April photo post

I heard from many of you to make sure I took lots of pictures.  As usual, there were many I missed but here are a few. 

As Kathy mentioned, there were lots of great conversations.  Ask Jan about her wife badge and be sure to ask Dianne how things are going with her cutting progress.

Lynn brought some of her stash and many Quilting Arts back issues.  Many were taken but many were not.  I'll have them here to look over next month then find a home for what's left.

Jan showed her Linus jelly roll.  I think we all think she deserves an A+ for design and resourcefulness.  See, those race prizes are all hidden gems!

Jan also brought her in progress bricks and mortar.

Dianne was so intrigued that she ditched the pattern she'd brought and started planning a bricks and mortar of her own.  Here are Jan and Dianne plotting their next moves.

Fran and Gwen were layering and pinning.  I'm sure they were thankful to have company and extra hands to help.  I don't know why I didn't get close ups of their tops but they are both beautiful.

Jan presented the super secret triple four patch she's been making for Kathy ever since she got the idea many months ago (or should I say, ever since Kathy gave the directive).  Usually her powers of suggestion aren't subtle.  Jan did a great job and I think she enjoyed the scheming part A LOT.

Here is Blue Hawaii Elvis hiding in the upper corner.

Syd presented Kathy with this lovely knitted cowl. 

Lunch was great as usual.  After our meal, we had a birthday celebration.  Things were quite animated so forgive the out of focus shots.

Kathy gifted Brady with a stellar variety of peeps.
 

Next month, we plan to work on our Mary Ellen Hopkins pieces.  Some of the Divas also expressed interest in making one of the sewing organizing things that I made for Kathy (see the picture with the green gift bag and the square thing that has selvages on it).  It is designed to sit next to your machine and hold all of those little things that seem to collect there (snips, thread, scissors, tissues, whatever).  I'll send an email with a supply list and additional information for anyone who wants to do that project.

Thanks to everyone for making this a great meeting.  Ruth, Judy, Susie and MaryAnn were fondly missed and we talked (nicely) about you.

April fool me

It was actually warm for our, slightly early. April meeting. We were missing Judy, Sue, and Mary Ann. Ruth stopped by long enough to collect the "made fabric" pieces for a talk she is giving.
 There was a flurry of excitement when Lynn opened her magic bags of books and fabric she was not going to ever use. ( I admire that she admits this) Some went for charity quilts some other projects. Jan scooped up a bunch and started cutting like mad for her Bricks and Mortar quilt. Dianne found the design more interesting than her planned project and since she had a" few" of the pieces cut already was off and running.
Jan showed her prize jelly roll quilt (pictures will follow) I think she was taken aback a bit by the oohs and ahhs received. Her innovation will probably be repeated by someone else. It was too good an idea not to steal.
 Fran pinned up her 2014 Jelly Roll quilt and is ready to get busy. Gwen's Mary Ellen Hopkins piece is as fresh as springtime and was pinned up today as well.
 Since I turned 60 today I felt I could goof off. I did a bit of knitting, some advising.. There were plenty of good conversations today. Syd knit like a mad woman.
 Lunch time was it's usual success and topped off by cake and presents for this old lady. Jan strong armed organized a beautiful triple 4 patch  quilt for me. My thanks to all. Non diva's but dear friends also contributed.
  Every one, every where should have friends like I have. The right to the pursuit of happiness is so much better when you travel through live in a pack like this.
 Lori, Mike, Brady and Sherman were fine hosts.
Next month we plan to make the "by your sewing machine" keeper that Lori made for me.
Stay tuned.

Mary Ellen Challenge

I have to admit that I have not even started on the Mary Ellen Hopkins challenge. I had some things I needed to finish and I was distracted by my pile piles of scraps.
I had loaned all my Mary Ellen books to someone and yesterday I got them back. There is a quilt named Metamorphosis in the "Connecting Up" book on pages 12 and 13 that has always fascinated me.



EQ7 Version of Mary Ellen Hopkins Metamorphosis

  Last night I opened EQ7 and sat with the open book and worked out the pattern in EQ7. This is what I came up with, copied right out of the book.  I can see why I did not attempt this quilt at the time I first saw it. Though it seems that there are only nine patch and snowball blocks, there are at least 28 different blocks in this quilt. There are  blocks that have only one or two connector corners and connector corners that are 2 different colors and 9 patches that have 3 or 4 colors instead of 2.  Without working this out in EQ, it would have been way too confusing to me. However, now I think I will attempt it. I will  have to play with the colors a little (or a lot). I will have to buy fabric; I will certainly need some muckled fabric for background. I might make some changes but maybe not; I really love this layout.
I know that am not going to make the May deadline for the challenge (have I mentioned that I am not fast?) but I am going to make this quilt.

Not an April Fool

Some idiot (me) gave the Mary Ellen Hopkins challenge deadline as April 2014. I say, since Judy won't be there, I say we extend the deadline until May of 2014.
  It's my story and I am sticking to it.