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!”
