GENERAL MEETING NOTES -- 08 December 2015

We had a short meeting so we could get to the fun.  There were no demos, tips or techniques.  We did have lunch and played some games, but more of that further down the page.  Our Executive did a wonderful job of decorating and organizing this event.  Specific thanks goes to Sharon Quinton for the best Hay Stacks ever and for taking on the preparation and delivery of the Wheelchair Quilts; Betty Trudeau for making all the mini Christmas Stockings and assisting with the decorating; Gail Purnell for all the decorations; and Sheila Kimberley for guiding the ship and for preparing all the quilt kit prizes, getting the patterns copied, etc., etc. 

Here's a massive Thank You to our executive for all their hard work! 

 

Take a look at some of the decorations...

 The nativity Set played Christmas Carols.

The tables were all decorated with these gorgeous Centerpieces.



1.  Birthday Girls this month, Donna Prince &
                                           Sheila Kimberley

2.  Donations for our local seniors facilities were piled up on two tables as everyone dropped their quilts off when they came in.  Take a look at all these beauties.

Linda Scott is looking at Donna Prince's contribution.  The pattern for this block is on this blog.  Search for Quilt Pattern Instructions to go to the posting.

Janet Walton is in awe at all the beautiful quilts to be donated.

 LaRae McKinnon and Linda Scott are busily going through all the quilts.

3.  Early Bird winner was LaRae McKinnon.  She was first to arrive for the meeting today.

4.  A large jar of candy canes was set up on the table as we entered.  We were asked to write down the number we thought were in the jar.  We had three winners!  Each had guessed the number was 300.  The actual number was 309.
Donna Prince, Gail Purnell and Dawn Collins each received a quilt kit of their choosing from the selection at the head table.

5.  Beginning in January 2016, LaRae McKinnon will be presenting stories about quilting each month.  Thank you LaRae!

6.  We each received, upon arrival, a sheet with a selection of Quilt Acronyms.  We were all trying to fill in what each represented.  Here are the answers for those who are interested.

     B.O.M. -- Block of the Month
     D.S.M. -- Domestic Sewing Machine
     F.A.R.T. -- Fabric Acquisition Road Trip
     F.O.B. -- Fear of Binding
     F.Q. -- Fat Quarter
     H.S.T. -- Half Square Triangle
     L.A. -- Long Arm
     L.A.Q. -- Long Arm Quilting/er
     L.Q.S. -- Local Quilt Shop
     M.A.Q. -- Mid Arm Quilter/ing
     O.B.W. -- One Block Wonder
     PhD -- Project Half Done
     P.I.G.S. -- Projects In Grocery Sacs
     P.P. -- Paper Piecing
     Q.A.Y.G. -- Quilt As You Go
     R.R. -- Round Robin
     S.A.B.L.E. -- Stash Accumulation Beyond Life Expectancy
     S.E.X. -- Stash Extension eXperience
     S.I.D. -- Stitch In the Ditch
     S.n.W. -- Stack 'n Wack
     Squishy -- I'm not sure of this one.  Can anyone help?
     S.T.A.S.H. -- Special Treasures All Safely Hidden
     T.G.I.F. -- Thank Goodness It's Finished
     T.O.T. -- Tone On Tone
     U.F.O. -- UnFinished Objects
     V.I.P. -- Very Important Project
     W.H.I.M.M. -- Works Hidden In My Mind
     W.I.P. -- Work in Progress
     W.I.S.P. -- Work In Slow Progress
     W.W.I.T. -- What Was I Thinking
     W.O.F. -- Width Of Fabric
     W.O.M.B.A.T. -- Waste of Money, Batting And Fabric

Ruby Quinton had the highest number of correct answers. 

 

6.  For our last game we played Strip Poker.  Now before you all get excited, it means strips of fabric.  The people who went home with the most fabric strips, our BIG Winners, were Gail Erickson, Betty Trudeau, Gail Purnell, Linda Scott, Jo-Anne Schindler, LaRae McKinnon and Shirley Paulson.

I hope everyone will have a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Keep On Quilting.

P.S.  Don't forget to take a look at our Show & Shine post.  We had some really spectacular quilts shown in December.

SHOW & SHINE -- 09 Nov 2015

With an expanded Quilt Guild enrollment this year, our quilt production has necessarily increased.  Add to this, our efforts to create 60 Wheelchair Quilts for donation to the Cardston Hospital Auxiliary and Lee Crest Seniors Home, results in a long list of quilters and greater number of quilts.
 
Prepare to be impressed!
 
We have 16 quilters that created 39 projects.
 
1.  Kristy Stewart
     a.  Pot Holders
     b.  Coasters.  Kristy holds both projects up with a pile of reproductions on the table.

2.  Helen Wilde ...
     a.  Wheelchair Quilt #1

     b.  Wheelchair Quilt #2

     c.  Wheelchair Quilt #3

     d.  Wheelchair Quilt #4 wasn't held out long enough for me to get a photo.
 
3.  Judy Salmon
     a.  This was a fabric panel which Judy whipped-up.

     b.  Judy's October Sew Day Project completed.  Cute.

     c.  Computer Bag in Purples.  Very nice.

     d.  Calendar block for November.  Judy designed this block herself.  Everyone was delighted with the end result.



     e. & f.  Wheelchair Quilts #1 and #2.  These weren't shown. 

4.  Heidi Sharp
     a.  Heidi will be away next month so she brought this quilt which isn't quite finished.  There is a close-up of the quilting for each block.  Heidi, you're getting very good at machine quilting.

     b.  This quilt was a gift for her daughter for last Christmas.  It's finished this Christmas.  The quilt was cross-stitched by a friend and machine quilted by by Heidi.

 
5.  Gail Erickson ...
     a.  Gail likes to have baby quilts on hand all the time.  I think she said that this is the last for the time-being.  They're all so delicious.

 6.  Raeola Baker ...
     a.  Wedding quilt made with letters of vinyl. This was a kit quilt from Village Quilts.

     b.  This quilt was made with assistance from the great people at Village Quilts.

 
7.  Ruby Quinton ...
     a.  Ruby makes such wonderful quilts.  This is a Disappearing 4-patch pattern.

 
8.  Sharon Pitcher ...
     a.  I believe this is the first completed quilt Sharon has shown.  It's unusual construction appealed to Sharon.  It makes both sides of the quilt at the same time and only takes 2 jelly rolls to complete.  I believe the quilt name is Mile-a-Minute quilt.

9.  Lisa Comin ...
     a.  loves to make wall hangings because of how quickly they make up.  She's all about the colours.

     b.  Lisa has made a shaded dark to light vertical Chevrons wall hanging. 

     c.  This is her version of the Fall Pumpkin Sew Day project made as a wall hanging.

 
10.  Dianne Oertli ...
     a.  I've been waiting to see this quilt, Dianne, ever since I saw you working on it at one of our sew days.  It's gorgeous, and I'm not saying that just because I love green.  The design is called French Braid.

     b.  The fabric in this single-bed quilt is very special.  It is fabric purchased in Alaska while Dianne was on a cruise. Her great granddaughter should be pleased.

11.  Judy Prince ...
      a. loves to work in wool.  This Applique Cornucopia is wonderful.  The wool makes everything look so rich.

      b. Judy made the next two Wheelchair quilts using the demo block for this month.  Sylvia is holding up these samples.  10 Minute Block

      c.  This is a shorter version for a lady.  They both have pockets.

      d.  Judy is showing her reversible Nativity quilt below.  She has been collecting Nativity fabric for a long time.  She still has plenty left for making more gorgeous quilts.  The back of the quilt is a completely different design so that this quilt can be reversed.



     e.  This is another quilt Judy brought to show our meeting demo 10 Minute blocks.



    

       f.  Judy made this lovely quilt by cutting up a fabric panel and adding frames, pieces between the blocks and some poinsettia applique.

12.  Gail Purnell ...
      a.  This scrumptious quilt is made with a pattern called Love Knots.  Very impressive, great colours and wonderfully made.

 
13.  Betty Trudeau ...
       a.  completed this project given to her by Donna Prince, at least that is what I understood.  Log Cabin

       b.  Betty's pumpkin table runner from the Oct Sew Day pattern.  It's so interesting to see everyone's version of this project.

       c.  Betty made an additional Pumpkin Sew Day project but again added her own twist for Halloween by adding the face.  The fabric that you've used for the border is adorable.

 
14.  Sharon Quinton ...
       a.  agreed to bring this wall hanging to show someone at the meeting.  We made her show it but she didn't want to show it for very long.  I think, even with the blurring, you can see the design.

      
     b.  This Hexagon Table Topper was begun at one of the Sew Days last year.  It was worth the wait.  It is made perfectly with a great design!

 
15.  Sheila Kimberley ...
       a.  never wants to show her work. When she brought her Wheelchair Quilt to explain how she made the self-bound edge, I took a picture. 

       b.  Wheelchair Quilt she didn't show at Show & Shine.  I'll try to get a picture in December.

16.  Donna Prince ...
       a.  decided to make her two Wheelchair Quilts with the blocks used in the Raw Edge Scrappy Quilt.  We have this pattern on the blog.

       b.  Her second Wheelchair quilt is longer for use by the gentlemen. It is also made with the Raw Edge Scrappy Quilt.

Keep on Quilting! 

SHOW & SHINE -- 08 June 2015

This month, our last of the 2014/2015 year, we are completing a challenge to create projects with the fabric gathered during the fabric-tearing game at our Dec 2014 meeting. As a reminder I'll explain how we all acquired our fabrics. 

During this game we each started with a meter of fabric.  While sitting in a circle everyone passed the fabric around the circle until the music stopped.  Does this remind you of anything?  Once the music stopped we each halved whatever fabric we ended with.  One half was ours to keep the second half moved around the circle again until the music stopped once more.  We repeated these two steps until the fabric remaining was approximately 8" x 10".  With our stacks of  fabric, no two pieces the same size, we were challenged to make a project or projects using all the fabrics and bring them to the final meeting of the year.  Projects from the challenge were displayed separately but I've included them in the Show & Shine quilts below. 

Fabric from the December 2014 fabric-tearing game are referred to as "challenge fabrics", to single-out these projects.

Let's get started.....

We had 14 quilters showing 35 projects.  This is an impressive number of projects and a wonderful end to our year. 

1.  Gail Purnell...
     a.  started in the middle of this quilt and kept going round and round.  The middle 7 rounds include the challenge fabrics.  Gail won a prize for creating the largest project.

       b.   Gail was on a roll making another scrap quilt.  You'd never know it.  Just take a look at this wonderful quilt.

2.  Sharon Quinton...
made 8? different projects with her challenge fabric.  They include a bottle bag, small pillow, 2 pot holders, a microwave bowl holder and a tea cup decoration. What have I missed?  Sharon won the prize for the most projects made.  a. - f.

       g.  Sharon showed 4 projects in conjunction with her demonstration.  I've included them here but will provide all the detail and information in the demonstration post.  Circle of stars.  Quilt top only.      

      h.  Chevron Table Runner

       i.  Bed Quilt

  

           Quilt back.

       j.  Pillow

       k.  Chenille quilt.

            Quilt back.



3.  Betty Trudeau...

     a.  made this wonderful 3D butterfly applique table topper. The top part of the butterflies are made with some wonderful lace.  To use all the challenge fabric Betty also made a pot holder. 





     b.  Betty loves Christmas.  This quilt is called "Christmas in a Cabin".  It is the first time Betty has made the Log Cabin Block.  No problems making this block, right Betty? This is the quilt top only.

       Close-up

4.  Judy Salmon...

     a.  created a cloth bucket with her challenge fabric.  Judy wasn't sure what she would use it for and then remembered she was collecting salvage edges for another project so...this is her "salvage edge and binding bucket".

5.  Dawn Collins...

     a.  used the pattern that Sylvia Terry posted on the blog.  There were a couple of changes made: the triangles were only raw edge appliqued and the border contained triangles too.  This is only the quilt top.  Only 2 of the challenge fabrics were used.  Dawn designed another quilt to use the remainder of the challenge fabrics but didn't manage to get it done in time.  I guess that will be a Sept Show & Shine project.                                         

 6.  Corinne Allred...

     a. - b.  made another 2 Christmas Tree napkins to add to her collection and then she created some jean-fabric squares with different appliqued designs to use up the remainder of her challenge fabrics.  The squares are going to be used for her daughter's friends to sign. 

7.  Ruby Quinton...

     a. - c.  finished her projects in February and was the first to use all the challenge fabrics.  She made a wall hanging plus 2 pot holders.  Ruby won the prize for being the first to complete the challenge.  Sorry Ruby, I didn't manage to get a full picture of your projects.  When I receive the February pictures I'll switch this pic out.

8.  Sheila Kimberley...

     a.  made this wonderful beach bag with her challenge fabrics. This was a super idea.  Sheila made pockets for a book, sunglasses, sunscreen and just about anything else you might need at the beach.  The mesh pieces in her bag are actually made from window screen.  Sheila, you're ready for summer!

9.  Linda Scott...

     a.  used her challenge fabrics to create this wonderful cover for a disgustingly boring black binder.  With flowers added as a focal point this project is a real beauty.

10.  Gail Erickson...

       a. - b.  Made a pillowcase and ????? with her challenge fabrics.  Gail won a prize for being the last to finish her project.  (She made them yesterday!)  It was nice to see you at this last meeting.  We've missed you while you were away on your many trips this winter.  Sorry Gail, I missed taking a picture of your project.  You can see a bit of the pillow case behind Linda Scott's photo above.  If you can take a picture and send it to me I'll insert it.

 

       c.  Gail made this wonderful quilt top from her fabric scraps.  This quilt contains fabrics from the quilts she's made in the last 20 years!  The name of this quilt is a Disappearing 16-patch.  Each block is 12" x 12".  Gail is renowned for making very large quilts.

11.  Denise Skinner...

       a.  made this quilt for one of her granddaughters.  She is determined to make a quilt for each of her 19 grandchildren.  That's a huge project!  Denise is off to a wonderful start.  This is the first quilt Denise has shown at our Guild.

        b. This black, white and yellow quilt is an eye-catcher.  The colours really pop!  Many quilters have difficulty using bright yellow in their quilts. The black prints are more than a match for the yellows.  This quilt has wonderful balance.   Thank you for bringing your quilts for us to admire.

12.  Alice Sheen...



       a.  made a patriotic wall hanging.  Her Canadian flag has a 3D effect which is meant to make the flag look like it's fluttering.  It is very cute.

13. LaRea McKinnon...

      a.  made this many-pocketed purse.  It's going with her on the quilt tour she and Donna Prince are going on this summer.  You have many envious friends.   We'll all be waiting for wonderful stories and photos.

The outside of the purse has pockets as well.  LaRea looks very happy about this project.  Just look at that smile.

14.  Sylvia Pankhurst...

       a.  made this quilt with a combination of batiks and regular quilting fabric.  The fabric colours are so light and sunny looking.  Sylvia called this quilt "Tropical Dreams" and did free-motion quilting.  The palm trees were quilted on each of the large batik squares.  Sylvia, are you excited about summer finally arriving? 

Quilt back.  It looks like Sylvia didn't put any batting into her quilt.  Definitely a warm weather quilt.  I love this quilt.

 Quilt block close-up.

 

       

Keep on quilting...