March 2009 Newsletter

Well, It is already April and our next meeting is in a few days. I guess that is motivating me to post the last meeting of the Quilting Bees gathered at Helen’s Hive on March 16, 2009. The members present included Peggy, Margie, Randi, Tricia, Helen, Rita, and Linda. Since it was the eve of St. Patrick’s Day we began the meeting with a social time, eating mostly green foods. This delayed the meeting start by half an hour but our tummies were full and there weren’t any complaints that’s for sure. We decided to have a social time from 5:30 for about 15 minutes but we ask that people still arrive at 5:30 so we can get started before 6:00 pm. We appreciate so much meeting at Helen’s home and her generosity inspired Tricia to offer her own home for a church group.

We decided to rotate bringing refreshments so that Helen doesn’t end up preparing snacks and getting her hive in order at the same time. Tricia and Peggy volunteered for the April meeting.

Linda reported on the paper pieced angel block for a quilt to raise money for the cancer support group that offered so much support to Carol. We selected an angel that needs to be purchased on-line so Randi offered to take care of that. Linda will teach the class in June. Margie is willing to set up dates for the Quilting Bees to meet for classes at the UNCE office in Carson as needed.

Rita reported on the March 28 class at Douglas High School. She distributed a list of supplies needed and said she would have her project from the class she took in Sister’s ready to show us when we arrived.

Kathy H. from Alaska, was introduced as our internet member. Linda suggested that the blog be an open forum so anyone in the group could post if they had something to share; pictures, quilt sales, questions…. As a group, there wasn’t any interest so until there is, it looks like I’m the lone ranger out here.

Peggy brought a quilted wall hanging to show and tell. She is working on one of her goals, to improve her machine quilting and is doing a great job! A lovely quilt, Peggy.

Randi shared a picture of her great nephew and the sailboat quilt she created for him. A tiny baby at birth, he is smooth sailing now! She also brought her convergence quilt that she made in a class offered by Going Batty. She used all but a few scraps of fabric and the back art was so creative. What a fun project!

Linda showed off the quilt she made for her great nephew for his first birthday. She made a matching quilt in different fabrics but used the same pattern for his older brother.

We had fun working with Helen on her pumpkin quilt. The top is assembled but she needs borders. She auditioned several borders and everyone had an opinion or two about it. She decided to change out the leaf border for a geometric fabric and used the leaf fabric, which is beautiful, on a pieced leaf quilt. She only needs twenty more squares! Two quilts when only one was planned! Now that’s quilting math for sure.

The highlight of the evening was presenting Tricia with her quilt. The group met on a Saturday afternoon and made blocks from Stars Across America, quilt blocks named after important women in history. This was the perfect pattern to use and the quilt is beautiful. Peggy selected the fabric with a little help from Lori at Sierra Sewing. Randi added fabric to complete the colors for the quilt. Helen assembled the blocks, passed it on to Randi who sandwiched it and created the back art. Lori made the label and then I quilted it and passed it on to Peggy for the binding. Through all of the quilt travels, Tricia had no idea that so many loving thoughts were being sewn into a quilt that she could wrap about her shoulders. Then Randi made a booklet showing all the blocks, the historical women they were named after and the quilter from our group who sewed each block. When we gave her the quilt there was no doubt in anyone’s mind that she felt blessed and loved.

Peggy was so sweet as she gifted each of us a basket she made using her embroidery machine. Her work is so beautiful. Thanks from all of us for such a thoughtful gift, Peggy.

The Quilting Bees extend love and sympathy to Carol, Trisha and Lacey for the loss of Mike Fallon; son, brother, uncle and loving father. The Celebration of Life was so beautiful that those of us that did not know Mike when he was living wished that we had known him.

The next meeting is Monday, April 20 at 5:30 pm. If you aren’t working on a quilting project right now, don’t forget the QBee’s Christmas Challenge - “Two of a Kind” quilt, wall hanging, table runner…The final project should be kept secret and is due in nine months, at the Christmas potluck.

Keep Bzzy,
Linda