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.

Each year our guild members make a raffle quilt to raise money for programs and charity projects throughout the year.  I am co-chair for the 2011 project.  Members normally are asked to put the quilt together during the first year and the top is quilted, either by hand or machine, during the second year.

"Granny Squares"

My co-chair, Julie and I have chosen Nancy Mahoney’s pattern Granny Stars featured in the July 2009 issue of Fons & Porter’s Love of Quilting.

We looked at a number of patterns before making our final selection, but both of kept returning to this one.   Granny Stars combines both piecing and applique techniques into the quilt.  Piecing techniques range from simple for the corner units to the intermediate star points.   The applique will be needle-turn.

Our Guild members’ talents range from beginner to award winning quilters.   So this should be a quilt that any of them can, and I’m hoping, will want to work on.

With the help of two of our guild members, Marion and Sandi, Julie and I were able to coordinate the material for the quilt top at Patchwork Plus. We really ventured outside the box – batiks are not normally a fabric that either Julie or I would choose when making a quilt.  I was definitely a bit skeptical, but now that I have laid the material out on my cutting table and ‘played’ with it a bit  – I’m excited.  As Marion said, “This should be an earthy and warm looking quilt.”  I’m hoping it will appeal to a large number of people.  (We do want to sell a lot of raffle tickets after all!)

We had been  looking for a quilt that would turn heads when displayed.  I think with this fabric selection we’ve found it! 

What a fun way to spend an afternoon!

Sandi was intrigued by this particular fabric and has volunteered to design an applique border using it’s elements.   She put it on her copier, enlarged the designs on the fabric and will design a very unique applique border.  Never would have thought of that myself – but it really is a great idea.   I appreciate anyone who has such a creative talent.

Fabric Detail

What a talented group of quilters I found when I joined Thumbstall Quilt Guild.  It makes quilting with friends all the more worthwhile.

Every year we show appreciation to our outgoing guild president by making blocks of her favorite theme and/or colors.  This year we made sunflower and 9-patch blocks  for Lisa.  The sunflower blocks were a pattern from Cathy Van Bruggen Designs.  It always interesting to see how different quilters execute the same block.  I was able to combine needle-turn and invisible machine applique with embroidery to finish my block.

At first I appliqued the leaves, stems and flower centers by needle-turn applique.  I tried to use the same technique with the pointy sunflower petals. but wasn’t happy with the result.  There are too many changes from inside points to outside points in a very small space.

Lisa's Sunflower Block

(I wish that I had the skills of someone like Elly Sienkiewicz. I’m sure she would have produced a perfect needle-turn flower.)

I decided to use Kim Diehl’s invisible machine applique technique and think that it turned out well.  I decided to embellish the center of the flower with french knots – and even put a few yellow knots for interest.  I think she liked it – at least she said that she did when I gave it to her on Tuesday.

After seeing all her beautiful blocks I had to pull the blocks for my President’s Quilt out.  Guess I’d better start working on my quilt. I added sashing strips to the blocks and decided on the layout when I received them.  But then put them away.  That was 2 years ago!

Guess I’d better get working on my quilt.  I need to have it ready to hang in our President’s Corner at our guild’s July 2010 Quilt Show.   -   A New Year’s resolution already!

My computer is sick and has had to go to the hospital. Not sure exactly what I did – but my hard drive has been ‘fried’ and I’ve had to send it to be fixed. Talk about withdrawal! I feel as though I have been out of touch with everyone this past week. No email or IM. Do I really have to use the phone or snail mail to keep in touch? Finally I came upon a solution – I ‘fired up’ an old laptop. It’s a bit slow – but beats the alternative.

So now I can also post on my blog again. We spent the weekend at Thompson Lake State Park (near Albany, NY). After the art fair in Albany on Saturday, we were able to spend some time camping, kayaking and hiking in the area.

Of course I made sure that I spent time quilting. Working on the Redwork Beauty applique by Betty Alderman Designs.

Work in Progress

I like the portability of needle turn and redwork. I guess I was lucky in that my first quilting instructor got me hooked on needle turn with her “easy” method. It is a great way to relax and accomplish something at the same time. And it’s so portable. I can easily work on the piece as we tow our camper or at the campground itself.

This time of the year is especially beautiful in upstate New York. The leaves are just beginning to show their Fall beauty and the weather is still warm enough to be able to sit outside the camper and quilt!

The greatest use of a life is to spend it on something that will outlast it. William James