Quilting Bees Make Honey

I'm constantly in awe of the care and love the members of the Quilting Bees have for each other. When there is need, we always go to the hive and make honey. This project was completed for Rachael's baby, Ivan, when he was born in November 2007. I never shared the photos, found them tonight, and decided to share them with all of you too. What a beautiful baby (my grandson) and colorful quilt. Thanks for being Busy Bees! -Linda

Ellie Donates Quilt

Ellie is sharing her talents with the Cancer Resource Center. Her fun quilt, Chile Con Huevos, was donated as a raffle item to raise funds for this supportive organization. Carol raves about how much they helped her when she was going through treatment. Thank you Ellie for being such a bzzy bee and makin' so much honey!
-Linda

Update on Box Quilt 2007

You'll have to search the archives to learn more about this challenge. Not many have finished but Donna joined the ranks with this Technique Quilt she created for Dale's nephew Cody and his wife, Jessica. Cody is currently serving our country in the Air Force. This is one of Donna's favorite quilts and they love it as much as she does. Thanks for sharing a photo before sending it to your family. -Linda

Update on Box Quilt 2006

Yes, those Box Quilts from 2006 are being finished. These quilts have actually were gifted or used many moons ago but in the spirit of justice we would like to honor the hearty quilters that kept to the task of completion. Congratulations to all of you!

Rachael displays the quilt with blocks made by the Quilting Bees. Each month, as Rachael made a block for one of the members, she also made a block from the same pattern for her bed. The end result is a lovely quilt for a king sized bed. Great job finishing, Rachael!

Tammy is a former member who also completed that Box Quilt challenge and gifted this beautiful quilt to her brother. We all had fun making blocks from the fall fabric and know that he loves the quilt as much as we did. Beautiful work!

It isn't too late to find the box with all those squares and put them together. Many of us have UFO's on our project list for 2009 so this project can be a finished Box Quilt 2006 AND a 2009 UFO. What are we waiting for???
-Linda

July 2009 Newsletter

Hi One and All, Meeting was brought to order by Randi. Yup she was back and in charge - oh we do thank you God. Our meeting was not the same without her. Linda said she finally got caught up on the minutes for the blog and of course as luck would have it she couldn't get it posted for what ever reason - you know computers. Our delightful Virgo, Margie said there are now 42 days till September. Meaning summer is almost over??? Didn't it just arrive a week or so ago???

Linda was enjoying her hand work finishing an adorable baby quilt for a baby that was born in May - not too late. Not late at all actually someone said you have up to a year - was that Dawn? So you’re doing fine Linda. Nice job by the way, colors are beautiful.

Oh by the way, Linda said now that I am taking the minutes she has the spare time to sew. But she does take the pictures along with Randi.

Randi asked if we would mind being guinea pigs for a trial run on a Windy Moon retreat game. Sounds like fun and prizes were brought up - well if we're gonna play we should have a few benefits right? We are guinea pigs, right? So everyone remember to bring a fat quarter as a quilt bingo prize next month. The Windi Moon retreat will be in Virginia City in March 2010.

Silver Springs Entertainment and Arts Quilt and Fiber Arts Show is in October. We can display or have our quilts judged. It seems this is a small show but eager participants. At least the Bees are eager. Randi would like Tricia and I to loan our quilts that the group made for us and we both agreed. We need to put a sleeve on them though. That is 3" hanging sleeve. It cost $5.00 for the first entry and $4.00 each for additional quilts you enter. Linda will see the applications are at our next meeting for us to fill out and then we need to have the quilts at the Sept meeting. They are actually looking for as many quilts for display or judgment and any other means of art that we are willing to allow them to display.

Rita finally finished her sewing room. She said she is ready to do some producing now and we can look forward to many wonderful creations. Rita brought up the Sisters, Oregon trip she took and how it literally changed her. She started off by giving us fat quarters from there as they are noted for their retro fabrics at the Stitching Post Quilt Store. Anyway, there are beautiful and we thank you for remembering us. She got an unexpected surprise in that she had signed up for the Gee”s Bend Lecture and found the workshop had an opening and she jumped at the opportunity not knowing what was coming. She had brought the picture she was doing for her sister and needed help in finishing. She got much more than she bargained for. She said there were 12 women there and there was one daughter and one grand daughter from the original women. They each took a class participant and worked with her during the class, one-on-one. She had Miss Lucy Minges (forgive the spelling). Rita showed her the scrap bag of clothes from her nieces that she planned to use in the quilt and Miss Lucy said " Honey you need to give these to those chillins who needs 'em" what else you got there?" So out came more fabric scrap - more or less junk to Rita and then Miss Lucy started ripping and tearing and said 'Honey SEW!" And so Rita sewed and Miss Lucy ripped and Rita sewed and Miss Lucy ripped and soon it was huge. And when Rita looked at it she THOUGHT, didn't say, but thought “My sister will wonder what I was smoking if I give this to her.” So it is to be finished and so is the large quilt. But Rita said Miss Lucy left her with this... "You needs to get on down on yor knees and ask God to get rid of them demons in yor life." And Rita says this class was really a gift from God. It has helped her immensely. Gee's Bend postage stamps featuring their quilts

Rita also got to a class by Paula Benaminson on African Stamping and she loved it. They got to use real wooden blocks from Africa to stamp with and then she attended another class taught by Cindy Needham regarding needles and thread etc. for machine quilting. Wow! what a learning experience. Tricia and Margie were or are into stamping with veggies... maybe you two would like to do a class or demo for us???

We talked about the Shop Hop for this year - remember if we all do it we stand a much better chance of winning the big prize - Retreat in Tahoe for 10. Randi gave Rita a belated thank you for doing the class everyone loved so much.

Linda was showing us the baby quilt when asked about her quilting ideas for this one, she said she keeps a notebook of ideas all the time and then when she goes to quilt something she goes to this notebook. She says she constantly thinks about what or how she will quilt a quilt as she works on it. It kinda drives her crazy. But she says she doodles and as ideas pop up she writes them all down.

Dawn is taking a Free Motion Quilting class at Windy Moon and what beautiful leaves she did on this quilt she brought it. Wow! She said they were told to doodle the leaves on a dry eraser board over and over and over and over until the motion is in your head, then when you go to do it on the machine it is right there. No thinking - second nature. During her class, she was taught that you need to do these leaves without moving your fabric around and she was surprised but we gather that is to make other challenges easier in the long run if you learn this first. It really was beautiful - she conquered the leaves - her teacher better give her an A! She did this beautiful quilt for her boyfriend’s nephew and wrote words all along the border. Words a young man should know - on e of those words was respect - but as she was writing it she realized it was wrong and so without ripping it all out what else could she use - reptile and so another work was added.

Randi showed us photos of the quilt she made for her nephew Todd, he really liked it but it seems a son was a little upset and made it known he needed one like everyone who had one.

Peggy made a machine cover that was truly beautifully done. However, it seems the colors were not to her liking - she was using scraps. The opinion of the Bees however was the colors were great, very complimenting.

And I, Carol, showed towels Helen helped me do or actually did for me for my bathroom. I'm doing it in black and white and with a Paris theme. I had a lamp in the shape of the Eiffle Tower and so thats where I began. Its coming along nicely. The towels are great. Thank you Helen.

Our dinner tonight was created by our twin sisters, Tricia and Peggy - it was great. And our dessert was delightfully refreshing Hagen Daaz mini Ice cream bars. Next month dinner by Rita.

Also homework from Rita for us. We are to draw an object where you put the pencil on the paper and look only at the object. Do not take the pencil off the paper nor your eyes off the object till you finished eyeballing the object. I guess you draw it with your eyes like your hands and pencil were attached to them.

Also Tricia and Margie brought up some ideas about Calico cats and 3 chromosomes and Down Syndrome Kitten/ Do a quilt pattern with those chromosomes.

Who has worked on their Challenge quilt yet? Carol has almost finished hers. Everyone else seems to have their fabric and know where the pattern is located so they too will have theirs started right?

The big helpful hint for machine quilting is doodle and go over the pattern by tracing - repeat, repeat, repeat, repeat, etc.

Linda won’t be with us next month she'll be camping - have fun! See the rest of you on August 17th. Have fun sewing and drawing! Don't forget your homework!

Keeping Bzzy!

Carol G.

June 2009 Newsletter

Welcome back to the job of taking our minutes, Carol. We missed your writing while you were focusing on your health and it is wonderful to have your "voice" back on the blog! Thanks also, to all of you for being so patient as I struggled with these entries. Carol had the minutes for the June meeting to me within the week and I have taken a month to post them. Happy summertime to all!

Linda

Hi! Boy, am I long winded, you'll see.

June Meeting - 6/15/09 - 6:07PM

In attendance were bees; Rita, Trisha, Peggy, Margie, Helen, Dawn, Linda & Carol.

Well happy summer one and all! Did it start yet? Did I miss it? June is summer right?
The weather has been beautiful and wet - love the rain, even the thunder showers. Not good for fire season - but then we take the good with the bad and deal with it right? It's called life and I love it.
Well our meeting sort of started with food - all good times begin with food. Dawn brought the main course - garden salad from her garden - oh my goodness what a salad and then she brought shrimp on the side if you chose to add that. (She's not growing those} I, Carol, brought the dessert Lemon Bars. I recently have been going to garage sales with my daughter and we came across this one that had a cute framed picture. It was in blues and yellows and white. So for $2.00 I bought it to go in my dining room- well it had this recipe on it and it looked tasty and I had to ingredients so...best recipe for Lemon Bars ever. It's just so refreshing and lemony without being so sweet. I guess it's all the lemon zest. Anyway, recipe will be at the end.
To bring you all up-to-date on my granddaughters, they are doing well with my daughter Trish and she now has custody. The moved into a house right near me and they have lots of room to run and play and even climb trees. They are happy and adjusting very well. I want to thank all of you that ask, I appreciate the concern and prayers, we all do.
Randi is out of town, clear on the other side of the USA. I think we feel lost. We don't seem to have a clue about how to carry on the meeting so we are faking it. It will do however, you are missed Randi!
We discussed the upcoming Shop Hop and Margie came up with a great suggestion. How about using her mobile home to travel in? It sleeps 6, but maybe we could also use a motel. Food for thought. Further discussion as time draws near. There will be 14 shops this year and they added one more day. More shopping!!!
Linda brought out the pattern, for all to see who were not at the meeting before, for the Angel paper piecing pattern. We will have a class for in September. This is the one we are to donate to the Cancer Advocates in Carson City.
Speaking of them, Helen L., Ellie Barber and I brought the "Chile con Huevos" quilt that Ellie made and donated it to Cancer Advocates. They were very happy with the quilt. Ann ( the founder of this group and a quilter herself) said they were to have a meeting this past week and would decide where to display it. There will be a drawing so they will let us know so we can buy tickets if we would like.
We did manage a couple pictures and I will attempt to get them developed and into Linda's hands so she can put them on our web site. Yes I have an old camera it takes film.
Linda was explaining why she hasn't done much sewing of late. She had the kids to work with and set up for two Carson River Festivals, her house is going through remodeling and has taken a little longer than she anticipated. Also her hubby had to have a stent put in an artery. He is doing fine per the doctor, but he is having some depression so can we please pray for him and for Linda?
Show 'N' Tell was fun. Helen went first and she modeled hers - very nice, well done blouse she was sporting. She has three more cut out and ready to sew.
Helen also showed us Lois' newest idea. What a beautiful vest. Wow! This lady sure has talent in design.
Dawn and her favorite guys; boyfriend, son and brother went on an Alaskan Cruise with her parents for their 60th anniversary. Everyone in the group made a T-shirt with the parents wedding day picture on it but their own version of decoration. She said the parents were surprised at the Captains dinner when everyone had come in with a jacket covering the tees and they all got up complaining of how hot they were and when the jackets came off they showed off their tees. Cute idea!
While in Alaska, Dawn met up with our "bee" in Juneau, Alaska. She personally picked them up and took them on a tour of Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau. Then she gave Dawn a tour of her home and sewing room. Dawn took pictures of her quilts - what art work. They are beautiful - way to go Kathy.
Helen said that to make the t-shirts Mill End fabrics has a fabric that I guess is printer friendly and only $2.00 per yard. The idea would be to put your picture on this fabric and sew that "square" or whatever onto the shirt.
Peggy's show and tell was a beautiful quilt of circles that are cut and then sewn back together. You know quilters cut up beautiful fabric then sew together in another pattern. Like the English claim we are goofy about tea. We boil water, make the tea, then put ice in it to cool it off, add sugar to make it sweet then add lemon to put a tang in it. Cute eh?
Peggy also made a really cute wallet to match a purse she showed us last year. Cute idea.
Those that went to Mothers on the Run - Dawn and Linda said it really was quite the Run. Dawn said it was claustrophobic and Linda said when she turned to look in back of her she could not believe the sea of people behind her. It was incredible to see so many people. Every adult woman got a rose. Linda called it a "Bon Bon Walk and Talk".
Margie went on vacation to Blacksburg, Va to Virginia Tech to see her stepson receive his doctorate. While there she visited a quilt shop and brought each of us a fat quarter of state flower, plus notebook from Va. Tech. Thank you for thinking of us, that was really neat. I got Hawaii the Yellow Hibiscus, its beautiful.
Then Trish finished her picture she did at Rita's class on fabric painting. It was beautiful. Rita was very pleased and took a picture to show her class. Trisha said she has moved and it was going into her new bathroom.
Rita's Show'n'Tell was a picture her sister had done and Rita was quilting it. My, it is beautiful and the Marble background was stunning.
Rita also filled us in on the rattlesnake season. Her Yorkie got bit and it cost $800.00 per vile of the anti-venom and he needed two. There is a class to prevent dogs from getting bit, by teaching them to give the snake room to leave. There will b e classes July 11, 12 & 25. Dr. Rhinehemier of Sierra Vet in Carson City is where she took her Yorkie. There is a young man who volunteers with Linda and River Wranglers named Matt who works at Pet Smart in Carson and is into reptiles like crazy. If you need help in identifying something you could give him a call.
My show n' tell this month was a baby's summer quilt from the embroidery patterns that Helen shared. It has two bunnies biking. Kinda cute. It's to be a baby gift for a friend having a little girl. Also I finished my dandelion wishes quilt; I will call it Dandelion Wine for my mom who as a young woman used to make dandelion wine with her family.
Our next meeting will be on July 20th at Helen's. Peggy and Trisha will be bringing the food. Meeting was adjourned at 7:50PM

Lemon Bars

1 C butter, room temp - soft
1/2 C confectioners Sugar
2C flour
4 eggs, beaten
2C granulated sugar
4Tblspns flour
juice AND grated rind of TWO lemons

Blend butter, confectioners sugar and flour. Press into the bottom and sides of a 9 x 13" pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-18 minutes or till golden. Not too gold.
While baking, mix eggs, sugar, flour, lemon juice and rind. Pour on warm crust when it comes out of the oven. Bake 20-25 minutes. Let cool, and sift confectioners sugar lightly over the top. Cut into squares. Makes 30 small squares. I make two or more and cut them big for family.

Enjoy!

Carol