Under the Big Top revealed!

 It was so wonderful to have the level of attendance we did at the January meeting.  Chairs continue to be an issue, but we made it work, and enjoyed some games from the programs people. 

Of course the show and tell is always one of the best parts of the meetings.

Tracy Jachimowicz used leftover fabric from the awards for our last quilt show to make this lovely quilt.  The fabric originally came from the Community Service stash, and they got the quilt!

Visiting former/ returning member Mary Kozub spends a lot of her free time at her loom.  If you zoom in on this rug, you can see rows of little people (they're nurses!).

Mary also made this sweet tiny weaving called Martha in the Garden- to see how hard it would be to isolate a single person.  There are bees and kitties in this one along with rows of flowers!

John Roll is trying to use some of his stash (aren't we all?), and made this beautiful quilt to donate.

Elaine Ross finally got her piece back from the Cherrywood challenge after it travelled the country for two years- including time it was lost between shows. 

Elaine took an online workshop where one takes a photo and makes a "sketch" in fabric. Above is Elaine in third grade (with ringlets she hated) 

And this is the fabric sketch.  I wish it was a better picture, but things move pretty fast in show and tell!

Elaine Moodie busted some scraps with this quilt for community service, which she free motion quilted.

Eileen Sorochty was cleaning and ran across this little project- tiny animals in an Altoids tin for her granddaughter to play with on car trips. 

Sue Chiddy used a jelly roll she found in her stash to make this for community service. 

Carolyn Stegman needed some additional instruction, but finished her block from the paper piecing class given by Connie and Jen Grimsley.

Liz Scott made some panels into Wee Little Quilts for the consortium.

Liz finished this "Fractions" quilt for community service.

And, finally, Liz made herself a quilt.  It uses a jelly roll and a pattern called beach bracelet.

Alex made a sweet placemat for a family member to use....

...And a water bottle cozy for her cousin.

Martha Lorshbaugh also made a Wee Little Quilt, using an orphan block she unearthed in her sewing room. 

And then it was time to see what "Under the Big Top" meant to those who took up the challenge.  There will be a separate post with much better pictures of all of the quilts.  Please visit the exhibit at the Richmond Memorial Library during the month of February to vote for the awards!

Apologies to Alex that I missed taking a picture when we could see her face!  Alex, Kevin and their daughter Jamie collaborated on their dancing bears entry! 

                                                  Kathi's is as usual amazingly creative! 

Nancy's is a different interpretation of "Big Top"- reflecting that her niece is expecting twins!

Mary Ellen had to do some creative thinking- and use creative materials-  to create her trapeze artist.

                     Bonnie Dedo found a pattern called "Under the Big Top"- how's that for serendipity?

                               Chris Kuehl imagined the silhouette of the circus under the lights.

                          Jennifer honored the elephants rescued from performing with her piece.

                                   Connie chose a different "Under the Big Top" pattern

Elaine also got very creative with her performing elephant

                                                  Martha made a happy little clown car.

Awards will be presented at the March meeting when the next challenge will be announced.  We're planning a fabric challenge this time- where each member will be required to use a specific fabric in their entry.  

At the February meeting, we'll be working on Community Service projects.  If you haven't signed up for something, contact Connie or Jenny. And if you have a small folding table, you may need to bring it along.  

A Happy Holiday Gathering!

 This was the meeting that almost didn't happen. Due to a broken elevator, the board members had to scramble to find a different venue with only a week's notice!  We were very lucky that Elaine Moody had a connection allowing us the use of this very nice room- with plenty of  nice big tables and more than enough chairs!  We were very pleased that so many of our new members joined in the holiday fun!

There was a ton of food- difficult to photograph- as well as a wonderful assortment of gifts for the annual holiday silent auction.    Such fun to see the bidding wars and the items that get the most interest. (Some of the bidders were quite cutthroat!)

And of course, show and tell!

Alex Hammon made this sweet mug rug and the sunglasses case below for Christmas gifts. 

Elaine Ross gave wool appliqué a try, joking that other members could have finished in a an afternoon what took her days! (but I think she did a great job, don't you?)

New member Dee Waldraff (sorry if it's spelled wrong, I'm still learning)- started a block a day project online in 2022, and fell a bit behind.  But it's finally finished.  Se quilted it herself- doing a bit of damage to her machine in the process.  I'd say it was worth it.  

Sue Russell got this kit from the Stitchery and finished for the holiday season!

Connie Grimsley had only a tiny bit of work to do to finish this wool felt pincushion from a class we hosted several years ago!

Connie and Jennifer taught a paper piecing class in November, and members who finished their blocks joined Connie in sharing their work.  New member Jeannie Glozer even got hers made into a pillow!

Jennifer Grimsley used a pattern found on one of those postcards the shops all carry (maybe Villa Rosa designs?)  to make this sweet quilt as a gift for a former co-worker.  (It looks like sea glass to me!)

Elaine Moodie (I have to stop myself from typing the wrong name every month!)  did some holday embroidery- on her sweatshirt and some beautiful pillows!

New member Marcia Rickettson made herself a nametag during quiet periods.  It uses magnets to adhere to her shirt!

New member Nancy Merritt finished this hunters star runner, begun in a class at Patchwork Garden. She quilted it herself on her longarm.  

I'm happy the new members are joining in show and tell!

In January we'll enjoy some fun and games after the CHALLENGE presentation!!  You have only 34 days to get something made with the theme of "Under the Big Top".  (insert terrified screams here)

Happy Holidays to all!

New member November!

 We welcomed a lot of new members (and a few returned members!) at the November meeting- it was a packed house!  ( A clever blogger would have taken a picture of the audience, don't you think?)  We did our best to make them all feel like part of our group.  If any of them found their way here- welcome again!  This is the place to see show and tell if you couldn't see very well, find more information about our speakers and upcoming events.  If there's something you'd like to see here, let me know! (Martha-I'm also the hospitality chair, so my info's in the newsletter!)

So, on to this month's show and tell...

Connie Grimsley made this sweet flannel baby quilt for a niece's little one. 

Connie still enjoys sewing with the kids at the school where she used to teach. These blocks are part of an annual challenge by the National Quilt Museum.  This is the third(?) year she has entered work by students she works with.  Below are a few of the blocks.  After they hang in the museum in January and February, she will make them into pillows for the students.   

Bonnie Dedo used a book she found in the guild library, by Tula Pink (?), to create this beautiful gradient quilt!

Eileen Sorochty was inspired by another member's strip quilts to make these gifts for little ones in her life.  

Returning member Sandy Shufeldt shared these beautiful dragonfly pieces she recently finished - formerly UFOs. 

I'm sorry that the picture I took of Sandy's rag quilt- donated to community service- wasn't worth sharing.  

Christine Hansen shared this beautiful painting she commissioned from our talented member, Kevin Hammon.

Lorraine West share this scrappy top she made.  She said there was a mistake in her color choices, but it looks great to me!  Lorraine donated this to Community Service. 

Trudy Kutter shared these three tiny paper-pieced quilts she made.  She said they were fun to make!

Our presenter this month was a representative from Stitch Buffalo.  They shared their mission to help mostly refugee women earn money by making items to sell with donated supplies.  They also brought a great assortment of their handmade gifts for members to purchase. 

Next month is our annual holiday party and December Silent Auction. The meeting is ONE WEEK EARLY- December 13!

For the party you should bring a dish to pass (with a simple list of ingredients so our members with food restrictions may choose carefully), your own place setting and beverage.  For the auction, if you have items to donate, please contact Jen Grimsley to let her know what they are so she can set up the bid sheets.  Please remember to bring cash or your checkbook to pay if you plan to participate.