Closing out another great year

Marley was dead, to begin with.  There is no doubt whatever about that. Old Marley was as dead as a door-nail.
A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens

Saturday was my guild's last meeting of the year, and also our annual Christmas party.  We celebrated with holiday music, and gifts, and hugs, and games, and certificates, and door prizes.  We got to see friends we hadn't seen for a very long time - including two members who came all the way from Georgia and California just to help us celebrate!

At every Christmas party, everyone is encouraged to bring a favorite dish, so there's always an abundance of great food.  From the main dishes ...

to the desserts ...

we enjoyed every crumb!

But before that, we had a wonderful eye candy banquet, in the form of show and share.  I've chosen a few from the many quilts that were shared.

Angela was very clever - she combined two retreat round robin projects into one lovely quilt.  Front ...

and back ...

Charley finished her HST challenge that's due in September 2018!

Jennifer's sampler.  Visit Jennifer's Chronicles to see more of her work!

Cynthia is very fond of miniatures ...

A lovely fish quilt, front...

and back

Katherine shared her portrait of an African male (above) and her watermelon quilt (below).  She gave a lively and informative "tell" regarding African Americans and the watermelon stereotype.

Jackie's getting creative again ...

and scrappy! 

And so another great year goes down in guild history, here's looking forward to an even greater year!  Have a wonderful Monday, sew forth and sew on...

Buzzing at the Bee

Three things to be happy about:
(1) cell phone bling
(2) folding chairs
(3) the color yellow

We had our first meeting of the year yesterday, and the room was really buzzing!

In some cases some people hadn't seen each other since our last meeting of the year in November, so the excitement level was very high.

There was a lot going on; Valerie models her Wee Bee t-shirt...

... while Sondra prepares strips for another chevron quilt.

I like the fuss-free way she pieces the strips; she says you really can't make mistakes.

If I know Sandy, she'll probably have the quilt - pieced, quilted and bound - ready for show n tell at next month's meeting!

Several people turned in their blocks for the Inside Out Pineapple block swap.

I love the different colors, these will make pretty quilts!

What would a bee meeting be without show n tell ...

I received this wonderful "WOW! Bag" as a Christmas gift; notice my initials embroidered on it - wow!  It starts out as a large bag, then it unfolds into an even larger bag with a shoulder strap.

I've wanted one for years, ever since the pattern came out!  Go to this link for details.

Linda S. wow'd us with this square in a square quilt.  The black fabric in the middle is printed with spools of thread.

She doesn't usually make large quilts but this one was super easy!

Double wow!  Pat K made this lovely basket quilt, a Fons and Porter pattern.

Yellow, red, and black-and-white - this is definitely going on my must-do list!

And last but not least, Sondra shared another one of her lovely table runners.

I love those colors!


I always have fun at bee, and I'm looking forward to next month.

Sew forth and sew on ...

Showing and sharing at the bee

Three things to be happy about:
(1) hearing wedding vows
(2) sweet potato cake
(3) learning a new tip

Yesterday was bee day, and the energy level was very high.  Everybody seemed to be revved up, it must have been all the turkey on Thanksgiving!  Seriously though, we always enjoy seeing each other, specially if we haven't met in a month.

Here are some quilty items we shared with each other...

Sandra E made two lovely bags

Loretta finished her sweatshirt jacket...

CC's quilt for her niece, front...

and back...

Linda S finished her square in a square quilt...

and made wreaths...

Patty D is a scrap lover, just like me!

A sewing maching buddy by Sandra...

and one of her molas...

and last but not least, my Scrap Crystals...

There you have it - we are a talented group of ladies!  Enjoy your Sunday, sew forth and sew on...

Guild meeting

Three things to be happy about:
(1) sorting out your thread
(2) snuggly socks
(3) gas prices falling

We had our next-to-last guild meeting yesterday, where has the year gone??!

Of course one of the main attractions was the marketplace!  Fabric brought in by fellow members Nadine (The Fabric Peddler) and Katherine caught everyone's attention.


And now here's some quilty show n tell eye-candy ...

Pretty African ladies

Tussets seem to be the coming thing now

New York beauty.  Cynthia also likes working with small pieces:

... a beginning quilter.  She plans to quilt this one herself

and a paper-pieced hanging

sweatshirt jacket

Cornelia is determined to have this one quilted in time for Turkey Day!

As usual we all had a great time showing, sharing, and reconnecting with friends we hadn't seen since the last meeting.  We also had representatives from two guilds who brought their raffle quilts ...

this one from Friendship Quilters of Linthicum is for me!

Sew forth and sew on