Strip Twist Class on January 21st

Those reading this may not want to know this, but about 17 of us from the Crocus Quilt Guild did more stripping than twisting today! Eventually we will end up with gorgeous, scrappy quilts like the one shown above, but for now we have parts completed.

Our able instructors ... Jill...

... and Colleen ...

... explained the process and showed samples and then we grabbed the fabrics, revved the machines, and got right to it.

It wasn't long before blocks were emerging.

Yes, we could have got a little more done if we hadn't stopped to visit and laugh and confer, but who wants to miss those social aspects of a class together??

From time to time we did listen intently to instructions.

Lynne is creating a strip twist with just two fabrics and she spent time considering her layout options.

Here you see Eileen making sure she has a precise 8.5".

Some of us who wanted truly scrappy quilts, heaped our 2.5" strips together on a table and then we all dug in.

Lydia chose to use up some of stash.

Charlene got some of her blocks together and although you can't see the rest of us in this photo, we were "oohing" and "aahing" when she held this portion up.

Thanks for a terrific day, ladies. Shall we lay wagers on how many of these get done for our April quilt show?

January 3rd Guild Meeting

We don't appreciate our hard-working executive enough. Treasurer Colleen Roy couldn't make it to the meeting, but here is a photo of secretary Kathy Williams and president Gloria Scaddan. Thanks for all you do.

Before I show you the show-and-tell, let me tell you about some exciting events that are upcoming for the guild. Jill and Colleen S. are hosting a scrappy Strip Twist class in the Junior High home ec room on January 21st starting at 9 a.m. You can contact them to sign up and to get the details.

Jaynie told about a class she will be running on Saturday, February 11 at 9 a.m. in the Junior High home ec room. It will be a class where attendees learn and practise various thread techniques. You can contact Jaynie to sign up and to get more details.

Jaynie showed samples where she had used various techniques on postcards and artist trading cards. The inexpert photographer set up the shot and has one of the cards upside down. Can you spot which one it is?

The third exciting announcement was that the second Crocus Quilt Guild Retreat ("Dam Good Stitchin' 2012") has been booked for September 14th to 16th. There's a handout with lots of information which you can get from Colleen S. or Bonnie or you can pick up the sheet at the next guild meeting which is February 7th. Cost will be around $100.

And now let's move on to show-and-tell!

Michele made a vibrant quilt out of charm packs and some coordinating fabrics from her stash. Beautiful!

Debbie, one of our new members, showed an exquisite quilt using vintage doilies, embroidery, and other needlework. I wish I could show you every block in detail so you could pick your favorite block. That's what I was trying to do as the quilt was displayed.

Not only did the quilt feature this neat idea, but it was carefully hand quilted. Debbie, thanks for sharing.

Colleen S. showed the following quilt and explained how she had machine quilted it in three pieces with the entire backing attached, but the front added as she went. It sounds like a great idea. The idea came from a book that Jan had lent her.

Jaynie has done a challenge piece for the Quilt Canada show which will be held in Halifax in early June. Lucky Jaynie going to attend the event.

Marlene showed us two creations which didn't get finished for Christmas 2011. How lucky is she ... she has a jumpstart on Christmas 2012!

Vera showed a piece she created which has beautiful echo quilting.

Adeline created a table topper which we could easily picture in pride of place as she told us it would be on a table which is partnered with chairs that have lime coverings. I should have taken a closeup of her binding stitch. She used decorative stitches and variegated thread which completely the topper professionally.

Donna, another new member (Welcome, Donna!) made this sweet, cosy quilt. She was given the advice to use 1/2 inch seams when using minky. I didn't know that ... I think a lot of us welcomed that advice and will adjust how we sew with minky from now on. If you are like me, you totally love stripes and polka dots together.

Kathy showed a quilt that originated in a class by Chi Chi which a number of guild members had taken some time ago. It's beautiful with the floral chain.

When Kathy makes a quilt, we expect to find flawless hand quilting. Did she disappoint us? No, she did not! Well done, Kathy.

Our quilt show on April 21 and 22 will come quickly. I hope all of this meeting's show-and-tell will reappear there and that all of us are sewing, sewing, sewing so that this, our fourth show, will surpass the shows we're had before. Happy quilting, everyone!

Odds & Ends on December 29th

Did any of you find quilty gifts under your Christmas tree? My dear sister, who doesn't sew a stitch, gave me all these red/white/black fabrics. I love them all. I've been browsing magazines, books, and the internet to figure out what I want to do with them. Any suggestions?I forgot to mention a few things from our Christmas party and I missed showing you a few photos too. First of all, Kathy announced that Christa Millions of Weyburn (now Christa Kurtz of Estevan!) won the beautiful quilt which the Khedive Quilters created. I saw Christa before she got the quilt, but she was extremely pleased to be the winner. Congratulations, Christa!

While we were having fun at the Christmas party, Jan and Elaine were in Regina as they had tickets to Stuart McLean. Since they had made their stockings, they decided to exchange with each other. Here they are with their stockings.

I missed showing you a few photos from the guild Christmas party. I guess I wasn't waiting long enough for the photos to download. You'll forgive me for that if I show them to you now, won't you? First of all, there is this very pretty one of Leona playing the sock game.

Then I mentioned Barb H's quilt in the blog, but the photo was missing. Now you get to see her great quilt.

You also need to see the quilted UFO that Jaynie got back from her online exchange. Wow!

And, finally, here is a close-up of the little quilt I made for Jesus. He was cozy and warm for the rest of the holiday season.

Our next guild meeting is on January 3rd and I hope to see you there. Our program says I will do a demo with wool, but I know that's wrong as I haven't had a chance to do much work with wool. My good intentions in the summer didn't turn into a good lesson for January. You'll just have to turn up for the meeting to see who will do a demo and what it will be about.

And don't forget that quilting at the library resumes on Monday, January 9th. It's always interesting and fun so come on out.

A Very Merry Quilt Guild Christmas Party

Our guild Christmas party started with a delicious catered meal. No party happens without careful planning and for that we can thank our chair Gloria, and Bonnie whom I saw working right alongside her.

Shelley and Verla, the entertainment committee, made sure there was fun and games. Thanks, ladies!

That sock game had Donna W. in stitches. (Now there's a good sewing pun!)

And then the show-and-tell began. Colleen S. delighted us with her hilarious story of buying a UFO package ... like she doesn't have enough of her own???? ... and then getting the last laugh by creating not one, not two, not three, but FOUR projects from it. Well done, Colleen.

I showed the two square inch quilt I made for baby Jesus who had been shivering in my Nativity for years. 21 pieces in 2 square inches! Yes, I am proud of that.

Jill finished the binding on this quilt just in time to show us. In January she and Colleen S. will be leading a class featuring this scrappy pattern.

Jill was clever to use leftover squares on the back of the quilt.

Marion showed three memory quilts made of tee shirts and photos. We know these quilts will give comfort and warmth to the bereaved recipients this Christmas.

Bonnie displayed this lovely underground railway quilt.

We got to see some of the handiwork that she has accomplished on the new machine that she, Jill, Lynne, and Colleen S. share.

Here's another project that Bonnie completed.

She also completed this table topper using a pattern from Lydia. They both say it's easier than it looks!

It may be easier than it looks, but Joyce showed her unfinished one and said it wouldn't be done for Christmas. Joyce looks a little perturbed by this, doesn't she?

Barb created this quilt and told us about what a quick turnaround time it had from Terry Whitman. We were all reminded that if we want Terry to longarm quilt any pieces for the quilt show, that we should book her soon.

Donna L. showed us this cozy quilt which will go to Germany to keep her son warm.

Marg created this beautiful, seasonal piece which has a stand rather than a hanger. What a great idea.

Joyce showed us this piece that she's working on. Jaynie showed us this art piece that she has been working on off and on for several months. A photo does not do it justice as it has many textures happening that can't be seen here.

She also showed us this piece which was a UFO of hers. She sent it into an exchange and someone else completed it. You might remember from a earlier meeting that we saw the one Jaynie had been sent.

Then it was time for the Left/Right. I have posted photos from it in another blog entry ... the blog entry directly following this one if you want to check it out.

And so ended a wonderful evening with wonderful quilting friends. Fun was had, inspiration was rampant, and memories were made. So to all of you I say as Christmas approaches, "God bless thy year! Thy coming in, thy going out. Thy rest, thy traveling about. The rough, the smooth, the bright, the drear. God bless thy Year!" (Old English blessing)