Club Notes - Feb 11, 2026

There were 14 of us at today’s meeting.  I told everyone a little about our experience at thr Giving Showcase last Saturday.  This is a unique opportunity to network with other charitable groups within the Villages. Thanks to Lisa, Carolyn and Brenda for helping.   We may have picked up a new group to donate to – Isaiah 117.  They can use small quilts and drawstring backpacks for children transitioning into foster care.

I did a quick explanation of how to sew a zipper into a small zipper bag, Thanks to everyone who contributed to the discussion.  I’m afraid I was not on my A game today. As I have mentioned in the past, I do not function well early in the morning, and I had to wake up at 4AM this morning to take my husband to the hospital for an outpatient procedure.  All went well and I had him back home by 11AM.

I brought the squares back in and Mic brought in a bunch of zippers and other notions.  The stuffing and fabric scraps were available in the closet.

The next events that I am aware of are the following:

March 7^th  - Quilter’s Closet & Notions Sale at La Hacienda. 8:30am-12:30pm. I will be looking for a few volunteers to help for an hour or two.

March 1-April 30 – All Florida Shop Hop.  Purchase the magazine at one of our local shops to get free patterns and the official passport needed to register for prizes. There are prizes given at the shops plus regional and all Florida prizes. This is a fun way to get to know the shops.

Show and Tell: 

Louise Stem made 4 more pillowcases for the Youth Ranch graduates.

Ceal Pedersen showed some more stuffed toys that she painted the faces on to finish them for us.

(Linda Greenbaum made these bears)

Nancy Miller has been busy making 30 drawstring backpacks.

Linda Greenbaum is making port pillows for mastectomy patients.

Mary Ellen Boutin has been very busy making tote bags

 and several quilt tops.

Eileen DiSanto made another dino.

Diane Placek made a couple of zipper bags.

Bev Minnerly made a backpack, 

doll clothes and a bunch of doll bodies.

A few weeks ago, I showed 2 quilt tops. Today I showed the finished quilts,

As always, everyone spent the rest of the afternoon selecting fabric, sewing stuffing toys and socializing.  

It has been a while since we had a party, so I am working on that.  It won’t be next week, but sometime soon.  I will let you know.

Hope to see you all next week.

Club Notes - February 4, 2026

There were 18 of us at today’s meeting. I brought out our medium size fabric pieces and several ladies sorted through the boxes to find or cut fat quarters that we can sell. Slightly smaller pieces were available for making toys or other projects. The 5” squares and 6.5” squares were also available for anyone who wanted to work with them.

Here is a recoup of upcoming events: 

Feb 7^th Giving Showcase 10am-2pm at Lake Miona.  Lisa, Brenda and Carolyn volunteered to help.  Stop by to check out all the wonderful organizations in The Villages.

March 7^th  - Quilter’s Closet & Notions Sale at La Hacienda. 8:30am-12:30pm. I will be looking for a few volunteers to help for an hour or two.

March 1-April 30 – All Florida Shop Hop.  Purchase the magazine at one of our local shops to get free patterns and the official passport needed to register for prizes. There are prizes given at the shops plus regional and all Florida prizes. This is a fun way to get to know the shops.

Show and Tell: (https://sewingn-more.blogspot.com/)new

Donna Rissman handed in a dog bed

and a bunch of receiving blanket made by members of her quilt chapter. 

She also showed some apron shaped potholders she made for her chapter’s retreat, 

and some heart shaped trivets.

Ceal Pedersen showed some more stuffed toys that she painted the faces on to finish them for us,

 and two quilts. She is keeping the first quilt for herself. 

The second one goes to a nephew.

Bev Minnerly made 3 cats that she gave to Ceal for face painting. 

She also made 10 pillowcases 

and 3 walker bags.

 

Lisa Strahs-Lorenc showed some doll clothes and a doll for “Dolls From the Heart”.

Diane Placek showed the paper piecing sample she completed and talked about the challenge this was for her since she is left-handed.

Eileen St Clair showed a table runner she made using paper piecing.

Louise Stem made 2 more pillowcases for the Youth Ranch graduates.

Linda Greenbaum made 5 teddy bears to be stuffed

 and 6 clothing protectors.

 

The 5” squares continue to live in my car, so they will be back again next week. We have room for 2 bins in the closet, so the pieces for toys are staying there.  We also keep the 3.5: squares and 4” squares in the closet for anyone who would like to make some 9-patch blocks. 

My husband is having an out-patient procedure done next Wednesday morning, so I may be late getting to our meeting and will not have time to bring anything that is not already in my car.  If I am late Mic should be able to start the meeting.   In either case, you can come to sew and socialize. I plan to send out an email before noon to let everyone know what is happening.

 Hope to see you next week.

Club Notes - January 28, 2026

There were 16 of us at today’s meeting, It was a low-key afternoon.  I put out the 5” squares, the fabric pieces, and the big orphan blocks. 

Today’s announcements were a recap of  upcoming events, as follows:

Jan 28- Feb 1 Fabric giveaway, 1pm-3pm each afternoon – at Mic’s house, Village of Tall Trees, 2490 Five Forks Trail

Feb 7^th Giving Showcase 10am-2pm at Lake Miona.  Lisa, Brenda and Carolyn have volunteered to help.  Stop by to check out all the wonderful organizations in The Villages.

March 7th  - Quilter’s Closet & Notions Sale at La Hacienda. 8:30am-12:30pmRoxann Walas has offered to help 9:30-10:30. . I am looking for a few volunteers to help in the other time slots.

March 1-April 30 – All Florida Shop Hop.  Purchase the magazine at one of our local shops to get free patterns and the official passport needed to register for prizes. There are prizes given at the shops plus regional and all Florida prizes. This is a fun way to get to know the shops.

Show and Tell:

Melanie Konopka showed 2 table runners that she made.

Louise Stem made a couple more pillowcases for the Ranch graduates, 

a prayer quilt for a friend who lost her mother.

Linda Greenbaum made some clothing protectors,

Bev Minnerly made a walker bag 

and 2 cats.

Carolyn Grasso made a quilt for her uncle.

Ceal Pedersen showed some more stuffed toys that she painted the faces on to finish them for us. She also shared her toy patterns.

Eileen St. Clair and Ellen Hein have been busy sewing binding on the quilts we have been working on.

Ellen also made pajamas for her grandchildren.

 

During the meeting Ellen worked on this quilt top for Cornerstone Hospice, and handed it in at the end.

For the rest of the afternoon, we all selected fabric, chatted, and worked on various projects.

The 5” squares continue to live in my car, so they will be back again next week.  I will also get the fabric pieces for toys out. The big, orphan blocks, 3.5” 4.5”, 8.5”, and 10.5” squares are stored in the closet and are available for anyone who want to make something with them.   I encourage anyone who wants an easy project to make some 9-patch blocks. Once we have enough, they will be turned into a quilt top.     We can also always use more toys, walker bags, drawstring backpacks, and zipper bags, Hope to see you next week.