A Square Deal Mystery Quilts

Many of our members have been working on a Mystery Quilt this past winter.  Some members are starting to finish up their tops.  Five of them appeared at our Show and Tell.  We all received the same patterns, but with the different use of color and block lay out, they all have there own look!  Some members chose to make more blocks and make larger quilts.  They are all lovely!  Congratulations to those of you have finished the tops, and for those of us who are still working on them, aren't you inspired by these beauties? 

Peg's finished top.

Toni's top.

Deb's red, black and white.

Maggie's block lay out is unique, she had some in put from her husband.

Joanie's quilt is already finished...she must have connections with her quilter!

I will be posting more of our show and tell in the next few days, as we had a pretty impressive one this month.

Laurie

Lily Anna Stitches

Our April meeting featured an inspiring trunk show by Lori Kabat of Lily Anna Stitches.  Lori began her presentation by talking about how she "came to be", and what was her inspiration for Lily Anna Stitches, which is named after her daughter.  Lori's patterns feature lovely wool designs.  A lot of Lori's designs are based on a seasonal theme.  Over the years Lori has perfected her designs, as well as patterning some of her friends designs. Her work shows that she loves what she is doing.  We we all amazed by her tiny perfected blanket stitch!  You can check out Lori's website at Lily Anna Stitches.

Lori displays some of her fine wool projects.

Lori and Terri discuss projects.

Before our meeting began, 15 of our members chose to take the class to learn Lori's process of how she works with wool.  Members got a nice start on this very sweet Easter project.  Lori offered that if you have any questions or need any additional help to please contact her, and she would be happy to help. She hopes that if you are a beginner at working with wool, that you will not become frustrated if your stitches are not a perfect as you would like them to be...she showed us her first wool project (still unfinished) as an example that it takes a lot of time and practice.  Her projects feature lovely hand dyed wools and Valdani perle cottons that she finds at Primative Gatherings, in Menasha, where she can often be found. 

Lori left perle cotton with Laurie S. for working around the rabbit, as well as the perimeter of the mat.  Please contact Laurie S. if you need more bunny brown, and I will get the other color to you all as soon as I can!  Happy Stitching.

Laurie

Our Susannah Quilt

If you are looking to start a new quilt project, check out the Our Susannah quilt at Erik Homemade.  Instructions for this project will start being posted on Monday April 18th, and then every Monday following until the project is complete. 
The quilt is made using simple rail fence blocks and a up-dated rotary cut version of the classic Sussanah block.  Directions feature a nice photo tutorial to help you along with this project.
Laurie

Town and Country Quilters Show



Memoribilia and Facts From Civil War

Some Pine Needle Quilters made the jaunt to Pulaski to see the Town and Country Quilters Show which had a Civil War theme.  As usual, the Pulaski ladies put on a great show and displayed great hospitality!  Laurie and I had our sister-in-law from Wyoming visiting and she was pleased to be able to see a show while she was visiting us. 
A great display of Civil War information was displayed with attention paid to Wisconsin's contributions to that war. 
The quilt displays were inspirational and the vendors lured us in.  Several of us succumbed to packets of fat quarters that were 18 for $20.00!  We could not resist...and the colors were so luscious. 
There was also a couple who were dressed in authentic period clothing.  How did they live in those hoop skirts and that wool uniform would be ok in Wisconsin for eleven months of the year but what did they do down South?  They were very charming and the lady was doing crafts or handwork that would have been happening during that time period.  She had some interesting tools that I've never seen before.

Anyway, thank you to the ladies from Pulaski for a nice day and outing. 

Diana



A local Civil War Hero Was Featured




Authentic Garb




Some of our members plus Linda from Wyoming



Monday Meeting Reminders

Just a reminder for our Monday meeting.  If you are participating in the wool applique class please be at the hall and ready to begin by 6:00pm.  Our regular meeting activities, including a trunk show by Lori Kabat will begin at 7:00pm.
Remember to bring in any Chinese Auction items to the meeting.  Deanna's car will be by the front door for you to load your auction items into before you come in for the meeting.
Have you looked at the theme ideas that have been proposed for our next quilt show?  Remember to pick your 3 favorite ones, as we will be discussing this as well!
Also, we will start to take membership dues of $15.00 for the year.  Election of officers will be held as well, we are still in need of someone to fill the Vice President position.
See you Monday!

Argyle Pillows and Other Things of Interest

Isn't Argyle a wonderful thing?  Here is a tutorial on how to make an Argyle pillow called Adamant Argyle.  The featured one is just darling. Do you know the history of the Argyle pattern?  It is commonly referred to as "Tartan hose" because of the socks and it was derived from Clan Campbell of Argyll in western Scotland.  Got to admire the Scots.  So go to Stash Manicure and check out one of her featured  spring bloggers.

Rebecca Johnson from Australia is kindly sharing an online quilting course for 12 Weeks.  It starts at the beginning of the process from ideas and designs and onward.  I think she is at Week 2 so you still have time to join in and follow along with her.  Never hurts to see how others approach their quilting.  If you check out her tutorial page, there is a very very sweet birdcage pillow.  If your interested, she also threatens to show you how to piece curves.  Yikes!

Kay Sorensen at Quilts + Color is one of my favorite places to learn about color and she has a great tutorial on her Sunrise-Sunset Quilt.  I just was showing my granddaughter my sack of 2 1/2" strips from our exchange with Leah and this quilt uses 2 1/2" strips.  How cool is that.  Plus, you really don't need to cut them up too much for this quilt and it looks stunning.

Hope you enjoy these as much as I have.   I have some photos to  post later of the Pulaski Quilt show so will get them up.  Diana

Reminder: Wool Applique Class and Trunk Show

As a reminder, if you are planning to take the wool applique class prior to our April meeting, you must contact Malea by Thursday, April 14, so that she can get a count.  If you plan to take the class, it will begin at 6:00pm, prior to our meeting.  There is no fee for the class, but there is a $15.00 charge for the supplies for the small wool project that Lori will supply, which is payable at the time of the class.  So, please give Malea a call if you plan to take the class.  You can learn more about Lori and her designs here.
If you are not attending the class we will see you at the regular meeting time of 7:00pm, where we will enjoy a trunk show of Lori Kabat's projects.  Lori will also have items for us to purchase at our meeting if you are interested.

Binding Tutorial

Whether you are a new to quilting or a veteran quilter, it is sometimes nice to refresh ourselves on the binding process.  You can check out this nice step by step tutorial offered by Konda Luckau. Click here to view the binding tutorial. 
Submitted by Deb

Quilt Shows! Quilt Shows! Quilt Shows!

I have just uploaded a pile of quilt shows on our side bar for you to check out.  I have found some from April through December.  Many of them have links to websites if you click on them to check out the details.  If you have the hunger to go see a show, or perhaps enter a quilt of your own (some of the shows are taking entries), go check out their websites!  If you know of any other shows that I have not listed, feel free to submit the information to me, and I will be sure to add them to the list.
Laurie

Members Participate in Prairie Heritage Show, Sun Prairie...Bring Home Ribbon!

Sheila brings home a 2nd Place Ribbon in the Scrap Quilt Category at the Prairie Heritage Quilt Show!

                                           

Here is proud Sheila with her lovely Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt.  Congratulations on your award winning quilt!

Deanna entered her Delectable Mountains quilt in the show as well.

Carol poses with her very pretty lavender and blue quilt.

Sheila also had entered her Winter Wonderland Quilt in the show.  All of the member quilts entered in the show looked wonderful!  If you have never entered a quilt into a show (other then our own) you might like to give it a try...it's kind of fun to walk into a show to see your quilt hanging proudly!

Laurie