Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

I wish everyone has a joyous and safe holiday season. Did you finish all your holiday gifts? I finished a quilt that is a gift.

Our next meeting is Jan 8th 11am - 2pm. We now enter the building from the front as the 1st room in the back is now where the tax preparers are located.

Dana said that on Jan 15th there will be a Metro Parks photogragher at our meeting. He will be taking pictures for the monthly bulletin. Bring in your quilts and it may be on the cover.

Starting Time Change

Our starting time has changed to 11 am. This is because the dance class has gotten so large that they are using the room we use. It will soon be tax season and in the past the center has been open until 4 pm. I will know next week what our schedule for January is.

Snowman Table Runner

Supplies needed to make the table runner are:
about 5/8 yd of white or off white for Snowman bodies
6 5" squares any color for scarves
scraps of orange for noses (can use carrot buttons)
black embroidery floss or pigma pen for eyes and mouth
about 15" x 40" piece of batting
embroidery floss for hand quilting
steam-a-seam or other fusible

This will be a fun project that you can use all winter. It's always more fun to make the same thing as others. If you bring extra fabric we can swap fabrics.

Happy Thanksgiving to all. May you and yours be safe as you travel this holiday season.

Diana, her daughter Sara, Marilyn and Janet came today. Diana, Marilyn and Janet all laid out quilts. Sara is making her 1st quilt. She got the top finished and was planning on finishing it when she got home.

MEETING TIMES
When I arrived yesterday at the community center I found out they had a rental in the evening. That meant that we could use the center form 10 -2 and from 6-10. The rental schedule can change from day to day. If you are unsure of the times we can use the center, you can always call them and ask when the quilters can be there.

Snowman Table Runner: On Sat Dec 4th some of us will be making a snowman table runner. The supply list can be picked up at the center during our meeting prior to Dec 4th.

Quilt Shows Sep 24-25

There are 2 quilt shows within driving distance of Louisville Friday and Saturday. In Elizabethtown, KY at the Pritchard Community Center the Stitchers Quilt Guild is hosting a show. There will be quilts, exhibits, vendors, prizes and food. The hours are Friday 9-6 and Saturday 9-5. The other show is in Edwardsville, IN at the United Methodist Church across from the Quilting Bee. The hours are Friday 9-7 and Saturday 9-4. The Quilting Bee will also be open the same hours and is having a sale.

Quilt shows are a great place to find inspiration and get re-energized. One email I received this week called this the Quilting Season. It's the time to stay inside as the gardening is winding down and the cold weather is coming. The kids and grandkids are in school.

Sat September 11th Meeting

Pam, Kay and Ossie all started a new fall applique quilt. It has lots of pumpkins and vines on it. Since they are all using the same pattern and some of the same fabrics it will be interesting to see how different/same they end up. Janet put binding on 2 strippie quilts and then worked on another quilt.

Aug 28th Meeting

Diana, Delores and came today. Anita said that she may start sewing with us as next week is her last Saturday to work at the center.

Next week we will have a long day, 9am - 6pm. Delores is going to bring some fabric to make pillowcases for the VA hospital. She would appreciate any help she can get. If you want to bring a dish to pass and your drink and we'll have lunch. I'll have plates and forks.

No meeting on Aug 21st

All the rooms at the center have been rented for this Saturday, Aug 21st. Hopefully we will be meeting next week as scheduled.

Pat G. joined our group this week. She showed us the blocks she is hand appliqueing. Julie, Diana and Janet were at the center. Diana was making purses for a fall craft sale. Julie is working on her BOM quilt using Elvis fabric. She also brought this months' BOM, Calico Puzzle. (Last months' was Brasstown Star.) Janet made some cute little gift bags, the pattern is from the Fall issue of BHG Quilts and More magazine.

Next week we meet 12:30 pm - 5:30 pm. The schedule is posted to the side until mid-December. This will be updated as the center schedules rentals so check this often.

No meeing on Saturday Aug 7th

Sun Valley Community Center has rentals which prevent us from having a place to meet. The following week we can meet from 3:30pm - 11:00pm.

On Saturday Kay, Pam, Ossie, Diana and Janet were busy on various projects. New quilts were started, others were getting finished. One good thing about meeting at the community center is that we can put some tables together to trim up or lay out large quilts.

Linda stopped by with some donated fabric for our charity quilts. Last week we donated about 10 quilts to Kosair. Next week we will meet from 11:00 to 5:00.

Happy 4th of July! Have a safe and enjoyable holiday. Our next meeting day is July 17th. I have visited 2 quilt shops so far this weekend and I'm finding new and different projects that we can make. I hope to visit at least 2 more shops before I return to Louisville.

Last Saturday Pam, Ossie, Kay, Dianna, Shirley and Janet spent the evening at the community center. We all received 3 FQ's and a pattern to make a small purse. Everyone got theirs started and will most likely finish it this Saturday. A good time was had by all.

We continue to meet on Saturdays, trying to escape some of the heat. The pool is open so parking can be a challenge if you arrive after it opens. Lots of quilting is getting done. Pam quilted 2 quilts in one day! Ossie, Diana, Pam and Anita worked on their quilts. Janet was there for a short time before going to a 'Picture Piecing' class taught by Cynthia England at Austins Sewing Center.

Next Saturday, June 12th, noon - 2pm there will have a Stash Bash. Bring your ideas for using 3 FQ's in a project. I have a pattern for a purse that I plan to make. Some lucky people will receive some fabric to make their project.

We had a split day yesterday. We met from 10-2 and 6-10:30. During the break some people shopped and others napped. We welcomed Diana to our group this week. She has made several quilts already and is excited to learn and try more things. She is an artist who has changed mediums.

Other members present were Pam, Kay, Ossie, Marilyn and Janet. New quilts were begun and others are nearing completion.

Saturday was a really pretty day so most of the quilters must have been outside. Six ventured out to Sun Valley and 3 of those only stayed briefly. The 3 of us who stayed had a good time. New quilts were started by each of us so more cutting than sewing was done. We had some inquiries about our group so we may see some new faces.

I have posted the schedule thru July. There are a lot of days when we can stay until 5 pm and then some when we can stay even later. On the days when we will need to leave for a couple hours we could go shopping or out to eat or both. In the past we have planned projects for days we can stay late. This schedule may change as the community centers' schedule changes. I'll try to let people know but you can always call the center.

We had 7 people come today. Kay chose the Card Trick block for this month. The ones that were done today looked nice. Other accomplishments included: pillowcase dresses completed, one purse completed and another about half done, quilt back measured, 2 quilts sandwiched and marked for piecing and a twister wreath about half done. We also discussed some projects we'd like to do as a group so look for that info.

Quilters' Day Out

Last week was Quilters' Day Out. Many of our members went for the day. I have heard from some people that they really enjoyed themselves. There was a lot to see at the other quilt guild booths. The vendors had a good variety of items for sale. The organizing committee is always looking for feedback so any comments are welcome and will be passed on. This was about the 5th one I've been to and each one seems to be better than the last.

Quilters' Day Out

Here's an update on our part of QDO. Our booth will be combined with The Fairdale Happy Stitchers booth. I talked to one person from each group before agreeing to this. This has several advantages. Both groups are small so it will be easier to decorate our booth with quilts as fewer will be needed. (Let me know if you can bring one.) Only one demo will be needed. We will combine the door prizes so we will have one larger one instead of two small ones. The table where we sell the extra door prize tickets will be next to our booth so we won't feel like we're missing out on anything. And lastly, it will be easier on me since I'm in both groups.

March 13, 2010 10:00 - 3:00
InnPlace Hotel Conference Center
9700 Bluegrass Parkway
(entrance on Plantside Dr)

Here is the last installment of Connecting Threads series on HST's. I hope you have enjoyed reading about the many methods of making HST's.

Feb 20 Meeting Cancelled

The Feb 20th meeting has been cancelled. Sun Valley Community Center is preparing for work to be done on the floors. On Saturday they need to get all the tables off the floor. Work will start on Monday and continue for a week.

Our next meeting will be March 6th. That is one week before Quilters' Day Out. Delores has volunteered to set up our area at QDO on Friday March 12th. As this will include hanging quilts and decorating the space, she could use some help. If you have quilt or quilted item you would like to show at QDO bring it either March 6th to give to Delores or take it to QDO on March 12th.

Have you contributed for the raffle basket for QDO? If not, get with either Ossie or Kay. They will need to have the basket ready not later than March 12th.

Here is two more methods of making HST's from Connections . I have drawn this kind of grid on my fabric when making a lot. It worked out pretty good but I wish I had known about the software available. I think you can also buy the paper already printed.

HST's

Here is a tutorial from Connecting Threads for making half square triangles (HST's) using 2 different specialty rulers.

What have you been doing since we got all this snow? Have you been sewing?

Half Square Triangles

How many ways do you know to make half square triangles (HST's)? I found this tutorial from Connecting Threads explaining 2 methods. There is also Thangles and specialty rulers. All are interchangable. You will save yourself lots of headaches if you can look at a pattern, determine what size HST you need and then use your favorite method instead of the author's method. I also like to add 1" instead of 7/8" to the finished size. After I sew the seam I trim the HST to the correct size. This way I don't have to worry as much about my seam allowance and still end up with an accurate block.

Saturday January 23rd

Ten people came to sew. A lot was accomplished. Quilts were started, worked on and sandwiched ready to be quilted. We talked about how to prevent wavy borders. Pillowcases for charity were made.

We also discussed our charity projects. Ossie volunteered to make some labels for our donation quilts. On the 3rd Saturday of each month the fabric will be brought to make string quilts. You may work on them at the meeting or take it home to work on. Our progress will be recorded on this blog.

We discussed Quilters Day Out which will be held on Sat. March 13th. Our guild has been asked to sell door prize tickets and Kay will introduce our guild. We need to provide a door prize and ask members to donate up to $5 for this. Ossie and Kay will collect the money and purchase items.

This coming Sat. since we can stay until 7 pm we will have a pot luck dinner. A special Valentine's project will be presented. Bring a FQ or red and a FQ of white to participate.

New Schedule Posted

Today we found out that the community center will be open until 4pm on Saturdays starting next week until April 15th. There will be tax preparers there for qualifying people.

On Jan 30th we can stay until 7pm! Let's plan on a retreat for that day. Bring a dish to pass and your drinks.

If you want to make a special valentines day project bring 1 FQ of red and 1 FQ of white fabric (or a light color for a background). The red can be plain, tone on tone or have some white in it. We will be exchanging our reds.

January 9th

Due to the cold weather and snow we cancelled our meeting. Pat will present her BOM on Jan 16th.