2018 Preview - Programs & Challenges

December's Potluck and the many gifts that Julie lined up for us certainly gave us a first crack at the holiday season's many blessings! Thanks to all for great food and drink, and the merry laughter that accompanied the go-round of some of the gifts..... 

On January 9th, Debbie Quitiquit will show us a "Folding Log Cabin" technique. Anyone else that has a related log cabin technique or interest, please let me know, and maybe this could be the start of a log cabin 2018?! (I know I have always wanted to do a Georgia Bonesteel Log Cabin Spin from her 1995 Easy Does It Quilts.) For those participating in the Postcard Challenge, please bring your postcards that you should have received through the mail for show & tell! 

For January & February, we will have a new challenge: "Embellish the Fabric". In order to participate, use any fabric - commercial or hand-dyed and make the fabric your own by overdying, painting, stripping, embroidering, beading, couching, doing collage, etc etc. Whatever you can think of will have us all enthralled. Sign up at the the January meeting, or call or email me if you want to join us in this new challenge. Quilt & finish the piece by March (no size constraints, but hopefully, a wall quilt, not a bed quilt, for this one.)

CSQ’s February 13th program will be QUILT BINGO, complete with prizes. Each player will register by bringing a block for a new veteran’s quilt. In keeping with our Red/White/Blue fabric theme, make a simple square in a box. The variety of sizes of the square in the center will make this a fun quilt to assemble, and if you can make more than 1 block, go for it….we will have some extra cards to play with! The basic construction is to add strips to a square so that the finished block measures 10”. To get some ideas for how different the block can look, check the November Block of the Month 2016 (Note: that was a 9" block).

If you feel like it, bring buttons to mark your BINGO card; we will also have candy markers if you can keep from munching on them! 

March 13th, Becky Brown has agreed to show us some of her hand applique techniques! Given her mastery of the art, we will all want to be there, I am sure. Several of us indicated an interest in learning about techniques for hand applique, and Becky will most likely have some wonderful tips to make all of us more successful at using this in our quilting.

Hope you enjoy this preview of the fun coming our way. In the meantime, enjoy your family and friends, and have safe travels. See ya next year!! 

WHEAT Food Drive for the December Meeting

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 and serve about 80 families each month. 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 Tuesday.

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.

4th Tuesday sewing?

Anyone planning on getting some sewing done at Montpelier
Parks & Recreation? Please respond, so that we can determine
if we have enough interest to help those at a greater distance
to make the trip.... Thanks

Postcard and Pillowcase Tutorials

What a great meeting Tuesday! I loved seeing how everyone responded to the paint chip challenge but now it's time to move onto the postcard challenge. For anyone who wants to make postcards but needs a little help here are some tutorial links:

Here's a card that I made a couple of weeks ago with scrap fabrics.

This one is a good basic link:
http://www.patchworkposse.com/lets-talkfabric-postcard-tutorial/

On my blog I have tutorials for several different postcard designs:
https://www.colorwaysbyvicki.com/postcard-tutorials.html

Jessi makes hers with glue stick instead of fusible web:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHytcmxfxzA

This site has a ton of postcard tutorials:
https://www.4over4.com/blog/7492/make-easy-fabric-postcards-free-tutorials/

Need ideas?
Just Google "fabric postcards" or search on Pinterest. You will find hundreds!

Pillowcases! People LOVE getting custom pillowcases for gifts. Karen gave us a great demo on how to make pillowcases. If you need a little refresher here's a tutorial that I posted a while ago on how I make them. Mine aren't finished with a French seam on the inside but I think the rest of the steps are the same.
https://www.colorwaysbyvicki.com/pillowcase-tutorial.html

(From Vicki)

Program & Calendar Update. What an evening!

So, as the days are darker, I look for every which way to find "light"! Last night, Hanover Parks & Rec center was THE PLACE, as participants in the CSQ paint chip challenge shared their ups and downs with the challenge and showed their results. There were some audible "aha" moments from the group, and I just wanted to share a big THANKS to all. (I do hope I will be able to find a way to get the pictures to Margaret to load to our FLKR site; that's going to be my technical challenge.) Now, we will look forward to the Postcard Challenge, and it's not too late to join. Go ahead and start your postcards now, and we will draw from the hat for a buddy's address. Postcards should be in the mail for buddies to receive before our January 8th meeting. (If anyone needs 4" x 6" Timtex, let me know.)

Also, a big thank you to Karen Arbaugh for showing us some easy but subtle pointers to make pillowcases! Jennifer Raymond, you expressed exactly how I felt when you gleefully unrolled Karen's pillow!!

For those, who can make it, Tuesday, November 28th, is another day we can use our space. For people who are unable to join us for evening meetings, this is really a great way to visit and get our projects worked on. Please consider putting this on your calendar.

Meanwhile, for December, we will have our Holiday Potluck Dec. 12th, and will meet at 6:30 pm rather than our usual time. Make a note to self about the time; make a dish to feed us; and come prepared with any show and tell in addition to having the opportunity to visit with quilting friends.

Enjoy Thanksgiving with your families and friends. I know I am so grateful to be in this generous group of artists and caring quilters.

Regards,
Marcy George

4th Tuesday in Nov.- sewing day

Quick reminder: Country School Quilters has another sewing day in our meeting space. For those who are available, meet us on Tuesday, 11/28. Let’s get those quick or almost-done projects checked off our to-do lists, and have a few laughs (and groans) together! Hope to see y’all 11/14 and 11/28!

Binding

6 more veteran quilts have been machine quilted and are ready for bindings. Hope you can come to the meeting Nov 14 and claim your quilt to do the binding, or be a volunteer to bind one of these quilts!

 

Happy Veteran's Day!

 

 

Holiday shopping to benefit WHEAT

Vicki here.

I try not to be too in-your-face with my business so if you ever want to know what's going on in the fabric dyeing business you have to either follow me on Facebook, sign up for the weekly newsletter or follow the blog. But today I'm breaking my rule because this post has nothing to do with fabric.

It's about glass.

Some of you know that I also have a little glass hobby. I sell some of the pieces simply because I don't need them and it puts a little dent in the cost of electricity, the kiln and supplies. I also seem to have a lot of friends who drink a lot for the sole purpose of giving me bags of empty bottles. Since the weather cooled I have been slumping some of those bottles.

I'm telling you about them today because I just listed a lot of them and you can get 10% off with the coupon code GLASS10. But the best part is that I am donating $5 of ever sale to WHEAT. I'm looking forward to giving Kathy a check for WHEAT at the December meeting. That check is already over $125! 

These bottle trays make great gifts and if any CSQ members order them I'll refund the shipping and bring the bottles to you at the November meeting. 

Shop for them here: https://www.colorwaysbyvicki.com/store/c5/Bottles.html

Just put a note on your order that you want the bottles brought to the meeting and I'll immediately refund the shipping.

Now back to our regularly scheduled programming.

Challenge & Program updates

Hoping that all who decided to try our "Paint Chip" Challenge are having a good time with it. If you did choose to participate, PLEASE bring your challenge to our November meeting. Part of our program will be for us to talk about where we got to, what worked, what didn't. As for our Nov/Dec challenge, it's a "Postcard" Challenge with only 2 requirements: (1)Make a postcard during November & December & (2)Mail a postcard to another participant in the challenge in time for our January meeting, 1/8/18! [We will collect all participants' names and addresses in November (and maybe, December, too, for those that can't be there in November), so that they can be drawn out of a hat.] For those who didn't get a Timtex piece when Estelle and Vicki presented recently, I will bring some, if you are interested.
In other program news, I have offered to work on Programs, and Julie is kindly helping to get me on course with how we do it here. She & I have discussed a couple of ideas, but we need everyone's help, so plan to bring a MINIMUM of 1 idea for a program you would like us to try. We'll have cards and pens to let you write them down and submit them during our meeting so that we can get 2018 off to a good start.
Hope to see everyone soon. Our sewing days precede our meeting this month, so we can certainly discuss any of these ideas there, too. 11/10 & 11/11 are our Fri/Sat sewing days, and our meeting is 11/14.
Regards & Happy Quilting,
Marcy George

Veteran's Quilt

It's always fun when the maillady delivers a package - this one from Annie.

Annie is our west coast CSQ member and a constant contributor to our Veteran's Quilt Project.  Thank you Annie, for another quilt top.

For this quilt she used the directions shared here.

I don't think you can beat this design for a simple 2-color quilt. It has a very comforting look to it. Annie sent binding made from the dark green fabric - a perfect finish for it.  Sorry my picture doesn't do it justice.

Thank you, Annie!

 

Veteran quilt - 42" x 59" by Annie

Veterans quilt update

I (Vicki) have a few veterans quilts quilted and ready to return at the meeting. Two of them are below and I also have one of Peg's sampler quilts and a light blue/white Hunter's Star.

I will not be at the Tuesday meeting so please do not bring any tops for quilting. Save them until November or bring them to Friday/Saturday sewing.  I have at least 10 more to keep me busy for now anyway!

October Meeting

You won't want to miss the Silent Auction Meeting on October 10, 7 p.m. This is a nice chance to donate something and let someone else take it home. Each item will have a piece of paper near it for you to write your bid and your name - don't hesitate bidding up on an item because all the money goes into our treasury for purchasing supplies for our Veteran Quilt Project  (batting and backing fabric).

Here's a peek into my trunk of donations given by Marcy & Vicki:

 

We aren't limited to fabric and books -

 

Look what came out of Vicki's kiln and into our auction!

 

We will start setting up the tables with the items at 6:30.

Can't wait to see what everyone has to donate this year!

🎕 

Easy 9-patch Quilt

I recently made 2 quilts inspired by this quilt made by my grandmother in the 1950's.





This has long been one of my favorite family quilts, maybe because I was with my grandmother when she bought these two fabrics at the Ben Franklin dime store in Frankfort, Kansas. I was just tall enough to see over the wooden counter as the fabric was pulled from the bolt and measured. This is the only quilt she made that wasn't sewn from her collection of fabric pieces, which included cut-a-ways from a local apron factory. She used a heavy flannel sheet instead of a cotton batting and the backing fabric is the same solid blue as the front. Originally, the blue fabric on the back was turned to the front for the binding, but a dog chewed one side of the quilt and I repaired it by cutting off the damaged row and rebinding the quilt. The quilt now measures 54" x 80". My mother gave the quilt to me in the late 1970's.

I can't help but favor this block where the bird is fussy cut; never something my grandmother would have done intentionally - she was all about doing things efficiently and quickly. 

 

This versatile simple pattern is great for scraps as well as 2-color quilts. I used plaids to make a veteran's quilt. I cut the quilt out to bring to August Friday & Saturday Sewing, made a test block, and then another, and somehow it was finished before our sewing days!

Then I made another 2-fabric quilt, and used blue for the binding.

So today I have cut out another quilt for a veteran and I will sew it on October 13 & 14, and not let myself finish it before then, but it's always a good idea to make one test block.

 

I updated my grandmother's quilt to make it fast and easy to cut and sew. (cut multiple layers at a time)

 

You will need 1-1/2 yards of two fabrics (allow extra for the binding)

 

Cut 18 squares of each fabric:  6-1/2" x 6-1/2" (1 won't be used)

Cut 13 strips of each fabric:  2" x width of fabric

 

Sew light and dark strips together to make strip-sets.

From the strip-sets cut:

58 rectangles 6-1/2" x 3-1/2"

Make 24 4-patches, 3-1/2" x 3-1/2"

 

Piece it in rows, then join rows together. See below.

 

Finished size is 42" x 60"

 

The End

🙨🙨🙨🙨🙨🙨🙨

Happy Sewing

 

Quilts at The Montpelier Center

The entry hallway at The Montpelier Center for Arts & Education has an area where we display two veteran's quilts. 

Earlier this summer we hung these two quilts where the Marine quilt received lots of attention and compliments.

 

We changed the quilts today and now the hallway looks like this:

The frame hanging between the quilts tells about our group and our on-going project making quilts especially for our veterans.

 

Thanks everyone - keep the quilts coming!

 

💕💕

Friday & Saturday Sewing

Please come join us for sewing on Friday & Saturday (Sept. 8 & 9).  Bring your sewing and your lunch, or just stop by to say hello!

Horn Sewing Cabinet for sale

A local quilter contacted me today. She's selling this Horn sewing cabinet for $200 OBO. She says it will take a couple of strong people to move it. If anyone is interested you can contact Laura at swellwright at gmail dot com

Quilt Club Challenge Update

With excitement building, I am asking all participants in our "Alpha-Character" Challenge to bring your projects in for our September meeting. Whatever stage you are in - completed or not - the program will allow us to discuss the creative process the challenge provided each of us.

Next challenges:
Sept/Oct: "Paint Chip" challenge. With lots of colors to choose from, and multiple options, there's no excuse not to join in the fun. If you can't attend the Sept meeting, just let Marcy know with a quick call or email. We hope more of our members can consider joining in for this one.

Nov/Dec: "Postcard" challenge. Put what we learned from Vicki & Estelle (so many GREAT ideas!) to good use, and send/receive a winter greeting to/from a fellow member. Be sure to include your up-to-date postal address when you put your name in the hat as a participant!

Thanks to all our participants!
Marcy George

Our photos

Did you know that we have a gallery of our Show and Tell photos from each meeting? Thanks to Margaret Griffiths we have a wonderful record of our show and tell projects!

All of the photos are on Flickr and the link is always on the sidebar of this page. There's an album for each meeting. She recently also set up a separate album for our veterans quilts so if you are looking for ideas for a new veterans quilt this is a great place to start! Both links are on the sidebar of this blog.

I hate to post without a photo so here are 3 quilts that I quilted this week. I'll bring them to the August meeting.

QUILT CHALLENGE

Marcy's idea of starting a Challenge Group is an opportunity to try something new - a new technique or a way of doing something out of your norm. There are NO RULES, you can make anything you like, any size you like. We welcome others to join in at any time. We hope to have our Alphabet Character Challenges completed by our September Show & Tell. At that time a new challenge will be issued.

While my sister-in-law, Heidi, was here last month I was telling her about our Challenge Project (I think she's already a follower of our blog). Heidi's a recently retired middle school art teacher and she has joined our challenge. I took her to the Montpelier Center to see the art display and we went next door for her to draw from the hat. She drew the letter O and it didn't take her long to decide what to do.

We played in my sewing room one day - showing her my applique method of using freezer paper, starch and glue to create. What a joy it was when she sent me the picture of her drawing along with all her freezer paper templates.  Heidi said "I  traced my drawing onto plastic using a marker school teachers use for smart/white boards so it will wipe off with water or a magic eraser sponge. Then I traced the pieces backwards onto freezer paper with pencil. Just wanted to show you the owl! Patterns are in a ziploc, wings are too big. I'll use a plastic box."

 

Heidi's Owl with Fox drawing

 

Pictures of our first Challenge Quilts are Here on our Flickr Site as the first 4 pictures in our May Show & Tell. Thank you, Margaret for adding pictures every month of our Show & Tell.  She also created an album for our Veteran Quilts. 

 

See the "Our Links" in the right column of our Blog - then click on Our Flickr Site for a great little quilt show! 

 

July meeting notes

This weekend is our monthly sew-in so come on by aand sew with us! If you have any finished veteran's quilts we would love to get them this weekend so we can switch out the display quilts in the Montpelier Center.

The meeting this month is our annual pot luck dinner. Bring your favorite dish to share along with your show and tell.
The meeting starts at 6:30.

July 7 & 8

Our Friday & Saturday sewing days come early in the month of July so be sure to mark your calendars now and plan to sew, sew, sew and do some visiting, too. JULY 7 & 8 - as sometimes happens our sewing days come before our meeting. 

ALSO: Hanover County has updated our sewing building, with wfii and has mounted a large tv on the wall for use in presenting programs.

  ★★★★★★Happy Independence Day!★★★★★★

Thanks to everyone for contributing blocks. Collectively, the houses, barns, churches, etc., represent our community! It will be quilted soon and given to W.H.E.A.T. as a raffle quilt.

June meeting notes

Hopefully the third time is the charm for our program this month! Julie and Debbie Quitaquit have schedule Debbie's Quick Curve Ruler program twice so far. Unless it snows, we will finally get to enjoy it this month.

If you are participating in the batik block exchange don't forget to bring your fabric. I don't know what the penalty is if you forget but it should probably involve chocolate.

Other notes:

Friday and Saturday Sewing is this weekend! Come join us to sit and sew all day Friday and Saturday at our usual meeting place. We have cutting mats, irons, extension cords and a fridge and microwave. Stay an hour or all weekend.

Virginia Quilt Museum: The next time CSQ volunteers at the VA Quilt Museum is July 29th.  Would be great if 4 members could volunteer.  There is an Artist Reception for Phase II exhibit that day. Also the farmer's market behind the museum should have lots of just picked produce.  

A sign up sheet will be passed around at June meeting.  Check your calendar, and help support the museum by volunteering.

Veteran's Quilts: The photo above is of 4 veterans quilts that I (Vicki) got quilted this month. At the meeting I'll be hitting you up for money to buy more batting and backing soon.

House Blocks

Thanks to everyone for making such adorable blocks representing our community.

The last of the blocks were given to me over the weekend and now I will begin assembling the 49 blocks, sashing and borders. This has truly been a group project and I appreciate so much participation and a special thanks to those of you who made multiple blocks. 

Here are the final blocks:

 

I plan to bring the quilt top to the June meeting where we can decide how to have it quilted. Until next time. . .

 

Happy Sewing, Becky

 

 

 

 

House Blocks

More blocks . . .

 

To be continued. . .

House Quilt - more blocks

More cute house blocks. . .

 

To be continued. . .