August meeting

I'm so glad we decided to meet in August.  I had a great time, starting with breakfast and Jello shots provided by Jan.  It is no wonder I was distracted in putting out the coffee.

Many Divas were finishing things and prepping for upcoming projects.  Sherman was banished so things were peaceful.  We didn't have to compete with the barking.

We managed to get quite a bit accomplished.  Mary Ann and Dianne each pin-basted a quilt and Kathy pinned two tops.  Jan was fussy cutting for a Wildwood project that she and I are working on (Thanks, Jan!).  Gwen was cutting pieces from some sweet fabrics to be made into a little girl's quilt.

Syd brought a beautiful embroidered tablecloth that she found while going through the family estate treasurers.

Dianne showed this gorgeous piece with beautiful machine quilting.

. 

Jan showed her Maddie Bea quilt that she made in a Wildwood workshop.  She had to work through several challenges (including fabric shortages) to get this one finished. Laura quilted it.  The photo does not do it justice.

Judy made this top from a couple of rounds of Friendship blocks plus many more small ones that she made to finish it off.

The back of the quilt is made from a jelly roll top with piano key boards.  I love the color combo!

Judy also completed this quilt made from Friendship blocks inspired by the paint colors in her home.  I love the synchronized Vanna poses in this photo.

Here is a shot of the back, including a single larger block made by Susie.



Lynn made this luminous wool pieced top.



Mary Ann finished this Spring-y piece.



Ruth brought a sweet baby quilt.



Lunch was great, as usual.  For the first time ever, we had no desserts!  We should brace ourselves for next month because the pendulum just might swing in the other direction.  It wouldn't be the first time we had nearly all desserts.

See you all next month!

July meeting

The summer of 2015 heatwave hit just as we gathered in the basement. That's ok.  We were cool downstairs with a group of seven.  There was a lot of handwork going on, plus some cutting. Of course, there was lots of talking and maybe a margarita.

 

Syd was beginning her braid challenge by cutting the beautiful fabric below for her background.

 

 

 

Mary Ann was cutting some beautiful fabric (including some of my favorite AMH) for this pattern.  It is going to be stunning, no doubt!

 

Judy helped us all feel a sense of challenge urgency by showing off this lovely FINISHED braid.  Another stunning color combo from Judy.  She has a way with coral!

 

Judy also has this top nearly finished as a thank you for her neighbor.  This one is mostly in his home dec color combo of browns,

 
And the back ...

 

Susie brought this cute Halloween wallhanging. We can't get enough Halloween!

 

Here are a couple of detail shots of the back--showing the spider web quilting.

 

Susie also showed this adorable embroidered piece.  This piece is about 4 inches wide. 

 

 

Lynn was having "fun" with Sherman all day.  He was hungry apparently, which led to some tricks but lots and lots of annoying barking.

Whenever she would sit, though, he would cozy right up.

This is either a stern warning or the beginnings of a long friendship (probably the latter) :-).

As Kathy mentioned, we had our first head on collision in the driveway with Mike crashing head on into Judy's car.  Sorry, Judy!  As a result of going over the handlebars and onto the ground, he got a fat lip, a scraped knee, and a whack on the head.  Apparently, he is used to clipping in and riding out as he sets his bike computer.  He somehow managed to forget about the cars parked about 10 feet from the garage opening.  Huh.  I think he has learned to look where he is going.

Stay cool, Divas!

June Recap (and then there were 6)

Here's the Saturday crew.  Doesn't this make the area look spacious?  Hard to believe we fit 12 in here sometimes.  

 

 

Here's Judy's tote bag all put together--with a shot of the inside combo too.  She did hers in the way that's intuitive to her.  With all of her years of experience making bags, that makes a lot of sense.

This is the bag Kathy was working on for the Gifts Sew Special basket she and Judy signed up for.

 

These are the other fabrics.

 

This is Mary Ann's combo from a fabric bundle.  Squirrels and hedgehogs--cute!  She has plans for applique on the solid pockets.

 

Here's Susie's bag.  Very fun combo!

 

For my totebag, I used mostly Marcia Derse fat quarters that I bought at a show. It needs some topstitching then it will be done. I even sewed on Saturday, which I rarely do.  I had put together most of my bag during the week so I only had a bit of assembly to finish up.  Lynn turned my handles rightsides out so that was a huge time saver for me!

 

 

 

We saw Mary Ann's braid challenge in progress last time we met.  Here it is all put together.  She was looking for quilting ideas (thread colors and patterns).  Give her your ideas if you've got them.

 

 

Mary Ann was calling this the bag-from-hell due to all of the different types of pockets and pieces/parts. It was extremely professional looking but we can understand why she's glad this one is finished.

The photo makes the background look a little washed out but here's Lynn's project that she interpreted from the tote bag Mary Ann brought last month.  Really fun!

 

This is the baby quilt that coordinates with Kathy and Judy's Wildwood basket. It also has a reversible bib that has the elephant on one side and the turtle on the other. Sweet!

 

Judy also got her second braid challenge piece together. It is really beautiful.

 

Here is a closeup of the fussycut applique she added in two corners.  It really adds to this piece.  She's thinking of using the print for the binding also.

 

Here's a section of a Bonnie Hunter scrap quilt that I made with some homely traditional scraps. It is pretty big hence the incomplete photo.

Sherman was barking and eyeing up Lynn's arm so I gave him the look.  By some miracle, he got my point and moseyed over in between Lynn and Susie with a sheepish look. 

Lynn got her revenge!

 

Lynn received a few more birthday cards.

 

 

We had a fun and productive Saturday.  Next month, we'll work on our braid challenge pieces.

By the way, someone left their small blue cutting may here in May.  Let me know if it is yours.

School's out!

I decided not to make Brady's teacher and end of year gift but, instead, I bought her a gift certificate at JEllen's.  She is a quilter and she is retiring this year.  Over the weekend, I was looking through a new book and saw these apples.  I decided to make something after all.  It was Sunday night and the last day of school was Thursday.  I managed to get it done and I think she appreciated it.  Maybe next time I'll plan better.

 

May Recap

We had a great May meeting.  Several Divas were busy working on their braid challenge.  We decided that our due date will be the October Diva meeting so that we have time to collect them to hang in the November 1 Wildwood show.

Mary Ann had a beautiful spring color theme.  I love the accent squares.  We also got to admire Mary Ann's other show and tell ... her BRAND.NEW.CAR!  Lucky Diva!

 

Judy was working on a second braid finish with this exotic focus print.  Syd and Kathy consulted on ways to square it up.  Those are Kathy's hands on the left helping with some unsewing. 

 

Susie was working on a Friendship block.

Dianne was adding the binding to a remembrance t-shirt quilt.  It never ceases to amaze me how she can be so productive away from home.

 

Here's a more complete shot of the quilt.  It was very nicely done and I am sure the recipients will cherish it forever.

 

Laura brought a jelly roll race top she made earlier this year.  We all oohed and ahhed at how nicely things lined up and how well it was pieced.

Laura also had a charming scrappy top that I believe is intended for her nephew.  Lucky guy.

 

Laura also put together this panel and pieced border that she won as a prize.  Cute!

 

Jan presented Lynn with this nicely done art card in honor of a certain milestone birthday.

I'm putting the binding on my Marie's Scraps but you'll have to wait on a photo.  Lunch was great as usual.  We had quite a variety of things and everyone had a good time socializing.  Here's part of the group discussing something very important, I am sure.  We are enjoying our pre-lunch margaritas. 

Thanks to all for making it a great meeting.  Next month, we will meet on our usual third Saturday, 6/20.  For those who are interested, we plan to do a hands on project making a Fat Quarter Bag. 

A Diva Star

I sorted the red, white and blue leftovers that were in my Jellyroll prize bag one evening while I watched TV. I was surprised to find a 16 inch block among the leftover triangles, squares and a  HST's. I put some of the triangles together for HST's and added another round of blocks all around.

This is my 24 inch Diva Star; it all layered up and ready to quilt. It was fun and fast making something from someones leftover pieces.

My thanks to whoever donated the bag of pieces for the prize bags.

April recap

We had a beautiful day for our April meeting.  As a bonus, we were joined by one of our favorite and seminal members … this lady.  It was great to have Ruth here.  It was a good opportunity to give her the prize bag that’s been waiting for her since the race.  The bag included a crown from Jan and a flattering knit from Kathy.

I was distracted by Sherman’s barking, Brady’s requests for help with the iPad, and getting together a quick drawing system for the “potholders” so I missed some of the work in progress.  Some Divas were working on Friendship blocks and some were pin basting.  Dianne was putting together the backing for a pretty floral top that she made from some leftover squares. 

After beating a dead horse since 2014 on the potholder/art quilt exchange, it seemed that everyone got into the spirit one way or another.  Dianne (#1 critic of the “challenge”) not only brought one but made one.  What a good sport!  Some Divas made matched sets—very generous and thoughtful.  In the end, we had enough for everyone to receive one, even our Divas that couldn’t join us.  These shots are a little dark but here are the finished pieces that we chose from via a drawing.

I forgot to put the pot pie in the oven until 12:00 so that made for a later than usual lunch and probably the reason we missed show and tell.  Speaking of lunch, we had one of our spontaneous dessert-fests.  From my calculations, we had two chilled choices (ambrosia and Jello), two kinds of cookies, two key lime pies, and two options for carrot cake.  Kathy had made these cute cakes for the April birthday Divas.  She brought some squeeze frosting for me to apply.  As Kathy would say, the result is Charlie Brown sincere.  With another great lunch on the books, we were all stuffed!

Next month, we will continue working on our braid challenges or whatever inspires you.