Saturday, June 28, 2014

Show & Tell - June 28, 2014

Hi All - busy week here but that means I've been having fun!   FYI, after last Sat's meeting, Cheryl Minieri and I don'd our bathing suits and have a wonderful hour-long walk in SeaBreeze Sports Pool.  I tell you that it was totally enjoyable time.  So while the weather is good, and if you're in town, and you want to "cool off" after the meeting, bring you bathing suit and towel along and join in for "after-the-meeting-meet". 

July is here:  We have a project for this month that will be ongoing - eyeglass case(s) using some fun techniques like machine bobbinwork, machine couching, and ribbon weaving, and fun to use product like "Texture Magic".  This Saturday, we'll demo fabric manipulations using Texture Magic, bobbinwork and couching and look at fabric/ribbon weaving, too.  And this Saturday, if you can, please bring you sewing machine to help sew up very basic totes being made to give with each of the Women's Pantry blankets/quilts being donated by our club.  Totes are cut out, ready to sew up just 1-2 side seams - very easy straight seams that will be very quick and easy to finish.

Show & Tell:




Eileen DiSanto - man's theme fidget quilt that is so nice!










 Pat Pipa - finished yarn basket, crazy quilt block made into crochet needle holder and Strippy Quilt for pantry.  Pat used leftover strips to make top, then sandwiched together backing, batting, and top, and had some free motion practice fun and finished the baby quilt with self-binding method - Great job!!
















Donna Pachy - finished her tedious yarn basket - tedious because the yarns used were very thin so lots more wraps around the form and top for her. 










Kathy Jones - finished her yarn basket and couple fidget quilts - using motif's from Lois's "fussy cut" theme fabrics.  Kathy picked up dogs and cards motifs and made her fidget quilts around the two themes.















Jane Swafford - finished yarn basket - And I got to again say thanks to Jane for being my human easel... Jane held up the poster board made with enlarged version of yarn basket instructions.  The darn poster kept falling down for me, so Jane took the matter in hand and solved the problem of my falling poster.  So Jane did not get to start her yarn basket at the meeting and really only saw the directions from "backwards and upside down"... so great job girl - you rock!






Linda Parr - made a crochet afghan from "ends of balls".  Super - looks like a strippy quilt only its down with yarn.  When one ball runs out, add on next yarn and by time done those little odds and ends balls create a masterpiece.

Mary Nargiewicz - made up some doggie bed forms for us to fill... Mary's away now until September - thanks for being so thoughtful, Mary!!




Suzanne Brown - shared a wall quilt version of the quilt class she is teaching at Sharkys this month.  It is done using rectangles and squares - good fun!







Edie Cave - wow'd us with some of her fidget quilts again - I think it was 4 or 5 - all terrific and very creative thought process.







MO Kitty Fund - Linda Lynch introduced us to Mo her beloved cat who is an inspiration... Mo and kitty bowl is going to be up on the sign-in table to receive any donations that Linda will see to it that kitty food and supplies are delivered to drop off sites around The Villages for the Sumter County no-kill cat rescue shelters.  It is kitty litter season here and everywhere and the shelters are overrun with the little furry darlings.  The shelters are in great need of food and just 50 cents or whatever you could spare would be such a huge help.  Linda, I'm very proud that you are making this opportunity for our club happen... thank you from the bottom of this "kitty-loving-heart".

As always, have a good week, be good, take care and God bless,

 *´¨)
 ¸.·´¸.·*´¨) ¸.·*¨)
(¸.·´ (¸.·'
     Micki MacCumbee


Club Leader, Fabric Fun Arts & Crafts

Saturday, June 21, 2014

Show & Tell - June 21, 2014

This club continues to attract very wonderfull sewing crafters and you all just keep bringing in the prettiest and most creative stuff to share each week.  What's the saying here about "It's always a beautiful day in The Villages"... I've got my own take on that... "It's always an amazing Saturday afternoon at SeaBreeze with the Fabric Fun Arts & Crafts Ladies!".    Okay, so maybe my take isn't as "catchy" as that first one that also has a catchy tune and website... but I'm sticking with it!!

Our club is build on fabric, fibers, threads and yarns and this country is built on God, Family, the Rule of Law, and the mighty, great brave men and women who take an oath and then live and die for that oath to keep this country safe.  Honoring those men and women is the most patriotic and thank you we can give back.  On Wednesday, June 25th - yes, this week, we have opportunity right here where we live to do just that - honor our bravest heroes. 

Kathy Nichols is Guardian to one of the Veterans on this Honor Flight.  If  you ever have a chance, please tell Kathy thank you for this terrific deed.  She truly is putting her actions before words.   And we can all get in on some of the action this Wednesday evening right on the large parking lot at the American Legion Post corner of CR466 and Rolling Acres Rd.  Kathy says festivities start at 9:30 pm and buses bringing Vets back from Orlando Airport will be pulling in around 10:30 pm arriving back home from their Flight of Honor to the World War II Memorial in Washington, DC.  So with cheers and flag waving and big happy smiles our actions can also say thank you for your brave and true service. 

If you are in town and want to go on Wednesday evening, please give me a call or email back.  Our car is small but we can take 2 people with us, and I'm sure there are others who attending who can take a rider or two.  This is definitely one time where more is better and it is worth missing your bedtime!

Yarn Baskets was project we worked on Saturday and they are very unique.  These are made using Clover's pre-cut cardboard forms and weaving, wrapping around and around the yarn to complete the construction - no machine needed, just giggles and patience.   Most of us dug right in, picked a form up, and picked our skein of yarn, and started weaving our hearts out, while a couple ladies hung back, saw the process develop, and then they made their choices of yarns, and amazingly they were able to weave and wrap and catch up.  So we all left with just about finished baskets with just the topping portion to add.  I got to say it turned out to be very fun and worthwhile project and all thanks to our Frugal shopper Donna spotting these Clover products on sale at Tuesday's Morning.  What a hoot!

July's main project will be pretty styling eyeglass cases (or purse little change purse possible) made using texturized fabric.  There are two sizes and these little cuties are going to be lots of fun, too. 

I shared a table runner that is made using 4 fabrics, mostly 3 1/2 x 6 1/2 inch rectanges and just 4 3 1/2 inch squares.  Its sews together so quickly, then by using a simple finishing technique turns into a fast completed project with a lot of impact.  I'll include the pdf of this table runner and pictures.  This Saturday there will be demo and step by step visual for anyone who wants to see it. 

And - This Saturday - is Lunch & Learn!!  As promises, we will have for viewing the Ribbon Embroidery 30 minute tape that shows very basic stitching using silk ribbons - these create very easy and fast "flowers" especially roses, daisies and leaves.  It will sound harder than it actually is... you just need to use a good needle and have nice ribbon to work with.  There are 4 basic steps and there will be a sample piece for everyone to work thru while watching the video or to take home and then sew.  We did this once before a couple years ago or more, and it was a lot of fun then.  It's always good to review this stuff and then maybe provide inspiration for future embellishing as we make our projects.  I can see daises and roses added to the upcoming eyeglass cases and Midi bags!!

LUNCH & LEARN - This Saturday - NO RSVP's required, just come, if you're able, please bring a favorite dish/fingerfood/appetizer/veggies/fruit/etc, to share.  There's always plenty spread across the tables in the back, no one goes hungry, and some of us even go back for seconds (but who's watching ha ha). 

Yesterday, 5 of us went to Sonny's after the meeting for dinner.  It was fun and Sonny's have a new appetizer called "Sonny's Egg Rolls"   I don't eat Chinese Egg Rolls so I'm not sure Sonny's have anything in common with those... but they are good - different - good.  Next time we get a chance for a get together like this, we're talking about going to Cody's to sit at the bar and have some of their famously good chicken wings that are something like 60 cents each!  Yum!!

So with all this food talk... guess it's true as ever - crafters know how to enjoy many things!!

Show & Tell:


Suzanne Brown - Doggie Bed and beautiful quilt she made that has a great lattice woven effect.  Suzanne also treated us to a project she is working on taking a real chenille quilt and downsizing it from a queen to a twin size bed size.  It's one of those pretty looking chenille blankets with the colorful flowers.  It's going to be fun project and Suzanne does everything really beautifully.






Ode to Joy Stanton - Redwork doves that are really Yellow/Gray work!!











Cheryl Minieri - shared the making of a Custom Fidget Quilt she made for a lady in her quilting guild chapter who requested it for a loved one.  The custom request included patriotic and fishing and Cheryl created perfect motifs and touches to give this lady's loved one lots of comfort and joy.  Well done, Cheryl!!








Donna Rissman - showed us a wall hanging made in a butterfly motif.









Kathy Nichols - shared a "whatchacallit" - Ha Ha !!  Kathy made a placemat cover carrier all that has the plastic bags inside to hold lots of sewing or other type necessities.  These are so useful - more than useful - fun to make.  I love it every time one of you ladies bring in these fun projects to share and I'm always amazed how you put those stunning personal touches on each one to make it your own creations.  Kathy's an expert at doing just that, too!  And then, Kathy shared an ensemble she made for her 7 year old granddaughter, but ha ha Kathy even doned the ensemble and gave a demo of how it all comes together.  So who did you really make this ensemble for?...?... It's so cute - Kathy created stilts using cans, strings and the Gucci duck tape on the market.  Then, she made up a scarf, hat, t-shirt, and just total accessorized outfit to go with these jazzy snazzy stilts.  That's a hoot!  Kathy, thank you for sharing God, Family and Fun with us this week!!  Awesome is my word for it!!



Donna Pachy - July's wallhanging is well on it's way to completion and most definitely will be in the mail to Mom & Dad in Michigan with cookies and love.  And Donna finished up the Noah's handwork square of Gators. 







Kathy Jones - This isn't faux chenille but it's just about as terrific - an Apron fashioned from a second hand store men's button down shirt!  -  Kathy saw one in a gift shop that was pretty pricey at $30something dollars, and said heck, I can do that... And she sure did.  Kathy wrote up her version in tutorial form with pictures of how to take a button down shirt, use the front, shape it, cut off the back, and add the ties (made from the back material taken off).  Kathy demo'd that the collar cut out can be tricky.  Ladies, get your second hand shirts together, and one week in July and one in August, we'll go ahead and make up some of these "thrifty" jiffies that can be used for presents in the months ahead as we head into the fall season of holidays and giving.  It's very important that the men's shirts have collars and button all the way up. 



Pat Pipa - Finished her Noah's All Creature Great and Small blanket squares.  Pat also shared her completed ZenDoodles Wallhanging from Suzanne's class in the spring.  Pat, very pretty finished project!!








Mary Nargiowicz - shared baskets she makes with pine needles using ceramic forms that have pre-made holes in the forms.  Okay, so it's not fabric, fiber, threads and yarns, but looking at these ceramic forms... I'm saying that how artists today use everything "under the sun" that I can see those products being used in place how Mary's have pine needles.   But definitely the bowls and baskets Mary shared are works of art and beautiful just the way they are made!







Audrey Philips - shared several items - her name tag, one of those Linda Parr knitted scarves, and some very pretty table napkins with embroidered accents. 







Didn't I say it was another amazing Show N Tell week!!  Surprises, OOOhs, many AAAhs and tons of inspiration fun.  Thank you everyone!!

My handy dandy calendar next to this desktop today says... "Keep on learning-this is key to being a successful person.  Patricia N. said that in 1942 in Fridley, Minnesota.  This lady had insight into the future and definitely was talking about you all!  

As always, be good, take care and God bless America and God bless you,

 *´¨)
 ¸.·´¸.·*´¨) ¸.·*¨)
(¸.·´ (¸.·'
     Micki MacCumbee


Club Leader, Fabric Fun Arts & Crafts

Saturday, June 14, 2014

Show & Tell - June 14, 2014

Hi and blessings to all on this Happy Father's Day! 

Ladies, please put June 25th on your calendar - that is date of next Guardian Flight taking 50 Veterans to Washington, DC, for the WWII Memorial Trip.  Our very own sweetheart, Kathy Nichols, is one of the chaperones on this flight.  That is no small feat and it is extremely giving and patriotic.  Kathy personally made the quilt for her veteran (each Veteran on every flight receives an Honor Flight quilt) and she shared it with us in Show & Tell - Kathy, this club applauds you and we are so very proud of you.  The festivities at American Legion on 466 and Rolling Acres kicks off at 9:30 pm on June 25th when rightfully so these Honor Flight Veterans receive the welcome back they truly have earned and deserved.  Next week, we'll have a "car pool" sign up sheet up front for ladies who want to go, but don't want to drive at night to American Legion.  We can join together, car pool, and be there to honor and share this patriotic moment.

Show & Tell yesterday was fantastic, then Pat Pipa presented her Redwork demonstration and pattern choices for lady's.   Pat is so terrific at organizing the information she is presenting, puts together project ideas and supplies.  Everyone, Pat gets a standing O!!  Another Standing O goes to BJ Herter who shared her beautiful memories photo album of the making and sending away of an American Treasure quilt that is now hanging in the George W Bush Library.  This quilt was made by BJ's quilting guild in Pennsylvania, depicts all the presidents, and is done in Redwork, applique and piecing.  Did I say it is stunning!  It is... huge over 110 feet square, and even the pattern's author was on hand to send the quilt away to Paducah where it hung before going to the library.  The photo album is a masterpiece in itself, so just imagine the quilt!!!

And we had two visitors who came in to bring us donations.  One was a man whose wife had been a quilter, especially enjoyed applique work, and so he donated some of her fabrics and books to us.  One book is particularly interesting because it has several block of the month projects in it, some are larger projects, quilts, and some are smaller projects that fit into our weekly/monthly meeting plans.  It's a big book and definitely worth looking through the ideas and inspirations.  And the other was a young woman whose mother just passed away and she was a knitter - big, big time!!  She delivered tubs of yarns and not the cheap kind - these are very good yarns and lots of skeins in each color.  If you have a desire to make an crochet blanket for the Lady Lake pantry I'm sure there is enough choices to yarns to choose from. 

And the yarns will be very useful for next week's meeting when we make the "yarn baskets".  Yes, next week, we'll finally be looking at the yarn baskets projects our frugal shopper Donna found for us at Tuesday's Mornings.  These are Clover product, very good instructions, two sizes - round or oval - and we should be able to easily finish a basket in an hour's time each. 

Handwork - Please keep in mind that the patterns, projects and other information for handwork stitches, cross stitch, Redwork, etc. will be available in a reference binder on our club's "library shelf".   I know that the storage area and especially reference shelf can be scarey spot to check out.  Right now you almost need a hard hat to enter because we have so must stored back there in our little corner.    But there is a ton of stuff on that one shelf in binders, years of information, projects, patterns, techniques shared and collected.  If you come to a meeting with nothing special in mind, just take one of the binders out and see what's there. 

Calendar Update:  Lois Rose will be leading the Midi Bag Project and since she is vacationing a lot of July, we are switching Midi Bag to August.  In July, we'll do a small project that uses texturized fabric - what's that?  Texturized Fabric is created when using a special interfacing that shrinks, just by stitching down a basic "grid", when steam is applied to fabric, it shrinks up 30% and makes for some pretty awesome fun to use.  Some of us made Christmas stockings a few years ago with Texture Magic.  This project is an eye glass case that is quite stylish and will be a fun gift idea.   So...

June 21st - Yarn Baskets

June 28th - Lunch & Learn - Ribbon Embroidery Video & Practice square

July - Texturized Fabric and Eye Glass Project.  Also in July, I'm going to show you some easy, fun, sometimes fast, sometimes tricky, ways to use strips and squares and blocks to do other stuff.  Attached is one of the "magic methods" I have to show you.  These are things that have just been accumulating in my "to do" pile and well, it's time to put them in some order.  Attached is a magic way to make  half-square triangles HST's with just 2 squares of fabric called "Magic 8 Method".  HST's are a staple of the quilting world because they are a form of patchwork that creates fun patterns and still keeps the all important straight-of-grain SOG on the outside of the block or patchwork piece your are making.  You all hear me mention - Quilting's Magic Numbers - 1/2", 7/8" and 1 1/4" - and by using the 7/8" needed for HST's, you can make these Magic 8's in any size you want to work with.  What do HST's create easily - swirls and stars - it's patriotic time of year! so this is very easy way to make a whole lot of red, white and blue Friendship Star blocks that would whip up to a patriotic quilt any size quickly!!

August - Midi Bag Project

Strip Cutter - Yesterday I had the strip cutter with me but did not get to it.  I'll try to do that this coming week.  The strip cutter is useful tool to make - strips!!  Why strips right now... in prep for Midi Bag project which uses - 2 1/2 strips - to sub-cut into - 2 1/2 squares.  So bring in your yardage - 1/4  yards, 1/2 yards, etc., and we'll use this valuable tool that makes life better and cut your pieces into 2 1/2 strips.  And... most of all... I'm going to have fun retelling the story of how I got to have this awesome cutter for myself (which in my mind meant that then the club would have this tool for our use for projects!! of course.)  It's a fun tale and definitely worth re-telling.    Because then I get to say thank you, again!

Show & Tell:  

BJ Herter - showed off her Hole-In-One Shadow Box - beautiful memento for a monumental moment!


Carol Bling-bling Planck - shared a plate she etched, new cell phone case made with blingy poodle, her name tag - another poodle, and (this is super duper nice!) a name take Carol made for our Centurion Kay Flanagan with a blingy Peacock.  I tell you the expression of surprise and amazement on Kay's face was 100 times fun to see!!  Very thoughtful, Carol!





























 Kathy Nichols - showed off her beautiful swirl table runner - made with the 60 degrees triangle and lovely leaves swirling through the "S" curve.  And Kathy completed her name tag and then shared the patriotic lap quilt made for the veteran she is chaperoning to Washington, DC on June 25th Honor Flight.  Please be sure to click link to our BlogSpot and check this one out!



Eileen DiSanto - shared her completed name tag!


Vicky Cochran - Audrey Philips's daughter visiting with us on Sat. - shared a witch hat pincushion she made and beautiful set of sizes of plastic canvas crosses.  These are made very similar to needlepoint done on cloth, just that the cloth is plastic form.  Vicky's sizes and technique of finishing is very nice!


Donna Pachy - shared a completed hand embroidery block - I think there's enough of these blocks done now to set in sashing a make a quilt as...








 Lois Rose - shared a quilt she made using hand embroidery blocks I had stitched up years ago, Lois set them in sashing, added borders and made a beautiful blanket quilt for donation to the Womens Pantry of Lady Lake.  Lois also finished her cross stitch project from last week and her own hand embroidery blocks - Noah's face is awesome in this block.  Lois gave out a dozen or so of these blocks to hand embroidery up and is calling for ladies to finish up
their squares they took to do and bringing them back in by end of July so she can set in sashing and finish up another quilt for the Pantry.  Her last item was her name tag for the Machine Embroidery Club, which she designed and stitched.














Judy Johnson - YEA! Judy so nice to see you !!  stuffed a doggie bed while she's been bedridden recuperating from foot surgery.  Judy told funny story of how she's in bed stuffing the doggie bed, her husband comes in the room and says... what happened... as Judy was head to toe in lint and scraps - she laughed and just said to her husband... "boy, I didn't see it coming..."







Linda Lynch - Linda sorry, I didn't see you share, must have been when one of the visitors came in... I'll definitely be looking at the BlogSpot now to see what I missed because you always bring in something great.  I saw you had your reverse circle applique rag quilt out again, too.  Don't forget we want to talk about a demo for this fun!!  Linda likes to dissect projects and ideas, too. 



Susan Morris - wow, I won't forget this lady again - because she finished her name tag and she finished her cross stitch project!!



 
I missed this lady's name - but she shared top and short out of Hawaiian print, cow tote - I  used to know a lady who came to our meetings who just loves Moo-Cow prints and projects - Sandy Pawlowski - remember her - this lady reminded me a lot like her.








Edie Cave - turned in several fidget quilts and a handwork block for the Noah's ark quilt - thanks and they are beautiful.



Joy Stanton - tried to get away without showing... but she finished her cross stitch scissor FOB project and it is actually attached to her pair of scissors!!! That deserves a WOW!









Ladies, there's a old saying that goes...
Yesterday is History,
Tomorrow is a Mystery,
Today is a Gift
That's why it's called the Present!
Life is special...
Make the most of Today!

(Although she didn't list it in her email, Micki began our meeting by showing her Redwork creation of this saying.)

From the fun, sharing and giving above... definitely we made good use of our time here in The Villages this week. 

FYI - I spent an enlightening Friday afternoon at Rock & Wash Laudromat and all the rag quilts are faux chenilled fluffy/raggy/softies and ready to deliver to Lady Lake Infants & Toddlers Pantry.  I plan to make arrangements for delivery, and write a little article and picture to submit to Daily Sun as well.  Kudos to all your efforts so far for this worthy cause.  BTW... this charity work for our club will continue on and be ongoing as are Fidget Quilts, Doggie Beds, Pillowcases, and Assisted Living Visits.  Whew!  You ladies are awesome to know!!  I'll share the article when it is written up and sent in to the paper.

There are a couple very easy patterns I did up way, way back when for baby quilts, both are 30" x 36" so crib size, and with just a little adding on can be made wider and longer to go toddler sizes as well.  I'm going to have those patterns copied and available on front table along with pieces of fabric to use for the tops.  Once tops are made, they can be added to flannel sheets and finished to make quite nice blankets/quilts for the pantry.  I'll make up couple of samples so you can see what I'm talking about.  These tops can easily be sewn together in one-two hours time - yes, right there during our meetings!!  Sorry I don't have these in pdf form right now or I would attach them.  And my current print/scan doesn't talk to my Dell Desktop for some reason... so I can scan & send. 

There is very good news from Alice Meunier who was given excellent test results, scans and doctor reports at Mayo Clinic last week.  Congratulations, Alice, we are all so happy. 

And Congratulations to Lu Karatzas and her New Hampshire Sweet Singing Voices for winning 1st Place in their Regional Competition singing their chorus theme of "Superheros of Harmony".  Awesome win ladies!!   Lu will be back with us earlier this year and for a little longer... so that's going to be great fun!!

As always, take care, be good and God bless everyone.

 ¸.·´¸.·*´¨) ¸.·*¨)
(¸.·´ (¸.·'
     Micki MacCumbee


Club Leader, Fabric Fun Arts & Crafts