' them, so we'll use the ones that were too small in a 6.5" block
In the future, when we make a certain size block, measure the block after trimming and adjust any 'short' seams before turning them in, or make it oversize and we'll trim at the mext mtg.

Bring any envelope blocks that you've made (please measure them before bringing them-- they should be 5.5" x 7.5"). We will be laying them out and see how we want to join them (sashing, what color could make them blend, etc).

We will be taking a look at the quilts that are in various stages and finishing them before we start any others. (Don't I ALWAYS say this, then we start some fun thing or another....LOL).

I will bring the chenille scarf that I was showing you all at the last mtg. (I have directions for those who want them), I also have a mini sample that you all can try cutting with scissors and a chenille cutter to see the difference).

For those who don't know, our church is having a 'Quilt-a-thon" on March 24th from 9am-2pm (Tues). All are welcome, bring a friend, your lunch (drinks and dessert will be provided) and stay as short or long as you want. This year, I CAN'T make it, but think of me...) (Maybe we can make a few tops to have them finish at the quilt-a-thon.

Also, since we always meet at night, would you all be interested in getting together one Sunday afternoon a month, say from noon-4, to sew? Just flat out sewing, no lessons, no 'meeting', just sewing.....? If you think you'd like that, we could check with Sandy every month to see what's available. Just a thought.

Happy Block count, and QOVs

I have a final count soon of the Happy Blocks that we're making for HeartstringsQuiltProject for their March Sew-in. Marilyn just called with another 45 or so...which puts her at 100+ alone! Lorraine made at least 140... (drum roll, please....) 323! If we put them into a top that would be over 6 tops!! I'm sending them Thursday to Mary at Heartstringsquiltproject.

I also sent off two QOV quilts to Alycia in CO for her "No Soldier's Forgotten Project". This will put our group at three quilts for them. (They are being sent with tops, backs, binding already pieced together and ironed, and batting).

I have the Brindisi baby's quilt all packaged up and ready to deliver tomorrow. I may hand-deliver it, since we are off to Boston to have lunch with my oldest for her birthday (on Monday). Quarter of a century!

New quilt request

Our group has had a new quilt request put in by Father Paul, for a friend of his in NH, who just got diagnosed with brain cancer. He's an attorney, in his late 40's early 50's... It is not a good prognosis. I thought we had a brown and blue heartstrings quilt (above) that was able to go to him immediately, but I think it's too small for an adult male. I'd like to call this one, "Reflections of the sky in my own little puddle". We have a blue, B&W HS quilt in the makings.... maybe that should be the one he gets.

We also got a lovely thank you from Barbara W. for the quilt we gave her granddaughter. I'll share it at the next mtg.

Feb mtg

Well, it didn't seemed like we got anything done at our mtg (productive-wise on our quilts), but the ladies did GREAT on their Happy Blocks for the HeartstringsQuiltProject.

Most of them were done at home and they brought them in.... I thought I did well to do 21, but Margaret did 37, Marilyn did 72 and Lorraine did 147!! Well, Mary, you'll be getting a lot for the Sew-In in March. I may take a look at them and see if we can't put some together for a top or two.

Two ladies worked at sewing the narrow batting together for our QOV quilts. We had some batting donated but it's very narrow.A HUGE roll, and it's free so we're using it.

We had a new member, Enid. I hope you had a fun time and learned a few things about us.

We also had a quick lesson on making chenille scarves... don't know how that started, but I had my fabric for it there and I gave a demonstration. I'll bring the piece in next month.

I also brought in a selvedge quilt I'm making, to show one of the ladies (she found out I was saving slevedges and wanted to know what I was making with them).

Feb Mtg

We'll be meeting this Monday and I hope we can get a few tops out of the Happy Blocks we're making for Heartstrings Jan/Feb project. I made 21 before the last meeting and the ladies took lots of novelty squares and 'framing material' home to make more (homework).

This little quilt is one 'experiment', inspired by the 9-Patch Pizzazz. I want to name it "Butterfly Sherbert"... It's for a 4yr old girl who is in foster care with one of our parishioner's daughter and she has some emotional issues. I even put prayer ties into it. We'll get it Blessed on Sunday and hand it to the little girl's gramma to deliver.

These two are for Alycia's QOV quilt quota (at present 400 is the goal). I'm not sure it I'll add another border to the red one, but I've named them, "Stars and Stripes Forever" (the white one)

and "Glory wrapped in Red Velvet" (red one).

I want to show the ladies a new block... Not sure whether the name of the quilt will be "PS I love you" or "Love Letters". It's an envelope block (5" x 7" rectangle) and a 3-d envelope flap on it. I'll take some pictures of it at the mtg. I only have some blocks made, but not put together.

I also have some more Black/White/Bright HS blocks to make, as I want to add to a small quilt that we have to at least make it 24 blocks (9"). It's up on my design wall, and I'm adding blocks as they get made. (Maybe I'll have the ladies each make a block).

I have not added any more blocks to Father Chip's quilt. I also want to know how he's feeling first. I can't post that in case he sees this blog.

I have had one of our 'machine quilters' agree to quilt a couple of our little quilts. I have the Bingo quilt top finished (Marilyn put them together and a nice green border, Dot G picked out the backing and I bought some great gold for the binding). I even ironed the binding so it's ready to add when we get it quilted. Perfect for a young person (42" X 53") to snuggle in. And so bright and cheerful!! (See a picture of it in the distance in the posting below)

Jan Meeting- Fresh Start

Well, It was nice to get together and see what we would start out making for the new year. We had a couple of straggler quilts to finish...and one almost got finished during the meeting (Brindisi quilt).

Janet did a wonderful job piecing and quilting the baby quilt for this premmie (he was born in June and his twin died three days later. He seems to be doing much better, but his quilt was requested by one of the members).

I was hoping to put the missing borders on the QOV quilt, but we really didn't have any border fabric that could match. (Oh, darn, does that mean I have to make a trip to buy fabric??? VBG!!) We do have funds in the church account (all donations) that can be used, so I made a trip during the week and this is what I came up with for addtions to the church 'stash'. We also needed a little bit more beige-y type colors for Father Chip's quilt (the one that's the farthest on the floor in the photo below... I'll post a better picture of it as it gets worked on.) The other two tops are the "Bingo Quilt" and Happy Blocks that I made for the ladies 'samples'.

We found a backing for the "Quilt Bingo" quilt, in the center of the photo. (We took all the 10" bingo blocks that were used at our Dec mtg's bingo game

and Marilyn put them together beautifully, now we had Dot and Pat pick out a backing to go with it.) We even found binding which I'll take home prepare for that stage. I will post a close picture of that one, too.

Miriam and Margaret are busy working on the squares of novelty blocks and their frames.

Lorraine was busy in her spot. These blocks we're making for HeartstringsQuiltProject (Jan-Feb). We'll see what the ladies bring back to the next meeting to see what we send out to this group. We may even have a few tops put together! Here are some of our fun squares!

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Can't wait to post more photos.....

First quilt Blessed in 2009

One day before our meeting and we were able to have our priest-in-charge Father Paul Bless "Nightshades/Mints on my Pillow" during the 10am service. Of course, my grandson Malakai thought it was a 'coo-ell kooweeeahhlt" (translation "cool quilt').

January meeting 2009

Now that the holidays are over, we are ready to get back to work.

Some of our quilts have deadlines.... QOV (Quilts of Valor, going to wounded soldiers)- March, Happy Blocks/HeartstringQuiltProject-Jan-Feb.

We do have two QOV tops that need borders and backings. Then they can go off to the quilters (we'll try and make some bindings too-- I may be able to make some various R/W/B strips into binding for those). These need to be done so they are finished and sent to Alycia by May. Alycia C. is in charge of the No Soldier Forgotten Project, hoping to send 400 quilts to wounded soldiers sent home from the war.

We also have two quilts for needy children... one for a 4yr old girl, recently adopted by a parish member's daughter (has some health issues), and for a 6month old premmie who lost his twin shortly after birth. These quilts are being worked on by members who took them home over the holidays, and should be to the 'top' stages by the Jan mtg. We will make these into prayer quilts with a little quilting added. (Prayer quilts are tied quilts with slightly longer 'ties', since the ties are used to tie a prayer into each knot. Family members, doctors, nurses and visitors can tie prayers into the quilt as the child keeps it close for comfort.)

Meeting Dates and Times

As of this year, we will be meeting every First Monday of the month, in Anderson Hall, from 6:30pm to 9pm (although I've been known to stay until 9:30-10:00pm!). We may be meeting in Neill Hall (downstairs) for the winter, Jan-Mar to save on the heat.

Anyone is welcome to attend our meetings, once only, a few times or continually. It would be a good idea to call the church office to make sure there are no changes in mtg times, due to weather issues.

Even if you don't sew, we'll put you to work (ironing, matching fabrics to tops, pinning, etc)... even feeding us grapes (lol).

A New Year!

I decided our quilting group at St Mary's Episcopal Church needed a blog to keep the members and (future members) updated with our projects. It will also keep us focused on where we've been and where we are going. I hope to post progress on our charity quilts and post lots of pictures!

Some History...

I started this group in July 2007 as a way to minimize my stash of fabric at home. I know I'll never live long enough to use up all the fabric I love to buy (not as much buying going on here as in prior years), so I figured I'd enlist others and then share our gifts to those who need some comfort. At first, I thought it was rather selfish of me to have others help me rid my sewing room of excess, but I now know it was God's way of pointing me in the direction of serving others.

Our group's name came about during a meeting where we were making "Cool Ties" for the troops. I asked all those in attendance to come up with a name describing what we do... bring comfort and peace to others, let them know someone cares about them, and we'll do it mostly by piecing quilts and making other comfort items to send to them. One of our high school students, Jordan P., came up with the name, and it was PERFECT! Peace by Piece Quilters!!

Since the conception of this group, we have made many quilts and I hope to keep an accurate count (maybe on the sidebar) of our many projects and where they have gone.