Sewing day

Don't forget, Tues. April 22 is Sewing day, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at our regular meeting place.

Bring a project, come anytime, stay as long as you want.

The infamous fish quilt at the library

At the last meeting Estelle told us about the fish quilt hanging in the Ashland Library. She stopped by to get this photo so we can all see how perfect it is for their space.

For new members, here's the back story:

MANY years ago (about 12 - 14) we had a series of programs on methods of applique. It was coordinated by then-member Joyce Hartley (owner of Quilting Adventures). We had 3 programs to learn 3 different hand applique methods. We were give some background pieces and fish applique shapes so we could practice on our own. I don't remember the other 2 teachers for sure but I think Dot Holloway was one of them. We turned in the blocks and someone pieced this top.

I (Vicki) had just gotten the very first Handiquilter frame and volunteered to quilt it. I actually quilted about a third of it and hated it. I took out all of the stitching and realized that I was overwhelmed by the project. I felt it needed custom quilting and I wasn't capable of doing it.

So it sat. For years.

Every time someone asked about it (which wasn't very often) I volunteered to give them the quilt to quilt but now one would take me up on it.

Finally last summer I decided to put it on the frame and finish it. I quilted the devil out of it and had fun doing it. I wrote about it and have several photos of the quilting here. What a relief it was to have that one done! Becky put on the binding and Estelle added the sleeve and found it's ultimate home in the library. We hear that the library staff is thrilled to have it. You can see from the colors on the room that it's a perfect fit.

2014 Veteran's Quilts, 5 & 6

In the meeting last week we had a guest from the Ashland Nursing and Rehabilitation Center (ANRC). Karen had met Bonnie Sikes, the administrator, several months ago and they were interested in seeing if we would "adopt" the veterans in their center for our veteran's quilt project. One of the staff members came to our meeting last week to tell us about their veterans.

ANRC has veterans referred to them from McGuire Medical Center where we have been donating our quilts. ANRC has 15 beds earmarked for veterans. About half of their patients are long-term and half are there for an average of 45 days for rehab. She estimated that they may have a total of 50 veterans each year. Coincidentally that's about how many quilts we make in a year!

ANRC also invited us to visit the veterans any time. Many of them have no family or visitors.

After discussion we voted and unanimously decided to switch our support to ANRC. There are several benefits to doing this including focusing our efforts in our local community. We would also be able to deliver quilts throughout the year. At McGuire we are only allowed to deliver once a year near Christmas and there were some issues with the process last year. Moving our support to ANRC seems to solve any problems that we had.

We will also have more flexibility on size. We can make quilts as small as 48 x 48 and probably as large as 50ish x 65ish.

At the next meeting we will discuss how we want to schedule and do our deliveries.

Meanwhile here are 2 more quilts quilted for the cause. As you are planning other quilts please keep in mind that the optimal sizes for me to quilt for you are no larger than 50" wide and no longer than 65". If you make something larger than that I can give you backing and batting for your quilt.

This one was made by Carol.

This one was made from monthly block drive blocks.

In case you are wondering how I pick which quilts to quilt, it's simple. I use wide backing fabric and can quilt 2 quilts on one backing. In this specific case the block drive quilt was larger than normal so it had to be paired up with a quilt that was smaller than normal. After I pair them I quilt whichever quilts go with the backings I have at hand. Simple.

Prayer Flags due in one week!

Just a friendly reminder that the prayer flags for our 2 projects are due to Vicki in one week. Make as many as you want - the more the better! They can be very simple or heavily embellished. Have fun with them. If you have any questions just post a comment here.

9-Patch Star Blocks

Our March CSQ block of the month was a 9-patch star. Thanks to everyone for making blocks and bringing them to our meeting last Tuesday. We had enough blocks to make TWO quilts!  Vicki has kindly offered to quilt them and they will be added to the quilts made for veterans. 

 

 

Award Ceremony

CSQ has been nominated for Hanover's 2014  Spirit of Volunteerism Awards in the Spirit of Team category.
As a nominee our members and their families are invited to attend the award ceremony as special guests.
The event is May 6, at Hanover High School located at 10307 Chamberlayne Rd. (301) in Mechanicsville.  We must arrive between 6:30 and 6:45 p.m.
This event is hosted by the Hanover Board of Supervisors and Hanover Dept. of Community Resources, will include musical entertainment & refreshments catered by Hanover public schools and Culinary Art students from Hanover Center for Trades and Technology.
It is quite an honor to be nominated so I good turn-out of our members would be wonderful
Please call or e-mail me (Karen) by Thurs. 4/10 by 9 p.m.  The names of members & number of guests must be turned in by Friday 4/11.
If you did not sign up Tues. night please do so today.
Thanks

















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Prayer Flag resources

Our program Tuesday night was about 2 projects:

The first was to make coasters to give out at our blood drive in May. The coaster can be bade using any technique but should have a heart theme. Bring them to the May meeting to give to Carolyn Mills.

Here are some coaster tutorials. Several will lend themselves well to heart themes.

The second project is prayer flags for 2 of our members. These are due to Vicki by April 22. Vicki will assemble them and deliver them. Here are some links for inspiration:

Pinterest ideas
The Prayer Flag Project

To make our flags cut the base fabric about 9" long and 5 - 7" wide......more or less. The top edge will be folded down 1 inch when I sew it to the twill tape for hanging. Don't stitch in a sleeve. You can mail them to me or drop them by the house. Leave a comment here if you need Vicki's address or more info about the themes of the projects. I'll send you an email with the information.

I've got 36 yards of twill tape for 2 prayer flag banners, let's fill them up!

2014 Veteran's quilts, #3 & 4

I got 2 more quilts quilted this week for our veteran's quilt project.

This one is made from blocks that we made sometime last year. This quilt needs a volunteer to bind it.

I don't remember who made this quilt but you will be able to pick it up at the meeting tonight or this weekend at Friday and Saturday sewing.

Veteran's quilt batting and backing

A few people have mentioned needing batting or backing recently. Of course, I've forgotten who and what! If you need me (Vicki) to bring batting or backing to the meeting Tuesday please either call me or email me and let me know what you need.

Here are 2 quilts I've quilted since Willie came home.

Estelle made this one.

Carol made this one.

Lots more to go!

10 Questions - Karen Arbaugh

Is there anyone in our group with more energy than Karen Arbaugh? I'm convinced that half of our member some each month just to see how may quilts Karen has made in the previous month. Without a doubt, she is the most prolific and generous quilter among us.

Let's learn more about her...

1. If you live in Hanover (or the area), how many generations of your family have lived here and how did they come to settle here? If you moved here, where are you from and what brought you here?

 I was born in Wilmington, Delaware, we moved to Amelia,Va. due to my father's job when I was 1 yr. old, moved to Hanover when I was 9 yrs. old. I have lived in Hanover ever since except for a year in Henrico Co. when I was first married.

2. When you were young what did you plan to be when you grew up and what happened with those plans?

    

My desire was always to be a wife, homemaker, mother, teacher. I feel blessed to have been able to realize those dreams.  While my children were in school I was a substitute teacher, later I taught quilting in a variety of places.

3. What are your favorite things to do in the area?

Go to antique malls & shops to see old quilts, go to quilt shows, enjoy the mountains and ocean

4. What’s your favorite meal?

    

 Most any meal shared with friends or family. and trying new dishes.

5. What hobbies or activities do you do other than quilting? Where do you do them? How did you get involved with.

Knitting & reading.  I read on a daily basis and can read for hours if I'm not careful.  I've done some form of needlework since sewing my first pincushion at age 5, but they all fell by the wayside when I started quilting, except for knitting.

    

6. What’s your favorite vacation spot? Where do you want to go next?

 My last vacation was 8 yrs. ago and  have no plans for a vacation but if I did it would be ocean or mountains.

7. What saying best describes how you like to live your life?

Co.3:23 do whatever you do heartily as to the Lord  and Matt.7:12 do to others as you want them to do to you.

8. Show us a photo (or photos) of where you create.

9. Show us a photo of the quilt that’s on your bed right now.

10. What is your all time favorite quilt and why? Do you have a photo

Every quilt is a favorite while I'm making it; I love the process.  But one I have especially enjoyed is a Princess Feather I made many years ago.  It was the first quilt I designed (though certainly not original) after seeing a photo in a museum catalog. I taped together newsprint to get the size I needed then kept sketching (I am NO artist by any means) until it looked pleasing to me, then cut out all the pieces and needle-turn appliqued them, then hand quilted in 1 inch cross hatching with echo quilting around the swag border.  I still remember the sense of accomplishment that quilt provided.