Call on Me Year - 2016!!!!!!!!

What a great way to spend the year............

And to get you into the mood, click on the video below and get an idea about the years possible plans.  Remember - every day in our lives are subject to change, but we think this plan has merit.

(Don't know about you, but I had to go get a tissue after listening and watching this.)

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Okay, now for the low down.  Last year Machelle was wanting to work on UFO's.  This year Deb mentioned that she wants to work on UFO's.  Okay, and why do we have UFO's?  What stages are they in that make them UFO's?  And heh, what can our friends do to help us along?

So - Call on Me!!!!!

And that is what Vevia is going to do for February.  She is bringing in a quilt that has been requested to be tied.  It's not an itty bitty quilt, so Vevia's table at home won't accommodate it.  This is where the "Call on Me" comes in, Vevia is bringing the quilt, the yarn and some curved needles and anyone that wants to help tie - bring in your scissors and let's get it done.  

Tah Dah!  UFO completed (well almost, there is still the binding).

Now do you have to do this?  NO!  For one thing, not everyone will fit around the table.  But if you do not have a project of your own, this is something that you may chose to help with.

Also bring in your ideas for what your friends can do to help you get one or more of your UFO's done and what month you will bring it in.  Remember, whether it is many minds working together to help in laying a quilt out, many hands in cutting, sewing, basting, whatever - it goes faster with friends.

And while we are helping our friends finish up some UFO's, what a great time to talk about projects to do.  The less UFO's we have, the more open we are to start something new.

What about a round robin in SMALL?

Get to planning and thinking, in the mean time............Wednesday may have been a little gloomy out side - but it was sunny and full of laughs inside.

  

Leila brought in her wall hanging and when she wasn't helping, talking or laughing a bunch, she was putting on the sleeve.

Susie is working on a project for the Clay Center Piotique Quilters Guild.  Susie is one of the Program Chairs for this year and boy has she been working hard getting everything ready.

Look at that carry case she brought in with her project supplies.  What a grand way to re-purpose a cosmetic case.  And the red and clear pockets are 2 for $1.00 at Dollar Tree.  They are great for keeping smaller projects together in.

Vevia brought in the DMC floss and Susie brought her the last 6 blocks in the chick embroidery they are doing at PQG.  And HURRAH!!!!  Vevia actually finished one and almost a second one.

Will wonders ever cease?

You probably would not be surprised how much you can accomplish even when you are few in numbers, but full of stories to keep the hands busy.

Susie's project calls for a pearl cotton thread and boy did this skein come in twisted.  What a wonderful long room we have to work in.  Leila headed off toward the door, Vevia was in the middle (before she ran to get a picture) and Susie re-wound the twisted skein onto a wooden spool.  Many hands = quickly accomplished.

After lunch, we went to show 'n tell.  Okay, not much, but then it was a drizzly day and no one wanted to get items wet.  Vevia brought in a couple that fit nicely in a Ray's plastic bag.

Have you seen the new baskets made with gigantic yo-yo's? Here is one, but I do not think there will be too many more to come.  Vevia was not thrilled with the results.

However, the Christmas wall hanging (or table mat) that she made following Jenny of Elefantz's blog from the freebies last year - now this one came out very nice and was hung in the dining room over the Christmas holidays.

For joy, for joy.  Look at the pictures that Bonnie sent from Utah.  She did this lovely tree skirt.  Yep, I forgot who for, but isn't it gorgeous.  Please forgive me Bonnie.

Bonnie was having some fun with it and trying to tell Walter how to use the camera when he took this shot.  No Bonnie is not mad - she was talking and the shot came at the wrong moment.  Isn't that clever making a tree skirt that can also be used for a cape. hahaha

Bonnie also sent us a picture of what she was working on for Christmas.  She made a few of these for family and friends.  Click on the picture and it will come in bigger so that you can see where she got the pattern.

Thank you Bonnie for remembering us and sharing what you are doing.

Remember next Month - our first Call on Me!

Bring in your needs list so we can get things programmed out for the months to come.

OR

Bring in your projects that you are working on.  The best times are when we get to share them.

Have a wonderful start to the New Year.

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.