They share, they try different techniques, they enjoy refreshments, and they sometimes go on day trips.  These are something like the old time quilting bees when women gathered at one another’s homes for quilting and socializing.

Beth often discusses her group’s gatherings in her Meandering Threads blog: 

*Check out her December 3, 2007 entry which describes a workshop at Sue’s house where they tried out Shiva paint sticks.  Here is just one of the projects Beth did.

*Her Friday, December 14, 2007 post describes their Christmas party.

Tell us about your quilting group and the projects you undertake there.

(c)2007 Mary Emma Allen; photo by Beth A. Mastin

Post from: Blisstree

The Delight of a Quilting Group

If you don’t want to miss any of Jennifer Chiaverini’s Elm Creek Quilter’s novels, check out the latest...The New Year’s Quilt.  I haven’t read it yet, but it’s on my “must read” list.   It’s also on my Christmas list!

Another novel, The Winding Ways Quilt, has not yet been released.  Although in some stores you can pre-order it.

What is your favorite Elm Creek Quilts novel?  I find it’s so difficult to choose just one. 

Post from: Blisstree

Jennifer Chiaverini’s New Elm Creek Quilting Novels

What about an Acrostic Quilting Poem?  This can rhyme, be unrhymed, tell a story, give random facts, relate a family’s quilting history. You can use a word, phrases or complete sentences.  That’s why they’re so much fun…you can set your own rules.

 Mine is sort of a random list of acrostic facts.  But it has me thinking about one that tells a story or relates my Trails End Quilting heritage.

Q- Quiltmaking forms a bond among quilters of any age.

U – Use up those scraps with family memories for a unique quilt.

I – Into each quilter’s life must fall…quilt patterns, fabric and quilting bees.

L - Look for fabric stores and quilt shows wherever you travel.

T – Time passes too quickly when you’re involved in a quilting project and housework doesn’t get done.

M – Memories find their way into our quiltmaking.

A - Always stay ready to try something new in the world of quilting and fabric art.

K – Keep adding to that fabric stash!

I- I’m under the spell of the patchwork fairy who sprinkles quilting dust into our lives. 

N – Never refuse a gift of fabric, fat quarters, or quilting squares, no matter how worn or old.

G – Grandma taught me to quilt as I sat by her side in the farmhouse kitchen, carrying on the tradition of the Trails End Quilters.

Post from: Blisstree

Acrostic Quiltmaking? Sharing Poetry? Try Yours!

Warming Up consists of quilting with words!  Joyce Marden added a little house midst a collection of winter words in a piece she has referred to as Winter Words. 

I couldn’t keep on with such a cold quilt so I added a nice cosy house to get warm in, explained Joyce.  She also added a few more words to the winter collage type work. 

This blog entry, Winter Words, shows Joyce’s quilt before adding the little house.  I do like it better with the house. 

 Perhaps you’ll find some tips here if you want to add words to your quilting.

Another interesting fabric project of Joyce’s consists of Luggage Tags.  This is a great way to use up fabric scraps and have unique tags for your luggage when traveling.  It should be easy to spot Joyce’s bags on the carosel at the airport.

Post from: Blisstree

Quilting with Words & Other Fun Projects

Laura at Work from Home Momma has just the solution!  Check out her post, Twenty-five Thanksgiving Activities and Puzzles for Kids. 

Ah!  Now to get some work done while the youngsters are occupied with Laura’s suggestions or checking out activities in books you may find. 

Post from: Blisstree

25 Thanksgiving Activities to Keeps Kids Busy While You Quilt

These are just two I’ve come across.

 Quilts for Sale, a 1000 piece puzzle.

Autumn Quilts, 1000 piece puzzle.

Also, with puzzles, you can save them for framing by using puzzle glue on front and back.

Post from: Blisstree

Jigsaw Puzzles for Quilters – a Fun Christmas Gift

This “Apprentice” type contest, continues through December.  If you’ve become a Business “Apprentice” follower, you can check out weekly results at Home Biz Notes regularly.)

See the ACES entry at: Greener Assets in the post, Facing the Lead Dilemma in Your Small Business.

Related Posts: Do Any of Your Quilting/Fabric Art Items Contain Lead?

Is Lead a Danger to Alzheimer’s Patients?

Great Advice for Home Business Startups

Starting a Business on a Limited Budget

Bring in the Dough: Yielding Wealth in Your Own Business

b5media Business Apprentice Updates

(Incidentally…if you’re wondering about the chef’s hat above…the prototype business featured in this “apprentice” contest involves a startup selling chef’s hats and aprons for children.)

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For Quilters Who Are Following the “Apprentice” Type Contest

Making an Art Quilt compares techniques used in two similar quilts.  A technique she used in the beige colored piece consisted of staining with coffee.  (My daughter has used tea to dye some of her fabrics, lace, and other accessories.  I don’t think she’s tried it with coffee.)

Making a Monochromatic Art Quilt with the coffee stained pieces results in a lovely antique type piece.

The other day I posted about her September Morning quilt, Superb Creativity in an Autumn Quilt.

Have you created works of art with coffee and tea stained/dyed fabrics and accessories?  If you haven’t, you may want to give it a try, especially if you’re striving for an antique effect.

Post from: Blisstree

Another of Cyndi’s Lovely Art Quilts

The quilt contained many pieces and was hand stitched.  Mother used it on the guest room bed.  In later years it must have been used for “every day” because when I found it, after Mother became ill with Alzheimer’s, the quilt was tattered, worn, and torn.  My daughter and I can salvage only portions here and there.

We’d like to find some old fabric or reproduction fabric that matches so we can add to the pieces we have.  So I carry a few pieces of the different fabrics with me as I travel around the country.  Although I haven’t found the fabric yet, I keep hoping.

In the meantime, searching for this old fabric brings me new friends in the quilting world.

  Although my quilt isn’t techincally a “puzzle quilt,” it’s a puzzle trying to find old fabrics that match the ones originally used for the quilt. 

 It’s also interesting to find that some of those fabrics aged more than others.  One fabric has practically disintegrated while another is whole but faded.

Post from: Blisstree

Searching for Old Quilt Fabric

These decorative shirred circles can be used by themselves…with loop of yarn or trim attached…as decorations for your tree.  They can be sewn together in a chain.  Or they can be stitched to other items…such as pillows, tote bags, vests (see Noreen’s ideas), scarves, hats, headbands for decorative effect.

They also can be sewn together, as quilters in the 1920s and ’30s did, to make quilts, spreads, and table cloths.

To make a Yo-Yo:  Cut a circle from cotton or cotton-blend fabric, 4, 5 or 6-inches in diameter, depending on the size you want your decorations.  Some quilters make mini yo-yo’s and cut even smaller circles.  I find the 6-inch circle is a convenient size, especially if you’re making yo-yo’s with your children.

Turn under a tiny hem, just slightly less than 1/4 inch, to the wrong side.  Children will need this pinned down before they start sewing.  Adults usually can turn as they sew. You also can press the hem, if you find that works best.

Take a double thread with knot in the end.  Then make basting size stitches around the hem.  Gather the fabric as you go. 

When you’ve finished sewing and gathering, you’ve gathered your circle into a double circle with small hole in the center of the front.  Take a few stitches to secure your thread.  For decorative effect on Christmas decorations, sew a pretty button or sequin in the center over the hole.

One hint:  Do not gather with tiny quilting stitches.  This will leave a large hole in the center.  Basting stitches will gather the circle tighter so there’s only a small hole left.

This is a good way to use up scraps of fabric.  For Christmas decorations, use Christmas fabrics and colors.

Post from: Blisstree

Making Yo-Yo Quilts & Decorations for the Holidays