One Block Wonder Encore Class Begins

TIME FLIES WHEN YOU ARE HAVING FUN!


Northeast Quilting Friends Quilt Guild is starting our new "season" off with a bang. We are learning the technique of making hexagons from the One Block Wonder Encore book. Most of the group chose to participate in this class. We took four hours and one quick lunch break to learn how to align the fabric, cut the triangles and sew the half hexagons. The interesting thing to me was how 2 sets of ladies chose the same fabric for the class. Oh well, with this design there is no possibility of them being similar, unless they began with the same alignment points-which they did not.

This picture is the "before". There's no stress in quilting, but, sometimes there is intense focus.

These are another set of ladies that bought the same material to work on. Amazing, or maybe not, we travel to quilt shops all the time and I guess it would be possible to pick it up on the road, especially if it was part of a great sale.

Mary has an extremely large repeat, 24 inches. It will be interesting to see how hers turns out and really they all are so interesting, it's just that no one has a repeat that large.

Kentucky State Fair Time

Here is Doris, a member of our group, that is multi talented in sewing arts. She won this blue ribbon for machine embroidery. She also entered this really nice quilt that had a poem about monkeys.



Our members took another opportunity to visit the State Fair. Only a few of our quilters went this year, but, we weren't disappointed with what we saw. I used to always put a quilt in the fair, it was just my goal to have something complete by July 1st, as that's the time they role out the mega book of entry rules and forms for our fair. I think I need to start that habit again. Yes, people touch your quilts-WHICH IS VERY ANNOYING-but, I think you have to go into it knowing that some people have no respect for the work involved and if everyone did it, the quilt would be ruined in no time. So thank you to all the quilt admirers that attend competitions that have the self discipline not to touch.

Enough of my soap box, on to the quilts.

Our quilt club offers free classes to anyone new to quilting, or are experienced pros. We have blue ribbon winners to beginners attending. Basically we have a lot of fun and fellowship, built around this hobby we love. Our schedule includes two of the quilt types we saw yesterday. This is a One Block Wonder Quilt. You use one piece of fabric to get the variety of design. The French Braid quilt is another technique we will be learning in our group. I understand it is a deceptively simple, but difficult looking to make quilt.

Here is the best in show quilt, it was beautiful.

I'll leave with some pictures of the many beautiful quilts at the Kentucky State Fair.

Our trip to Craft Town in Salem, Indiana is Cancled

Our trip to a LQS called Craft Town in Salem, Indiana was canceled today as we are having flash flooding everywhere.

We are planning on doing the same trip next Tuesday, August 11th. We will meet at the church parking lot, at Northeast Christian Church, 9900 Brownsboro Road, Louisville, Ky. We will leave at 10:00 and return at 3:00.

Happy Quilting!

Christmas in July What a FUN Party!

Over the years we've come up with a variety of group challenge projects. This last December Mary and Sherrill were sent on a fabric buying outing to choose five fabrics for us to use in our challenge. The party, Christmas in July, was the culmination of all our hard work. I must admit to working on it until the morning of the party!

The party was held at Shirley's house. She is our true Southern Bell Hostess and cooked and led the "entertainment" with jokes and games for us to play. THANK YOU SHIRLEY. We are truly blessed to have you in our group. Your willingness to share your quilt knowledge and home, is inspiring.

The dogs, Gus and Rosie greeted us. They seemed to know they were not long for the party and clung to Dot so they wouldn't be put out.

The day began with visiting and seeing a member we haven't seen in a long while. Evelyn came for the party and it was so nice to see her.

Shirley did a little warm up with some of her quilts she is working to complete. She is a quilter's quilter and has numerous projects and ideas swimming around her head. Quilts are everywhere and the warmth was apparent.

Lots of fun stories were told today. Everyone had a little something to say about their quilts. I can't remember them all, but, I remember laughing a lot. That is the secret of life and good quilt groups, generosity and laughter.

The ladies used this as an opportunity to have Show and Tell. Here are just a few of the quilts that weren't included in our CIJ display.

The Christmas in July showing began with our smaller quilts first. Natasha has been very busy, besides her show and tell quilt, she also made this for CIJ. Sheelah is a long time member , this is her first quilt she's done. It's really quite something for a first quilt. Ginny showed us here, she won the prize for the most creative label. Carol's quilts are always something lovely to look at. Dot and Pat got theirs finished in a very quick time. Marie, one of our newer members got into the spirit, but, didn't have time to complete the quilt, but, showed this very nice block. Sheilah V made a neat table runner. Mary's quilts are always superb. Betty and Deloris make some really pretty quilts

Quilting update and Schedule Change

First, our lazy days of summer have found our group busy on all fronts, finishing bindings and Betty and Ruth are almost finished with the Tuscany Village that we started a few months ago.  The embroidery is next and what a creative experiment that will be as we all are planning different embellishments for our projects.  

Schedule Change to the Calendar:

August 4th, no meeting in the room.  We are going on a trip to Salem, Indiana, to one of our favorite little quilt shops, Craft Town.  It's actually a pretty big quilt shop with lots of fabric fabulousness.  Meet at the back of the church parking lot and we will carpool, leaving at 10:00 and returning around 2:00 or 3:00.  Lunch will be at Christies, it's a nice place just around the square from Craft Town.  

July 28th will have our Christmas in July party at Shirley's house.  We are to be there at 10:00.  People new to the group, don't need to worry about bringing their finished quilts, but, you gals that got you fabric in the fall, should come ready to unveil.  It doesn't have to be quilted, a quilt top will do.  

Happy Quilting!

Movers and Shakers Oh My!

Movers:

One of our beloved members, Joan, has moved on to Florida.  Boo!   We will miss her.  Joan came to us by way of another member.  Now this is a word of warning to you guilds out there.  It just so happened that Joan and Shirley visited another guild before they found NQF.  The other unnamed quilt guild was very rude to them.  Apparently there was a drawing and you put your name tags in the basket to draw a winner.  Well, they pull our most wonderful girls' name tags out of the drawing in a dramatic way, stating the prizes are for members only.  Shirley then grabs Joan and says, come with me, I know of another group that we need to try.  And much to our gain and their loss, both the Wonder Kids, came our way.

Every quilt guild has a few members that pick up the lion's share of the work and support of members and the guild at large.  Joan is/was such a member.  She organized us for learning new techniques and she gave sage advice to almost everyone in the room.  Whether it was in quilting or life.  

But, life changes and moves on, like the stitches in a quilt.  

Shakers:

We made our way to the lovely Lavenders Fabric Store.  It's at 1280 S. Fork Ridge Rd, Liberty Kentucky.  They are having a sale until June 13th, so you better get there quick!  All the material is $2.75 a yard.  

The Bread of Life was very good this time.  It seem they were pulling everything fresh from their garden nearby.  It was quite different than before, when the food was pretty starchy and heavy.  This is a restaurant that supports the Galleian Home for children.  It is at 546 Middleburg St, Liberty Ky  42539

Kings Department Store gave a very informative tour of their facility.  They die cut many block designs and also are some leather goods.  It is as 546 Middleburg St, Liberty, ky 

This is a store that's been in business for over 50 years and is still run by the same family.  Half of the store is farm supply and the other half is fabric.  It's a 2 1/2 hour drive from Louisville, so we all knew where we needed to go first.  

Now, really it's not about the money saving, which isn't that much when you add up the gas and time.  It's about having a good time and during this economy, spreading the wealth around.