Fundraiser and a quilt

One of our latest quilts, "Marching to First Base" went to a little 4 yr old boy with leukemia. He lives in town and one of our local luncheonettes offered to give 20% of the days profits to his medical expenses. I decided that in addition to having lunch there with my mom, we'd bring him a quilt to cuddle with. I hope it 'works'.... (lunch was delicious!!). Hope this makes you well, Gavin!

March meeting update

Just wanted to update you all on the progress from the other night.

We had a good turnout; Jane P, Kathy S, Anne R, Margaret M, Muriel and Nancy. 

Muriel is working on the binding on Margaret's Green D9P (with pink binding),

I finished tying the gray ties into the Lime Green/Red and Gray quilt that Kathy put together, but I haven't found the right shade of  gray binding material in my stash. I'll have to go to Joanns (darn, lol). I think I'll call it Lime Green Surprise! 

I have the 'serged squares' quilt that I have to machine-quilt this month. Hope to have it done by April's mtg.

I added borders and cornerstones (offset-due to lack of enough fabric that we had in stash- so we improvised) to the little pink one that Kathy made. Really adorable. The border fabric really sets it off. Not sure what to call this one, as it looks like the pinwheels are fenced in some wealthy person's yard. Any suggestions? (my thought is "Quartermaster"...)

* * * Don't forget that the April mtg will be on April 5th from 9am-3pm (Sat). Bring a lunch to enjoy. I'll figure out the dessert and drinks. Not sure of the "theme", but it will probably be another sandwich/deli theme as we'd like to finish ALL the incomplete quilts that we have in house. I have a few that will need to go to Maine with me in May (to Marden's) and may take some Project Linus quilts to cover the cost of the backings we need (if that's okay with Jane).

Okay, the Margaret news... Keep her in your prayers as she called this morning to say she was flying to FL as her son isn't probably gonna last very long (kidney transplant, has had seizures/ small strokes and is in a coma at the moment. They told her to come down if she can as they don't expect much more...sad.

But on a lighter note, we'll show you a quilt she just finished (pie quilt pattern). Just lovely- some of my favorite color/combos.

Lime I Spy quilt

Sometimes you wonder why a quilt hasn't gone shortly after it's finished... Sometimes it just needs the right home. This cutie, made by Margaret Martin was one of those quilts. It's made in the groups 'signature block', Heartstrings, using a lime green center strip, with loads of fun kid prints on the strips that finish the block.

Ever played "I Spy"....? Find something in the 'fun strips' and say, "I spy...(pick an item in the quilt)." Then the person under the quilt, has to find the strip with it in it. Keeps them occupied and their mind off the troubles they are dealing with.

This one went to Pat G's granddaughter who is 4 yrs old and suffering from pneumonia right now. She's in a local children's hospital and may be for a short while longer. Get better, Daphne....prayers are going your way!

Now I know why it's been here all this time. It was waiting for a little girl to comfort....

Feb mtg- more successful than expected

While I expected to have a snowstorm and prepared to move the meeting to the following Monday, we got a dusting of snow, so we had the meeting. Unfortunately, I prepared everyone so well for moving it to next week, that I ended up with three of us at the original meeting. Even so, I'd gotten there around 4:30pm to set up (meetings don't really start until 6:30pm) and decided wince I had the table space set up, I'd use it to machine quilt the 'Purple Mountains Majesties' quilt using gold thread. I have one line I 'oops-ed' on that will have to be ripped out, and some threads to trim, but otherwise, it just needs the rolled binding to be sewn. Could give this one to my mom (she loves to handstitch them-she'll be 86 next month), or sew it on the machine this week. (Hear we have another superstorm coming on Thursday)

This little cutie, Disappearing 9-patch pattern, made by Margaret, (no name yet) is set to be tied. The ladies finished this one at the meeting, using blue embroidery threads. The pink binding is ready to be sewn on (I'll do that this week at home, and mom can finish the binding).

This one was made by Kathy S and we have decided to make it slightly bigger using another border on the outside (found a great stripe-y navy floral one). Hope it works.

Pinwheels in the Garden

Kathy also made this one and while we tossed a few names around ("Bop-it!" , "Bug Explosion"), we haven't come up with a name that everyone seems to say .... "YES! That's it!".

Such a cute one, (Kathy S. again)... Used some fabrics from Marilyn and Margaret...scraps of Kathy's QOV quilts. Woman after my own heart. Never waste a thing!

"March to 1st Base"

 So cute!

Mary Ellen came in with her finished "Flutterbys" which is getting Blessed on Sunday. I 'll take a photo of it and post it in here later.

And Kathy got crazy making 77 Pocket Prayer quilts... I made 9 although I didn't photograph them. Enjoy...

Love this cat fabric!

It started when...

... I organized my sewing room after the holidays

Instead of putting away the strips I'd cut some leftover fabric into, I connected them end to end (all by color) and made a cute top. Added some borders and voila!

This is the lasagna quilt top I'd made, but it just wasn't big enough for comfort.

Added a black border (it was the wrong side of the fabric since the other side had lame on it)

Added borders here, but they seem wonky. I'll straighten them out later. Not sure why....

2014 Update in General

I thought I'd post an update of where we are with the quilts in stock and ones that recently left to find new homes.

The following are some of the ones sent to Quilts of Compassion in OH (to comfort midwest tornado victims)

Sail Away

Spinning Blocks

Cherries on Top

Spin out!

4-Patch Hopscotch

Pastel 4-patch baby

 How green Was my Valley

Then there are some that are in the works....this is just a few of them.

"Flutterbys"--Since it needs the borders straightened out, the creator took it home to straighten out.

Finished now. Vintage Purple Diamonds

 This is done and ready for someone to love. Perfect wheelchair sized.

American Log Cabin- another wheelchair sized

Lime I Spy HS quilt-lap quilt

Pinwheels in the Grass-baby

Purple HS Batik-lap quilt

Number the Animals-lap quilt

Framed Leaves-couch size

Green Mountain Majesties (recently taken to Harry Grey Cancer center for Shirl- a woman with ovarian cancer. She is being helped by another of our quilt recipients).

 These are in the process of getting finished....

This is another 'wonky border'. to be fixed....

Green D9P

"Cycling in VT" sent on it's way!

Finally got to send the finished quilt "Cycling in VT" on it's way....to MA.

This went to a woman (former nurse, and veteran) who has been dealing with ovarian cancer for a while, and thankfully, I've heard she just got some test results back that said 'negative'. We like to hear that, and hope that our thoughts while working on her quilt have helped that prognosis along. This was blessed after the holidays and sent out last week. Thank you Edith for the fabric and the request.

January event-- "Sandwich Stackers"

Last Friday, I spent the morning at church setting up everything for Sat's event!

We had three backings that needed to be sewed to expand them.Three of these quilts needed their backings split diagonally for them to fit the tops. (Actually, we ended up doing four)
Six quilt tops that needed backs, batting and binding. (Really didn't get these touched yet, but they are morked and that's half the battle).
Two quilt tops that need to have us evaluate.One, I'm not sure, but I don't think we'll get to it, so it doesn't matter. (Didn't get there yet)

Lots of batting and threads. I just have to remember to bring my sewing machine and 'ditty case'. (And it should be raining, so that may be fun!!-- got it in before the rain)

Everyone that is coming, please remember to bring your lunch. I have water and can make hot tea, but I haven't gotten dessert. (Maybe I'll find time to stop on the way to church).

See you there. (Anyone can stop by. We may put you to work, though, so watch out!! LOL)

Here is an update on the actual day....
Attendees:
Kathy S, Jane P, Margaret M, Marilyn L (stayed only a short time, but nice to have you there), Anna R, me, and a surprise visit from some "lerkers". Actually, former church members/friend and her two college age children (Cindy D and Emily and Lindsay). So nice to be able to put you to work!! LOL

One small quilt got backed and bound. This top was 'serged' by a friend of Jane's (Irene) and was donated to the group.Margaret did the ties and Jane pinned the binding. I sewed the binding at the mtg, but took it home to do the label.

Marilyn created this bright top and donated it. My favorite colors! It's always hard to let go of a 'beauty', but that's truely 'giving' if you can let it go.

One of our 'Blue Bellies" was laid out on it's backing (plaid), and was tied by the ladies. I machine-sewed between the blocks, then took it home to trim the batting and roll the back over to the front for it's binding. (Finished that so all it needs is a label).

 This little quilt that Anna and Margaret tied, was a collection of paper-pieced blocks (made by a lady in her 80's) that was given to one of our members. Kathy put it together, added some borders and fabrics and it's turned into a nice wheelchair-sized quilt! My plan is to machine-quilt to imitate the diamond in the middle block (purple), machine-stitch outside of the purple border, then roll the backing to make the binding. I think this one may get called "Vintage Purple Diamonds", since the fabrics were very vintage looking.

 Surprise!! Lindsay and Emily survey the "Pawlet Mountain Trails" quilt. Trying to decide how to quilt/tie this one.  Mom (Cindy) helping to figure where we can stitch to 're-create' the mountain effect on the quilt. By the time they were done (we stayed an extra hour), we had it 'chalked'.

 We even had time to catch up on family/life news, so those who vaguely remember when they belonged to our church.

 Girls were home from college and got to help, and then relax and visit. Thanks for stopping in and letting me put you to work! (Stop in anytime!!)