Learning to Make Fabric Landscapes

We had a great crowd at the April meeting.  The weather has finally turned spring like bringing out the flowers and the quilters.

Pictured below are the three block choices for the May meeting Block of the Month.  Sarah is carrying on the flower theme.  The winner of the April blocks was Karen Hanney.  Can't wait to see what she does with those blocks.

(Click on the pictures to enlarge them.)

Faith Smith took several quilts from our charity quilt stash to The Ronald McDonald House in Durham.  They were grateful to receive them for the guests at the house.  Faith said some thing the house always needs is pillow cases.  These are often used to carry belongings home.  Faith has issued a challenge to all guild members to make a pillowcase for her to carry down to the house on her next trip. 

When the weather gets bad, quilters get going!  We had several quilters share their recent finishes.

Patty McCrary shares her Starry Night table runner. 

Faith Smith shows her Hero Quilt.

Betty Jo Pernell shows one of her most recent mini quilts.  That is not paper pieced!

The members in attendance enjoyed an evening of learning to make landscapes using fabric and glue on canvas.  Guild member, Eileen Davison, was kind enough to lead us in this technique.  She was also kind enough to share many of the fabrics she uses for her landscapes.  It was a fun evening with many beautiful pieces being created.

You will not want to miss the May meeting!  We will have a guest speaker.  Modern quilt artist, Roxane Lessa, will be presenting "What Every Art Quilter Needs to Know Before They Sew", a presentation of dos and don'ts of art quilting.  Much of what Roxane has to share can also be used in any quilting.  The presentation will include some of her amazing quilts and a slide show of tips and secrets as well as information on design and composition.  Roxane will also be sharing her private coaching program and classes for learning how to create art quilts with interested guild members.  She will also have hand dyed fabrics and other items for sale.  To see Roxane's work, click HERE.  Roxane also has a blog you can check out HERE.   
This will be an informative evening for every one.  Bring a friend!

March Meeting

The March meeting of the Vance Quilts R Us guild was a productive meeting.  March is membership renewal month.  We welcome two new members, Tammy Williamson and Monica Sleboda.  Two guests, Patricia Shepard and Pauline O'Neal, were in attendance. 

Guild members decided to move forward with a block for the Tar River Quilt Trail.  The block will look like our guild pin and will be mounted on the Perry Library, as the library was the first meeting place of the guild.  

Thanks to Kathy Solomon, we now have a portable sound system to use at our meetings.  The better to hear you, my dear!

Faith Smith lead the evening's program.  She showed members an English paper piecing technique.  How many hexies have you made? 

Click on the pictures to enlarge them.

Linda shares a baby quilt she made highlighting Winnie the Pooh characters in the Attic Window.

Lynn shows a mystery quilt she hand pieced and quilted.

Lynn also shared a Stack and Whack.

Faith shows a Star Quilt.

She also created a Jelly Roll quilt.

Faith also shared her North Carolina symbols applique wall hanging.

Join us for our April meeting with Eileen Davison showing us how to "paint" a landscape with fabric.  You will need to bring a small canvas, fabric scraps and permanent fabric glue.   

February Meeting

The February meeting of Vance Quilts R Us was a busy one as there are many things happening this year.  

Betty Jo Pernell will head up the nominating committee in search of new officers for the next two years.  The current board would like to have the new board in place by July so the new officers can shadow the current board for the remainder of the year.

Debbie Powell announced the last two charity quilt workshops.  The guild has five quilts to complete by April for the St. Peter's Love Quilt Project.  Those workshops will be held at Miss Lou's on Tuesday, February 25 and Tuesday, March 25 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

The annual quilt challenge is on!  Members in attendance were given an envelope containing two paint chips.  Those are your colors.  The rules are as follows:

You may select a third color/fabric - but only 1.

All the fabrics in your quilt must match the 2 paint chips or is your 3rd fabric.

Patterns are allowed, but the majority of the fabric must match the paint chip.

Your quilt must be 30 x 30 or larger

You must have a PIECED BORDER

Keep your paint chips pinned to the back of your quilt for judging.

The evening's program was presented by Debbie Powell.  She showed and explained several quick quilts. 

Faith Smith shared a scrappy quilt she made from some UFO blocks.

 Betty Jo Pernell showed us the Valentine wall hanging she quilted.

 If you didn't see this quilt shared by Stevie Scaramelli, you missed a beauty!  Stevie's "Tuscan Garden" was done on her embroidery machine.

 This is a close up of the work on one of Stevie's blocks.  Gorgeous!

March's program will be presented by Faith Smith.  She will be demonstrating English paper piecing.  Faith will provide the kits but ask that members bring regular sewing thread, 100 weight silk thread, needles and pins.

April's program will be Eileen Davison demonstrating her fabric painting.  Members will need to bring a small canvas and permanent fabric glue.

This month's winners were Stevie Scaramelli, winning the Fat Quarter Frenzy and Kathy Solomon, winner of the Quilts Like Crazy gift certificate.

Remember that 2014 membership is now due.

End of the Year

The December meeting of Vance Quilts R Us was a wonderful Homespun Christmas. 

The Christmas committee of Donna Compton, Rachel Wessels and BK McCloud did a wonderful job planning an evening of

FUN

 

FOOD

FRIVOLITY

FELLOWSHIP

Guild members lucky enough to win Blocks of the Month throughout the year were asked to bring their quilts made from them to the meeting for judging.

Viewer's Choice awards were given to Barbara Bockiaro and Rachel Wessels.

Through the year, the guild members brought gently used or new regifted items.  Those items were put into thirty seven baskets for a Chinese Auction.

Guild members had much fun winning the baskets.

It has been a fun and educational year in the quilting guild.  We are looking forward to the happenings of 2014.

Christmas Gift Ideas

The November meeting of the Quilts R Us guild was an evening of sharing Christmas gift ideas.  Guild members shared patterns and ideas for quick go to gifts they make for those on their gift lists.  One idea was the quick Christmas tree pictured below shared by Debbie Powell.   

Members enjoyed yummy snacks brought by Eileen Davison, BK McCloud, Lynn Currin and Belinda Leach.  Winner of Fat Quarter Frenzy was Georgia Darnell. Sarah Baskerville won the gift certificate raffle. The drawing for the trip to the Mid Atlantic Quilt Show in Hampton, VA was held with Karen Hanny's name being drawn as the winner.

Donna Compton shares her quilt, "Crown of Thorns".

Kathy Solomon shows her completed Quilt in a Box from last years challenge.

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 Eileen Davison shares one of her painting quilts.

Eileen also shows a baby quilt she made with Dr. Seuss fabric.

Belinda Alston showed some quick flannel quilts she made for babies.

The guild's Christmas celebration will be held December 9.  The Christmas committee has been working hard to put together a Chinese Auction and dinner for the members.  It will be a fun evening, so plan to attend.