A thank you from one of our quilts 'owners'.

It's always nice to get word that one of our quilts found a good home and can get to work at comforting it's owner, but we never expect one because, frankly, they are usually so wrapped up (no pun intended) in their illness/sickness/healing process. That's really where we want their energy to go. Not consumed with writing us a thank you. However, we received one via our Facebook page...here it is.

"I  just sat down and wrapped myself in my Peace-by-Piece Quilt to watch the evening news. I also plan on sleeping with it tonight (pls don't tell my wife :)) I received this product of love per the request of R*** W*****, one of the best superiors an employee could have. You ladies are the silent ones...reaching out to those in need and I for one can't thank you enough for the Peace you've sent my way. Keep up the good fight and may God bless you in your untiring service.  W.A."

Well, W.A., YOU keep up the good fight. God Bless.

"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"