Tuesday, October 26, 2010

We had 20 ladies today. Several of us came prepared to sew samples of the blocks Kathy O. showed us last weekend. I set up a sewing machine and we all went home with our samples. They are quick and easy. One is a variation of a 4-patch the other is a dimensional pinwheel. We'll see if anyone makes something beyond the sample block. I brought in some interfacing and proceded to the next step of my tape measure bag. I still need to finish my pin cushion. So many projects, so little time! We were a lively and jovial group today. Jo-Ann brought in lots of magazines to give away along with some gift bags. Daryl quickly grabbed those for her gift projects for the hilltowns. Other people brought in fabric to give away. I still have a little bag of that left. One of Kathy O's friends came in. She is a new quilter and is particularly interested in art quilts. She had made a very colorful variation of a crazy log cabin block. The backing was small polka-dots so instead of hand or machine quilting she turned the quilt over, and using the backing to follow, she stitched sashiko stitches in pearl cotton. It worked like a charm and the quilt looked great. Winnie thought that kind of stitching might be possible for her with her arthritis. It should be much easier to make large stitches with the thicker thread than the very small stitches you do in hand quilting. Following a line of polka-dots makes it particularly easy. Rosemary was embroidering today. Ethel had ordered some silk thread to finish a cross-stitch wall hanging she is making and it finally arrived so she worked on that. Others just came to chat. Marie is leaving to visit her daughter for awhile so came to say her goodbyes. We had another nice day in Nimblefingers.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

17 ladies attended today. Kathy O was back from her summer up north. She knows that when she returns in the fall we expect to be taught a new quilting pattern. She didn't fail us this year--she has 2 quilting patterns to teach us! One is a dimensional block and I really love those. Someday I want to have a little collection of dimensional quilts. She told us what we need to make these 2 blocks so we'll see how many people come prepared to cut and sew next week. Jean K will be leaving us for the winter. The time has come for her to return to Florida. And Fran is gone for a month to China. I'm glad Kathy O and Tina return during the winter because it kind of evens things out. A patron left some partially finished knitted mittens hoping someone could finish them for her. They are to go on the library's mitten tree. Cathy M. took the yarn home so she could finish them. Cathy Y is getting close to finishing her red sweater that she's been working on. I'm eager to see how she puts it all together. Knitting is a mystery to me. I've tried to learn but just can't seem to get it right. I went around getting my ladies to sign up for the quilting program I have planned for November. Thanks to them it's half full now. I suspect that the Village Quilters will fill up the other half. Winnie made us a delicious lemon cake today and Jo-Ann and Rosemary brought in cookies and donut holes. We are well fed ladies.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Today 16 ladies attended. We had one little show and tell: June was working on a small witch wall hanging for her granddaughter. It was very cute. Her granddaughter is 5 and is dressing as a witch for Halloween and is quite excited about it so I'm sure she'll love her wall hanging. Today is Fran's last meeting for awhile--she's heading to China for her second visit! I know she'll come back with stories to tell and maybe some souvenirs to show. Marguerite regaled us with stories of her surprise 50th wedding anniversary party last weekend. I knew about it because her daughter had called me and asked me not to schedule Harry for that weekend. We kept it a secret here at the library too so Harry and Marguerite were completely surprised! Rosemary has a neighbor who is looking to get rid of some worn old quilts. If anyone has a use for them let me know. Today our knitters were Hattie, Cathy Y. and Deb. Jo-Ann was making Halloween ear-rings. I had Marguerite show me how to make the tape measure bag. Fran and Pat OR were embroidering, Cathy M. was applique-ing. Marguerite pulled out the quilt and did a little more quilting. Agnes was crocheting more scrubbies. I was hoping that Kathy O. would make it back today. She's back from her camp--I've seen her husband here at the library--and word is, she has a new quilting pattern for us. I can't wait! She always learns some new, simple quilt pattern to make and she's so good at teaching it to us! Maybe next week.

Tuesday, October 05, 2010

18 ladies attended today but I was not one of them. My husband sprained or strained his back so I was off driving him to the doctor. He got a shot and a couple of meds so I hope he will be back on his feet soon. I hear that what I missed today was a parade of pincushions. Everyone finished their pincushion except Marie and I. Mine is still in the same place it was at the end of Nimblefingers last week. I'll have to get busy and finish it though so I can show it to Jean in 2 weeks when she returns. Maybe next week we can get Marguerite to show us how to make the tape measure bags. That's all I can write about since I don't know what went on at the meeting.