July 20, 2011

I'm posting some pictures I took yesterday, and Michael, I apologize because apparently I didn't take even ONE picture of you or the work you were doing!  Hopefully, you will rectify my omission on YOUR blog by posting some of your own work there.
Before I forget it, Linda called this a.m. to ask about her cutting mat and ruler, which she apparently didn't get home with!  The mat is relatively small (maybe 12" X 18"), and the ruler is also a smaller one (3-4" wide and 24" long).  If you accidentally carried those home with you, let me know so we can figure out how to get them to her.
It will be sad to see our "summer adventure" come to an end, at least the weekly part of it.  We will celebrate our accomplishments by getting together next Weds., July 27, at Red Fortune in Bonner Springs.  We'll plan to meet there at 1 p.m. for a delicious lunch, and then those who choose to will visit Cathy Graney at Next-Door Quilting in Bonner Springs.  I've left a message for her to make sure that will work for her -- if not, we may have to get together AGAIN to go there!

Karri put together blocks from the batik fabric left from her previous quilt, and she was arranging them in 5 rows of 4 blocks.  She will put them together with strips of black (a little wider strips than she used in the first one), and this is what she was working on today.

This is the arrangement of blocks that Karri came up with.  Doesn't it look beautiful?  Wait until you see it up close, with the black sashing!

CJ is the most adventurous, I think, in the sense that she is trying all kinds of new approaches and techniques.  This week she is practicing "free-form quilting"!  She found a previously constructed "sandwich," just waiting for her to practice on, and she is making good use of it!  And Hannah (Karri's daughter) has become a faithful participant -- I think she was sorting some different project materials this time.

Linda was continuing work on the diagonal blocks started at our "Sisters' Quilting Retreat" on Monday & Tuesday.  By the way, this is the mat and ruler she is missing!  We sisters worked on something called "Scrappy Friendship Quilt," where we each brought 100 dark 6" squares and 100 light 6" squares.  We put them all out on tables and then chose 100 dark and 100 light squares, paired them, and sewed them together.  After cutting them apart, pressing them, and squaring them to 5 1/2" squares, each one of us will put together a quilt in whatever design we come up with!  Sounds easy, but it really takes time!  And I don't think any of us has started putting the design together yet!

Pam is working steadily on sewing her strip sets together.  It's easy to see that the combination of fabrics will be lovely.

This is my sister Carolyn, who is visiting Linda for a few days after our Sisters' Retreat.  She was having a bit of trouble with flying parts of her machine, until she figured out the reason for pieces taking flight!  She was also working on her squares from our time together.

Cindy is working on putting together the pieces of her baby quilt.  She brought in a few more "cast-offs" from her inheritance, which were quickly snatched up by eager quilters!  I'm anxious to see how her quilt top looks when she gets finished!

We  missed Glenna, Betty, and Michelle this week, and hopefully they will be able to join us next Weds.  Glenna wasn't feeling well, and Betty has already gone back to work!  Morgan Johnson (Dan Duncan's student teacher last spring) has been following the blogs, and she may join us to hear about/see what we've been doing.  Be sure to bring your work, even if it isn't to the point of being ready to go to the quilter!