Fun at the Curve it Up BOM

Last night those of us attending the Curve it Up block of the month at Stitch Studio had a fun time.  The instructions beg conversation - how to measure an inch down on triangle.....well, we had several thoughts on the matter...it was fun and we all learned something.   Every time we meet we get a bit more relaxed.  While I missed the first class in September and the November class was victim to a snowy, snowy day, I feel that we're getting to become more familar...that's when the fun can really begin.  We will be done in March, but will need an excuse to continue, Michelle!

 Our lesson this month was using the ruler to make a modern type Dresden plate.  This student designed hers like a bow tie.  If in a quilt of all the same pattern the bow ties would be very cool!

This student made arrows without realizing it as first....the fun with curves....We all had the same instructions, just different fabric choices.

 The two here are mine - ahh - you didn't get to see the ahead of class.....see my oops below?

 This student work that Michelle is focusing on shows a fussy cut center.  Looks very, very chic, but was she just trying to escape make one more set of curves?!!! Probably not.

I found this picture on the Modern Quilt Guild website while looking for interesting info for you all....it has a Grand Rapids area connection.....can you guess....

It's entitled the Eames Block.  You can find it and more inspiration here at MQG.Look at all the points that meet on the diagonal and the curves....oh my gosh! 

Babies are so Beautiful.....

See  Emma Grace!  Isn't she sweet!  Her mom is a childhood friend of  my younger daughter Jeny.  Annie and Tim were blessed with Emma on Sunday morning.

Emma Grace

my daughter, Jeny, holding a new born for the very first time

Once I heard that Annie, Tim and Emma were all fine and dealing with normal first time parent struggles I had to get my sewing in for the day!  Annie sent the above picture of Emma in one of the receiving blankets I made Tuesday afternoon.  Also another fun thing that Emma will have to play with is the fabric books.  I found a couple cute panels at Field's and whipped them up.  Both parents hail from large families and I'm sure have received many gifts - so thank you Annie for showing me Emma wrapped cuddly in her blanket. 

Curve it Up Time Again.....

Tuesday and Wednesday of this coming week is Block of the Month time with Michelle and our favorite Curve It Up Ruler.  You won't have to suffer through my whining as I haven't done my blocks yet!  Michelle said they're easy - right? 

I haven't received any pictures from the GRMQG's January meeting so I don't have much to show and brag for you all.  One of the many things that women have to learn to improve on is bragging about ourselves....so quilters, mostly women, SEND ME PICTURES OF YOUR WORK.  It can be in any stage of the  completion progression.  The rest of us are always up for more inspiration - we can never have too much creative input - fabric YES! but not new ideas.  For those of you with smart phones just send me a photo from it to GRLady1950@gmail.com and I'll work it into the blog - I need new items to blurb about!  If you have a digital camera forward those pictures as well to the email address. 

One feature that would be nice is seeing the squares of the other BOM members.  I know many of you have purchased additional fabric or have chosen one of the florals made available to us.  The rest of us need to see your work!

Just so you have a picture today, I am showing my 2014 sampler quilt from the block of the month from Attic Window.  While I haven't assembled my 2013 sampler yet, the colors for 2014 were so uplifting.  While members had the choice of 30's fabric, Kansas Troubles, Civil War, batik, I and only a few other ladies chose bright batiks.  I spent many years in the garbage and sewage business and was very much involved with the waste-to-energy plant and the original recycling center.  When I retired many years ago I really thought  I had left that life behind.  Well, my scrappy friends have taken to sewing scraps onto used - AKA recycled- dryer sheets!  After my December knee surgery this girl wasn't too sharp to do any thinking or serious cutting.  16 of my multitude of well worn dryer sheets provided a shape onto which I resurrected my batik scraps....voila!  A 6" border!

While the interior 9 blocks appear traditional the use of bright colors makes them seem ageless.  I practiced the piecing of scraps without slashing.  However, with the smell of the sheets affecting my senses I finally got my trusty cutter out and started slashing finished blocks to add a new color aimed in a different direction.  It was fun and simple AFTER I got going.  Still have all 10 finger tips (but keep the crazy glue nearby).

If you want a new way to make continuous bias binding here's My Rainboots are Red tutorial using a fat quarter.  Just the name of her blog is enough to want you to visit it. 

Send me pictures, PLEASE!

Wacky Flowers

Below you can now see the quilt I have been working on throughout most of 2014.  The white floral fabric was selected by my daughter Anna and her husband Justin while on their honeymoon in August, 2014.  They tell a great story of shopping the bazaar in Istanbul, Turkey on a hunt for my souvenir.  Stacks and stacks of fabric.  In fact, I have two more small floral fabrics that I haven't figured out how to use yet.  They are the same print with only a different color: one is blue background and the other fabric is a teal.  When asked why two of the same Anna relayed that after pulling the one fabric out from a huge stack she couldn't say no to the shopkeeper!  Prior to the trip they asked how many yards would be sufficient - I said three was good.  Well, they did buy three but unbeknown to my non-sewists - all three fabrics are 92" wide!  My friends at the Stitched Studio sew-in helped me choose the pink.  Most of the flowers are a red with an occasional pink. The pink was perfect! The gray swirl was a fabric I purchased on a quilt hop with friend Caroll.  Luckily I purchased at least three yards of it, even without a known purpose.  When a fabric jumps at you and says buy me - what can you do?!

Of course Minne found her way into the picture, too!

The pattern is from Modern "One-Block Quilts" by Natalia Bonner and Kathleen Whiting.  This pattern was interesting as very few helpful hints were offered.   Caroll verified for me that my Tri-Recs tool from Quilt in a Day worked for my pink triangles.  Granted they're not going to promote someone else's tools, but in case you're interested in trying this block and have the tool, go for it.  Also, marking the 1/4" on the triangle tips and on which end of the triangles the tails should be would have been helpful.  While modern quilting is allowed by be wacky, it must have its points!
 
Take care!

Threads - can you keep them straight....no pun intended (link corrected)

These threads are in my side table in the TV room, most of which are for hand quilting.

I have a rack of threads where only a few of the stickers identifying the thread type remain.  Also, once gone is there a way to identify the now nameless thread?  Sewmamasew recently posted on the types of thread and created a nice graphic.  Explore here to learn of the variety of threads and uses.

I have learned that my main sewing machine, Janome 6500, prefers the less expensive threads threaded to the needle. The more expensive threads seem to create a situation of jamming requiring a complete rethreading on top and in the bobbin.  It seems to work better with Coats and Clark thread as well as Guttermann.  Now I have a collection multicolored spools with missing ID tags.  After searching, Coats and Clark offer this info for figuring the thread types.

Also, Superior Threads has an App at least for Apple products available at their store with a very involved chart on threads for all sorts of purposes.

The rest of my thread storages and lost tags....

These stands were my attempt to organize last year....oh, there's another storage place where I have been kept my hand quilting threads.....but occasionally I may have needed a color and then....oh my! 

I have blue spools, green and white as well as yellow spools, most with lost identifiers.  The Aurafil I recognize, orange, but I can only use these threads in my bobbin. 

Last year my quilting resolution was to work down my stash, which I think I did a decent job of doing - and kind of bough less.  This year I'll work on my threads and continue to make use of my stash.....another day....

How's your thread storage doing....

If you're looking for BOM, block of the month, without leaving home, Pat Sloan has Vacation Time, and it's free!  I've at least printed January's instructions - working that stash down.....keep smiling

CORRECTION

I erroneously reported the start time of Tuesday's meeting.  The correct meeting time is 7 p.m. With the meet and greet (Shopping time) at 6:30.  Wish I could blame the anesthesia effect, but that's pretty lame even though I did find the fresh broccoli in the pantry!  Sorry for the error.  Maybe I got it out of the way for 2015!

Meeting and Bill Paying Time.....huh?

While it seems that the first Tuesday of each month is a great time to meet, it also finds me writing the reminder blog while paying bills.....oh my, the meeting is much more fun....come one, come all and break away from the Christmas related bills and see what GRMQG has to offer this Tuesday.  As always the Meet and Greet starts at 5:30 p.m. and the  meeting at 6 p.m.  I'm sure more legal issues will be addressed as we are now officially one year old and finishing the relationship with the National Modern Quilt Guild.

Kelly Hubbard, Secretary of GRMQG

Here's Kelly's bio (sent willingly I might add): 
" I moved to MI in 1984 and wouldn't want to live anywhere else. I'm married and have 3 children and 2 grandchildren. I've been sewing since middle school and quilting since 2001.

 I plan to showcase our officers, willingly or unwillingly, in the blog so we can begin to know our officers and persons in the guild.  So my message to the other officers, send me your bio and picture or leave it to me.....oh my!

The minutes are as follows:


          Meeting was called to order by Ginger at 7 PM.

          13 members present

           Board members introduced themselves.

The board is working on a mission statement and bylaws and non profit status. Bylaws will be presented and voted on at the January meeting. Officer terms will be January 1-December 31.

It was discussed and a majority of the general membership voted that annual dues will be $30/year. Join after July, dues are $15.
A portion will go to the National Modern Quilt Guild so that persons are members of both guilds.
Persons age 10-17 years may join as a junior member for $15 per year.

There is interest in having GRMQG sponsored sew-ins. We will rotate day/evening and weekday/weekend every other month. The first sew in will be Monday, February 2. Becky Brink will organize.  A fee of $5 per person will be charged.

Ginger shared the GR Press article about Stitched Studio and the GRMQG.

All members had an item to Show and Share.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:35

Respectfully submitted,
Kelly Hubbard


I need a volunteer for Tuesday's meeting - take pictures of the Show and Share.  My attendance is weather dependent.  While my knee seems to be recovering well from a surgical repair on the 23rd my surgeon's clearance won't happen until the next morning.  Now that we have snow I'm admittedly leery of  walking where snow or ice might be present.  Just post a comment and I'll get the message that you're willing to help.  It would be great to have a person wanting to be the guild's photographer.  Between the two of us we can cover meetings, sew-ins etc.

The knee surgery somewhat explains why my blogs have been few and far between.  I can't seem to get Apple and Google (blogspot) to cooperated with  pictures, thus I must go down a level to use my desktop.  The blog on thread still will be coming - just not now.  I'll also show how I've been "making fabric" with dryer sheets - my sewing room smells very perfumery!  

Happy New Year!

Wishing you all well in 2015!