Bless Susie for her connections with people all over the map and for her shop dropping in and coming out with something new. The morning was full of new project ideas to keep us busy during the holidays.
Remember all those political propaganda junk mails that we were hit with this year and that Susie told us to save and bring in? (If you forgot yours - bring them in for January and you can cut them then.) Well - what a wonderful demonstration on what to do with them. Barb had sent Susie 3 sizes of Friskar's hexagon cutters from California, they work wonderfully on those slick cardstock papers.
After you cut them out, use the glue stick - that's right NO sewing basting stitches - to turn the fabric over and presto - you are ready to get going. Susie gave us the tip of punching a hole in the middle of the hexagon template for easier removal later. The slickness makes it easier for the glue not to penetrate the card stock so that the templates will last longer. Sorry, the cutters do not cut fabric. However, if you know someone that has a quilt cutter of the various models, they do have dye's for hexagons. Even some quilt shops have them. And, MODA does have a large pack of lazer pre-cut hexagons.
But wait.........let's not stop there - what about this hexagon flower?
Susie got a new book about piecing your hexagons.
She even picked up the 5 Acrylic Templates to help line them up to cut. What a wonderful idea.
But wait........that's not all. What about starting with a circle, folding here and there and coming up with a hexagon that you have finished the back right along with the front? Susie took it a step farther and cut batting to go in the center and aid with the folding.
Here's a look at one of the quilts you can make and the book that the idea came from. Remember, click on the pictures to make them come in bigger so you can read titles and who wrote the books.
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We had a wonderful time hand working and talking the morning away.
Donnis is crocheting head warmers for babies, preemie's and cancer patients.
Don't you just love what she carries her yarn around in? Has a hole in the top - keeps the yarn clean and safe and did not cost extra. Great recycling idea.
Everyone either had something to work on - Deb hand quilting -
Judy sewing on binding - embroidery, hexie work, or looking through the magazines that Susie brought in - or just enjoying the chatter and exchange of ideas and news.
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Someone suggested that we do our Show 'n Tell before lunch.
Donnis showed her finished block from last months 6 1/2" block presentation
A couple of hot pads
Cute, cute Christmas wall hanging
A lovely Christmas table runner - Donnis said she needs to make something new, she is losing her interest in this one.
Do not remember when Donnis said that she made this - but WOW!!!!! Don't you just love the dimensions in this wall hanging? Great study in colors and what they can make your eyes see.
Had to take a close up - those are pies. Striped triangles with the colors in just the right places - fantastic. Thank you Donnis.
Deb took the multiplying 4-patch and with the same 4 fabric colors for each block, cut away, twisted and sewed - to come up with this beauty of a game throw. Because it is expected to be washed over and over, Deb used a low loft polyester batting. Makes it light, yet still warm.
Deb saw this in the closet and decided that it was a great time to bring in this family quilt. (oops - forgot who made it). All those pieces are hand appliqued on. Each and every flower petal, leaf, etc.
The itsy bitsy tiny blanket stitches that hold the pieces down are so perfect that someone in the past tried to say that it must have been machine done. Nope - all by hand. And look at that quilting. Gorgeous family heirloom.
Machelle was showing off the book that she is passing around to those that want to read it. It is full of recipes AND stories.
Years ago when Jane left, the ladies had bought her a "quilt in a can" going away present. Machelle loved it and was able to find one for herself. This is the wall hanging that it made. It goes well with Machelle's decor at home.
Behind this awesome double wedding ring table runner is Shirley. It is always a pleasure for ladies to bring in items that they made before - many of us have never seen them (or like a few of us, forgot we had). This one is done with Christmas fabric.
The sampler that was given as a BOM at the Piotique Quilters Guild in 2008 by Marcella - Shirley had planned with Christmas fabric. Wonderful setting.
Judy is working on place mats. Seems one of her granddaughters is a little jealous - SHE doesn't have place mats for every season. So Judy has been real busy trying to amend that statement. The one's she is holding above have owls in them, her granddaughters favorite.
Then of course there are the Christmas ones, and.......
why not make some round/ ball shaped ones for the center of the table. Judy said it took her a bit to come up with the perfect size. Good thing Judy knows how to make bias binding.
Vevia showed off her "Out my Window" BOS (Block of the Season) that she gave at the Clay Center Piotique Quilters Guild for 2014. Each season was done with a different technique.
We all had to get a look at Deb's quilting hoop. It is a Jasmine Heirloom hoop that she got when Clay Center guild had Malia Webb in to give a workshop on hand quilting. Deb said it was worth every cent it cost.
Machelle almost forgot to show us the case that she had made years ago for her weaving group. Carries easily with it's handles, and
The inside covers (both front and back) have pockets to hold her pencils, pens, rulers, etc for easy location. Her patterns, notes, hand outs and everything are all in one place. Perhaps we all should make one for our Friendship Group info we get.
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After Show 'n Tell we dug in to a feast of taste bud delight.
And NO Virginia - you can never have too much dessert!
Merry Christmas to everyone and have a safe and happy New Year !!!!!
See you all in 2015!
