Retreat - Projects of Sharon & Terry

It seems ridiculous to group things this way, but I took a picture as we began our retreat. And since Sharon and Terry are in the photo, that seems a random enough reason to share their projects in today's post.

And I will say from the get-go that I did not get pictures of all they accomplished. Actually, for someone who wants to eventually blog about what all we accomplished, I am rather haphazard in my information gathering. My apologies.

Sharon, in the foreground, had as she called it, utility quilts to make. She was attempting to whittle down her tub of flannel fabrics and made some pretty decent progress on a couple of quilts that will undoubtedly make for cozy TV watching.

Layer cake squares went together fast for a floral beauty. Another, which I apparently did not take a picture, is a Rail Fence pattern of brownish/burgundy and off-white. 

A wall hanging for her daughter was also on Sharon's agenda. She made this as far as she could go with her fabric on hand. One more row of leaves across the top will be added, and then it'll be ready to finish up.

Last, her wonderful "WOW" quilt is another Alpine quilt. She's made 2 of these already, but wanted one for Christmas. These trees are stunning! Click here to see one of her previous versions of Alpine.

Terry worked on a complicated-looking quilt called Michigan by Laundry Basket Quilts. She did quite a bit of prepping before coming to retreat, so getting her quilt top together took just a couple of days.

This is an example of the prep work done ahead of time. Small units were ready to go at retreat which made construction all the faster.

 Don't you love the alternative color choices? These blues, greens and browns are much more suited to Terry's color palate than the corals on the pattern. It looks spectacular.

After finishing this, she stitched curved basket handles for a quilt she has in progress. And last she was concentrating on tracing a rather involved applique for a Christmas quilt. I do not have a picture of either of these efforts. I will surely see her working on them again, though, so stay tuned. 

A brief recap today, to be sure. We are heading off to pick up our sweet Cate for an overnight at our house! Fun on our horizon, right?

Happy Quilting,  Friends!

Jayne 

Gifting A Pillow

Yesterday, Sharon and I spent the day sewing, and we exchanged our Christmas gifts, too. I can finally share the gift I made for her.

I don't know if I've ever divulged this tidbit about my dear friend, but she loves red. Really loves red. One of the first quilts I ever saw her make about 25 years ago was a red and white Irish chain quilt. The most often-shared pictures between the two of us are red and white quilts. Last week we shared this picture from Instagram posted by our friend, Helen Philipps. That name may be familiar to you frequent readers. Helen has some history with us in providing inspiration. You may remember that her pretty little quilt inspired us to have our Spring Dreams Sew Along this past spring. And now she's inspired this last-minute gift.

So last week, while on the hunt for something else, I found a box of red fabric while searching through my grandmother's sewing stuff. I shared the pictures on IG, but not here. Now you all can see them.

Clearly labeled in a stationary box.

Large pieces with torn edges and 'fluff' - I'm guessing this was used in a Christmas display.

Completely full box. Old fabric; not top quality, but useful, nonetheless.

I knew instantly what my gift would be for Sharon. In fact, it was so perfect that surely some divine intervention occurred somewhere along the way.

I'd been in a bit of a quandary about what to give her. Our usual gifts are wine and fabric. We have both been faced with the reality of the folly of continuing to buy-buy-buy fabric, so I really didn't want to go that route. Discovering the red fabric instantly solved my dilemma. The fact that it was Grandma's fabric was extra special, because Grandma actually hand-quilted the red and white Irish chain for Sharon all those many years ago. I told you it was divine intervention. Full circle, I tell you! *smile*

Another bonus is that I am using fabric from my stash - previously Grandma's stash - and not buying more. I used some very vintage fabric in my Christmas tub for the backing. Remember in the 80s and 90s when vests were fashionable? I had a vest made of this fabric. The selvage indicated that I bought it at Joann Fabrics.

And, yes, wine was involved, too. I found the perfect wine bag while in Myrtle Beach on vacation back in September. It has our favorite refreshment motto on the front!

The secret Christmas sewing is done, and just about all have been gifted. Stay tuned!

Happy Quilting, Friends!

An Update on Sharon

My dear friend Sharon, with whom I taught for 29 years and have quilted with in our retirement, has been in a blue period. I suppose most of us know about Picasso and his "blue period," and he really was blue. Sharon just love blue quilts. No somber moods here!  

It has been ages since I last updated her sewing activities here on the blog, so let's see what she has been up to in recent months. 

In September, she unfurled this column-style quilt she'd made - she does not normally have time for sewing unless it's here, so to see this beauty was a treat. She spent some birthday money on - what else - gorgeous fabric - and made a fast and super-simple columns quilt in luscious blues. We didn't take the time to lay it out neatly, (we should have!) but here are some rough shots of it. Soak in those beautiful florals!

Sometimes, the fabric can do all the work. Why fuss with cutting and piecing intricate designs when a group of fabulous fabrics can result in a fast and satisfying finish?

A quilt that she did work on  here on our Tuesday sewing sessions was this 9-patch blue and cream quilt with gorgeous sashing strips. These fabrics are mostly (if not all) Laundry Basket Quilts Fabric, and Sharon has had a wild affection for them, for sure. Below is a more complete shot, however it is a big quilt, so not nearly all of it fit into the frame.

And, in staying with fabrics from Laundry Basket, she began working on this so-simple quilt that uses 10" squares or layer cakes. The pattern is called Star Gazer and is free from Andover Fabrics; I think I will have to make this, too - someday. It looks so easy and fast, and it makes a 72" square quilt which is rather a nice size.

Sometime this fall - September, I believe - the internets and blogs were all abuzz about Jelly Rolls. Sharon and I could not spend the actual day of the celebration working together, but on our next available Tuesday, we did spend our time making a jelly roll quilt. (I will share mine at some point - it was a huge disaster, and I will 'fess up about it; just not yet.) Sharon used a jelly roll of Kaffe Fassett blues/greens to make this cool quilt. The first picture is what we did on that one day; the second picture is of her finish. It is a variation of the traditional jelly roll race quilt. Since we'd both done a couple of those, we found this alternative.

And just this week when we sewed at Terry's, Sharon was working on a flannel quilt in her nephew's college colors - blue and gray. Won't this be great for a college apartment?

Now, not all of Sharon's creating has been of the blue variety. Take a look at this luscious flannel quilt  she plans to use for the back of her sofa - what a great quilt for winter reading or movie-watching. I think I could get lost in this for a day or two.

That pretty much completes our catching up with what Sharon has been up to. We will be missing her today at our Frienzies Veterans' Day sewing with Sherrie. Sharon has to perform gramma duties for her two grandsons. She will be with us in spirit, though, I just know it!

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Sewing With Sharon

For the first time in several weeks, Sharon and I sewed together on Tuesday. Between my recent sick spell and our schedules, we just haven't had many days together lately.

As planned, I did devote the day to working on the October UFO. The main order of the day was making 3" x 1.5" flying geese units. This pieced border is for the birds, I tell you, and no pun intended! I should have just put a solid border on. I grumbled all day. However, I am too far into the process to change up now. So I will finish it according to the instructions, and yes, I will grumble some more, too.

Part of my grumbling came from having to do the math on figuring out how to make 64 flying geese using the no-waste method. Eventually, I got it right, but I did waste a good amount of fabric. And that's all I will say about that. *wink*

Here is the halfway point of the no-waste method. Funny looking things, to be sure. But it really does work when you calculate properly.

I was a good girl and trimmed them. The block I am making for this pieced border requires 2 of the green and blue flying geese, and one of the green and neutral flying geese, shown below.

And I need a total of 32 blocks. Next step is to make 64 HSTs of green and neutral. Then block construction can begin. Stay tuned. I will be grumbling my way through that very soon.

Sharon, bless her heart, put up with my whining as she worked happily away on constructing her flannel quilt top of 5" squares. What a great winter time quilt for the back of her couch. Think of all the great books read or movies watched wrapped in this! A hot cup of tea or a glass of wine - heavenly for a cold wintry evening!

 

I took several shots to try to get the colors true - I don't know if any of these accurately show the proper tones. Trust me - it is beautiful.

Short and sweet today, quilty friends. I have been spending a lot of time on my two university classes and have been catching up on some things around the house. Next up for me - a hair appointment!

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Two Sharons

I quilt regularly with two friends named Sharon. I've referenced them here on the blog many times - Sharon O. and Sharon P.

Sharon P. has been a friend since the early 1980s when we were both brand new English teachers at CHS. Quite a strong friendship can grow over that many years, and how grateful I am for it! We know each other so well that we read each others' minds and finish each others' sentences. It is downright freaky at times.

Sharon O. is one of the Frankfort girls, and I just met her in 2009. We both are sentimental types, and we like our "things." We both have a fondness for the old - old dishes, antique furniture, old houses and barns, and so on. She, too, was a teacher and also a counselor, but at the elementary level and in a Columbus-area school district.

Anyway, I have a project from each Sharon to share, and I thought I'd just combine them into one post.

On that Friday a week ago, Sharon O. shared with us Frankfort girls her applique project. It will end up with two more windows, and become a square wall hanging with 3-D features. It looks absolutely spectacular, and the 30s prints just really sing against the white-on-white background. You saw her beginning this project; click here to have a look back.

And Sharon P. has been busy finishing a quilt that, too, has been shared here before. Remember her purchase of Downton Abbey fabric?? Well, her quilt top is completed! And it looks fantastic!

Gorgeous, don't you agree? Such simplicity in design makes the wonderful fabric do all the work and get all the attention. Perfection. Click here for a review of when Sharon began this quilt.

Kudos to my friends named Sharon!! Your work is inspiring!

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Sharon P.'s Update

I become so self-absorbed in what I am making that I sometimes forget that some of my dear friends are getting things accomplished, too, and I like to try to show these things to you from time to time. On Tuesday when Sharon and I sewed together, she made significant progress on her version of Snowbird Stars, and I have neglected to show them to you. Let us remedy that this instant.

A more whispery-soft star is nowhere to be found. I'm sure of it. Sharon's star blocks are all floral centers with dotted points. There are 5 different combinations. Let's take a closer look at these barely-there stars.

Don't they make you feel like you ought to be whispering? The wispy nature of those neutrals put together this way really exude calm and peace and comfort. Mix these with the other combinations she's made and she will have an awesome quilt. The previous blocks can be seen here.

I am nearly finished with the center of my quilt top. I have a couple of more seams to stitch on the center part, and then corner setting triangles need to be cut and sewn on. Then there's the binding! It will be straightforward, so I should have it all done today. We shall see.

Happy Quilting, Friends!

SWS*

Since I expect that I will have many Wednesday updates about *Sewing With Sharon,* I think I should just use that abbreviation - SWS.

Yesterday, she came in hauling a gorgeous load of Lario fabric - do you remember it from a couple of years ago? It's a Moda fabric and it is scrumptious. Sharon had already sewn a Charm Pack into 4-patch blocks. They were pressed and oh-so-pretty. Her task here yesterday was to stitch these 4-patches to setting blocks all of a soft, feminine yellow with a subtle stripe and flowers sprinkled around. Here is the result of her work.

 

Does this not exude springtime? It is so whispery soft and feminine. There could be nothing more exactly "Sharon" than this (unless it would be a red and white quilt). She had made several similar quilts with fantastic results. I will be sure to show you the finish when she has the borders on, and when it's quilted.

At the end of our day, she was sewing together a stack of old sample squares. Do any of  you remember when Benartex sent out packs of 3" squares of their new lines? We tried to guess how far back these go, and we came up with a ballpark guess of 20 years. Anyway, Sharon started randomly stitching them into a long table runner.

We measured it (roughly) I think we came up with 71"x11". A nice long table runner, for sure! I don't own a table that long, even with all the leaves in.

I did some sewing, too, and I will share that tomorrow.
Happy Quilting, Friends!