The Christmas Party

The quilting Christmas party was a roaring success again this year, with many of our members bringing quests.

We started our day by working on comfort quilts and making plans for the party. We quit work earlier in the afternoon to set up tables and arrange the silent auction items.

Many of the ladies arrived loaded up with cookies, show and tell, comfort blocks, maple leaf blocks, presidents blocks and meals on wheels place mats.

We presented our place mats to Brenda who will make sure all the seniors receiving meals on wheels will receive a new place mat this Christmas.

While we were working on our fabric star tree ornaments (our craft this Christmas) many of the ladies moved around the room with their show and tell items. What a large variety of lovely items. There were far too many to show on the blog. Below is a Maple Leaf and Poppy quilt, pieced by Alta and quilted by Kathy. Alta is going to present it to the Legion for their fundraiser.
Kathy and Lorie showed us the first part of the Tin Box Round Robin project. If any members are still interested in signing up before the January meeting, please talk to one of these ladies at Faktors. Also a big thank you to Marg at Faktors for giving all the ladies at the party a North Star pin. Thank You Marg.
We also ended our evening with the paper bag fat quarter exchange game. It had an extra special touch as Kathy wrote a new story for us this year. I have placed it at the bottom of the blog.
Merry Christmas and Happy Quilting to all!

2007 Christmas Party Fat Quarter Exchange Story


‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’
By Kathy Schwartz


‘Twas the night before Christmas (in August Sale, that is)

When all through the store;
Not a quilter was stirring, not even Marg Faktor.
Bolts of fabrics lay on the shelves with great care,
In hopes that the Raes and Lornas soon would be there.

The quilters were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of nine-patches danced in their heads.
And all through the night, under quilts that they’d sewn,
They slept dreaming of the new fabric they’d own.

When out on Main St. there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the store I flew in a flash,
Tore open the door and checked out the fabric stash.

The balis all sparkled with colors so bright,
Reflecting on sewing machines aglow in the night.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear
But a mob of guild quilters…. I had much to fear.

With patterns and swatches they poured through the door.
I knew in a moment I’d be pushed to the floor.
More rapid than Ira quilting a top,
I shouted and called them by name to “Please, stop!”

“Now, Melba, now, Ruth, now, Ethel and Jean
Oh Rita, oh Joan, oh Blanche and Alene.
Off the top of the racks, get down from the walls,
Now dash away, dash away, dash away all.”

“The sale is tomorrow, it’s really not far,
Please be patient Bev, Lynn and Norma Barr.”
So out into the gloom, the sullen quilters all flew.
With no bags in there hands, they had nothing to do.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard in the night,
The clanging and banging of black Samsonite.
Who knew I was here, besides the North Star Quilters?
It was salesman Ben that threw me off kilter.

Ben was dressed all in red, from his head to his shoes.
He had samples of flannels, some even in blues.
A bundle of fabric Ben had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

Bens eyes how they twinkled, with the thoughts of a sale.
His cheeks were like roses, he hoped not to fail.
Bens droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And he thought that this time, I couldn’t say “No”.

Ben had seen all the quilters just minutes before,
How desperate they were to get into the store!
He saw Evelyn and Sandra fondling the threads,
And Eileen and Yvonne comparing reds.

Robin, Cheryl and Val had been searching the notions,
While Wendy wanted to learn to free-motion.
“When are your classes?” shouted Maureen.
Orla then asked, “Do you have this in green?”

Marg and Adele had been looking at panels,
While Helen was seen knee-deep in the flannels.
Audrey was working on her latest “I Spy”,
And Mary-Lynn’s crazy quilt blocks reached for the sky.

Kathy had spoke not a word but went straight to the Balis,
I think she’s the one that started this rally.
And laying a finger aside of my chin,
I knew what to say to a salesman’s smug grin.

Ben sprang to his car after hearing my words
“Don’t bring cheap fabric here, it’s all for the birds!”
The store was now quiet, the quilters all out of sight
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”

Christmas Party December 18

The quilting christmas party is on Tuesday, so this is a short blog to remind everyone what to bring to the meeting.

1. Your friend
2. Your show and tell, and placemats
3. Your meals on wheels placemat
4. Fat Quarter with gold in it, not necessarily Christmas fabric in a brown paper bag
5. Cookies, only if you have been phoned
6. A Loonie for the coffee fund, we donate this money.
7. A mug to drink your coffee
8. Your silent Auction article ( if you are donating one)
9. Your cheque book or cash, so you can participate in the silent auction.

Happy cookie time starts at 6PM, the meeting and more fun starts at 7PM.

Don't forget we will be there at 9AM in the morning, working on comfort quilts. As usual all are invited, please come around to help out or just to visit.

Here is one of the comfort quilt tops we put together using the flower four patchs from our members.


See you Tuesday, Happy Quilting and Merry Christmas!

November Meeting News

We had a nice turn out for the comfort quilt work during the day on Tuesday. We put together the flower four patches everyone brought in September and October. Photos of that quilt will be posted later.

The crayon challenges were turned in at the meeting and as you can see on the two phots below there were quite a few entries. Can you guess what colour everyone's crayon was?

We were also able to hand out some of our comfort quilts on Tuesday evening. Below are the
quilts we gave to the Creighton Kids North First.

And these are the quilts for the Flin Flon Kids First North.
Do you recognize any of the quilts or blocks you worked on?

We are starting to prepare for our April Quilt show. We are desperatly looking for someone to take the job of publicity for the quilt show. If you are interested in volunteering for this position please contact one of the executive, or just reply to this blog.

Items for the Christmas party silent auction are gratefully accepted. If you have something to donate you can leave it at Heuchert's Office.

We will post a detailed list of things to bring to the Christmas party. However a quick list to start you planning off is:

A Friend, a fat 1/4 with gold metallic, your wheels on meals placemat, and cookies if you are phoned.

Here is a recipe that our President highly recommends.

Pumpkin Bars

3/4 C cooking oil
2 C brown sugar
3 eggs
1 small can (14 oz.) pumpkin
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
2 1/2 C flour
1 1/2 wheat bran
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
3/4 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt
3/4 tsp nutmeg
3/4 tsp allspice
3/4 tsp ground cloves
4 1/2 C total of extras like craisins, raisins, sunflower seeds, chocolate chips, coconut, etc.

Cream together oil and brown sugar. Beat in eggs, pumpkin and vanilla. In a separate bowl combine next 9 ingredients. Add to wet ingredients and mix. Add the 4 1/2 of extra goodies. Shape into bars and bake on a cookie sheet @ 350' for 10 to 12 min. Makes approx 50 bars

Happy Quilting and Happy Baking!

Meeting Notice for November 20th

Our next Guild meeting is Tuesday at the United Church. As usual we are there at 9 in the morning working on comfort quilts. The business meeting starts at 7PM. Please feel free of come out an help during the day.

We will be working on the Canadiana quilt borders and the flower four patchs during the day.

The program for the evening will be machine maintanance. Marg Faktor will show us how to clean and take care of our machines.

Challenges are due so please bring your challenge quilts to the meeting. We will look forward to seeing all those different crayon challenges.

Don't forget your little sixteen patch squares for the new comfort quilts.

Here are some photos of our Christmas Raffle quilt. The ladies sold 300 tickets and Linda Pederen won the xmas quilt.
See you at the meeting.

Happy quilting!

More Retreat Photos

We have some photos of the projects some of the ladies were working on at the retreat.
Here is a lazer cut kit Kathy S was working on, and it looks like it will be very nice when it is all done. I wonder how she is going to quilt it?


Robin was working away on some very interesting attic window blocks.

Here is Yvonne's quilt top. You saw that one all layed out in a previous retreat post. Some of our ladies at the Saskatoon quilt show the Weekend of October 20 and 21. They tell us they had a great time.
Happy quilting!

Still More Retreat Photos

Here are some of our members showing off some of their finished projects and finished tops

Evelyn and Helen sewed a couple of great bags.



Marg made a lovely Winter table topper from a Charm Square collection.
Rae worked on her Christmas Quilt. The centers of the blocks are her presidents nine patch blocks. What an interesting use for a nine patch block. They are such a versitile block.
I made a flannel quilt top for my husband.

October Quilt Retreat

As you can see from the photos below we are all having a great time at the Victoria Inn retreat.
We had a really nice turn out and everyone has several projects to work on. We will still be there on Sunday Oct 28th so if you are in the area between 9AM and 4PM come in and have a coffee with us, and maybe we will even be able to spare a cookie.




We are doing our usual fabric arrangeing and rearrangeing. What do you think, Should we move them around again, or stay with these choices.
Of course we have had way too much food. Robin M was kind enough to share this recipe with the ladies. Give it a try, I was ableto snag 1/2 a piece this morning, and it just disappeared very rapidly.


CARAMEL PECAN BARS

3 1/4 cup flour 4 oz Cream Cheese
1 1/2 tsp baking powder 1 Cup sugar
1 egg 1/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup butter 1 tsp vanilla

Combine flour, baking powder, and salt. At medium high speed, beat butter and cream cheese until fluffy. Beat in sugar until fuffy, about 2 minutes. Beat in egg and vanilla. At medium low speed, gradually beat in flour until dough forms.
Toast4 cups of pecans by baking at 350 for 5 - 10 minutes

Line cookie sheet with foil. Press cookie dough into pan and prick with fork. Chill for 10 minutes and bake for ten minutes.

In large pot over med low, melt 3/4 cup butter, and stir in 2 cups of brown sugar, 3/4 cup of honey and 1 1/2 tsp of vanilla. Bring to a boil stirring for 2 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in 1/4 cup heavy cream and 4 cups of toasted pecans. Spread over cookie crust and Bake for 15 minutes. Cut when cool.

Enjoy

Happy Quilting!

Quilt Retreat

This is a short little blog to inform members about the Quilt retreat.

The retreat is Saturday October 27 starting at 9AM and ending Sunday October 28th at 4PM. at the Victoria Inn Room 101.

Please bring the following items:

1. New sewing/quilting notion, about $5.00 value, that will be put in a draw basket.

2. Ugly fat quarter exchange.

3. Dozen snacks to share like cookies, dainties, fruit, veggies, cheese, etc.

4. Your own coffee mug.

5. Sewing machine, and extension cord.

6. Project to work one.

We will be eating lunch and supper in the restaurant.

See you at the retreat.

October 16th Meeting

The guild members basted the baskets and worked on the Canada quilt during the day. We didn't work as hard as there were fewer members out for the day.

We are looking for workers to sell tickets on our Christmas Raffle quilt at the Nov 3rd Craft show. We are also looking for someone to handle publicity for the Quilt show in April. Please contact one of the executive if you are interested.

Our unfinished block for the quilt show will be "Stars". So get your thinking caps on, the April show will be here before you know it.

The white fabric for the Presidents nine patch square is available for pickup at the meetings.
Evelyn would like a nine patch with four white squares and five red squares (no Christmas fabric please).

We had a fun time with "First and Worst Quilts". Below are some of our members showing their quilts accompanied with a good story.





We had two draws for our Flower squares with the winners being Marg H and Val D. Looking forward to seeing those completed quilts ladies.

Our new block for the comfort quilts will be a 16 patch block. Instructions are available for pickup at Faktors. Or you can complete the blocks as follows.

Cut 2 inch strips of two different bright colours. No kiddy prints please. Must be suitable fabric for teenagers. A lighter and darker bright colour should work nicely. The finished quilt blocks will be 6 1/2 inches. Also accompany the finished block with a strip 2 inches by 6 1/2 inches of both colours. These will be sewn into a multicoloured border.

See you in November. Happy Quilting!

Flin Flon Arts Council Craft Sale

The Flin Flon Arts Council is trying out a new idea for the Arts and Craft Sale which will be held this year on Saturday, November 3, 2007 in the Flin Flon Community Hall.

They are wanting to turn the Green Room into a Hanging Art Gallery throughtout the day and are sending an invitation to all local artist to participate in this pilot project.

May of the same rules would apply to the Art Gallery as in the Main Floor Art and Craft area. Artists wishing to participate would have a Registration fee of $10.00 which would include a Large - Pegboard area and/or a round table for informatiion or pottery. The Flin Flon Arts council would receive 15% of any sales received during the event. The funds from this sale go towards promoting arts & culture by way fo touring entertainment, workshops, classes, and exhibitions, as well as promoting local talent. Most Artist/Crafts Persons who participate in this sale allow for the commission and price their articles accordingly.

To maintain the "look" of the Gallery any additional Artwork may be stored in the Northern Palette Art Club Room. They would want the Artist to set up their station on Friday Nov 2nd to avoid congestion which typically occurs on Saturday morning. The doors will be open to the Publice from 11:00am - 5:00pm.

Because of the limited space they will be accepting Participants on a first - come - first - serve basis.

Registrations forms and further information can be picked up at Faktor's or contact the Flin Flon Arts Council at 687 5974

News from the September 18th Meeting

We had another busy day of quilting all day on Tuesday. We had quit a few little projects either started or completed by 10:30 in the morning. We all worked so hard we forgot to stop for our morning coffee. But we made up for it by having a delightful lunch together.

Kathy finished quilting our quilt of Comfort and Remberance. This is it pictured below. It's lovely and is being shipped to Ottawa Wednesday or Thursday. Now, we are ready to get a head start on next year's quilt. Please consider making a Maple leaf square. The patterns can be picked up at Faktor's or downloaded from this internet site :http://www.picketfencefabrics.com/PFF_CCRP.htm
If you are thinking of doing the applique pattern, please don't use the pattern from this site, but pick up the revised leaf pattern at Faktor's. The leaf has been reduced for a nicer fitting block.


A representative from the local newspaper attended our meeting last night, to take photos and learn the details of The Remberance Quilt project. Look for us in a future publication.

This April 18th and 19th is our big quilt show. We are looking for volunteers for the different jobs. It is always a very entertaining weekend. Consider volunteering.

The Crayon Challenge is due at the Novemeber 20th meeting. The weather is getting cooler now so it is a good time to start working on your sewing projects. If the crayon project doesn't appeal to you, we are having a quilting retreat at the Victoria Inn October 27th and October 28th. Look for more details closer to that date, however if you are interested please sign up at the next meeting or contact one of the executive.

Our president has announced her block request for her outgoing president's quilt. The guild has purchased a white fabric which will be cut into squares, and four of these squares will distributed
to the members. We will be adding five red squares from our own stash, to make a nine patch. Nice and simple.

Next month our program will be called The First or The Worst. The idea is to bring your first quilt or your worst quilt, or both, to the meeting. Be prepared to tell a good story to accompany your quilt. It should be a lot of fun. So don't be shy, bring something out to the meeting.

Now the fun stuff, Show and Tell.
Cathy's Bali bags and you can also see the great turn out of flowered four patches. We are looking for more of the same next month.
Marg H with her blue jean bag. Adelle's Lady quilt.
Kathy's curved quilt.
As usual it was a great quilting day.

Till next month.

Happy Quilting!
Sandra

Meeting Notice for September 18th

The next Guild meeting will be held on Tuesday September 18th at the United Church from 9Am to 9PM. Business meeting starts at 7PM.



There will be an executive meeting at 5PM. Executive ladies bring your dinner to the meeting.



Our program for this month is placemats. Bring out any placemats finished or unfinished to show.



We are also looking for more left over fabric scraps, from making the blocks for the Breast Cancer quilt. If you are interested in donating these bits of fabric to the Guild, please bring them to the meeting. We would like to use them in some Hug Me Quilts.


Happy Quilting!

Sandra

Meeting News for August 21

Thirty -Five members turned up to the meeting and throughout the day. It was a rainy day, perfect weather for quilting.We worked on the quilt of Comfort and Remembrance. We will be stretching and quilting it before the September meeting. It will have to be sent away, to be presented on November 11th.The Quild needs 9 more Maple leaf squares to make next years quilt. We would like to make it up this fall to have all ready to show at our quilt show this April. A huge "Thank You" to all the members who have completed and turned in squares. Anyone wishing a pattern to make another block, may pick them up at Faktors or from this web site: http://www.picketfencefabrics.com/documents/CCRP/Maple_Heart_Block_Pieced.pdf

Our program for the evening was making the Bali Bag. As you can see quit a few of our quilters have been having fun with this pattern. Marg L, Marg H, and Adelle were kind enough to show us how to assemble these bags. The pattern for the bag can be found here:http://www.quiltmag.com/pdf/quilt73BaliBag.pdf

We are looking for ideas for the unfinished square for the 2008 quilt show. The last few blocks have been "Canadiana" and "Transportation". Please bring your ideas to the September meeting.

The date for our Crayola Challenge has been extended to November 20.

Our quilt show dates are for April 18th and 19th. We are looking for conveners. Please consider volunteering for a job at the show. Involvement in the show makes it much more interesting.

We have established the dates for the Comfort quilt days. They will be Tuesday September 11th and Tuesday October 9th at the United Church from 9AM to 5PM. Feel free to come out and participate for all or some of the day.

The Quild is working on the dates for the quilting retreat. We will notify the membership of the dates and details in a couple of weeks.

The guild is looking for scrapes from the fabric collection "Heaven Can Wait." I know a lot of you ladies purchased this fabric in pink or green from Faktors in order to make a square for the Breast Cancer "Quilt of Hope" quilt. We are looking for some of this fabric to make "Hug Me Quilts" for our members. Please drop it off with any of our executive or to Faktors. Any pieces or fat quarters of this fabric would be greatly appreciated.

Here is some of the show and tell from the meeting.





The new square for September and October is a very simple four patch. We would like the fabric to be floral. As you can see in the photo below we are making some nice feminine comfort quilts.

To make the four patch square, first cut four squares 3 1/2 inches by 4 1/2 inches. Please cut these squares as sets of two so each square will be comprised of two colours. Sew these four squares together. As you can see in the picture these sets of two will make the four patch. We also would like you to take those two colours and cut two (1 1/2 by 4 1/2 inch strips) These will be used to make the scrappy border you see in the picture.

In total you will be bringing two four patch squares and four strips of the corodinating fabric, this will give one set to the guild and one set to the draw. I hope that is clear enough. It will be a nice simple square. It will mean more cutting than sewing this time.

Happy Quilting!

July 17th Meeting Highlights

We had a few ladies show their quilted postcards at the meeting. One of our guild members suggested you use a plate holder or small easel to display your cards, or perhaps send a display easel and a card to a senior or another shut in. Then every month or every season change you could make an appropriate card, write a nice note, and send it off, that way they would have a little seasonal display as well as a bit of correspondence from family and friends. Great idea!
We are still receiving the paper pieced star blocks and well as the Maple leaf blocks for the month of August. On a rainy day this summer make up a block and if you don't want to come to the August meeting drop it off with a friend or at Faktor's. We would appreciate a few more blocks. We will be making up our quilt of Comfort and Remembrance as a day project in August.
Here is one of our members showing a finished quilt that she started over ten years ago. It is never too late to finish those UFO's
The Square in square blocks the members all donated have been put together as a quilt top. Now all we have to do is baste it together and get a volunteer to quilt it. We are always looking for volunteers to take our comfort quilts home and quilt them. It is a good way to practice your quilting skills.
Here is a small version of the jar quilt. We have a much larger version all ready to put together.
We are going to be making Lorie's bag at our August meeting. Here is the link to the pattern once again http://www.quiltmag.com/pdf/quilt73BaliBag.pdf If you are interesting in making this bag please be sure to come to the August meeting. Any ladies who have already made "The Bag" bring it to show and tell that evening.

Meeting Notice for July 17th

Guild meeting at Northminster United Church on Tuesday July 17th from 9Am to 9PM. Business meeting started at 7PM.

Last month we demonstrated quilted postcards. It would be nice to see lots of cards for show and tell.

Please remember to bring your bottle caps for the evening project. This should be a more social evening, with our members making a craft for the CQA Convention in 2008.

The raffle tickets are ready to pick up so please see Evelyn for your book.

We are continuing to work on the log cabin quilts, and a "Hug me" quilt, during the day. Please feel free to come out and participate.

See you Tuesday
Happy Quilting!

Meeting Notes from June 19th

Once again we had a full day of quilting and visiting. It was raining hard outside, but we were inside the church totally enjoying our day. We continued to work on the log cabin blocks, and below you will see the basket top we completed.

Lori and Kathy continued to entertain us for the demonstration part of the evening. We learned to make postcards and I am sure we haven't heard the last of that. I tried to make a couple, and believe me, they are quit addictive. They kind of fill the gap for some of us who, would like to make cards, but are committed to our quilts. You can dive right into postcard making with a commitment of less then 2o Dollars. Good Fun!
We had our transportation block competition. We received a nice variety of blocks, with Marg F winning the Viewers choice block, and Evelyn B. winning the draw prize. Here is Marg's winning block.
Listed below are a couple of Show and Tell items. With Robin M. making a very nice cat quilt out of our quilt mystery from a couple of years ago. Also Lorie finished quilting her round robin.

We are going to make another Canadian Comfort and Remembrance quilt for the surviving spouse or parents of a member of the Canadian armed forces killed in the peace keeping efforts.Here is a link to the site http://ccrquilts.ca/ with the leaf patterns and updated photos of last years quilts. See if you can find our quilt given in memory of MCpl. Timothy Wilson 2006 Afghanistan. We are asking for our members to make more blocks as we must have the quilt completed and ready to send in September to be given for Remembrance day. The patterns for the leaves are on this web site. We will accept any of the three construction methods on this site.

We are also asking for the bottle caps from your water bottles for the next meeting. We will be working on a small project for the CQA in Newfoundland. Please come out and participate, it could be fun.

Wishing you all a Happy Canada Day, and Happy quilting, and on that thought here is a link you might find interesting. http://www.cornwallismuseum.ca/TributetoCanada.html