Nimble Thimbles Gone Wild {at the 3/14/15 DOQ Donation Quilt Workshop}

Five members of the Nimble Thimbles Quilt Bee joined in the Donation Quilt Workshop hosted by DOQ this past Saturday.  Our blog editor was on the scene to snap some photos from the day.

Ruth B. opted for brighter colors for her newest quilt:

Sarah had everything at her fingertips:

Britt chose to clear out her RED scraps:

Gayle assessed her backing options:

Joy was busy checking out the cutting table:

Looking for scraps, no doubt!!  :P

DOQ member, Tonya, brought a pattern for this quick Slice and Dice - Uneven Nine Patch for members to try.  (The pattern was designed by Abigail Dolinger, January 2011)  Mary Ed made this sample quilt in about ONE hour!!!

Here is a shot of the top of the Lattice Quilt that members were making blocks for during last month's Donation Quilt Workshop:

YOU can make one of your own!!  Follow this LINK to Cissa's blog for a brief photo tutorial.

This is a shot of a quick Quilts of Valor quilt that was made using strata for the"string" portion:

Have a look around the room at Mt. Carmel Baptist Church... Thanks!  MCBC for providing us with PLENTY of work space:

Sewing stations...

Pressing stations...

Fabric selection station...

Cutting station...

A nice, BIG "consultation" area...

As well as, a dining area... because quilters LOVE to eat!!!

There was even room for Joy to spread out her GIANT Crumb quilt!!

Thanks for stopping by and if you are in the area of Chapel Hill, North Carolina around this time next month, consider stopping in to join in the fun!  There's another workshop planned for Saturday, April 25th, 2015.  We are back at St. Thomas More Catholic Church for that event.

Until next time...
Go make a Donation Quilt for your favorite charity.
You won't regret it!!!

3/12/15 - CCLQ @ DeeDee's

The members of Cherry Creek Lane Quilters got a real treat today.  It was Dee Dee's BIG reveal of her NEW improved studio!!!  Sorry to say that the blog editor was NOT among those in attendance.  :o((

Everyone was there EXCEPT Jean, Joy, and Linda.  Jean is away and the other two were at work.

If Dee Dee will allow me to stop by after work one day this week, I will snap some pictures to add to the blog.  Otherwise, you'll just have to wait for the next time we are at her house for me to post pics of her then not-sew-new studio space.

Note:  This post has been edited to add photos from a private tour.

Do you have a few minutes?  Come take a walk with me.  We're going on a tour.

Here's a shot taken from just inside the Studio door.  The space is a true WORK room:

On the left is the "Art & Inspiration Center":

 


You have this view  of the "Cutting Center" from the studio entrance:

Step inside and see the "Sewing Center":

 Wait!!  You missed the "Pressing Center":

Once you are all the way inside, turn around and have a look at the "Project Storage Center":

Wouldn't you LOVE to have so much USABLE storage???  I know that I would!!!

One last stop... the "Library Center" hidden beneath the Pressing Center - along with a better view of Dee Dee's new drawers (and we're NOT talking about underwear here!!):

I'm not sure what happened to the photo of Dee Dee's design walls.  Yes.  She has TWO!!  One design wall is on an actual wall, with plenty of room to step away from her work to view the designs.

Oh, wait!

Here is a photo of the "roll up" design wall that was installed above the closet doors.  It rolls down (over the closed doors) like a regular window roller shade shutting out the sun, but it's made of a felt-type material so that project bits can be temporarily adhered to its surface (or, in fact, rolled up WITH the "wall" to store for a future sewing session!):

It's the PERFECT solution for any quilter who has a closet in the sewing room, but no "flat" wall for a design space!!  Let me know if you find out who makes them... Dee Dee couldn't remember.

Special thanks to Barry P. for installing the new cabinets and counter tops!!!

Until next time...
Happy Quilting!!!

3/5/15 - CCLQers Head to Durham Today..

Hooray!!!  It's wet out, but it's NOT snow or ice!!!

Any number of members were at the home of Ruth S. today.  I, however, was not.  :o((

The good news is that Deborah took some (brief) notes and sent along some pictures, so I (almost) felt like I was there.  :o))

The bad news is that I haven't figured out how to get the pictures from my email to the blog.  The first attempt failed, but I will consult my tech guy as soon as possible and try again. (Tech guy is home for Spring Break...  Mission accomplished!!!)


Here's what our busy hands have made recently:

Cheryl K. got really creative when making the Healing Hands quilt for her friend, Judy.  How creative??  She added photos of group members to the label!!!

Deborah has finished hand quilting 3 points on the Texas Star quilt that her grandmother hand pieced.

Ella brought the LED lights.  Hooray!!

Dee Dee's bag of items from the final clean up of her studio. Next week will be the big reveal of her new studio space!!

Candy is finishing a donation quilt, but she doesn't know who made it.

Ella brought Barry's flannel donation quilt to share with us.

Dee Dee is giving away a pile of stuff from her studio.  (Thank goodness Joy wasn't here to snarf it all up!!!)

Gayle made a donation quilt for Jubilee House in Fayetteville:

And one for another organization:

One more! Dee Dee' s Chick quilt.  (TOO cute!!)

That's it for this week.

The blog "editor" should be back for next week's meeting.  Is that a good thing or a bad thing... YOU decide!!!

Until next time...
Daylight Savings Time starts THIS weekend!!!

2/26/15 - CCLQ @ Ella's... Not sew much!!!

The bulk of yesterday was a beautiful sunny day with temperatures nearing 50* in the sun.  At that time, the weather predictions seemed ludicrous!  However, somewhere around 3 PM, the skies started to change and the temps began to plummet.  We'll see what happens...


Last night Ella wrote:  OK everyone put those vibes to work and make the snow go south.


Ruth S. replied:  So - maybe the snow will stay south. If so I'll see you tomorrow. If not it's my house next week barirng any MORE now.


Ruth B. added:  OK, I'll do that. I don't relish getting stuck under 8-12" of snow.  The kids in the neighborhood will slide down the little hill leading to my street and compress the snow till it's all slippery!  Then it's very hard to get out of our street.......for days and days. Ugh.

Gayle said:  Houston, we have a problem, the snow came from the south...lol...

As you can see from the conversation above, today's meeting was scheduled for Ella's house.  Those of us who went to bed early awoke wondering if we would ACTUALLY be meeting this morning.


Why???


The forecast called for EVEN MORE SNOW. Six to eight inches of it!!


Here's what happened...


The view from Joy's back window:

Her view from the front door:

The view as she stepped out of the garage:

And around the corner one way:

Then the other way:

Here's the view at the end of the driveway:

This is the path that Joy had to shovel to get that last photo:

Ella sent an email this morning stating:  It is official, my snow shovel is not big enough.

Joy surmised that meant there will be NO MEETING today.  :o((

Cheryl K. wrote saying:  We do not own a snow shovel. So we will only be walking out of here for a while

Linda said:  This is what I call a "snow day". Great day for sewing, but wish I could share everyone's company. Hope everyone is safe and warm.

Dee Dee wrote saying:  Hope everyone has power!We really need to learn how to do Google Hangouts so we could still meet on days like this

Deborah said:  We have power and Eddie bought a big snow shovel yesterday. Thank goodness! Great day for quilting. Does anyone know how to do Google hangouts or Go To Meeting.com? Maybe one of us can figure it out and we can have a virtual bee!

Jean wrote saying:  No power here. Has anyone heard anything? 

Linda responded:  Jean, I heard about 8,000+ customers in Orange County are without power. Seems mostly because trees have fallen on lines. Hope your power comes back soon.

To which Jean replied:  Thanks. I need my latte to function

Post-post additional responses:

Ruth B. had the following to add:  Well, aren't you the tech-savvy quilter?  I don't even know what Google Hangout is.  

Jean, I'm so sorry that you don't have power.  That stinks, and i hope it will be back soon.  Maybe you can do some imagery (is that what they call it?) and pretend that Rick has brought you your cup of cappuccino.  

I'm all settled in for a day or two or three of being snowed in.  I'll be reading my book for book club on Sunday, All the Light We Cannot See, highly recommended, interspersed with making some more blocks.  A fun day or two or three.  Well maybe not after three!  

Stay dry and powered/powerful! 

Candy chimed in with:  I had no idea how lucky I am!  I have power, internet, and everything else I need.  I also have 2 friends visiting from Boston.  This is just what they needed, right?

(To which Joy thought, how ironic!)



And finally:  All is well here. I slept in and then made myself a bacon, egg, toast breakfast.  Still it is a poor substitute for being with all of you! Keep safe and warm

Hugs

Gayle


Oops!  Later in the day there was MORE irony...


Just got our power and internet back.  My friend Donna is sorry to have missed meeting all of you.  She left NY to escape the snow and cold.  So much for that plan. Hope to see you all in Durham next week. Have a safe trip Jean and I'll see you in April.  Ruth S.

Hours and hours later...  Just got our power back. At least we had day light! Finished a book and did a little knitting. Reflected a bit on how dependent our lives are on power. Too bad I couldn't vac for the house guests that arrive tomorrow!

Missed you all. Have a very productive month. Once the temperature goes above our age, we'll be back! 
Jean

Editor's note:  I'm not sure what happened with the font size, etc. in this post, but here are things to remember:

1. Stay safe and warm.
2. Quilt, if you can.
3. If you ARE quilting today, feel free to report in and I'll add it to this post.


Until next time...
Happy Snow Day... or not!!!  :P

2/21/15 - NT @ Cheryl K.'s

NC is still giving us a few winter challenges. Oh, the driving was fine, but getting to the meeting was a bit dicey with a bit of a treacherous driveway to navigate. But still 13 quilters gathered at Cheryl K.'s house on Saturday.  (There would have been 14, but Helena's dog, Tilly, got out as she was leaving.  As Tilly is a menace to the neighborhood chickens she HAD to be retrieved.   Helena sent her hellos to everyone!)

Thank you to Cheryl for opening her home and thanks to everyone who brought food to share.

February:
2/24 - NT Nights 6:30 PM @ Hillsborough Library

March:
3/14 - DOQ Donation Quilt Workshop
3/21 - NT @ Ruth B.'s House 10 AM
3/31 - NT Nights 6:30 PM @ Hillsborough Library

April:
4/11 - Mary Jo's Trip
4/28 - DOQ Donation Quilt Workshop
4/28 - NT Nights 6:30 PM @ Hillsborough Library


SHOW AND TELL:
There was PLENTY of eye candy this meeting. You know we've been busy when show and tell takes something like 90 minutes.  Yay us!

Joy brought the Lime Twist donation quilt, named Strawberry {Upside Down} Shortcake, that she started last week at the DOQ Donation Quilt Workshop AND one of the TWO commission T-shirt quilts that she is working on.

Jacob's top

Jacob's top is done and Kennedy's will be next.  (Cheryl B. insisted later that she bring out her Crumb Quilt for all to see.  Binding on two sides nearly done!)

Ruth S. shared her completed guest room quilt that she made last summer.  Gayle quilted it and Ruth just finished the binding.  She bought the fabrics at Mary Jo's last year. Not bad, from purchase to completion in LESS than a year!

She also finished her 1st miniature quilt (inspired by Joy and kit from Houston) AND the donation quilt top that she was working on at the DOQ Donation Quilt Workshop last weekend.  Nice work!

Ruth B. brought her iPad to show off the Before and After pictures of her sewing room, changed from last month.  Apparently, she withheld the closet transformation photos, too.  She also shared the quilt blocks she started at last week's DOQ Donation Quilt Workshop.  They are very bright and cheerful.  They were made from the pattern created by Diane Herrema.

Cheryl B. had NO show and tell today.  Shocking!! LOL!

Carol showed off her Toddler Quilt that Cheryl B. just returned.  It's for her 2.75 y.o. grandson for his "big boy" bed.

Back

Front

Cheryl K. finished the quilting on her Healing Hands quilt.  It's for her friend, Judy, who is going through chemo.  Next step - binding - and then it will be put into service. I'm sure it will be a treasured gift.

Ella shared her Houston Group Round Robin quilt.  She brought it for Cheryl B. to quilt.  It's going to be simply stunning!

It's actually being held sideways in these photos, tilt your head ;)

Linda showed us the pieced backing for her daughter's College Graduation quilt.  She also brought the BQ2 pattern for Cheryl K. to see, but let us all have a look.  :o))

Linda also shared some VERY cute little Snowball Pinwheel blocks that were inspired by an online tutorial - they use 5" charm squares.  The block also produces bonus triangles for another project - gotta love that!

Blocks in various stages

adding the corner triangles

.

Gayle's been busy!  She's been making a Donation Quilt per week.  Lime Twist has been her "pattern of choice."

cool back!

Awesome front!

Gayle also brought along the Flying Geese Log Cabin block that she has been working on.  It's from the Missouri Star Quilt Company.  Awesome made in brights with black "geese!"

This week's donation quilt is for a boy.  Done, of course, in the Lime Twist pattern.  Breaking from the norm, she used pieced centers on this one.  Nice change of pace!

Dee Dee began by sharing some art quilt bits and pieces that have yet to be completed.  Always so fun to see what she's come up with!

She also did a Nature Challenge with Jean.  It used stamping, painting, sketching, and quilting.  That reveal is below as she wanted to reveal her quilt at the same time as Jean.  She wanted to share her studio makeover, but she forgot her iPad.  Thankfully Ella saved the day!  She had pictures of the base cabinets with drawers that Barry installed for Dee Dee, creating a new cutting table and a new painting table.  The room looks SO much more open! (sorry no pictures of the pictures!)

Jean showed us the 2 Policeman Memory Quilts that she made, so very touching.

And her quilt for the Best of Dentistry Weekend quilt.  For that, she used Gloria Loughman's tiled background technique and painted using acrylic paints & thread painted daffodils on "ugly" lining fabric.

As if that wasn't enough quilty goodness...Dee Dee AND Jean revealed their Nature Themed Challenge quilts!!!  They turned them at the same time to show the group and then turned them to each other.  So cute to watch and what BEAUTIFUL work was produced!!!

Dee Dee used thread painting, rust dyed cheese cloth on Peltex 70 ultra-firm sew-in interfacing along with some couched fabric that she pulled out of the closet. Jean used a thick "fun foam" carved stamp and layers of paint on "ugly" fabric.  She Fray Checked the edges because she didn't want to bind the piece.

Candy brought herself (with Linda driving!)  Welcome back, Candy!!!

Britt brought a Strippy Transportation themed donation quilt top that she started at the DOQ Donation Quilt Workshop last Saturday

and a completed "Jelly Roll Race" quilt made from fabrics in her stash with appliqued stars to add more red to the quilt.  She used free motion quilting to add perceived motion to the quilt with a wavy quilting pattern.

She also took home quilt tops from the DOQ workshop to quilt for others.  This one is from a new quilter that Sarah has been working with.  It's a Row by Row string quilt.  Nice quilting job, Britt!

Whew! After all that wonderful show and tell we were famished!  On to LUNCH!!!  :o))


TENTATIVE FUTURE SCHEDULING:

May:
5/16 - Candy (Britt for back-up)
5/26 - NT Nights 6:30 PM @ Hillsborough Library

June:
Dee Dee (13th or 20th) for Annual Dye Frenzy
6/30 - NT Nights 6:30 PM @ Hillsborough Library

July:
Cheryl B. (11th or 18th) for Sew Saturday (?)
7/28 - Nights 6:30 PM @ Hillsborough Library

August:

Jean (8th or 15th)

8/25 - NT Nights 6:30 PM @ Hillsborough Library