January 2009 Newsletter

This is a record. Our meeting ended an hour and a half ago and I am blogging already. It must be the coffee, delicious brie cheese drizzled with honey. sliced bread and pears that Helen served. Whatever the reason, I am taking advantage of the energy I have and "going for it!

First meeting of the new year and new beginnings. We met and discussed personal goals that each of us set for 2009. I plan to record them here so, if anyone wants to check their progress, she only needs to look at the first blog of the year to see what she planned to do.

Randi shared the following goals:

1. make projects from magazines and books she hasn't used
2. focus on UFOs and family quilts
3. experiment with new techniques
4. make a scrap quilt using fat quarters

She shared a project with us that wasn't working so she took it apart and reassembled the blocks to make a Churn Dash table topper. From the leftover fabric, Helen created her own pattern and actually sat on her Grandma's lap and worked at piecing it together. We're looking forward to seeing the result. Meantime, the table topper is just cute as can be.

Randi finished her great-nephew's quilt and made the label using machine embroidery on the hull of several of the sailing boats. "Smooth Sailing" is the title of this nautical quilt and Randi varied the pattern by adding stars to each block. She used Minkie fabric on the back and suggested using straight quilting stitches and "Sewer's Aid".

Dawn set several goals for the next year:

1. complete the Hidden Stars quilt
2. make quilts for Dave's great nieces and nephew
3. make a scrappy quilt with 6" blocks
4. do something with fat quarters
5. make a paper pieced wall hanging
6. make seasonal wall quilt
   Dawn created a couple of table toppers and is expanding her free motion by using stars and hearts in the quilting. Just in time for Valentine's Day! She plans to use one in her office.

She showed us the "Quilt as You Go" quilt she made with the Ditch Stitchers and plans to donate it to hospice. The method features strips of fabric around a center panel. Someone is going to enjoy the fine work Dawn does, that's for sure!

Dawn made a quilt for Pazlee, the daughter of a family friend. The backside of the quilt features paisley fabric, of course and we know that this will be one of her favorite quilts as she grows up!

Peggy showed off a cute purse she made for a friend. Created from 21/2" strips,it is a keeper for sure! She also set some goals for the new year:

1. make a wall hanging with a quilt panel
2. make Shop Hop quilt from Fabrics Unlimited
3. Has 7 or 8 quilt tops, wants to complete 5

Tricia plans to accomplish her goals for 2009:

1. finish Thimbleberries bird house quilt
2. finish the quilt she began when she was diagnosed with cancer, a quilt that helped her cope with the unknowns.
3. seasonal table toppers for her coffee table celebrating the four seasons
4. learn to use the long arm quilt machine
5. improve free motion quilting

Carol was sporting a new hat and looked great! She set goals for 2009:

1. make an Elvis quilt for her first cousin, due to visit early this year
2. make a dandelion quilt
3. create a cherry quilt
   She showed us the applique work she did on the pumpkin quilt Dawn machine quilted for her. The vines just add the perfect finishing touches to a great fall quilt!

Carol also finished a table topper made on a grid. So many little squares but so cute!
She talked about the Angel quilt that she received as a cancer victim and asked us to consider making a quilt for donation to be auctioned. Carol passed around patterns she designed from angel fabric that could be appliqued on blocks. Linda said she would check on a paper pieced angel pattern since members are interested in learning how to paper piece. She'll bring something to the next meeting.

Dawn brought the Mom's on the Run donation quilt. Thanks to the efforts of the whole group, the quilt is finished. Special thanks to Randi for assembling the blocks and sandwiching it and to Dawn for quilting it. The Mom's on the Run have their annual fun run on Mother's Day and Dawn suggested that all of us may want to consider walking or running that day. The quilt will be offered in a silent auction and we discussed the value and how much money we expect the quilt to make for the group, Moms on the Run. We want the quilt to earn at least $250 for the non-profit so Dawn plans to talk with them about promoting the quilt so it earns as much as possible. I'm sure you'll agree with me when I say the quilt is simply stunning!

Ellie set three goals:

1. complete her scarecrow/pumpkin table topper
2. finish the Valentine table topper
3. complete the pumpkin quilt

Helen has three goals too:

1. clean her sewing room, about 75% finished!
2. begin working on the seven boxes of projects that she assembles as a result of cleaning her room.
3. complete her pumpkin quilt

Linda has a list of projects that she plans to work on during 2009:

1. work on UFOs
2. make Drew's t-shirt quilt
3. make a PJ flannel quilt to raffle off to her family at Christmas time to make money for a family in need
4. make a bed quilt using leftover fabric from clothes she sewed for her children and grandchildren.

During the last month, Linda completed several projects and happily crossed them off her list. One is a UFO table runner that was started for her mother as a Christmas present but she put it aside to care for her mother and she passed away shortly after Christmas. It's a reversible, quilt as you go, pattern.
Linda brought the t-shirt quilt she made to honor the life of her young friend, Garrett. His mother gave her 25 t-shirts and she assembled them into a quilt with flannel sashing cut on the bias.

Her grandson, Noah, celebrated his 2nd birthday and Nana made him a little boy doll to cuddle and love

She is making quilts for her sister's grandchildren and is finishing the binding on the "Hot Wheels" quilt for Andru and is preparing to quilt the bear quilt for Jayden's first birthday later this month.

Everyone talked about the pattern we plan to use this year. We selected Two of a Kind and each member will make the pattern in the fabric they choose, complete "something" using that pattern - wall hanging, quilt, table runner, coaster...whatever they choose. The finished projects will be kept secret until our Holiday meeting in December, at which time each person will bring her completed project to display. We're looking forward to experiencing the diversity and creativity abundant among the women in the Quilting Bees!

We missed Margie, Trisha, Lacey and Rita and hope you can all be with us at the next meeting. Thanks to the women who brought items for the 4-H fabric and rummage sale. And a special thanks to the hostess with the mostess, Helen.

Reminders for the February meeting:

• Randi bring pattern for Peggy
• Linda bring paper pieced pattern
• Randi copy patterns of group quilt
• Members bring the 6" squares to complete your commitment

Keep bzzy and keep quilting!
Linda