Mod Conn Quilters [Part 2 of 2]

   Hello again!
I have switched to the Hubby's desktop computer, and the photos and technical issues seem to be resolved now.  I like when the solution is that easy!
   Yesterday, I left off at Heather.  [Here's a link to yesterday's post, Part 1]  Heather shared a beautiful quilt, and also purchased this "find" at the local Salvation Army thrift store for all of $2!!

   The members present estimated that it probably dates from the 1940s.  If you look closely, you can see that it was a collaborative effort and that the contributors signed their names to their churn dash blocks.  The condition is somewhat tattered and worn along the edges, but Heather plans to hang this on display in her home.  

   Heide was also present at the meeting, and she shared this creation:

   Heide created this as a memorial quilt for a friend's [teenage/college-age] son who tragically died in the last year.  The pattern is from the Across the Sea quilt-along (although she didn't formally/strictly follow the group's deadlines).  She used a variety of Denyse Schmidt fabrics for the crosses.

   [FYI:  Heide is the one who informed me that DS lives in CT and that she attended DS's studio Open House.]

   Group members who were not able to make the last meeting brought their 12 1/2" blue pieced blocks (and accompanying "apple green" "solid" print blocks:

Cheree's blue block
I think this block is really cool

assorted "apple green" non-pieced block contributions,
to coordinate with the blue blocks

Bottom:  Heather's blue pieced block

   Sunday's Mod Conn Quilter's meeting was held at Kellogg Environmental Center in Derby, CT.  

   Just down the path from the nature center is the Osborne Homestead, which is beautifully decorated especially for Christmas this time of year.

    Towards the end of our meeting, I was able to have a quick look as part of the last tour of the day.  No flash photography was permitted, but here are a few quick shots I took.

   Various town Garden Clubs are assigned different areas or rooms of the house, and each has a theme.  This year, the themes were based on classic holiday movies like How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Miracle on 34th Street, It's a Wonderful Life, etc.  All of the rooms were amazing.  If you live in this area, I highly recommend checking it out.  

   Sue Q., our host for the meeting, works at Kellogg, and she contributed a wonderful throw quilt with three reindeer silhouettes [the photo I have is from our last meeting, and is not in the photo library on this computer-- I will have to edit it in later today].  Her quilt looked wonderful in the context of the holiday decorated bedroom, but it I was unable to get a photo of it during the tour.  She also made a lovely yo-yo garland for the house tour. (Again, sorry no photo).

   I, too, had a bunch of my home-made goodies to share, but I will save that for another post (I'm thinking a Work-In-Progress Wednesday post may be in order-- I'm waiting for the binding fabrics to arrive for a bunch of my mug rugs), but here's a teaser/sneak peak of my stuff:

There are mug rugs hanging on the right and two ziploc bags
 filled with fabric-covered notebooks and tissue cozies.

Stay tuned...

   Although I have been very quiet and not posting much, I have been sewing daily.  I've learned a lot through trial and error and I'm happy to say that my skills are improving.   But I could not do it all without my trusty Seam Ripper-- Hail to my Friend (with a capital "F"), the seam ripper!!

See ya soon!

Mod Conn Quilters meeting [Part 1 of 2]

   Today was our (every other) monthly meeting of the Modern Connecticut Quilters Group. 

   Upon arrival, we laid out our 12 1/2" red pieced color blocks assigned from the last meeting.

Sue Q's lovely Kimono block.
The background fabric is black with tiny red specks.

Cheree's pieced block

more block arrivals
from Sue G. and her daughter, Maddie, on top

All the collected red blocks together at the end of the meeting

   In all the hustle of all my frantic gift-making for the holidays, I completely forgot to make my block!  Oops.  But there's no rush-- I can bring it to the next meeting.  There were a lot of members who could not make today's meeting due to holiday commitments, so more will be forthcoming.

   Next, there was Show & Tell...

Sue G. made this wonderful bag:

  And this lined bag for bringing lunch to work:

 Maddie (Sue G.'s 10 year-old daughter) made this little tote for Trick-or-Treating on Halloween.

   Our meeting was held in a very large science/lab type classroom.  Maddie was so cute: while we grown-ups were all chattering away, she practiced her step dancing off to the side.

   Cheree shared a beautiful quilt she made for her husband for Christmas.

  The fabrics were amazing, and I'm afraid the details are not captured in the photos.  Cheree's husband has worked for many years with the state's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).   (In fact, years ago, I attended one of his workshops.)  The fabrics are all nature-related, with a variety of animals and textures like birch bark and pebbles.  I love the batik background fabric with trees to bring the theme all together.

Michele made a chenille type quilt (mostly out of flannel, I think)

 and this quilt, which she will donate to a local hospital

Heather showed us this finished quilt

    For some reason, I am experiencing either computer or Blogger issues, and am unable to post more photos right now, so I will save the rest of "Show & Tell" for a second post tomorrow.
   But before I part with you-- guess what I learned today??  Denyse Schmidt lives in CT!!  Her studio is in Bridgeport (not 25 minutes from my home).  How 'bout that??!  All of you "abroad" DS fans who covet her fabrics from Joann's-- I like her stuff, too, but never knew she lived so close!!  It was very exciting for me to learn this.
   Anyway, I apologize for the technical difficulties, and I think I will try to post from my husband's desktop tomorrow to see if I can get better results with the photos/colors and the rest of the things people shared at the meeting.
   Have a good day and Happy Quilting!

I've Been Commissioned....

   Okay, so, well it sounds impressive in the title, but my "patrons" are actually my sister and our long-time housekeeper.  (Our housekeeper has been with our family for over thirty five years now.  She tidied and cleaned the house I grew up in once a week, and now that we've moved back to my hometown, she comes to our house weekly, and she is a Godsend!)
   So I'm actually getting paid to create all the things I've so enjoyed making over these past few months: mug rugs, tissue cozies/small cell phone cases, and notepad covers.
   I know this is not "big time" by any means, but I'm so excited to get paid to sew/quilt/be creative!
   Here's what I've been working on over the long holiday weekend:

mug rug

mug rug
(Oops- I cut off the head off the scooter rider!) 

   But I desperately need your advice, dear followers and visiting readers.  If I'm going to do this, then I'd like to have a "name" that I can put on a small tag or label.  There's no bloody way I'm going to advertise myself as Postpartum Quilter (we'll keep that for the blogosphere).
   Do any of you have any suggestions??
   I was kind of thinking that I might want to come up with a name that includes "crane" or "warbler" in it (both are kinds of birds I love).  And since I'm fond of making these:

I use this origami crane photo as my Flickr icon (photo ID) and apparently I've acquired a "reputation" amongst a small circle of my swap/bloggy friends (mostly in the UK) for my "trademark" origami cranes that I include in every swap or outgoing quilty parcel or giveaway item that I send.  I thought I might try to use that in some way.
   Please help me brainstorm-- anything and everything is welcome!  I appreciate your thoughts, ideas and feedback!  Bring it on!!
   Thanks to all of you who offer input :0)
Hope you're having a great weekend!

Weekly Wrap-up

   Oh how I wish I had the ability to be more prolific, like so many of the other quilting bloggers I read and follow... 

   But alas, my pace is slow and steady (like the tortoise). 

Self-portrait,
[image stolen from Aneela Hoey's Little Apples]

   Perhaps an image of Eeyore would be more appropriate here?

But I'm grateful that Ive been getting in some time each day at my machine :0)
 
   My creations, this week, are variations on some of the same stuff you've seen recently... 

1)  mini notebook cover for a dear friend in my therapy group who is "graduating".

Look familiar?  Yet another one!

inside view, with 3 1/2" x 5 1/2" mini moleskine
 journal (set of 2 from Target) ,
 complete with a mini pen in the pocket on the left.

2)  Another mini notebook cover for a male friend who is also "graduating" from my group.  This friend carried a rather tattered miniature marble composition book (c. 3 1/2" x 4 1/2") in his back pocket, stuffed with a bunch of loose papers, held together by a rubber band.  I thought he could use a cover to hold the whole thing together.

outside view: front cover on Right;
back cover on Left side

inside view of above notebook cover

3)  Potential Teacher's gift, using Aneela Hoey's Sherbet Pips.

front cover

Inside view with mini-(moleskine) journal,
 pocket and mini pen

4) A little notebook cover for my Hubster to record his gas mileage, etc.  He plays guitar (I think he has 6 different ones) and the piano.

front

back

inside view

5)  Thanksgiving Hostess gift: wine glass charms (to identify who's glass is whose). 

   What do you think of this idea?  Yes or No?

I got this idea from Better Homes & Gardens
(parent company of AllPeopleQuilt)
link here

   Supplies used (displayed below):

      - set of three mini-frame charms for $2.99 (in the beads section at Joann's)--

         they are frequently on sale for 30% off, or I may have used one of my  

         40% off coupons

      - set of six silver hoop earrings from Wal-Mart for $5

Do you have this problem:
I want to end this post with more text, but it won't let me scroll down or move down by hitting "return" several times....
So now I'm stuck with writing this closing as part of the caption for the photo above!
Just wanted to wish all my American friends a happy Thanksgiving--
and thanks to all my thoughtful  friends abroad who sent Thanksgiving wishes my way :0)

The Week In Review

   Progress continues at a snail's pace, but for now, that's the best I can do.
I made two different styles of eyeglass cases as "thank you" gifts.  The first case is larger in size, and more suitable for sunglasses, while the latter is smaller and more appropriate for reading glasses.
   The first is the Cute Sunglasses Case tutorial from Terri at Sew Fantastic.

My neighbor LOVES dogs, and has a golden retriever,
so I thought she would appreciate these fabrics.

    The second eyeglass case tutorial is from Amy at Made During Quiet Time.

    I've also been bit by the Hexie bug, and so have started some of these with leftovers from my Little Apples charm pack.

    I like that I can bring the Hexies with me in the car and do them on-the-go, wherever I am.  Not sure what I'm going to make with them yet, I'll just keep making them and then figure it out.
   Hope you're all enjoying lots of quilting time!  I've been enjoying reading everyone's blogs and seeing what you're working on!
   Have a great weekend!