Getting stuff done!

Now that I'm working my way into retirement, albeit slowly,  I have been able to manage working on quilts more at home.

First, I used the pink/green materials from the 'box in a box'/ Diamonds in the Grass? quilt top and made a pieced back. Second, I also made a green binding. It'll be ready to put together in Feb. (I also splurged and bought some batting that was on sale at Joann's Etc.)

 Next I used some of the material to complete a backing for one I'd made (my own stash) that I hope to donate (it's more wheelchair size, but a nice one for Spring-floral).

I also, machine quilted the blue/gold batik that Janet had made and added the binding to it (someone can do the hand-stitching at the Feb meeting).

What else can I do? Hmmmm….

Happy New Year 2019

It was nice 'therapy' for the ladies to get together... We chatted about the holidays and my (Nancy's) latest trip to see my grandbaby, Serenity for her 1st birthday (in FL). I had her brother Malakai up for Christmas with us and flew down with him to stay a week. I literally just got home yesterday, and haven't had much time to recoup. That being said, the 'girls' kept me in line today. Here's what we accomplished. (I forgot to take a photo of 'American Log Cabin"). I will tomorrow (it's on the church railing to get blessed.)

This one is a top put together from blocks made by Janet G, Delaney put them together- design-wise, and in the second photo we have to decide on a border (we picked green solid) and will add elongated cornerstones in deep aqua to match the center diamond. I'm thinking it may get called "Diamonds in the Grass". 

 

 This one was made by Janet G also. We are piecing a backing for it. Got it batted and pinned. I'll machine quilt it around the center boxes, then around the outside gold border.

This was a fun one. Janet put this together from Joann Fabrics scraps with gray backgrounds. 'What shall we call it?" she said. The choices were "Hugs and Kisses" (patterns name), Tic Tac Toe, and "Ox in a Box"(that was me-Nancy). We'll add a solid gray border with dark teal (the center fabric) cornerstones. Should look great!

Kathy S made this one (LOVE, love love the background fabric). I immediately called it "Ratatoille"!

The ladies there were me (Nancy), Kathy S., Dee & Delaney (thanks ladies for the soup), Jane P, and Marilyn L. Good turnout on a rainy day. I left my machine and take-home box at church until the rain stops tomorrow. See you in Feb!

Christmas Greetings!!

While we aren't meeting this month, due to all the holiday rush, know that we are here for you if you need a quilt for someone you know.

We will meet again on Jan 5th, one day after I come back from FL celebrating my 11th grandchild's FIRST birthday!! (No, it does NOT get old).

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!!♫♬♫♪

Photos from the Nov meeting

We had a great meeting, with one exception. One member couldn't find her way into the building! The door on the right sticks, so you sometimes have to use both thumbs to press down on the latch. But the other option is to go to the double doors on the left (glass). They are also locked, but the doors INSIDE the glass doors are wide open and with the lights on, you can see us all working like crazy. Apparently, she never noticed the glass doors and missed the meeting altogether. 

Darn!! I even had an early Christmas present for her.

Well, we did get quite a bit one. This log cabin from Janet G, got to the stage of having the ties put on (we trim them last thing), the batting trimmed and Kathy was  willing to take it home to add the binding and finish it. Thanks, Kath.

 

This one has been a thorn in the side in many ways. But I think God has a plan for it, that we don't see. The story of this one is complicated. First, it was donated, so we have no idea who made it. Second, it was Wonky- seam wise, so I agreed to take it home, (ripped most of the seams apart), re-stitched them back, trim the sides and add a border. It didn't cure the wonkiness, just hid some of it.

We finally got it tied, even though it fought us, tooth and nail!! Before the day was done, it was trimmed from it's batting and it already has the binding made (variegated yellows, oranges, reds)/ We had named it Rainbow Sherbet, but after giving us a hard time today, we gave it an alias "Frustration is Fine".

Rainbow Sherbet aka "Frustration is Fine"

These blocks were brought in by Janet and Delaney (our design artist) played with them for a while. The two different choices were difficult until she took a photo of it and turned it into black and white. Then we knew immediately which blocks to change and we'll go with the design on the right.

 This is another quilt top done by Janet, "Blue Moon" (although because Election day is on Tues of next week, someone called it the "Blue Wave"). Kathy machine sewed 1/4" around the 'moons and when it came back to the meeting, we took out the basting stitched and pins, trimmed the batting only, then rolled the backing to become the binding. Finished and was able to be Blessed at Sunday's service.

"Blue Moon" aka "Blue Wave"

 Last but not least, THIS is the jar quilt. It was a homework project many, many years ago, but because it had no pattern, (except in my head), we had to let it 'develop. After making MANY individual jars, we had to whittle it down to what could fit on our 'pantry shelves'. Then we had to plan the empty spaces between the jars. We even planned for eventually putting in a cricket and a moth and a spider web and a ruffle on the top of the cupboard. We had put it away every year (our minds had to culminate/ruminate on the next steps,..... )…. So this fall we decided to do SOMETHING on it every month until it's done.

Jar Quilt

 This meeting we trimmed the last two rows and added the wood strips. Yippee- It's moving forward! Many thanks to Janet, Kathy, Dee and Delaney (for a great lunch- Potato and Artichoke soup and fabulous Oatmeal raisin cookies), Marilyn, Lois and Nancy(me) for doing such a great job!! Love you guys!!!!

Last meeting for 2018

Just to let you know we'll be meeting on Sat for Peace by Piece Quilters (Ann, can you forward this to your mom? I don't find her email), 9-3 at Anderson Hall (St Mary's).

Dee will be making potato artichoke soup, and we'll have snacks. Bring a lunch if you like, but we'll have food there. AND plenty to do. We are even pulling out the "Jar quilt"!! 

We're making a pact to do something on it every meeting.

See you there!

October meeting....

This beauty was made by Kathy S. from 1/3 of a panel and used some of fellow quilter, Marilyn's fabrics for the flower blocks. 

Flower Pot Panel

Just LOVE, love, love the backing fabric....

Janet brought in this top she made. We'll put together some binding fabrics and backing... Should we make it a little wider?

 Some quilt going to Smilow Cancer Center at St Francis Hospital in Hartford, CT. Pictured above: Migration (left), Diamonds on the Outside (top) and Blue Hawaii (lower).
The one we added to the top of the pile is "Blast off- Contrails".

This one is going to Betty  (an 80-ish yr old) who has a blood clot on her lung. She lives in the same building as my aunt Norma (one of our quilters).

A new Start to the year... for us!

Finally able to start our year right (we go by the school year, since we take the summer off)… Had a great turnout and got a few quilts worked on. Even had a new guest show up for a few hours (Welcome Lois!).

Thanks to Kathy, our super quilter, who brought in 102 Pocket Prayers.... We sure were in need- we were down to one left in the basket!

These are the quilts that moved a little further forward. 

"Migration"

"Ripple Illusion"

Twilight

 With a little (LOTS) help from our 'friends'.... Dee, Norma and Delaney. Others that were there helping were Kathy, Marilyn, Jane, Lois and of course, me (Nancy)

See you all in October...

Last Meeting before the summer break!

While we only had a few members able to show up, we had a guest, which was lovely. Welcome Melanie! Hope you come again.

Here are some of the quilts we worked on...
this cute little top was made by Janet G. We plan to add a black border (probably 2.5"), a thin white flange, then put it on point and add bright triangles to it. (Kaleidescope is the name, if I have MY way, lol-- I don't think I do too often).

 This one, made by Janet G, may get named Attic Windows in the Cabin, or Broken Attic Windows. A UFO, she found in her house. It needs a backing, binding and label.

This one is Janets' 2nd wonky Stars quilt. Maybe "Wonky Stars in Plum Sauce" or "Wonky Stars 2". We just need to turn and finish the binding. Norma took it home to finish.

 HA! THIS is the famous "Jar quilt".... we started it years ago (my crazy idea), and since there is no pattern for it, it's taken forever to think of how it should be put together., The rows are pretty much in place, but we haven't put the jars 'on the shelves' and put the pantry shelves together. It WILL get done soon! (Maybe I'll sneak it home this summer and work on it.... shhhh)

this wonky little top was donated (by whom?) and had a lot of tearing apart and fixing before we could add the pink border on it. The funny thing it, the border fabric matches some of the little square blocks!! Who knew!??

This quilt will go to a man in Toronto/New Brunswick Canada. I met the family two years ago and they had my PBPQ card still.... The dad has stage 4 lung cancer. They got in touch with me and voila, they are getting a quilt. Everyone decided THIS was the quilt to send. Hope he likes it!

Canada Geese Going Home

Thanks to Dee, Delaney, Melanie (guest), Janet and Aunt Norma (oh yeah and me) for coming!! Even if we had a short day of it. I was home before 2pm!

March meeting.....

Our facebook page entry for March is here. Enjoy the photos.

 Janet straightening the batting/layers to pin-baste.