For those who missed our social gathering last night - we missed you - and you missed a fun evening. Lisa hosted and her husband, Jim, had prepared some very tasty eggplant parmesan (yum) and everyone contributed something; as always we ate very well! Patty brought a "dip" that everyone liked so much. I will send it out in an email to everyone. The food was wonderful and the company was excellent.
After we had our fill of all the yummy food, we did the (Chinese auction) fat quarter exchange; everyone was well behaved, but some of the fabric made it's way around the room a couple of times! We had some good laughs and there was lots of chatting about what might be made with our new treasures...its pretty entertaining that we can get so excited over a quarter yard of fabric! But everyone loved it and I could see us doing this again.Nancy shared a couple of very neat projects - she has made some really cool handbags for her granddaughters and she has also been making some coasters - wish I had pictures. I hope to find the bag pattern - it was a freebie on allpeoplequilt.com.
We wrapped up the evening discussing ideas for our coming year, as a group. We gathered a list of things that our group would like to spend time on, some of which are:
- Rotary cutting - what makes a quilt square - or not?! Layers - how much fabric (layers) in a cut?
- Binding
- Thread and needles
- Batting
- Color coordinating
- Free motion machine quilting
- Hints, tricks, shortcuts, and everything!
- Tools of the trade, rulers, mats, markers...
- (Painless) quilt math
- Seam allowance
- Calculating fabric for backing, borders, and binding
We always try to keep demonstrations short but I'm getting the idea that some things we might want to spend a little more time on. Binding, for example and rotary cutting are both core to making and completing almost every project. And if you think of something else - speak up. I also want to encourage anyone who would like to teach a pattern or project! We all want to learn new things.
Everyone agrees that we like the projects and someone suggested a block of the month would be fun. I love this idea and Georgia has some books with many block patterns that she'll bring to the next meeting - more to come on that in a couple of weeks.
Armida wanted to share that one of the things she did with the group from Fairbanks beginning in January was a mystery quilt. Each month, January and through June, she would receive a step for a quilt. She had no idea what it would look like until the end. By July, they would be completed enough for show which was called "Quilts on the Line"...it was exactly that. Quilts hanging in someones yard for show. She said they would have lunch and admire everyone's creations. Armida said this is her first time doing a mystery quilt.
The "morning after" email has gotten wordier than I intended, so until January's gathering - remember that each of us contributes something unique and special to our group. Even if you don't realize it, please believe me - you are missed when you aren't there and you bring something special to us when you are. I am truly grateful for you all.
~Blessings and Happy Holidays ~ Linda
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