Christmas Food Sign up:

Shirley--Dessert
Vevia--meat -that both Deb and Esther can eat.

Each of us Discovering OUR WAY to Applique

Susie - you were missed!

Now that that is said.......

Vevia didn't do too bad of a job filling in - thanks to all of Susie's samples.

Pictured above is the Slave Chain block that Susie chose.

What is the greatest part about it is that you can put on all the pieces or just some of the pieces.

Vevia brought in the block on the right that is called orange peel, or .......... this is another block that has so many names by region or quilter.

Susie chose her 6 1/2" block from Jennifer Chiaverini's "The Loyal Union Sampler from ELM CREEK QUILTS" book. (Block I-8, page 79)  This book was inspired by Jennifer Chiaverini's book "The Union Quilters".  It has so many interesting blocks in it -  click here Amazon preview  to check out what is in some of the pages.

Vevia brought in a few different ideas for applique-ing, along with Susie's samples of the needle turn.  There were also several glues to try, straw and applique needles, freezer paper, and Susie had sent in silk, 50 wt. and a couple other different threads.  Applique is not a one stop shop-boxed in, only can do this way technique.

Here is Susie's needle turn sample

and here is her reverse applique sample Click for directions to print out.

The ladies were off and running.  No matter how involved everyone looks here, we still were able to share the news and events that had been happening in our lives.

Here along side Susie's block, is the first 1/4 of the block of Machelle's done

Judy finished one and is wondering what she will do with just 1/4 of a block.  hahaha!

Donnis tried the freezer paper technique to help her turn under the edges.  Don't think that will be a favorite for her.

We thought her work looked great and we are looking forward to seeing her finished block .

Vevia did finish one section

Deb on the other hand, finished all four.  We told her it was because she does so much hand quilting - kept her fingers agile.

Machelle did finish 3 sections and laid them out with some of her other blocks to see how they were looking.  Love her Christmas fabric theme.

Deb had made Esther's block pattern in some different fabric pieces that she had laying around.  Must say, I would probably never buy the fabric shown on the outside - however - it is fantastic here.  Who would have thought?

After lunch we had Show 'n Tell.  Donnis did not have a current finished project to show, so she brought one of her older favorites.  She uses it as a wall hanging.

AND she had hand quilted it.  Donnis, seeing this was awe inspiring.  Love it, love it, love it.  Thank you.

Judy had finished her daughters living room runners.  This picture shows the two joined squares that will be on the coffee table, and

these are the two rectangle ones that will be on the end tables.  Love Judy's fabrics and how she worked these.  

Judy has really been busy - this is the baby blanket that she has been huffing and puffing over.  Sorry the camera did not pick up the hearts too well, picture below shows them a little better.

Love how this quilt pops with color.  Baby should enjoy it also.

Susie did the quilting.  You can see some of it here on the flannel back.

Machelle had brought in this quilt for a grandson, but at that time did not have it finished.

Here it is all finished, AND Machelle quilted this huge thing all by her self on her little old home sewing machine.  Wow!  

The surprising part was realizing that this is a disappearing 9-patch pattern.  There are 9 fabrics used, each one always in the same position.  When you cut it apart and sew it back together - amazing.  Missed the pattern at first till Machelle explained what she had done.  AND there is a label on it.  Hooray!!!!! 

Vevia and Lorraine were both drawn to a bag that Deb had brought in with her hand work a few months back - Vevia had some Mountmellick work that she did not know what to do with - so - she made a similar bag to Deb's.  Added a couple of pockets inside and now it holds her embroidery work.

Susie and Vevia have been giving embroidery demonstrations to those interested at the Piotique Quilters Guild in Clay Center.  This is the last month and will include satin stitches.  They will be handing out an initial pattern to the ladies and these are the samples that Vevia has worked up to show them how they can use the stitches they have been learning and make their own one of a kind Monogram.  (The bag has a chain stitch, the book satin, and the letter E is done with flowers and leaves)

Machelle brought in her "Primitive Quilts" magazine to share.  Every page has something on it that you would want to do.  Deb brought in her new book from Missouri Star Quilt Co. She signed up to receive each new one they come out with.  Didn't know you could do that.  It is available here MSQC site to where you can sign up and receive it yourself.  (When you go to the site, look for 'BLOCK the magazine' near the top right)

Machelle had picked up these two very helpful sheets - cutting a square to cut out for bias binding

 and then the other side shows what size of a square to cut out for what you need.  Due to the color of the paper and the protection plastic - sorry, not very good pictures.

It was a great meeting - even if our numbers were low.  Had a wonderful time chatting and catching up, and learned a thing or two (remember to draw your big "chain" on the fabric BEFORE you sew on the little "chain").

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We also got to talking about next year and what we would like to do.  Machelle has several slips of paper that people have given her of ideas and we need to go through them and pick out our favorites.  As of today - it seems like strip piecing projects is in the forefront of choices.

Spring Cleaning pattern

Japanese Star Pattern

These are two patterns that Susie has made available to us.  Donnis is working on the Japanese one for a table runner.  So be thinking about January and February possibly working on one or the other, or one of your own patterns and lets see how many different strip piecings we can do.

Get with Machelle about December and what you would like to bring for the potluck.

See you then.