Thanksgiving

 I hope everyone had a joyous Thanksgiving.  We met on the Tuesday before and had a wonderful program and trunk show all about wool rugs.  It was brought to us by our own member Jacky and her fellow rug makers.  Pictured to the left are Alaina and Debbi who brought beautiful examples of their work.  They also talked about the process of dying their own wool and the actual making of the rug.  Lots of questions from members which tells me there is lots of interest.  Great..something more for me to get involved with and have more UFO's!!

 I love the bright colors and the details that evolve as they make these rugs.  How can anyone put them on the floor and walk on them??

 I could not get the rug below to turn so there it is...adorable even upside down.  It just makes me smile to see those fat reindeer.

 Here is Alaina's card below.  She has a studio that anyone is welcome to visit and she has wool and finished projects for sale.  The brochure above is for the Rug school that she is involved with in Manistee.  It takes place next summer so if you are interested it might be something to check out.

 Judy had a banner month...too many to show ,, she had some great projects.  The place mats are for the meals on wheels Christmas   We have done them as a group before but not this year.  Kudos to Judy and other members who kept up the tradition!

 The Quilt below was very striking...called Jelly Jive I think.  It is a jelly roll that you pick one color to use as a highlight and make the light colored units you see below and put them in the mix.  I love the way it turned out.

 Vi finished the bargello we made several months ago and made the quilt of valor below out of the strip quilt we made last month into a rail fence.  It just shows how versatile that process can be.  Great job Vi.

 Ruth also made a few placements for the meals on wheels program.

 Chris made this wonderful quilt for a friend who she said is always cold...It will keep him warm for sure this winter!

 Dianne made this soft and adorable 10 minute baby flannel blanket for a friend.  It is a great pattern.

 Connie made this moose quilt for her husband for Christmas and it is a surprise.  I know he will love it...who wouldn't.  She told us she used Ricky Tims piped border which looks wonderful even though you cannot really see it in this picture.

 Ruth is on a mission to make Christmas quilts for all her relatives..here is one of the final ones.  I know they will all love them..she has even made matching cases in which to store the seasonal lap quilts !  Lucky!

 I now have 4 grand children and so I am in the make it for the kids mode.  I made two tents with the kids names on them and applique pictures...the other tent is blue with forest animals.   The tents are made from denim and I used PVC pipe for the poles.  They all fold up into a bag for storage.  I forsee hours of fun and adventures!

 Pat is exploring her quilting skills with some miniatures..so cute!!

Remember the Christmas lunch is next WEDNESDAY  December 9th at the TBA Tech Center.  Arrive at 11 and lunch is at 11:30.  I hope to see lots of you there...I changed my grandkid day so that I can attend.  We did collect many wonderful items for the Grand Traverse Baby Pantry at the last meeting and the director Sally arrived after everyone had left...she was VERY grateful and I have a thank you note to read at the meeting.   See you all next week!!  Kathy

October

 Greetings Fellowship Quilters

October was a beautiful month and the weather has lasted into November...so wonderful!!
Our October meeting was fun because many of us had never done the 2 1/2 inch strip quilts.  We had contributed fabric last spring and the leaders had cut the strips over the summer.  The quilts are for veterans in our area.  a very fun project and we had lots of sewers.

Barb gave us the charity quilt report and we were pleased to hear that we are providing quilts for two families.  The pictures below are a sample of some of the quilts.  They were made by various people, and some were block of the month quilts.  A very good sampling.  The dedication is November 30 th at 5 pm and is at the railroad depot location.  Two single moms each with two kids.  Anyone is welcome and encouraged  to attend.

Marlyn and Pat made the two quilts below for their Church's craft fair...beautiful job!!  Hope they raise lots of $$

We did this charity block in reds and pinks...looks great.  Pat put it together...thanks!

 Linda made this beautiful 12 block quilt ad also showed many others...she has been busy!!

 Two more quilts of valor by Pat and Jackie who actually finished theirs at the meeting.  It will be interesting to see how members finish theirs off..borders and binding choices will make them all look very different.

 Barb made this quilt of valor by cutting up a panel.  It came along with a great story about a road trip they took this summer and how the car just drove itself off the highway to a wonderful quilt shop in Minnesota ....all by itself!  We have all had similar experiences.

 Ruth won first place for the quilt above at a quilt retreat.  Love it!!!

 The quit above was very striking.  Ruth cut the leaves to have shadows.  Then quilted the border to look like birch bark..  I had to include the close ups as they are so great

If my notes are correct Ruth made this for a friend at church..great colors.
Ruth made several Christmas quits for family members...she is read for the holidays
 Linda, below, made the two quilts below...modern quilts with Victorian prints for her nieces.
 Lucky girls.
I hope this finds you all well and getting all your Christmas projects finished.  Remember the Christmas party/lunch is Dec 9th. cost is $13 and you need to pay by the Nov. meeting.  Hope to see you all in Nov...I will send out another reminder in a week or so...happy sewing.  Kathy

September Fun

Greetings Quilters.
I was not at the last meeting because I was keeping my grandson at my house while his parents had a new sibling born at home.  Ursula Emeline was born with no problems and we are all thrilled...not so much her big brother.  There is an adjustment time so we know he will get through it.
So it looks like you had a great time at the meeting.  Della gave me the pictures and the commentary to go with so here goes...  No morning project pictures but I will be sure to include some from this Octobers meeting.


Barb reported that we have accomplished our goal with the weighted blankets.  We made 14 for the Oak  Park School and 20 more for the other OT's in the TBA system.  Great job one and all.
There is a home dedication for 2 Habitat for Humanity on November 30th.  These  are two more of the depot homes in Traverse City.  We passed around the basket for a good will offering and come up with $195...  this will help us to buy supplies we need for the charity quilts.
The October meeting will be to make the quilts of valor out of the patriotic fabric we contributed at the end of last year.  The busy summer group made them into jelly rolls and we will be making them into unique quilts.  If you want to do your own you need 24 to 30 salvage to salvage  2 1/2 " strips.  this will make a 30" wide quilt and then you  can  add borders.

Donna has been busy with her skills showing in the beautiful quilt above and the small quilt with the fall theme below.

 Pat showed the trees we made last year for a class project...she is all ready for the holidays.  She also showed this great quilt below..made from a hummingbird panel that she cut up and put back together in a very pleasing way...we are all so creative.  I love the colors...think spring!!

 Shawn made this fishy quilt for a fish lover...such bright colors!!

 Karen took a disappearing Nine Patch and made it unique with her embellishments.  Why am I not surprised!! She is always coming up with something new!

 Bev did this miniture quilt that is framed...lots of work into such a small quilt but oh so adorable!

 Great quilt from Ruth...looks like she is working on her stash!!

 Joan wow's us once again with two quilts that are he son Bob's pattern.  They are the same pattern but arranged different.  Great job Joan.

 This is a wonderful quilt below that Marsha made..a string quilt using salvages.  I have always wanted to make a quilt using salvages...I am inspired!

Happy quilting and see you all soon.  Kathy

Welcome Back!

 Welcome back Fellowship Quilters.  The first meeting had an attendance of about 40 with some new members!
We reviewed the schedule, programs and charities for the year.  The sign ups went around for hostesses and charity blocks so if you missed out give Tracey a call.
The salad lunch was delicious...always fun to see what everyone will bring to make it a success.
Barb reviewed the summer projects of the strip parties and the work bees for the weighted blankets.  They made 20 blankets with the OT's help and that makes the total of 36 we have made so far.  Great job ladies!!!  Barb is discussing other projects with these OT's that we can help with for these kids.  They also sent a touching plaque  with pictures as a thank you.  The picture to the left is of Barbs "kits" to piece together or to sandwich and quilt.  She is a busy closet Queen.The dates for the meetings and work bees were confirmed and programs discussed.  Sounds like a fun year!!

 Bobbi has been busy as usual...this is 6" blocks with 1 1/2 between and was done scrappy but turned out fantastic, the white really makes it pop...we know her friend who will be receiving it will be thrilled!

 Lynn asked the question...what do you do with5" charm packs that really don't go together?  This little quilt is a great answer...so charming!!!  Haha

 Ruth calls this "snowflakes in a winter night sky" and is paper pieced.  what a stunning quilt!!  She said she has been working on it "for awhile".  It is well worth the wait!

 Dona showed this black and white quilt and the picture does not do it justice.  It has printed sayings about women and quilters...like news print items and it makes you smile and laugh!!  Great job!

 Joan is always busy and produces so many quilts!  She did the one above with a pattern from her son and he quilted it.  The one above that is done in all bird prints and Joan says that is because she loves birds and bird fabric!

 Barb took a class and made this quilt with its bright colors.  She is on a mission, and I think many of us have the same feelings, of not adding more little pieces of fabric to our stash.  So she made the back just as interesting as the front.  Great job Barb!

 If you do not recognize her that is Pat behind that quilt.  She won the blocks , made the quilt and is donating it to her church for a fundraiser.  That says allot about   our members!!

 Ruth made this striking quilt from donated blocks...it is called Island Getaway because of the back of the quilt which I did not take a picture of ...use  your imaginations.

 Ruth recycled some bluejeans for this great charity quilt..she has another one in the works.  She also made this flower quilt for  herself for a day bed...the flowers hang down in the fromt.  What a great idea and  there are matching pillows for the back.

I took pictures of everyone...and you will all laugh at this...forgot to take one of myself!!  I am meeting with son Patrick tomorrow to  see if I can figure this directory thing out!!
Happy Quilting ,  Kathy