Saturday, October 22, 2011

Blessed are the Quilters . . .

Blessed are the Quilters for they patch things up.

Blessed are the Quilters for they make ends meet.

Blessed are the Quilters for they pick up the pieces.

Blessed are the Quilters for they put colour in your life.

Blessed are the Quilters for they know how to cut corners

Blessed are the Quilters for they cover you with warmth.

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Monday, September 19, 2011

Pinwheels

This wall hanging was a donated top that Anna took home and quilted.


Wednesday, April 06, 2011

Quilts for Japan

Hello members and friends,


The TSDG had initially tried to organize our own shipment of quilts to Japan in response to an email plea received by Marilyn Chamberlin. After several attempts to work with local businesses or individuals that did not firm up, we have learned of a bona fide Canadian group based in Calgary organizing a shipment of quilts to Japan to provide comfort to those affected by the recent earthquake/tsunami. I am excited to let you know that they are ready and willing to accept as many donated quilts as we are willing to send at no cost to us!!

The group is called Quilts for Japan and they are preparing to send a 40 foot container of quilts to Japan to be distributed by a recognized relief agency upon arrival in May. You can check out the group and all their plans at quiltsforjapan.ca. I have spoken to the coordinator, Bev Rogan, and she would like us to spread the word far and wide about this opportunity. The website clearly lists all the information required to participate.

The TSDG already has 12 quilts ready to go, if you would like to participate, here are ways you can help:

- donate a new quilt, no larger than 50 x 70 inches in size.
- include a photograph or letter of support placed in a zip lock baggie and pinned to your quilt with a safety pin.
- label your quilt with your own label or a Quilts for Japan label. (Cheryl will order a bunch to distribute)
- include a plastic shipping bag if possible (the kind that compresses the contents with a vacuum, I bought mine at Walmart).
- donations of extra vacuum bags are also welcome.
- spread the word to other groups in Southern Alberta who might want to participate.
- organize a work day and invite your TSDG friends to help make quilts.

Cheryl Atkinson will act as the local depot for TSDG members and their friends. Our collection deadline will be the date of the Spring Sale - April 30th, 2011. I will then transport our donations to the depot in Calgary the following day. I have been asked to keep Bev Rogan informed of any Lethbridge events or publicity related to this project. Please contact me with information that I can forward to the Quilts for Japan address if you organize something with another group. Thanks to all those who have expressed interest in this project. I look forward to a bountiful collection of quilts for Japan.
As always, please write or call if you have any questions or concerns.
Cheryl Atkinson

Thursday, February 10, 2011

February 3

LBCQ has two quilts on frames at the moment, this purple one that I believe Kelly put together and a sunflower one that Kath did.




The quilt on the right is Dora's show and tell.  She's got the pattern for anyone that would like to borrow it.  What an adorable, fabulously easy quilt to put together!


Monday, February 07, 2011

February

A note from Kath:

Just an update as we go into the February month.

First, we will cancel our getting together on Thurs. nights for the 10th,17th and maybe the 24th. If you are around on the 24th talk to Dora and see how things are shaping up.

Dora will be away as will (Elsie and Susan are in the States, Katherine’s plans are still a little undecided) I will be home on the 21st but I have 2 sets of company then and will not be able to get out.

Just to keep everyone in the loop, I will itemize a few points.

-I hear from Dora that Shirley is doing quite well and manages to drive after her surgery. We are still praying for your full recovery Shirley.
-Tina and I were talking together last week and she goes in for day surgery again with her bladder problem on March 1st. Please remember her. I think we have plans to meet the next day so we will see how she feels.

- Lisa is to be congratulated. She received some quilt squares and partial quilts from her aunt from the MCC store. She brought her show and tell this past week along with her little ones. With them being so active and working full time I do not know how she gets it all done. I guess when I was that age I feel as though I accomplished much more. She did take it back after finding a backing fabric, so she could add on 1 more row making it the required 60X80 minimum size for MCC acceptance. I think it will be the next one we put on the frame to tie. It has approx. 4 inch squares of mostly ‘male’ fabrics. Always nice to see a variety.

- I have been at the church several times plus the Thurs. night reorganizing the shelves. I have made up kits for the solids, batiks, and florals for at least 6 quilts. Norma Birky has taken home one called Amish triangles and I also have enough for one of those. Secondly, I have cut out one called checkers using solids again.A dark/light 16 patch sashed together with navy. I think Dora said there was a navy piece at the store for me.Then I have a pattern for Batiks but I also have a set of mini rose florals set for it as well. It requires 25-10 inch blocks. The blocks are then cut in quarters both square and on the diagonal. They are randomly put together giving finished hourglass and 4-patch block. Sashing them together to make the finished product. It can be either tied or done on Dora’s machine. I purchased a piece of ‘colors on black’ from Hopscotch for another called’ On parade’. Using solid colored flying geese. A Christmas panel from Dora that is cut and ready to go.I found adequate pieces for the borders to bring it up to finished single size. Should only take a couple of hours but I think it may be good to put that one on the frame to quilt by hand. I found a piece of fake suede for the back making it very cuddly. Pinwheels should be big enough for a tied single as well.

I have a collection of velvets that I got from MCC and our stash that will be enough to mount the doilies we collected over the years. We have 2 patterns to choose from.

One more is called spools or axe head and requires a lot of scraps. As I repacked each shelf I took each piece that was small or junk and put it together for that one. I have about 300 of the pieces cut as well as ones cut for tumblers. There is no waste on these little pieces but they were just getting in the way there, making it look untidy. In the process of restoring the shelves we sent some of the pieces that we would not do back to MCC with Dora, and found some great pieces for new ideas. I hope this is acceptable with everyone and am excited to see what you think of the finished products come the end of March.It will take me that month to sew it all up and for everyone to return home.

-Dora has been in contact with the man who cuts foam out for the puzzle blocks that were found as a project in Taber. She needs to get in touch with Laura when that happens so she can pick them up. Dora brought the quilt , finished on her machine, that Laura sewed together and it was great. She is keeping it for Laura to put the binding on.

Dora brought a yellow and blue quilt for show and tell Thurs. and it was adorable. She has the pattern available to anyone who wishes to use it. It is a quick but colourful idea.

-I cannot recall all the other things I saw, I need to get my own work done. Right now I am in the middle of making chickens and eggs for a chick-tac-toe game for Sierra’s birthday this month.(the big 5) Along with strawberry shortcake pj’s and leggings. An apron for Curt since he cooks the bacon and splatters his good shirts and I need to use up my John Deere fabric. He can use it for BBQ as well in summer.

-Dorothy Hubert’s Mom passed away and I am not sure of the details but if anyone needs more info I think Shirley is more up to date on that as I was not in the loop at the time. I had not been well and had stayed close to home for a couple of weeks.

-I bumped into Judy Maldonner (no longer Walter, if I remember correctly) at church Sunday morning and she spoke with about blogs and getting a cooking blog set up for herself to sell her books and talk recipes. I am not sure when this will happen but it would be of interest for some of you.

Ana continues to be in school and we should remember her in her busy schedule of assignments and exams.

I am sure I have forgotten a few things. Please forgive me if you have not been mentioned, Maybe you could keep me updated that you got this email and will pass it on to others who do not have email if you speak with them.

Right now we are on the last 2 rows of the purple quilt and have some of the sunflower quilt tied. We are using the blue yarn that we used on the blue quilt at the MCC store this past year and it really makes the quilt pop. I will use some of the yellow that we will cut off the one side for a Grad quilt I forgot to mention in the top paragraph. It uses 9 patches and the center square is an hourglass. Making it a nice twist.

Actually that makes a total of 12 quilts I have started or collected the fabric for.

-There are 2 small quilts on the right bottom corner that put together with knits. They would be able to be put on the frame when we are finished the purple and sunflower. They are small and would only take an evening to put up, tie and take off. I just added that so you would remind me of what’s next when I get home. After those I hope to have some of the others on my list ready to go. If any one wants in on any of these let me know and you are welcome to work on them.

May the Lord bless you and keep you as we are away from each other and traveling

Note from Lisa:

I actually only work part time. I'm home usually shortly after one o'clock. If you saw the state of chaos in my house, you'd have no trouble wondering how I have time to quilt. Housework goes to the back burner!

My sister Jeanette passed along a bag of 5.5" squares to me - enough to make another 60 x 80 quilt. I'll try to bring that top along to the next meeting. It can be tied and sent to MCC or Streets Alive or wherever.

I still have a bunch of flannel from MCC that Dora gave me years ago. I am making into both masculine and femanine ragged edge denim quilts with it. Also on my to-do list for MCC is a very BRIGHT pinwheel quilt.