It's Together and the Borders are Added

Here's the gridgame round robin all together and bordered ready to be sandwiched for quilting. This really is super - the girls who worked on it did a wonderful job. Just noticed that the little gingerbread men grow in the row they are in. Cute.

Also working from time to time on embroidering some blocks for a wallhanging made with the beautiful toile fabric (not sure about the spelling!!) I bought before Christmas. Plan to do at least 6 blocks and maybe 8. Takes a while so will keep them out and embroider in the evenings. I have enough of that fabric to maybe make a Christmasy applique wallhanging all in red like the Red Delicious blocks. That would be very pretty. (Click to enlarge)

Fun-Filled February Q2 Meeting

On a very springlike evening (what a nice break after all the cold snowy weather here in Michigan) we had our guild meeting. First up was a guest speaker, Ron, demonstrating the routine cleaning you can do on your machine. Four people brought along a machine so there would be a mix that would represent what most of the members were using. The above picture with all the smiling faces shows Ron demonstrating on Melissa's Janome - Melissa was the recipient of some good natured teasing for the lint Ron found. One of the girls brought in a Singer Featherweight that she bought at a garage sale for $2.oo! It was in wonderful condition but needed to be gone over. I think they figured it was made in about 1967. She didn't realize what she had when she bought it - just thought it was a cute little machine. Jewels can still be found!! The four of us who exchange ATC's did "Shoes" for February. Deb wasn't there, but Claire was back and brought along her January card also. Above are the cards made by Carol and Claire.

Here is Julie's pretty little girl and Claire's "Time" ATC for January. Next month we will be doing "Bling" - gotta think about that one.

And, our grid game round robins are all back with their original makers. They all turned out to be really great. Here is my very pretty Colorful Christmas! We certainly have talented ladies in our guild. This really turned out super! I am having a problem figuring out who the fourth person other than me worked on my piece. The label is signed by and notes left by Emily, Julie and Lori (thank you, thank you!!) Actually Lori forgot to sign the label but I will get her to do that later. I can't make out who the fifth one is. Have to do some detective work on this one. Loved Julie's account of her adventures in adding her part to my piece, and Lori left me a cute note about deciding what to add for her share. Am wondering if she has a sketch of that reindeer she mentioned! Plan to have this together and quilted for our show. (Click to enlarge)

For the Q2 Round Robin Exchange

Just finished the February block for the round robin quilt I am working on - they will all be unveiled at our next meeting. This one is a winter scene - it was fun to do. (Click to enlarge)

Finally Figured It Out

Usually when we are working on our round robin quilts for our yearly quilt show, we slide by the month of December and don't have to bring them in until our February meeting. This year that has changed since we are having our show in March instead of April so we needed the full five months to get them done. This is the fourth round and in January we will do our fifth and final one for the February meeting when each one will get back her own little quilt after the final reveal. Then they have to be sewn together - some of the girls even get them quilted. However, they will all hang together quilted or not. We always see all except our own at each meeting. I have been kind of stewing about the one I have this time and had not figured out what to add. Today, I got down to business and finally figured it out and now have it finished. I won't show any of the quilt I have except for what I have done - don't know if the owner of this quilt looks at my blog or not. Don't want to spoil anything for her.

Next inspiration I need is for the little trading cards the four of us do. The theme this month is "Time" - so I am mulling that around in my mind. Eventually the light bulb over my head will light up! I have until Tuesday. (Click to enlarge)

Here's the Finished Challenge Quilt Start

This will be called "Colorful Christmas" - pretty loud, huh? When it is all done, I plan to embellish it with beads, sequins, buttons, etc.

What a gorgeous day we are having here - won't be too many more like this before winter. Makes me think I should be outside doing something. Actually, though, I am pretty content doing what I am doing and looking out the window once in a while at the lovely gold tree in the front yard. Always loved raking and burning leaves in the autumn but that's not an option anymore. Just have to go with the flow and accept change. (Click to enlarge)

A Start

Fiddled all afternoon with my fabric trying to come up with something for the start of the pass- it-on round robin that isn't an actual "round robin". We were given a piece of gridded interfacing that will be covered by pieces made by different quilters. Each participant starts hers out and places her piece where she wants it on the grid. Approximately 1/5th of the piece must be filled in and the rest will be filled by other quilters - one each month. In turn, each month I will work on someone elses's piece. Each quilter picks her own theme and includes her own fabric if she so desires. These have been turning out very nicely. What I have done here is a start--I need to make it bigger - and I also need to do my applique stitches. This will be a Christmas theme. (Click to enlarge)