Get-together and Class Trip

We had a busy morning and afternoon.  It was a rainy day, which we rarely have, but this didn't stop us from going to Jerusalem to shop for fabric.  First I'll mention the lovely show and tell quilt tops that were shown this past Monday.

Naomi is working on pot holders.  She saw a pattern for a tea cup and saucer that she liked so she came up with her own pattern.

Esther made another small applique.  She's not sure what she is doing with it yet, but it's very cute.

Susan brought 2 quilt tops that she will finish soon.  We all love her work and it gives us a great deal of inspiration and motivation to keep going. The first quilt top shown was redone. You can read about it on her blog. 

http://susanquilts.blogspot.com/

Shifra saw this fabulous quilt in a Fons and Porter magazine. 

She said I want this, so she went home and made these 6 blocks.  Much of the fabric used was special because it came from her family's clothing.  There will be many memories in this quilt.

After all this hard work we decided to take a class trip and go to Budrutz which I recently mentioned on this blog.  Here is a picture of Budrutz and some fabric that was purchased.

Mah Jongg

Several of our quilters like to take a break from sewing and play a game called Mah Jongg once a week.  You ladies from the New York area may be very familiar with this Chinese tile game.  What a nice distraction from everyday trials and stress.  Even quilting can get stressful at times. I have seen Mah Jongg fabric which is a real treat to those that play this game.

Weekly Get-together

Wow-what a busy day we had.  It started by sandwiching 3 new quilts.  The ladies can now start quilting and finishing them. We've been using the dinning room table instead of the floor and that has been working out well for us. Not everyone has done this before so it was a great learning experience.  Everyone helped to get them pinned so the quilts were done in record time.

Susan showed the progress of her Scottie Dog quilt.  It's so adorable.  You can also see it own her blog "High on the Hill"

http://susanquilts.blogspot.com/

Shifra finished her mother's handkerchief quilt.  We were all so pleased that this quilt came out so beautiful.  When she started we all wondered if this project of love would really turn out they way we hoped and it certainly did.  This quilt is nothing to sneeze at!

Renee S. brought in one of the many pillows she is making for her grandchildren.  Note the little pocket on the back that will hold the doll clothes.  She is also making making some for the girls.

Renee also finished the first of her two Dresden Plate quilts. This is the first time she has tried this pattern and it came out lovely.  When you have two twin beds in the same room you sort of have to make matching quilts.  Many of don't like to do the same quilt twice, in this case it will be worth it.

Just For Me Quilt

Sara has just finished her "Just For Me Quilt".  It's called this because she just can't think of giving this one away.  The batik fabrics are so vibrant.  Everyone just wants to keep looking at it.

Color Catcher

Susan introduced me to this terrific product.  I just bought some red, black and navy fabric.  Lately I haven't been washing my new fabric.  I guess I've been getting lazy. This shows me how important this first step in quilting is.  Just throw the fabric sheet into the wash and it will catch the dye.  Thank you Susan for this wonderful hint.

Susan's Giveaway

Sara was the happy winner of Susan's latest giveaway.  Look at all the wonderful goodies!  You can follow Susan's blog for outstanding creativity and inspiration.

http://susanquilts.blogspot.com/

Copycat Quilts

I'm not a cat lover but I was certainly intrigued when I saw this pattern.  I saw it as a pillow in black and white and I said "I must make this pattern".  It's an older pattern by Dawn Navarro.  I bought her new revised book recently. All you cat lovers out there that have not made it yet, would like this.  When you turn the pattern upside down it is repeated.  We have a follower called Catswhiskers.  If she hasn't made this pattern yet, I'm sure she will want to.  You might like to look into her blog.

http://gina-catswhiskers.blogspot.com/

Renee S Has a New Grandson

Mazel Tov to Renee S and family on the birth of your new grandson.  He was named Avraham at his Bris yesterday in Jerusalem.  May he always bring nachus and joy to his family.

Birthday Present

Sandy and Geri are the best sisters ever!  With their gift I was able to purchase these exciting books and some of the fabric we just showed from Butrutz.

Budrutz

Budrutz has gotten in wonderful quilt shop quality fabric at very good prices.  We've been asking and asking.  So now he has made a little quilting corner in his store.  Also, he is  carrying rotary cutters, cutting boards and more.  Please stop in when you are in Jerusalem and see what they have.  I'm very pleased with the Windham fabrics that I bought.  Have a look!

Show and Tell #8

Naomi has finished her wall hanging.  I want you to see the lovely matching fabric covered buttons.  She made them today as we watched her.  Now I think everyone will want to do this on their projects.

Naomi also just came from a class where she made this felt picture and frame.  It's ready to hang. I didn't get the best picture of this.  It really is adorable.

Esther brought along some knitting.  It's wonderful to see that everyone has more than one creative outlet. We don't always want to do the same thing all the time.

This looks like hands all around.  I'm not sure what actually was going on.  These ladies seem to really be looking over this piece that Susan is hand piecing.  Since Susan comes to us from Jerusalem by bus she likes to have some handwork to do along the way.

Susan finished this scrap quilt and is showing it on her blog.  Stop in and visit her anytime -- you will be pleased that you did.

http://susanquilts.blogspot.com/

Avigail has finished the main part of her new top.  This week she will put on her boarders.  It's her first quilt and is very excited about doing this.

Sara put on an interesting boarder.  I want all of you to see this. I like when someone does something different.

Sara continues to work on this very large Grandmothers flower garden quilt. It's English paper piecing and Sara enjoys doing this.  No, it is not a poached egg! Each flower is so different.  We all like to see how each one develops.

Renee S. showed us a new way to make circles.  This method is using a round cardboard template. Wrapping the fabric around the template and then basting.  All you have to do is pull the thread and make it tight and then remove the cardboard.  Simple-that's what I like.

Susan also brought with her an old UFO from the past.  These Scotty dogs are just adorable.  All of us wanted to make a copy of her revised template so that we can make them too. 

Rina's New Granddaughter

Mazel Tov Rina on your new granddaughter. Chanie was born in the USA and was the first baby born on January 1, 2010 at the Jackson Hole, Wyoming hospital. As first born of the New Year, she has the honor of being in the newspaper and getting a ton of gifts from local businesses!!!

Apple Core Quilt

I recently bought another acrylic template from Sharlene Jorgenson's website, Quilting from the Heartland.

http://www.qheartland.com/

It's made so well and I can make many accurate apple cores at one time.  You can do this pattern by machine but I enjoy doing this type of work by hand.  I can take it anywhere and I usually do.  When I ride the buses in Israel and sitting with friends or waiting for a doctor appointment.  It's very calming for me.  It's a long project and will take some time to complete.  Also I'm only using fabric from old shirts, skirts etc.  I've been inspired by Bonnie Hunter who wrote the book Scraps and Shirttails.  I have only a few apple cores on my design wall at this time. 

I can't say enough about having a design wall.  I couldn't be without it anymore.  I put up an inexpensive fleece blanket with tape a year ago and it's still holding up well.  Quilters don't always have to spend allot of money on their favorite hobby.

Helpful Hint

I had a problem with one of my tables in my quilting room (yes, I have my own quilting room).  I use this table mostly for cutting; but, because it is actually a kitchen table, it was not high enough.  Hubby came up with an idea that you may want to use for your quilting table (even though I had seen the idea on the web, I let him think it was his).  He bought a board cut to the size of the table and put some old boards that we had on the table to raise the height to meet my needs.  The space between the tabletop and the new board gave me a shelf to store supplies and tools.  All was covered with a table cloth and, of course, my cutting board.  The days of bending over to do my cutting are no more and my back is grateful.  I am sure that the ladies who meet here every week will enjoy it also.  A picture is worth a thousand words – here are two which saved me 2000 words of typing.