September Cotton Quilters' Guild Meeting

My gray, yellow and red version

I had great plans for writing about our September meeting, which we delayed by a week because of the Labor Day holiday. Then the computer mishap and the resulting week of limping along to finish a church project, followed by another week or so of geek repairs. 

Now that we're beyond all of that, I've looked over my pictures from the meeting and think I may remember some of that day which now seems so long ago. 

Mary C's Christmas version

I asked everyone to bring in their blocks or quilt tops from our row quilt. Each month I presented a new block and participants went home to make five or six (their preference) versions of the block using their color choices. 

When the time came, I showed them my almost completed quilt. My quilt is one month ahead of theirs so that I'd have examples to share.  It stills needs a binding, but I had finished the quilting and trimmed off the rough edges. That means it's ready for binding and label any time now.

Pam's colorful version

Wanting to build on what Marty Mason, of Marty's Fiber Musings, presented last month (my blog article is here), I showed them how I use improv to sew scraps together to form blocks or "chunks" of fabric. Since my quilt is not quite as long as I wanted, I added about 15 inches of improv fabric to the bottom of the quilt. My thinking is that this part will be tucked under the mattress so it won't show very much. 

 Finally we got to show and share, but I missed most of the photo opportunities since I plopped myself down to enjoy it all and forgot to take pictures. I managed to get three quilts but can't remember who the makers are. I'll leave you with the pictures and thank you for coming by.

August Cotton Quilters' Guild Meeting

My version of the Row by Row
quilt on the design wall

On Monday the Cotton Quilters met at our usual place, usual time. But oh wow! did we have an unusual meeting. More on that in a minute. First, we held a meeting. You know, pledges, updates, minutes and reports: business matters.

And, as we have for the last five or six months, we shared our row quilt blocks. Then I gave out the final block. It's a Dresden fan that will round out our 70 x 84 quilt. 

As you can see from the picture on the left, I chose to put my quilt together but did not put the blocks in order. I wanted my guild sisters to see that it isn't necessary and also because when I put my blocks on the design wall, I didn't like the way they looked. Ha! What's new in my world, right?

Some months there are few show and share items, other months there are lots. You just never know. For August everyone seemed to have one or two. A pig and a flamingo from Pam.

An interesting log cabin. A huge flower.

 A beautiful Cathedral Windows and some quilts meant to use up scraps.

And this pretty green and white sampler. There was so much laughter and talking that I missed a couple of photos and faces. But it's all in fun and we had a great time oohing and ahhing at each others' quilts and quilt tops. 

Then we had a very special guest. Marty Mason from Marty's Fiber Musings came for a visit. She gave a trunk show and had a program in which she explained modern and improv quilts. She also talked about her inspiration and shared some of the books that she especially likes. 

Now this is the point when I tell you that this post is a tease. Yep, sure is. Marty deserves her own special post, so you'll have to come back on Saturday to see some of her other work. 

All in all, it was a wonderful afternoon. I wish you had been there, but you can be here Saturday for a little more Marty.

July Cotton Quilters' Guild Meeting

guild fundraiser quilt

Today was our guild meeting. I am just embarrassed by how unorganized and unprepared I was!


It really was intolerable and I'm glad I was not a guild member just waiting for things to happen. I'd have been quite annoyed. 

Of course there are things that we do at every meeting: pledge, prayer, prayer requests, minutes and treasury report, that sort of thing. Even those weren't prepared, rather the officers were not at the meeting. When you have to fill two hours and don't have enough "stuff," you need every report.

close up of fundraiser quilt

So anyway, it went badly, but there were a few good moments, thanks to a few wonderful people:
Mrs. Helen prepared and organized all of the tickets for the fundraiser quilt that we are raffling. 

We've been working on a row quilt for several months. Mrs. Mary, one of the members brought all of her blocks and showed them for the first time. 

Another member, Mrs. Priscilla, loves working with and saving old quilts and fabrics. She just acquired a beautiful, hand-sewn butterfly quilt and shared it with us. 

In the end, I adjourned 30 minutes early. Most of the members stayed and chatted and talked quilts. I'm not sure it was really a bad thing, though I fumbled around way too much.