Saturday, December 31, 2016

Looking for a custom machine quilter


I made my goal!  Thanks to Vicki's UFO-busting encouragement, I finally completed this top that has been in work for more than 15 years - my goal was to get it pieced by the end of 2016.

Now I need to find a machine quilter to custom quilt it for me.  I'm looking for recommendations!  And also, if you know of anyone I should avoid please send me an e-mail with that information, too.  Thanks.

Happy New Year!

Saturday, December 24, 2016

Merry Christmas!

I've read this book to my children and my grandchildren every
Christmas Eve since 1975.
It's beautifully illustrated and who doesn't love the magic of a good Christmas story.
 
Peace and love to each of you.

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

10 Questions - Debbie Quitaquit

I've been remiss. I've had this interview done for over a month. Debbie is one of our newer members but has quickly become completely involved with us. She sews with us on Sewing Friday and Saturday almost every month and is going to be providing our meeting program in January.





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 moved to Hanover in March of 2015. I was born and raised in Big Stone Gap, Va and moved to Emporia in 1975, where I lived for the next 40 years .  My husband and I moved to Rockville to be closer to our children and grandchildren.  

2. When you were young what did you plan to be when you grew up and what happened with those plans?
I wanted to grow up to be famous like my ideal Gypsy Rose Lee.  At the time I was not sure what she did for a living but she had the coolest name I had ever heard! 

3. What are your favorite things to do in the area?
 I love the shops (quilt shops), restaurants, and visiting with the kids.  I love being closer to the local quilt shops so I can take classes, and run over if I need something for a project I'm working on!

4. Tell us a little about your family
 I am the youngest of 13 children, the "daughter of a coal miner", and my parents favorite(don't tell my sisters and brothers). I  moved to Emporia in 1975 to marry my husband and raise two children .  In the late 80's my husband gave me my first Valentine gift, an 18 year old daughter.  The other stepdaughter moved in with us that June growing our family to 4 children.  At that time we purchased a second house located in Midlothian, where I lived with the children for the next six years.  
This made my five to six trips to Richmond for my daughter’s gymnastics only a ten minute drive and gave the kids much better schools than were available in Emporia!
We moved back to Emporia after my gymnast graduated from high school, and lived there until last year. 
We now have six grandchildren and are looking forward to more, as my son has only been married since last December.

5. What hobbies or activities do you do other than quilting? Where do you do them? How did you get involved with.
I crochet, knit, and embroider.  I started embroidering in my teens, teaching myself from the instructions in books. I started cross stitching in the early '80s, making sure to buy two skeins of thread for each number in the pattern so I would not run out doing the pattern.  I still have some of the thread from the first project I started!  I learned to crochet when I was pregnant with my first child.  I have only been knitting for about five years, and still feel like I am a beginner!
 I would love to learn to tat and may need to take some online courses as I haven't found anyone who teaches tatting.

6. What’s your favorite vacation spot? Where do you want to go next?
I fell in love with the Dominican Republic when we went for my son’s wedding last year!   Would love to go to Scotland and visit the places that my ancestors are from.

7. What saying best describes how you like to live your life?
 At times my life is best described by "Life is a circus!”  Now that I live closer to my kids my life has calmed down a bit so I feel like my life is more "The circus has come to town (country)!”

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?
 I love Bargello quilts!  I have made three and have patterns for several more variations that I would like to try in future.  I think Bargellos appeal to me because of their simple construction but they give such a complex geometric design.




I have included a photo of one I still have so you can see what a Bargello quilt looks like.

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Julie's Punch Recipe


As requested, here's the recipe for the delicious punch that Julie served at the meeting.


CHILLED CHRISTMAS PUNCH

Yield:  3-3/4 quarts
Prep Time:  10 minutes
Cook Time:  5 minutes


2 cups water
3/4 cup granulated white sugar
1/2 teaspoon  ground cinnamon
One 46-ounce can pineapple juice, chilled
4 cups can-apple juice, chilled
1 liter ginger ale, chilled

In a saucepan, bring the water, sugar and cinnamon to a boil; stir until sugar is dissolved.  Chill

Just before serving, combine the syrup mixture, juice and ginger ale in a punch bowl or large pitcher.  Serve over ice.

Source:  RecipeGirl.com (via Taste of Home)


Hope you all enjoy and Have A Very Merry Christmas!!  

See you next year, 2017
Julie

Saturday, December 17, 2016

Quilts for Veterans on Display


Quilts made by Country School Quilt members to be given to

Veterans are on display at The Montpelier Center for Arts & Education.

Three quilts fill the wall in the library entrance.

 
These quilts will hang for 3 months and then be given to veterans
at the V.A. Hospital in Richmond.
 
 
 
 
 

Monday, December 5, 2016

FRIDAY & SATURDAY SEWING

REMINDER - We will be sewing together on Friday & Saturday, Dec. 9 & 10th.

We sew together EVERY month on the second Saturday/Friday of the month.

Bring your sewing project and lunch for sewing and visiting. Remember we have those nice big tables if you need to layout or baste a quilt.

If you can't stay all day, stop by for a visit!

🎄

Friday, December 2, 2016

December Meeting Information

There's lots to cover before our last meeting of the year!

December 13 is our annual holiday pot luck. This year Julie has a fun ornament exchange planned for us and, as always, we will be collecting food and donations for WHEAT. Don't forget show and tell! Representatives from Hanover Parks and Rec will join us for the meeting so please be sure to thank them for providing our perfect meeting space.

Here are all of the details:

Meeting: The meeting will start at 6:30 but you can arrive as early as 6 to start setting up. Bring your favorite dish to share (appetizer, main, side or dessert).

Ornament Exchange: Bring a handmade ornament for the ornament exchange. There are no rules. The ornament can be made of anything and in any way as long as it's handmade.

 WHEAT Food Drive: Each year we donate a car load full of food to WHEAT.  They operate a bi-monthly food pantry in coordination with several area churches. Everything they do is to help people in need in our own community. If you want to support WHEAT you can bring items from the following list or a donation check/cash to give to Cathy Williams at the meeting.

WHEAT Needs:


  • Cereal, oatmeal, pancake mix w/syrup, sugar free also needed
  • 1 lb bags of dried beans, rice or noodles. They can break down very large bags if you want to buy in bulk
  • Small jars of peanut butter and jelly
  • Spaghetti sauce
  • Canned soups or mixes
  • Canned meats: tuna, chicken, potted meat, sardines
  • Canned vegetables
  • Canned fruit, including low sugar and sugar free
  • Canned beans, any kind
  • Coffee and tea
  • One-dish meals - Brunswick stew, hamburger helper, etc
  • Boxes of mac and cheese
  • Pouches of dried milk
  • Hygiene products: soap, shampoo, toothbrushes, toothpaste, bandaids, razors, wash cloths, hand towels, combs, deodorant
  • MONEY to buy perishable foods
  • Gift cards to grocery stores
If you belong to another organization that wants to also have a food drive please talk to Cathy Williams at the meeting or get her number off of the membership list. She is the Open Pantry Coordinator.