photos from the past

I want to add some photos from our Christmas party, from Elkhorn on Quilt delivery day and from our January meeting.. Thanks Roxie for taking such wonderful shots.

January 20,2015


First of all I need to apologize for not getting notes in on our November meeting.  I will try to insert them at a later date.

Also I would like to thank Dorine for hosting our Christmas party.  It was a super fun evening with lots of good food and drink and many lovely gifts were exchanged.  Dorine gave us a lovely tour of her home and we all enjoyed the evening very much.

Our January meeting was held in the Walnut Library with 10 members present and 2 guests.

Charmayne was ill and no minutes were read.  Shelly gave the treasurers report  and collected dues from those present.  It was noted that $10 of our dues will go to a community project. We are concentrating on the Avoca food pantry at this time.  At each meeting  we will also bring items that can be donated to the food pantry.  In February we will bring paper products.

Roxie reported that 43 quilts were donated to the Elkhorn Nursing home.  We will now move on to making walker bags ( 15x15) and quilts (40x40) to be donated to the Oakland Nursing home next December.  A February 21 sew day is tentatively scheduled at Roxie's home.

Betty Morris demonstrated the first step of a little tote.  We will all bring back our start of the project with the second step demonstrated in February.

We play Quilto and Elaine won the 10" bright colored squares.  Next month we will bring 5, 5 inch St Patty's themed blocks.  

New Business included members sharing ideas for programs for future months.  The executive board (Betty) distributed colored blocks to all members.  We are suppose to use any or all of the blocks to create a new 12 1/2 ( to finish 12") block.  Bring that block in February.These will be exchanged and we will continue to add blocks to them. More info to follow on this project. Another idea (Dorine) was to make a 4" Christmas decoration by each member.  We should label the back with name of block and our initial.  Bring your ornament in February. They will be used to decorate a tree at the Walnut Christmas walk or a tree at Dorine's shop.  Roxie also suggested everyone bring a fat quarter with a holiday theme... then we would trade fat quarters and create a quilt according to that theme... We will table that idea for the time being.

Fran will do the next member demo in March.  It will be her choice as to what she wants to share with us.

Roxie and Shirley brought treats to celebrate Shirley's birthday.  Happy Birthday Shirley.

We need to keep Dorothy, Dorine,Vivian, and Charmayne especially  in our thoughts and prayer.  All are having health issues.

I am looking forward to another wonderful year of lots of fun projects, shop hops, ice cream, fellowship, and friendship with all of you ladies...

October 21st meeting

Our meeting was called to order at 7:00pm with 9 members present.  Minutes from the Sept 16th meeting were read by our secretary, Charmayne and approved as read.  Shelly gave the treasurer's report.  Our balance was given and mentioned that one check from the shop ( I originally wrote sock hop.... showing my age) hop is still outstanding. 

Roxie reported that the quilts will be delivered on Dec.10th.  Anyone wanting to go along should contact her. Also any quilts unfinished or being stored should be given to Roxie as soon as possible.  There won't be another work or sewing day until January.  November and December are such busy months for everyone.  We should now be working on our 40x40 quilts and our walker bags.

Old business included a reminder of the Christmas party held at Dorine's.  Remember to bring a homemade gift for a member exchange.  Some quilters are diabetic and some have allergies, so keep that in mind if baking something.  Approximately a $10 limit on these gifts.. Also bring the gift for your secret sister as they will be revealed at this time.  If you are unable to attend don't forget your secret sister.  We all need to remember our obligation , if you took a name you should try to fulfill your gifts. 

Roxie also had our program for October. She showed us how to make the cutest origami bags.  She gave us all a pattern so we can make them at home... Great idea for Christmas gifts.


There were only a few show and share quilts...

all very nice... and we enjoyed seeing them.

We played Quilto.... who was the winner??? I think Elaine.... she will get our turkey/thanksgiving material to make something with.  Next month we will bring a 10" square , Blue and white, snow/snowflake/snowman fabric.

Betty Morris will have the November program.... "surprise bags"   a pattern I think she found in Paducah.

Remember UFO's are due in November... If you have had to give them as a gift... be sure to bring a photo.  Next meeting will be November 18th.

See you then.....

Quilto, in November

Thanks to all that gave me heads up for October meetings Quilto game. It is a 10 inch square of Thanksgiving pattern....

See you Oct 21.

Sally

Spotlight on our members

Sharon Guffey Lewis has loved quilts all her life and started quilting herself a couple  years ago.  Sharon prefers small wall hangings, table runners and lap quilts. 

Sharon was a teacher for 20 years. She then went to seminary and became a pastor in the United Church of Christ.   Besides her work in the ministry she enjoys sewing and gardening, along with quilting, of course.

Sharon really enjoys our group and especially enjoys the sew days, where she feels she learns a lot.

Even though she hasn't been quilting long she has 6 totes, 2 chests, 2 hampers, and 2 piles that consist of her stash.

Sharon married Steve Lewis in 2001.  Together they have 5 children and spouses and 9 grandchildren.

September 16th meeting

Dorine called our meeting to order with 13 members present.  The minutes were read by Charmayne and approved.  Shelly noted that 2 checks had been written for the shop hop drivers and Dorine was given a check for  quilting our John Deere quilt.  Shelly also issued a check for postage and cards to Charmayne, so that she can keep them on hand.

Roxie talked about the walker bags and brought lots of quilt blocks that had been squared up by Shelly and are ready to go for bags and quilts. All members were encouraged to take them home and work on them. The next work day is October 18th at 9:30 at Roxie's.

Sharon reported on the shop hop for the group.  Roxie and Vivian each won one of the drawings at quilt shops that we visited.  Betty told us about her "shop hop" in Kentucky and Tennessee and brought us all book marks from Eleanor Burns shop. 

We discussed the final plans for the Christmas party.  It will be Dec 9th at 6pm at Dorine's home.  We are to bring our secret quilter's Christmas gift and a homemade gift with the approximate value of $10. Also everyone is to bring a finger food to share and beverage of your "choice". 

The one yard Challenge quilts were displayed.  Roxie won best of show, and Elaine most unique .  Sharon won best use of color.  ( I hope that is right).. It was fun to see all the interesting uses of the 5 fabrics.  Photos will follow.

UFO's are due at the November meeting. 

The program for the night was done by Elaine.  She showed us a very clever way to make hexi's from a circle.  Some made perfect hexi's... unfortunately some couldn't quite get the technique down... lol

Several ladies brought show and tell.  Shirley displayed a beautiful Red and White quilt.   Again, photos to follow.

The October program will be Roxie, Origami Bags. 

A reminder that the Des Moines Expo is October 1-4.

We played quilto... and I am sorry, I didn't write down who won... They got the fall leaves strips. 

The next meeting will be Oct 21.. If anyone remembers what we are bringing for Quilto....let me know... I will add it to the blog.... ( I must have been distracted when I was making my notes..... glad I am not the official secretary!!)

Meeting was closed.  Hope you are all enjoying the lovely fall weather.

Spot light on our members

I am a little slow getting our monthly spotlight out... sorry, Where did August go... did anyone see it leave?

Our spotlight this month is on Fran Dixon.  Fran has been quilting for about 20 years, but sewing since she was about 10 years old.  She has always been fascinated with quilts.  After Fran retired, she happen to take a class and the rest is history.

Fran says she doesn't have the patience for mini quilts and prefers larger quilts with traditional patterns. 

Fran was a stay at home mom for a lot of years, then got a job in an office and was a legal secretary at a large prominent law firm in Alaska.  She had four children. Carla, Paula, Lynnette and Greg.  As many of you know, Greg passed away in 2013.  She has 10 grandchildren.  Fran is originally from Maine, but spent the last 35 years before moving to Carson, Iowa in Alaska.

Fran enjoys sewing with groups in Council Bluffs, Quilts from the Bluffs. They are a charity group. She is largely responsible for the quilting group that meets in Oakland every  other Thursday at Fellowship of Faith church.

Crocheting, embroidery, and reading are her other hobbies. I also know that she is a wonderful long arm quilter.

When asked how big is your stash.... she just says  too BIG!!!!  I can attest to that... well not toooooo big, but big.