February

Once again, a fantastic gathering. Lots of work being done and I know a lot of pictures were taken. I have lost my card reader. Sigh.
Another beautiful winter's day found us in the basement. I don't know if anyone actually did machine work. Judy was doing hand work. Fran and Jan were cutting for a continuation of things started at the Amish get away. Mary Ann and Gwen were cutting for a Wildwood project. I showed Dianne the tricks to cutting the fabric for Stack and Whack. I have never had a student before that only asked reasonable questions and got it right the first time. I think it's just because she is really smart or perhaps we speak the same language.
Ruth and Sue pinned up Ruth's April challenge piece.
Sue and Laura had to leave before lunch and Lynnee could not join us. Bridal shower. I hope she didn't have to play a lot of stupid games.
Someone brought bagels and shmere so we didn't get to hungry waiting for our lunch break.Mike kept bringing more coffee.Lunch was great.
 We had some good show and tell.
As we reach the deadline for our challenge it was decided that our April pot luck dish should also be black and white and one color. I think the idea started as a joke but the gauntlet has been thrown down.
Thanks again to Mike and Brady for being such good hosts.
One wine glass down, even before the wine came out.
I will be looking forward to the report from someone else. And lots of pictures.

Paper Piecing lesson with Kathy

Our quilting group at Willoughby Hills Friends Church invited Basement  Diva Kathy to come and give us a lesson in paper piecing. The ladies wanted to learn and I know better than to try to show anyone else how to paper piece. A few years ago Kathy taught me how to paper piece and if she could teach me I knew she was just the one to come to our group. We all knew Kathy from last year when Kathy, Kathy's sister Margie, and Lori, all basement Divas came to help us at Quilt Camp. We are hoping to recruit Judy (pink sweater in the right lower corner in photo above) for QC this summer.

I  didn't get as many photos as I would have like to because I was working with my nose to the grindstone sewing machine in order to finish my circle of geese block. Some of our ladies left early and they were all packed up and ready to leave before I realized it and I didn't get any photos of them and their work .

My blue and yellow block does not have the bold graphic look the others have. I am going to use it in a specific project and it has a look that is more traditional and somewhat dated compared to the "Fresh Modern" quilts. However it is the look I am going for this time.

Everyone had a good time and there seemed to be a lot of enthusiasm for this lesson. I heard a lot of talk about the projects that are being planned for these blocks.  

Thanks  Kathy

.

Divas on the Road

Today I was invited to teach foundation piecing to the lovely ladies of Ruth's church based guild. Many of the same ladies from Teen Quilt Camp. Diva Judy joined the fun to see if she fit in and to perhaps lure her to camp this summer. I believe we have recruted her.
After much chatting and a wonderful pot luck supper I began my lesson.
First I gathered them together so for a little show of the pieces I had made and could find. Then I began the confuse the heck out them portion. Then, using Judy's machine, I did the demo portion.
Off they went to their own little piecing worlds and I bopped about to answer questions, one on one.
They all did an amazing job and tomorrow we shall return for another day of fun and sewing.
It was good to spend time with these ladies.
Lori and Brady heard our noise and came down to visit. Brady attends school there and was being picked up and will be on his way to a wonderful adventure.
I would bet that Ruth will put up a few photos later. Judy and I left about 8:30 PM. I hope Ruth went home for a good night's sleep.

A Charming Little Quilt

Yesterday I was the recipient of this little 18 x 21 quilt. that Jan made for  me from a pack of 5 inch squares that she won  last year at the first Diva Jellyroll Race.

 

Last year when I was decluttering  Lori asked if I would like to contribute some of what I was weeding out as prizes for the race I had put together some packs not so charming 5 inch squares and called them "Notso Packs". I think it demonstrates that when you put it in a quilt it goes from "Notso" to "Oh so". I love it. I received it without the binding at this years race and Jan took it home and finished the binding and gave it to me last evening at our Friendship group. It is going up on my sewing room wall as soon as I take down the Christmas wreath quilt that somehow got left up when I put all the Christmas away in a stack to be put away. I guess sometimes it really pays to procrastinate; now I can put everything away together.

 Maybe I should take a last look around to make sure I got it all.

 

Jellyroll Quilt

Diane finished her Jellyroll Race quilt. She had to stay home sick from a weekend quilt retreat but she finished her quilt so the weekend wasn't a total washout.

I hear there is progress being made by others but so far no pictures.