Saturday, September 27, 2014

Orange County Quilt Show

The Orange County Quilt Show is next weekend if you are looking for something quilty to do.

Orange County Quilt Show
October 4, 10 - 5
October 5, 11 - 4
Prospect Heights Middle School
Admission: $5

Thursday, September 25, 2014

Two More Quilts for Veterans

Annie is our west coast CSQ member and a very active participant in giving quilts to our veterans. Annie mailed 2 quilts earlier this month and there was a delay in their arrival which had Annie and I both a bit nervous, especially when the tracking number showed no progress for nearly a week. She put in an inquiry at her post office in Vashon Island, WA, and the internal tracking by the USPS showed the box was in Maryland (for a week?).  Finally, it arrived and we were so relieved.

The sturdy box looked fine, except for this big hole which tells a story of something causing it to have been delayed. (Perhaps catching on something and falling off the conveyor belt?)

I opened the box and wasn't prepared to see all this gorgeousness!

Two beautiful quilts with RED MINKY on the backs and beautiful quilting.



Quilt #1 is the mystery quilt designed and offered by Vicki - directions can be found
on Vicki's blog. Annie enjoyed piecing this quilt as did many of us - very attractive quilt,
Annie - thanks again, Vicki, for such good directions.


Quilt #2 is another beauty! The center design is made with HST (Half Square Triangles). I'm sure Annie used "Triangulations" - as she's the one who introduced me to this fabulous software and she's a pro at making HST quilts. I should have taken a close-up but it was another cloudy day and the lighting wasn't that great. Wow - and look at her border!  Perhaps Annie can leave a comment telling us more about this quilt pattern. 

Here are pictures of the quilt backs - even though the colors are not correct. 
They are both RED, not that rosy pink color. Just look at the quilting and think Minky softness.
 
 
We are all so grateful for our cyber friendships.
Thank you, Annie!!!


Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Veteran's Quilt

At the last meeting we discussed the veterans quilts and, I believe, we have found the perfect home for our quilts. We have been asked to adopt an outpatient unit at McGuire. They have many dialysis and chemo patients that do not get the attention of the admitted patients. These patients also get cold during their treatments. The hospital will label the quilts and keep them at the hospital for them to use on every visit. When their treatments are done the patients will get to take the quilts home with them.

We can deliver the quilts at any time and the hospital will take care of distributing them to the patients. We can deliver multiple times a year so that we do not have to store all of the quilts for a year.

To prepare for the first delivery we would like to have all of the completed and labeled quilts brought to the October meeting. We should have 30 or more quilts ready already just based on the ones that I've quilted. What a prolific group!

For inspiration here are more of the ones that I quilted in the last month. These are all out for binding.









Carol's Lemon Flavored Yellow Summer Squash Bread Recipe

Carol treated us to a wonderful bread at the last meeting. Several people asked begged for the recipe and Carol has obliged!

Time to get to the kitchen....


Get the recipe at Creative Culinary.

Saturday, September 13, 2014

Sewing on Friday and Saturday

Lots of activity on Friday and Saturday - the pictures say it all starting with this (3/4") hexagon.
 

Nancy was busy cutting pieces for her hexagon quilt. She's making "Handful of Scraps" a new Block of the Month by Edyta Sitar. Julie's making it, too - it will be fun to watch their progress.

 

Betsy was finishing up piecing on the above quilts. The one at the top needs one more row and then it will go to the quilter's to be finished for Betsy's daughter Julia.

Vicki came by for a short visit and gave Betsy her veteran quilt - it's ready for a binding. Sorry there is a clock poking out of the top corner of the picture!


Betsy is making "Peace & Unity" - a block of the month quilt.
 
Estelle was busy binding veteran quilts.
 

Estelle finished the binding on this quilt for a veteran.
This is the second quilt she's completed from these donated triangles/squares.
 
Dot brought her knitting - her she's working on a scarf.
She has made dozens of hats and mittens ready to donate through her church for those in need.

Helen made use of the large tables to cut out fleece dresses for a little girl.
 
Julie pin basted a veteran quilt and asked for opinions about thread color
for machine quilting. I believe we all agreed about orange!
 
Julie added the finishing touch to this veteran quilt (notice the fish lure fabric) with a decorative binding stitch. She used the perfect multi-color thread and decorative stitch (see below)
 
Just back from "A Needle Runs Through it" - Julie's beautiful kingsize quilt with wool batting.
This binding will take some time, especially if she does a fancy stitch on it.
 
Terri and Carole were busy basting quilts (see below) - top one for Alex (name at top)
The center one is Terri's (yea, she made it for herself)
The bottom quilt is a veteran quilt made from Bingo blocks.


 
 
What a surprise when Terri pulled this string of pieces out of her box. 
Terri loves tiny little pieces!
A box full of little scraps turns into these little beauties!

 
 Our next sewing day is Tuesday, Sept. 23 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Sewing days are a good time to visit and get to know each other and share ideas, etc.
You can bring your lunch, or go to nearby Subway or Domino's.
It's a great way to spend the day!