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JANUARY 2010 NEWSLETTER

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 

NEXT MEETING: MONDAY, JANUARY 18TH

6:30 PM

MEDINA COMMUNITY LIBRARY

PROGRAM: PLANNING FOR THE YEAR

BRING YOUR IDEAS AND SUGGESTIONS

DECEMBER MEETING NOTES

It was party time at the cozy Craddock Cottage of Medina United Methodist Church. We started with a small bit of end of the year business–to deliver a thank you quilt p1010480.JPG

to the Medina Library for them to use any way they want. Two representatives from the library joined us to receive the round robin quilt p1010482.JPG

which had started life as a great idea from our own Tammyp1010487.JPG

 and been worked on my many members of the group.

 

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We had “Show and Tell” with Margaret bringing a very unusual crochet necklace–beautiful and very delicate–that she found from a concessionair at the Kerrville VA.p1010488.JPGAnd Michele brought a unique basket that she has learned to make using a Jelly Roll–or two. p1010489.JPG After that we started the serious partying with lots of food and presents. The group presented Baskets of Love to Tammy, Lu and Edie as a thank you for special group support in the past year. p1010493.JPGp1010496.JPGAnd Abby Mays sent a speical gift bag full of quilting goodies for each of us. You can see lots of creative ideas at www.abbimays.com .p1010498.JPG

Lu asked me to include the following message from her in this newsletter:

“I would like to thank all of you who were so wonderful to surprise me with a “Basket of Love” at our Christmas Party. I have had a lot of fun going through each package and trying to decide where to put each item. Everyone of them was a useful product and I am enjoying them daily. Thanks for being such a generous and wonderful group of women. I did not feel deserving of this because all of us contribute to the monthly meeting-but I do thank you!!!! See you around the quilt frame. Love to all, Lu.

Tammy asked me to add her message, “Yeah, what she said! Thanks for the LOVE! Tammy.

I just want to add that the love from the group and the basket full of goodies has kept me warm through all the cold weather. I am thankful to be able to participate in all the Medina Quilt Group activities. P.S. I haven’t used my “duck” potholder yet but I will just as soon as I learn how to cook. Thank you all. Edie

Well, I’m not through with this newsletter yet because the “sock” competition continues. Led by Evelynp1010499_edited.JPGSeveral other members have joined in the fun.

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But naughty Santa stole the show…..

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See you all on the 18th for the start of another great year. Edie

P.S. A small group of us have continued to gather at The Core for coffee, quilting and just fun visiting on Friday mornings about 9-9:30. Bring your lap work or just come for the sharing. EJ

Posted by Edie on Jan 12th 2010 | Filed in Monthly Meetings | Comments (0)

DECEMBER 2009 NEWSLETTER

NEXT MEETING: MONDAY DECEMBER 14TH

6:30 PM

CRADDOCK COTTAGE

MEDINA UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

(please note change from usual date and location)

 

PROGRAM: CHRISTMAS PARTY

PLEASE BRING A COVERED DISH, GIFT FOR QUILTERS GIFT EXCHANGE, AND BE READY FOR A GOOD TIME!

 

NOVEMBER MEETING NOTES

 

We started off with food and two birthdays.

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And quickly went on to “Show & Tell”

Edie mentioned that several members had gathered at The Core on Friday morning for coffee, visiting and to work on projects. The folks there were very welcoming and Edie plans to try to continue being there on Friday mornings for a little more quilting time with anyone who is interested. More at the next meeting.

Joyce has completed piecing the block of the month project and is saving it for the next great-grandchild.

joyce.jpg The colors are so bright and cheerful for either boy or girl.

Tammy shared her new Krazy Krakow quilt. There is a free pattern on BOMquilts.com .

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 And Lu brought her completed Swedish Weaving which has gone beyond the basic pattern we learned at our workshop.  She was asked to share the new patterns with us at a future meeting.lu-1.jpg

 and guess who was there with another pair of fun socks?

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Then we began working on out teacup pincushions.

p1010432.jpg p1010433.jpgp1010434.jpgp1010435.jpgEveryone made one.p1010437.jpgand they really were quite pretty (as well as useful).

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See you at the Christmas Party.

P.S. Edie (that’s me) will be at the Core Friday morning, Dec. 11th at 9am. Have to leave early to take my Mom to a Red Hat lunch in Kerrville. Hope any of you who have been enjoying the informal quilters gatherings, or are interested, will come and I’ll see you there for coffee and you can stay as long as you like. They really seem to enjoy having us there.

 

 

Posted by Edie on Dec 9th 2009 | Filed in Monthly Meetings | Comments (0)

NOVEMBER 2009 NEWSLETTER

NEXT MEETING: MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16TH

MEDINA LIBRARY

6:30 PM

 

PROGRAM: TEACUP PINCUSHION

Bring a teacup (not a family heirloom as we’re going to hot glue the pincushion into the cup) and your favorite embroidery needle. Tammy will provide batting, fabric and embroidery thread…as well as the glue gun. It’s all handmade, so not machines needed. It sounds like a fun gift to make for special sewing friends.

 

OCTOBER MEETING NOTES

 

Jana Osbourn, County Extension Agent gave an interesting program with handouts on “Cleaning Green”.

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For some of us, the ingredients were associated with childhood memories–the good old products our mothers used are back in style, environmentally friendly, and still work.  Thanks to Jana for an interesting program.

 

We had one birthday girl to enjoy Lu’s special “cake”.

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And Evelyn added to the decorations with some of her special socks.p1010352.jpg

 Show and Tell included Margaret with a child size Raggedy Ann doll she is making for a granddaughter and Linda with a Grandmother’s Garden quilt she is building.

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 Tammy brought one of the finished chair backs that we tried to start at our last meeting (see October meeting notes). p1010357.jpg

Since that meeting enough backs have been completed for the whole class. The students and teacher are very happy with them. Joyce will finish 5 more as extra’s in case of need. Tammy also had good news about the last fundraiser quilt. Her friend Melanie who has a long arm machine will quilt it for us without charge.

Instructions for the last two blocks of our block of the month project were handed out along with instructions about fabric placement in the block for  #12.

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 Hope that helps. Tammy suggested looking at “Moda Basics” fabrics for border and sashing if you want to separate the blocks when you put them together.

 

Hope to see you all next week.

Edie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted by Edie on Nov 9th 2009 | Filed in Monthly Meetings | Comments (0)

OCTOBER 2009 NEWSLETTER

NEXT MEETING: MONDAY, OCTOBER 19TH

MEDINA LIBRARY

6:30 PM

 

PROGRAM: GREEN LIVING

BY JANA OSBOURN, COUNTY EXTENSION AGENT

 

SEPTEMBER MEETING NOTES

 

It was time for one of our special Linda B do your own thing nights, so there was a whole lot of visiting and catching up on Summer activities—and, of course, good eats all around.

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Donna brought a beautiful show and tell that she had pieced and had quilted at Gone Quilting in Bandera.

p1010325.jpg The colors are so cheerful and everyone was impressed with the  smooth, flowing quilting pattern.

 

Tammy brought fabric and quilting tools so we could work on a project for the science teacher who wished for book envelopes to fit over her students chair backs.

p1010329.jpgThe plan was for us to sew a bunch that night, but we ran out of time before we could have enough finished — in spite of lots of team work from the members.  Enjoy the snapshots and join us Monday for more fun, adventure, and to find out if Tammy has a plan for us to finish this project or has already gotten it done.  Edie

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Posted by Edie on Oct 15th 2009 | Filed in Monthly Meetings | Comments (0)

SEPTEMBER 2009 NEWSLETTER

NEXT MEETING: MONDAY SEPTEMBER 21st

MEDINA LIBRARY

6:30 PM

 

PROGRAM: LINDA B ANYTHING GOES

 

With a special twist. Tammy has a suggestion for us to consider. One of the sixth grade teachers at Medina ISD removed the desks from her room and is now using tables and chairs (it’s science, so they needed more surface space for the kids).  She asked my daughter Blayre if I could come up with a chair cover that had a pocket in the back, because with the tables & chairs, there wasn’t anyplace for the kids to put their books & notebooks.  The teacher is Mrs. R, whose husband is the new vet in town.

I talked it over with Lu and Linda  and they both thought it’d be a great group project for the quilter’s to do at this month’s meeting, since it’s a Linda B day (though Linda wasn’t sure she was coming or not).  I will be happy to bring the fabric and thread, an iron and board and a couple of sewing machines, to make this happen.  And if we use some pinking cutters, we won’t have to worry about the side seams and turning the fabric every which way <grin> - I AM the laziest quilter around!

ALL help will be appreciated!  I’ll have a pattern design ready and tested, to make sure it works for the chairs and the teacher - so, all we have to do is an assembly line of cutting, pinning, pressing & sewing to make them.  We need to make 24 of them.

Plus, it’ll be a great community service project for the Medina Quilters!

Thanks, Tammy

AUGUST MEETING NOTES

 

We started right out with a lot of sharing. We have a new member, Nikki, who brought a needleturn applique block she has been working on for many years.  She is not sure how she wants to finish it out and there were a lot of suggestions from the group. We hope she will bring it back to show us the finished design. p1010240.jpg

 Tammy brought two paintings by her daughter, Keara, who has been taking art classes with Mary Zirkle this summer. p1010241.jpg

Tammy’s daughter, Blayre, will earn a Girl Scout Bronze Award for a project making quilts for the Medina Children’s Home.

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The Bronze Award is the highest for Junior Girl Scouts.

Mother and daughters have also been making really cute totes in various sizes from one pattern. p1010244.jpg

 

PROGRAM NOTES

 

Evalyn did a wonderful program on construction of handkerchief quilt blocks. She uses different laces and trims as well as embroidery to embelish her blocks so each one is unique and beautiful. She designed her own hummingbird for this block. p1010247a_edited.jpgEvalyn said  you can use hankies, doilies or even napkins that fit the theme of your design. She begins with a focus piece in the center of a background block and then builds around it. p1010249_edited.jpgEvalyn brought her own portable design board to show some variations in placement. p1010250_edited.jpg

Her quilt is beautiful, as you can see.

p1010246_edited.jpg She includes a spider motife in her quilts—”the spider is emblematic of the industry in the work”. p1010248_edited.jpg

 

Tammy led a discussion of techniques for uniform  size in constructing the block of the month blocks and handed out instructions for the next block. p1010245.jpg

And that was the close of a very busy evening. See you all on the 21st.  Edie

Posted by Edie on Sep 12th 2009 | Filed in Monthly Meetings | Comments (0)

AUGUST 2009 NEWSLETTER

NEXT MEETING:MONDAY, AUGUST 17TH

MEDINA LIBRARY

6:30 PM

 

PROGRAM: HANKY-PANKY QUILTS

Evalyn will share her special tips. Contact Edie if you did not get a copy of her handout at the July meeting or as an attachment to your e-mail.

 

JULY MEETING NOTES

 

Just a note from Lu. She has been sending birthday cards to members and is about out. If you have any extra cards, please bring them to the next meeting.

Evalyn handed out a materials list for her program at the August meeting. Her books about Hanky Quilts came from American School of Needlework, Consumer Division, 1455 Linda Vista Dr., San Marcos, CA 92069 or www.asnpub.com.

Tammy brought two Christmas wall hangings from her web site. You can find free patterns at BOMquilts.com along with a link to buy fabric. p1010141.jpg

 There are pockets at the bottom so this Mary Emmerling fabric wall hanking can also be a card holder.

 p1010142.jpgAnd this fun wall hanging can bring lots of winter cheer.

 Joyce has finished a truly western California king quilt for her grandson. p1010143.jpgHer quote, “I’m not ever making another quilt”. Anyone want in on the pool to see how long that lasts? Joyce also brought us a potholder she found at the Kerrville Quilt Show along with a pattern and suggestions for making our own. She suggested we use “insulbright” as the insulation layer to avoid burns. Polyester batting would be a very bad choice because it does not prevent heat transmission and may even melt, causing a serious burn.

PROGRAM NOTES

Tammy began by recommending that if you have an antique quilt that is worth money and you are not a professional—don’t fix it yourself! Professionals store antique quilts by wrapping them in acid free paper, rolling them and storing in cardboard tubes with a sheet of bounce fabric softener in each end. She brought a list of Website Resources for Quilt Restoration for participants.

Several members brought quilts in need of help. Evalyn had a double wedding ring quilt top with an interesting story. The quilt top was given to Evalyn by a friend who recieved it as rent payment from an oil field worker many years ago. The top was hand pieced by the worker’s mother.p1010151.jpg

Evalyn also brought a quilt she made for her daughter which has not been gently used. She had repaired it once by appliqueing over damaged areas but now has even more extensive damage to repair. There was much discussion over approaches to restoring this well loved quilt to useful condition. p1010152.jpg

 Lu is planning to restore a quilt from her mother-in-law. This quilt came from east Texas and over the years some of the fabric has deteriorated beyond repair. p1010153.jpgBecause this quilt, like Evalyn’s, has been quilted, the blocks with damage will have to be carefully removed, the weak pieces replaced with fabrics in a similar period theme, and then carefully replacing the block back into the quilt. It will have to be a labor of love, but Lu says she really likes the bold red sashing setting off the blocks and wants to be able to enjoy the quilt in her home.

Tammy gave us another tutorial on the block of the month blocks –more challenging each month. Hope to see you all there on the 17th and don’t forget your hankies.

Edie

Posted by Edie on Aug 11th 2009 | Filed in Monthly Meetings | Comments (0)

JULY 2009 NEWSLETTER

NEXT MEETING: MONDAY, JULY 20TH

MEDINA LIBRARY

6:30 PM

 

PROGRAM: RESTORING OLD QUILTS & PROTECTING YOUR QUILTS FROM DAMMAGE.

 

JUNE MEETING NOTES:

 

We had a very relaxed and casual meeting with lots of good sharing and food—of course.

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Tammy brought a huge box of new fabrics for the coming season—what a treasure and lots of stimulation for future projects.

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Lou has been making folded star pot holders which triggered more discussion of various uses for this interesting design. p1010135.jpg

 This beautiful red, white and blue sampler quilt was shared during show and tell.

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 And the red, white and blue donation quilt top has been finished. Edie used scraps to make the binding and Joyce took the quilt home to put together.

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 Tammy shared more information about the block of the month patterns and handed out the fabric sets with instructions to follow.

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 And the rest of the evening was devoted to individual projects and visiting. Margaret was not able to attend to take notes for this newsletter, so if I have left out anything important I will try to get it into the next installment. See you all next Monday.

Edie

 

 

 

 

Posted by Edie on Jul 13th 2009 | Filed in Monthly Meetings | Comments (0)

JUNE 2009 NEWSLETTER

NEXT MEETING: MONDAY, JUNE 15TH

 

MEDINA LIBRARY

 

6:30PM

 

PROGRAM: LINDA B DO YOUR OWN THING NIGHT

Bring a project you are working on or just come to share time and ideas with fellow-quilters. Also, remember to bring a snack. We all pitch in on Linda B nights.

 

MAY MEETING NOTES

 

Maggie obtained 10 bolts of a wide variety of fabrics that she brought to share with the Medina Quilters. Members were able to take home pieces that appealed to them.

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 Thanks Maggie!

 

There was discussion about strip quilting and chain quilting. A tutorial was passed out with further information. Theresa brought an example of a strip pieced quilt that she had hand quilted.

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 SHOW AND TELL

Donna brought her Hill Country Jelly Roll Sampler:

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 Which for some reason caused lots of laughter:

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 Julie brought a twin size quilt she is making for a friend in Hill Country Prints. She is also making a king size quilt out of the same Hill Country Fabric as a wedding gift.

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 Might be worth getting married again to get on Julie’s quilt gift list. Maybe……

 

Linda B was making flower garden pieces for a quilt-to-be.

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Lisa B, new member and new quilter, brought a lovely pieced 48X48 wall hanging that was her first attempt at a project and it turned out really great.

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 Maggie brought several quilts; one was a star wall quilt, a tropical theme quilt for her granddaughter400-20090519_16.jpg, and three one block north woodsy wall hanging quilts .400-20090519_18.jpg

 

All very busy ladies.

 

OTHER BUSINESS:

Tammy handed out the missing purple piece for block 5 that had been left out of the bags last month. She said to blame it on Richard Gere.

Block 7 of the Pioneer Sampler was explained.

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Future meetings:

July will be learning about restoring old quilts. Bring an old quilt to problem solve with restoration ideas.

 

August  will be “Hankie Quilts” by Evelyn

 

September is the third Linda B Project night

 

See you Monday.  Edie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted by Edie on Jun 11th 2009 | Filed in Monthly Meetings | Comments (0)

MAY 2009 NEWSLETTER

NEXT MEETING: MONDAY, MAY 18TH, 6:30pm

MEDINA LIBRARY

PROGRAM: STRIP QUILTING BY TAMMY

APRIL MEETING NOTES

VISITORS:

Mimi Emory was visiting Lou and joined us.

Charla Sasser, a Medina resident visited.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

The box top was passed for backing and batting for the donation quilts. Joyce has completed the nine patch with a black and red border that really pulls it together.   p1010021.jpg

 Tammy has found someone with a long arm machine who will let her quilt the donation quilts herself.

Maggie made a pioneer outfit for her granddaughter to wear at her school’s Pioneer Days in Lampassas. She promised to e-mail a picture of the outfit to Edie to be included in the newsletter.

There was a discussion of TIPS FOR QUILTERS:

For no stretch triangles (especially large ones) put a piece of typing paper under the triangle when sewing. Tear the paper off when finished and there should be no stretch.

Trim the “dog ear” corners off the triangles after they are sewn together to avoid bulk in your seams and make the quilting easier.

Use Wonder Under (fusible web) for applique projects that will not be worn.

BLOCK OF THE MONTH:

Blocks 5&6 were passed out.

For Block 5 the pinwheel is made with the blue fabric.

For Block 6, the dotted fabric is the focus fabric.

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 Tammy demonstrated construction of the blocks using her “portable” design board.

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 And ambitious Julie has increased the size of her blocks to make the Pioneer Sampler Quilt in twin size.

And Ann has pieced a block!!!!!!!

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SHOW AND TELL

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 Linda brought a beautiful and original quilt made with photos and clothing of both her parents. This is one of a series she has made for herself and each of her siblings. Each quilt is individual and very special for the family member and a wonderful way to bring back good memories. All are hand quilted.

Tammy brought two darling Easter wall hangings, in aqua and pink. Her daughter drew the bunny applique.

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 Margaret brought a pretty wall hanging she has pieced from last year’s mystery quilt pattern.

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PROGRAM: Julie, Edie and Tammy demonstrated three different ways of joining the quilt as you go blocks. Excellent and usable information for hand quilters and machine quilters.

Thanks to all you expert and fun loving quilters for a great evening and see you next month.

Edie and Margaret.

 

Posted by Edie on May 30th 2009 | Filed in Monthly Meetings | Comments (0)

APRIL 2009 NEWSLETTER

NEXT MEETING: MONDAY APRIL 20TH

MEDINA LIBRARY

6:30 PM

 

PROGRAM: QUILT AS YOU GO with Julie, Tammy and Edie

 

MARCH MEETING NOTES

 

Lu had several announcements of coming events.

 

It is Relay for Life time again. Contact Lu for more info including luminarias.

 

Early notice. The annual Appreciation Luncheon will be December 5th at the Rec Center at Mansfield Park. Bluebonnets are hostesses this year. Mark your calendars.

 

Annual Picnic will be May 15th with details to follow at next meeting.

 

Tammy discussed the plight of Bandera Girl Scouts. They have 12 troops and no longer receive funding from any Bandera County entity. The Girl Scout program would benefit from anyone who might help with a fundraiser like the quilt project for the Medina troop.

Edie talked about her trip to the Dallas Quilt Show held in Market Hall in Dallas. She was able to meet the quilt artists, including John Flynn. According to Edie, this was a smaller, more reasonably priced quilt show that offered lots of opportunity to interact with quilters and vendors.

 

There was no formal program for this was one of our “Linda Barton” nights to bring your own project. There was lots of wonderful SHOW n TELL.

Maggie brought two from her “Confusion Series”. I’m sorry I didn’t write down the particulars but know Maggie will explain if you want more info.

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 Julie brought a delightful scrappy Strawberry Lemonade Picnic Quilt that she made without a pattern.p1000910.jpg She also brought a pink and brown flannel rag quilt, precious.

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Edie brought her beautiful beaded brown and green wall hangings. The wall hangings are done with decorative stitching and beads. This is a set of six mini quilts.

Tammy brought two very charming quilts, one layer cake quilt in beautiful orange with circular quilting. The second quilt project was beautifully quilted with the stippling pattern.

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 Theresa brought back her “Cabin in the Woods” quilt so we could see how her hand quilting highlights the design.

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VISITORS:

Gail’s daughter, Beth,  and grandaughter Morgan came with Gail.

Linda brought her grandaughter Harvest.

We were so happy to have these lovely ladies join our group.

DONATION QUILT

The Library donation quilt is complete except for the border. Joyce  graciously offered to add the border.

BLOCK OF THE MONTH

Blocks 3 & 4 of the Pioneer Sampler quilt were handed out. All unfinished blocks should measure 9 1/2 inch square (9 inch finished block when put together). Tammy demonstrated the steps for piecing the blocks.

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FAT QUARTER EXCHANGE continues. Bring a fat quarter to trade if you wish. Fat quarters not traded will go into our community stash to be used for future donation quilts.

Hope to see you all on the 20th for more quilting and fellowship.   Margaret & Edie

 

 

Posted by Edie on Apr 12th 2009 | Filed in Uncategorized | Comments (0)

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