"Man Up!" Jan meeting

Dee working on Halloween Horror

Well, I must say we had a great time, even though we only had six ladies at our first 6 hr event of 2013. While Dee & Janet worked on this 'horrid' quilt (blocks were straight/consistantly sized/etc), that sure turned it into a gem of a little quilt!

This is the layout. It was made years ago but no one is sure who worked on the blocks (them being so wonky, I don't think anyone WANTS to claim they worked on it). All I know is, Janet was a miracle worker to get it into this cute quilt top.

I'm glad I had this broom fabric to add for the border. Next is to add a boy fabric to the back that is NOT Halloweeny. Then it will be reversible.

 

These blocks I yanked out of the 'orphan block' box in our storage. They were from a 'swap' that I'd done years ago with a local quilt guild. I fixed it so there'd be 12 blocks and then went to work at adding black sashing to separate the business of the black/white prints.








After adding the sashing (am I the only one who caught sight of the improper sizing of the blocks, that somehow came out okay in the end?), we decided if the outer border was to work, we needed a nice blue fabric to pull out some color. Well try and find a blue/green backing for it. Maybe one we can roll the edges over to the front for a binding.

This quilt  I'll call it "Back in Maine" since the backing was bought in Maine.

 We tied it with multicolor embroidery floss since it was so colorful.

 

I did layout all the quilts that Kathy had quilted/ and or bound, along with her 14 pillowcases. I added Marilyn's pillowcases and we will send them to Con-Kerr Cancer (drop off is at Quilting by the Yard quilt shop). The green/torquoise one on the far left is called "Stop it, Cars!". Just a top at this stage, but we'll either finish it or donate it to Project Linus in March.

These Heartstring blocks were done by Kathy and possibly others, but were in the orphan boxes (RWB), and I thought they needed to be put to a top. This placement didn't make it to the finish.

 This was the finished project. Dee and Jane worked on this. Great job, guys.

 This was one of the loveliest ones we got to work on... Kathy had made the HS blocks and one of the new visitors, Delaney (age 11) worked on the placement of these blocks. I'm thinking this should be called "Thank God I'm a Country boy". It just looks so homey and warm. This is how far it got put together. I'll hopefully work on it at home or bring it to the Feb mtg to be made to the top stage.
Nice placement on the quilt, Delaney.....

 This medalion I've been playing with for years..... Not sure what to do with it yet, but the next stage should be something that makes it POP! (The rust points are flappy- not attached down).

These are piles of HS blocks to be made. (one pile is what is two photos at left). 

 These are more piles to be put together..... the Red/Blue pile did get to a top (see photos above), but the others need a few more blocks to make a complete top. For another meeting.....

 Here she is..... Delaney. She was visiting us with her mom (whom I work with). We gave her the blue blocks and just let her design it. We'll call this one, "Delaney's Quilt". She did such a good job on the design, she can come back anytime she wants. (I hear her mom says she is planning our lunch for the next 6 hr event!).

This is what she started with ....

and this is what she created. Great job!

 

 

Okay, I know

we were making 'manly' quilts, but while I was laying out the stuff to be worked on the night before, I found these lovelies and decided they needed to be 'revamped. Not sure who made them, but I hope they don't mind that I 'adjusted' them.

And then I just kept going.... connecting these purple pinwheels below.

These "fall fabrics' (top pile) were taken home by Marilyn. Can't wait to see how she puts them together. We put together the pile on the bottom left before we went home (Janet and I), She's taken them home to put together. We may have to put a border around them to finish that top.

 

This one needed one more block, so I made one the night before and Margaret worked on this one, until she realized that a block or two, didn't lay flat when ironed, so I took it home to 'fix' it and put it together. I can see this one with a black border and wild outer border. Hmmm......

 

 Jane was working on rows as needed. Overall, it was a very worthwhile day..... Thanks everyone! See you in February!

Preparing for our Jan Quilting Event

One of our most active quilters, Kathy S had taken a quilt home last time that we'd met and returned with the doll pattern #2 quilt. She got it quilted and bound.

She also put together these two pinwheel quilts. The top one I'm calling "Scattered Pinwheels"...

 While this one I think should be named "Pinwheels in the Grass". Just lovely.

 Dolly Dinkle #2...

 

This one is called "Psycedelic Butterflies" and the interesting thing about this quilt is the two blocks that were used, have NOTHING in common with each other!

 But even the back is beautiful.

 

 

 This panel was purchased in Natick MA, at the Fabric Place Basement. I added the red piping, the dark green borders and the red cornerstones. We have a second panel just like it. I'll be curious to see what we do to that one.

 Kathy dropped off several blocks that she'd made. These blocks are 16", all pieced around a blue center square. (This was sent to the ladies via email to try and duplicate).

 These are mine... Only got 6 done, but they are large so we don't need many for a quilt.

 These are ones Kathy S put together. They may be too long, unless we add to the sides.....or remove one row on the bottom.

Kathy also made 16 blocks of fall fabrics. We may make them assorted or do something completely different with these....

 

I had these strips from some panels that were leftovers. Found some grass in my stash, pieced it together and added a pieced turquoise frame. Just needs a backing....May call it, "Stop it, Cars!"

 These piece I've been playing with for a few years. Just added the black sides to it. The rust prairie points in the center are not tacked down (they open up). Not sure where to go from here, but this may be a work in progress.

Kathy also included 48 plaid heartstring (HS) blocks. I tried to play around with them into different designs...

 Added a 6th row at the bottom...

 Not sure how we'll choose to go, but I can always refer to these designs for the final quilts.

I can't wait to show the ladies these ....

Pillowcases for Sandy Hook children

Becky at the Quilter's Corner in New Milford, CT has requested pillowcases for all the children in the Sandy Hook Elementary school, approzimately 600. That plee was put out the day after their terrible shooting and she has received 1,689 and 5 quilts!!! They are still taking in more as they'd like to give them to all the other elementary schools, first responders and teachers. Marilyn and I went to Fabric Place Basement in Natick, MA to see what bargains we could scoff up and we have quilte a bunch to make with what we came home with. They even gave us 10% off what we bought.

The call was put out to our group to make some and bring them to the Jan 5th event, We'll send them down on the 7th. How wonderful the response has been. They've been coming from all over the country. I'll post how many we end up sending, with photos!! (I may even deliver them in person on the 6th!!)

Hurricane Sandy quilts delivered!

Oh, how I wish I had a photo of Ed Johnetta's face when she heard how many quilts we were donating! She was such a love to come and pick up the quilts we had for her chapter (Quilts for Kids). She was so excited to see it was me that she was dealing with (we'd just been emailing back and forth to set this up), and then to hear we had 30 quilts...., well, you'd have thought she died and went to heaven! She said the girls in her chapter usually make a pickup of a few quilts, maybe 5, but 30??!! Never!

After we got them loaded into her car, we discussed how important it was for both of us to make sure they got to help those in CT first (if possible), since we had such horrible devastation to our shoreline. Once she got them home, she sent us the email she sent to the regional chapter of Q4K, and a thank you to our group. Oh, Ed Johnetta, you have no idea how much we thank YOU. I only wish I could actually go with the quilts to see where they end up residing....

October Preparation

It's two days before our meeting and I want to prepare the ladies for it. Yes, we'll be doing our normal tying of any remaining quilt tops, but I want to have some things put aside for the January quilting event (6 hrs).

We need 'manly' quilts.

I have some great ideas and plans, but may send you all home with homework!! Notice that the date it will be due is JANUARY 2013. Gives a lot of time to play...and you won't have too many blocks to make, so it should be relatively easy.

If you are wondering about our "Canning quilt", it hasn't been forgotten. I know it's a very involved quilt, because we have no 'pattern' to go by (THIS is what is called 'flying by the seat of your pants') so I want to wait until April (our next 6 hr event) to put this top together.

We have given a few quits away since our last meeting, and I'll catch you up on those recipients.

See you Monday!

September Photos!

I hadn't figured the way to get the photos to you, as they have to go through Picassa albums first, I guess. Here are some of the quilts the ladies finished and brought in...

Carpenter's Star by MaryEllen. She did the quilting on them too.

Front...

 and back...

 These two are so cute....

 This one will have to go back as the 'pre-quilted fabric' didn't have any fabric on the backing, so Kathy will adjust it. (So nice to have talented sewers in our midst)

 This one below has "Lazy Leopards" on it.... so relaxing

 These two are 'sister quilts.....with Dogs and Chicks

 This one I had Kathy donate to an Alzheimer's group. It has different shaped buttons in the centers.

 "Cows in the Pasture" is the perfect name, since the cow fabric is framed, and framed and .... (I almost had a moment where I named this "Corral Crazy", but I didn't.)

 This cute Lime Centered Heartstring quilt has fun and bright fabrics for any kid!

 This we're still working on. It has a name though,..... "Cotton Candy Pink"

Wowwy, KaZowwy!!

That's all I can say......

We had a great turnout this month, it was so surprising! Two reasons, really.
First, it was the first meeting of the year (school year) and although we usually meet on the first Monday of the month, this being Sept, we met on the SECOND Monday of the month and that will sometimes screw up people's schedules, so we usually have very little people remember that it's even on this month.

Second, I didn't advertise much (in the church bulletin, or any other way). I'll get better at this one someday soon, I promise.

Well, the ladies surely surprised me this month, in any event. You can always tell who has air-conditioning in their sewing rooms. This summer was exceptionally hot and my sewing room faces the south side and is on the second floot, so I wasn't in there ALL summer! But Mary Ellen and Kathy were phenomenal with what they put out.

This is one of the last of the lasagna quilts, which I'm calling Lasagna Leftovers. We finished it that night and as soon as we had it blessed on the following Sunday, someone requested it for a friend (Rebeckah M) in VA who was having a very hard time with "Pots Syndrome".  She also requested one with motorcycles for the husband who has been ill for some time.

We had another one similar to the one above, that went to Jessica T's uncle in WA who is suffering with stage 4 Pancreatic cancer. I sent that out from work last week.

I also had one called "Enid's Black Beauty" that Lynn K requested for a former roommate who has been having difficulty after surgery (ovarian). She's already had breast cancer, and now this. Lynn said she's a bit of a wild one, a rebel, so I pray that she fights hard on this one. Lynn took it home to deliver to her friend.

 

This cute little one was made by Mary Ellen. I called it Baby Blue bubbles, since the fabric on the backing is soft little blue bubbles. These are adorable.

 

See the next post for photos.....

 

We did discuss that we haven't very many 'manly' quilts, so I think I'm planning to have them work on 'homework pieces to bring to the Jan. mtg. I did pick up some beautiful fabirc with leaves and birch branches on it (greens, grays, browns) that may be great for a border and/or center strips for more heartstring quilts. I pulled all the fabrics we had in the cabinets at church that would go with it and I think it will be beautiful!.

 

We also have some plaids still (LOTS!) that we can use with a dark center strip to make some HS blocks for Jan. 2013.

 

The nice thing was, some people who haven't been able to come to the meetings lately, were able to show up (Pat, Dot, etc)... nice to see you ladies. We did miss Janet. Will see you in Oct., I hope.

 

 

Deli Sandwiches in June

Our June meeting was actually one of our two 6 hr quilting events of the year. "Making sandwiches at the Deli" almost looked like it wasn't gonna be too well attended with only three of us there. Slowly one more appeared, with another to come after bringing her cat to the vet. With a phone call to one more (who wasn't coming because of work--that got postponed until Sunday), we ended up with six ladies who were so excited to be there!

We had quite a few tops to 'sandwich' and a couple of backings needed to be adjusted, done.
More were taken home to be bound, and quilted, but we got 5 quilts almost to the done stage. These three came in from the last meeting, finished.

Tooling Around was from a panel that was made from a Quilting by the Yard quilt kit that was given to one of our members (MEZ) by one of her quilting friends.

Same with these happy squares. They were leftovers from a previous meeting/homework assignment.

Enid was playing with some batiks and had fun with this. I call it "Enid's Black Beauty". Thanks, Enid!
The Frog quilt is a great kid one. That one got to the binding stage, but Marilyn took it home to finish that part.We got the binding for this (and the backing) up in Maine at Marden's. We had the top from 2009 and just couldn't find the right material to make it bigger until this last trip to Maine. It's made with Happy blocks, so I call it "Frog Hoppy". This one is really done, just not in these photos.

We were playing around with Kathy's latest Quilt of Valor blocks and came up with this configuration. Nice I think.... We sent this to Alycia in CO who is our QOV go-to person.

I took this home to quilt it and bind it. We'll roll the backing over to the front to use it as the binding. This great red backing (you'll see it next post) was also gotten in Maine at Marden's.

 And it's always nice to see our member's projects that they are working on....Margaret brought this one in... It's lovely!! I love black, white and brights.

Well, we are off for the summer (too hot to quilt), so enjoy the blog until Sept. (2nd Monday).

Quilt in the shade!

Another shipment off-Tornado Quilts

Today I sent off another shipment of quilts (actually, they were donated from the quilt-a-thon we had at church in March for Project Linus) to Sarah B in KY. She will see that they get to the victims of the tornadoes in the midwest. I'm including four pillowcases to wrap up the adult ones for delivery.

We sent off 10 baby/child quilts along with a good assortment of stuffed animals. We can't see sending a quilt to a little kid who's lost all their toys (or had the ones they found to be dirty/damaged), without also giving them something to cuddle up to.

Thanks to Jane who is in charge of the Project Linus event for donating these quilts.

Thanks to Ruth who donated some of her cherished teddy bears. There were only two that couldn't fit in the box of quilts, so we donated them to the church's annual May Fair (if we couldn't use them, that's were they were headed anyway).

We couldn't do it without the support of our family at church!!

April mtg

The April meeting went really well. Since it was on April 9th and we were heading to Marden's (discount fabric store in Maine) on the 17th, we needed to organize which quilt tops needed to go with us to find a complimentary backing for.This one was started at our Log cabin 6-hr event (Cabin Fever) years ago, but never finished. I took it home and added the outer border and cornerstones so we'd know how large the top would be. We found a vibrant red print (with black) that I'm hoping to sandwich to it, in June, and wrap the edges around to be the binding. It should be stunning! I'm naming it, "When I get old, I'll wear purple".

This adorable one by Mary Ellen (gray center strip-vintage material) was taken home last month and bordered with Dick and Jane material. It is so old-fashioned!

 I name it, "Look Dick, See Jane Quilt"

This one Enid made using a black batik print for the center strips. She was gonna take it home and add a border (thin) using a similar black batick print, then we'll see where we go from there.

Mary Ellen made this one completely during this past month. Cute fish fabric on the back!! Some little boy will love it... Name: "Boys a-Fishin' "

This is the back of one Marilyn made, but  I forgot to take a photo of the front. Name: "Double Brown Derby".

Thsese are some of the pillowcases that will be going to Alycia in CO, who handles our QOV quilts. Kathy S did them in honor of her son being in Afghanistan.

 We had a total of 7 quilts that went to Maine with us for backings, although I didn't take photos of them before we went. We'll put them together in June. Great accomplishments!