The Picnic Quilt

Dear Readers,

One of the summer challenges of the Mississippi Quilt Association was to finish a UFO.  I, like many quilters, have many UFO's.  I was looking through some of them and found this one based on a block called the Massachusetts block.  If you like the block, click here to see the instructions.  This UFO stemmed from a program that we did one year at Possum Town Quilters in Columbus, MS.  These had sat around for at least 7 or 8 years.  They were gifted to me the year before I moved over here to Winona.   The program was you could pick a block and ask every one that would like to to make you one in your chosen colors and pattern.  I chose to ask for one in creams or whites with 30's fabric or mock 30's fabrics.

One of the nice thing about this design web site, is that they have figured out all the sizes for you for common sized blocks.  I asked the guild members for the 12 inch finished size.  Like all group sewing  projects, some did not work out, as the colors were so light that the block disappeared or they came out too small.  A few were too big, but I trimmed them down and lost some points, but went with it anyway.  I made about 4 or 5 more blocks to fill out the collection and then put them together.  One of the things I love about this block is it is an asymmetrical block.  That means there are lots of different arrangements.  I chose to do a barn raising style setting.  The other exciting thing about this quilt is it is the first one I did on my new long arm.

It isn't great, but I am excited.  Here in Winona, I have been hanging my quilts on my fence to photograph.  Well, I was never happy about photographing quilting large quilts, as they would hang into the garden!  This quilt is 84 x 84, so it is definitely taller than my fence.  About that time Fred's was closing and I saw a curtain rod for 80% off and I bought it and put the curtain supports up on my porch.  When I was at the Innova dealer near Nashville, I noticed that they had quilts hung from pipes with bulldog clips zip tied to the pipe.  I was talking to them about it and they suggested keeping them a little loose so they could slide up and down the pipe.  So here is what is looks like at the top.

I know it would not do for a show quilt, but, most of my quilts are not show quilts.  I want the recipient to use and enjoy the quilts.

Sew long,

Terry

The Magnolia Challenge

Dear Readers,

I had my first finish of the year last night, or really this morning, when during the PTQ meeting I was sewed my label on my magnolia quilt.  While I never worked out the tension problems, as a whole I am not as unhappy with the quilt as I was before.  I really like the colors and if you don't get too close and look at the tension problems on the back, it is really pretty.  It is a wall hanging right???  That means you don't look at the back!!

The challenge given the guild was to make a 36 inch by 36 inch quilt (+ or - an inch) that showed a southern magnolia.  The quilt had to be bound in the green you see in the photo.  The top eight will be chosen to be sent the the AQS Ultimate guild challenge.  Then they will look at photos of the top eight and decide if your guild will be invited to participate in the show.  To choose the eight, the quilts will be displayed at the MQA meeting in Hattiesburg next weekend.  When the blog is published with the minutes from todays meeting, you will be blown away by the variety and workmanship of the quilts.
You can click here the link to the blog.

I pieced this last summer when a couple of friends and I got together and had a sewing retreat.  Sue Harmon and Diane Brown were working on a quiet book for her granddaughter, and I was working on this quilt.  I got the inner part done, but didn't bring any black fabric, so on my way home I stopped and bought some and got it the borders on.  I then set it aside, hoping my sewing room would be complete before time to quilt it...unfortunately it is not done yet so I quilted it on my small babyloc but it does a great job with piecing it just doesn't do well with the tension for quilting.

I named mine "Winds of Change in The Magnolia State"  I thought the fractured flowers looked like they had been hit by a big wind.

It hangs nice and straight.

Here are some closeups of the the quilting.

I wrote a bible verse and Mississippi State Flower and Tree - The Magnolia  State in the black border.
Free motion quilting words is not for the faint of heart.  But it is mostly legible.

Here is the label that Judy printed for me.

Sew long!

Freedom from Cancer Quilt Workshop

Hey all,

Today a large group of the Possum Town Quilters got together and worked on blocks for the Freedom from Cancer quilt that we will be donating to the Lowndes County Relay for Life group.  We were making two of the blocks from Amy Gibson's class on Block of the Month from Craftsy.com.  We had decided to buy pizza for lunch, so no one would need to prepare lunch for everyone.  We had about 22 people show up.  The challenge committee was working on the opportunity quilt we donate to the Arts Center for our "rent".  Lots of progress was made on both.  We only need a few more blocks on the Relay for Life quilt and the challenge quilt was in the beginning stages of assembly.  Woooooot!!

So proud of how hard everyone worked.  So without further ado pictures from the day.

Mary Anne, Sandi, Lory, and Linda working on blocks.

Group shot!!

Diane, CC, and JoAnne

Brenda was working on the challenge quilt for the RAC.

Linda and Carol working hard.

Ebba was ironing and arranging the blocks  on the wall so we could keep track of how many more we needed.

Julia and Emily (not pictured) were working on the challenge quilt too!

And by the end of the day, we had most of the blocks made.   Several ladies agreed to make a few at home.  Please email me and let me know how many of what you are making so I can make sure we have enough of the right blocks.  If we have extra that is ok they can go with Annette's blocks for the quilt of valor.   ;-) We also got the back pieced and ready to go.  So at our next meeting, I propose that after lunch we team sew the rows together, add the border and be done!

Elvis Challenge - Submitted

Hey all,

Here are finished Elvis Quilts...didn't think that Mona measured up...I have such talented friends.  Here are the eleven that took on the challenge and finished by the deadline!  The top eight, as voted on by visitors to the Columbus Visitor Center, during pilgrimage http://www.columbus-ms.info/visitors/spring-pilgrimage/pilgrimage-2012.aspx, will be sent to the AQS quilt show.  During pilgrimage towns people dress up in period costumes and show the antebellum homes.  We have musicians playing and our group gets out and quilts in the homes, while wearing period dresses.  Not me of course, I go to work...plus, I have never been much for dressing up or hand quilting (while beautiful not my cup of tea) ... give me my machine!!  

So without further ado...the quilts:

Judy Stokes - "In the Ghetto"

Lawana Schultz - song: "Take These Chains from My Heart"

Christine Anderson - song:  "T'here Ain't Nothing Like a Hound  Dog"

Brenda Crownover - song: "Moody Blues"

Bobbi Hommel - song: "Good Luck Charm"

Carol James - song: "Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear"

Linda Baines - song:  "Hawaiian Sunset"  

Watana Cantrell - "Swing Down Sweet Chariot"

CC Coggins - songs: "Blue Sued Shoes" and "Hound Dog"

Julia Graber - song:  "In My Father's House"

Terry Turnage - song: "Mona Lisa"

So come to Columbus, visit some cool old houses and vote on our quilts.  Tickets are available at the visitors center...pick your favorite eight...it will be a tough decision.