Christmas Luncheon - Ummm Ummm Good!!!

The day was good to us - no rain, plenty of sunshine.  Though the wind could really cut into you.

A few of us were able to get in at the regular time and besides setting up for the luncheon, got the opportunity to do hand work and have a little chat.

Deb is working on her hanky butterflies.

Susie spent her time tracing patterns.  She never expected that so many people were going to be interested in her chicks

Machelle enjoyed her down time.  A good cup of tea and fellowship with like minds, how much better could you get?

See Judy there, she was able to join us and also got the opportunity to have some down time.

Pat brought in her hand quilting work.  Wonderful time of year to be working on it as it keeps her legs nice and toasty.

Donnis and Shirley made eight for our group.

Oh Wow!  THREE TABLES!?!  Yep, so much good stuff that we had to put up another table.

Donnis said our grace and everyone toasted the holidays.

As you can see, the pies were a great hit.  Donnis brought in her coconut cream pie. Her crust was perfect.  Vevia had made a gluten free crust (click here for recipe) which didn't turn out too bad.  Her filling is a family favorite - Sour Cream Raisin  (click for recipe).  We should have begun at this end of the table, so many good things and we could not do everything -  Susie's and Shirley's cherry creations also - justice.  Next year I am going backwards. Course the first part was scrumptious also.

And of course, we ate till we were stuffed and enjoyed every bite.  Thank you one and all for sharing your talents in cookery as well as in quilting.

Speaking of talents.......

Deb's show 'n tell of this little quilt confirmed that she is very talented.  Remember the book that showed how to do this?  And Deb provided all of the fabric and embellishments for this wonderful Christmas gift.  Maybe you could bring the book back in again.  So darling.

Should have gotten a shot of Deb's hanger on the back, we put it up to check it out and it works great.

Donnis brought in her first quilt project.  Her daughter started her on this and from there, her love for quilting grew.

The Table runner is one of the first quilt projects she did on her own.

Donnis doesn't let running out of quilting projects slow her down.  Think she said that last year she did about 75+ hats for cancer patients and babies/preemies.  Remember, click on the pictures to have them come in larger so you can see the cute details.

Donnis is looking for another pattern - this one is getting kind of boring.  I would imagine so after so many.  Family is also enjoying Donnis' work.

Pat gave us a tell in lieu of a show - her favorite Christmas item is a table runner she made in white.  Each Christmas she would have family and friends sign it.  Some years she changed the color of ink they used.  Now when she looks back at it, she sees grandchildren when they were just learning to print and remembers people that aren't able to be with her the current year.

What a fantastic idea.  Thanks for sharing Pat.

Machelle brought in one of her finished carpenter's wheel blocks that she is working on to show us how it looks together.  Last month we saw her cutting and joining half square triangles to get started.  Think she said she needs 16 of these.  This will be one gorgeous quilt.

This is the table mat that she made and already gifted.  Nope, the lamp was not part of the gift. (ha ha)

Shirley brought in her favorite quilted project for Christmas.  This is extra gorgeous in person as you can see the technique close up.  The black is cut and laid on that fabulous background and then attached.  We understand why it is your favorite Shirley.

And this is Shirley's "childhood" favorite.  Grandkids love this one.  Isn't he the cutest Santa?  The pattern was a Debbie Mumm's.  Click here to get the pattern for yourself, it is free.

Judy had brought in some tops to hand off to Susie for quilting.  This one is going to be for Judy herself.  It matches the colors in her couch and will keep her warm on cold winter nights while she watches TV or reads.

This is the teenage mutant turtle guys for her great grandson with different border.  Judy was not happy with the dark green border, so she cut it down and then added more of the lighter green.  This really stands out nicely.  Great discussion on what Susie could use for a quilting pattern.  Looking forward to seeing them finished.

Vevia brought in the Flower of the Month BOM that they did at the Piotique Quilters Guild this past year.  Machelle and Pat had not gotten the chance to see it.

It is crayola crayon colored, embroidered and then put into a block.

And this is Vevia's version of the BOM from the Konza Prairie Quilt Guild's BOM for 2015.  The pattern was a Robb-n-Graves large applique which Vevia shrunk and then did in wool.  No UFO's from this years BOM's.  Now to get the last so many other years done.  haha

Russ had called up Susie and said he found a few more unfinished projects of Iowana's.  The girls took some to finish

and told Susie she would make this center one into a bag.  Aren't we all helpful giving someone else work to do.  So sorry Susie.

Thank you to Russ for sharing Iowana's talents.

Had a wonderful day, glad to see those that could make it.

Everyone have a blessed Christmas and a safe and fruitful New year start off.

See you in January with your ideas for 2016.

We have so much to be thankful for.........

.......and the fun and friendship we share is just part of it.

We had a great group on Wednesday.  Still missing a few folks and do pray that they will be able to join us for the Christmas Luncheon, December 2nd.  Machelle will be sending out an e-mail with all the food items we discussed.  Please get with her about what you would like to bring.

As for today, Esther made use of the many table we have and sandwiched her newest quilt.  Flannel on top and bottom and done with scraps.

Donnis is working on her buzz saw - think that is the name of the block.  She always picks such pretty colors.

Leila brought her hand quilting in for the day.  Leila reminded all of us that you get a little rusty when you do not do something for a bit - so it makes sense to keep something going at all times.

Pat is working on her great crazy quilt find.  This is going to be one fun quilt to peruse over.  Remember she is doing different quilting in each section - kind of going for what it speaks to her as.  Some of it resembles the Japanese Sashiko quilting style.

Susie and Machelle discussed techniques and patterns.

We also had some visitors stop by and Susie showed them the twilling item she is working on.

There are a group of ladies (I think over near Eudora) that are twilling a whole cloth/quilt as you go project.  And they are twilling the quilt pattern and then hand quilting around that.  Forgive me if I am not explaining this correctly - Susie will have a real beauty when she is done and she can tell you exactly what the process is.

Deb brought two projects to work on and when she wasn't being called away to do major nursing, she was working pretty steady on them.

Machelle has a quilt block in mind and she really went to work.  She got after all of us when we got to talking about some interesting things and she could only catch a word here and there.  Interrupted her and she had to come over and see what was going on.  hahahahaha Sorry machelle.

This is the book that she is taking the Carpenters Wheel from and

here is the color sheet she has worked up for hers.  As we have all seen in the past, give your self a "cheat sheet" or you might go astray.

Esther not only got her quilt sandwiched - she also started quilting it.  Notice that this is with her feather weight.  She had the walking foot on to start with, but it was really fighting the flannel.  She finally got it to working better with just the regular foot.  In quilting, you do not have rules set in concrete = at times due to thread, needles, fabric - what ever - you might have to change it up and try other ways.

It was a very busy day and for many - much was accomplished.

Before we all knew it - it was time for lunch and

Show 'n Tell

Leila finished up a project that she thinks was from Iowana.  This cross stitch and candle wicking pillow is gorgeous.  Leila used a pillow form for the stuffing.

Deb got her Frozen Quilt finished.  Wow!  Some little young lady is going to know that she is extra special.

Ann out of Clifton did the quilting.  There is a shiny coating on the fabric to make it glisten and sparkle like snow.  Deb said that it wasn't difficult according to Ann.  Good thing as she has several more frozen quilts to do for others.  Fabric and pattern are both of the Frozen line.

Esther brought over her quilt that she had been working on all day and everyone pitched in with the discussion of how to use two colors on the binding and changing at the corners.  Eeeckkk!  But we all gave Esther some ideas and it will be interesting to see how she finishes it.  It is a Christmas gift - so don't want to say too much.

Judy is feeling a little better after her surgery and was able to join us for part of the day.  It was great to see her and wonderful to see what she has worked on.  This bright quilt is for a great-granddaughter that loves bright colors.  See the pillow case Judy is holding, it goes so well with the quilt.  Susie quilted this one with bubbles.  (sorry I missed getting a close up, click on the picture to see it larger so you can check out the details.)

The back is as bright and pretty as the front. With Judy's persnicketiness (my adjective) for detail and Susie's careful loading in the long arm - they were able to accomplish this reversible look.  The back is made up of all the left overs.  Great job both of you.  

Judy also has a great-grandson and this quilt is going to him when finished, she still has the borders to put on.

As you can tell - modern day Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is the theme for this one.  The turtles have grown with the times and even carry cell phones now.  With all the action = it's a boys dream characters.

This is the back of Vevia's recent guild challenge for Clay Center's Piotique Quilters Guild.  You started with everyone bringing in a yard of what did I buy this for fabric, tore it up and ended with  1/2 yard, 1/4 yard and 2 - 1/8th yards of some often times ugly/ugly fabric that you were challenged to make something beautiful from.  The back shows what Vevia got.

And this is what she made from it.  Added some white, log cabins and such and ended up with this Christmas table mat.  She won the "OMG" ribbon for her work.

After lunch and show and tell, a few of the ladies had to leave.  You know how you just pack up, say good bye and run out - well, stop!  Check to make sure you have everything or..........this could happen to you!

Deb forgot her eggs, so the girls gave her a call and then got ready to toss her eggs to her when she came back to get them.  hahahahahahahaha

Deb could not believe that we would use her eggs so.  hahahahahah  But she got them, we had fun and Morganville is still scratching it's head wondering what our group is up to now.  haha

Back to work for a bit and it sure paid off.

Two blocks shy of finishing the first trial block of Machelle's.  She will be making 16 of these to go into her quilt.  This is going to be gorgeous.  Looking forward to seeing the process and the end result.

Missed those of you that could not make it - sure hope you are able to join us for the Christmas Luncheon.  So good to end up the year with your friends.

Till Dec. 2nd.