Busy Morning

Diane made her first ever hexagon quilt. She appliqued the hexagons to the purple border. She asked if anyone knew how to attach a border to a quilt like this. We seemed to agree that she had done a good job and that her method is valid. Someone will have fun looking at all the many fabrics in this quilt. 

Jean showed her charity quilt using one of the many "Just Take Five" tutorials online. Five fabrics cut in five different sizes makes a colorful and easy to stitch quilt. Perfect for a charity quilt. 

Jean made a quilted card. "Moose and Willows" by On the Trail Creations. Do we need a demo for this project? Looks like fun!

Our special guest today was Sharon Costedio from Florida, and a Brunswick, Maine native. Sharon is a certified Eleanor Burns instructor. She led a workshop for us featuring "Kylie's Kite", an original pattern by Eleanor Burns of Quilt in a Day. Many of us attended this workshop and Sharon did a fabulous job as our instructor. I'm sure we will see finished quilts in future Show and Tells. 

 

It's time for Show and Tell!

 

Ann W. has another quilt from "The Lady" pattern. Ann said this version of the ever popular pattern was made by her 20-something year old granddaughter. So good to see the younger generation joining in on the fun of quilting. 

Sharon W. made a "Boo" table runner at a quilt retreat recently. The pattern is from Cut Loose Press and uses a curvy log cabin ruler which sounds interesting, doesn't it? 

"Elephant Abstractions" pattern by Violet Craft. Sharon W. said this was paper pieced. It's gorgeous! So striking. You will be dreaming of safaris under this beautiful quilt.

We were all eager to see Leanne's wall hanging up close. The technique is in the hoop machine embroidery. Lighthouse from Sweet Pea Designs. A beautiful reminder of summer as we head into fall and winter. 

Somebody should tell this person (that would be me!) to smile at the photographer. Anyway, here is a little 36 inch quilt that I donated to a charity at our Area 4 meeting. The stars were donated by Judy R and the plaid homespun was a freebee. I hope someone feels warm and cozy with this little lap quilt. 

I made this little quilt featuring 2 inch squares. I used Gai Perry's book "Color from the Heart". This exercise was the first in a series of ways to play with color. 

Another little quilt inspired by Gai Perry's book. In this one I used a splashy watercolor fabric, alternating with a light gray print cut into 2 inch squares. A really fun way to use some scraps. 

That's all for now! 

Have fun stitching!

 

It's almost Autumn

 

Susan looks delighted with her "wonky log cabin" quilt. Rightly so!

Another delighted Tacoma quilter! Sue is showing her teeny tiny zip pack. Have you ever tried making anything so small? 

Mmmm, I think you could load this up with chocolate for your next retreat. 

Diane made this interesting quilt for her grandson's 16th birthday. He's a dedicated Dungeons and Dragons player, apparently. Diane had to do some research to come up with these images that she appliqued. We think he will be very happy with this present. 

Sharon told us that this pinwheel quilt was an old UFO. She started this scrappy quilt in the 1990s and then set it aside. She worked on it again at a retreat. The fabrics were from her mother and her grandmother. Kathy B. quilted it for her. Such a treasure!

Carol made this colorful and scrappy table runner in the "quilt as you go" method. Very nice!

Leanne is ready for Halloween with this tablerunner. The pattern is called "Boo to You" by Deb Heatherly from Cut Loose Press. Very festive.

Leanne said this Christmas quilt is called "Starstruck" and was designed by Mary Hubka for Pressed for Time Quiltworks. She told us the pattern and fabric were from a kit donated by our own Barb D., who probably really was too pressed for time to make this pretty quilt. Gorgeous fabrics. 

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Donna M. made this soft and sweet baby quilt. The pattern is called "Driftwood Drive" from Sunday Best Quilts. Designed by Sherri McConnell and Corey Yoder. 

Donna's table runner is called "O Say Can You See" from Cut Loose Press by Krista Moser. 

Donna used two pretty panels to create these wonderful quilts. Dragonflies and Charley Parker designs.

Meliss has been making baby quilts. This one is based on the theory that infants cannot see colors but they can see shapes and black and white. Such tiny pieces for a tiny baby. 

And another baby quilt for a rare baby. Lots of blue! 

Demo time! Here Meliss shows a method for making flying geese blocks. It is always nice to learn a new trick or two. 

Sue R has another flying geese method for her demonstration. Lots of good hints. 

And Sandi gets in on the fun with another technique. 

Barb is always up to something, isn't she? Here she demonstrates how to add a flange to a flying geese unit. Very spiffy!

Around and Around

 Yes, Chuck Berry, the joint was rockin' last Wednesday when Tacoma Lakes Quilters had their 2024-2025 kick-off meeting! There was lots of chatter before the meeting as old friends met after a summer break and we welcomed new members. 

As always, we began with a few words from our seemingly tireless president, Barbara Duffy. Then it was on to Show and Tell, of course. 

Janet C. is back in Maine! Here she is showing a purse she made.

And two table runners using the Disappearing Nine-Patch blocks. 

Ellie said Kathy B gave her some purple strips. Ellie put them to good use in this quilt called "Wind Farm". The pattern is from Every Last Piece by Lynn Harris. 

Ellie made "Bricks and Stepping Stones" using Bonnie Hunter's free pattern found on Bonnie's website. What a bright and beautiful quilt!

We were all enthusiastic about this gently curving quilt. Ellie may need to hold a workshop on this one! The pattern is called Carnival by Debbie Bowles of Maple Island Quilts. Looks like a very fun quilt for children and adults. 

Donna W. made this lovely little quilt from a pattern she bought at Maine Quilts this summer. (I know because I was with her egging her on.) Lots of embroidery and little buttons. Pattern is "Where Love Grows" by Lori Smith. So darling. 

Janice is ready for Christmas with this Christmas wreath!

A purple log cabin variation called "Amethyst" from Connecting Threads. Gorgeous, Janet!

Janice is going to be ready for Christmas! This very pretty pattern uses a panel in the center. Even the corners, which look like lovely applique or embroidery, are actually from the fabric. Pattern is "Magic of the Season" by Lisa Audit, a free pattern from Wilmington Prints. 

In the teeny tiny adorable category is Andrea's little apple core quilt. 

Andrea's been busy! This sweet pink quilt is for Andrea's "neglected" granddaughter.  Pink hearts on the front and elephants on the back. Than child won't feel neglected with this bundle of love. 

Of all our members, Diane is the most ambitious and creative with her applique quilts. Yes, she should make patterns, wouldn't you agree? Plenty of cats and hand quilted, too. 

Jean P. took a class at Maine Quilts called "Cats and Dogs" with Jane Haworth. Do you ever see a quilt from a class and wish you had taken that class? Yes, me too. Great job, Jean!

Leann won blocks from a Block of the Month drawing. Lots to look at and enjoy!

Ann W. stitched together these hand painted blocks. The blocks came from an afterschool program. The kids will be pleased to see their efforts in this beautiful quilt!

That's it for this week, looking forward to more artistic quilting in the months ahead!

Sunbonnet Sue goes upta camp!

 

Cooling off at Donna M's camp with our sunbonnets on and ready for a dip in the lake (or not)! We have been lucky to have Donna host our summer get togethers for several years. We are at a beautiful lake surrounded by hills and lakes. With temps in the mid-90s for several weeks now, it was so good to visit with friends, share delicious food and get caught up with all the latest doings. In no time at all it will be Maine Quilts and then we will be looking forward to our first meeting in September, but let's enjoy the summer for now. Who are these characters, you ask? Front row L to R Betsy and Beth. Back row Ann W., Meliss, Andrea, and Donna W. 

Sharon R. shows us her "Summer" banner while Judy L. looks on. The banner was part of a challenge many of us participated in a few years ago. The challenge was to portray one of the four seasons in a banner. Sure looks like Summer to me! 

Ann W. finished a quilt top donated to Tacoma. A lovely little quilt that is going to charity. Those greens really match the surroundings, don't they? The pattern is a traditional rail fence. 

Ann W. with Donna M. looking on. Ann made a Mariner's Compass for the Maine Quilt Show 2024. She is going to add a border to make it meet the size requirements for this challenge. Looks so beautiful right now and I know she will come up with a super border, too. The pattern is Scrap Happy Mariner's Compass by Kathy Beeson. This is a 64 point, 24 inch Mariner's Compass. Perfection!

Donna M. has good reason to smile with this modern quilt top. The pattern is Pick Up Sticks by Wendy Shepard. The pretty teal fabric is called Island Breeze which Donna showed us previously in a Coconut Chip quilt. 

Leanne is entering her Mariner's Compass in the Maine Quilts show this year, too. Leanne did not paper piece this one, amazing! . Anne T. looks on. Such a pretty quilt. 

Leanne's next quilt top comes from an "Upta Camp" challenge that she participated in. Different people gave Leanne these blocks. Lots of variations on the images. The blues and greens are set off nicely with the red sashing. Leanne did a good job accommodating all the different size blocks, always a challenge with multiple people sewing blocks. 

Until next time, keep those sewing machines in good working order for the coming fall and winter seasons. "My machine is in the shop" is a great excuse to lounge around and read a book or snooze!