Tuscany Village-what fun we had...smile

Our quilt group meets every Tuesday from 10:00 to 1:00 and it would be impossible to have a learning opportunity every week.  This last Tuesday, the 14th of April, we learned how to make the Tuscany Village.  This is the center block for the upcoming 2 more borders to be added.  The June 2009, McCalls Quilting Magazine, has the pattern.  The next 2 patterns will be in August and October.  

This is my take on the pattern and how I instructed the ladies that day.  Of course, quilting is such a long term, solitary activity that it is up to you to make the process enjoyable and find out what fits your personality best.  The instructions in the magazine suggested you cut everything out at once, I'm not big on doing everything all at once on my quilt patterns.  I think in case I make a mistake, I haven't messed the whole thing up and it will still be salvageable.  

First you enlarge the patter and draw it out on freezer paper and fabric.  Here are the lovely ladies of the Northeast Quilting Friends doing just that.  It was so nice to see them engrossed in a pattern.  

Next, I suggest you fold the fabric and loosely lay it out on your pattern.  This gives you an idea how the quilt will develop and helps you to direct the eye around the quilt.  There will be a lot of embroidery embellishing to be added later, so you can also use that to enhance your quilt.  There is even hanging laundry-to hide mistakes!  

These are my preferred tools to use, a hand held iron and very sharp scissors.  You need these to make the openings in the windows and doors nice and crisp.  Also you will be putting the freezer paper on the right side of the fabric.  This is totally opposite of some of you applique people, that would normally put the paper on the wrong side of the fabric.  But, trust me, it works just fine.  

Last but not least, you need to invest in a roll of parchment paper (Thanks Ruth!) or a teflon sheet that I'm using here.  The tape from the freezer paper and the glue from the glue stick you use to make the openings, will stick to your iron, so you need something to keep your iron clean.  

Happy Quilting!

Embroidery Quilt Show and Tell

WOW!  Inspiration and stimulation to spare.  That's what we had when our members had the first "Airing of the Quilts".  For the long life of your quilts, you should, from time to time, unfold your quilts so they don't get creases in them.  Rotating your quilts from different beds-out of the sun mainly is also a good way to prolong the beauty of your quilts.  What better way to do this than to bring them out and share them with an appreciative audience.  

These are some of the quilts we had shown from some of the members of our guild.  

Several ladies brought quilts their mother's had made.  Our newest member, Doris, brought her mom's Bread of Life quilt and a wedding ring quilt her mother also made.  Ruth brought her Sun Bonnet Sue that her mother had made.  

Joan did a red work quilt and a leaf and acorn quilt from a cross stitch kit.  

I had my Fancy Cats quilt on display.  It has been in Paducah and won a blue ribbon at the Kentucky State Fair.  

Carol brought in two crazy quilts, one from 1927 and another from 1895.  

Sheelah had my favorite block the hexagon quilt all hand stitched from silk.  This is probably another Victoria era quilt.  She also brought a chubby Sue!  It was made for her by her "Aunt Rosy".  

Shirley has done many embroidery quilts, including this red work quilt and these baby quilts.  

Betty and Dot also did lovely red work quilts and a baby quilt.   

Quilts weren't the only embroidery items on display, here is a pillow case for her granddaughter, that Ginny brought.  

Mary brought this quilt the other day.