October threads

No September threads since I was in Europe pretty much the whole month. The Colonial Lacemakers had a lot going on and I really missed being a part of it. Missed my sewing friends too.
But then there was the CR Quilter's meeting on Oct 13. The 9 of us had a great time learning from each other and sharing. I explained what I learned doing the September (Tulips) and October (Twinkle Star) Block Lotto patterns. Everybody liked them. I also shared my black+white almost finished stack and whack.

Janet talked about the November project which we will do at her house next month.

Jane is our oldest member with 90(+?) years but she has a great sense of colors and everybody always loves her creations.

The Church Mice Quilting Group met as always same day in the evening. Interesting show and tell.

Because all know that I am a lacemaker somebody had brought this. She had found this between the layers in an old frame. Handmade Honiton lace. How lucky!

Sometimes there is show and tell at the Thursday Stitchers too. All hand appliqué and hand quilting.

Sharing my personal finished top.

My present project at the Stitchers. Same technique as the black and white above, just different fabric. The big piece in this photo is the original fabric. Above three stack+whack blocks.

Because of the 4 identical squares you have to choose from for possibilities for each block. Just turn the squares.

And this is it for this month so far.

Posted with Blogsy

The Making of a quilted Adventcalendar with Cross-Stitch Chrismon

My sister-in-law Jane has stitched the most beautiful things in the 40 years I am married to her brother ... but not lately. When I asked her about it (with a certain thought in my mind) she told me that she only likes to do it with a purpose, not just for the sake of stitching. No need to hang anything on her walls any more. I asked her whether she would stitch something for me.
James is one of five and the siblings had arranged to meet in Windsor England (their hometown) in January 2015. I assembled a "kit" and sent it with him. I had cut the little AIDA squares and it only needs three different DMC colors. I had found 15 different Chrismon patterns in these books:

In May Jane came to visit and it was an opportunity to stitch the rest of the Chrismons.

I designed 9 so there would be the 24 needed for the Adventcalendar. I had to hurry to stay ahead of Jane. I will share my design here later too (have to make nice drawings first).

After Jane's work was done, it was my turn. I borrowed last year's raffle wallhanging from the lucky winner to test the size, discovering that this design would not work.

But I had bought a pattern which I thought would work and went to work.

At that time I was not very familiar with paperpiecing so I cut the pieces ...

... numbered the fabrics I was going to use

... and cut the pieces with the 1/4 inch seam allowances. I used 505 spray basting on the back of the paper pattern so it wouldn't slip on the fabric. It worked really well.

Trying out the size. I think it will work well.

I bought 24 of the little round frames at a craft store. Ladies at an ECW workshop cut out 24 circles from quilting batting the size of the white backs and also the numbers drawn mirror image on the back of the cream fabric prepared with iron-on material.

The green circle got running stitches all around.

This part was easy: green fabric circle good side down, batting, white back, pull tight and knot. Iron on the numbers.
The layering: frame front down, clear plastic circle, stitching face down (cut into a circle by using one of the clear circles for fussy cutting and drawing around it), a circle of batting and the back. Since I made a booklet with the explanations I had to be sure to put the correct number with the Chrismon.
Still laying face down I pressed the back down and dripped super glue all around but carefully and sparingly.

The finished wall quilt. My husband is holding it up.
It can be used year-round without the Chrismons.

Advent calendars are originally a German custom. Ornaments are numbered from 1 to 24 which means you turn # 1 over on the 1st of December (#2 on 2nd of December etc) to reveal (in this case) a Chrismon, a symbol which reminds us of the real meaning of Christmas.

On the back is a pocket with a little booklet explaining each day's symbol.

This is the ECW (Episcopal Church Women) of St Martin's 2015 raffle. For a donation of $5 you get 1 chance to win this treasure (yes, I am very happy with the results) or for $10 you get 3 tickets.
The money raised is for a good cause and ... you could win it. Somebody will go home with it (or gets it mailed) !!! If you would like to have a try, you could mail a check to:
St Martin's Episcopal Church
Attn: Christa
9000 St Martin's Lane
Richmond, VA 23294
I promise I will take care of it and your ticket(s) will be in the box. The drawing is on Sunday November 15.

If you would like to make one for yourselves and have a question, feel free to contact me.

Posted with Blogsy

August Threads

And more Row by Row!
Bowling Green, Ky

Murfreesboro TN

Kingsport TN ... first stop on our way home (love that machine stitched waterfall and Sunrays).

Abington VA ... Second stop on our way home

Fairfield VA ... Third stop on our way home (I bet Helen will love the rowers).

After driving all day on Friday I managed to be at a quilters' yard sale in a church in Chesterfield on Saturday at 9am. I came home with two bags full of fabrics for my stash. Mostly pieces the size of fat quarters but others as well.
When I started sorting it for washing I found about a dozen pieces cut like this! What ...?

On the way home after the sale I made another Row by Row stop. Love love the Loch Ness monster. I wished I knew which quilt shop ... I was a bit disappointed about the bad display. Couldn't really see the top two rows.

This is my busy week of the month ... second Monday: lace day
The meetings are always nice but this one was especially great for me because I accomplished making another lace Chrismon. I am so happy.

Tuesday morning: CR Quilters
I had been undecided for too long what to do about the meeting but then had an idea about two mini lesson topics.
1. A good idea how to make the August Block Lotto easier. Worked great!
2. I had seen a black+white 4-squares stack+whack caleidoscope quilt at a quilt group meeting, liked it very much and wanted to try it. At the quilters' yard sale I found a larger piece of fabric with a big black and white pattern. Perfect!
If I ever have some spare time I will write a little tutorial. I don't want to forget how I did it!

Show and tell

This is a runner which goes across the bed.

Table runners in progress. The lesson from the last meeting.

This is the August Block Lotto which I finished once I was home. If you like this pattern you might want to save it because next month it's a different one.

On Thursday at the Stitchers we did a "group project" (once a year). We made little gowns for preemie babies in the NICU. There where four different patterns: 1-3 lbs, 3-5 lbs, 5-8 lbs and 8-10 lbs. they all still need the Velcro but they are so cute. I loved this project, especially as a grandmother of a wonderful little boy who once was a preemie.

Not much more at the moment. I washed all the fabric. Now I am straightening, ironing and working on my queendom!

Posted with Blogsy