October 8 Meeting Update

First of all, we have a new member, DeeDee Soychuke who was introduced to our group by Penny.  Deedee is a newly retired teacher so is having a busy time travelling and getting back to her hobbies so she is eager to develop her quilting skills.  You have come to the right place for that, DeeDee and a big welcome to our group.

This is a group selfie of those who made it down the stairs to inspect Marybeth's new sewing room, as seen in the following two photos.

I recall Betty and I looking around during the summer at this room when it was still Ted's office and saying, We could have a quilting retreat here.  I definitely have quilt room envy with all that wall space.  Lots of blank space for displaying quilts.

Marybeth looks like she means business here.  She even has a bed for those times she is just too exhausted from quilting to walk back up the stairs.  All kidding aside, Marybeth we wish you many happy hours of quilting in your new space.

This is Colleen's comfort quilt Soup Challenge from the PSQG.  We were each given a mystery package of charm or layer cake squares of mixed patterns and colours--all unused leftovers from packages.  And just like making a soup with all the leftover veggies in the fridge, that is what we were to do with our squares.  Colleen discarded the ones she didn't find "tasty" and added some of her own to give it some zip and created this lovely quilt which is a donation to the Comfort Quilts at the PSQG. 

It was really hard to donate the last of our two heart quilts but it is going to a very worthy recipient--a 7 year old girl whose family home was lost to a house fire this week.  That was our first group quilt and got us started on making Community Quilts.  Thinking of making a couple more, I remembered the box of heart blocks I had already started and popped the lid to see what was in there and at what stage.  I was happy to find 80 completed blocks made from some charm packs of Civil War type prints--not the prettiest but I think they will look fine when stitched together into a quilt.  I have lots of fabric for the borders and binding.  I have absolutely no recollection of making these and it was a complete surprise to find them in the box.  A little scary...

This is what I was looking for:  my tiny floral print hearts which I was in the process of cutting when something else more important intervened.  I wanted to use these varying shades of lilac and mauves for the background and there is enough fabric for the borders as well.  So if anyone wants to join me in working on these two quilts I will bring the box on Tuesdays and we can work away till we have enough for a top.  I probably have the notes from our original heart quilts so I will know the dimensions and number of blocks, etc. on Tuesday.

Betty has been at work in her sewing room as well, getting control of her "stash mountain".  Well done Betty but we were sorry to hear you tweaked your back doing it.  

Note the snazzy jump suit pattern in the upper left.  We've missed Betty and Leng from the last two meetings and I think Betty's tweaked back is probably the reason why.  If so, Betty we wish you a speedy recovery.  Or maybe Betty is busy working on her new jump suit. 

Joyce we miss you, too and look forward to finally celebrating your birthday with Michi when you are back with us again.  We'll keep your seat warm for you.

Marybeth had some good news--her knee surgery is scheduled for December but no firm date yet.  

And finally an important request.  A couple of weeks ago, thinking of saving Marybeth the job of hosting only Nancy and me, I suggested we cancel the meeting and just stay home to quilt.  Unfortunately that had the opposite effect of what I had intended.  Marybeth was already set up with the coffee made so the whole pot was wasted.  If that weren't bad enough, it was one of the few weeks that we could have got together with Adrienne and because she wasn't informed spent a good part of the afternoon in the car.  I apologize for that.  Marybeth suggested that we all RSVP to the host for the week so that (usually Marybeth or Joyce) know how much coffee to make and how many will be attending.  The decision of whether there are too few for a meeting should lie with the host.