What we do at quilt guild

Though I am a bit sporadic at attending our monthly guild meetings, I always enjoy it when I do go.  Here are some of the things we did during 2015.

One of my goals for 2014-15 was to reduce the size of my stash and to complete unfinished projects. I've been using what I already have for all the quilts both I and my grandkids made.  These are "some" of the cupboards where fabric is stashed, as well as the file cabinets.  In addition I had about 4 tubs of cloth.  But I have made good progress.

During the winter I made these "valentine" related pillow cases.  I can't remember if I sent them to grandkids or friends, or if I have them stashed somewhere.!!!  That's what happens when you do a "catch up blog" for the past year -- and why you should blog when things are fresh in your mind.  But, hey, at least a took photos...so I know I made something!  These used up quite a bit of my random stash.

Quilts I showed at the March 18, 2015 meeting made from my stash.

 I have a huge collection of purple fabric, and love this wave pattern that Kathy Hurst taught us.

I used my fall collection of jelly rolls, plus deer panels I'd had for about 10 years.

I have enough left to make another hunting quilt.

I

Pincushion night...all sorts of zany and practical cushions appeared and were shared.  May meeting 2015

 

Fabrics from around the world were shared at one meeting.  I brought samples from Mexico (when we went to the Yucatan) and from Costa Rica and the Panama Canal cruise.  I hope to put these into a quilt this next year.

November work day.  Debbie taught us how she makes placemats.

This is where I started cutting out my Southwest crazy patch pieces.

Guild helps make quilts for Umlazi South Africa.

Our guild made dozens of baby quilts and receiving blankets which were sent with the Murdocks in Africa.  

December 9, 2015 · 
 Africa.
Church members donated hand-crafted quilts and blankets as well as other baby clothing and supplies to 67 newborn babies. The quilts and blankets were hand-made and donated by the Grayson Country Quilters Guild of Blanding, Utah, USA. Other baby supplies were donated by Church members from Idaho, USA. 
The Hospital, which has 1206 beds, delivers on average over 40 newborns every day. These sweet mothers were very pleased with the outpouring of love, kindness and generosity directed towards them.

Jerry and Tina Murdock who recently served as missionaries in this area transported the blankets from the USA to South Africa and were instrumental in this charitable act.

" Thank you Grayson Country Quilters Guild for your love and donation to these ladies. They were received with such gratitude."

   

Four Baptisms in 2015

 Grandma Janet made baptism comforters for all four children who were born in 2007:  Logan, Ava, Jaxon, and Adam.

Logan was born June 14, 2007 and baptized by her father Anthony in 2015.

Ava was born August 24, 2007 and baptized by her dad, Quentin.

Jaxon was born September 10, 2007 and baptized by his father, Andrew.

 Adam was born September 12, 2007, and baptized by his brother, Michael 

Fall Retreat 2015

Two of my favorite compatriots at the sewing machine!  Carole Fredere and Nancy Kimmerle.  This is the second year we've sewn at this beautiful lodge together.

This is how the Eiffel Tower quilt began by cutting out the fabrics into blocks

Next each block was dissected into 8 different shapes, and then they were restacked using different patterns into a new block.

This is how it looks when the different blocks are redistributed.

 

Some of the great ladies who attended the 3 day retreat.  I was only able to stay 2 days, as we were headed north for grandkid activities.  But I always love going.

One of the interesting quilts that Debbie Christiansen worked on...a quilt bookshelf.

Summer Social at the Wilcoxes 2015

The August Summer Social was held on our patio.  Debbie Christiansen was our president during 2015 and did a great job.

Heber's Dinosaurs 2015

Heber Karl was born July 27, 2015, and these are the dinosaurs he gets to play with.  We are so thankful he is here, as his mommy went through some stressful times waiting for his arrival!  

This was my first effort in creative applique.  We found some pictures in coloring books, and then booking for fabric that might work.  It was fun to do, but like everything takes time.  But this little guy was worth it!

I Love Teaching Grandkids to Sew

Some of my favorite memories growing up were when my mom was teaching me how to sew. She helped start a 4-H club with the neighborhood girls up on Antelope Bench where we farmed, and it was always so fun getting together once a week, and learning together.   My Grandmother Murphy then taught me how to make quilt blocks, and from there I never looked back.  I've almost always had some kind of sewing project going.

A few years ago when I was Quilt Guild president, my secretary Gail Glover suggested we start a 4-H quilt camp after school was out for the summer.  It has been a very successful program, and since then I have continued inviting grandkids to come quilt with me, sometimes at the camp, and sometimes just at home.  These quilts were finished up during the summer of 2015.

My oldest granddaughter Laurie, found a picture of a pattern she liked, and we attempted to replicate it.  We came pretty close, and the black and white looks great with the purples.   While she was working on her quilt, Peyton, was making this cute puppy dog quilt.  It took a lot of work, as this was her first quilt ever, but she did great.  When she took it to the County Fair she got a blue ribbon.  It was fun working with both of them, and Laurie had enough experience that she could help Peyton too.

 First we went hunting in Grandma's stash for colors and prints that would work together.  Then Peyton and Laurie cut out the strips and squares and laid them on the Front Room table to figure out a pattern.

Next Peyton stitched them together, and did some unpicking too -- which is part of learning to sew! When I went up to help Autumn when Heber was born (July 27) I taught Peyton how to tie the quilt, and then I bound it for her.  The only complaint the Fair judges had when she won her blue ribbon, was that the binding wasn't very neat!!  Great 1st quilt, Peyton.

 Madison got the quilting bug in 2015 too, and used her creativity in making a really cute quilt, which she embellished eventually with surf boards!  We started by going over to Grandma Connie's and raiding her stash.  These are the colors and patterns we confiscated!! and it looked great.  She is a very motivated young girl, and stuck with it even after I left and had to head home. 

Mattea starts sewing strips and blocks together.

 Once we had the rows of strips/blocks set together, we laid it on the floor to get the design we wanted.

 
After I left, Mattea finished the quilt, and then she embellished it with these 3 cute suft boards, and Hawaiian flowers!  Great job, Mattea.

While their mom was busy having a baby, I made this play house for the Jeppson grandkids.  I used a sheet Autumn already had for the main house, and then just embellished with trees, grass, windows, etc. Hopefully, they continue to use it for awhile, as it took quite a bit of time to make, but they should have fun playing in it.

.