Westering Women and Their Stories

At our February meeting I had asked for help with decorating for our quilt show.  Part of the decorating idea was to have 8 or so focus areas throughout the quilt show to do small displays on a part of the West.  Some ideas could revolve around how it was for women who lived in the old West days.  Perhaps it could be how it was for the women who lived in the sod houses on the prairie, or those who made the long journey on the Oregon Trail...burying their family members along the way.  Somehow in these story display areas it would be nice to feature a quilt, or quilt block that goes with it such as "Kansas Dug Out"  or "Oregon Trail".
So, I am asking for help with this project....perhaps you would like to "adopt" a decorating area at the show, please let me know, I will have a sign up sheet at our next meeting where you can state your idea as well, so that we don't duplicate.
With that in mind, Deb B. had mentioned that she had found a site featuring a new block each month called Westering Women.  You can also follow it on Pinterest if you are into that.  While you are looking around there are a lot of other things to find as well, especially if you are interested in Civil War Quilts.
Here I also found some free pioneer quilt patterns.  Lots of inspiration to be found!
Thanks for your help with decorating our show and bringing some "stories" into our show!
Laurie

Reverse Applique

February's demonstration was an inspiring one on the technique of Reverse Applique.  Member Laurie P. led us in a hands on tutorial, and also showed us some examples of her work.  Such a talented lady, and what a fun technique.  Some of the benefits, besides that it is absolutely beautiful is that it is a nice portable project and one that can be made with just one color of thread which would match the background color.  I can see that it would take some practice, but could be very rewarding!

 Below I wanted to show you that I finished up the kit that Laurie provided for each of us.  I made it into a needle/scissor case.  Glad that I got it finished up and made it into something useful!  Thank you!  Laurie

Home Is Where the Heart Is

When the weather is cold and the wind has been nipping on your body, there's no better place than your own snug home, all toasty with a chair that fits your bottom  and a nice hot drink waiting for you.  Our houses are important and are the inspiration for many projects including the house quilt blocks.
I found a blog which I believe is Dutch, and she makes many, many little house blocks and she starts with a stamp to make the house components. Building House from Scratch has a lot of sweet scrappy house ideas.

Craftsy has a great tutorial on making houses and I like the nice clean lines of this pattern.

 Quiltmaker has the very sweetest 3" houses, I can see many small scraps going into this little cuties.

Bloomin Workshop has a wonderful manor house block for all your Downton Abbey fans. You too can be lady of the "manor".

Retro Mama has a little cottage home with rick-rack trim.

Here is a pin from Quilt Nut Creations that shows a beautiful finished house quilt with applique.

Natalie Ross In Stitches has some photos of good applique and embellishing ideas to add to applique houses.  They are very cute and inspiring, I really like the wonky wobbly house.  Hope you like the house ideas to put on your bucket list.   Diana

Quilting in February

February is a great month to just sit and sew.  I have been finishing up some UFO's but still making new projects.  My goal this year is not to feel guilty about my UFO's but to just finish up as much as I can.  With our wonderful fabric stashes, we should be looking forward to new projects too so make some plans to use up those stashes!  These bargello quilts are really pretty and seem very doable. Kona Bay is featuring this pattern in two colorways so you can see how it could be done.  I like that they represent summer and spring, trying to keep those seasons in mind.  These really are nice.

Ok, this is fun, Chinese Zodiac quilts based on the year you were born.  I am a sheep and should be making Count Your Blessings Mini Quilts.  What are you and what is your quilt?

Pocketful of Pinwheels, Too has a pdf for a super cute pillow with a pocket.  Anyone looking for a grand kid project might consider this pillow.  The Quilted Fish has a sweet little purse pattern which would be great for a smart phone or game player or just for shopping at the quilt shows.

Happy Quilting has a lot of great patterns.  Her Braided Irish Chain is very interesting and a different version of the old favorite.  Her Nature's Gems quilt is so cute and would be a great baby quilt. Check out all her patterns.

Leigh Laurels Studios has a lot of tutorials, many quilting, sewing and craft projects. I love her Flowering Snowball Mini, looks challenging but fun.  Hope these patterns get you motivated and keep sewing.  Diana

Neckties and How to Use Them

As I'm trying to organize my quilting area a bit better, I come across some projects that are "haunting" me.  A bag of ties that I received from my Mother who received them from my Uncle who has now passed is one of these projects.  So these ties are pretty special and also quite beautiful as they are all florals which I am particular to.  I also happen to know that some of our members are "collectors" of ties and maybe this should be the year to do something with them.  I just happened to see a Sewing With Nancy segment where they made a very beautiful belt out of two ties.  It seemed like a great idea but I have no waist so not so good.  But for you slimmer gals, it would be worth looking up.  Here is a link with a picture of that pretty belt.

Anita's piecing and quilting tutorials also shows a very detailed way of washing, taking them apart and using them in quilts.  I hadn't really thought about washing them but I think it's probably a good idea.  After looking my ties over, they are all silk and really nice.  I wouldn't want them to shrink once they were in my quilts.  If you scroll down this page, you will see a beautiful blue and green silk tie quilt. My sister made a skirt out of ties, similar to this example, for her daughters.

This example reminds me of stained glass.  For a different layout of a Dresden style quilt, try this.  I never would have thought of an apron but it's quite lovely.  This New York Beauty is not for the faint of heart but oh so nice.  Here is a cute one on Cindy Blackberg's site.

Would you ever throw a tie scrap away or just one lonely tie?  Heck no so Melissa from Polka Dot Chair will help you with that.  These would be nice gifts for guys and those are hard to find for sewing.  Hope these will inspire you to drag out that bag (or two or three) of ties and get using them.  Diana

Eleanor Burns Fun

Are you going to be sitting around this weekend watching NCIS reruns?  Gets a little old but there are alternatives.  Eleanor Burns has a wonderful bed turning on youtube that is loaded with vintage quilts and their stories.  Also, she gives us a load of information about our first "star" quilt designers.  You can find this here.  There is a bit of a pause before the video starts at the beginning so be patient, she will come on.
Have a great weekend.  Diana

Happy New Year Pine Needlers!

Are we recovering from the Holidays yet?  Have your made some goals for the New Year?  I hope they include quilting goals.

Have you visited Bonnie McCaffery's youtube videos?  You really should check out all her interviews that she does with recognizable personalities of the quilting universe.  I found a really unusual one today.  It's with a Canadian lady quilter named Dominique Ehrmann and her quilts would really inspire out member, Debby.  Do you recall Debby's presentation on pop- up books?  This lady will take that a step beyond into the quilting world. The video is worth watching.

Here is a witty little saying for those who must sew.  I hope this link works for you.  I think we can relate to this one too.

Are you thinking a Block of the Month might be in your 2016 quilting year?  Amy Gibson from Stitchery Dickory Dock has just started one and the first block looks pretty.  She also has some great tutorials and a shop with lovely patterns to chose from.
This month our "mystery" question will be, "What kind of books are Dominique Ehrmann's quilts inspired by?"  The answer is pop-up books.  We will be asking that question at our next guild meeting and a name drawn for a prize.  Stay warm and keep stitching.  Diana

Christmas and Wintery Ideas

We just finished another great Christmas party and thank you to those who helped make this a success.  Also, a thank you to Tracy's Place for the great food.

I do like seasonal quilts and this quilt really caught my eye.  Not sure if it's the subtle coloring or the lovely snowflakes.  Winter Joy available for sale at Border Creek Station would be a wonderful project this winter.

England Design has a lovely bird and birdfeeder pattern for sale.  Those who love to paper piece will enjoy this project.

I love these little trees.  Amy Smart of Diary of a Quilter has a very nice tutorial on her blog to show you just how to make them.  What a nice way to use up some of those Christmas fabrics.  She has a lot of other ideas on the same page so poke around a while.  Hope you are getting some cookies made and catching up on Christmas projects.  Diana

November Meeting Activities

Our November demonstrations were wonderful and so well done.  I have personally used some of them already.

 Carol did a lovely tablerunner.

 Sue made gift bags.

Kay demonstrating her folded ornaments

 Deb made a stuffed and folded ornament for us.  Below are some of the beautiful member quilts we get to see each month at our show and tell.

 Here is a special picture of Rhoda.  Do you know one of the quilters she is standing next to?  Remember the name and be prepared to put it into a prize drawing at our December Christmas party.  Good luck on your Christmas preparation and shopping and see you at our party.  Diana

Let's Talk Turkey

Well, this might be a little late but here are some fun Thanksgiving projects.  You will find a whole pile of free patterns collected for you here at Quilt Inspiration.  Grab a hot beverage and check them all out.
This idea I found from some creative folks in Alaska.  It looks like a lot of fun.  It doesn't have any instructions, but the concept is simple.  So while your family is gathered around this Thanksgiving, why not get out your fusible web paper and trace your families hands and make something like this.  A project you can all take part in and bring out for many years to come..it would be an awesome family keepsake.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Laurie