September 2008 Newsletter

We welcomed three guests to the September meeting, held at Helen's home. Carol's daughter, Trisha; granddaughter, Lacey; and sweet baby great-granddaughter, Paizley, joined us. Lacey is interested in learning to quilt so welcome! We hope that all of them will continue joining us. Due to illness, Carol decided to relinquish her role as the scribe for the Quilting Bees. Hopefully this is a temporary situation because Carol is blessed with a writing "voice" that can be compared to a comfortable, well-worn and cherished quilt. A writing style that just wraps around you. We were actually delighted that Carol joined us at the meeting because she didn't think she had the energy. All of us are keeping her in our hearts and prayers.

All the members present introduced themselves and told how they got involved in quilting. The stories were great and we enjoyed learning more about each other. The only Bees missing were Rita and Trisha. We missed them!

Margie delighted us with family quilts. The blue and yellow silk quilt was sewn and tied for Baby Margie by her paternal grandma, Myrle Lindt. The 1930's quilt, sewn from flour sacks, was created by her mother's Friendship Club. It is also a signature quilt and her mother, an unmarried woman at the time, embroidered her first and last name, Bernice Freemyer. The married quilters signed "Mrs. _____" Have times changed!

I was excited to bring two quilts; a birthday quilt from Dawn ( I love it!) and the quilt I created for my granddaughter, Chaja. I used three spools of Aurifil thread in quilting this...dragonflies, lily pads, cattails. It was great fun! Now I finally finished my grandkids quilts and am excited about returning them as they were originally Christmas gifts.

Dawn had a busy month and finished quilting the cross stitched Iris Quilt embroidered by Emma Dell Myers, born in 1921. The echo quilting was beautiful as you can see in the photo. In her spare time, Dawn uses the selvedge that she cuts off fabric to crochet rag rugs. She demonstrated how she chain sews the fabric strips together and this gave everyone a great idea how to use those narrow fabric strips.

Peggy brought along two beautiful quilts - a "Flip and Quilt" project that she took at a recent workshop and a quilt she made at a "Thimbleberries Quilt Camp." Such talent! Peggy is remodeling her home and creating a quilting studio! We know the end result will be well worth the effort.

Randi surprised all of us by bringing in her finished Box Quilt 2006. This was the Friendship Quilt - with each Bee completing a square. She had to negotiate with her granddaughter who adopted the Sunbonnet Sue square designed by Carol. The result was two quilts, one for Randi and one for Helen. Both of them were happy with the end result!

The blocks are all collected for the donation quilt we are making for Moms on the Run. Randi plans to assemble the quilt and pass it off to Dawn and she will quilt it. The blocks are beautiful!

The next meeting will be held again at Helen's home on Oct. 20. Thank you, Helen, for being such a gracious hostess and sharing your home with us. So, as the days shorten think of those longer evenings when you can sit at your machine and quilt the night away.

Have fun and keep bzzzy!

Linda C

2008 - The Year of the UFOs

So, for those who are not out peering into the night sky, searching for UFOs, you may be at your sewing machine with the 2008 Quilting Bee Challenge to finish those Un-Finished Objects...aka quilts.

That is our 2008 Challenge and all UFOs will be featured in color photos. So bring those UFOs, completed to the meeting and show off your stuff.
Randy started this project as a baby quilt and it wasn't working for her so it was put aside for a LONG time. When she resurrected the quilts squares they were assembled into a quilt for her granddaugher, Helen. Great Work!!

Randy's first quilt project became a UFO. A class she took at Windy Moon, the Stars Across America were assembled for her hubby, David, for their July 4th Anniversary. Wow!!

Box Quilt 2006

Dawn's Box Quilt 2006

We decided on a project during 2006 which involved each member gathering fabric and placing it in a box. The box traveled from member to member and each of us made a 12 1/2" quilt square for the owner of the box. At the end we each had nine squares to make into a quilt. To honor those that do not have their quilt squares in a pile of UFOs, pictures of the quilts will be posted on the blog. So, if this provides incentive to get it done....great!!!

Linda and her Box Quilt 2006

Randi

finished her 2006 Box Quilt in September 08. As you can see, there are actually two quilts here because her granddaugher confiscated the little Sunbonnet Sue and Randi had to make a dolly quilt for her. Stunning work, Randi!

August 2008 Newsletter

August 22, 2008

Hi Bees!

Sorry I’m late getting this on line. Life keeps getting in my way. You know all the quilts I need/want/have to get done.

I’ve been working on one for a class I’ll do called Butterfly Kisses. I fell in love with the name (because of the song, by Bobby Carlisle I believe) and the colors. Anyway it has a bazillion leaves on it and of course being who I am, I had to needle turn appliqué them. Well I finished the leaves – finally. YEAH! Now to this letter…

Seven of us showed up, Dawn, Linda, Rita, Peggy, Tricia and Margie, oh yeah me (Carol). Helen stopped by long enough to drop off her squares and left.

Randy was out on vacation. Delivering a quilt to a friend it was a doozy too. Always they are. This was the one she wasn’t sure she cared for the colors, but knew her friend would love it.

Linda forgot the starch she was going to share. Maybe she could just e-mail us the recipe, and then if she forgets the “sample” we could do our own. Said she needs to be reminded before the meeting. So everyone, make a note and we can all call her the week/night before our next meeting.

I believe (see I should have done this letter sooner) it was Tricia and her sister Peggy who took a class at the Grand Sierra the latest quilt and sewing show. They took a class on a Flip'n’ Sew technique. They said it was 3 hours long, should have been 2hrs but it was great. The quilts were fabulous. One did Halloween and the other did Christmas. Tricia said she’d bring in her Christmas quilt, next meeting.

I went to the CVQG 3rd Saturday class for Pearls Way of Appliqué according to Cecile. It was fabulous. I was lucky enough to have had a chance to see a Video before the class. I was of course skeptical of the glue part. When I was finished with my square I was convinced it was fantastic. What a difference. I can use some of the techniques in my needle turn appliqué as well.

Dawn has the nicest boyfriend. He went to a garage sale for her as this man was getting rid of fabric and of course Dawn too likes/loves fabric. Well he got more than he or she ever imagined. The man was selling his mothers fabrics and embroidery thread. He said all the thread for I believe $20. And then there was a box of fabric he’d give it to him for $10.00. Well when Dawn opened the box of fabric it was full of 45 that’s FORTY-FIVE roughly 12 x 18” squares of Iris flowers she had cross stitched.
She (Dawn) went to the man and wanted to know who did these. He said his 88year old mom, Emma Dell Meyer, had and she was now in a nursing home. Well Dawn put together 6 of the squares to make a lap quilt for Dell. Dawn was very moved by all the work done on these quilts and we all hope and pray Emma Dell recognizes her own workmanship in the quilt Dawn gives her.
Rita had a good one for us. She said she was attempting to satin stitch a project and couldn’t find the button for sating stitch. She ended up reading the instructions and finally found out how to do it on her machine. Good job Rita. And so we learn.

Our drawing tonight – Linda won. Carol forgot and didn’t bring a prize will do so next time and we can have two drawings.

We all brought in squares for the Moms on the Run quilt. They sure are beautiful. We did well on the colors.

Donna G also donated to our fabric finish cause for this and now we have $43. plus change.

Randy will piece it together, put top, batting and backing on and Dawn will quilt it. Can’t wait till all the squares are done. We are missing a couple but I’m sure will have all of them in soon.

I goofed on my square – as usual my 12 ½” came out 12”, so we all discussed it and I put a gold border on it. Its ok but I really liked it the way it was. Oh well.

Dawn forgot to bring in her 3 x 7 x 6” squares so promised to double up next meeting.

Peggy forgot to bring in the fabulous pattern for that Rotary Cutter and Mat Tote she and her sister had made that Randy I thought had absconded with, when actually she had returned it. Anyway, Peggy said she’d bring it to me. (And she did its great.)

Meeting adjourned about 6:50PM. See you all on Sept 15th, 3rd Monday of the month.

Keep bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz,
Carol G.


Peggy with her Retirement Quilt Carol displays a quilt she is teaching in a class.

Sierra to Sage Shop Hop, September 26-28. "Explore the greater Reno/Tahoe area by criss-crossing the California-Nevada border while visting twelve of the region's quilt shops."

Homestead Fabrics - Portola, CA

Donna's Stitchery - Truckee, CA

We R Sew-N-Sew - Sparks, NV

Windy Moon Quilts - Reno, NV

Sew-N-Such, Reno, NV

Sierra Sewing Center - Reno, NV

The UnCommon Thread-Fallon, NV

Workman Farms, Crafts and Nursery - Fallon. NV

Fabrics Unlimited - Stateline, NV

Quilting Tahoe - So.Lake Tahoe. CA

Quilter's Quarters - Wellington, NV

The Quilt House - Gardnerville, NV

There is a drawing featuring three great prizes for the quilters that visit all twelve shops. Let's hit the road.

July 2008 Newsletter

July 21, 2008

Hi Bees!

Well what a turn out this meeting was! We had Peggy, her sister Tricia, Helen, Linda, Randy, Dawn, myself (Carol) and our two new bees, Rita and Margie. Is that cool or what?

I gather we were all excited about the new quilt we are doing to donate. We were to bring our pattern and cut them out. Yeah right! Helen didn’t have her pattern (couldn’t locate it). But best of all both Linda and I just plain left them home. I was so tickled to have found a great pattern; I even went to the trouble to drive out to Topaz to pick up this special ruler for this particular pattern. I was so mad at myself. Anyway, it all worked out well. Everyone there got to cut out what they needed. Of course Dawn, our template gal, had her little templates there and got her pattern all cut out. It looked really neat. Helen and I made ours on Monday. I believe Linda went ahead and did a different one.

I received a call from Dawn and she asked if she could do the extra one we needed. Would I say no? I did hint at the meeting that maybe she would be the one to quilt this when all the squares were in, but she totally ignored me. Hmmm. On the phone though she said she got the hint and thought that yes she would do it. She thought she would have the time. We don’t have to have it done until next April for May I believe. Thank you Dawn, you really do beautiful work and it shows you love what you do.

We were introducing ourselves to our new bees and show ’n’ tell kind of slipped in there along with it. Rita had also gone to Sisters, Oregon and she took a class. I believe the class was from Velda or Velma Newman. It had to do with painting on cloth and texturing cloth by sewing. What an addition to a quilt. Wow. It was fabulous the pieces she brought in to show. And as luck would have it she will do a class for us in January. She will get a supply list together for us in November so we can have everything we will need. I personally can’t wait. Me, Miss Traditional don’t do anything new. For some reason this one really fascinated me. I’m sure I’m not alone here.

Peggy and her sister Tricia they also went to Sisters and they brought each of us back a button that says Sisters, Oregon and a fat quarter. Thank you for thinking of us, that was really sweet (honey sweet of course). They also brought back a gift for our drawing. That was really neat; it was a panel of the Sisters, Oregon Quilt Show. Dawn won that, so Dawn we expect to see what you did with it next meeting. Only kidding, you should have it done by September though, right?

Dawn’s show ‘n’ tell was a Rosie the “Quilter” panel she did as a wall hanging for her sewing room. The back of it was all roses. It really was a show stopper. Now I’ll have to do mine and I wonder if I could possible do as well. She really is a hard act to follow. Too much talent

Randy brought in a picture of her mom and dad with their new quilts. Yes they lived to receive them. They looked great, both mom and dad and the quilts. They appeared to be very happy with them. This quilt was a whole year in the making. I know she was very happy to do the last stitch and deliver them. She also brought in a quilt that she claims to be the ugliest ever. Well, we all know that isn’t possible. Randy doesn’t do ugly and this one was just beautiful. It’s to be a gift to a friend that likes lavender and this is just beautiful. That is to be one lucky friend.

Randy also bestowed a prize to Linda for the most recruits to the Bees. She gave her an Army mouse pad that said something about recruiting. It was really cute and the picture should be on this blog.


Margie also brought in a show ‘n’ tell. She made this quilt ALL by hand. No sewing machine stuff for her. It was beautiful. She was going to do the same for the quilt block she will be doing for the one we are donating. Wow. I love appliqué, but I’m not so sure about the WHOLE enchilada by hand. That’s a real WOW!!!

I mentioned that Dawn won the panel from Sisters, Oregon in our drawing and Helen and I both won a prize as well. I guess that means we’ll have three prize drawings next month, or only two and the one from Sisters was a special thing. Anyway, Helen and I for sure will bring the next prize.

Linda will bring in the spray starch (she forgot it along with her pattern) she mentioned last meeting. We will also get a copy of the recipe for it too. It apparently works as well as the Best Press and is definitely cheaper. You just need to keep it in the refer. I’ll bring my bottle back - I did remember a couple of things.

I brought in the placemats the Quilt Guild Third Saturday Class did. It was quite cute and is of Santa. Helen thought you could probably do a Nutcracker out of the pattern too. I’ll bring the pattern next time for those that may wish to do them for a gift.


I also got money from those who weren’t at the last meeting for the balance to finance our quilt’s backing and such. As of this evening we have $29.00 to work with. Thank you ladies for your donations. I believe this quilt will be awesome and I hope and pray the Mom’s on the Run get a nice sum for it when it’s auctioned.

Well, we cut and cut and finally we adjourned at 7:20PM. We will see you all I hope in August, on the 18th. If your square is done, please bring it so Dawn can start when she has the time. Note that we are requesting they all be in to her by September’s meeting.

Hope you’re enjoying these summer months and that not too much California smoke is coming your way and as always keep bzzzzzzzzzzz.

Respectfully submitted,

Carol G.

June 2008 Newsletter

June 16.2008
Hi Bees!
Well this meeting was very small, there were four of us in attendance. Could we try to improve this Bees? You miss a lot. You surely did this time. The smiley faces, the great show “n” tells, and the stories, you really missed it. And we miss your input and your smiley face. I know summer is hard but let’s try.

Remember our “coffee money”? Well Dawn had called on the group “Moms on the Run”. They raise money for breast cancer and all monies raised are kept here in Northern Nevada. They told her they would love to have a quilt donated and they would put it in their silent auction. They hold their “run” on Mother’s Day every year. If you would like more information on them go to www.momsontherun.com.

So again, for this quilt those in attendance picked out fabric for the quilt. I must say we did a great job. The colors are beautiful. So “nanny, nanny” to those of you who missed out. It was a great time had by all four of us. We had $33.96 in the envelope. We each added $5.00, we spent $44.91 on fabric for the top. So currently we have $9.05 left. We would like each of you to donate $5.00 too so we will have enough for thread, batting and backing ok? We were looking at four colors but ended up with six. It is so hard to pick just four colors. The ones we picked are beautiful wait till you see them.

We would also like to extend an invitation to all members on sabbatical or otherwise to participate with us at the next meeting. We are asking each of you to bring a 12” (finished size) pattern you would like to make. We thought each of us could do a separate square like we did for Lori. So next meeting you will need to bring a pattern, rotary cutter and mat (Dawn bring templates). We will cut out our squares at this meeting. This way we can see how much fabric we will use and if we will need to purchase more for the backing etc. We are planning on a 12 block quilt.

Linda is doing a blog. This blog will now carry your newsletter. If you still would like your newsletter mailed please let me know and I will continue to mail it to you. This should be kinda neat. She will include pictures, but will delete last names.

With the blog in mind I suggested and am requesting that each of us send her a BIO on ourselves. Send to carsonriverlady@yahoo.com. Include as much as you like. I like to think this is “our story”. No last names so we shouldn’t have any concerns or qualms right? If you do please let Linda know. The blog will be at www.nevadaquiltingbees.blogspot.com, check it out.

Randy was going to her parent’s home this weekend . You know why? You guessed it. The quilts are done and mom and dad had been told “you can’t die”. Bold or what? I hope she takes pictures.

She also brought in her first attempt at quilting. Pictures should be on the blog. Also her second attempt from Pioneer Girls. Really neat, both of them.

The gal that Linda was bringing in to join our group is Rita B, is a Graphic Arts teacher at Douglas High School. She should be a great addition to our group.

Wow, see all you missed. Hope to see all of you at the next meeting on July 21, don’t forget your pattern, rotary cutter and mat!

Hope your enjoying this nice weather, keep bzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Carol G.

May 2008 Newsletter

Hi Bees!

Well those of us who attended were as usual blessed with a beautiful display of completed projects and a wealth of information.

We started off with signing in and dispersing our 6” squares. We have been giving 3 six inch squares times approximately 7 or 8 people. I suggested counting our squares as the pattern requires approximately 442 squares if you are doing the 90 ½”x99”quilt. Should you choose the smaller version of 63’ x 811/2” you will need approximately 252 squares.

I personally like this quilt pattern and would love to do the larger one. I currently have 205 squares. So if we continue to bring 3 squares for each (7-8 people) by November we will have an additional 186 squares. Should we bring 5 squares per person we will have an additional 210 squares by November and if we brought in an additional 6 squares per person we would have 42 squares per person at each meeting times 6 more months gives us an additional 252 squares. So if you want to make the smaller size, does that mean you then stop bringing in squares because that makes my pathetic math problem obsolete if we all don’t continue on the same venue. I will bring enough, I leave the rest to you each of you and we can then discuss further.

Our unfinished discussion so to speak about future meetings for the rest of the year is as follows - we will continue to meet. If you can not or choose not to attend July and August that is fine, no penalties. We are too easy going for that. But you will need to either bring squares for while you are gone or bring square to make-up for while you were gone, ok?

Dawn brought in a wedding gift she made. It was Donna’s table topper pattern and she made 2 pot holders to match with the silver cloth for heat resistance in both, but with one she didn’t put in the batting. Felt, unsafe I guess. I mean we seem to think if it’s thick I won’t get burnt, if it’s thin I may get burnt. But both were beautiful. She went on line to find out the wedding couples colors and lo and behold there it was, everywhere - “ red and black. Great gift and homemade with love.

Dawn also brought in her ¼” idea. Even if you use your quarter inch piecing foot w/flange sometimes it just isn’t that ¼”. So she suggested you try taking three (3) strips 2” wide, sew them together with ¼” seam allowances then measure ¼´” it should be 5”. If it is not, try to move your needle sometimes the machines allow us and some don’t. If your with a machine that doesn’t allow a needle to move then adjust a tape to your machine to help with this ¼” problem. That quarter inch really makes a big difference in the out come of your quilt. Oh believe me!

We are still looking into doing a quilt for breast cancer donation. Randy brought in an article on this “Moms on the Run” and it appears it is local and for only breast cancer research nothing else. She gave it to Dawn to see if she could find out about donating a quilt that they could use or raffle. More on that next meeting.

Tricia gave a demo on Thangles. What a great idea! They came in packages of a
“bunch” and it’s like paper piecing I gather. Anyway, that really helps with
1/4" problems.

Next meeting Peggy will demo on “Easy Angles.”

Randy brought in one of two quilts that she is doing for her mom and dad. She is hoping to finish these before too long as Dad is now 90 yrs old. They (mom and dad) named their quilts, dad named his “Harbor Lights” and mom named hers “Ocean Breeze.” And you know they are beautiful. Randy did a great scrappy backing with the leftovers.

Linda brought in granddaughter Chaja’s quilt. You know all the children have an animal and Chaja’s is the frog. The block is “Toad in a Puddle”; this was really cute with the centers being fussy cut with the frog. She had asked us for help - she received more than she needed and couldn’t decide still. Sorry :(

I brought in a picture of a gift I made my girlfriend for Easter of the Table Graces placemats. I wish I could finish these things closer to our meeting dates so I could bring them in. I will try to do better next time.

Drawing was done with Tricia and Carol winning. They will bring prizes next month.

See you June 16th. Enjoy our summer weather. (Today we had snow flurries. Guess that’s where we live - lucky us!)

Happy Sewing and keep bz-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z,
Carol G.