Re-doing the Letters

The job I had to do yesterday was not a fun one. The lettering on the Easton 300 Anniversary Quilt was fraying around the edges. With so many people working on the quilt, somehow the fabric used for the letters turned out not be genuine ultra suede. The lady that brought it to me to quilt pointed out that the letters were fraying. What do we do? It is intended for the quilt to travel around this year to all of the anniversary celebrations. We thought that as it is handled it would continue to fray.

We decided I would go ahead and quilt it while someone picked up some ultra suede and cut out more letters just a tiny bit larger and I would put them on over top of the fraying ones. Well, just try to find black ultra suede on the Delmarva Peninsula. After some calling around one of the ladies found it in Dover, Delaware. Phyllis went to pick it up on Sunday. They did not have black, it was navy. Now what do we do?

Now remember the quilt needs to be ready for the presentation on April 14th. So after much discussion and looking on the internet, it was decided to use black Kona cotton. Phyllis prepared the letters and turned the edges under with glue stick. She got the letters to me late Monday. I was determined to get the letters on yesterday.

I loaded the quilt onto the longarm again. I placed some of the letters over the fraying ones. I did not like how it looked. Fraying edges were sticking out. I thought I would try removing one letter and see how it looks.

Yes, that is what I needed to do. So I proceeded to remove all of the letters.

I put all of the letters and numbers on with glue stick. Then I very slowly and carefully began to sew the letters on with the longarm. To me this was a slow process, but was probably better than trying to do it on a domestic machine. I am pleased with the turn out and it is definitely better than the fraying stuff.

7 Sisters Raffle Quilt

Every year 7 Sisters makes a quilt to be raffled off to benefit the Trappe Fire Company. I quilted it yesterday.

Flowers on 300 Anniversary Quilt

Yesterday 3 ladies from the 300 Anniversary Quilt Committee came over to put some more applique' flowers on the quilt.

Before

After pinning more on.

Since I already had the quilt quilted, I sewed the flowers and leaves on with the longarm.

All done. Don't you think it looks better with more? Especially with the black-eyed-susans since it is the state flower.

Customer's Quilt

This is Judith’s quilt that I finished yesterday.

It was decided that the 300 Anniversary Quilt could use some more appliquéd flowers. In the afternoon I worked on preparing some flowers and leaves. Today 3 other committee members are coming over with flowers and leaves and we will finalize the layout. I would like to get them applied today or tomorrow. Then I need to take pictures of the quilt and individual blocks. We are having a book made to document the quilt.

Tonight we will not be quilting at the 7 Sisters meeting. Party Night! Another one of the girls turns 50. We have a 50^th birthday party just about every year. Cheryl is the one over the hill this year. There are only 2 of us still under 50. My turn is next year.

March UFO

Quilting UFO for March is finished. I was up at 5:00 this morning and got it done.This is a Dresden Plate that I started in a class by Gyleen Fitzgerald in the Spring of 2008. I chose to lay mine out differently from her pattern. I had decided to take the class at my guild the day before. All of the fabric was chosen from my stash. In the background of each of the 4 blocks I quilted a different filler. I really like how this quilt turned out. 

Comfort Quilts

Finally, I am having a very productive week. I quilted several comfort quilts for the 7 Sisters Quilt Guild. A few weeks ago we identified 4 women in our community dealing with health issues, some of them with cancer. Here are 3 of those quilts. (I forgot to take a picture of one of them.)

This year, 2010, Easton Maryland is celebrating 300 years as a town. The Bayside Quilters are making a quilt for this occasion. I have been a part of this committee. The quilt came to me on Monday. I spent 2 days quilting it. We still need to add some appliquéd flowers and bind it. The quilt will be officially presented to the town at the April guild meeting. This quilt is an outstanding piece of work. I will post a picture after the presentation.

I am now quilting my UFO for March. I should have it complete with pictures tomorrow.

PA Friends Drop In

This is the quilt I finished Yesterday. I love doing feather wreaths.

Look what showed up on my doorstep!

Beth, Lorie, and Denise

Today has been such a fun day. First of all it is the most beautiful day so far this year. And best of all, 3 very dear old friends (from like middle school) stopped in for lunch today on their way to the beach.

Do you think my tractor is sexy?

Everyone loved all of the great props we have for pictures.

Beautiful Day for a Parade

My Art Bee met yesterday. Sylvia presented a demo on shadows. Here is my try at it. I love how it looks so dimensional.

Yesterday was the MOST BEAUTIFUL day for a parade. My daughter is in the Middle School Band and they played in the St. Patrick's Day Parade.

My Baltimore Album Bee meets today. 

Customer's Quilts

Here are a couple of my finishes for the week.

Time to pack for the weekend. My daughter is going on a youth retreat so my husband and I decided to go away for the weekend too. I am really looking forward to it. 

Retreat Pictures Finally!

Finally, I have added the photos from The Bayside Quilters Retreat in Ocean City! 

Just go to Photos on the left and click.

Yesterday’s class on Labels and Photo Image Transfer on Computer went very well. To prepare the fabric for printing I use Bubble Jet Set 2000. You soak the fabric. 

Let it dry. Iron on to freezer paper. Cut exactly to 8 ½ x 11 inches and put through the printer.

Here are some of the labels I made.

Label Class

Bayside Quilters meet today. After the meeting I am teaching a class. The class is "Labels and Image Transfers on the Computer." My lap top was sick for quite a while. I just got it back late Monday. I spent yesterday getting ready for the class today. I had to take my daughter to school today because my husband is out of town. I am sitting in Panera before guild starts. I have not posted in so long and I have the time now.

There is still so much I need to do to get my computer back to the way I like it. As soon as I get Picasa loaded again I will add all of the pictures from retreat.

I Won The Gold

I just returned from 3 full days of quilting heaven. The Bayside Quilters went to the Dunes Manor Hotel in Ocean City, Maryland. We all had a blast. When we were not sewing we were eating or talking. This was a great chance to get to know some of my fellow quilters a lot better. Aren't all quilters wonderful people? I also got a lot of tops done and a new one started (a string quilt). My lap top is still sick, ( a really bad virus) so I will post more pictures when I get it back. It is not fun using this old desktop.

Anyway, while at retreat we held the 2010 Bayside Quilters Winter Olympics. Look who took home the Gold. ME!!!!!!!!!!!!

Elaine and Diann really look up to me.

Everyone had a great time belting out the Star Spangled Banner!