Finally posting!

Hello from Washington! It's been a busy summer and the rains have not yet begun, so I haven't been sewing much.
However, granddaughter Rosie's 2nd birthday is coming up and her mom requested that I complete a small wall quilt for the space over her bed. Rosie loves photos, so I thought she would like these "posies." I made a pillow case to match, and together they should put a little bit of femininity into the room she shares with her brothers. You'll notice that one of the posies is missing its center photo. That one is reserved for the brother or sister who will be joining the family in a few weeks.
I miss you guys, but am thankful for the motivation you provide through the blog.
Is there any talk of another challenge?

Lickety Split Quilts

When I was in Fayetteville, NC in April, I found a great book, Lickety Split Quilts for Little Ones. Great patterns for baby and VA Hospital quilts. I think I've done all but two patterns in there now.

This picture is from March. I've since had my surgery (May 28) had to use crutches and have a cast for three weeks then back to the Darth Vadar boot. I was out of commission for 19 1/2 weeks!!

This is a mystery quilt I had my Tuesday night class doing. Since this picture one more finished it.

Found out last week that I'm here until June 2011. And then we're off to DC. Germany is NOT in the plans at all unless we decide to vacation there some time. Oh well. Still enjoying the climate here if not the culture.

My Scalloped quilt

Hello ladies.

I have just finished my scalloped quilt for my second grandaughter Roxie. Just love it.

Miss you all, Ruth.

p.s. Do you have Abigail Dollinger's new email or postal address? Please forward.

Easy Travel Project

For those of you who have seen my current project that I take with me when I have to wait anywhere, I am almost at the magic number of blocks. Basically, it is two sized blocks, one 6" and one 3", the larger one has a small square on point appliqued in the center. The smaller one has a circle appliqued in the center. This has given me great practice in applique and when I start to put the squares together, it should go very fast. The large block is surrounded with sashing with a small block at each corner. I am doing it in florals of sky blue (large block), dark peach (small block), light peach (sashing) and green (appliqued squares and circles). I will post a picture soon of it in progress. This is a great take-along project; the blocks and applique pieces can be quickly assembled and are easily portable. Each applique takes only about 10 minutes so it can be picked up and put down at a moment's notice (like when you're waiting in a doctor's office). If anyone is interested, I can pass along the pattern, which was in last month's Quilt magazine.

Cooler in El Paso

Just spent a week in Fayetteville, NC and have decided it's cooler in El Paso - 18% humidity v. 87% even though actual temps in NC were about 8 degrees cooler that humidity just saps my energy. Don't miss it one little tiny bit.
Had fun with all my quilting buddies there and spent a day at Mary Jo's in Gastonia -- all y'all (I'm in TX remember) need to take a field trip there. GREAT buys on fabric. Of course, I needed no fabric but I still have a box arriving soon! If I have them ship it, I don't pay tax and the shipping is usually about the same cost but then don't have to worry about room and weight in the suitcase. Fabric can be HEAVY!
Two more weeks and I fly to MT to spoil granddaughters. Sarah is excited for Gramma to come but Hannah doesn't remember me - last time I saw her (Aug) she had just turned one. Jennifer and I will also be attending the Women of Faith conference while I'm there.
Then the week after I return I have surgery on my right achilles tendon to rebuild it. I've been wearing a Darth Vadar boot since March 20 and will probably be wearing it until August. NO DRIVING forever and we bought a new car days before this boot arrived into my life! Mike says we'll have the car for years so not to fret but still I want to drive. At this point I'd even settle for driving Mike's little Neon!
I just finished a king size quilt for my bed (it will fit as a bedspread on our queen size bed) taking it to the quilter tomorrow after Mike returns from Charlottesville (my driver) Having fun working on one of Aby's patterns. She's now part of the Fayetteville guild. Didn't meet her but heard all sorts of nice things about her. Guess she's moving again this June. Pictures later when I remember to get the camera to the office. (could be weeks so don't hold your breath)
Miss you all.

Blueberry Parfait

"Blueberry Parfait" finished last night, April 25th. Another unfinished project checked off.

Alright ladies... am I the only one posting show and tell stuff out here! What have you all been working on or what have you finished?

What's New for Moda Fabric

What's New for Moda Fabric

New !!! If you use EQ6, Moda has placed all their fabrics lines online, available to upload into your EQ6 program!!! Click on link. This is great for designing quilts with fabrics already on the market!

Quilt Scholarship Podcasts

I am always lurking around on the internet. Some of you are already aware of this wonderful University of Nebraska Quilt museum. While loading up my iPod, I noticed that they have some very good video and audio lectures on quilting. They are wonderful and very scholarly, so you know your getting some very interesting information on old quilts. I thought I'd share this with all of you. I listened to this one: "Modern, Yet Anti-Modern: Two Sides of the Late-Nineteenth and Early-Twentieth Century Quiltmaking" by Marin Hanson" and it was wonderful.

If you are an iPod user, go to the iTunes Store when you open your software. Search on "quilt" and scroll down. You'll see a section called "iTune U" You'll find these same videos and audio files there on the icon titled: ""International Quilt Study Center & Museum"... you can make your listening more portable by loading them on your iPod! I listen to these when I'm down in the sewing room and have many hours of fun listening to them.

If you are NOT an iPod user, Click on "Quilt Scholarship Podcasts", above, then download the file you'd like to listen to. Once downloaded, your computer will open it and start playing. Its as easy as that... for all you NON-computer saavy users. I hope you'll try them!

Check out this applique pattern - Click Here

applique pictures and videos on Webshots

I just love this block, do you guys?

Hey everyone ! Got any good tidbits from surfing?

If you are surfing around on the net and find some great info on quilting... please be sure to post it! There are a lot of quilters who have blogs and some of their stuff is worth noting. You can post a link in your "New Post" box... it's the 6th icon from the left in your New Post block. What have our ALUMNI members been sewing lately?

Top o' the Mornin'

I got it done just in time. It's on the wall.

White Energy

It's done. Once I sew the label on it, it will be in the mail to my sister.

Busy, Busy, Busy

With Bonnie's added fabric, I was able to complete Hannah's I Spy quilt in time for Mike to take it with him to Montana in February. I guess she loved it and especially loved the block with a "Nemo" fish on it.

I've been doing some teaching on Tuesday nights. The group finished a Stack-n-Whack and a mystery quilt since October. They are now starting a stack-n-slash. Fun group of ladies.

The Monday morning group just finished our raffle quilt for next year. Well the top at least. I take it to the quilter next week. It's a Thimbleberries Snail Trail. I'll try to remember to post a picture when completed.

Some beautiful stuff I see from Jeannie - what about the rest of you? Miss you ladies but thanks for keeping in touch.

Just a Quick Note

Don't forget... you can post your thoughts and musings, your finished AND Works-in-progress projects and post photos. Just the other day, I added another alumnus to our viewing list: Chris Nerh. [first few letters of her name], one of the "charter" members. If you look up people on facebook.com... she's on there complete with photos of her growing family - the grandkids.

Starburst

Okay, [Jeanie exhails]... now I have to decide how to put a border on this. I may make an applique border. This is for my sister Paula, so I have to try to make it more modern. This makes it another creative stretch because I am NOT a modern style person. Any thoughts on how to add to this project?

Embellished Valentine Wallhanging

I finally finished my Valentine wall hanging. I embellished the hearts with beads, ribbon, lace and some quilting. This does not have a binded edge. The scallop edging has batting in the middle. I made the edging by itself, then sewed it to the main piece by turning the fabric to form a binding-less edge. Next step was to miter the corners with the batting already in it. It was awkward, but I did manage it without too much trouble after I finished the first corner. Since I did two of these (one for my daughter Anne) I must get to finishing the second one. Click on the photo if you want a closer view.

Wanda's Charm Pack Challenge and more

Wanda's Charm Pack Challenge Quilt:
Here are two more from Wanda, her "Big Cats" Quilt for her granddaughter and the last one is called "Suduko."

Examples of vintage block challenge quilts

Our New Vintage Block Challenge

As seen at the Harrisburg 2008 Quilt Show:

Blocks have been distributed -

If you didn't get one, or want to work with two blocks, ask Donna or Bonnie

A tentative due date is May 27th 2009- but is up for discussion

This is the block and instructions that were used in the challenge seen at Harrisburg.

We have similiar, but different vintage blocks to work with, same instructions.

The above note reads: “What would happen if a set of vintage blocks was divided among a number of quilt artists and each was left to create a quilt in her own unique style? 19 talented women were invited to participate in just such a challenge. The group includes art quilters, traditionalists, historians and relative newcomers to this quilting journey.

Over the course of the project, six sets of vintage blocks were distributed to these brave artists. The block was theirs to play with! They could add to it, cut it up, embellish it, recreate it, improve upon it and more. The only requirement was that the finished quilt measure 24” x 24” and that the original block be included in the final project.

This is the first of our six blocks. An indigo and white basket, circa 1900…”

I Spy Quilts

Photos from November...but better late than never! Someone asked about making I Spy Quilts without using hexagons. Sophie has one and and it is cute and simple. Rori is sleeping on the one I made for her. Also pictured is the label that Frank created for Rori's I Spy with a photo of Rori with her mom.

Blog will go Public

We girls discussed and agreed at quilt group on Wednesday to make our blog access public, keeping in mind to keep all privacy items of concern off our posts. This will make it easier for members, alumni and future members to access the site. Nobody will have to register an account on google to access or make a posting to the site.

What exactly does this mean and how does it impact our blog page?

We will permit only members to make postings and I will comb through our old postings to delete sensitive items like surnames, very specific location information and any other things that may be of privacy concerns before we go public. It also means that I will remove our member roster off of the left edge of the web page. I will also add a Posting Rules section for reference on the left edge, to guide us with our postings.

I think if we all stay sensitive to privacy issues when we make future postings, we should be just fine. If someone forgets and accidently adds something too sensitive, just contact either me or Janice; we can edit/delete old postings.

I won't be making it public for a few more days, so if you have any suggestions, concerns and comments, please email me and let me know. I'm here to accomodate the group.

Chris's Charm Pack Challenge

Here it is: my finished charm pack quilt. Made with a Moda 3 Sisters pack, I broke the rules and added 3 additional fabrics. Without that

3rd fabric, it just was too small. The churn dash blocks are made with my charm packs and 2 additional fabrics. It was a fun project.

I donated the quilt for a church auction and am so pleased to have the memory of making it, photos, the connection with you through it, the satisfaction of seeing it being adopted by a happy owner, and the knowledge that it helped net our MOPS (Mothers of Pre-schoolers) a bit of money. It's all good :O)

I won't be joining you on your next challenge as I have household projects I MUST get to.

Have a Happy Advent and Merry Christmas. May you and yours be blessed.

Love, Chris

Pictures of my Quilt

Dear friends and quilters,

Here are two pictures of my new creation.

Your friend,

Ruth

Quilter coming your way

Beth Spellane - one of the leaders of the Ft. Bliss group --is moving to Carlisle next summer. She's a very experienced quilter and you'll enjoy getting to know her.