Getting Ready for the Retreat on Tuesday, May 24 and Wednesday, May 25

Hello Quilters!

Our quilt group is blessed with some pretty terrific quilters.  One of our most gifted quilters, Mary Ernwine, is choosing to share her talents with us, free of charger, for the retreat on May 24 and 25 at the Pieceful Haven retreat facility in Lagrange, Ky.  Mary has been in the group from the beginning, back in 2000.  Over the years I have seen her make some wonderful quilts.  Her gift of color selection and usage in a quilt are amazing.  She has put together some of the most stunning quilts I have ever seen in my 25 plus years in the quilt world.  She has won many ribbons at the state fair.  You do not want to miss an opportunity to learn from her.  She is a wonderful teacher!

This Tuesday, May 17, Mary Ernwine will be helping everyone organize and cut their fabrics for the French Braid quilt.  She will be teaching the construction of the quilt at the retreat at Pieceful Haven.  

Please bring your fabrics on Tuesday, washed or not, your choice to do so or not.  Mary did not wash hers, nor did I.  Also, bring a cutting wheel and if you have one, an 8 1/2 inch by 24 inch ruler.  If you don't have one, we have rulers in the cabinet that will work with some thoughtful use.  

Marie will also be there with the sign up sheet for the food.  

Working on the French Braid quilt is not a requirement for the retreat.  If you choose to get caught up on your UFO's or if you want to do the Friendship Braid quilt pattern, that is a scrap pattern that I showed a while ago, that would be great!  

I suspect there may be a scrabble game, maybe a card game or we can play anything else you think might be fun.  We all love our quilting, but it's nice to take a break and laugh and share together around a good old fashioned board game or whatever.

It's going to be a lot of fun!

Also, I will be in Oklahoma for a wedding next weekend, so there will be no quilting on Friday, May 20.  

No quilting in the room on Tuesday, May 24, as we will all be on retreat!

Casserole Carriers were taught at our Tuesday and Friday groups

These are pictures from the Friday class that meets in room 202 at Northeast Christian Church. We used to meet in the LL, but, there have been some issues with the room, so we are now meeting right next door to our Tuesday group meeting.  There is a good works group that makes fleece blankets for the hospitals that started meeting in our old room on Fridays, so we move next door for Friday only.

Pat and Loyce show off their latest projects

Loyce demonstrated our next class how to make coasters out of 6, 5 inch squares.

Snappy Tote Class was a huge success!

Our group's roster has about 20 people on it and from week to week there are 10 to 15 regulars for our sit n sews and classes.  We have a great schedule that makes opportunities for our members to learn new things.

The class we taught yesterday was how to make the Snappy Tote.  It's called the Snappy Tote because it uses the metal from a carpenter's tape measure to create the "snap" for closure.  It's a very easy class in which you learn how to machine quilt a small project, as well as a few other techniques for basic bag making.

Our group is filled with over achievers and Betty was certainly the outstanding over achiever Tuesday.  I am always emphasizing to the group that a pattern is just a guideline and jumping off of it is highly encouraged for creative development.  Betty jumped off in leaps and bounds and came up with a purse with grosgrain and key chain hooks, as well as a matching Kleenex holder.  Cool!

All the ladies that started the project in class finished it.  

Here is a view of our new church, Northeast Christian Church, being built right beside us.  

Table Topper Class was a huge hit!

These are just some of the Table Toppers that we made in the class and after the class.  Our group of over achievers are at it again, Dot made 5!!

Shirley is truly one of the greatest quilters in our group and she's done a blue thread, hand quilted whole cloth quilt.

She's also such a great quilter because she knows the value of labels for the legacy she is leaving her family.

Table Topper Class-lots of fun

So what does a successful class make? Is it a finished product? Probably 60 percent of the total is the finished product, whether it's at home later, or in the class. Or like our many over achievers in the room WE FINISH THE PROJECT BEFORE THE CLASS STARTS!. That's exactly what happened this time.

Loyce, one of our newer members gave such good information, before the actual class, that many had finished their table topper before the class began.

All our classes are choose to make a quilt or not. There is no arm twisting in the group. But, this was certainly a popular class and most all participated.

Besides the class, Pat and Ginger showed a fabric dying class they participated in over the weekend. They made beautiful tie dyed and suede like hand dyed fabric.

The Paris Bag Class

Every month our group tries to go on a trip in the area or have a learning opportunity. Besides that we like to finish what we have started and so we always have a sit n sew, where you bring in anything you are working on, quilting, embroidery, knitting or needlepoint, besides people all types of needle crafts are welcome.

This last month Mary taught us how to make the Paris Bag pattern.

We also had a few people that got their quilts back from the favorite quilter so this is a show and tell for quilts as well.

Want to join a fabulous group of ladies and learn about quilting? Then come see us at Northeast Christian Church.

Toothbrush Rug Class and Busy Quilters

The quilters in our group have been busy.  We predominantly get together to encourage each other to finish what we have started.  Along those lines, this is Mary who finished a top for her nephew; Shirley finished a quilt that is a pattern from a book that her friends in South Carolina wrote; Dot is not to be outdone as she got this quilt ready for binding.  My own contribution is a bible cover for my daughter's friend and our latest contribution to the group is from Pat, who has made this great recycled shirt and tie quilt.  

The Aunt Philly's toothbrush rug class was a huge hit, almost all the ladies wanted to make one.  This is a no sew pattern that has been around for a very long time.  If you have a lot of material, as we have had donated to our group, this is a fast, easy way to use it up!

First you must tear all your strips and Carol and Ruth are helping each other with a tug of war to rip this seemingly wonderful fabric, the color was right but the sizing was too heavy.  You must prewash fabric, as we found out.  Sometimes donated fabrics are donated for a reason, they had a problem with it!  Oh well, this is a project that has lots of forgiveness and so trial and error will lead you to the right mix of material and rhythm to weave your rug.   Natasha didn't work on the rug, but generously helped out and cut or tore all the strips needed for a rug.  

Tote Bag to make on February 6th

Mary will be showing us how to make a crazy quilt style tote bag. Hopefully, everyone got some of the yummy fabric generously donated to us from the decorating/design stores in town. Anyway, have your 12-12 inch squares cut and ready to be diced. If you have freezer paper bring that, otherwise, I think between all of us we probably have enough for everyone.

Remember to bring your lunch. We can work from 10:00 to 2:00 or longer, if needed.



Also, bring your machines, if you want to work on the tote bag in the class. Of course, with all the usual stuff to make a quilt/project. Boy do I need one of these totes! And

remember, use 50% from your stash-which can include the lining, or donate a fat quarter.