We all have favorite quilting “tools” that make even mundane tasks easy.  For me, binding the quilt can sometimes be a chore; but binding clips are one of these tools that helps eliminate some of the ‘work’  involved.

I guess I’m always anxious to get started on my next project and would rather that hand sewing be reserved for something creative such as needle-turn appliqué.   (I really do like to hand applique.  I guess I am lucky that my first quilting instructor, Sharon Stroud, showed us how easy needle-turn can be and its beautiful results.)

Attaching the binding to the backside of the quilt seems to take longer than I want it to.  I have tried machine techniques:  using a blind hem stitch and stitching in the ditch, but was never happy with the final results.

The only technique that produces a nice finished binding is to hand-stitch the binding to the back of the quilt after it has been attached to the front by machine.  If the binding is pinned in place there is a possibility that the pins will slip and/or prick fingers.  A simple tool:  binding clips solve this problem.

Clips hold binding in place

The special clips (they look like barrettes that we used in the 60′s) are great for holding the binding edge against the quilt edge. And they do a much better job than pins to hold mitered corners in place.

There’s always time to quilt!

Today, Tom and I took a trip to Naples, NY so he could put some of his pictures in the Artisanns Gallery.    I decided to tag along so I could check the quilt shop,

Carriage House Quilt Shop, Naples NY

Carriage House Quilts.  The shop is housed in a 140 year old carriage house.  Singer Featherweights are scattered throughout the store.  There is even an old treadle machine.

Carolyn, the owner, is delightful to talk to and very helpful.  One of her classes, that is very popular, is a Hunter Star quilt.  Her technique allows many to go home with a finished quilt top.

In addition she  just expanded the downstairs space so that  Carriage House Quilts will be able to increase the class schedule into the summer months this year.

We ended a day with a stop at the Dr. Frank Winery and a picnic supper at Keuka Lake State Park. A delightful way to spend a summer day.

Quilting from Home!

Linda Poole was guest lecturer at the June meeting of the Thumbstall Quilt Guild last week  She presented a trunk show of her whimsical quilts; many  created with her technique using Bended Bias Applique.

She also told stories of her insatiable curiosity that lead to her book Quilted Fairy Tales.  The book combines her love of fairy tales and quilts.  She also shared stories of her parents.  Her  father was German and her mother Italian and she is proud to say that she s a first generation American.  It seems that growing up her “Nona” (Grandmother), who lived with Linda’s family, had quite an influence on her life.  I had to smile as she talked about her family.  It brought back memories of my own childhood.

Both my parents are first generation Americans;  Their parents all emigrated from Italy.    My parents and I lived in an apartment above my grandmother’s.  I can remember learning and helping her cook  Italian dishes.  She seemed to have unlimited patience.  While she did crochet and knit, I don’t remember her spending time sewing.  I learned sewing from my mother who made almost every item of clothing that I ever wore.  I especially remember the dance outfits she made, hand sewing beads, flowers, etc. on each costume. Both of our homes were filled with much laughter and love.

Linda posts a “Quote of the Day” with each of her blogs.  I am posting  this one on laughter here.   The words are so true!

Quilting from Home!

Last month fellow guild member, Connie, who has been in cancer remission  for some time, was told that cancer had returned.  We were all devastated.  The Guild members got together and decided to make a quilt that would hopefully lift her spirits a bit.  We each made a block  and one of the members volunteered to assemble the quilt top.

I had just finished putting her block together when I received a message from the president of our guild that she had passed away. It was decided to give the quilt to her family as a token of how much we thought of her. Her husband and son had helped in many ways over the years, especially as we set up our quilt show. (Our husbands are as generous as our members).

I think that Connie is spending her time quilting and is even finishing the quilts she starts. I once read a story about a knitter who would always cast on stitches for a new knitting project before she completed her current project. She always had a project that was being worked on. One morning a friend came to visit and found that she had died during the night.  On the bed beside her was a closed box. Upon opening the box she found completed sweater, and knitting needles but no new project.

I am sure that as long as I have UFO’s (and I really have more than my share), I’ll never be able to die!

Quilting From Home!

Saturday morning at Morgan Samuels started off with a breakfast to top all breakfast’s and left us wondering “how did we eat it all”. If only it hadn’t tasted so good. Starting with a fruit tray of more cut fruits than I’ve seen in one place at one time (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries (red and yellow), blackberries, kumquats, melon (honeydew, cantaloupe, watermelon), dried fruits (figs, prunes, apricots), nectarines, plums, and pineapple to name just a few. This was followed by a homemade fruit muffin and a choice of herbed scrambled eggs, two different omelets, French toast or pancakes, each with sausage, bacon or ham. Needless to say, you don’t go away hungry. As always, when we are with Bill in Lynda we can count on two things: rain and good food. Thursday it rained and Saturday morning began our foray into meals that are quite different from what we usually eat.

After breakfast we were unsure that it was a good idea to have scheduled the seminar on wine and food paring at the New York Wine  & Culinary Center at noon. But true of our love of wine and food, we were intent on participating.

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