Club Notes - July 21, 2021

 We had a couple of guests today.  First, Elizabeth Manzione started as a guest and is now a new member. Then Carolyn Grasso brought her granddaughter McKenzie (Sp?), who wound up getting a sewing lesson from Donna Rissman, with help from Carolyn and Carole Lamb. McKenzie was able to make her first pillow today.

Eileen DiSanto is going to have a knee replacement and she has gone to stay with her sister in Rhode Island for the surgery and recovery.  Lets send positive thoughts and prayers for her speedy recovery and return to us.

Over the past week, I announced that I made several deliveries last week.  I brought 43 pillowcases to Case for Smiles, 19 walker bags to Helpertunity, and 22 stuffed toys to the Villages Hospital Auxiliary.

I have also identified another organization that we might be able to give smaller (less than twin) quilts to.  I will be checking with them the first chance I get and will provide more info on them later.

Show and Tell:

 

 

Bev Minnerly was busy attempting to use up some of her stash this week.

 

She came with walker bags, backpacks and zipper bags.

Carole Lamb took some fabric from our donations and came back with a bunch of zipper bags.

 

Ceal Pederson had fun with last week's Hexagon Hot Plate demo and came in with a bunch of them, mug rug size.

 

Carolyn Grasso took some cat fabric that was donated and came today with a completed quilt top.

She also found the pieces for an unusual giraffe in a tutu in our donation pile and worked on finishing it.

 

Pat Pipa made several Hexagon Hot Plates, some zipper bags, and some 2-minute coin purses.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

She also showed the fractured art pieces she made the last time we had the demo.

 

 

Donna also showed her hexagon hot plates 

 

and the fractured art pieces she made the last time we had the demo.

 

I showed the Double Wedding Ring quilt I have been working on for my great niece's upcoming wedding and the bag I made to protect it.

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Next I gave a demonstration of how to turn 4 pieces of identical fabric into a fractured art piece.  I brought some samples of different types of fabric (yardage, border fabric, and panels) and how to find the repeats to fussy-cut identical sections of the patterns for this project. Once you've chosen your fabrics I showed how to cut them up and sew them back together to make the fractured art.  The result can be used to make a wall hanging, an interesting tote bag, or some other project that excites your imagination.  The instructions I have are a large file that will probably not make it through most email systems.  I will try to attach it, but can't promise it will get to you.  The book I showed is available on Amazon, so if you are interested, here is the link:  https://www.amazon.com/Fracture-Frenzy-One-kind-Techniques/dp/B00JC6GY8U

Next week I will be showing you how to make walker bags using the pattern developed by Helpertunity.  I will have kits precut, so you will just have to select a kit and sew.   More info later. 

Have a great week.  I hope to see you next Wednesday.

Club Notes - July 14, 2021

 

We had another fun afternoon.  Thanks for the birthday wishes.  I'm celebrating that I survived another year.

Show and Tell:

Diane Placek turned a panel into a cute drawstring backpack.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Charlotte Cecillio came with a herd of dinosaurs,

 

 

 her finished sunshine table mat, 

 

       and a quilt for her son.

B.J. Herter showed her finished patriotic placemats.

 

 

Carol Thurston showed her finished project carrier and a set of patriotic mug rugs for our sale.

 

 

 

Mic Pickard showed her latest crafted Christmas gifts - a wrap-around apron and a set of kitchen towels for every day of the week.

Deb Chapman finished her patriotic placemats and a table runner. 

 

 

 

 

Donna Rissman finished a Project carrier bag and showed a "Triangle Frenzy" table runner. (Demo in August.) She also made a set of cards for our sale.  These consist of construction paper folded and cut to fit the envelopes she had and fussy-cut fabric glued on the front.  A great, easy, no-sew idea for anyone who wants to try it.

(She often doesn't let me get pictures of her items, but she succeeded this time.  I only got a photo of the cards later.)

 

 Pat Pipa finished her project carrier bag,

a walker bag, 

 

and a bunch of chenille pot holders.

 

Audrey Phillips showed a cute gnome mug rug project she got from Sulky. (I downloaded it but the file is too large to email.  You can find this free pattern at www.sulky.com.)

 

 

I made a set of insulated hot pads, 

 

 

 

 

 

a clam-up zipper bag, 

 

 

 

2 baby books for a soon-to-be-born great-great nephew, 

 

 

and a set of "round TUIT"  coasters for our sale.

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B.J. gave today's demo of a hot pad made with 8 pieces of hexagon fabric.  This is a simple project with minimal sewing required.  It is not easy to provide printed instructions for this, it's mostly visual, but I will make an attempt later.

Next week I will demonstrate how to make a Fractured Art block out of 4 identical pieces of fabric.  The process is similar to bargello, but not as complicated.  As I said in a previous email (since this demo was postponed due to the potential hurricane),  you will need 4 fabric pieces (square or rectangle) with identical designs.  To find identical patterns in yardage, you need to look at where the design repeats.  Border fabric works well for this but the section you would be working with should be at least a 10" square for your first try.  Another option is to find a panel with several images and purchase enough to get 4 of the same image.  The images can be different colors, but must be the same image.  You will also need your sewing machine for this project. 

Hope you will be able to join us next week.

Club Notes - June 30, 2021

 We had 15 ladies at this afternoon's meeting, including one new member, Anne Patterson.  She takes the status as the member who comes the furthest for our club, since she is a Chitty Chatty resident.

Last week I made 2 deliveries.  I brought 25 dog beds, a dog crate, a dog carrier, a few toys, and lots of towels to the Marion County Humane Society.  This was the first time I went to this shelter and I was very impressed.  Their parking lot was full of cars and there were several people waiting to adopt.  The staff was very appreciative of our donations.

I also gave 6 patriotic quilts and 2 regular lap quilts to Compassionate Care Hospice.  The regular quilts were extras and we will see if they find a use for them.

On a more serious note, I heard from Carol Riggs this week that her husband, Ken, was in the emergency room at Leesburg Hospital on Tuesday, undergoing tests.  So far, they say he has liver failure.  I will let everyone know when I hear more, but in the meantime, prayers are appreciated.

Show and Tell:

Mic Pickard showed her latest Christmas present quilt 

 

 

 (with some nice embroidery accent on some of the solid blocks.)

 

and the bag it will go in.

Carole Lamb made little patriotic gift bags filled with M&Ms for everyone at today's meeting.

B.J. Herter showed a Christmas table runner she made.

Pat Pipa 

 

 

and 

 

 

 

Audrey Philips 

 

showed the place mats they finished from last week's demo.

 

 

 

Audrey also showed 2 bibs she embroidered for her soon-to-be-born great-grandson.

 

 

Donna Rissman showed a baby quilt she started to make when her grandson was born.  (He just graduated from high school and she is still working on it, so it is probably going to someone else.)

She also showed a lovely art quilt top she made.

 

 

I showed the place mats I finished

 and 4 sets of 3-each hot plates I made for our October sale.

 

 

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Donna gave today's demo of how to make a project carrier bag.   The material list I sent out last week was for one size bag and had a typo in it.  Donna also has found some ways to improve the pattern, so the directions I had are outdated.  I have typed up a revision based on today's demo and sent it to Donna for verification.  As soon as I hear back from her I will send out the revised instructions.

Next week we will be doing something different.  I will be showing you how to make a fractured art out of 4 pieces of identical fabric.  I will send out more details on how to choose your fabric in a separate email.

Hope to see you next week.

Club Notes - June 23, 2021

 

Not too much to report this week.  I delivered 4 adult and 4 children's walker bags to Helpertunity last week.  I have been cutting walker bag kits from our home decor fabric and will be giving a demo of this to the Allamanda Quilt Chapter  7/13 and to our Sewing N More club 7/28. 

Today we made some easy patriotic place mats.  I brought my go-cutter to cut the applique' stars for those in attendance.  The full pattern is attached to my email.

There is a minor correction to the easy binding instruction Donna showed last week.  The revised version is also attached to my email, with the corrected word highlighted.

Show and Tell:

 

 

 

Deb Chapman showed some wine coasters 

 

 

and hot pads she made.

Carolyn Grasso made a stuffed dog similar to one her grandmother had.

Ceal Pedersen made some teddy bears and a dinosaur.

 

 

Donna Rissman made a bunch of teddy bears 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and a pile of pillowcases.

 

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After show and tell I showed how the place mat comes together and cut stars for several ladies.

Next week Donna Rissman will be repeating a demo she did a while back on how to make a project carrier bag.  I will send out the supply list separately.