Workshop fun... One done, one to come...

Where does the time go? January is almost over and our first meeting and workshop of the new year are already behind us. Sande Gunning of River Gallery spent a day with 11 lucky members last weekend, teaching them how to do felted scarves of wool and silk. Here you can see Sande demo-ing the felting process. I hear they worked hard for their beautiful scarves! Thanks Sande for a great day!

 

Lap quilt - 48" x 64" before borders

Our next workshop, on Feb. 25th, still has some openings. It will be a Scrap Quilt project with yours truly. I have done a lap quilt, (measuring 48"x64" before borders), but there are also smaller options (table centre or table runner, pillow front, totebag front....) and as well several design options for the block. (Of course if you want to make a bed-size quilt, you can do that too!)The block unit is very quick and easy to make, and with a few short seams, you get two units at once. There is no cutting of triangles or sewing of bias edges- all pieces are cut square or rectangular. Most pieces are cut 2.5" wide, so if you have "leftovers" from jelly rolls or Bali Pops, this is a great way to use them up! I will also be giving some useful info on choosing fabrics for scrap quilts, as well as a number of tips to help you perfect your piecing skills. Why don't you plan to join us? We're going to have lots of fun! You will want to get most of  your cutting done before the class, so don't wait until our February meeting to sign up - give Ann Price or myself a call today and we'll get the Supply Sheet and cutting instructions to you.

Table Centre - 20" sq. Block variation with Half Sq. Triangles

Merry Christmas!

Christmas is only a few short days away now. Hopefully your quilting projects are all finished, the last stitches sewn and your sewing space is all tidied up! If so, you're ahead of me. My projects are done, but the tidying isn't! Hopefully Santa won't peek in that room!

Our Christmas Social was such a lovely evening. The special music provided by a talented quartet from Elm City Echoes was so entertaining, giving us wonderful harmonies and laughter too! It was so nice to have time to just chat and "visit" with other members, something that there never seems to be enough time for at our busy meetings. Kudos to the Program Committee for organizing such a  wonderful evening. I thoroughly enjoyed the stories of Christmases past by members Mary Brown,  Anne Ouellette, Kathleen DeTulleo and Ann Price. How lovely to hear about Christmas traditions in other families and areas. There seems to always be a common denominator though- being together with family and friends appears to be the most important part of the holidays, no matter where you are. The evening ended with a super Show and Tell. It's obvious everyone has been very busy getting projects finished up for Christmas, whether meant as gifts or not. The photos have been added to our Show and Tell Gallery.

I am so grateful for all my wonderful friends and "quilting sisters" at FQG - you have all enriched my life. No doubt you agree with me - we are indeed fortunate to have such a wonderful group.
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and good health and happiness in the New Year - and, of course- lots more time for quilting!! See you in 2012.

December Reminders

It's December 1st!! Wow- where did November go? The days are flying by, and like me you are probably at your machine trying to get quilts finished and gifts made. I wish I could find a few more hours in each day for us all.... wouldn't that be nice?

First of all, don't forget that our Christmas Social is coming right up on Dec. 6th at 6:30. Note the earlier start time... I hope to see everyone there, it's such a nice opportunity to share some Christmas spirit with friends, and have time to chat and socialize a bit. Don't forget to bring along your Christmas Show and Tell items!

Tomorrow, Friday Dec. 2,  is the Country Crafts and Curtains "Retreat" from 1p.m. - 8p.m. at the Marysville Heritage Centre, 11 McGloin St. in Marysville. Take your machine and sew for the day, drop in to shop, or just to say Hi! There is a Potluck at suppertime too!

If you still have shopping to do for someone special on your list, remember Sunday is the only day for the Christmas Choice Craft Sale at UNB's Memorial Hall (9 Bailey Drive) from noon until 4p.m. This weekend is also the 37th annual  Christmas Arts and Crafts Market at the Capital Exhibit Centre on the Frex grounds. Stop by and say Hi to Kathy Tidswell... The hours are Friday noon - 9p.m., Saturday 10a.m - 6p.m. and Sunday noon - 5p.m.

Have you given some serious thought to attending Quilt Canada 2012 in Halifax in the spring? Our last newsletter had lots of info listed, or you can find it here on the CQA/ACC website. Also check out the Quilt Canada Blog here for updates and lots of exciting news re. the Conference. Registration is now open for day students - ie. signing up for a class or two, without being a full delegate. This annual event will likely not be back in the Maritimes for a while, so now is your chance to take it in. Halifax is an easy drive now with good highway all the way. And if you are not already a CQA member, this year would be a great year to join!! Why not put a CQA membership on your Christmas Wish List? Join now and start planning that Halifax trip!!

I recently received info on a 10 day tour to Ireland that includes the International Quilt Festival of Ireland in Galway. The dates are June 5th- 15th, 2012 and departure is from Halifax.You can view more details by clicking here. What a fun trip that would be...

Successful "Fun Day"...

If you were not at the Guild "Fun Day" yesterday, you missed a good time!! A good number of members turned up to share a day together; a few worked on their own projects, the rest of us happily sewed the day away on one of the five projects presented. Lots got accomplished and everyone left with a smile on their face. Some worked on table runners Christmas-y and otherwise, snowmen, strip tubed and pieced blocks.... all were presented, demonstrated and notes given so we could do them later if not then. We even got a cute little fast and easy stocking stuffer /gift idea. There were door
prizes and yummy treats....What a great day!! Thanks to the Workshop Committee for putting this day together and offering such a wonderful variety of projects and ideas. There may be another such day offered in the New Year- why not plan now to attend? It's a great day to sew with friends and also get acquainted with other members you may not know well... What more could you ask for? You know what they say- any day spent sewing is a GOOD day....

Meeting Time Again

It's time again for our monthly meeting. Don't forget to bring your list for the UFO Challenge- unfinished projects and new projects you would like to complete this year. I have my list all ready.. and it's long!! Maybe this Challenge will spur me on to get moving and whittle down the list. That's the whole purpose, after all...
Jean Burtt will be anxious to collect more quilts for babies at the DECH . It's not too late to turn yours in. Remember backs must be flannel, and all fabrics must be prewashed. It doesn't take long to whip up something that's only 18" x 24" and it's a great opportunity to try out a new pattern or colour combination.
Of course Christmas placemats will be accepted at this meeting too, as well as at the December Christmas Social. They should be approximately 12" x 16". The Meals on Wheels recipients are certainly cheered by these colourful mats with their meals over the holidays.

See you tomorrow evening! Remember your mug, your nametag, any library books you have out, your Show and Tell items and why not take a minute to speak to a new member, or someone you don't know well? It doesn't take long to make a new friend....

The Ladies with the Curves!

Our October meeting program was great- we learned a lot about sewing curves. Although a daunting prospect to some, I'm sure we all left with much more confidence for tackling curved seams. A big Thank You to the five "presenters' - Gail Butts, Jean Ketch, Gail Mitchell, Linda Glassford and Donna Young. Among other things, we learned how to sew a basic curve, how to add piping to a curve, how to "face" a curve so it could be appliquéd, how to use glue basting to sew a circle into a circular opening, and how to use the curved two patch system. Here are a few photos, if you missed the meeting.

I will soon be posting some reminders for our November meeting, so come back soon for the details on  1. our UFO Challenge,  2. Christmas placemats for Meals on Wheels, and 3. our continuing Community projects - due at Nov. meeting: quilts for babies. See guidelines here.

Off to Moncton You Should Go!!

I am just home this evening from Moncton where I thoroughly enjoyed a visit to the Greater Moncton Guild's 25th Anniversary Show. These girls have outdone themselves! What a lovely show- well worth the trip to Moncton, I assure you. It's going to be a lovely weekend, weather-wise. Why not take a little road trip and take in the Show? It's open Saturday from 10-5 and Sunday from 12-4, and can be found at the Lion's Club at  55 Mark Avenue. If you know where the Fabric Cupboard is just off Collishaw, well Mark Ave. is just a block away, running off Collishaw, almost through to Mountain Road.
Here are a few photos to tempt you.... You can see more photos on my personal blog here,  here here and
 here.

1st place winner Art Quilt and Best in Show, "Fundy Mermaid" by Nancy Elaschuk

Detail of "Fundy Mermaid"

Winner of Judge's Choice, Whole Cloth quilt by Carolyn Mitton

1st Place winner, Guild Challenge. "Beacon of Light" by Nancy Elaschuk

"Happy Hallowe'en" by Joanne Bourque

1st Place, Large Pieced. "Ocean View"  by Bridget Daly

1st Place Small Applique. "Butterfly Ballet" by Kim Larracy

September Meeting and Upcoming Workshop

 Sue with double prizewinner  "Baltimore Bunnies"

Our first meeting is behind us, and it's really starting to feel like Fall. Thanks so much to Sue McEachern of Kennebecasis Valley QG for sharing many of her beautiful quilts with us for the September program. Sue does wonderful applique and her hand-quilting is exceptional. Tiny even stitches had us all admiring her prize-winning work. Here are a few photos of several of Sue's quilts, for those of you who missed the meeting. Next month's meeting will have us in "stations" to learn about curved piecing. It's bound to be a great program and I'm sure we'll all pick up some tips and perhaps "new to us" techniques.

Sue showing us some hand quilting tips

Detail of Baltimore Bunnies

Thanks to all those who brought projects to share with us during September's Show and Tell. I don't always catch the names of each quilt, and sometimes I'm not even sure of the makers, so if there is no name and/or title under your work in our Show and Tell Gallery, please get in touch and supply me with the info. Thanks . Our gallery is now set up so that the most recent Show and Tell items will be added at the top, so you won't have to scroll to the bottom.

There are still spots available in our upcoming workshop on October 22. Former FQG member Cathy Hachey will be teaching Connecting Hearts. Don't be intimidated by the small pieces - there are no matching seams and this can be easily done with strip piecing, chain piecing and a flip and sew method using a grid. Get in touch with Jean Ketch of the Workshop Committee if you'd like to join us for this fun-filled class. It looks like a great project and I'm sure Cathy will have lots of tips for us. 

Community Projects for 2011-2012.

We will soon be back at our Guild activities for the year. I hope you are all coming back from the summer rested and rejuvenated, and ready to plunge into Guild activities. We are taking a slightly different approach to Community projects this year. Jean has decided to choose a "theme" so for this Guild year, it will be "The Year of the Child". We will "divide" the year into three sections - Babies, Children and Teens.

For September and October, we will focus on quilts for babies and the neonatal unit. These should be sized 18" x 24" and backed with good quality flannel. They must be 100% cotton, including the batting, and for safety reasons, these quilts must be quilted, not tied.PLEASE prewash ALL fabrics and batting.

For November through January, we will be looking for quilts for children. These could be pediatric quilts, flannel backed, size 24" x 36" (cot size) for the DECH, or lap size quilts, approximately 55" x 75" for children at Transition and Gignoo Houses.

We will continue our annual donation of Christmas placemats to Meals on Wheels. Size should be approximately 12" 16". These can be brought in to our November meeting, or our Christmas Social.

After January, we will focus on quilts for Teens. These should be flannel backed, lap size quilts age appropriate for Teens. These will go to group homes.

If there are any questions, please get in touch with Jean Burtt, Community Projects Co-ordinator.