October 2024

 Today we met at Mary’s house on a hot and sunny day.  Everyone was wearing either a cool dress or shorts.  After the heat wave we’ve been having, it was nice to get into the cool house.  Marty was the only one missing.  The next meeting will be at Bobbie’s house on November 4 at 130.

Mindy started us off but unfortunately forgot to bring her show and tell.  She did find Bobbie’s lost phone so Bobbie was happy to get it back.  She told us about her broken dishwasher and recommended Mikes Appliances in Pinole.

Mary

Mary was next and showed us three projects.  The first was from a kit for children’s quilt.  It was quilted in a serpentine S but it came out as ovals on the second pass.  I’m going to have to try that quilt pattern.  The second quilt came from a 2004 Jane Herlily Block of the month pattern.  At first she didn’t like the color but we all agreed that it came out very nice.  The third is an old project that she completed.  She’s not sure which class this was started in.  It looks like she took 4 same sized fabrics and cut three gentle curves then shuffled them.  I think it looks great, but Mary is thinking of cutting it up and making a tryptych.

Bobbie

Bobbie was next and is working on 12 small 4.5 inch squares of hand embroidery on cut up fabrics.  She is  using Susan Brandeis Stitching book which says to choose the stitch design first and then choose your fabrics and design. 

Joan

 Joan is working on her Sisyphus quilt and has decided not to quilt it herself. She is looking for a long arm quilter since Melissa said she is too overbooked and won’t be able to accept it until after the holidays.  I think the border she added really pulled the colors together.

Her next project has something to do with a lighthouse.  Mary was able to find a lighthouse picture for inspiration.

Sandy

Sandy showed us her new project.  She was thinking of naming it Circus Circus.  Someone suggested 3 Ring Circus.  She chose the colors first.  Although she doesn’t like the colors, they do work well together.  You can see the influence of Maria Shell and the improv classes that she’s been taking.  Well done.

Deanna

Deanna had two projects to share.  The first was a layer cake that she had.  I think the pattern was from The Fabric Patch.  She said something about putting two fabrics right sides together, drawing a diagonal line and sewing on each side.

The second project was an Irish chain quilt.  She found a dog fabric for the focal center and surrounded it with the red and white checkers.  Nice.  How did she get her points so straight. Pins.  She pins everything.

Arleen 

I had two projects.  The first is the same pattern as the red and blue silk quilt.  I used a layer cake of brights and a layer cake of whites.  For an 80 x80 quilt, I used 84 10 inch squares and some leftover 2.5 purple strips.  The batting is a 80/20 from Joann’s.  After using the Quilters Select which is a lighter batting from The Batty Lady, I found it harder to quilt a large quilt with the thicker batting.

The second project is the same pattern from Sarah Nishiuras workshop.  This quilt uses yarn dyed leftover fabrics.  It has a homey feel with all the neutral colors.  I’m thinking of using bright colored threads to quilt it.  Thanks for all the suggestions.

We discussed some challenge options which when we make the final decision will be due at the May meeting in time for the Alameda County show.  Limited to 80 inches.  Here are some ideas

1each person bring an ugly fabric to be swappped

2 black and white and 1 color

3 only use 2 fabrics

4 opposites attract.

5 pick a word that starts in RE. Rebel, refinish, redeux, restless, remember, repose, reveal, renaissance, reverberation, rebound, etc.

Thank you Mary for hosting this month.  We all enjoyed your delicious peach cake with vanilla ice cream.  The cold water and seltzer water was just right for a hot day.