Club Notes for March 28, 2018

We had 2 great demos this afternoon.  

Brenda Severa showed us how to sew a button on using our sewing machines. There is a special foot that is available to hold a button in place, but Brenda showed us how it can be done without that foot.

Charlotte Ceciio then showed us how to make a fun purse out of a bra.  It is very easy.  I made one in no time, only need to add a snap or velcro closure and a little lace trim to finish it.

Show and Tell:

Back

Front

B.J. Herter brought 2 completed baby quilts for the Ocala shelter.

Linda Parr brought an afghan made by a friend's mother, also to be donated to the shelter.

One of our new members, Anne Knoff, couldn't come this week, but she sent  several drawstring bags for the shelter with Linda.

16 bags with handles for the shelter

Ellen Hein took some fabric we had in storage and turned it into 16 bags for the shelter. 

  She also made a doggie bed and a pillow from a Venice scene panel

Pat Pipa arrived late due to a long wait at her doctor's office, but brought a stack of large drawstring duffle bags and several dog beds.

I brought a stack of drawstring duffle bags I made from some curtain fabric that was donated to us a while back. (Finally a good use for it!!)

***********************************

Next week we will be back in our regular room at El Santiago.  I will send out info on the project of the week over the weekend.

Club Notes - March 21, 2018

Today is the first day of Spring!  I am looking forward to the warmer weather and I'm guessing many of you are too.  Yes, I am grateful we are not living in the snowy states, but I have been in Florida long enough for my blood to turn to orange juice and not like anything below 70 degrees.

It is also Downs Syndrome awareness day.  In honor of that, there was a call to wear 2 different socks, bright colors, or something else that says you dare to be different.   Several ladies answered the call.

Three main announcements today:

 First, I talked to Donna Rissman yesterday.  She is home but other than getting her fever down, the doctors were unable to figure out what is causing her discomfort.  She is trying to research it herself, but said to tell you all that she is convinced aliens have done this to her (LOL).

Second, you may want to look at a copy of the Florida Register.  They are celebrating their 25th anniversary and are having a contest.  The entry form is in the paper and all it costs to enter is your postage stamp. 

Third, all the pop-tops for the Villages Elementary school collection have to be turned in by the end of March.  I have already handed in everything we collected as of last week.  If you have any more to donate, please bring them in next week.  Any that come in after this month will have to be held for next year's collection.

*****************

Show and Tell:

Eileen DiSanto showed her Valentine mug rugs.

Carol RIggs also showed her finished Valentine mug rug.

Roberta Kelsey made a stack of pillowcases and a fidget walker bag.

Lu Karatzas finished her lobster bib  and some mug rugs. . 

She then showed the quilt and mug rugs she made for her brother.

Bev Minnerly finished a dog bed and 2 lobster bibs.

B.J. Herter made a casserole carrier, 2 mug rugs, and a snowman pillow.

Linda Parr showed some baby blankets Khaki quilters gave us.  They gave us 15 of these for the Ocala Shelter in exchange for 3 quilts we gave them for the Sheriff's Youth Ranch.

Ellen Hein showed a baby quilt she made from fabric she found in one of our donated bags,

I showed a quilt I made from red and pink squares of our donated fabric.

*****************************

Our project today was to make pillowcases, small drawstring bags (12x14) and larger duffle bags for the Ocala Shelter.  I brought a bunch of tougher fabrics from our stash.  Some were finished during the meeting and several ladies took some home to work on.   I'm looking forward to seeing what comes back to us next week.

Next week we will be meeting at Mulberry Grove for the last time this year and Charlotte will show us how to make a fun purse from a fancy bra.  I will send out a separate email with the project supply list.

Hope to see you next week.

Club Notes - March 14, 2018

We had a small group this afternoon but great food and fun games. The beginning trivia I put together was a little more challenging than usual, but everyone seemed to have fun with it.  We played "Lois Bingo", Villages version and then a little bowling.  I think I've finally got the setup for miniature table bowling right.

Show and Tell:

Pat Pipa showed a baby hat she made on a loom for Busy Hands and a couple of drawstring bags for the Ocala shelter.

Eileen DiSanto showed 2 pillowcases,


a 5-easy pieces quilt top she finished at last week's quilting retreat.

 and a finished quilt (she pulled off her husband's bed.)

<--top                          back -->

Carol  Thurston showed some lovely zipper bags made from place mats.  She agreed to give us a demo on this project in May.   

We could use some more project ideas for the summer, so if you have any ideas - things you can demo or projects you'd like to make and need someone else to demo, let me know.

After the games a group of us went over to The Club to visit our friend Jane Swafford.  She will be there in rehab for the next few weeks, recovering from a fractured hip and the resulting operation.  She looked good, but can't get around on her own yet.  We wish her a speedy recovery.

Next week we will be working on charity projects - either pillowcases or drawstring bags.  I will demo how to make these easy bags.  Hope to see you all at El Santiago next week.

Club Notes - March 7, 2018

Bev gave a great demo on how to make adult bibs this afternoon and we had lots of comments on alternate uses for this accessory.  I traced the template she brought and will scan it and send it out as soon as I get a free minute.

Show and Tell:

Pat Pipa knitted a sweater and made a bunch of the Jelly Bean bags (from the demo 2 weeks ago) to sell at the Busy Hands upcoming sale.

Donna Rissman was inspired by the Jelly Bean bags and stuffed some to create versions that sit up.  She also showed an easy Easter placemat, some hot pads with quilter sayings, and an Honor Flight quilt.

Bev Minnerly made 2 micro wave bowl holders and a travel tray as gifts for a friend.

Linda Parr Showed a reading pillow made at the MEQ club for donation to the area Foster children, and a baby bib.

I showed a Gypsy bag I made. I will be adjusting this pattern to make a smaller version, which will be in a future demo.

****************

We had 4 more bags of scrap fabric delivered at the beginning of the meeting.  Several ladies who were not working on the current project pitched in to sort it out.  They filled a bunch of dog beds and separated out a small amount of usable fabric.  THANK YOU!

I spent the afternoon pinning a Christmas quilt sandwich. This one is from fabric Van and I sorted a few weeks ago,   I now have 2 red charity scrappy quilts sandwiched and waiting to be quilted, as soon as I get my quilting table back (long story).

Next week we will meet at Mulberry Grove for a St Patrick's  pot luck.  As usual, I will provide plates, plasticware, ice tea and some games.  Bring 25 pennies or buttons for bingo.