February JLWC

Last Thursday was Jo Club day at The Quilted Crow in Boxborough, MA.   Nineteen members attended the daytime and evening meetings.   Member, Kay Landreth even attended in her colonial costume and showed us her Abbey bag, made with Jo Fabrics...

Since this is a record-breaking snow winter in New England and we've all been inside a lot, our Show and Tell was very impressive. 



Debbie Bagshaw had fun starting her blocks.



Everyone loved Lorrainne Rudd's color choice.

Tara Beshai, a hand-work efficienato, is new to quilting and wants her first quilt to be perfect. 



Here is our Amy's Choice Show and Tell:



Joanne Veracka



Nancy Mullen - love her blue color choice !



Janice Boutotte

Maureen Mullen

Susan Therriault

Colleen Triola's in absenture (is that a word?)

Yvette DuPuis

Beth Cardozo

I found Jo's Variable Star technique amazing, so had to demo for the members:

A very enjoyable Jo Day at "the Crow."  

And sew on...

Jeanne













 

Today's Gonna Be a Good, Good Day

The Red Hot Chili Peppers had it right...Today was a GOOD day.  

Early on, the two outer borders were sewn on my version of Jo Morton's "Berry Nice" quilt top.   I call it "Blueberry Nice" and it's made with all Jo fabrics.  It will be introduced to the Jo's Little Women Club at the Quilted Crow in Boxborough, MA next Thursday, February 24 along with a few other surprises...

Picked up  3-year-old granddaughter, Meghan, at 10AM and we went to Story Time at the library.  She tolerated the stories, but really wanted to play with the doll house.   Guess Gampy better get at his next project, a doll house for his grandy girls !

After picking up the mail at the Post Office and groceries from the market, we made our way home to make lunch - Meghan loves Gammy's mac 'n cheese, which is really Annie's mac 'n cheese, but she'll learn that soon enough, so we'll keep callin' it Gammy's mac 'n cheese as long as we can...  Nap time always comes after lunch and Meghan is a great sleeper - 2 1/2 hours later she is awake and ready to roll, but Daddy's arrived to head on home to start dinner. 

Yes, it was a Good, Good Day !

And sew on...

Jeanne



Various and Sundry

The end of last July, my friend, Corinne, and I attended two Karen Kay Buckley classes at Maine Quilts.   We had a great time and learned a lot about hand and machine applique'.    As do most teachers, Karen Kay told us about her favorite tools and had a supply to sell to students.   I purchased some and wish to share my favorites with you.
  
Scissors with serrated blade - I purchased both size Clovers at the workshop and, recently, another large pair KKBuckley is marketing with her name imprinted on them.   Fabric layers don't slip when using serrated scissors.
Japanese hand-applique' Needles - absolutely, the BEST I have ever used.   They are thin, sharp and wonderful.           Here are some photos:

BTW - I have no business relationship with Karen Kay Buckley and I'm not receiving anything to mention the above products.

Sunday was the rerun of Craft Tea at The Quilted Crow in Boxborough, MA.   Twelve more women were taught to make Primitive Pin Cushions.



Last night was our monthly Guild meeting.   As I mentioned previously, I am chairing the Challenge Committee and we are creating New England Sports Team-themed quilts to give to a charity, called Wrapped Up in Sports, who give quilts to children with medical, mental and social needs.    I was totally, in awe when Susan Parks, one of our members, presented me with a completed quilt top, batting, back and binding.   Some very lucky child will be so happy to receive this quilt:

Last night was also the reveal of our Secret Valentines.    This Twister Valentine quilt was made by me for my Secret (guild sister) Valentine:

And here's the pretty wool table runner I received:

And sew on...

Jeanne



  

    

First JLWC 10 Meeting and Sunday Craft Tea Time

In between snowstorms we gathered at the Quilted Crow Quilt Shoppe, Boxborough, MA on January 27 - six of us in the afternoon and sixteen that evening.    Beth Cardozo, shoppe employee and club member, treated us to Red Velvet Cupcakes at our evening meeting...

The first quilt we will be working on is Amy's Choice.   I displayed my finished top, spoke of the different techniques used in this sweet little quilt and had members write down a few tips... 
 

Susan Therriault showed us her Stars Over Texas quilt top ...

Several of us already have a "Jo Stash," so we thought it'd be fun to have each member choose their own 25-piece fat quarter tower.   When done, we arranged and displayed our treasures on the table...



 

Beth is working on her Sisters quilt from Club 9.  That's her mom's photo in the center...

Due to overwhelming response, two Craft Tea Times were held on Sunday, January 30.    The twenty-nine attendees were taught to make Primitive Pin Cushions, using a canning jar lid as the base...

There was even a wait list for this very popular class, so we will rerun tomorrow, February 6 from 1 to 3PM.    If you're interested in joining us, live close enough and see this post in time, call The Quilted Crow at 978-266-9102 to reserve a spot.   We promise to have you home, with a very sweet, little completed project before the Super Bowl starts !

And sew on...

Jeanne

What do you expect ? It's winter in New England.

I'm sure you've heard, "If you don't like the weather now, wait a day..."    
To us, who live here, it goes without saying.  
Pretty much like Goldilocks said, "Too much,  too little, just right."   
Well, this one will go into the books as a "Too much" winter.  

Remember the photo of our Christmas tree in my last two posts ?   Here it is now...

There's at least 20" of snow on our very sturdy porch roof...

The icicles are pretty...

And it just keeps coming.    I hear tell we may see the sun tomorrow and Friday.   But they say more of the white stuff Saturday.  
Maybe Spring will be right around the corner - after all, Punxy Phil said so !

Enough about the weather...  after all, can't do anything about it, doesn't help to pout , so make the best of it and let's quilt.

Now completed...Using the Li'l Twister Tool, I designed this Wreath wallhanging...

Twister Wreath

Holly Taylor's Northwoods Botanicals fabrics, by Moda.    This one will hang proudly in my home next Christmas.

Also, working on my guild's challenge, making quilts to donate to "Wrapped Up in Sports," a charity that presents New England sports-themed quilts to children with medical, mental and social challenges.    Round and row robins have allowed many to work on the 36 quilts.   Lots of fun to see results each month.   
The second border on this quilt top is my contribution...


Go Sox !



During February and March, two different quilters will each add another row.   

April - 36 quilt tops will go to machine quilters with batting and backs.
May - quilts to the binders.
June - will be the Challenge Reveal and Viewer's Choice Awards.
Fun and exciting and for a great cause.
Looking forward to sharing photos of finished quilts with you all...

And sew on...

Jeanne