Take a look at this new fabric line called Pop Garden by Heather Bailey. I found it posted on the Quilters Buzz blog. I enjoyed the slideshow and music as much as the fabric. What a fun way to market it. I haven’t seen this line in quilt shops, have you?
Enjoy!
Many of us are used to, and possibly tired of, sewing a block of the month. How about doing one a day? Take a look at this blogger who is doing just that.
Her name is Lindsay Jean. She started on January 1, 2008. She posts photos of each block. Take a look.
Interesting!
About a week ago, my good friend’s mother died at the age of 97. She was a quilter. Many of her quilts were hung in tribute on the railings of the church. It was lovely, but even more touching to me were the words of the priest’s homily. He used quilting as metaphor for her life. I want to share some of the main points I remember which will probably be slanted by my own perspective and memory.
Quilts carry the quilter with them. A piece of the maker goes with each quilt.
Each quilt tells a story. It may be the story of a new little one born, the joining of the lives of two people, or the celebration of a birthday or an accomplishment like graduation. It may be made to comfort someone going through hard times.
Quilters can take a limited amount of fabric from an array of colors and bring it all together to reveal it’s fullest potential and beauty. They can see the usefulness of even the smallest pieces of fabric to bring them together to form a work of art.
Quilts also represent communities. The fabric may be gathered from a number of people and sewn together with friends forming a community of quilters. Quilts, too, bind together a community of people – like husband and wife, mother and child, grandmother and grandchild, friend to friend.
The lives of people are the best quilts pieced. When each individual is treasured, they are not seen as “scraps”, but as whole and beautiful. The relationships with these diverse persons are brought together just like a scrap quilt to form a beautiful design. The backing of the quilt of life is the strong stuff of faith which moves quilters to warm others with thoughtfulness and prayer.
A handmade quilt is a sacrament of love.
Amen.
Every year my small quilt group (WISQ), and extended family and friends, goes on a quilt retreat. It’s been going on for quite a few years. (Someone who’s been in the group longer than I have will have to comment on exactly how long.) It started out at Gallagher’s Retreat House in Gibbon, Minnesota. It’s a lovely facility consisting of an old home with lots of character and a separate sewing space with a loft above it. I was able to join the group there for several years and had a fantastic time. Even though everyone enjoyed the summer retreats in Gibbon, we eventually came to the conclusion that we needed a change.
After reading lots of pamphlets and visiting numerous websites, Mary Beth and Karen went out on a scouting mission. They checked out Bridge Creek Cottage in Augusta, Wisconsin. Trusting their raving recommendation, we booked the cottage for a four-day retreat last summer. They were right – it’s a fabulous place. We loved it so much that we returned again this year from August 4 -7. I’m just now coming down from the high of four days of sewing and quilting fellowship.
We started out bright and early Monday morning leaving Minneapolis for our first destination in Hudson, Wisconsin. It’s one of our favorite quilt shops called Sew Little Time. After everyone made sure they had all the fabric they needed – and wanted – we continued on to Menomonie where we had lunch at the Green Mill.
Bridge Creek Cottage
The next leg took us to Weaver’s Country Store in Falls Creek. It’s a neat store that stocks all kinds of bulk food and spices. A visit to this place is really a shopping adventure. From there it was a short trip to the Bridge Creek Cottage. We had arrived.
It didn’t take long for everyone to unpack and set up their sewing spaces. Soon we were being seranaded by the whirring of our sewing machines. Ahhhh! That magic sound. There’s nothing like it to wash away the stress of life. Among lots of talking, music, and laughter we were able to complete many beautiful quilt projects. Here’s what I was able to accomplish.
Black and White "Two-For"s
I started by making two black, white, and red table runners. I used a great pattern by Pieced Tree called Two-For. After piecing some strips and cutting them into triangles, you’re able to make two runners at once. It was fun and easy. I loved the black and white fabric I picked for the runners so much that I bought extra for a pillowcase. Then I completed a blue flowered one with a completely opposite feel. I love it just as much, but in a different way. Nothing can quite compete with my black and white obsession!
I moved on to sewing a binding on my Jo’s Little Women quilt. I decided to match the binding fabric to the border. I’m happy with that decision, since it’s such a busy little quilt.
Isn't it cute?
Another small project I tackled was a braid quilt-as-you-sew runner, called Mini Braid. It’s part of a 3 piece pattern called Quiltie Trio by G. E. Design. It was very satisfying to piece, quilt and bind it in a little over an hour.
After the success of completing some small projects, I decided to tackle my Amadeus quilt (a Miss Rosies Pattern made from the Moda fabric line called Vienna Nights) which was on the five-year plan. I had taken it to several other retreats and intended to finish it before I went went home from this retreat. I did it. I finished it (the top anyway) and I figured out by looking at the date on the pattern that it only took me four years instead of five. Not bad.
Amadeus Quilt on the 4-Year Plan
I am part of a small quilt group that started several years ago. We’ve never formally chosen a name but I call us the Mystery Quilters. That’s because when we started the group we made mystery quilts. We’ve evolved since then but the name stuck. Most of the members are connected to education in some way. We meet monthly after the school day has finished. Some have retired. (Boo hoo for the rest of us.) During the summer we can meet whenever we want. So during June and July, we met for breakfast, and show and tell, and lots of conversation. Here’s our show and tell for July:
Cindy's "I Love Orange" Hobo Bag
Bonnie's Blue and Yellow Nine Patch
Geri's Gold/Purple Batik Quilt
Geri's Block of the Month
Rita's "Is It an Oops or a Design?" Basket
This month Deb brought her mom, who’s visiting from New Ulm, and her daughter as guests. Deb’s mom (Hildegard) is a quilter also and had lots of things to share with us.
Hildegard's Black and White Quilt
Acorn Table Topper
Table Topper Design by Terry Atkinson
Xmas Topper
Jan Schulz
Minneapolis, MN
