Magic Pinwheels Once More

My second Magic Pinwheel with cute border and Barb's, first of two!!

Magic Pinwheels Again

Barb's, Nancy's and Christina's!!

Magic Pinwheels

Here are Monique's, Marjie's and Marilyn's Magic Pinwheels.

Nuts and Bolts

Here is a picture of one of the Nuts and Bolts quilts I made. This one was for Alyssa. Now searching for more pictures and will add another post with the pictures of our Magic Pinwheels soon!!

Magic Pinwheels

Hi here is my magic pinwheel top. It was so much fun to make. Now I am off the take RueBea, Sarah's puppy, for a walk etc and then to Grace for Service Workshop.

All quiet in Crowborough today without my quilting friends. We had such a good time together and I feel as though we have known each other for years instead of months.

I hope you all enjoy their pictures - they have quite a few!!

Happy quilting.

D

Hever Castle

Home of Anne Boleyn before Henry VIII.

Ho ho

Bags

Our bags are multiplying!!

Train

Here we go to Crowborough!!

London

Hi all--Patty and I are having a great time in London. We have been to Buckingham Palace, The Tower of London, British Museum, Churchill Museum War Rooms, National Gallery(briefly), and St. Paul's Cathedral. Last night we saw "Billy Elliot" which was outstanding and
of course lots of shopping and lots of walking too. Tomorrow we are off to Dorothy's which will be a challenging train trip (one hour) with all our bags & more. More later--C

Sent from my iPhone

Rainy day

Rainy day--Shopping

Pub

We thought this was an interesting name for a pub. Esp. after just seeing the Tower of London. C

Yeoman guide for the tower

Tower

Third time is a charm--no rain!!

Buckingham

Patty working on phone access this is an issue. Just took a tour of Buckingham palace. C

Through the first hurdle -- security. Hurrah!!

Quilt Day

Hi here are some pictures from our Quilt Day at church. We met today and about 20 or more women participated with tying, pinning, laying out quilts, sewing tops and bindings and lots of pressing etc. Such fun and look at how beautiful they all look displayed in the sancutary. I think the count of quilts is 45, (not all made just today but all through the year). Hopefully the quilts will make a lot of people warm and comfortable. We send them off, soon, with much love!!

Sarah's new puppy--Rue Bee Rose

Fiesta

One done!!

Fiesta Paper Pieced Quilt Project

Here is a project I have had for a while. It is kind of a kit, they added enough batiks to "get started". So I have added what I had left over from some other things and although I don't have the borders and backing etc I am getting started as you can see in the picture on the left, with the Block 1 (you make two of these). There are 24 blocks totally, all the spiky ones are paper pieced, which I love to do. I am turning over a new leaf after that horrible, UGH Spider Web Quilt and going for accuracy not speed. Let's see how long this lasts!! Applique project is underway also. C

Fall Appliqué

Here is the start of the first block. I love the fabrics and the patterns but I think she, the designer, has made the blocks too big. This one will be 20" finished. I am probably too fussy. C

These are the bags I am taking for the week in England. We will see how much I can jam in. C

Christmas??

From Macy's just a little while ago. C

Testing my ability to send messages to the blog.
Sent from my iPhone --christine brown

A Bag of Fabric

Hi all, when I arrived home there was a shopping bag of fabric scraps. All pieces were at least 8 1/2" wide so I knew they were meant to be cut up for LWR quilts etc. I am pretty sure the bag came from Marjie, but let me know if I am wrong.Well it sat there for about 5 days and then I started in on it. Who knows what comes over me and I do such a thing. but I cut three LWR quilt kits including bindings and one backing from the fabrics and this AM cut 12 school bags from the last, large, heavier fabric. HURRAY!! I love it!! I was so inspired that I sewed together a Lap quilt for Winchester House Nursing Home and put together 6 LWR sewing kits and 3 LWR layettes. I only had to run out to Target for a few layette items. I have already put the sewing kits, layettes and 13 finished LWR quilts in my car for the Quilting day planned at Grace Lutheran for next Sat. See Nancy's comment after the 8/27 post "Marilyn's Comments" to learn more about Lutheran World Relief and the Quilting Day. She also has some good links in the comment.

Here is a brief supply list for the:

LWR Quilts- 64"x 80" made from 80-8 1/2" blocks of varying degrees of beautiful coordination,(meaning some are ugly and some are very pretty!!) plus 8-2 1/2" strips for the binding. These kits our volunteers sew together and tie.

LWR Sewing Kits include, 3 yards of fabric, one spool of thread, one card of buttons and 12 needles.

LWR Layettes include in various sizes from 3 months to 24 months-- 2 receiving blankets, 2 onesies, 2 sleepers, 1 sweater, 4 flat fold diapers, 2 washcloths, 1 bar of soap and 2 diaper pins.

If you go to the sites that Nancy mentions in her comment, you will learn how the above kits and quilts are used. It really inspires me to do more.

Thanks for the bag of fabric!!

Libertyville

Today is just beautiful and I just got home from walking the dogs. Zelda here in the house and yard, with only a few minor head-on collisions with posts and furniture. I think because she has lived here her whole life, all is very familiar. So now to get ready for my England trip. Patty and are very excited and working on only taking carry-ons for our week+ trip. It is a challenge! I think you will see a lot of black/gray outfits in our pictures. I have worked it so I am going to be able to blog using my iphone from England so hopefully you see get a DAILY update with pictures.

Our other big news is that Sarah is getting a Schnauzer puppy next week. She is a distant relative of Z and D's and we think black and silver and her name is Ruby. She was born 7/12 which is Sarah's BD too, and hence the name Ruby, for July's birthstone. Cute. I will post pictures of her as soon as I have them, probably next Friday. Will try to post again this weekend, sorry I have been remiss with the move home etc. Love you all, C

I spent all of yesterday helping to hang quilts at our Quilter's Guild Region quilt show at Hever Castle, Kent. It is held in a marquee in the beautiful grounds of the castle. You would be bowled over by its beauty. The castle was the home of Anne Boleyn before she married Henry VIII and still looks very impressive, surrounded by a moat. I am on duty at the show now for the whole weekend, so we hope to get a good turnout. There are some lovely quilts there, so people should enjoy it and the walk around the grounds will please their "other halves" I should think.

Good luck with the packing Christine - you are a glutton for punishment moving from house to house I think!! I have been painting my sewing room and all the "stuff" (so much fabric, patterns, notions and goodness knows what) that was in it, is scattered about the upstairs of our house and it looks terrible up there. I can't wait to sort it out but can't even think of it until after this weekend. Oh well, it will still be there next week!
D

PATTY'S SAMPLER PHOTOS

Here are some photos of my sampler quilt that was started in 2007 and finished (finally!) this summer. Please note the beautiful machine quilting done by Donna Derstadt in her fabulous studio in Green Oaks (see photo).

Patty Conlon

Patty Conlon

Marilyn's Comments

This is Marilyn with her Paper Pieced Sampler, such a beautiful quilt and here are comments from Marilyn--

I've been working on a red-work table centerpiece
for Lori's kitchen. I think I'll have Joni quilt it, tho. Barb will
help me put it together. The fabric came from Bev F. Also have
been feverishly working on a family album with pictures and stories
that my 95 yr. aunt has written. She is anxious to have me finish it
and so am I !!!

Have a great vacation and say "Hi" to Dorothy.

Marilyn

Comments from Barb

Hi all, I copied this from an email I received from Barb!! Here are pictures of Barb and her first sampler made ????

from Barb--
Sorry,........... I TRIED

Love to read your blog, just have a devil of a time getting on there!
O.K. I have been sewing, made another "I Spy" quilt, need to pin it and
quilt it yet though.
Made 2 table runners for Debby's table, one was a Christmas and another
fall one.
Then did my school bags and turned them in already, AND have sewed
7 tops for service workshop. Not as good as you are to put them together
pin and tie them!

I have been babysitting this summer, IT WORKED OUT, girls were good,
they are both 7 now, so good to take with etc. Only this Thursday left,
they start school on Monday. Feel good I could help out.

That quilt (or whatever it is) that Dorothy did of her father.........................WOW
that is something! Congratulations of your "honorable mention" very nice.
October 4th it is, I do have this "I Spy" quilt to work on.
My grandkids in Wisconsin wanted mine so much, I just couldn't
part with it.................so they don't know I'm doing one for them.

See you soon, and if I don't talk with you, have a wonderful trip.
Love ya, Barb

Festival of Quilts, Birmingham, England

I have just returned from two days at the biggest quilt show in the UK. I exhibited one of my big bed quilts for the first time - didn't expect a mention and didn't get one!!!!!!!!!!!! It's a huge exhibition with visitors from all over the world. It is interesting to stand back and watch people looking closely at my work and commenting - a strange new experience for me. Before this I have only shown my quilts at small local quilt shows. The Best in Show was won by a Japanese girl for her miniature quilt which was a mariner's compass - lots of tiny perfect points. Incredible work and so tiny too. As we walked around the show there were so many foreign voices to listen to - lots of people come from all over Europe and further afield. I went to a lecture given by Amy Butler - what a talent she is and so young too. A great show and now it's back home and trying to improve my techniques.

Not long now until Christine comes to visit - I am SOOOO looking forward to that.
Dorothy

New Busy Week

Here are two pictures from church of the LWR quilts on display a few years ago (last year there were quilts on all along all the pews) and then piled up ready to be boxed and shipped. We really have a lot of fun making these quilts and putting together the school bags etc.

This week will be a busy one for me. I will try to tie Aug #2 LWR today, at least get it started. I pinned it this AM.

 

Dorothy's Dad

Dorothy wrote via email--
I enrolled on an on-line "Quilt University" course (USA) on Fabric Portraits and I have been working on one of my Dad. It became very addictive and I have not been able to stop messing about with it. I got the go-ahead a couple of days ago from the tutor to press all my bits and start thread painting!!! (the course involved taking photos as you go along and then posting them on a gallery and going on to the Discussion Forum for questions and answers). All good technological stuff!!!!!!! I have loved it. Difficult to get a true likeness but the tutor was most complimentary yesterday which boosted my confidence enormously. I have to say that when I first started I was increasingly despondent.
I strongly recommend the quilt Universitywww.quiltuniversity.com There are so many quilt related courses and mine only cost $45 excellent value.
D and (C)

Fabric Portrait

Here is what I have been spending all my time on lately.
Dorothy

Fabric Portrait

Not sure if I told you that I enrolled on a Quilt University Course for Fabric Portraits. My life (work/family) took me over for most of July but I am back on track now and enjoying trying to make my Dad look like my Dad!!! It's not easy. When it is finished I will put it on the blog and, as none of you knew my Dad, you won't really know if it is a likeness or not!!!!

I have finished quilting the I Spy quilt and will take a picture of that soon. I am entering it in a quilt show here in September.

I'll be back on the blog as soon as I have something to show you.
Dorothy

Cathy

http://www.akgmag.com/article/Catherine_Gildiners_Memoirs_After_The_Falls.htm

Here is a link to an interview with my friend, Cathy, about her book, After the Falls.

Biblical Blocks

This is the quilt that the Graceful Quilters made for the narthex of our church, Grace Lutheran, in Libertyville, IL. It is a sampler made from the book "Biblical Blocks" and "More Biblical Blocks"http://www.amazon.com/Biblical-Blocks-Inspired-Quilters-Patchwork/dp/1564773906/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1279885459&sr=8-1 That is a link to the book on Amazon.

Here is a link to Grace Lutheran. http://www.gracelutheranlibertyville.org/ The church is having a BIG RUMMAGE sale today and tomorrow. So if you are interested, head over there for some great treasures.

Today we are having some much needed rain, so let's see what I can accomplish in the sewing dept. I have a LWR quilt on the table to tie (while watching Mad Men Season 1 or the movie "Tea with Mussolini"recommended by Barbara Amato), my Velma bags in progress and Aug #1 LWR quilt top to piece. I will keep you "posted" C

Velma Bags

Here is a picture of my bags in progress. I have cut them all out-99 % from the scraps. Each bag has 12 pieces, and 6 of the pieces have canvas or fusible interfacing -- so 18 pieces for each bag. That was a lot of cutting!! The flap of the bag is secured with velcro but you can add an embellishment (vintage pin or button ) for show, you can see some of my fun pins and buttons in the picture. Click on picture to see a close up. Click again to see it even closer.

I am sewing the canvas backings and applying the interfacing today.

 

Velma Bags

Hi, I have started working on my small Amy Butler bags, they are called Velma Bags. I am using the left overs from the three Amy Butler Birdie Sling bags I made. To see the picture of the black and white Birdie Sling I made for Sarah for her birthday see the post of 6/8



Here is a link to the Birdie Sling Pattern. http://amybutlerdesign.com/products/patterns_display.php?id=37



Here is a link to the Velma Bag Pattern http://www.hancocks-paducah.com/Item--i-AB-015-VB

I think I will try to make 6 Velma bags, I have 4 cut out already. We will see if I am that ambitious after I make the first bag. I will post a picture soon.

Just finished the UGH-Spider Web quilt top. Here are two pictures, now to sit and do my crosswords and number puzzles. Can't think of a better way to spend a lazy afternoon!!