March Time to Sew!

Valerie has organized our monthly Time to Sew events this spring!  March's event is this Saturday, March 3rd!  She will be opening the doors to the Home Ec room at 9:00 am!  And you're free to sew until midnight!  You won't want to miss the fun ... see you there!

February's Thimbleberries Club Party!

Many of us had received our kits and we were ready to get this Pattern Party started!  Yesterday, Sunday, February 19th was when our year long party began!

In preparation for the event, Sara created a Party Membership Project box for each of us!

She took boxes that had contained laptops and transformed them into project boxes for us!

She even designed an identification label for each box.  What a wonderful way to recycle boxes that were destined for the trash!  Most of all...what a wonderful gesture of kindness!  Thanks Sara!

We were all impressed with how much was accomplished during our four hour party.

Barb was able to cut out both of her kits!

Terry spread out and was cutting out her kit as well.  We all commented on how happy we were that the kits contained generous amounts of fabric!  The fabric is sew beautiful...lots of scraps we can use in other quilts!

Cece had her kit cut out and she was busy piecing!

We were having so much fun visiting, snacking and giggling that one of Cece's heart blossoms came out caddy-whompess! ;-)  Then we discussed whether or not she should leave it that way!  What a hoot!

Sara is the mother of an 18 month old, sew her quilting time at home is limited.  She came with her kit cut out and ready to piece.

Four hours of uninterrupted sewing time is rare when you are the mother of a young child ... she wasted no time in getting a lot of piecing done!

At the end of the Party, she had her table topper pieced and all of the bias binding cut and ready!  She was a quilter with a purpose and her mission was accomplished!

Renee' stopped by and inspired us all!  She had been working on her kit at home.  We were so happy she could drop in and share her progress!

Lila didn't order a kit from this first shipment, but she came and served as our cheerleader!  Now that we have our Party books, we all spend time dreaming of ways to use all the patterns!

 And ... it wouldn't be a party without food!  As always, there was more than enough food to sustain us!  In the spirit of "thimbleberries" Sara made bars using one of our local berries...low bush cranberries!  It was delicious!

 We partied hard ... each of us accomplishing a lot ... leaving with our project boxes in hand and looking forward to the next Party on March 18th!  Until then ... party on ... Thimbleberries style!

Thimbleberries Club - Time to Party!

It is time to party...Thimbleberries style!

We have our patterns!

The first shipment of kits has arrived...it is time to SEW!

The fun begins Sunday, February 19th from 1-4 pm in the Home Ec room!   

January's Time to Sew was Packed with Inspiration!

Our members never fail to inspire one another!  Lets begin with the progress some members have made with their Bonnie Hunter/Quiltville projects.

Genan's parents recently celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary...she pieced, quilted and bound her "Red" Ridge Beauty to give them as a gift.

She decided that they both needed a lap sized quilt...so she made a "Green" Ridge Beauty too!  This one is completely finished as well!  They are both beautiful ... what a wonderful way to honor her parents and their many years of marriage!

Kay made her "Green" Ridge Beauty blocks until she ran out of the neutrals.  She had a lot of green strips remaining, so used them in her border ... Bonnie will be so proud!  It turned out beautiful!

Joan blew us away when she showed up with her Orca Bay top pieced!  Great job Joan!

Joan substituted the red string triangles with green ones ... it is just stunning!  Wow!  It was fun for all of us to see the progress these women made on their Quiltville quilts ... they inspired the rest of us to get busy on ours!  Thanks ladies!

Dawn was busy making a quilt for her brother out of his favorite T-Shirts!  What a nice gesture for a devoted sister to make!

Barb was busy machine quilting baby quilts that she had pieced.

Darlene was busy starting a new Pineapple quilt!  She used the Accuquilter to cut her strips!  It is going to be beautiful!

Lila was busy working on a paper pieced Quiltworx pattern!  We are looking forward to it ... Lila chose beautiful batik fabrics!

Terry and Sam were having fun quilting and visiting!  Terry spent the weekend cutting out a quilt using the Minnesota State Shop Hop fabric she collected last summer.

Sam accomplished a lot ... this is a UFO that she finished...

...she didn't stop with one UFO ... she put borders on this one as well!  Two UFOs done and it is only January!  You go girl!

Valerie knocked our socks off by bringing in both her Cobblestone and Patchwork Party quilts!  Talk about inspiration ... both quilts filled us all with enthusiasm!

Kay brought another quilt top that she recently finished!  Her color selections are always extraordinary!

One of our youngest members literally blew our socks off!  

Kelsey began this project while in high school ... talk about talent!

Can you imagine what this 22 year old woman will be making in the future?  Now ... that is inspiration!  We enjoyed a potluck dinner and then held a general business meeting that involved elections and committee assignments.  We are looking forward to another wonderful year of quilting!

The Patchwork Party is About to Begin!

Look what arrived last week!

It felt just like Christmas! 

Look where these boxes came from!

The boxes were filled with Thimbleberries Treasure!  The Party will begin when this special interest group meets on Saturday immediately following the General Membership Meeting!  At that time, we will determine meeting dates and distribute the books and kits!

Let the Party Begin! 

Let the New Year of Our Guild Begin!

It is time to put down our snow shovels and quilt!  The fun begins Friday, January 27th at 6:00 pm in the Home Ec room with an entire weekend of "Time to Sew"!

The sewing will continue on Saturday, with a potluck at 6:00 and our yearly Program of Work Meeting begins at 7:00!  This is an important meeting ... we elect our 2012 Executive Board, make committee appointments and plan a year of activities and events!  Bring your favorite dish and join the fun of planning a terrific year of quilting!

On Sunday, we can continue sewing!  What a fun weekend!  What a wonderful year of quilting ahead for us!  See you there!    

Making a Difference with A Quilt of Valor

Because of the efforts by our Charity Committee Chairpersons, Kay and Darlene ... we were recently able to make a difference in the life of an Alaskan Soldier.

Many hands made light work...

...guild members donated 24 star themed blocks!

Setting and finishing fabrics were purchased locally at a discount and was paid for with member donations.

The batting and shipping costs were donated by member Kathleen!  The outstanding quilting was done and donated by Sheryl!

The results of everyone's efforts ... an amazing quilt!  Committee CoChairperson Kay shared with me that the quilt was sent to the Warriors in Transition Unit at the Elmendorf / Ft. Rich Base in Anchorage.  The soldier should have received it in time for Christmas!

We found out that the Quilts of Valor organization is usually short around 200 quilts every month for deserving servicemen/women.  Member Dixie recently sent one she had made independently.  There is such need.

We want to thank Kay and Darlene again for organizing this project ... what a wonderful way to end 2011!  And what inspiration as we begin our 2012 membership year!