WWQP Bulletin Board

2009-06-22T06:40:00.003-05:00

I just completed a top for a wedding. They registered for sheets and towels in Neutrals, so I mad a neutrals quilt. It was from McCalls Aug. 2007, called White Chocolate. It came out just beautiful. Now it just needs to be quilted. I have the backing and batting washed and pre-shrunk. I can start this weekend. I must take it to the guild for show and tell first.

Here goes...

This is one block. Alex says, "Don't forget to add white".

Here is the whole top. and one of the whoe quilt so you can see the border with the cornerstones.

I guess the order is not as I planned, but you get the idea.

It was fun to do. I always wanted to do a neutral quilt and th is was the perfect quilt for it.

Donna, LEH, NJ

I won a ribbon

2009-06-21T03:04:00.002-05:00

My quilt was a table topper entered in the Miscellaneous category. One prize for each category. The ribbons were delightful sunflowers for the show theme Field of Seams.

A Wordy Report From a National Quilt Show ... the 2009 National Quilt Association Show in Columbus, Ohio

2009-06-19T01:10:00.002-05:00

Spent a few hours at the 40th National Quilting Association Show in Columbus, Ohio this afternoon and did my bit to stimulate the economy. Came home with one kit from Sewbatik's booth (that guy's stuff is absolutely irresistible in person), some threads from Superior Threads booth and some foundation piecing papers for tiny Christmas tree ornaments in classic quilt block patterns. (There was a brief power outage for a few minutes while I was in the Sewbatik booth so that's why I had plenty of time to browse among his kits.)

The quilt show featured rows of red and white quilts that were yummy to look at. They used the idea that the 40th show was the "ruby anniversary" and invited people to send in their red and white quilts so the range from traditional to contemporary was quite exciting to see ... everything from classic embroidered redwork to glitter and glitz on small wallhangings.

After looking at the Best of Show quilts I looked around for the new Master Quilter display. I asked a white glove lady to point me to the Master Quilter exhibit and she told me that they don't always have a new Master Quilter each year .... that some years there is no one who has earned the designation. I had previously seen Ted Storm's exhibit and last year it was Sharon Schamber's but there was no new Master Quilter for 2009.

The number of dealers trying to sell longarm or mid-arm quilting machines was rather amazing .... everyone from the "biggies" (Gammill, APQS, etc.) to machines that looked like they were built in someone's garage. Therefore price ranges must be all over the place too.

The Gammill guy had a cool set up .... black fabric on one longarm machine with gold metallic thread and a computerized system stitching a very elegant feather pattern. Oh, my goodness! I teased him and said "Now that's a real killer of a set-up you have there, you have the George Clooney sex appeal factor working for you." and he just grinned at me. "Does it make your heart go pitty-pat?" he said. I said, "Not today." and walked on. LOL

Judy in Ohio

Charity Comfort Quilts

2009-06-18T20:53:00.003-05:00

The Quilting Bee that I belong to in our community had an art and craft show yesterday. Our group displayed their charity project for this year - tied comfort quilts for the local veterans' hospital. Wish I could figure out how to post a picture as they made a very nice showing. We're a small group, just eight ladies, but managed to each make a few from our stashes. It is a pleasure to know that we can support our veterans and show how much we appreciate what they have done for all of us.

Margaret from Long Island, NY
(where we've had so much rain that golf at Bethpage had to be cancelled because the course looked more like a swimming pool)

Sampler Quilts

2009-06-16T14:58:00.002-05:00

I'm looking for a book or articles about the history of sampler quilts. Not "how to" or directions for making, but when that type might have begun, changes through the years, reasons for making, etc. Anything interesting about samplers. Thank you. Harriet

Relay Quilt

2009-06-13T17:48:00.002-05:00

The t-shirt quilt I made for the silent auction at Relay for Life is done and hanging at the library. I'll try to add a picture so you can see it. The ribbons have the names of 10 people from my town who have had an impact on my life. After losing my 53 yr old Aunt to breast cancer I needed to do something positive towards a cure and this quilt was the answer. I felt she was sitting on my shoulder the whole time encouraging me to finish and not give up.

The teal ribbon is for my neighbor and friend Marilyn Peters who taught kindergarten for 51 years here in our town. She was amazing and Ovarian cancer took her just a month after her diagnosis. She is missed!

Shelli

Quilt back from the long arm quilter

2009-06-11T10:54:00.002-05:00

The woman who did my long arm quilting on DD's quilt did a great job. Since there were cabbage roses in the fabric she quilted cabbage roses in it all over. It was a bit more expensive than I was hoping for, but, worth it.
($117.00) in case inquiring minds want to know. This included an extra charge of $7.00 for the light pink thread I wanted.
I am happy with the results.
Since it is for her birthday, not until October, I'm going to put it away for a bit so I can finish up 2 baby quilts.
Sara in Fla.

Quilt Show in Iowa

2009-06-10T13:01:00.002-05:00

I am busy preparing my quilts for the Jewel Box Quilt Guild show in Grinnell Iowa at the middle school, 132 East Street South. If you are in the area, come see nearly 200 quilts from 10-6 Friday or 9-4 Saturday.

applique thread

2009-06-02T09:43:00.002-05:00

On the Piece O' Cake website they have packaged some small bobbins
of thread for applique.
There are 12 bobbins in 3 different groupings.
The thread is Superiors "MasterPiece"
I ordered all three groupings & I'll post a report when I use them.
I usually use silk because of the blendability & convenience but I can't say that I really enjoy
sewing with it. I'm anxious to try this.
Oh, they sell replacements too, 99 cents each.
Jill
PS: I'm almost finished with Sandra Dallas's "Prayers for Sale" it's a sweet book.

Memorial Day & Quilts

2009-05-31T14:19:00.002-05:00

http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/album/548963957YkfzDm

This link should take you to my online album of the memorial quilt I made back in 2005 after the death of our son. I could not find a picture on this laptop or I would have posted it onto the WWQ web page.

Last Monday, I took the quilt down and placed it on our guest bed. I love to walk along the bed and read the names, rub my hands across the quilt blocks, and remember how much it meant to my husband and me when we were in the deepest of that dark valley. To have people (that we have never meant and probably never will, except through a line in an email)take their time to send a card, a word of encouragment and also take their time to make a memorial quilt block just for us.

I wanted to thank you all again for your gift of love. Perhaps most or maybe all of those that sent a block no longer even post to this website. In case their is just one, I wanted to remind you that we grestly appreciate your gift.

In God We Trust,
Sandra from SC 5/31/09

remember

2009-05-25T13:57:00.002-05:00

Today I look at my handsome Dad in his service uniform so blessed that he returned from
WWII. Today is a day to remember those who did not & pray that we can be better caretakers
of this planet & try to make it a safe & healthy place for alll of us, a tall order, I know!

I wanted to suggest Atkinsondesigns.com, for a visit if you haven't been (see this is quilt related) Go to Terry's blog for some wonderful tutorials, I'm doing the big bag at the bottom.
I'm not affiliated, but anyone who can come up with "Yellow Brick Road" is my hero!

It's a beautiful day here in Oregon & I need to get my hands dirty! Jill

Thanks for the long arm advice

2009-05-19T14:19:00.002-05:00

Thanks to Kathi, Judy in AR and Judy in Ohio for your advice. I met with the long arm (is that 2 words or one?) quilter this morning. She doesn't have any cats, neither she or her husband smoke.
She showed me several quilts she had finished. Also a photo album of others. We picked out a soft cabbage rose for the overall quilting.
I think she will do a good job. I already had my cotton batting so I took it with me.
She is leaving for VA. in 2 weeks and said it will be done either just before she leaves, or just after she gets back. I'll post again when I get it back.
Sara in Fla.

Kaitlyn's quilt

2009-05-18T15:52:00.002-05:00

This (hopefully!) is the picture of Kaitlyn's graduation quilt. All of the fabrics are from the Blank Textile Ovarian cancer research and awareness line, Inspirations. I incorporated the label into the backing in a big friendship star. Kaitlyn's mother died of ovarian cancer in Jan 2007. Her only wish was to live long enough to see her only child graduate from high school. I couldn't do that! But hope this will please Kaitlyn.

questions for long arm quilter?

2009-05-18T13:36:00.002-05:00

I'm thinking about taking a quilt to a long arm quilter that is sort-of in my neighborhood. By that I mean she works out of her house, and is within 10 miles of me.
What questions do I ask other than pricing? I know to ask if she smokes, has a cat, but what else should I ask? Do I get references?
I met her briefly at my quilt guild meeting several months ago, but don't know anything about her.
Thanks in advance for your help.
Sara in Fla.

Trip X Two progress report

2009-05-17T16:06:00.003-05:00

It's been a long time since I've checked in! I got this far on the design wall but just couldn't sew it together. Went on to some other projects and finished two up before I returned.
I just had to make some more squares. I went to the closet and in a big rush, I grabbed one piece after another and before I knew it I had three more runs of fabric to use. I've been sewing and sewing and can't wait to see what I have. Instead of being so fussy, I concentrated more on color values. Maybe they'll be ugly. Who knows?
In case you missed the first installment of this adventure, I'm including the website -

http://picasaweb.google.com/millyquilts/SewSew#

Jill's site

2009-05-12T23:05:00.000-05:00

Can someone inform me how to get to the site Jill created?

getting in

2009-05-12T12:15:00.001-05:00

This is the first time I've been able to access this site in nearly a week. Has anyone else had this problem or is it just me???

judy in ar

My First Real Quilt from a Real Quilt Book Pattern

2009-05-07T08:53:00.007-05:00

Two years ago we added a twin guest bed in my sewing room. This week I pulled a summer weight quilt from the closet, one which I haven't used for such a long time. I don't know why I haven't, for it is one of my favorites. (Don't forget, you can click on the photo for closer views.)

Oh, it's not beautiful in the sense of today's fantastic fabrics and patterns, but I love its simplicity.

I began quilting in the 1970s and the very first Q book that I purchased was Ruby McKim's 101 Patchwork Patterns, originally published by McKim's Studios in 1931. The pattern was simple and the method was to trace the pieces onto cardbord templates. I followed her instructions to a T including her suggestion for colors as I wanted my quilt to look vintage.

If I remember correctly I used flannel for the batt. Also the background was unbleached muslin (as McKim suggested) and you know how wrinkly that gets. So if you click on the quilt you can see the hand quilting doesn't really show up well. There is no pouf from the flannel. And the muslin wrinkles. Still...the quilt is extremely lightweight and perfect for summertime.

The pattern is Jacob's ladder. And you can read more about why I love this quilt on my own blog. (click) You may have to scroll down to the post for May 5.

BTW, Ruby Short McKim's granddaughter has a website where you can view and order many of Ruby's patterns. Go there and browse around, just for the fun of it. The website is called McKim Studios and can be found at http://www.mckimstudios.com/.

WhiteStone
aka JudyPete

Those "Last-Minute Lucy" Types ....

2009-05-02T08:42:00.002-05:00

Joleen wrote "It was a Great show because we had so many quilts, but because they couldn't all be displayed in full the voting was affected and people's feelings were understandably hurt."

It appears that the organizers of their show were too kind to the "Last-Minute Lucy" types, the procrastinators, the "oh, please, please, please, let me enter my quilt I just finished ....." girls and so made the grown-ups, the women who had their quilts done on time suffer as a result.

I hate to read about that happening and I hope the show organizers learned a lesson that they will pass along to the next show's committee. Deadlines are deadlines. End of discussion. Save your quilt for the next show. (Maybe putting the deadline too far in front of the show was a mistake but that's something that can be hashed out by the next committee.) Just one woman's opinion, of course.

There are some people who think they are special and who think that deadlines don't apply to them but when you get a flock of those "special darlings" it can really ruin what should be a memorable event and turn it into a bitter occasion.

Quilt Show Thread

2009-05-01T10:31:00.001-05:00

This might be a duplicate post because the first time I did this it didn't show up... Our guild will be having a show next spring - we also do one every other year and this will be our third. Since I will be co-chairing I am enjoying this thread on shows and I am copying all of the comments from all of you. Our show is not really "judged," but there are prizes given which are determined by popular vote. We had a bit of a free for all with entries last time. A deadline had been set for info on the quilts that would be entered and that was a month or so ahead of the show. The night before the show was hung, the person who was making labels finally quit answering her phone because people were still calling with additions or changes...so we had way more than we had planned for or had room to display properly. It was a Great show because we had so many quilts, but because they couldn't all be displayed in full the voting was affected and people's feelings were understandably hurt. We have some ideas on how to deal with that this year but, again, I am really appreciating all the comments being made. Any other tips, dos or don'ts, suggestions, etc. would be welcomed. Joleen in MN

Quilt Show Thread

2009-05-01T08:24:00.002-05:00

Our guild will be having a show next spring - we also do one every other year and this will be our third. Since I will be co-chairing I am enjoying this thread on shows and I am copying all of the comments from all of you. Our show is not really "judged," but there are prizes given which are determined by popular vote. We had a bit of a free for all with entries last time. A deadline had been set for info on the quilts that would be entered and that was a month or so ahead of the show. The night before the show was hung, the person who was making labels finally quit answering her phone because people were still calling with additions or changes...so we had way more than we had planned for or had room to display properly. It was a Great show because we had so many quilts, but because they couldn't all be displayed in full the voting was affected and people's feelings were understandably hurt. We have some ideas on how to deal with that this year but, again, I am really appreciating all the comments being made. Any other tips, dos or don'ts, suggestions, etc. would be welcomed. Joleen in MN

Quilt shows

2009-04-30T17:29:00.003-05:00

Our guild is quite large, but we only do a show every other year. You must be a member to enter a quilt in the show, but otherwise, there is no fee for entering a quilt. Everyone pays the entry fee (around $8) except the volunteers who are helping show the quilts and run the show.

We don't do a shop for our gently used items; on the off years from the show we have an auction and sell those donated items. We did have a meeting where people could "buy" a table for a certain fee, sell their items, and keep the profits.

Laura in Alabama

quilt shows

2009-04-30T11:57:00.002-05:00

I have some questions for all of you who belong to guilds that host quilt shows. Do you have to pay to enter your own quilts in your own guild's show??
Do you have to pay to go to your own show?
If you have a "boutique" area of gently used books, patterns, fabrics etc--are the items "donated" so that all the proceeds go back to the guild OR do you sell items whereby the seller gets the money and only a percentage goes to the guild??

These are questions that cause quite a disturbance at our guild meetings.

I hope this gets lots of discussion going and some comments that I can use!!
TIA
judy in AR

Judging at Paducah in 2009

2009-04-30T11:35:00.003-05:00

Why is it that in this day and age only the quilts of people with obsessive work habits seem to walk off with the biggie prizes? The quilt that won best of show at Paducah this April also won the Founder's Prize in Houston last October. A write-up about this prize winner from Australia revealed that the woman who made it spent 17,000 hours over four years to create her masterpiece.

Do you suppose the woman has servants to do her mundane things like grocery shopping and laundry?? :-)

Here's a list of the AQS show winners.

http://www.americanquilter.com/shows_contests/paducah/2009/contests/quilt_winners.php

Judging quilts in one day

2009-04-30T10:44:00.001-05:00

I remember the post by Judy where she stated that quilt judges can only judge 20 quilts in a day. I just came home from judging a pre-hung show, written comments only to the top place winners, and I judged over 400 quilts in an 11 hour timespan. Only had an hour off for lunch and another one for dinner. I was totally exhausted at the end, but I managed to do it.