March Sewathon

Time for March Sewathon this weekend. Lot's of fantastic projects worked on all around me.

We were gifted a four pack of fat quarters by Frieda the shop owner...mine were a collection of spring greens. I took the pattern, Little Charmer, from a vintage quilting magazine and sewed up those quarters into a table topper. Of course, a bit too much talking and laughing had me cut the original squares the wrong size! Oh well....I just kept going.

 

 The little quilt reminds me of a garden with lots of little patches of green sprouting up.

 The tv was on in the background, and we all were laughing at the formal wear these ladies had on to quilt those hexies!

One of my favorites made from Deb Tucker blocks.

This made me long for summer.

A class sample made by my friend Jennifer. A mixed media wall hanging that turned out just adorable.

Always sad when Sewathon ends....

Happy National Quilting Day!

According the National Quilters Association website:

"In 1989, the Kentucky Heritage Quilt Society organized a "Quilters' Day Out" on the third Saturday of March to celebrate the rich tradition of quiltmaking in Kentucky. In 1991, the NQA officers were so enthused with the concept and success of "Quilters'Day Out" that they voted to take it to a national level.

The first National Quilting Day was observed in 1992 and since then it has grown into a global celebration for all quiltmakers and quilt lovers. Helen Storbeck, one of the founders of National Quilting Day, wrote in The Quilting Quarterly, "Groups of quilters were encouraged to hold special events, publishers and shop owners were invited to sponsor promotions especially for quilters and it quickly became a grassroots endeavor with quilters in every part of the country participating.  In the first year of National Quilting Day, quilters in other countries asked to participate. They were welcomed with open arms. As our feelings of a community network has evolved to include a world community, it is only appropriate that quilters and quilt lovers everywhere united to give recognition to the special art form."

Tidewater Quilter's Guild March Night Chapter

A big crowd was in attendance to see Susan Emory, a fifth generation quilter and graphic designer  who owns Swirly Girls Designs.

 

 

Susan brought all sort of colorful quilts and had a funny engaging delivery that kept the enthusiastic audience's attention.

 

A big "circle" person, she had lots of ideas for incorporating circle designs into quilting.

 

Of course, I bought the circle ruler!

 During show and tell, one of the guild members showed an African inspired quilt she made...that was really colorful and eye-catching. She is in the process of embellishing along the quilting lines.

Another fun filled guild meeting!

Passing on the Love of Sewing



Methinks it is a token of healthy and gentle characteristics, when women of high thoughts and accomplishments love to sew; especially as they are never more at home with their own hearts than while so occupied.  ~Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Marble Faun, 1859

 

Had the opportunity to participate in a Guild activity, working with Girls Scouts on their sewing patches. We had the tiniest Daisies to Juniors. It was so much fun to see the creativity and joy that some of the girls had in sewing.

 

 

Here I am (below) with a few Junior's who had never used a sewing machine before. But they took to it right away and enthusiastically stitched away.

 

 

There were more than a couple future sewers identified in the group, those not at all intimidated by the machine. <3 <3 <3

Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival XXVI

All my scattering moments are taken up with my needle.  ~Ellen Birdseye Wheaton, 1851

 

Time for the Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival!

 

                                       

Got my volunteering out of the way selling raffle tickets for our Tidewater Quilter's Guild 2014 raffle quilt. It has a fanciful music motive and had lots of people stopping at our table!

 

 

 I was particularly drawn to quilts that had a lot of thread play going on...

 

I guess the nature scape had my eye too.

Love love love these pine trees made from stitching with green thread!

This simple crabby pattern made me smile...we are near the beach after all.

 

 This could have been a photo. What an amazing accomplishment!

The colors and the stitches attracted me to this one.

And this....

For my cat loving friends, this one made me chuckle....

Tiny tine triangles make this armadillo awesome!

I wish the picture did this one justice!

Cool color scheme...

And my new and fabulous Juki machine!

 Fun, fun, fun as usual. Eye candy and stash additions and meeting up with old friends made it a great day!