Church Quilt Day/ February

We had a great turn out this month for our church quilt day.

Everyone was busy working away on various projects.

In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints we have a humanitarian organization that requests volunteers to make projects that can be taken to countries in need.

Carol organized and provided our group with a sewing project.

One of the needs are wall hangings for orphanages.

So many willing hands.

Barbara brought her finished "Bloom'n Rags" by Tenderberry Stitches.

All washed and ready for one of her grand daughters.

Only 11 more to finish for the rest of her grand daughters!

And then Barbara plans on making 12 more boy themed rag quilts for her grandsons. What a wonderful grandmother.

Part of our group brought hand work.

Darby was knitting a washcloth.

Doris has been making these hats that are first knit, then felted down.

Cute Darby posed as our model to show Doris' wonderful hats.

This is Ann's knit hat. I have to tease Ann whenever I can.

Actually I am feeling a wide range of emotions when it comes to my dear friend Ann and her husband Roger. They have just sold their home and will be moving in the next few weeks to serve a mission for our church. I am happy (ecstatic, thrilled) for them and honor the service they will be giving.

But, I am also sad because I will miss them!

Carol was using this antique pincushion knit by her mother over 50 years ago.

*Marcy left a comment and asked if there was a pattern: sorry Marcy, you didn't leave an e-mail address to answer your question, so I'll answer it here. No, there isn't a pattern, since it was knitted by Carols mother (now passed) who made it many, many years ago.

It has a place in the middle for a thimble.

And Carol still sews with the same thimble her mother used.

On The Town Handbag

Last week I showed you Annie's On The Town handbag made with Texture Magic. Very classy looking in red and black.

This is Annie's sample she let me borrow for Trunk Shows.

The pattern for On The Town and Texture Magic can be found on Superior Threads web site.

I have now finished my own version of On The Town.

Annie provides such great instructions, and it was quite easy to make.

I used Vera's Garden by Robert Kaufman for the circular print, and Kona cotton for the solid brown.

The handles were purchased at JoAnn's. I even found them on sale for $4.

First put the Texture Magic to the back of the brown solid. I used a decorative stitch on my machine to stitch both pieces together and sewed from the front.

For the thread I used Lava # 212 (Kukui Nut) by Superior Threads. Lava is a 35 weight polyester with 1" dye color change intervals.

Each row is stitched about 3/4" apart.

Once the stitching is complete, apply steam and watch the Texture Magic shrink the fabric up to 30%.

The fabric can then be used to cut out the pattern pieces for the handbag.

You can also used leftover pieces to make a covered button.

The pattern uses Velcro to connect the flap. I opted to use a magnetic snap.

I just love this handbag, clear down to the little inset strip.

Blanche Young Lecture/ Trunk Show

At our Dixie Quilt Guild meeting on Saturday we were honored to have Blanche Young as our guest Lecturer/ Trunk Show.

Blanche is one of our local quilt celebrities, who resides in Hurricane, Utah only 18 miles outside of St. George.
We are very impressed that Blanche still donates her time and energy to traveling and lecturing in behalf of the love of quilting. She will be 91 years old this year.

Thank you for honoring us so, Blanche.

Blanche came with her daughter Lynette Bingham, who provided assistance and helped in the lecture.

Lynette is the owner of Main Street Quilt Cottage, a wonderful quilt store on your way into Zion National Park.

Main Street Quilt Cottage

72 N. Main

Hurricane, Utah (435) 635-4748

Blanche has been teaching quilt making since 1970. She began with Adult Education classes in Southern California. She was told at the time not to expect much in attendance. When her classes filled, she knew quilting had a future.

A sampler quilt was one of the first quilts taught as part of Blanche's classes. At the time she used a 5" binding.

Blanche loves traditional quilts, and developes innovative methods that make complex patterns easier and quicker.

Example of Seminole quilting.

Blanche has been part of the Houston Quilt Festival since it's inception in 1979, when they met in the basement of a church. She has seen so much progress in quilt making in the last 30 years.

Lynette said she felt her mother was the first innovator of the strip piecing method.

Along with her daughters, Blanche is the author of 10 quilt books. Lynette recalled feeling very brave in taking 2,000 copies of their book to Houston in 1979. They ended up with orders for 3,000 more before they left.

Blanche was the Featured Artist at Houston 2001.

In the days before rotary cutters, Blanche used heavy duty scissors to cut her fabrics. This pair would cut through 9 layers of fabric.

Blanche was good friends with Doreen Speckmann, who passed away in 1999.

This was a tribute quilt to her dear friend who said the only rule in quilting should be to never sew in the nude.

Doreen was known as a great artist, but did you also know she was the creator of the "chicken pincushion"? How many of us have either made one, received one, or seen them at every quilt booth or trade show we have attended.

Lynette said she and her family began collecting antique quilts when they sold for much less than they do today.

This 1853 antique quilt was picked up for $350.

Blanche has always been very generous with her time and talents. She has donated 86 raffle quilts. She made Shimmering Star again for Lynette because it was one of her favorites.

Lynette and Blanch share the many changes they have seen in the quilting world over the years. They ended the lecture saying "It's been a fun ride", and

shared a short story.

In the beginning of her quilt career Blanche's husband (who ended up traveling with her and becoming her biggest supporter) said "Don't get too involved in this quilting thing. It's just a passing fancy."

One of Blanche Young's books: Traditions With A Twist

Dixie Quilt Guild February Meeting

Yesterday was the Dixie Quilt Guild's February Meeting.
I am always so impressed with the amazing talent from our guild. We are surrounded by so many award winners. Four from our group were selected to go to Road to California last month.
Show and Tell is one of my favorite parts of the meeting.

This art quilt will be part of a show at a local gallery.

One member took Annie Unrein's Quilted Photography class.
This picture was made without any sewing, except at the end where you can quilt the completed piece.

She used 1/2 inch squares mapped out from a specialized computer program

Many of our members are International travelers.

Suzanne Dandoy has spent quite a bit of time in Africa. While there, she collected beautiful fabrics.

Suzanne also made this wall hanging out of men's ties.

Margaret Miller made this fun quilt using the new Lila Tueller Santorini line.
Doesn't this make you think Spring is right around the corner?

Another member just got back from Japan where she purchased a lot of Indigo. She had a display at the back of the room of some of her fabrics, but I didn't get back there in time to take pictures.

by Emily Jones

also by Emily Jones

Patti VanOordt's quilt was selected for Road To California.

Patti's quilt also is also featured on the cover of the IMQA (International Machine Quilters Assn.) Calendar this year!

Congratulations Patti!

Beautiful work.