Reporting From Frankfort Girls

Our little quilting group needs a new, more current name. Nearly 20 years ago when I first joined the four original ladies, all were Frankfort-area folks. We have expanded over the years, and now we hail from several towns in close proximity to Frankfort - Williamsport, Kingston, Chillicothe. So perhaps a new name is wise. When we refer to ourselves, we don't actually call ourselves anything. Mostly, I have used the name here on the blog for ease of identification.

But I digress! Meetings still occur every other Friday morning for handwork around someone's kitchen table. Yesterday, I hosted the entire group! All 8 of us in attendance! With the schedules we all have, this does not happen often, let me tell you.

We had a nice show and tell, so let's take a look.

Patriotism is alive and well in our little group. Several quilt tops, table toppers an minis were shared wearing their red, white and blue.

Sharon P. made a quick 3-yard quilt and enlarged it a bit by adding more onto the border. What a great way to reduce a stash! And so fast and easy! That's a win-win.

 

Terry unfurled this fantastic flag-inspired quilt top which she made at a recent retreat. Once the stars are made, putting this together would be a snap. Below, she has more stars and more stripes, but vertically placed to imitate fireworks - which is the name of the pattern, or something like that.

 

Sheryll had wool table toppers to share in keeping with the patriotic theme.

 

Those two pics with the sheep are actually just one project, but it is long and narrow, making for a difficult picture to crop. If I were better at photo editing, I probably could have joined them, but you get the idea. Sheryll's wool skills are nothing short of perfection.

Here's another she had to share.

 Sheryll also finished quilting a patriotic quilt top. It will look fabulous in her home's decor.

Jan had two quilt tops to share, both finished at the same retreat Terry attended. This first one is for her grandson, and also features the red, white and blue! She reported that making those baseballs was rather fussy business, but once completed it all went together fast. 

Jan's granddaughter will get this next quilt, a calm butterfly quilt. The picture doesn't adequately show the fabric well, but from a layer cake she has made that standard pattern several of us have been using lately.

Becky had two projects to share, one a mini quilt made from remnants in her stash. 

Becky's big accomplishment was unveiling this gorgeous quilt which she was finishing with binding. 

I should have asked someone to move the chair, but it does provide perspective for how small those blocks are. She has spent several years making the pieced blocks, and then more time constructing it. What a payoff for all that hard work. Becky is a sweet, spunky friend, with an ornery streak. See for yourself - here's Becky when I took a close-up of the blocks.

We had a lovely morning catching up with one another. We often muse that 3 hours every-other-week is never enough to allow for all the chit-chat we want.

Hope you are having a lovely Saturday! 

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Jayne 

Frankfort Girls Show and Tell

It's been awhile since I last shared quilts made by the clever ladies in my quilting group, The Frankfort Girls. The quilts shown here today are from the past 2-3 visits we've had. Since I have forgotten some essential info for these quilts, I will share as much as I can with the hope of simply inspiring you. These gals certainly do inspire me with their beautiful creations. Keeps me on my game.

 

What's not to love about a Grandmother's Flower Garden?? Becky found this UFO in her sewing room, and decided it would be a good idea to finish it. Wow! Good idea! These 30s-inspired fabrics really make this shine. I said I was done with hexies after finishing this quilt, but seeing Becky's sure makes me consider doing more. So eye-catching!

Everywhere I look lately, I'm seeing patriotic quilts. This 250th anniversary of America has inpired lots of beauties. Sheryll made this wall-hanging and had questions for us regarding border options. Of course, we all had opinions. 

 

And to continue the theme of patriotic quilts, how great is this Log Cabin quilt?! What a labor of love this is! Lots of cutting and stitches; lots of seams and measuring. Log cabin quilts are gorgeous, but they require a whole lot of work. This one is a thing of beauty.

This quilt epitomizes spring-blooming flowers, and Helen will use this in her master bedroom. The quilt was a jelly roll kit with additional yardage for background. Such a lovely creation.

Do you want to get straight to work after seeing such inspiring quilts? I sure do. 

If you are not in a sewing group, you are denying yourself a wonderful opportunity for inspiration, not to mention some amazing friendships!

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Jayne 

Show and Tell with the Frankfort Girls

It's been awhile since I've shared some of the lovely creations of my gal-pals in our quilting group. Fondly known as The Frankfort Girls (where all the original members lived), we  have morphed over the years to include the little towns of Williamsport and Kingston, as well. Still fun; still creative; still loving stitching sisters.

I may have shared this first one already, but why not have a second look? This lovely green Irish Chain was a gorgeous finish from Sheryll a month or more back. I've made Irish Chains in a lot of colors, and green might just be my next one - I mean, really, Irish Chain? Yes, a green one is fitting.

Terry brought this recent finish to Jan's a couple of weeks ago. She was stitching the binding. I think she said it was a pattern by Kathleen Tracy. (Don't hold me to that.) 

Sheryll had this wool and patchwork combination finished to the binding stage. Just in time for fall.

This beauty was a kit that Terry gave away about a year ago. Helen took it and had this lovely finish to share. I'm gonna' share this closeup view of the neat, tidy applique stitching that she did. What perfection!

On a side table at Jan's house, this sweet table topper sported a heartfelt message. Sweet and simple always wins me over.

And last week, we were at Becky's and she had this beauty to share. Talk about simple and sweet; gosh, I love it!

I probably have left out several other show and tell projects from recent meet-ups, but I am so hit-and-miss with getting pictures and following through with posts, I just try to get as many as I can.

Hope you are having a great day! I have a meeting upstairs with my long arm machine; catch ya'll later!

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Jayne

Show And Tell from the Frankfort Girls

We met yesterday a Jan's for a lovely brunch. Jan is well known for her over-the-top hostessing skills, and our theme was National Golf Cart Day (which was actually a couple of weeks ago, but Jan and her husband used to own and operate a golf course, so she went with it anyway). Our place mats were golf greens made of turf; all manner of golf memorabilia adorned the table and all the serving bowls and utensils were green. It was a ton of fun.

Here are 4 quilts that various girls had for sharing. 

First, Jan had just gotten this from the quilter and was excited to show it off to us. We'd all pooh-poohed the idea of making a wedding ring quilt, and she set out to do one! Gorgeous!

Helen had two for sharing. One was inspired by a quilt that Sharon P. made at retreat and then I imitated soon after. Made with a layer cake, this pattern has ZERO waste!

Helen's second quilt was this fast and super-easy 3-yard quilt from one of the books all of us share around.

Our final show and tell comes from Becky, who is all in on handwork lately. She is using 1-inch hexies to make this flower garden quilt from a jelly roll by Minick and Simpson. I believe she called the pattern Jelly Roll Garden.

She is making fantastic progress on it. It will be so patriotic. The paths look rather gray in this photo, but the fabric is actually a print of blue and off-white.

These girls always keep me inspired. I hope everyone has a source of inspiration as wonderful as these ladies are.

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Jayne 

Recent Show and Tell Beauties

Last Friday morning, the Frankfort Girls met at Sharon O.’s house and we had several quilts to share for show and tell. As per usual, Jan was the busiest of our busy bees! The first 3 shown here are all from her.

Looks great, but Jan said it was a bear to make; the directions were poorly done.

This is made with panels from last years Ohio Shop Hop.

EPP pattern purchased from Annette Williams of Sewing the Good Life.

Helen also had a finish. Remember at the retreat when she was so very frustrated cutting out the red and green trees for Alpine? Well, take her out of a talk-filled room and into the quiet confines of her home and she can work miracles! I'm showing you the quilt right-side-up and upside-down, so you can see that it looks like she also made white trees! *grin*

Now for one bit of older business: A few weeks ago, we had a show and tell which I failed to mention; it’s a beauty and really ought to be shared. Terry finished this pretty churn dash quilt with all the gorgeous blues! My eyes are telling me I need to make this! Look at the movement created with the placement of the stars. Love it.

These sweet girls truly do continue to inspire me to stay busy and keep on creating! 

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Jayne

Last Frankfort Girls Gathering of '23

All the gals came together on Friday for one last meet-up of 2023, and we were here at my house. How nice to host one last time this year. Each time we are together, I am impressed more and more by the closeness we share and the genuine love we have for one another. This group is special, and I am so fortunate to count them as friends.

Supposedly, we get together every other Friday morning to sit around the dining table, stitching away on some hand project and enjoying fellowship and light refreshment. Do you see any handwork going on in this picture? I don't think any of us took a single stitch. We did have an extra helping of fellowship and refreshment, perhaps. *wink* 

It was a wonderful morning. We talked about so many various subjects - quilting-related and otherwise. We solve many issues over our coffee and sticky buns! *wink-wink*

Here are three quilts for show and tell. The first is made by Sheryll who offered the quilt top to anyone in the group who wanted it. She said it wasn't her style, and she just didn't feel the need to go about finishing it. I believe Helen grabbed it up. 

Sheryll made the quilt along with her guild's block of the month project awhile back -years or months, I don't recall. I love it in all its brown and pink glory, but I resisted the urge to claim it as I have enough on my plate without taking on one more quilt. And, I thought, wouldn't it be nice to make it myself? I have a nice supply of brown and pink fabrics in my stash - I enjoy making quilts, so I could see this becoming a possible goal at some point in the future.

Another quilt by Sheryll is this panel quilt of a primitive Santa and various primitive scenes and motifs. This very much exemplifies Sheryll's style - plus, she loves and collects Santas!

The final quilt shared was by Becky, who followed along with an InstaGram account who conducted a little a sew-along. A quilter named Taryn with the handle @reproquiltlover imitated an antique doll quilt she'd come across, and offered to assist followers to make one of their own. Called the Scrappy Stars Stitchalong, she'd post direction and suggestions for blocks; it was fun watching participants share their interpretations. If I'd not been so busy with holiday obligations I would have possibly joined it. (Remember the last post in which I vowed I'd do more sew-alongs!) The instructions will always be there, so perhaps one day...

So, that was our last gathering of 2023, and this is my final post for 2023. We had a small celebration earlier this evening, but hubby and I are enjoying a quiet evening now as we await the midnight hour. 

Farewell, 2023! It's been a fun ride! I have high hopes for a grand New Year!

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Frankfort Girls Show and Tell

A week ago I hosted the Frankfort Girls here for our morning of stitches, coffee and fellowship. Gosh, I love these sessions 9-noon every other Friday. For the first time in literally months all 7 of us were in attendance, and it was extra special. 

Several of the girls had some show and tell goodies to share with us and consequently,  I will now share with you.

Terry showed us her 3-yard quilt. If you recall, ahead of our April retreat, Jan gifted all of us with a pattern book and 3 yards of fabric. Several of us made ours during retreat, and since Terry didn't get to go this year, she has now made hers. Perfect! These are great patterns - so simple, big pieces, easy construction. The resulting quilt is ideal for either a crib quilt or a lap quilt. Perhaps a table quilt, too. And, the books all include directions for using more fabric in the event you want a larger quilt. Love these fall colors.

Sheryll is learning to cross stitch on linen fabric - actually, Becky has been her personal instructor! - and this colonial house and border is her first finish. I can see some beautiful linen creations taking shape under Sheryll's talented hands.

Underscoring how talented Sheryll is with needle and thread, get a look at this Lori Smith applique sampler! The detail! I love stuff like this, but I do not even want to think about all that precise, intricate work.

And speaking of precise, intricate work, take a look at this shop sample Becky has just completed For Old Town Fabrics in Chillicothe. It's the newest pattern by Lynn Wilder of Sew'n Wild Oaks called A Ribbon Runs Through It.

Like Sheryll, Becky's work is also of the impeccable variety, and this quilt would have definitely required extreme precision. The shop is currently offering this as a BOM (Block of the Month). I'm sure sales are boosted when a display is available. It's made with a line of Judy Rothermel fabrics (Marcus) called Return to Elegance.

Becky shared a few of the astounding numbers for this big whopping quilt - 105" square. Each block measures 16" and contains 117 pieces of fabric. Whew. And think of how many must be needed! It blows one's mind just to think of cutting all that out! The sashing strips - those ribbons - contain 20 pieces, and 96 were needed to complete the quilt. Gah! I think this will be one of those quilts I will enjoy looking at; I don't think I have it in me to make one.

I brag on these girls and their incredible sewing skills, and I am so grateful that they include me in their group. What inspiration they provide! And, like Becky teaching Sheryll about stitching on linen, we all still have skills to master and new techniques to try. 

Hope you are having fabulous Friday. It is a gloriously rainy day here, and I'm loving it!

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Frankfort Girls

We met at Sharon O's house last Friday morning; six of the seven were present. (We missed you, Helen!) I couldn't say how long it has been since all 7 of us were together. Various illnesses, vacations and appointments are forever getting in the way of perfect attendance. I'd missed last time due to vacation, and I was really eager to catch up with these dear ladies.

And catch up we did. My goodness, our 3-hour session surely goes by in a flash. We were fed well by our hostess, and we had some show-and-tell items to share. Let's look:

Feast your  eyes on this Tumbling Blocks quilt that Becky made - entirely by hand! Wowzers! It it a reproduction lover's dream, for sure. She said that she did not repeat a single fabric - quite a statement about the depth of her stash, isn't it?

Terry shared a finish that you all have seen before. Let's look at the quilt first. She was stitching on the binding while we visited on Friday.

Do you recall seeing it about a month ago?? At that time, it was in its construction phase, and I trimmed a lot of those half-square triangles. Check this post for the visuals. Now Terry, feeling loads better, has finished it and nearly has it ready for use.

This close up picture lets you get a good look at the blocks, and Terry's quilting. The ticking fabric for the sashing strips is lovely. Those blocks finish at 4".

And I shared by impromptu froggy quilt; here's another look at it.

 We visited; we sewed; we ate; we strolled through Sharon's pretty yard - all in all, a delightful morning. They always are with these gals.

Hope you have had a productive Monday! I have done zero sewing for about 3 days; instead my attention has been diverted by a bit of an update in our house. I will share more details on that very soon.

Happy Quilting, Friends!