Image:sxc.hu

Today, quilting and crafting ladies still get together for what I’d call “modern” quilting bees.  As I read Cindy’s Stitches in Time blog post about friends getting together to work on quilt kits they had purchased at quilt show, I pondered on the many types of quilting bees in today’s world of the computer and Internet.

• Friends getting together at one another’s homes to work on projects
• Quilting groups meeting regularly to work on projects; these might be their own or a charity project
• Groups working on fund raising projects
• Internet groups that exchange information and news via e-mail
• Round robin projects sent through the mail to those within a group.
• Two quilters who exchange projects and news via mail and e-mail.
• Quilting classes that continue as quilting groups who meet regularly

(Although I mention quilting bees, these gatherings could involve most any art/craft.)

What type of quiting or crafting bee are you involved in?

Post from: Blisstree

Modern Quilting/Crafting Bees

Thank you all for leaving comments on the Bloggy Giveaways post and sharing your quilting stories.  It’s like sitting around the quilting frame at a quilting bee and exchanging bits and pieces of our quilting lives.

Some are beginning quilters; others have learned to quilt from moms and grandmothers; still more share quilts handed down in the family.

I shall expand upon these comments in future days.  Continue to share and let this be an exchange among quilting friends.

(Amazon image)

Post from: Blisstree

A Friendship Round of Quilting Comments

Quilting Bee - A gathering generally of women and girls to sew a quilt together.  Most often, they stretched the quilt on a frame, then each person helped stitch together the top, filling and backing of a quilt with tiny stitches. 

These were social times in pioneer days, often the main occasions ladies got together.  In addition to quilting the bed covering, they might stitch pieces together, produce a “round robin” project, sew a friendship quilt or create some other fabric artistry. 

My grandfather, in his memoir,  wrote about his mother, my great grandmother, attending quilting bees at her neighbors’ homes.  I recall helping my grandmother, aunt and a friend tie quilts which we called a quilting bee. 

Do you participate in modern quilting bees?  Do you have memories of your mother or grandmother telling about quilting bees of their lives?

(Amazon image)

                                                **********************

This is a Blogtoberfest Sponsored Post. If you would like to enter for a chance to win the gift behind this blog, please leave a comment. Prize and Winner will be announced within the week.

Deadline for submitting comments on this post is Friday, October 17 at midnight.  Check back to see if you’re the lucky winner and what you’ve won!

You also have lots of chances to win great Blogtoberfest prizes! Today, October 10, visit these other participating blogs:  A Child Chosen, All Holiday Cafe, Babylune, Blog Fabulous, Career & Kids, Cooking Gadgets, Declutter It, Foodie Obsessed, Jewelry and Beading, One Book Two Book, Super Nanny Rules, Weary Parent, Kettle and Cup.

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

Post from: Blisstree

Quilting Word of the Week – Quilting Bee

Quilting bees generally involve several women gathering together to help one another on a project.  They may be working on a joint project or finishing one a quilting friend has started.  These gatherings were the social affairs for ladies in pioneer days and have continued to the present.

When my daughter became ill and experienced a lengthy hospital stay, she had a  commitment to help someone finish a quilt.  There was a deadline for the project but Beth now couldn’t help.

So….the ladies in her quilting group took turns helping to finish it.  If they couldn’t do the hands-on work, they were there with encouragement.  Today, the last finishing stitches will be taken.

Also, Beth’s group of quilting and fabric art friends made a friendship lap quilt for her.  Each one contributed some of the blocks.  Then her daughter delivered it to her hospital room.

Friendship and quilting bees continue to bind quilters together!

What have been some of your friendship quilting projects…either something you made for a friend or a joint contribution?

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

Post from: Blisstree

The Quilting Bee Goes “Modern”

Quilters seem to enjoy sharing recipes almost as much as patterns and fabric.  Why not have a recipe exchange when you get together, along with a recipe “tasting.”

Peanut Butter Krispies are easy to make, tasty to eat.

Cook 3/4 cup corn syrup and 3/4 cup white sugar in a pan over medium heat until you see the first bubble.  Add 3/4 cup chunky peanut butter (creamy if you prefer) and stir until melted.  Pour this over 4 1/2 cups krispy rice type cereal.  Pat into a buttered 9 x 13-inch pan.  Melt 3/4 cups chocolate bits  or dipping chocolate and spread over the top.  Cut when cool.

What delicious recipes do you serve at your quilting gatherings?  Share with us.

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

(Recipe contributed by Cousin DeAnn.)

Post from: Blisstree

Recipes for Quilters to Share

 As I read my grandfather’s writings, Fifty Years Ago, Rural Life from 1876, I was delighted to realize he had included information about his mother’s quilting at Trails End Farm, in Dutchess County, NY.  I know from this that my quilting heritage definitely traced back to my great grandmother, Mary Barker Coon.

 Papa Coon, as our family referred to Burton Barker Coon, writer and farmer, mentioned the women getting together for afternoon tea and cutting out pieces for quilt blocks. 

“They would take their sewing along and have a very pleasant time.  All the girls were brought up to piece quiltsk, bake bread and do all kinds of household chores,” he related.

Then he mentioned quilting bees when four or five neighborhood ladies came to help.  “Needles and tongues would vie with each other in making bed spreads and history,” he wrote.

Papa Coon called each quilt a “sort of souvenir piece.”

Are you researching your ancestry to see if you have quilters in your heritage?  Are you making quilts now as souvenir pieces for future generations.

I’d love to hear about the quilts in your family history.

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

Post from: Blisstree

Trails End Quilters of the 1870’s – My Quilting Heritage

 I’ve discovered many families continue the bridal quilt practice that many did years ago…each person making a square for a quilt then getting together at a quilting bee to finish it.  A fun family project for a bridal gift can be part of this bridal quilt one or exist as its on own.

This one can consist of recipes. When family members contribute their square for the bridal quilt, they can give a recipe, too.

*These can be collected on 3 x 5 cards and put into a file.

*There are special recipe books you can purchase for acquiring family recipes.

*Have family members also write down memories associated with the recipe and add this to a recipe book.

*Collect pictures associated with special occasions when these recipes are served.

*Put the recipes on a computer disk that the bride can put on her computer and print off as she desires.

What have you done with recipes for a new bride? Were they family favorites with a history, or quick and easy ones? Any other ideas or suggestions.

©2008 Mary Emma Allen

Post from: Blisstree

5 Quilting Bee Recipe Book Ideas for a Bride

 As I reminisced about the square dancing of my youth and it’s connection to quilting bees in Square Dancing and Quilting Bees, I recalled some of the recipes of my youth. I also have two cookbooks that the ladies of my childhood community put together as church fundraisers.

Here’s a recipe they might have made to sell at the community square dance refreshment table.  Just going through the names of the contributors brought back memories of my growing up years.

Louise’s Chocolate Crackles would have been a hit with chocolate lovers.  Here is my variation upon Louise’s theme.

Combine 1 box Devil’s food or deep chocolate cake mix (1 lb. 2.5 oz.), 2 slightly beaten eggs, 1 tablespoon water, ½ cup vegetable shortening.  Stir in 1/4 to 1/2 cup chopped walnuts, if desired.  Mix together well. Shape into balls the size of walnuts and roll in granulated sugar.

Place on greased cookie sheet and bake about 350 degrees F. for 8-10 minutes until crackled and done. (Some recipes for this type of cookie recommend baking at 375 degrees F.)

©2008 Mary Emma Allen

Post from: Blisstree

Square Dancing/Quilting Bee Foods

As I watched the first and second graders learning to square dance in music class, at the school where I was substitute teaching, I recalled my younger years in a farming community. Our 4-H leader taught my friends and me to square dance, waltz, and polka.

This prepared us for the monthly community square dances organized by the fire department and ladies auxiliary of firemen’s wives. Children and adults, whole families attended these social events in our town.

The ladies also served refreshments consisting of their home baked goodies. These they sold to raise money for the fire department.

 Quilting Bee Dances

This reminds me of quilting bee times when the ladies gathered at one another’s homes. Then in the evening, the menfolk and sometimes the children, joined for a meal and games or dancing.

If there was space in the hay barn, a place was cleared for square dancing. A neighbor might play his fiddle and call the moves.

It’s interesting, I find, how various memories can be connected to one’s own quilting, as well at that done in history.

Do you have any quilting bee and/or square dancing memories to share?

©2008 Mary Emma Allen

Post from: Blisstree

Square Dancing & Quilting Bees