Well the “worst” of the storm is over.  Officially we received 18″ of snow.  That measurement was taken at the airport (about 20 miles from our home).  I think we actually received closer to 2′  here.  I can hardly my deck.

The sun came out on Friday – there’s nothing more beautiful than a blue sky with the sun shinning on newly fallen snow.  The snow  “crunches” as you walk on it and is definitely perfect snowman snow.  It makes me wish my grandchildren lived closer so that I’d have an excuse to be outside playing in it.

Instead I spent the day working on my Simply Charming miniature.

The applique pieces are all cut as well as the circles.

My favorite tool for making circles:  Circleese

To make prefect circles every time:

• Place template on wrong side of fabric:

• Spray fabric on front and back.  Iron both sides until dry.  Let set before removing circle from template.

• Trim.
• Remove circle template.  Press on both sides using additional spray starch as necessary so that circle holds it shape.
• My other must have for preparing applique pieces is the Clover Mini-Iron. The multi-attachment version has two mini-irons, which are prefect for pressing applique pieces.
• The applique pieces are ready to be attached to the background by needle-turn applique, using an invisible applique stitch.

We ended a perfect winter day with a dinner in Skaneateles.  Skaneateles Lake is one of the beautiful lakes that make up the scenic Fingerlakes of Central New York.  The main street consists of buildings dating back to 1796 that house boutique type shops, restaurants, an inn, and bed and breakfast.

We love walking around the lakeside community – no matter what the weather.  Last night we were treated to lightly falling snow and mild temperatures as we window shopped after dinner.  Driving home we ran into a whiteout about 3 miles from our house.  The only reference we had to make sure we were on the road was the piled up snow along the highway.  Winter can be a challenge here  – but we’re Central New Yorkers – we can handle it.

I decided that I needed a break from sewing triangles for my Delectable Mountains quilt so decided to start a new project.  It’s been suggested that we make  the cover quilt from Fat Quarter Quilts by Lori Smith for our next guild group project. - I really like needle turn applique so I thought I’d work on Simply Charming – even if it’s not our next project.

Today was the prefect day to quilt.  We are in the midst of the first ‘real’ winter storm of the season.  This year the winter storms have hit north and east of Syracuse.

A perfect day to be home quilting. (I really have to work at being retired.  Tough job – but someone has to do it!)

My husband must be thinking of Spring.  He surprised with me with this little bouquet this afternoon.  (He is definitely an incurable romantic.)

• First, I traced the applique placement on the background fabric.

• Next Skinny Stems:  These are really easily made with the aid of bias bars.

• I’ve cut out most of the applique pieces.  The circles still have to be cut out.

I’ll begin the applique while watching the Olympics tonight.  Ice Dancing and Ladies Free Skate have to be my favorite events.

My miniature quilt from Lori Smith’s Fat Quarter Quilting is coming along – but not without some backtracking.

I added the saw tooth border and put in up on my design wall – Oh no! I had placed the triangle blocks wrong and now have an ugly secondary pattern.

Ugly Secondary Pattern

Out with the seam ripper for a bit of unsewing.  (If there’s anything that I like to do less than sew triangles, it is resewing them.  But sometimes you just have to do what you have to do!)

Putting it back together I found that I still had the ugly bar.  ????????????????  I checked the placement diagram -  I had placed the

Corrert Triangle Placement

squares  exactly as directed.

So I turned the blocks around -  the result was exactly like the picture of the quilt in the book.

I thought I should notify Lori Smith of the error so it could be corrected in the next printing.   I also suggested that since this is a miniature which requires precision piecing, it would be helpful if the sizes of each finished section were published with the instructions.

Here is the email response I received:

"Sorry you are having trouble with the book.
I will forward your comments to the publisher
Martingale. While the quilts are mine, the
publisher wrote the directions and did the diagrams
in the manner they considered appropriate.
I think you have some very valid points and I hope
they will take that into consideration.
Sorry I couldn't be of more help. Lori Smith"

I was really surprised. I’m not sure that I understand why the publisher executes the pattern and not the  designer – But what do I know?

Each year in January or February we tap into the creativity of some guild members for our program.  On Tuesday, four of us demonstrated techniques we enjoy:  Small Drawstring Bag, Crewel Embroidery, Stamp Carving – and I was pleased to be asked to demonstrate Seminole Patchwork.

I became interested in piecing by the Seminole when my husband and I were on a winter vacation in Florida last year.  The creativity of the Seminole continues to amaze me.

The Indian Removal Policy in the 1800′s  forced the relocation of East Coast Indian Tribes to Oklahoma.  The Seminole took refuge in the Everglades.   Only able to make the trip to the trading post once a year, every bolt of fabric  traded for animal skins and furs was extremely precious.  They were sure to make use of every scrap of fabric on the bolt and Seminole Patchwork was born!

Coming Back from Trading Post

In the 1900′s hand-cranked sewing machines became popular and in the 1920′s designs were completed by strip piecing.  Extremely popular designs were:

• Blocks or Bars of alternating colors
• Sawtooth Designs

I can imagine that the machines were one of their most prized possessions.

Traditional dress incorporated these horizontal bands of both simple and intricate patchwork.  The more elaborate and complex designs were symbolic of:

• Seminole clans
  • Bear, Snake, Panther, Toad, Bird, Deer, Wind, Otter
• Refection of daily life
  • lightning striking across the sky
  • crosses reflecting Christian teachings
  • fires racing through swamp
  • spools holding colored threads that were used for the patchwork

Not only did they use patchwork in clothing for themselves,

Typical Seminole Clothing

but also used it to make doll clothes.

Seminole Doll with Patchwork Bands

It certainly was a fun experience for me.  I hoping that everyone came away with an appreciation of the craft.  It’s a great way to not only add borders to a quilt but some interest as well.

Thumbstall Quilt Guild members have been making Kid Comfort Quilts. for children of the 10th Mountain Division’s deployed service men and women, almost since the program began 6 years ago.  This month we received another group of pictures that we will fashion into quilts.

For this project my “kid’ is only 2-1/2 months old and has a brother who is 2 or 3.  I hope these quilts can bring them some measure of comfort.

A Quilt for William

As I  usually do, I went to my stash to see if there was any fabric that might be appropriate and found a half yard of Blues Clues fabric that I had used in an Ami Sims Picture Play Quilts for one my grandchildren.  I had just enough to make the inside border of the Kid Comfort quilt.  What a perfect find.  Now to finish it – I just have to add the binding.  I can hand sew the binding while watching the opening ceremonies of the Olympics tonight.

Operation Kid Comfort actually began at Fort Bragg in North Carolina in 2003.  A toddler, who really was missing his deployed father, took comfort in carrying around pictures  that reminded him of his father.  A resourceful grandmother, Ann Flaherty, came up with the idea of putting the pictures on a quilt that he could easily keep with him both day and night.

With the help of Lynne Grates; executive director of the Fort Bragg/Pope Air Force Base, N.C., Armed Services YMCA and Clitha Mason, the arts and humanities director;  Ann founded Operation Kid Comfort.    Now 6 years later quilts are being made  by individuals, guilds and at quilt workshops throughout the country.

This must be the 4th or 5th quilt that many of us in the guild have made for this project.  I think I speak for every member when I say to  military families, “We support you.”