2010 Christmas in July Party is extended to August

The Ohio Star quilt pattern will be the theme of the Christmas in July party, 2010. Every year, around the first of the year, we challenge each other to make a quilt from a chosen pattern. All members make some kind of quilt to be shown at our annual party, normally held in July.

This year will be an exception as one of our members, Joan, who has moved to Florida, will be traveling through Louisville on August 10th. So we've decided to make that day our party and share our Ohio Star quilts with her and we also decided to make a show and tell of any of the quilts we have made since she's been gone.

Tuesday, August 10th, we will be meeting in the lower level at church for the party. Mrs Murphy's Salad will be what is served and here is the list of items to bring:

This is copied from the sign up sheet last time:

Chili-no beans- Julie

Fritos-Ruth

lettuce-Deloris

Cheese-Dot

Sour Cream-Ginny

Pecans-Sheelah

Olives-Doris

Rice-Betty

Tomatoes-Mary

Onions-Pat

Taco Sauce-Shirley

We are looking forward to seeing Joan again and all the quilts that have been created by this very talented group.

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.

Maps to Lavender's and other places

Trip from 8009 Shadowcreek Rd, Crestwood, KY 40014-8934 to 9900 Brownsboro Rd, Louisville, KY 40241-1128

Gallopalooza Party was a huge success!

Our last meeting was a celebration, of sorts. We celebrated finishing our quilts and also were able to honor the hard working maintenance crew at the church where we meet.

First we had our own show and tell and everyone brought their quilts, in whatever stage of completion they were in for all to see. These quilts were all made using a pattern called "Race the Wind", which was taught at our retreat. Just about every member of the group made one.

We also had games and prizes, because you know that quilters are really a bunch of kids having a good time.

Next we had a great lunch, using Mrs. Murphy's Salad recipe. It's a really great recipe for a group of people, we had around 25 attend. Ten people bring one item for the salad, which is an "everything but the kitchen sink" kind of taco salad.

Our lunch included our wonderful church staff that ate with us and had a bit of the fun and games. At the end we gave our most deserving receptionist, Beverly, a quilt and an orchid. She's greets people with a smile and "Hey girl!" sometimes, when we see her and so we made the cake in her honor. Our church is blessed with some pretty terrific people that work there.

More horse quilts get finished and some new projects started, hmm imagine that...smile

We are working on our quilts with a date set for our Gallapalooza party, where we will roll out all the 12 quilts in their various stages of completion.

Here in Louisville, Kentucky, where we host the Super Bowl of Horse Racing every year on the first Saturday in May, there is a fund raiser called the Gallapalooza. Life size horses are painted and auctioned off to raise money for different causes.

Our group has so many horse quilts in the cue for completion that we've decided to have our own Gallapalooza party. Here we will display most of our quilts and have a party for the unveiling.

Besides our horses, some of the ladies are finishing up quilts that belong to granddaughters and our world traveler, Shirley, is working on the Serengeti quilt after being inspired by her recent trip there.

We are still working out the date, as people are traveling and we want everyone to attend that would like to be there, but, it's sometime in May.

A Dozen horse quilts were made at the retreat!

We had our retreat at Pieceful Haven. There were 4 that spent the night, but the rest, 8, made a long day of it. We had wonderful meals prepared and ate very well, as quilters are known to do. Maybe that's why cookbooks are such a successful fund raising option.

Shirley made a quilt with the horses on a darker background which gave her horse(s) an etherial look, running out of the mist sort of.

My daughter had a special request to use retro fabrics.

Most of the ladies used the batiks. One of our new members said she didn't know if she was a quilter. I said, if you finish this then you are a quilter. This pattern gives you a great opportunity for learning multiple things for quilting, on a smaller scale.

First and for most, to me is learning to use a design wall. I can't emphasize enough how important it is to stand back and get a perspective on your piece. At Pieceful Haven, the ladies had that opportunity, because design walls were all over it. It's one thing to be looking down and start cutting and placing your fabrics for the horse, it's another to stand back, at least 10 feet for working with your design. This is true for bed quilts as well as wall hangings.

The other thing that made this retreat such as huge success was the willingness of all to share their efforts, whether it was in the fabrics we put up on the tables for all to use, or the time and effort it took to cook or clean the dishes. As we all know, these retreats don't happen by magic and I thank all who helped make this such a great time of quilting with friends and finishing, or almost finishing our quilts is a super by product.

Retreat Time Again!

Well, we are off to our second retreat for the group. The first was many years ago at the White Oak Cabins in Indiana. Back then, there were no "quilt specific" retreat facilities available. This time around we will be going to Pieceful Haven in Crestwood, Kentucky.

The horse quilt pattern, Race the Wind will be taught and the rest of the time the ladies will be working on their own projects over the next 2 days and nights. There are 12 in attendance for this retreat.