November Meetings Recap

Ginger's IMOR quilt bound

Janet's

Pieced by Diana (L) and quilted by Pat (R)

Quilted by Pat

Hand Binding by Irene

Assembled by Ginger (R) and quilted by Barb (L)

Ginger's Finish - In Memory of Roger

Ginger's Top - In Memory of Roger

Ginger's Top - In Memory of Roger

Quilted by Virginia

Fabric Donations

Another Bolt Donated by Barb!

A huge assortment of donated blocks from Lisa and Mary

More donated blocks from Lisa and Mary

 THE LADIES AT WORK:

Oct Meeting Recap

The CT Quilters have been working with donated Hearth and Home blocks across the USA.  These blocks were part of the Quilts of Valor Foundation's 2014 Challenge.  Here are some of the blocks and the ladies working on them:

And this was a lovely top made and donated by Pat this month:

Quilts of Valor Block Drive

Been thinking of making just two or four blocks for a national effort?  This is the deal for you – there are PRIZES!  MQX Festivals holds enormous quilts shows and events.  It's too late for blocks to be submitted for the April New England show, but plenty of time for the Midwest show.  Check out this opportunity:

MQX needs YOU, and you, and you to make two blocks...

Want to make more? The top three individuals, group or organization that makes the most blocks will win nice prizes.....! *

MQX's goal for its 2014 shows (New England and Midwest) is to collect in excess of 1,250 blocks.

At last spring's New England show they collected over 300 blocks which were distributed to two active chapters of Quilts of Valor, Colorado and New England.

Can you think of a reason that they cannot double, triple or quadruple that number in 2014 if you contribute? Yeah,we didn't think so.........

Check out the QOV January Newsletter - click here

There are two colorway choices:  1) Patriotic, and 2) Modern Grays.  

 All blocks are 12" finished.

All blocks used with permission from Marcia Hohn of Quilter's Cache with additional pattern details furnished by Candace West

                                                           Buzz Saw block directions

                                 Buzz Saw has printable templates and detailed
                        directions on how to complete this block (by Candace West)

                                                          Mississippi block directions 

                                                                Anvil block directions


Examples of the "Modern Gray" fabrics: 

 
And some Samples made with the Modern Gray fabrics:

Downloadable Electric Quilter (EQ7) file available, please contact Janet-Lee at MQXShow@comcast.net

* If you are unable to attend the show, please mail your blocks by
      September 10, 2014 for the Midwest show to:

MQX Quilt Festivals
P.O. Box 490
Hampton Falls, NH 03844 

Block Drive info comes from this MQX site:

http://www.mqxshow.com/MQX/East/Classes/QOVBlockDrive/index.cfm

Notice: May Meeting Date - Friday, May 17th

We will be returning to business as usual at this month’s meeting for Quilts of Valor.   After our cutting blitz from last month, we have lots of fabrics cut into squares of various sizes and prepared bindings and borders.  Now our task is to kit these up, continue cutting the remainder or attach borders and binding to the quilts and tops being returned (and maybe lay out a quilt top or two). 

Bring your cutting mats and favorite rotary cutting tool or sewing machine to this meeting.  You will have your choice of favorite projects to work on!

We are always welcoming new members, so stop by to see what Quilts of Valor is all about or stay to help with the projects if you have time.

We will meet as usual at the Crafty Threads Quilt Shop on Racetrack Rd on Friday, May 17^th from 10:00 – 2:00.  Everyone is invited – no sewing skills required.

We want to give back something to you who has given so much with honor.

The veterans of our military services have put their lives

 on the line to protect the freedoms that we enjoy.

 They have dedicated their lives to their country

 and deserve to be recognized for their commitment.

 Judd Gregg (US Senator – NH)

The inspiration quilt of the day is by Jan in Ocala, FL, made for a quilt shop sample –

it uses Norcott’s Stonehenge Stars and Stripes Flight of the Eagle panel:

Patriotic and Other Barn Blocks

Barn Block in Kentucky

So, when you travel, do you keep an eye out for “barn blocks”?  These giant quilt blocks are showing up all over and have become very popular – and they aren’t just for barns anymore! 

Once only found occasionally in rural countrysides, these painted blocks are now seen not only on barns, but also on businesses, homes, garages and public buildings.  Take a swing over to a fantastic blog that allows you to take a virtual barn block tour of their many documented blocks.

The Osceola Quilt Trail is part of a volunteer public art movement extending across the United States, celebrating our rural heritage and traditional arts, involving area residents in making art, and promoting agri-tourism.  Here’s an example of one of the patriotic blocks:

Robert and Janet VanderPloeg chose the Americana Star block for their barn to commemorate Robert’s military service during the Korean War.  This block is featured in Eleanor Burns book “Quilt Blocks on American Barns”.  The barn is located in Marion, MI.

Check out lots of barn blocks at:  http://osceolaquilttrail.wordpress.com/
But I do warn you, get yourself a cup of coffee or tea before you go over to this blog – you’ll spend a bit of time viewing all of the blocks!

Need a New Year’s Day Sewing Suggestion?

Now that some of the Holidays are over, are you looking for some quality quilting time to unwind from the hustle and bustle?  Well, have we got a swell idea for you! 

 

Marcella Pirner-Cormier works with the Quilts of Valor Foundation as its Destination Coordinator, Region 10, and she is sponsoring:

 

The First Annual New Year’s Day QOV Sit & Sew!

 

She is inviting all of us to join her.  You can spread the word and ask your friends and guild members to join in, too.  Then:

·         Pick a patriotic pattern that meets the minimum requirements for a QOV that you feel you can piece in a single day (any pattern – it’s your choice).

·         Select and cut your fabric in December to make yourself a “kit” for Jan 1^st (this is a great excuse to spend a few quiet moments in your sewing space!).

·         During the Jan 1^st Sit & Sew, post your progress on Yahoo Chat, Facebook, the QOVF blog, your own blog…or wherever you want.

·         When your top is finished, request a volunteer longarmer here (or if you are a member of our own CT Quilters QOV Group, bring it to our January 18^th meeting or drop it off at the Crafty Threads Quilt Shop).

·         If you are not a member of the CT Quilters QOV Group, and after your quilt is finished (bound, labeled, washed & in a presentation case), you can request a destination – please put NYD S&S in the comments section of the Request Form.   You will receive information on where to send your quilt and your name will then be entered into a drawing for prizes (to be announced).

·         A winner will be drawn for every 13 NYD S&S quilts that are completed by March 13, 2013 for which a destination is requested.  The sooner you finish your quilt, the better your chance of winning!

·         Keep in mind that the overseas destinations request red, white & blue, non-gender specific quilts.

 

NEED SOME PATTERN IDEAS?

Check out these easy to make designs that look great in patriotic colors

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Country Spirit from McCall’s Quilting

(there are other patriotic patterns at this link also)

Homeward Bound from Patchworks Studio

(needs to be enlarged to meet minimum QOVF requirements)

 

Independence Day from Fons & Porter

 

With Gratitude (*)

 

(*) This pattern designed by Sandra Fraenkel, Sue Goehring & Holly Erdei-Zuber of What’s Your Stitch ‘n Stuff, Inc., is offered as a courtesy to any workshop or any quilt shop making Quilts of Valor.  If a member of the CT Quilters Group from the Crafty Threads (an Under Our Wings shop) would like a copy of this pattern to make for our QOV Group, please comment and leave me an email address where you can be reached.

 

Don’t have the time to quilt all of New Year’s Day, but have a little time?  Check out Florida Cabin Fever Quilt Guild’s "Blocks of the Month for 2011".

You can select one (or all) of these blocks and make it (them) at your leisure.   When your sampler is complete, add borders or more blocks to make it QOV size.  Here’s the link:

http://www.floridacabinfever.com/pdfs/BOM/2012_Archive.pdf  [EDIT:  this link no longer works due to the website changes in progress at FL Cabin Fever - I will post the new link when it becomes available - it looks like they intend to repost these blocks - thank you for your patience]

 

HAPPY QUILTING!

An Historic Date

Today is the anniversary of an historic event in the history of the United States. 

photo credit: poodlesrock/corbis History.com

It was on Oct 17^th in 1777 that Revolutionary troops led by General Horatio Gates surrounded the army of British General John Burgoyne and caused his defeat and surrender at the Battle of Saratoga.

That short statement above doesn’t even begin to describe the hard fought battles, the hardships of winter, the demoralized and less-trained rebel forces vs. the powerful British army.  Yet the dedicated soon-to-be Americans persevered and won this battle that would be a turning point in the War for Independence.   The Revolutionary troops were reenergized and France was convinced to support their cause.

This traditional quilt block is based on that historic battle – it has a lot of pieces and is known by the Burgoyne Surrounded name.  A well-known quilt designer that often shares her patterns is Lyn Brown at Lyn Brown’s Quilting Blog, and in Sept 2012 she provided an excellent tutorial for making this block and the resulting quilt.

The resulting quilt would make an excellent Quilts of Valor.  Maybe you would want to consider making one?  Check out Lyn’s site at:  http://www.lynbrown.com/burgoyne-surrounded/

The ideals of those Revolutionary War soldiers remain the same for the Armed Forces personnel in the United States today – they continue to fight for our liberties and freedoms.  We make our Quilts of Valor to show our support and demonstrate in a tangible way that we care.  We of the CT-Quilters want our wounded personnel at the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital to know that we are thinking of them and be comforted.

This is another version of an antique Burgoyne Surrounded quilt - it was made in the early 1900s and is now displayed at the International Quilt Study Center in Nebraska:

Happy QOV Quilting today!