Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Santa Clara Valley Quilt Association

Friendly, is the best word for the Santa Clara Valley Quilt Association. Lots of activities. Be sure to visit if you are in town!  


Bi-Annual Quilt Show
The SCVQA Quilt Show is a members only show presented every other year.

Block Party
Participation in Block Party involves creating the block presented at the meeting and bringing it to the next meeting. A drawing is held for the collection of blocks. If there are enough blocks, there are multiple winners.

Boutique
Books, fabric, magazines and notions are for sale in the lobby before the meeting and in the break between the meeting and the speaker's presentation.

Fat Quarter Frenzy
To participate, members bring in a fat quarter that fits the theme for the month. A drawing is held. The winners receive a portion of the fat quarters collected.

In Town Retreats
Sewing retreats are held locally for members to get together and sew for a weekend in a group setting.

Marin Retreats
Sewing retreats are held in scenic Marin for members to get together and sew for a weekend in a group setting.

Opportunity Quilts
Opportunity Quilts are made by SCVQA members. The proceeds from this opportunity quilt are given to SCVQA.

Philanthropy
SCVQA members enjoy giving back to the community. Quilts and blankets are made by members and donated to those in need.

Quilting 101
Quilting 101 is a tutorial offered by members of SCVQA to help new and experienced members to become more familiar with a variety of quilting techniques. It is not associated with regular classes or visiting teachers.

Quilt 'til you Wilt
One Saturday a month, members have the opportunity to get together for a mini retreat to sew together for the day and finish some of those UFO's.

Round Robin
Groups form intermittently to participate in round robin challenges in which quilt centers are handed off to each participant for their contribution to the quilt top.

Show and tell included this piece made after my last visit to SCVQA

This one too!

Friday, November 14, 2014

California Here I Come!

Sunday I travel to the Santa Clara Quilt Association. Join us on Monday, November 17th at 9:30 a.m. to hear me present my lecture Quilt Toppings; Fun & Fanciful Embellishments.

On Tuesday November 18th from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., I will teach the Simple Surfaces workshop. Come and play with different surface embellishing techniques in this fun class! In addition to the class fee, there will be a kit fee of $30 that includes foil, adhesive, and paint sticks.

Thursday, November 13, 2014

1950 Fashions

Purses of the 1940s, '50s and '60s

Condition concerns come into play with most any handbag from any era, even the Lucite box purses of the '50s. These wonderful geometric bags made from hard plastic are durable, but not entirely indestructible. If not treated kindly, they are prone to cracking, scratching and discoloration from spilled beauty products, even though they're made of plastic.

For everyday functionality, shoppers wanting a vintage look that wears well should look for larger, more durable handbags dating from the 1940s, '50s, and '60s. These retro and vintage bags can add dramatic flare to a wardrobe without putting a sizable dent in your wallet.

Many stylish leather, velvet and cloth bags can be purchased for less than $25 apiece at antique shops, flea markets and vintage clothing stores. Some of these bags cost nearly as much when they were new decades ago offering great quality for the price. Look for examples decorated with intricate stonework and painting, like those made by Enid Collins, whimsical needlepoint, and other colorful décor to make a unique fashion statement.




Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Cotton Pickins' Quilts & Bernina

Cotton Pickins' Quilts & Bernina is one of the best premier quilt shops in the Seattle area!  In 2005, they were chosen from American Patchwork and Quilting as one of the Top 10 Quilt Stores in the country.



The staff is helpful, knowledgeable and friendly!

















The store specializes in a wonderful selection of quilting notions, books, patterns, kits and special gifts.












8718 270th St NW
Stanwood, WA 98292

(360) 629-4771

Store Hours:
Monday - Saturday
10:30am - 5:00pm

Saturday, November 8, 2014

Block Party Quilters annual Quilt Show -- Color Sensations

It isn't too late to see the great quilts at the Block Party Quilt Show. It runs through Sunday, November 9 -- 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Issaquah Community Center
301 Rainier Blvd. So.
Issaquah, WA




Friday, November 7, 2014

Block Party Quilters Annual Quilt Show

Block Party Quilters will be holding their annual Quilt Show November 7 – 9,  2014, at the Issaquah Community Center, in Issaquah, WA.

The theme will be “Color Sensations” with featured quilt artist Janet Fogg.  For more information, please visit www.bpquilters.org

 BLOCK PARTY QUILTERS
Color Sensations

Issaquah Community Center
301 Rainier Blvd. So.
Issaquah, WA

November 7, 8, and 9 2014
Friday and Saturday - 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday - 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Suggested Donation: $6

Featured Artist:  Janet Fogg

Over 200 Quilts, Tea Room, Merchant Mall, Kids' Korner,

Boutique, Demos, Door Prizes,
"Own Your Own" Quilt Sales,

Challenge Quilt Exhibit “A River Runs Thru It”

Thursday, November 6, 2014

My trip north, to visit Camano Island Quilters





 The focus of each meeting is an educational program, which features a guest speaker. Immediately following the meeting is a great show and tell!




A charter member's first quilt, made 77 years ago.







Her last quilt at 95, and still going strong!





















The workshop... Fast Finishes
First we learn to join pre-quilted blocks using several innovative techniques. Fast finishing concludes with super-fast binding. Is binding the quilt your least favorite part? Bindings and piping are a snap with this no-fail completely machine-stitched method. Binding will never be the same again!


Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Saturday it was: Fun and Fancy; Make a Purse



Create stunning purses that can be finished in practically no time. Make your own in class, embellish it with trims, ribbons, buttons, bows, lace, fabric, found objects and then dive into the wonderful world of beads! Kit choices are: purple, blue and green. We will learn what beads to buy, how to sew them and how to make your own lavish beaded dangles and fringes.









Monday, November 3, 2014

More Friday...a few days late



Thread Toppings - Thread is no longer a ‘Plain Jane’ necessity - it’s now available in many luscious colors and types. Steering your way through the sea of threads out there can be a bit daunting. Experiment while you learn how to match thread to the appropriate needle, make the tension setting your best friend and troubleshoot your way to fun and fancy sewing.


Joining the Blocks: Quilt-As-You-Go Style - Learn to join pre-quilted blocks using several innovative techniques. Go home ready to make larger machine quilted quilts without all the work of trying to get it into your machine. The Quilt-As-You-Go method allows for more detailed quilting using a standard sewing machine since you're only quilting a small section at a time. 





Saturday, November 1, 2014

Big Day at Festival


Friday I taught lots of classes. The morning started with Fantastic Fabric Foiling.
Bring your projects to life with instant (and permanent) glitz and shine. We will apply foil using a variety of adhesives and make use of a variety of ideas that make it easy. Traditional and non-traditional quilters will learn how to incorporate foil into real show-stoppers.