September Meeting and our First Block of the Month!

We had fun at Quilt Group last Monday! I was especially surprised - a 50th Birthday celebration! Totally surprised. What a sweet group! About 6:25 I was totally wondering where everyone was... why no one had come yet! Terry came in and informed me that traffic was especially stinky, and that must be why everyone was late. You guys are too funny.

A couple of you made wonderful cupcakes for the occasion! (Good think I ran out of time to make the cake I was thinking about!) And I am so thankful for the lovely gifts! I feel so special!

New Facebook Page!

We have set up a new Facebook page so we can easily share photos of our new Block of the Month projects, and anything else you want. Check it out!

Upcoming Dates

October 4-7: Quilt Retreat at Seabeck
October 5-7: Laconner Quilt Festival
October 13: Friendship Quilting Day
October 28: Ladies Christmas Friendship Dinner Hostess registration begins
October 29: Quilt Group Meeting

Retreat

Our January retreat will be at Seabeck on January 17-20, 2013. I know that sounds like a long time away, but it's just around the corner! It's $195 for 4 days of quilting and being cooked for! If you haven't come before, maybe now's the time? :-)

Block of the Month

We had our first viewing of our Block of the Month project on Craftsy.com. You can rewatch the video if you'd like. It's free, but you do need to register on Craftsy's website and "purchase" the free class. This is the class.

Show and Tell

We had lots of show and tell! Too fun!

Gail made this cute flannel baby quilt from Terry's baby
fabric donation!

Sherri finished this one with little lambs... so cute!

Heidi made this sweet one with frogs

Wendy stayed home on Baby Quilting Day
and made this quilt...

...and this one...

... and this one too! Amazing!

Ginger made these two baby quilts! Started out as one
baby quilt for her grand nephew. She decided
it was too big and split it into two - one for
the grand nephew and one for the church babies. Sweet!

Cherice made this baby quilt. And Betsy (aka "the other
Betsy" - she probably calls me that too!) bound
it for us. Nice teamwork ladies!

Linda made this one out of striped fabric - nice job!

Jean finished her Pizza Box Exchange top - really nice job!

Diana made this cute bag from a pattern she found
on Pinterest! Gotta love that! She also made one as
a gift for someone's 50th birthday - thanks!

Diana got to quilt her Jelly Roll Race quilt on a
longarm at the new Kent quilt shop! Too fun! 

and here's the back!

Cherice made this adorable elephant...

Eileen showed this wonderful Hawaiian shirt quilt
that she made for her brother. Adorable pattern and
hand quilted! Beautiful! and even has a label!

Barb got a AQS longarm! So she just had to do some
practicing! This cute quilt was one of the results...

... and it's back...

...she finished up her Buggy Barn quilt...

... this cute red quilt (was this an Apple Crisp?)...

... with this cute back...

... this cute baby quilt...

...here's it's back...

... and Barb finally quilted this top that she said has been
sitting around her sewing room for years "not speaking
to her." I'm glad it finally spoke up... it's cute!

and we can't forget Micha's show and
tell... a new iPhone! And hopefully this
one survives the boys better!

August Meeting Recap

We had fun at the August group meeting!

Baby Dedications & Baby Quilting Day

Friendship Quilting Day September 8th will be a baby quilting day. It's also Debbie's birthday... how appropriate! Let's get ahead!

Needs

• Lorraine is making a quilt for Ruth-Anne Heath, and would accept any jewel tone batik donations that you might have!

Upcoming Dates

September 8th: Friendship Quilting Day/Baby Quilting Day

September 24th: Quilt Group meeting (and our first Block of the Month block... see below)

October 4-7: Quilt Retreat at Seabeck

October 5-7: Laconner Quilt Festival

October 13: Friendship Quilting Day

Retreat

We still have a couple of spots open for the October 4-7 retreat at Seabeck! It's a great time to get lots of quilting done, and have a marvy time chatting and getting to know each other. It can be tiring and so refreshing, all at the same time. And fall is a wonderful time to go to Seabeck!

The Fall aka "What are we going to do next?"

We looked at an intro video to a fun Block of the Month (BOM) on Craftsy.com that we decided to do. We'll learn one new technique that you can use for two different blocks each month, as well as learn some basting, quilting, and binding techniques.

This program is on Craftsy.com for free. We'll watch a video each month starting in September, and start working on blocks at quilt group each month (so bring your machine if you'd like). Because it's free, you can sign up for it personally too, and watch the video again and again, if you'd like. I will print the directions, but you need to work ahead you can actually print them yourself.

If you need these documents, or the first month's instructions, just let me know and I'll email them to you!

On Craftsy.com there is a supply list. She suggests a number of fat quarters and background fabric, but you certainly could make it out of scraps and/or stash. Black or some other color would be a cool background... whatever you like! Here's an abbreviated list. I wouldn't run out and buy anything until you need it... and we'll have lots of these items that we can share among the group... like fabric markers or large rulers:

• Background fabric – 4 yards (3.75 m) will give you enough for background, sashing and border.
• Binding fabric of your choice – 1⁄2 yard
• Backing fabric of your choice – 41⁄2 yards
• Batting - The quilt is 55" x 68 1⁄2" If you buy batting prepackaged by bed size, in most brands, this is a twin. Off a 96"roll, you’ll need 2 yards.
• 35 fat quarters (FQ) in a variety of prints and colors – I’m working with a 35-print bundle, but
• I’ll probably have a few unused fat quarters at the end, of prints I chose not to incorporate. You may not need 35 exactly; it really depends on which fabrics you choose for which blocks, as it’s a very scrappy quilt. I’m not sure I’d go out and purchase 35 individual FQs, but if you’re buying a bundle, a 36-print one will be perfect.
• Thread
• Rotary cutter and mat
• Fabric scissors
• Sewing machine
• Iron
• Water-soluble fabric marker/pen
• Faultless Heavy Starch
• 24" clear quilt ruler
• 12 1⁄2" square quilt ruler
• 4 1⁄2" square ruler for half square triangles
• Fabric glue stick
• Templates (optional, see patterns)
• Template plastic, or cardboard
• Hand sewing needle

Show and tell

Diana made this cute iron cozy - and made the pattern from looking at a picture!

Heidi made this bag. It was created with "fabric" made on the Jelly Roll Race Day! Clever!

Diana made this table runner.

Diana is keeping up on her monthly UFO finishing project... this month with these cute place mats!

Terry has already put her Pizza Box Exchange quilt top together! What a star!

And can you believe it! Linda has finished her Pizza Box Exchange quilt top too! Wow!

Gail made these bags. Man she makes lovely things for her husbands secretaries!

Linda finished this wonderful batik scrappy quilt!

Betsy is (almost) finished with this baby quilt for her grand-nephew!

July Group... and the Fall!

We had fun at the July group meeting.

Baby Dedications
Debbie has let us know now that there's a couple of month reprieve on baby quilts, but that usually creates a busy spell shortly after... October could be busy! And we are really low on boy and girl quilts... so don't stop now! I think the consensus is to have our Friendship Quilting Day which is on September 8th be a baby quilting day. It's also Debbie's birthday... how appropriate!

Needs

• Lorraine would like to make a quilt for Ruth-Anne Heath, and would accept any jewel tone batik donations that you might have!
• If you have any items you don't need (particularly fabric that others could use for our Fall Block of the Month program), please bring it to our August meeting!

Upcoming Dates
August 24-26: APWQ Show
September 8th: Friendship Quilting Day/Baby Quilting Day
September 27th: Quilt Group meeting (and our first Block of the Month block... see below)
October 4-7: Quilt Retreat at Seabeck

Retreat
We still have several spots open for the October 4-7 retreat at Seabeck! It's a great time to get lots of quilting done, and have a marvy time chatting and getting to know each other. It can be tiring and so refreshing, all at the same time. And fall is a wonderful time to go to Seabeck!

The Fall aka "What are we going to do next?"
We looked at an intro video to a fun Block of the Month (BOM) on Craftsy that we decided to do. We'll learn one new technique that you can use for two different blocks each month, as well as learn some basting, quilting, and binding techniques.

This program is on Craftsy.com for free. We'll watch a video each month starting in September, and start working on blocks at quilt group each month (so bring your machine if you'd like). Because it's free, you can sign up for it personally too, and watch the video again and again, if you'd like. I will print the directions, but you need to work ahead you can actually print them yourself.

On Craftsy there is a supply list, but I'll give you all a printed version at the August meeting. She suggests a number of fat quarters and background fabric, but you certainly could make it out of scraps and/or stash. Black or some other color would be a cool background... whatever you like! Here's an abbreviated list. I wouldn't run out and buy anything until you need it... and we'll have lots of these items that we can share among the group... like fabric markers or large rulers:

• Background fabric – 4 yards (3.75 m) will give you enough for background, sashing and border.
• Binding fabric of your choice – 1⁄2 yard
• Backing fabric of your choice – 41⁄2 yards
• Batting - The quilt is 55" x 68 1⁄2" If you buy batting prepackaged by bed size, in most brands, this is a twin. Off a 96"roll, you’ll need 2 yards.
• 35 fat quarters (FQ) in a variety of prints and colors – I’m working with a 35-print bundle, but
• I’ll probably have a few unused fat quarters at the end, of prints I chose not to incorporate. You may not need 35 exactly; it really depends on which fabrics you choose for which blocks, as it’s a very scrappy quilt. I’m not sure I’d go out and purchase 35 individual FQs, but if you’re buying a bundle, a 36-print one will be perfect.
• Thread
• Rotary cutter and mat
• Fabric scissors
• Sewing machine
• Iron
• Water-soluble fabric marker/pen
• Faultless Heavy Starch
• 24" clear quilt ruler
• 12 1⁄2" square quilt ruler
• 4 1⁄2" square ruler for half square triangles
• Fabric glue stick
• Templates (optional, see patterns)
• Template plastic, or cardboard
• Hand sewing needle

Show and tell

Diana's mystery quilt 

Nikki's daughter's very first quilt! Amazing, and donated to the babies!

The back of Betsy's denim quilt...

And the front of the denim quilt!

Terry's Baby quilt

Sherri's baby quilt

Sherri's Baby Quilt 2!

Val made this quilt for her niece's wedding... lovely!

This is the curtain for Tricia's kitchen... cute!

Jennifer is almost done with a cute quilt!

Debbie finished her cute Tinkerbell quilt

June Meeting Recap with Pizza Box Quilt Block Exchange

In case you missed it, here is the recap from our June (5/25) meeting / Pizza Box Exchange Reveal / potluck. We primarily ate dinner, and revealed our pizza box square quilts! 19 of the 20 Exchange participants were able to make it! That's amazing!

Verses from Linda:

• "Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect." Romans 12:2 
• "Deep lasting change requires me to attend to how this present age impacts my thinking." ~ from Christ Formed in You by Brian G Hedges
• "And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worth of praise." Philippians 4:8

We had 3 new visitors! Judy Kreft and her sister-in-law Ilene came. Judy has come to Crossroads a few times, and Ilene is an amazing hand piecer, quilter, and appliquer from Hawaii. Also visiting was Tricia Curtis. She's been sewing since she was young, but is just learning to quilt, and has a quilt under way already!

We voted to keep meeting through the summer, even if the meetings are small.

Companionship Quilters Calendar

• July Friendship Quilting Day - July 14th
• July Group Meeting - July 30th (Quilt Group meets the last Monday of the month, January-November)
• September Retreat has been moved to October 4-7, 2012. $35 will hold your spot!

Next Meeting: Monday, July 30th, 2012

• 6:30 - 9pm - Room 420
• What to bring to meetings:
• Show & Tell
• $2 donation for kitty
• Baby quilts for baby dedication

Show and Tell

We showed each one of our Pizza Box Exchange quilts one at a time... boy it was exciting to see them when they were turned around! They all turned out so fun! (The links on the names below will take you to bigger versions of the pictures on Flickr.)

1. Terry, 2. Sherri, 3. Melanie, 4. Sharon, 5. Barb, 6. Lorraine, 7. Lorraine, 8. Val, 9. Diana, 10. Ginger, 11. Betsy, 12. Linda, 13. Micha, 14. Cherice, 15. Sue, 16. Heidi, 17. Nan, 18. Wendy, 19. Brittany, 20. Brittany and Chirsa, 21. Lorraine shows the back!, 22. Praying, 23. Jean, 24. Micha's test diaper bag, 25. Val, 26. Diana, 27. Ilene's hand pieced and hand quilted quilt, 28. Ilene, 29. Ilene's hand applique season blocks, 30. Back of Ilene's amish quilt, 31. Linda, 32. Linda, 33. Linda, 34. Cherice's pot holder, 35. Cherice's quilting!

June UFO #

In case you're still following along, according to Judy over at Patchwork Times, the June UFO # is 12! I've struggled to get anything done the past couple of months, but hope to get back on the "finishing" bandwagon! Betsy

June Date Change

Friendship Quilting Day is now going to be June 23rd (in lieu of June 16th)! Hope to see you there!

May Meeting Recap

In case you missed it. Here is the recap from our May (5/21) meeting:

• Thirteen quilters attended.
• Betsy gave the treasury report.
• We showed several pizza box squares. We are done! Our June meeting will be the big reveal! We're going to do a potluck, meeting on our usual day, but half hour earlier at 6:00. Melanie will be coordinating the food... keep an eye on your email!
• Show and tell from Micha, Diana and Terry.

Verse from Linda: 

Romans 15:13 " I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit."

Companionship Quilters Calendar

• June Friendship Quilting Day - June 16th
• June Group Meeting, potluck and Pizza Box Reveal - June 25th (Quilt Group meets the last Monday of the month, January-November)
• June Retreat June 7-10, 2012 - there is still one spot open!
• September Retreat - September 20-23, 2012

Next Meeting: Monday, June 25th, 2012 - Special Time!

• 6:00 - 9pm - Room 420 (or possibly the Fireside Room) 
• Potluck - Melanie will be telling us what to bring!
• Pizza Box Block Exchange Reveal
• What to bring to meetings:
• Show & Tell
• $2 donation for kitty
• Baby quilts for baby dedication

Show and Tell

Terry finished this Block of the Month quilt that she started maybe 10 years ago.
JoAnn's got her copies of the pattern she was missing... nice!

Diana's finished umbrella girls quilt!

And the back of her quilt. She built in pockets in the corners to put a dowel to hang it from,
and a couple of loops to keep it from drooping in the middle.

Micha showed us her cute necklace she made... of wrapped felt!

April Group Meeting (April 30th, 2012)

In case you missed it. Here is the recap from our April meeting:

• Fifteen quilters attended.
• We showed several pizza box squares. Most boxes already have the 12 needed blocks. There are still about 3 boxes that still need blocks. We will schedule the “reveal party ” when those boxes are finished - likely a Friday potluck at the end of June!
• Debbie Walker reported on the Baby Dedication Quilt ministry. She currently has about 9 quilts. Dedications are typically on the 2nd Sunday of the month. We are always in need of “boy” or neutral quilts. We had one baby dedicated on Mother's day.
• Show and tell from Terry, Betsy, Debbie, Diana and Cherice.

Companionship Quilters Calendar

• May Friendship Quilting day – cancelled
• May 21st Group meeting (May meeting is a week earlier due to Memorial Day)
• Quilt Group meets the last Monday of the month, January-November. 
• September Retreat --- September 20-23, 2012

Next Meeting: Monday, May 21st, 2012

• 6:30pm - 9pm - Room 420 
• Socializing 6:30-7pm 
• Announcements 7pm 
• Show-and-Tell 
• Pizza Box Block Exchange

Show and Tell from April meeting

a picture of the baby quilt Terry has already given away from her iPad

Cherice's baby quilt that she free motion quilted herself!

Betsy's baby quilt

and the back.

Diana's quilt for one of her kids' leaders... made from a pattern from last year's Quilt Shop Hop!

Diana's mystery quilt from a magazine.

Diana's musical pillow case.

Debbie's baby girl quilt

Debbie's baby boy quilt

Terry's bag - clever!