Tacoma Lake Group

Our first meeting was held this past Wednesday. This is the finished Sampler our group worked on this past year. L-R Beth, (our great out-going Pres. who challenged us with this project), Bev and Pauline. Mine is still sitting on my quilter to be finished and there are several others still in different stages. It is amazing how different they look and yet are the same blocks. Job well done galsS

Also on the agenda was a new president, elected was Barbara Duffy, who comes with much experience and many ideas that will help us to learn new things this year. Check out her blog.

Above is her quilt 'Split Personality' and below the 'Gingerbread Jingle', these were beta tested by Barb and designed by Koleen Painchaud. You can check out her website and see the many wonderful designs that she offers plus other services.

Christmas in July Group Pics

Christmas in July finally arrived yesterday, as nine of us came to Casey Quilters with sewing machines, projects and food in tow at 10:00 a.m. Each one of us had an agenda. Some of us were working on the Poinsettia Pot Wall Quilt from the book ' A cozy Quilted Christmas by Kim Schaefer. It is 29 1/2" x 36 1/2" wall hanging. While others had Christmas projects they were working on. Following is a picture of the pattern we were doing.

Kay is our hostess who opens her home to us twice a month just to get together and quilt, knit or we can just hang out and read etc. We meet from 2-7 approx. and have pot luck 'supper' as we call it here in Maine. We always eat well!!

Kay with her center section of the hanging. She used light fusible and a satin machine stitch done in gold...Very Pretty!!
Janice who was working on a table runner. Following is the layout. It is always exciting as you see it come together. Nice job!!!
Group Pic....now remember we came 'as we are' comfy and relaxed!!!
Barb, who is a fellow blogger, working on a project that she is hoping to finish....looking good!!!Sue who is working on a Christmas project for her son....background is scrappy ...made of 3" squares in off whites....Very nice!!!!!!

Chris is our knitter and always has something in hand that she is doing to donate. She is working on a hat...she is so skilled and a blessing to so many....Sherry who is working on this beautiful red and white quilt. The center was all hand work and these are the blocks that will surround it....it is so pretty.....she did about 18 blocks and never iron pressed but just used her finger and they came out perfect every time...a Kay England technique that Barb learned at a workshop she attended recently. Of course, we were trying it and it was amazing. After years of sewing, then pressing and then back to the machine...what a time saver....you will be hearing more about it on our blogs.....
Pam who was also working on a Christmas project but I did not have my camera ready before she left..but I did get a pic of this beautiful quilt she has been working on for a long time...each block represents a different month and she has done extensive handwork embellishing it plus using the blanket stitch mainly. She is donating it to a worthy cause. Whoever gets it will be blessed and will have fun searching out each picture as they are unique. Sherry did the machine quilting.
Close up of the one that most represented Maine. You can see the technique Sherry used quilting the border. It looks like stones....Beautiful!!

Laura who is doing a satin stitch around each poinsettia in gold....she figures she can do one a week as it does take a long time.....and of course, she has other projects that fit into that time schedule. It is stunning!!!And lastly, this is mine.....I finished the scrappy outside strips first and then the Courthouse Steps (which is a variation of the Log Cabin block). I use parchment paper to make a pattern(shown) and then place this on top of material to place my pieces. It works a lot easier and is more accurate for me than drawing directly on my material. Our day started at 10:00 a.m. and we finished around 7:00 p.m. It was a great day for all of us and we felt like we accomplished a lot. Thank you Kay for opening your home....it is always such a relaxing time.

BRQ Round Robins

Backroad Quilters started a Round Robin last Fall and this past Monday they displayed the finished tops. It takes ‘stepping out of the box’ for those who had never done it. The thought and design that went into them and how each one fit the personality of the person receiving them were amazing. The designs were so unique and exquisite.

I will explain simply the process of a Round Robin. There is a recipe (instructions).The originator does a block of any design she chooses. This is then passed on to another person. She works on it for the appointed time adding her own particular design. Then it is passed to the next person and so on until the finish. Then the big REVEAL! Enjoy them….they are really very beautiful ....Excellent job!

Barb's Veggies

Twice a month a group of ladies meet at the home of Kay and we are called Casey Quilters. Just a group of friends who love to quilt and we share dinner together. It is always a fun time where we do our own UFO or present project or sometimes have a planned project.

This is Barb and she loves 'gadgets'. Just ask about something 'new' and she usually knows about it or has it. She is a very gifted lady who will see something and goes home and makes her own pattern. She not only quilts but does pocketbooks, aprons, wall hangings, you name it and she has done it. She always has several 'show and tell' and we 'ooh and 'aah. Pictured is 'one' of the projects she shared this week. This is a something she saw and knew she could do, drew a pattern and she was off and running and created this adorable carrot and tomato. She will add a hot pepper and eggplant. It is always fun to see what she has in 'her bag' to share.