Christmas Party

We had a terrific day of making comfort quilts and getting ready for "The Party"

So I will just give you some quick highlights.

One of our show and tell ladies for the evening was Jackie who has come back for Christmas with her family. She is visiting us from South Africa. In this photo she is showing us her quilt called "The Treasures in Uncles Garden"
Here are Kathy and Lorie presenting a little treat to Marg andwishing her well.

Lorna is presenting 52 place matts to Brenda from meals on Wheels. Great work ladies.

President Lorna is presenting the quilts for the new Safe Haven Home.

At last we have completed quilting the round robin quilts. Here is the final result. They really turned out nice.

Merry Christmas Ladies and Happy Quilting in the New Year.

Christmas Story

I don't have any photos from the Christmas party yet, but I wanted to get this story up before Christmas.
This is the fat quarter exchange story we used this year. It is a tribute to Marg for her years in the store, and all the patience she had with her customers. She was always there for us whenever we were in with our quilting questions. Thank you Marg and a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New retirement to you.




Twas the night before Christmas
by Kathy S

When all through the house
Piles of fabric from Faktor’s, where scattered about.
Bags of notions where hung in sewing rooms with great care
From Marg’s closing sale, you know you were there

Now Marg was all settled in her new sewing room
Just finishing up quilts that she had started …last June
She’s had a month on her own with no store to run
Enjoying her time and finally seeing the sun.

When out on Marg’s lawn there arose such a clatter
She sprang from her machine to see what was the matter
Away to the window Marg flew like a flash
Trying not to trip over her own fabric stash.

The snow how it sparkled on the trees by the lake
The house filled with the aroma of warm Christmas cake.
When, what to Marg’s wondering eyes should appear
But the North Star Guild quilters, about 50 I fear.

First there was Lorna, so lively and quick
But why were they here, it just didn’t click
In a cloud of white snow the quilters all came,
And Marg whistled and shouted and called them by name

Now Karen, now Janice, now Linda and Jean
“You’ll wake my neighbours, you’re causing a scene”
Oh, Joyce, oh Alta, oh Michelle and Annette
“It’s the middle of the night, off, off you get!”

“But Marg” said Adele, “ We can’t handle the stress”
“It’s been a month without Faktor’s, we’re all a mess.
Our quilt tops lack backings, we’re all out of thread
Our needles are breaking and humm…do I smell bread?”

“It’s fresh Christmas cake, why don’t you all come in
But please watch your step I think I dropped a pin”
Passing boxes of fabric that reached up to the rafter’s
This is definitely the home of John and Marg Faktor


Now John was dressed all in flannel, from his head to his feet
And was covered with threads, and not looking too neat.
He had been organizing the fabric for many long weeks
Asking Marg “Where would you like this my little sweet cheeks?”

John’s eyes how they twinkled, for all the years they’ve been married
His cheeks were like roses, from all the bins that he’d carried.
John’s droll little mouth seemed to say “Am I done?”
As he stared at the stash which weighed more than a ton.

The quilters stared in amazement, it was a sight to behold
The tower of fabrics that had never been sold
It brought back fond memories of time spent at the store
And the amazing employees…who were never a bore.

Darlene remembered the hours there picking out fabric
The quilters would have to come up with a new shopping tactic
Online shopping is only part of the fraction
“So a road trip”, shouts Laura “would be the next plan of action”

Barb and Marg have taken a few trips to Melfort
While Eileen says stateside is the place to cavort
Marlyn and Jeri found out Morden’s shop is online
And Bev says Moose Jaw stores are oh so divine.

Kick Ass in Plumas is one real hip store
Lori and Kathy will definitely go back for more
Regina’s a place Yvonne recommends
There you’ll find Peachtree where the bolts never end.

Now Marg spoke not a word but went straight to work
She served her guests then turned with a jerk
“I have a plane to catch in less than an hour,
We’re going to Paris to see the Eiffel Tower.”

It was nice to spend time with her friends in her home
But thinking maybe next time arrange a visit by phone
But knowing the quilters liked to stop by
Will make retirement easier she thought with a sigh

The quilters left that night, with a feeling of glee
Marg had not gone but was just a bit more free
And she heard them exclaim as they drove out of sight
“Thanks for all the great service, and have a safe flight”


Merry Christmas Quilters

November Meeting

We had a nice snowy winter day to work in the church on our comfort squares.

Rae demonstrated the quilt pattern Country Lines in the afternoon. We were able to complete that quilt top as well.

Thirty ladies braved the icy roads for the regular evening meeting.

Next month is our Christmas Party.- December 16th. We will have a fat quarter exchange ( a holiday theme in a brown paper bag), a craft and a silent auction. Finished Tin Can Round Robins should be completed and will be shown at the party. Don't forget your place mats for Meals on Wheels. I will send out an e-mail closer to the party date, with a complete list of things to remember.

The next unfinished square has been chosen by the members.
June 2009 is bird houses - no fusible web please.
Winter wear is the block theme for the quilt show in 2010

We had a selection of show and tell in the break

Lorna and Sandra had comfort quilt they made from the left over fabric from their Star Fling quilts.

Sandra had a Sun Bonnet Sue red work table centre

Robin showed us her Christmas door knob hangers. She also won the block of the month Disappearing Nine Patch.

The program for the evening was Basic applique. Adele and Marg were kind enough to demonstrate the applique technique to the members. Relax the fancy applique on the board behind the ladies is their lovely work for our enjoyment only. The little basic flower and leaves in the middle is our block of the month for December and January. Fabric for the background and the pattern is available at the December meeting.

Two of our members, Kathy and Lori entered the 2008 Quest for the Cure Block Challenge sponsored by Northcott Fabrics and the Quilter Magazine. Their Lone Star/Trip around the world block placed 3rd in the Pieced block category. A picture of their block will appear in the May 2009 issue of The Quilter Magazine, and on the www.northcott.net website. Their prize is $100.00 US cash, on year subscription of the Quilter Magazine and 1/2 years ($1000 value) of Northcott's Fat quarters. Congratulations to both of you.

Until the Christmas Party.

Happy Quilting!

The October Retreat

The Quilt guild held a quilting retreat at the Victoria Inn on November First and Second. We all had a great time and about 18 ladies turned out a various times during the weekend. Barb took many photos of the weekend. I had to choose just five pictures for the blog, so I tried to choose ones of some what completed projects.

This is Ray W 's fat quarter quilt

Rae B's Halloween Magic Tiles

Yvonne's - Emily collection quilt

Lynn's Photo wall hanging

Robin's Stack and Whack

Looks like lots of work was done.

Happy Quilting!

News from October 2008 Meeting

We spent the morning working on comfort quilts, and planning more comfort quilts.

After lunch we had more guild members show up and Rae demonstrated the construction of a "Yellow Brick Road" quilt. We quickly did up a top for the guild from some fat quarters we had in our cupboard.

Next month we are doing the same thing. At 1:30 PM we will put together the pattern Country Lines. Everyone is welcome to come out and share in the experience.

We had 48 members and 2 quests show up for the 7PM Meeting.

The Library has a new book "Jelly Roll Quilts"

We have a comfort day planned for Tuesday November 25 from 9Am to 4PM. Please consider turning out. Also don't forget our quilt retreat at the Victoria Inn Room 101 this weekend. All day Saturday and Sunday until 4PM. Please bring you own mug, and ugly fat quarter to swap and a new sewing/quilting notion of a $4-$5 value for the notion basket draw.

Our Christmas Party will be held at our December meeting.

The fat quarter game will be played again this year, using a fat quarter with a holiday theme, not necessarily Christmas.

We will be making placemats again this year for our Christmas project. They will be going to meals and wheels, and can be in any theme or colour.

Participants of the Tin Can Round Robin are reminded to complete their project for the December meeting.

Marg F is in charge of the silent auction this year, and all donations can be dropped off at Lorna's office.

As you can see we had some excellent show and tell at the meeting.

Joan displayed her extremely large and beautiful Redwork quilt.

Kathy is getting ready for the holiday season with her lovely Rudolf wall hanging

Lorna showed us what to do with all those tiny pieces of fabric left over from making a couple of quilts.

Adelle proudly displays her gorgeous had appliqued and hand quilted quilt. Beautiful!

Look at our comfort squares. Aren't they something else. And we still have another month left to make some more. Anyone with fabric and squares not done, remember we want them turned in for the November meeting. What gorgeous quilts we are going to make!

We need some ideas for our 12 1/2 inch unfinished blocks. Put your thinking caps on and bring your ideas to the next meeting.

The next installment for the mystery quilt was demonstrated, and now we have a large number of flying geese to make before next month.

Audry shared information about a new resource to use for mastering machine quilting, they are practice skill builder panel and a companion book from RGA Designs.

Here is the link: www.rgadesignquilts.com

Also available for purchase at The Quilter's Jewel in Morden www.thequiltersjewel.com

Faktor's has lots of bobbins available at 25% off. Don't wait too long.

We are selling raffle tickets at the Creighton Hall on November 8th. We are looking for some more volunteer ticket sellers. Contact Lorna at her office.

And finally the program for the evening was Favorite Quilting Books and Magazines. A sharing session of several interesting books/magazines was led by Eileen. Thank you to all who participated. We hope to compile and distribute a list to Guild members in December.

Happy Quilting!

October Meeting Notice

Just a reminder to all our members the guild meeting is on Tuesday October 21. United Church from 9AM to 9 PM.

Business meeting starting at 7PM.

We will be making the yellow brick road at 1:30 PM.

If you are interested in this process, please feel free to come out and learn how to put it together.

This is a photo of a yellow brick road quilt.

Also don't forget your comfort squares, show and tell, and your favorite quilting book.

We are bringing our favorite quilting book to show, so we can make a list of good books to buy.

Happy Quilting

The Quilting Incident

At about lunch time on quilting day Marg L moved her leg and then she had trouble. As you all know she had her knee fixed up some time ago. I guess that something happened to her new joint replacement. Rae phoned the ambulance and her they are taking her away to the hospital. She looked remarkable cheerful.

Now I didn't want to post anything until we knew how she was doing.

Rae sent me this message with the update.

Just spoke to Bill and Marg might be home tomorrow.
Wednesday September 17 she flew to the Grace Hospital in Wpg.
5pm surgery to pop things back in place
Thursday the xray showed that the knee was not lined up properly
Transfered to the Concordia Hospital where they are to specialize in knees and hips
The top Dr. did surgery that evening and replaced part of her new knee
She is to wear a knee brace for 3 months.

Yesterday Marg was out shopping and to Boston Pizza for supper.
They are waiting for all the cultures to come back -checking for infection- before she is released.