Weekly Update & Show & Tell for February 21, 2015

Hi Fabric Fun Ladies, here we are looking at the last weekend in February already for 2015... you ladies have continued to make this club so much fun!   This week we had some fun show n tell even with a smaller size group of ladies.  I still say our club's show and tell time is the best anywhere.    I hope that you have a chance to go over to the BlogSpot that Lois Rose keeps up-to-date every week because it is true that "a picture is worth a thousand words"...!

This coming Saturday will be Fidget Quilt focus - no lunch & learn this month - I know that we are breaking tradition (a little here - remember we did have cake & snacks a couple weeks ago on the 14th), but we'll make sure to make March's L&L "top of the morning" fun!   The Daily Sun's Jill Sherman is doing an article about all the ladies who make Fidget Quilts as part of their charitable giving here in The Villages.  On Saturday, The Daily Sun Photographer is coming to take pictures of you ladies at work designing and making/sewing up Fidget Quilts.  Please don't be shy, come, bring your machines, don't have a machine, then come to help sort, iron, design in the fun way we do just by picking and choosing fun motifs, ribbons, braids, any/all embellishments that we can add to these comfort-giving small quilts.  There will be plenty of supplies and plenty of fabrics pre-set as "quilt tops" - all ready for just your added touches.  Remember - there are no mistakes - absolutely none!  You cannot do wrong and each and every one always turns out perfect and they are all well-loved instantly.

Heads up - Calendar - still working on getting that all together.  For 1st Saturday of March we have planned to make Spring/Easter placemats - using what is called strips piecing.  Please see Lois' picture from this week's show and tell.  And attached is the pattern/instructions that give you the fabric requirements.  Lois will demo the oval placemats.  We will also have patterns/instructions for rectangular and wedge-shaped placemats that specifically work very well for round tables (I have a round dining room table so this is my favorite shaped placemat.)  Sue Campbell is making up templates to use for the wedge-shape versions.  Whether round, rectangular, wedge shape is the version you are interested in, the fabric requirements will be the same.  So, please use the JoAnn's instructions attached to get your fabrics in line. 

FYI, I'm planning to make up several "kits" to make available (fabrics, batting, cotton needed) that I'm going to put a reasonable price on (below retail for sure).  This will help any ladies who come at last minute and cannot gather supplies of their own choices.  While I'm cutting for my own, it certainly will be just as easy to cut a few extra sets up. 

Sharkys Vac & Sew in Wildwood (and I heard that 466A is going to be opened up again soon - Yea! straight shot to Sharkys!) continues to get in more and more fabrics every week - surely those walls must be busting out... their prices are almost considered below retail when you compare Sharkys to quilt shops and even internet outlets where you pay for shipping.  And Sharkys sell 108" wide quilt backing fabric at very, very reasonable prices - Consider this... a yard of 108" wide fabric is more fabric than purchasing 2-3 yards of reg. 42" fabric! and when you add up the 2-3 yards of a 42" fabric and compare to just 1 yard of 108" fabric - that's one way to get more "bang for your buck!"  So I do hear that Sharkys has fantastic variety of kids fabrics and new spring lines from Moda & Timeless Treasures.  I plan to find out personally, up close & personal, later today!

Reminder - SeaBreeze Potters' Show & Sale is Friday, Feb. 27th 8am-12Noon at SeaBreeze right there in the Neptune room. 

Reminder - March 14th - No Meeting - the rec center is blocked to us that day for other use.  We will be planning a full-day Saturday Fabric Fun meeting for May!  The Potters owe us a meeting day for last fall when we gave them our afternoon Saturday time for one of their sales.  I'm all "ears" for suggestions on what you'd like to have planned for our May All Satur-Day!  It will either be May 2 or May 9 at this point.  I'll let you know confirmation once the details are all set with Potters.  Suggestions - ??? are very welcome.  This will be our full day to play together - we'll make plans for lunch break and make that a little fun as well.  So come 1/2 day or full day, it'll be something that works for all our ladies and the way our club likes to make sure that new-to-experienced sewers are included. 

Show & Tell:

Micki - I started by sharing my "Seams To Me" sampler that was an exercise looking at various types of seams used in construction of many sewing needs and how little swatches of each type was placed in a fun this and that sampler form.  You girls here me talk about my "Foot Book" that I loved and somehow misplaced in moving from MD to FL and all the CT, VA, and CA stops inbetween during those years... this new little sampler is inspiring me once again to revise my remake hopes for a Foot Book.   I also shared the Turtle version of the Easy! Rag Quilting Simplicity pattern.  (Mary Naz is doing a harder Turtle version!).  These smaller easier ones only have 5-6-7 pieces total to sew together to have a beautiful little baby version - Turtle, Butterfly, or Snail!.  The club has the templates and instructions easy to follow!  Lastly, craftsy.com is a terrific resource for free information and tutorials.  Yes, there are classes for $'s at craftsy.com, but there are many, many free patterns, free classes, free tuturials, free stuff! galore at that website.  I used one of the tutorials to complete one of the seams - flat felled seam - that I did not have a special machine foot to make - so I made my flat felled seam sample swatches using "old school" way.  Yes, there is now a convenient new machine foot for my Bernina machine, but not going to store and paying out the $'s needed to purchase, I was still able to do that swatch easily following helpful tutorial available at craftsy.com. 

 

 

Marie Bray - made a beautiful casserole carrier - great job lady!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kathy Jones - pillowcases for Case for Smiles and zippered bags - all made in Kathy's usual expertise!

Donna Pachy - continues to produce her monthly wallhangings for family and shared "March" she made to send to her daughter & grandsons in CA!  We all know how much our kids love receiving our lovingly-made treasures, especially our grandchildren!  Wow, Donna has become quite proficient in stippling and fancy quilting - and she's using variegated threads beautifully, too!      

Carol Planck - (Here is where I'm giving Carol a Standing Applause!) Carol is continuing to make herself stronger and more well each day - God bless and keep up the good work!!  Carol continues to inspire with her expertise of Bling and new techniques.  She wow'd us with an array of tote bag made in her famous Peacock-ese fashion and T-shirts using new machine and embellishing materials available.  Everything is beautiful and again... check out the pictures for a thousand words!!

 

 

Edie Cave - was very busy sewing for the club's charitable efforts (as usual).  Edie is so unselfish in her time for sure!   She shared and turned in 3 cat hammocks and 4 pillowcases - thanks, lady!

Lois Rose - (we're all convinced Lois is able to operate on a 22-23 hour day!)  No kidding... this week she shared another quilt she made with Native American fabrics for a friend - lovely!, 

 

Easter Spring Placemats - that she detailed and has agreed to lead the demo now for March 7th, and Lois got her creative process ramped up this week making a "Fractured Frenzy" fabric-art wallhanging.  

And, yes, Fractured Frenzy is now on calendar for April! demo.  This technique works very well with the "repeating" fabrics found easily in today's marketplace - borders, and just about every print fabric has a "repeatable" pattern... so more on that later!

 

 

 

 

 

Alice Meunier - shared an adorable O.R. cap she made for her daughter who is an OR nurse.  And Alice shared her zippered bag!  Good job!!!  I'm personally thrilled you ladies took the zippers and fabrics and made up your bags so you could see how easily zippers can be inserted and how pretty they turn out.  

 

 

 

 

 

One more thing - from Donna's wallhanging of the month process came discussion of "Tablerunner of the Month" idea.  We all use tablerunners for our counters and tables, etc. and how much fun it is to have these treasures to pull out of the closet at the last minute when someone arrives or we plan our get-together, or just every day use to make our homes a little cheerier - just for ourselves!  When you think about it a table runner often times can be double as a "wallhanging" for a narrow vertical wall - which we all  have in our homes down here in The Villages.  I've got a couple spots here in there in the house that are either "covered" with the current month's fun - or usually empty, ha ha!  My house up north was "coated" with stuff, but none of that seems to suit down here (huh! how'd that happen?) and it seams I don't have as much time to crank out the stuff I did up there (imagine that - it's The Villages!).  Anyway... I'm all for a Tablerunner of the Month gameplan and this could even become our Lunch & Learn tradition.  We'll try to get this set up soon... we'll have the tablerunner available to display for L&L, pattern templates and instructions and demo set up for each month.  We may be even able to incorporate a few "kits" each month. 

Still planning, but coming soon to a meeting near you!

As always, prayers to all of you and your families and friends.  God bless our military men and women serving around the world and keeping our nation free, Amen.

God bless,  

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

Club Leader, Fabric Fun Arts & Crafts

Weekly Update - February 14, 2015

Hi all, so my 10 yr old puppy is being a pest this morning... in, out, in, out... when I'm away she doesn't "bug" Mac this way, but she has me twisted around her pretty paws - at least that is how it feels.  Pets are like children in so many ways and yes, I've spoiled her into some of these routines.  But I will try to concentrate and get thru the beautiful display list of show & tell items that you ladies put on last Saturday. 

Next two Saturdays are both "Sit-n-Sews".  No demos are planned, but as always there's plenty of help and ideas generated around the room.  Definitely, I'm always happy to stop, sit and help ladies with their questions.  I know at times it is hard to get my undivided attention, as I do get distracted easily, to this I just please ask you to persist, don't give up, and eventually I get it, stop and focus.  And! I love helping each and every one of you whenever.  Pillowcases & Cat Hammocks:  There are over 30 pillowcase fabric kits together to quickly sew up for Case for Smiles.  There are 20 Cat Hammock fabric kits together to add the corner tags to and finishing sewing up.  I have all these set up on a table for next two meetings in hopes that ladies will pick up one or two to "sit and sew" right there during our meetings, or take home and return quickly enough so we can get them distributed to the charities we're helping.  If you haven't done a pillowcase or cat hammock, have no fear, they are easy and quick and lots of ladies to guide you along to complete them.  And, there are those never-ending-fabric-scraps produced each week!  Lois has plenty of doggie bed forms put together for us to just stuff!!  Don't want to sew, please consider just sitting and cutting up some of the fabric scraps clogging our resource shelves and just stuffing a doggie bed or 2 or 3!!!

Last Saturday, we welcomed Donna Pachy back with lots of smiles, hellos, applause, cake and some other goodies brought in.  Donna's work schedule is freeing up a bit, so hopefully we'll see her at our meetings now which is awesome for how this club runs... she keeps us very organized, always has just the right idea and help needed for the club and each of us.  Donna doesn't like me toot her horn because she likes doing all the behind the scenes stuff, but newbies just know that what she does all the time makes Fabric Fun more fun!  And Donna is the very best and smartest and nicest realtor The Villages has on staff.  So all around... we're a lucky community here!!  Sorry Donna, I'm so glad to see you back and just needed to do some "tooting"!  (I've had to store it up for several months.

Lois Rose delivered 25 cat hammocks. 6 doggie beds, donated towels and papers to Marion County Rescue Shelter last week on behalf of our club.  These are the wonderful items you ladies donate your time, money and talents to produce that go hugely to making the discarded 4 legged cuties loved and comforted a little/a lot.  Thank you, Lois!

Show & Tell: nice list ladies!!

Pat Pipa - Shared some "Humbug" style bags she made from the "sample fabric books" (see NOTE below!).  Free fabric, fun technique and gift/useful little pouches produced - it is that simple.  Pat also made and donated assorted cat hammocks, doggie beds.  And then she share the quilt she completed during recent college course.  She "passed" the class!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lu Karatzas - shared an array of bowl buddies she made up during the week! 

Elaine Krise - shared the 4 additional pillowcases she made to donate and a pretty little "pillowcase" dress she sewed up, too










Lois Rose - Gets our Wow! award for the week with her beautifully designed, made, and completed machine embroidered king-size quilt.  This is no simple, quick, task.  Besides the patchwork, setting rows and columns in her designed fashion, creating the layers, then squaring and making a quilt sandwich, next using a stitch-in-the-ditch (grid like) gameplan to stabilize her beautiful work, then she could take it to the next step with the machine embroidery designs and placement that puts it over the top!   Lois showed the back of her quilt that she used a extra-wide fabric she purchased at Sharkys Vac & Sew on 301 in Wildwood. 
FYI, Sharkys sells a large assortment of extra wide (quilt backing) fabrics for unbelievably low prices - much less than other outlets and "real quilt shops".   And by the way, judging by the count bolts of fabric on hand and what they have ordered coming into the store, Sharkys can definitely be classified a "real quilt shop" now.  Thousands of bolts, machines, notions, classes and lessons... yippers that makes it official - I'm calling the store a real quilt shop!!  
 

 
 
 
Alice Meunair - Shared an adorable 9-patch quilt she sewed up with scraps, added sashings, borders and made to turn in to our charity pile for next time we donate quilts to one of the local shelters.  Alice made up her name tag - very nice!  And lastly, she shared a sewing scrap bag she made for herself!!  Ladies - this useful sewing notion will be a demo in March!!  I know my sewing room is in desperate need of a new one or two of these!







 

Winnie DePastino - shared the bowl buddies she sewed up during the week.  Winnie, Lu and some other ladies had some fun making a mini-runway performance doning their buddies as bonnets and singing, too!  Check out the picture on the BlogSpot using the link below!  What a Hoot!

 

Ruth Campbell - shared the chair covers she completed to help with charity project for Kandie's son's class of students in Charlotte, NC.   And Ruth did all those while having eye surgery and still recovering from that!!!

Editors note here:  Ruth turned 91 this week - so we sang her Happy Birthday!!  Ruth and Elaine Krise started coming about the same time, sit sort of in same area, and both have dug into the projects and fun and already are inspiring and sharing enthusiasm for sewing crafting.  And Elaine is just 86!   So she's the baby of the duo! 

Little Eileen DiSanto shared the X-Lg size microwave bowl she made up using the new pattern templates.  I saw her put the 17 inch squares together so I can testify that this is one of the largest ever!  It turned out great because Eileen smartly used an extra layer of batting for the bigger size.  Thanks for the tip, lady.  So when making the 14 in sizes and larger, it is a good idea to use a second layer of batting or even 3rd.  The new pattern calls for sewing regular cotton and batting together, making 2 sides like that and then sewing the sides together.  Here is where you can definitely insert another batting layer if you feel the need. 





 

Jeri Cerullo - back from the frozen, snowed in north!  shared a couple of awesome ideas - 1 - Christmas card Heart ornament and even made suggestion to use pictures for some/all of the faceted-sides of the heart ornament.  Great!!!  2 - Gift box - like a "green" project for us - beautifully sewed, quilted box with even a label inside to record the names and dates the box is used (Donna thought of calling it a "journey tag".)  We're going to be making both these ideas  up in the very near future, so we'll get our demos in order, patterns produced, and get them scheduled. 

 

Linda Parr - shared a cute "A" word T-Shirt.  Some sewing crafters call applique-ing the "A" word because they consider it too tedious for the effect.  When you see a cute T-Shirt appliqued in a child' fabric favorite motifs, including the child's initials - you definitely understand that it is very worthwhile technique to learn and use.  

Note:  There's 4 or 5 ways to get to the same applique effect - all work terrific - just becomes personal preference (fusing/templates/freezer paper) and finishing like raw edge A, machine A, hand and needle-turn A, fusible A, piping A, Celtic A, Broderie Perse, shadow A, blind stitch/satin stitch/fancy stich... and the list goes on... make it your creative process!

JoAnn N - cat hammocks - more - thank you!!  And she shared a necklace made using eyelash yarn and braiding.  Gotta learn this stuff!! 











 

 

Mary Nazyiowicz - made and shared a beautiful little wallhanging of quilted heart for Happy Valentines!  Adorable and great job for this new sewer.












 

In addition, we looked at a couple new project ideas for our group to put on our sewing schedule.  1 - tissue holders - simple to make and fun to embellish.  2 - hanger holders - using a plastic hanger for template create a wonderful garment holder and jewelry holder all in one.  And FYI can be concealing while traveling and hanging in hotel rooms.

Last Saturday, my demos included 7 projects/techiques/ideas, here is the list presented with hand-outs.  Over the next couple weeks, I'll be happy to answer questions and help anyone working thru their own creations.

1. ZIPPERS - Pretty Pouches & Humbug Bag/Triangular
2. Pillow Form - one piece
3. Wreath using square pieces of fabrics
4. Scarf with Fancy Stitching
5. New idea for raw edge square patchwork
6. Casserole Carriers - Easy Peasy
7. Fancy Purse with Bobbin Work & Couching

I'm sending TLC prayers this week for Sue Campbell who has problems with continued knee swelling and undergoes some testing this week for possible surgery needed.  Anything with knees and lower legs takes lots of care and lots, lots of time healing - the most important part.  Good luck, lady. 

I'll get over to see Kay Flanagan this week so we can have an update on our good friend and how she is coming along.  Please keep Kay and her family in your prayers as well. 

As always, pray for our service men and women and their families, home and deployed.  Pray that our civilian leaders have sense enough to lift the political restraints and constraints they place on the military so that they are able to do their tasks we train them and send them to do in our name.  Especially pray for the 300+ Marine contingent deployed to Iraqi base that that is now under siege by ISIS (yes!  Islamic Terrorists!) This base has been attacked once by suicide bombers - people who put TNT vests on, walk into innocents and service men/women, and blow themselves up to mame and kill others in the name of Allah and leave the ISIS trail of terror.  The town just 5 miles from this base is under ISIS control and the base stands as a fortress for Bagdad.  Our Marines are there to "train" the Iragi's - hogwash!  Our Marines are trained and just the 300 of them can do the job - get the job done - and this is said by more than one great heroes and military minds like Marcus Luttrell (Lone Survivor), Rob O'Neill (Man who shot OBL), and countless Generals, Commanders, Lt. Colonels, (yes, great and couragegous military minds who have "done the job" and know what to do!)  Pray that the politicians get out of the way, because otherwise there's potential for a horrific disaster to happen here.  And please remember the very serious, sincere words of one of the very courageous and wise Founding Fathers and President, John Adams, "Liberty, once lost, is lost forever."  Pray for this special 300 in Iraq now.

Sit and Sews next two weeks!!  Let's see those machines coming out, turned on, and having fun!!

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

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

Micki's Meeting Notes - February 7, 2015

Hi Fabric Fun Ladies, we had some fun with fabric on Saturday for sure because we looked at making these microwave bowl buddies from left-right-up-down-round-square-rectangle-and even splatter lids with iron-on vinyl.  If you missed our meeting and still interested in these useful kitchen softies, I'm sure we can easily go over the process with you.  The patterns are very easy to follow as long as you do each step in order.  Lois Rose led the demonstration explaining the steps and even showed how to customize the sizing to fit our "very favorite heating bowls".   After going thru basic patterns used previously, we looked at a new bowl buddy version that could create both square and rounded edge bowls using template with dart placement, and those darts are cut out.  The new version includes splatter lid construction in small, medium and large made with or without binding.  These splatter lids can be made with one side protected with iron-on vinyl.  This is a very good product available for crafters now that is a substitute for laminated fabrics.  I made my lids using two layers of the iron-on vinyl as the pattern calls for, but I believe that one layer of the vinyl would suffice as well.  I've not had to launder my lids yet, but I'll let you know if a problem comes up.  None so far.   One further point about the batting for the bowls and lids.  The two basic patterns were written before the "Tater batting" came on the market.  Warm & Natural or Dream Cotton are excellent examples of the cotton batting to use.  Lois did her demonstration using the Tater batting which is made specifically for these microwave projects like the potato bags (and other vegetables) and bowl buddies. The Tater batting looks very similar to Warm & Natural but softer and fluffier.  When I was making bowls during the week with the new version pattern I ran out of cotton batting and substituted flannel layer for batting which I was very happy with the construction finish.  Today I picked up a package of the Tater batting at JoAnn's that I'm excited about trying after seeing how nice it worked during Lois' demos.  Thank you very much, Lois, for leading us thru the fun afternoon at SeaBreeze.

Next Saturday - Feb. 14th - Happy Valentine's!   I have 3 demonstrations planned 1 - Fabric Wreaths, 2 - Zipper Pouches (easy peasy honest!) and 3 - Surprise Surprise!!  I will have copies of the patterns to hand out for the demos and you can follow along and take notes.  Ladies, it's your choice if you want to bring your machines for the meeting, for instance to give a try to doing the easy peasy zipper process.  Honest girls, after you've done one of these, you will see that it can take less than 10 minutes to sew in a zipper this way.  This is a basic sewing crafting zipper insertion, not a hidden dress zipper, but it does take away the fear of working with zippers.   

For the wreath construction, there are options for foam, styrofoam and straw wreath forms.  

Fabrics for pouches - I'll bring along several of the fabric sample "books" that are excellent to use for the pouches - coordinated and pretty close to size needed.  These are free!!!!  Please consider taking some - I've got to get our garage under control this spring.  That means clearing out several large boxes full of these sample books.

Feb. 21st and 28th will be Sit & Sew Weeks - We'll work on projects, finish up the ongoing charitable efforts of cat hammocks and pillowcases for Case for Smiles, and as usual there's always the unexpected creativity stuff and tips.  

Show & Tell:  This is what makes our club fun-fun-fun - all the stuff!

 

Brenda Severa - showed off her stack of microwave bowls made at her quilting chapter when Donna Pachy led the demo there.  Just as we recycle fabric here at Fabric Fun, we also recycle these patterns and demos again and again!!  

 

Lu (not Lu Lu!!) K - Made several more chair book racks for Kandie's charitable effort and then shared a gorgeous array of pillowcases she's made for family by picking and choosing personal fabrics for each one.  Beautiful work, Lu.

 

 

 

Ellen Hein - shared and donated a bunch of nice - perfect - cat hammocks

 

 

Kathy Jones - showed off her completed beginner class quilt made in Amish color scheme, pillowcases in Downton Abbey inspired fabrics - see note below.

 Jane Swafford - shared and donated beautifully made pillowcases for Case For Smiles - lovely fabrics for kids!!  Jane reported that her sis Sue Campbell is doing better - Yea!

Joyce Snyder - pillows and purses for homes - Joyce continues to inspire that this club get back to our assisted living crafting visits and we are working to get something set up soon!!  We'll give you information on when/what as soon as we get one or two arranged. 

 

Patty Cooke - shared and donated a soccer theme fabric pillowcase.

 Lois Rose - shared an afghan she's just crocheted up! and embroidery projects made during her weekend retreat last weekend in Plant City.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Phyllis Czerkies - Showed off an adorable Grandmom & Granddaughter vest combo she sewed up using the faux chenille techniques.  Phyllis was wearing her vest and held up one sized for grandchild - these were so cute, just awesome idea.  

JoAnn Colin - Gets the Wow! Award for the week - This gal is cranking out in fearless fashion for a beginner.  JoAnn whipped up 7 chair pockets and 2 cat hammocks and then made up some microwave bowl holders on her own - good work, Lady!!

 

 

Linda Parr - shared a gorgeous, lovingly made afghan quilt in very patriotic red-white&blue yarns for the next Honor Flight.  It is a beautiful pattern that Linda called the "orginal dish cloth".   Makes me want to get a crochet hook, yarns and get started on one.   Linda also shared her completed beginner quilt from the class at the college.  

Downton Abbey Note - now I saw the amazement on many faces as you turned and looked at me when I asked "what is downtown abbey".  No, I've not been in outer space, yes, I'm still a resident of this planet, but I never heard of this TV show prior to Saturday.  I did go home and Google it, read the reviews mostly raves, read the Wikipedia summary, and I still don't get the fascination with it and still don't plan to watch it.  Just like I've not used any brain cells reading one of the 50 Shades of Gray books and will not waste any $'s to watch the big screen porn movie Hollywood is releasing on Valentine's Day.  I'm not comparing the TV and movie projects because that would be apples and oranges thing.  But it does amaze me how some items become big news, get rave reviews, people spend time and money pursuing, and how Hollywood gets away with lowering the bar yet again.    And what shockingly amazes me this week is how some of this country's leaders can get away with anti-christianity and other religion comments and borderline anti-patriotic remarks.  And how there are young people attending colleges who can't even name one of their state's two Senators.  So, yes, on Saturday I was surprised that this TV show had never made it to my radar screen but then it is what makes us all different, hey!  

 

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

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

Club Leader, Fabric Fun Arts & Crafts