18 ladies attended. I demonstrated making the simple pseudo-log cabin scrap block I used for the big quilt in the show. It is very simple--just takes a lot of cutting if you are indeed using scraps like I was. You can make the one block (numerous blocks) and lay it out in many different settings for a completely different look. I made 3 different quilts using the one block: one with the zigzag layout, one in straight furrows, and 1 just with the blocks sitting in the same direction side by side. They look very different but all are made with the same block. We had a newcomer today--one of our library regulars who came to our open house. She is a knitter who is into felting at the moment. In a stroll around the table I saw that Pat OR is working on a blue appliqued table runner (from a kit) which is very pretty. Fran is making a wool applique table runner; Cathy Y. is knitting something green; Agnes was sewing on the binding for a baby quilt for a grand niece or nephew; Tina was making a yo-yo cat; Kathy O. brought in an old quilt in bad shape she picked up free this summer. She wants to restore it, appliquing over the worn spots because the hand quilting is so beautiful the quilt shouldn't end up in the rubbish bin. Ethel was finishing up a bag to be raffled off by one of her groups. Marguerite was hand quilting her little mile-a-minute quilt. Newcomer Linda was knitting what she called luggage which is what it looks like now. It will eventually be shrunk, felted and be a very nice bag with a picture in intarsia (I had to ask what that was) of her dog on it. Jo-Anne was knitting a scarf; and Cathy M. was doing redwork. All keeping busy again. And to eat we had a giant kiss I made and a carrot cake Jo-Anne brought. It's hard to diet in this group.

Today we had 19 ladies. I decided to try something different today. I've been collecting little "prizes" for the last year so today we played bingo for prizes. Everyone got at least one prize; some people got several. It made for a very quiet meeting though! I'm not used to that--we are usually quite noisy! I made chocolate covered strawberries, Kathy O. made a delicious apple cake and some of the other ladies brought in candy and cookies. It was Valentine's day plus 2 of the ladies have had birthdays recently so it was a special day. Kathy O. brought in a flannel scrap baby quilt she made. Agnes had a cheater cloth baby quilt she had made. Diane C. brought in her finished and framed cross-stitch that she has been working on. It is absolutely beautiful! Makes me wonder if I should pull out my cross-stitch again. Since we played bingo we didn't have much time to spend on our projects. I think the knitters got in a few stitches but many of us stayed busy eating the goodies. These are more pictures from the open house. The quilt is the beautiful one the ladies made for me and of which I am very proud. The others are teachers Jo-Anne and Kathy O. hard at work.

Yesterday was our big day: Open House. Approximately 50 people attended. We had the items hanging on the walls and in the display case, a special 1-day only bed-turning display of the quilts we didn't have room for on the walls, plus Kathy O. demonstrated making wrapped bowls and Jo-Anne demonstrated card making, letting everyone who wanted to make a card to keep. And don't forget the food! Delicious as always! I think we had a nice little program planned and I think everyone who attended enjoyed it. I think our show is particularly great because many of the ladies haven't exhibited or don't put their items in other shows so our show provides and easy and uncomplicated way to them to display their items. It gives us all a chance to pat ourselves on the back and say "Good job!" These pictures are of the bed-turning. Marie's quilts were too large to hang anywhere in the room; Fran had some quilts we didn't have room for; and Marguerite brought in a quilt her mother made and she quilted.