What a wonderful celebration was planned, was had and will be remembered!
Congratulations Donnis for hitting your 90th strong and full of p&v (as my great grandmother would say)
Had a nice work session as you can see with Carol and Sara's heads down and busy.
Carol was twilling and look at what Sara was doing. Removing paper.
Sara is taking a Judy Niemeyer paper piecing class and this is the part she dislikes the most. Egads! Are you crazy girl? First you have all those points and then that curve - and you dislike removing paper? Just teasing. Course you know, if she has any squares out of whack - it is because Vevia helped her remove a few.
Juanita is also working on her paper piecing project. Each of the ladies in the class have picked their own colors and designs of how they will set them together. Looking forward to seeing all the wonderful ideas come together in finished projects. Some are wall size and some bed size.
Donnis was checking on everyone, Esther trimming, Shirley fellow-shipping, Deb binding, Leila and Judy watching and talking. Susie gave Machelle a few pointers on an upcoming project.
Then it was time for Donnis' demo on hot pads.
1. Starting with 8" squares, Donnis laid down a plain piece of muslin, right side down.
The way Donnis does her hot pads, this piece you do not see at the end, so can be any fabric you want to use.
2. Then put 2 pieces of batting down.
Donnis has used towels in the past, but the fuzzies are crazy and since Susie gifted her with a bag of batting scraps - what a blessing. Remember - do not throw away anything till you check with others. It may be their gem. Donnis told us you can also use the insul-bright batting that has a layer of reflective mylar in it.
3. Then the fabric that she wanted on the back of the hot pad, right side up.
4. Next you need 4 - 8" squares of coordinating/contrasting fabric, pressed in half.
Layer them over and under each other till they look like Donnis' example shown above.
Donnis encouraged us to make sure that the folded edge was towards the middle - otherwise you have to UNSEW the next step. Yuck!
When you have everything stacked......
5. Sew a quarter inch seam all around the outside edge, leaving NO opening.
6. Turn your hot pad right side out (sort of) through the gap that the four folded squares created in the middle. Use scissors or turning rod to "punch" out the corners. Donnis said the original directions she has on this does NOT have you trim away the corners, but she does, to get rid of the bulk.
7. Press and tack down the middle where all 4 fabrics meet.
Donnis unfolded her "rectangles" and refolded them into triangles to show us another way to make the hot pads. And if you change out the muslin for a contrasting fabric, you can "cathedral windows" the triangles as that folded edge is on bias, and show that fabric as an additional part of the design.
You can see what we mean with the hot pad on the bottom right of the picture shown above.
Thank you Donnis for a wonderful demo.
Whoooeeee! Then came the big surprise for Donnis - Company!!!
Two of Donnis' daughters were able to join us - Kathy and Jan.
Along with Edyn (Jan's granddaughter) and Rylee (Kathy's granddaughter)
Three of the four generations - what a wonderful surprise!
Right Donnis?
Get a look at the cupcakes. You can click on the picture for a larger version.
Donnis stated that she did not have a stash anymore - egads! Can you believe that?
So everyone brought in Fat Quarters, Deb provided the cupcake holders, and we folded and rolled "cupcakes"
for Donnis. Extra's were laid out. Darn - we did not hit 90, but we did give her over 35 FQ's and some of them were more like 1/2 yard.
Looking forward to seeing what Donnis does with them.
Course that is after she spends a month or sew pressing them flat again. Rolling really messes up the fabric.........but it looks good. :0)
Before lunch we had Show 'n Tell
Machelle's granddaughter Shanna, had shown us a woven scarf that she got Reserved Champion on at her 4-H fair.
Jan's granddaughter Edyn, brought in her 9 patch squares that she is working on. She is going to make more when she gets back to grandmothers this afternoon.
It is great to see young textile workers coming up and putting us through our paces.
Good job ladies!
Last month someone got to talking about holly hocks, so Carol brought in her holly hock quilt to show off. Think she said that the lady in Riley did the quilting.
Carol also brought in her favorite shirt * re-purposed by Sara as an apron, and a Blue Ribbon winner at the Clay County Free Fair. Ruffles are made from the back, and pocket flaps were put on to match the embroidery work already on the button placket. The shirt is a denim that is so soft and was a shame to even think of tossing. Cuddly, useful, and oh so cute.
Esther has a relative that plays just about anything and everything - so Esther made a pony tail ribbon and several table covers for her out of this fantastic music fabric. Click to see larger so you can make out all the instruments on this fabric.
The backings are sheet music fabric. Wonder if you can read music if it is something that can be played?
Was it 2010 that the Morganville Friendship Ladies did a round robin of fabrics and made each other a block? Which ever year - Esther has her's done. Isn't it gorgeous.
Esther designed the middle block for her own contribution to her quilt. Along with the hexie flowers over the cornerstones. And Susie did the quilting. What a treasure of remembrance of friends and good times.
Deb had Susie quilt her Lola Jenkins workshop portrait and now she has finished the binding - what a Masterpiece. Great job Deb on all the little areas. A few of us are still working on ours (probably for a lonnnnnnnnnnnng bit of time, ha )
Check out the quilting - circles and lines.
Donnis finished her other baby blanket and is working on a third. As Donnis has already gifted the blanket, we got a snap shot. Thank you Donnis for taking a picture and sharing it with us. Look at the bed cover underneath. Where have we seen that? haha
Juanita did her Eleanor Burns impersonation with Shanna's scarf. As you can see - she did a swinging job of it. Should have videoed this one for your viewing pleasure.
Juanita was a hoot.
Lunch time and the food is out and what a spread.
Theme was salads - Donnis' favorite foods.
And of course desserts.
Remember Machelle's Lemonade Crunch dessert at the end?
here is a copy in .pdf format for you to print out.
Wow was that good Machelle, and a perfect ending to a wonderful lunch - light and cool.
Sorry Donnis that we only had 3 desserts and two jello salads - hahahahaha!
After clean up, Donnis read her cards and ladies started packing up to head home.
Wow was it hot out.
Some of us were reluctant to end the day and stayed around and chatted a bit more.
Good thing - as we learned about this thread from Susie.
She had picked it up at the DesMoines quilt show last year and wants to get more this year.
Wonderfil Specialty Thread, InvisaFil. It is a 100 weight polyester thread that seems to disappear when you use it on applique. Click here to see it on line. Please scroll down till you get to the individual boxes - the cost of the super packs might give you heart failure.
Remember a few months ago when Esther brought in some crochet doilies, ends and pieces and lace from her family stuff? Well Vevia made Esther a book cover with one of the crocheted pieces - saying thanks and so that Esther would have a keep sake of her families work. Thank you Esther for sharing.
Shanna and Grandmother Machelle had some fun playing - don't you just love the hair "extensions"? hahaha
While Machelle was taking things out to the car - guess what she found?
Yep, the 4+" coaster like Donnis' hot pads. She had brought it to share and then could not find it.
This is done the exact same way, but with charm squares. And if you do not sew down the middle, you can put the bottom of your wine glass stem in there and not only does it keep your tables dry, it also marks which glass is yours.
Little work here and a little work there.
And very sorrowfully - we finally all packed up and headed home.
Thank you ever one for a great day.
Stay hydrated and see you next month.
Lord willing and the creeks don't rise and nothing bigger than a chipmunk happens!
