December 19, 2012 Meeting

Our Annual Christmas party looked kind of 'iffy' this morning with threat of icy conditions. But we are hardy Maine gals and we came from several towns to meet at Koleen's. Pictured below are Sue R and Koleen, our gracious hostesses. They had worked hard sitting up tables and chairs and of course all the little details and Koleen's beautiful quilts made for a wonderful atmosphere. They also had some fun games to challenge us. 

 Our table with gift exchange is always popular. Amazing how different each gift was and how it fit the person receiving it.

 A surprise for Pres. Barb...Sandy and Sherry whipped up this box of 12 Days of Christmas with cute surprises. Lots of laughs as she opened each one. 

 Our Members in attendance - hopefully I got a picture of each one and 

I can get their names straight.

Some did not make the party for various reasons and were missed. 

Andrea and Ann

Sandy G....Jona...Barb 

 Janice and Kristine

 Kat and Suanne

 Carol T and  Sue K.

 Sandy C and Donna

 Sue D ....Janet....Sharon

 Pauline and Sherry

 Donna and Margo

Of course we did not lack for food. Delicious!!! We bring whatever we would like and it is amazing there is nothing alike. Such a variety. It works every time.

More Food!!! 

 Show 'n Tell this month was down but as always still interesting items by the gals.

Ann W. - Linen Dish towels and napkins. Don't you like her shoes!!!

 Donna with this beautiful embroidered BOM basket quilt top.

 Donna with her knit socks and cowl neck piece.

 Sharon was on a roll and finished several items.

1.  Snowman wall hanging

 2. Sharon's baby quilt

 The backing 

 3. Another child's quilt with names of animals for her grandson.

4. Sharon's poinsettia piece.

 5. Sharon with snowman 

Janet  - mini bargello ...set of 3 (she is the queen of bargello's in our group and has done several large quilts.)

 Janet with her rip & tear challenge art quilt with threads and pins.

Titled 'Rip and Terrifying'

 Sandy G made this large flannel quilt for her husband. 

 Margo knit 'Peasy hats' for twin grandson's. Also a mini wall hanging. These are Christmas Gifts.

Close up of wall hanging

'LIVE SIMPLY'

This is it for 2012. We will see you next year!

Happy Quilting!!!

Pumpkin Gingerbread Trifle

Sherry had several requests for her fabulous pumpkin gingerbread trifle that she shared at our Christmas party today. Here are Sherry's directions.

Pumpkin Gingerbread Trifle

1 box, any brand, gingerbread cake mix

Large box of instant vanilla pudding

1 16-ounce can of pumpkin

1/2 - 3/4 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon cinammon

Large container of Cool Whip

Garnish

1. Bake the gingerbread according to your package directions and cool completely.

2. Prepare the pudding according to your package directions, and refrigerate until pudding is set. Lick spoon.

3. Combine pumpkin, brown sugar, and cinammon. After the pudding is set, fold in pumpkin mixture.

4. In a large clear glass bowl (brandy snifter, trifle dish, punch bowl or whatever you have available), break up 1/2 the gingerbread with your fingers and place in bottom of bowl. Pour 1/2 the pudding mixture over the gingerbread, then add a layer of 1/2 the cool whip. Repeat with the remaining gingerbread, pudding, and cool whip.

5. Garnish with about 6 crushed gingersnap cookies. You can also use chocolate shavings, chocolate chips, red and green sprinkles, or whatever you like. Refrigerate overnight.

December 5 Meeting

Our December meeting was a combination business and mini workshop. Barb showed us how to make 'Little Duffle' they were different sized with a zipper.  Several of the gals made them and will show next month...Somehow I forgot to take any pictures...letting down on my job!!!

December in Maine has been wonderful to us this year. Unusual warm weather ...no ice!!! no snow!!! At 9:00 am most of us are ready to go for a 9:30 meeting enjoying one another. Of course we always have our usual 'goodies' that sometimes look like a feast as it did this month. We are thankful for all the gals that set it up ...cook and clean each month. It makes for a homey atmosphere...Nothing like a cup of coffee and a 'little goodie'. So set back and enjoy the various 'show 'n tell'. Many people will be on the receiving end of these articles.

Margo with pillow case for 2 year old grandson who loves 'green' tractors. Her husband farms and they have all red. But this little guy will take a magazine and for hours look through it at the green tractors. 

 This is a miracle story about a 61 year old lady who they had unhooked from everything because she was dying. They closed her apartment and put her things in storage. BUT she Lived!' The doctor's said it was nothing they did. A group of people took it upon themselves to purchase and set her up again in an apartment. She is strong and going about living life happy and full of joy and she knows it is a miracle. Margo made this for her..a panel ...done with a lot of top stitching and sparkles on the tree to give it some bling. 'God's Gift'....A Miracle'...was stitched on it with her name and date.She has received it and loved it.

 These gals have been busy...Peggy and our newest quilter Kristine made 7 of these table runners for gifts.

 Carol with BOM she is doing with countryjunktion.com. This is the 12th one in a series for the year.

 Sandy had the neatest 4 -way table runner. It was made so you could open to any of the four fabrics. She said it was so easy and of course the gals like things that are quick and easy for gifts.  Around her neck are the new scarves everyone is making. Sorry I did not get a close up so you could really see.

 Gorgeous sweater made by Bea...It has a hood and is a lovely color of purple. She is a talented lady. Of course many of us loved it! We have several knitters that excel in our group.

 A quilt Bea made as a Christmas gift.Comfy and warm!

 Bea had this beautiful carry-all bag. She is a cat lover so this fit her perfectly!! She did not make it but we all really like it of course...Don't we women love bags...tiny...medium...large and on and on.....we never seem to have enough so we just keep making. Fun! Fun! 

 Helen with a 'Santa wall hanging' ...delightful!!

 Table Scarves Helen has made.....she says very easy to do and they were great colors.

 Helen with her chapter challenge. 'Bargello with a twist'. There will be about 15 or so of us that will do these in different colors and layouts. 

Pam's 'America the Beautiful.' A project some of us gals took on and challenged ourselves to use only fabric from our stash. I think this is the 5th one finished. We have one more that is being quilted and next month we will take pictures with all of them and send to McCalls magazine where the original pattern came from. They will also be put in the Maine Quilt show in July. They are all so very different...It has been fun for us.

 This was made by Sandy G. a knitting bag with bumble bees ..It is cute. 

 Lori with her November BOM from countryjunktion.com ...he is a cute one!

It was great having the Christmas tree as a background this month for the pictures.  A wonderful atmosphere to hold our monthly meetings in. Our Christmas party on Dec. 19 will be at Koleen's home as this church will be getting new rugs. It is wonderful to have such a great place to meet. So until next time I trust you have enjoyed the various talents of these women. There are lots of exciting new ideas and plans for quilts in the coming year.So tune in again in a couple of weeks....

November 14 Meeting

Tacoma Quilters met one week earlier because of the holiday next week. This was an all-day event to work on our chapter challenge to be shown in the Maine Quilt Show in July, 2013. Thirty gals armed with 'something'... ...a sewing machine ....material & tools.... hand work-knitting or embroidery. Oh yes,  delicious goodies...a pot of soup....pumpkin muffins.... blueberry cake ..apple pie++.... and some with a favorite magazine whose only ambition was to sit...have a cup of coffee and chat. Lots of laughter!!! And, of course, 'show 'n tell.

We are making a 'Bargello quilts with a twist'  by Maggie Ball. I counted 15 participants and I am sure there are more in various stages. In the book there are 21 choices shown as 'how to' arrange. There are - 16 blocks  - 7" finished . So it has been fun choosing the 'delicious' colors arranging and re-arranging.   Two tops finished below-  

Kat chose brights

 Margo - Fall colors

Carol T-pastor's wife...Rae...Andrea(in background)....items for their church fair...(this is the place we meet- PLAINS BAPTIST CHURCH IN LITCHFIELD)

Andrea- her 'Duffy bag' (Pattern designed by our President.)

Sharon had cancer and another chapter she belongs to made these blocks. Each member (some of them are in our chapter) surprised her and sent them to her one by one as they were finished. She finally figured it out that it must be a quilt. She finished it off putting this beautiful border on it. I took close-ups(below) so you could see it better. She calls this her cancer quilt. Thankfully she is doing fine now.

Right bottom

Left bottom

Top Left

top right - Sharon did the cow and the Nina from BRQ did the block of  Sharon's home.

Kat and her seal-quite colorful!

Kat - Hunter's Star Runner - the darker green fabric are grapes.

Kat-queen size quilt-very colorful..using lots of scraps. 

Kat and her 'Big Bag'

Janet attended a workshop at Orient Express and made these adorable 'little things'

Janet and her 24 days of Christmas. Fabrics by Laurel Burch.
This has little pockets you can put tiny gifts/notes in. Wonderful colors!!

Janet- She is the gal that uses a lot of unique colors...especially bargello's and this tree skirt is no exception. Beautiful!

Sandy G. and her 'NOEL' runner.

Sandy G. - table runner with Christmas fabrics.

Margo-Block of the Month. 11th in a series of 12. 
Country Junktion.com 

Thank you for stopping by and sharing our JOY!!
'HAPPY THANKSGIVING'