Community Quilt Workday

On Monday October 20th Diane organized a group of fourteen to work on quilts for the hospice project. As a result of the hard work of many, sufficient blocks were made for close to two quilt tops.  Thanks to all who participated!

A few of our willing workers for the day.

October 18 Workshop

Scrappy Quilts Workshop with Cecile Grant. We learned a number of  techniques and lots of tips to prepare us for using all of our scraps!

 

 

October 2014

We began our October meeting with Cecile Grant talking about Underground Railroad and the role of both quilts and songs. It is believed that secret messages in the form of quilt patterns helped slaves escape the bonds of captivity in the Southern states before and during the American Civil War. Slaves could not read or write; it was illegal to teach a slave to do so. Codes, therefore, were important to the slaves’ existence and their route to freedom, which eventually became known as the Underground Railroad. Some forms of dance, spirituals, code words and phrases, and memorized symbols all allowed the slaves to communicate with each other on a level their white owners could not interpret.

Most quilt patterns had their roots in African traditions the slaves brought with them to North America when they were captured and forced to leave their homeland. The Africans’ method of recording their history and stories was by committing them to memory and passing them on orally to following generations. Quilt patterns as codes were passed down the same way. The quilt patterns, used in a certain order, relayed messages to slaves preparing to escape. Each pattern represented a different meaning. Some of the most common patterns were “Monkey Wrench,” “Star,” “Crossroads” and “Wagon Wheel.” 

Show & Tell

 

Nelvana began this at retreat and finished by hand quilting it!

Darcy "X's and O'" is a gift for a niece

Debbie "Marbling" involves mixing shaving cream and paints then laying fabric on it.

Ornaments from a YouTube video

"My Favorite Things" Challenge with friends staring dogs she has owned

A few amazing yard sale finds above and then Linda's quilt and wall hanging for her granddaughter

 

 

Joyce made this "Pick Up Sticks" from a book in our library.

Brenda finished a beach bag and "Whispers in the Wind".

Pauline's first quilt, pieced in a day!

 

Susan made this quilt from a picture she say in a book.

Diane completed her quilt-as-you-go Daisy runner

 

Brend L made this candle mat at the workshop in September (Sorry its a  bit blurry because it does not show the perfect points)

Elizabeth's mother Ruth hand marked and quilted this for her granddaughters wedding gift. (Three weeks and two days to complete it)

 

 

 

Elizabeth made the quilted and pillow for her daughter's wedding gift.

Sandra machine quilted it.

 

 

Sandra also made the lucky couple a bed runner to match

 

Pumpkin twister

 

Christa made this "Collage" maple leaf runner.  Each leaf is a collage of many fabrics.

 

Joyce completed her Four-sided placemats from last months workshop/workday.

 

Kathy A's "Underground Railroad" Quilt

September 2014

 It was so nice to welcome everyone back after a beautiful summer! Some of us took mini vacations from our quilt rooms but many squeezed in some time between the sunny days to finish projects.

We are busy setting up new programs and workdays but unfortunately we also had to say goodbye to one of our long time members.  Jean N and her husband have moved to be closer to her children and grandchildren.  We will miss her at our meetings, as a friend and as an amazing teacher.  We know she will be keeping in touch and hopefully share some pictures of her inspiring work even though she won't be joining us each month!

Below are a few samples of the work presented at Show & Tell.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Jellyroll Comfort Quilt done at retreat from scraps provided by retreat participants