HOORAY TO OUR SEPTEMBER "TAG TEAM"

Esther and Judy did a great job demonstrating and showing us oodles of possibilities with the continuation of  Shirley's August block.  Shirley gave us a sneak peak last month of what  the Missouri Star Quilt Company was doing with a pinwheel block.

Thank you Judy and Esther that you took it another step forward and worked out the sizes and such for us to make them a 6 1/2" block.

Judy spoke to us about the first sew 1/4" around the whole 7" blocks placed face to face and then cutting them on the diagonal, pressing and squaring up to 4 - 4 1/2" half square triangles.

Esther explained that this is the part where how you put the 4 hst's together is how you get different looks.

Susie,

Machelle and Donnis went right to work.  And with Esther loaning her sewing machine to Vevia.......all the ladies were on the right path.

Squaring up was a very important part of this block.  You can go to the right of this blog and print out your own pattern with clear instructions on how to make the pinwheel into a churn dash with the smaller pinwheel in the middle.

After you trim up the 4 hst's and sew them together, press and square up to 7 1/2", you then cut into 9 equal squares.  How you turn these and sew them together gives you three looks as Judy showed us in the picture above.  You can have the dark churn dash, a light churn dash or ...........

The picture above shows you how everyone did.

Then Esther showed (one of the blocks belong to Donnis) us that if you decide to put your four half square triangles together in an hour glass block, press, square up and cut into 9 equal sections - you can turn

and come up with two additional looks.  Thank you to everyone for the enthusiasm and fun day we had trying this and that with this very versatile block.

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Show and Tell was Wow! 

Donnis finished the twin's quilts (they have been born since our meeting: Collins Jeri. 2 pounds 8 oz. Cooper Jo. 3 pounds 14oz. - Congratulations to all!!).  The Disappearing 9 Patch looks so good in what ever color palette you use.

The backs were gorgeous as well.

Using the three pinks made a lovely girls quilt.....

with just as beautiful of a back.

Susie brought in her 2013 Clay Center Piotique Quilters Guild Challenge winning quilt to show us what she has been experimenting with.  This was done with several layers of battings sewn and cut away.  Colored fabric added, etc.  Lovely to see.

Now she has finished a whole cloth where she used some of the things she learned in her challenge quilt.  This one was done with a variegated thread, different battings, wide and close quilting, etc.  You would have to talk to Susie to get all of the low down on how she did what.  She even made the edges curvy with bias binding.

We are just sorry that our pictures do not do Susie's work justice.  Click on the pictures to blow them up a little more.  This is one quilt, 

that you have got to see in person and take your time with it.

After lunch and the show and tell, 

Machelle continued making her blocks for the day.  She wanted to try the hourglass setting and see what she got.  Fabric is very important to the look you get.  Machelle was not as pleased with the result as some of the light colored stars came together at the wrong points.

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Next month, Esther will be presenting the "State Fair Sunflower" block. 

She brought in two blocks done, so that we could see different color choices.  Esther's are the top two on the left.  The bottom two on the left are Joan Streck and Betty Piester's respectively (from the book Esther got the pattern from).  The three going up and down on the right use other color choices.  Sometimes the green for leaves is prominent, other times that square becomes part of the flower.  

Looking forward to seeing your color choices.

See you next month.

Always a Blast!!!!!!!

Before the meeting started - we had the opportunity to view this lovely quilt that was being picked up.  The lady on the right, Nancy, made the quilt, Susie quilted it and Leila put on the binding.  Nancy embroidered the blocks as she was traveling.

Fortunately we were able to get a good picture of some of the quilting Susie put into this quilt - aren't those butterflies darling.  Susie had to take the quilt out and turn it around to get them going the direction she wanted them in.

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Our meeting started out with Shirley giving us a "Song and a Dance"!  Okay, she only did the dance part, but it started everyone out in the right mood.  Bless Esther for jumping right in there.

Shirley did a great job showing us how our fabric was going together today - the hard part was picking what name you wanted to call this block.  We all have heard of Churn Dash, Monkey Wrench and Hole in the Barn Door - But Shirley's block was called Sherman's March and someone else saw it called Dash Away.  Regional, family, etc - names are plentiful.  Want to check out some more - get Barbara Brackman's book "Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns" - now that is a book that will drive you crazy.  She also has one out for applique patterns.  Maybe everyone that already has her book should bring it in next month so that others can see if that is something they want to add to their library.

Regardless of what you call the block - what colors you use - how many colors - and where you set them = all mean a different block is possible with the same directions.  Your pink and gray is really starting to grow on us Shirley.

Bless Shirley - she decided to show us what you could do if you change the middle out to a pinwheel.  Missouri Star Quilt Co. has it on YouTube (click here)

The ladies went right to work putting their blocks together (above and below)

Results were fabulous - here are Judy's

Vevia's at the top and Donnis'

Deb's at the top and Esthers

Machelle did two blocks also, she liked the three colors so much that she wanted to check that style out.

After the blocks were finished, everyone went to work on the projects they had brought.  Donnis is making this wonderful table runner.  Her daughter has one that Donnis admired - so..........Suppose to be a mistake on it - duh!?!  We don't see it Donnis.

Susie working on her applique

Judy and Leila looked at books and magazines, talked to everyone and helped out those that needed it.

This wonderful display was sent in by Iowana.  She could not be with us; however, she wanted each of us to know how much the time she has spent with everyone at Morganville Friendship Group has meant to her.  She had Susie bring these in for each one of us to have a pick of what we would like to have from Iowana.  What a blessing !  Below is a picture of each of the ladies that were at the meeting and the items they picked.  Many of them said thank you Iowana while their picture was taken - this was such a special gift of friendship.

Again - Thank you Iowana and thank you Susie for doing this for Her and us.

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During Show 'n Tell, Lorraine showed us the blocks that she is working on.  She hopes to do two quilts and is working out the time period for Susie to quilt them.  Quite a bit of discussion was held regarding making pinwheels, bias edges, do two at a time, four at a time and even eight at a time.  We might have over whelmed Lorraine a bit - please forgive our exuberance over YOUR new project.  It is so fun to see others at work - gives each of us many ideas.  Like that fabric - wow!

Deb made the quilt below with a layer cake of Moda's "French General" and a bit of yardage for sashings and border.

Don't you just love the way it all came together?  Okay, who is carrying that fabric in their store right now?

Esther brought in her mother's sewing machine and Susie had a look at it.  Because it was making some wrong "moves", it was suggested that Esther take it to the Elna guy on Poyntz in Manhattan.  The compact look is just so cool - and it does zig zags too.

Deb was working on some "Redwork", cute little baskets with flowers - however, what everyone really latched on to was the little bag that she was carrying this project in.  

Missed those that could not be with us - looking forward to the next gathering.  Love the food tips, the pickling ideas and the friendship.  Thank you Machelle for the apples.  We really must think about having lunch later so that we don't leave so soon.

Lorraine good luck on the job - though we really would like to keep you for ourselves.

Till next month  :)  :)  :)  :)  :)  :)  ;)