And a closeup view. She said it does get rather lumpy so it would have to be a quilt that would always be used on top of a bed and not really for cuddling. I have GOT to find out if Sarah has any more of that little lamb fabric.
SOOO CUTE!!!
The ruching is a long strip of fabric sewn and gathered and then rolled up like a cinnamon roll to make the floral center. I'm not sure exactly how its done and in doing a search online, I didn't come across anything exactly like this. I think this was a technique used in the 1990's? Maybe some of you will remember. She has enough of these blocks to make a king size quilt and there are no repeats of fabrics on any of these flowers. Ready for sashing!
Sarah gifted me some wildlife chunks of fabric and I was hoping I could solicit ideas for how to go about using these in a lap quilt.
I met Sarah through my husband of all things. He recently built a house for her and her husband. And believe it or not, he is in the process of getting ready to build houses for a longarmer and her mother who are moving to the area. She and her mother are both avid quilters. Who would have guessed that having a builder for a husband would gain me new quilting buddies! I've already asked them both if they want to join a quilting group that I want to get started. So now I've already got three interested ladies just because I married a builder! Ha! Ha!
I finally did it! I put out a call for interest in joining a local quilt group for anyone that lives in my area. I am going to have the first meeting at my home and we will use that time to get to know each other and decide what kind of group activities we want to do.
This isn't exactly what our group is going to be like but isn't that a fun picture?
Soooo! Once again, I am hoping my online quilting "group" (that's anybody who stops by and reads my blog now and then) would do me the honor of sharing ideas with me. For those of you who have been in a quilting group or guild, what are some of your favorite activities that your group does? Or what do you wish they would do? I am wanting a big list of ideas to take to our first meeting so we can all decide which things we would like to do. Even if you don't belong to a group, if you have an idea for a fun activity, please share! I am sure I will be sharing the fun things we do together and hopefully you might get some inspiration now and then.
And last but not least for today's post, I made another yellow block for this year's Rainbow Scrap Challenge. A migrating geese block to add to my collection!
Ok, tomorrow is piecing the back for Ashley's quilt using THIS lovely fabric
and hopefully getting it basted and ready to quilt! So excited!
Don't forget to share with me a fun idea for a quilt group. 😉
I hope you have a fun weekend of quilting ahead of you!
Crazy Mom Quilts
Busy Hands Quilts
Can I get a Whoop Whoop?
Rainbow Scrap Challenge 2018
Good luck with your new quilting group. Mystery challenges, paint chip challenge, ugly fabric challenge, making community quilts. Same piece of fabric given to all to make???? Enjoy whatever is decided.
ReplyDeleteThat ruching is amazing! It's going to be such a cool quilt. I've never belonged to a quilt group, so I don't have any fun ideas. Though it would be nice just to have people to sew with.
ReplyDeleteI belonged to one informal quilt group and it was the one that I liked the most until it was disbanded - we just brought whatever we were working on and stitched and talked.
ReplyDeleteYou asked about the pieces she gave you and I would do a log cabin look with a complimentary color and make them in different sizes since the block centers are all different sizes you will have to figure out how to coordinate and what background or sashing color or style will make it work.
ReplyDeleteThe favorite thing that everyone likes at our guild meetings, is Show and Tell! Time to ooh and aah over everyone's quilts! For a small group, it might be fun to have a new project each month - like rope baskets, sampler blocks, baskets, place mats, etc. Guess it depends on how many you have in your group.
ReplyDeleteHow fun that you are meeting quilters through your husband! Sounds like you will have a nice group, even if it is only four all together. I don't belong to a group, but if I did, I would want it to be a small and informal one. Just sew and chat and help each other. Regarding your wildlife pieces, how about arranging them by size, with sashing surrounding each piece in a sort of window pane look, which can then become the centerpiece of a quilt by surrounding it with various sized borders. Not sure if I'm making that clear.
ReplyDeleteIf I joined an in-person group, I would want it to have at least some focus on charity work. Maybe a block lotto where everyone contributes several blocks and the winner agrees to donate a finished quilt. Some guilds adopt a different charity every year, I've read.
ReplyDeleteThose animal panel pieces would work great as the centers of blocks: square in a square, log cabin, stars, you name it! Use some nice greens and browns and end up with a fun, rather masculine quilt :)
Hi Janice,
ReplyDeleteI wish I lived close enough to join your informal quilt group! I think informal groups are so much more fun. Hmm, my only suggestion would be for making bee blocks for a combined project, or maybe to get involved with charity or valor quilt making. The guild I used to belong to was way too competitive for me, so keep it light and fun! Sounds like a fabulous time to me. ~smile~ Roseanne
Will your quilt group be for fun and sewing time, or fun and learning time? Round robins are enjoyable--the easiest are row-by-row style. There are several "color challenge" groups in blogland which could give ideas...
ReplyDeleteOutings are fun--shop hops, quilt shows, even county and state fairs. A78mandel at yahoo dot com
My quilt group is very informal! Right now we just get together monthly to visit and bring show and tell. In the past we've done a few charity quilts, block exchanges, and a field trip now and then to a new quilt shop or a show. Your geese migration blocks look great - I really like the yellow one!
ReplyDeleteNot only have I seen ruching, I have used it, in my Baltimore in Blue quilt. My quilt group is very small, only eight of us and we meet monthly. We mainly meet to stitch, chat and share our work although we have made a group quilt in the past. I enjoy it when we learn a new technique together or all make the same thing, it’s fun seeing everyone’s unique interpretation. Of course you mustn’t forget the other important thing to share.............CAKE
ReplyDeleteThat ruching is amazing! I don't think I've seen that in a quilt before, although I have seen yo-yo middles. I always thought they were a creative solution to rather irregular middles of blocks. And I also had to keep looking at the fabrics. That quilt is going to be a wonderful collection of vintage fabric. I remember the yellow calico from the late 70's. Making quilt buddies through your husband is priceless. Have fun forming a group. If I lived near you, I'd be right over. The migrating geese are breathtaking. I did not realize until now that the colors are arranged by value. So cool!
ReplyDeleteOur guild always has Show and Tell. It's my favorite part because I can get to know what these talented folks are doing. The most important thing is that we are never critical, but always encouraging. Therefore the atmosphere is always one of acceptance, and we all need that. A certain size of eight seems to be good so one or two being absent or dropping out does not cause it to disband. Good luck with your group.
ReplyDeleteHi Janice! That ruching is beautiful. Very unique. Nice job on your rainbow scrap quilt. It sounds like you are starting a "small group" quilting group. At my small group meeting, once a month in each others homes, we go around the circle and do show and tell, showing quilt finishes as well as quilt book, magazine or fabric acquisitions. And the tell part is sharing what's going on in our lives. That's the usual part. Then we have yearly activities, too. This year we're doing a sew-along--Gypsy Wife quilt. We're also doing baby charity quilts. Last year we did OMG--one monthly goal--we each made and numbered a list of 12 projects, started or not. Then we drew a number for the next meeting, and we worked on that project. Sometimes a little, sometimes a lot. Another year was the year of color. We drew a colored crayon for the next month and worked on a project in that color. Participation in any of the yearly projects is optional, but it's more fun to join in. Have fun!
ReplyDeleteInteresting new technique, I love this ruching! Pretty blocks for the RSC too ;)
ReplyDeleteOooh, a local group, how fabulous! I hope it goes well! I had a really informal group of 3-5 ladies for a while, it was more general crafting than specifically quilting (I usually brought my machine, though), we would do snacks and just bring whatever we working on and spend time together, chat, we could get help, etc. It lasted several years, then kids came along and ate up all our free time :)
ReplyDeleteThat's an interesting concept, but it does add something to the flower. I'm in a quilting bee with three other friends (Girl Guide friends who also quilt). We generally just get together to quilt. We will go for lunch and visit our LQS. I hope you have fun with your new friends.
ReplyDeleteI agree! Keep it light and fun. No pressure. When my group started we worked on small patterns, everyone made the same thing. And we planned an annual retreat in a beautiful area for a short weekend. Now we have grown to 35, we all sew on our own project with a challenge format, but we still do the annual retreat. Lots of visiting, sharing and of course, food. Enjoy and have fun.
ReplyDeleteYour friend's blocks are amazing, what a great technique. I love your rainbow blocks, such gorgeous colors. How exciting that you are starting a local quilt group. I have never really been part of a "in real life" group I'm pretty much sewing on my own and with my online friends. I do think I would just love to talk about everything. I feel like I would really benefit from input on my choices, some constructive criticism to make me grow as a quilter. Feedback on fabric selection, learning new techniques. Just people to talk about all of it with. I bet you all will figure it out together!
ReplyDeleteThat ruching is gorgeous! It would be a fun technique to try... so, your mission is to find out how and then do a nice tutorial for us :) :) xx
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