October meeting

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The October meeting was held at Meg's house on October 10.  Sheila and Cyndi hosted, and provided us with yummy refreshments, including dipped marshmallows, Pumpkin dip, apple slices, cookies, and homemade Chex mix. In attendance were Sylvia, Debbie, Susan, Mozelle, Sheila, Cyndi, Marcia, Meg, and Estela.

BUSINESS MEETING:

Estela, Sheila, Marcia, and our friend Iris recently went on a road trip to Batesville, to go shopping at Marshall's Dry Goods.  Marcia showed a photo of the fabric she bought, Sheila showed her fabrics, and Meg showed the batiks that she had Marcia pick out and buy for her.  The trip was very enjoyable. They ate lunch at a restaurant on the river with a beautiful view.  It could become a yearly event, as long as our bank accounts will allow it!

The Block of the Month pattern was passed out.  There will be 2 more blocks in the series.

We discussed the upcoming Christmas party, to be held at Jim's Razorback Pizza as previously reported.  The gift for the gift exchange should be wrapped. 

A sign-up sheet was circulated for hosting next year's meetings.  Most of the months have been accounted for, but there are still openings for a few dates.  The list will be at the next meeting.  If you have not signed up yet, please do so then.

SHOW AND TELL

 Meg's lovely baby quilt for a friend.

 Meg showed her garage sale find that she she revamped and completed. It has John Deere tractor fabrics in it.

 Meg also showed a quilt she is quilting for a customer, made of handkerchiefs.  Very pretty!

 Marcia showed some pet pads she will donate to the animal shelter.

 Marcia also made this table topper from HSTs she bought at this years auction.

 Cyndi showed her current project, crocheting an edging on fleece for donation blankets to go to Highland Oncology Group.

 Sheila showed a similar blanket she has completed.

 Cyndi showed another blanket and explained the process.   Instructions for doing these blankets were our program for the night.

 Susan showed this gorgeous quilt in progress--there will be 3 more panels like this one.

Estela showed her darling Teddy Bear Quilt.  How cute is that??

She also showed a lovely quilt done in strips of brown and other fall colors, but the photo did not turn out.  Sorry, Estela.

Sylvia gave a report of her booth at the Apple Festival.  She sold many rugs and seemed to have really enjoyed the experience.  Despite the rain the Festival sounds like a big success.

PROGRAM:

Cyndi explained the process of using a skip blade in a rotary cutter to put small perforations along the edges of a piece of fleece, then crocheting around with single crochet and chain stitches using a J or I hook.  Thanks go to Mozelle for the use of her skip blade and to her daughter Donna for donating a large number of fleece pieces for the project.  Meg and Sheila provided the yarns, and we each took home 2-3 pieces of  fleece to work on as well as coordinating skeins of yarn.  We hope to have these all done by the March meeting.  These will count as your donation quilt for next year.  If you would like to participate, talk to Meg.

YouTube videos showing methods of crocheting the edging:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5QgGCi1J3o

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SO3Jye7HIr8

The next meeting is scheduled for November 14.  Birthday girls are Sheila and Meg.

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September meeting

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We met on September 12 at Meg's house.  Estela hosted, providing the project for the evening and some marvelous refreshments. She brought tortilla wrap appetizers, homemade hummus with crackers, a delicious cheese and bacon bread, and cream puffs for dessert.  Yummy!

 

BUSINESS MEETING

There were several items of business to discuss, and those in attendance made some important decisions regarding those items.  In attendance were Estela, Meg, Marcia, Susan, Joyce, Sylvia, Debbie, Sharon, Sheila, and Cyndi.

1. It was decided to return to requiring dues for membership.  Dues will be $10 per year.  If someone has not paid dues it will be assumed that they no longer wish to be a member of the group. Please give your dues for next year to Meg by the January 9th meeting. We will be printing a new roster in February, so be sure to update your info when you give Meg your dues.

2. The group agreed that it will be adequate for each person to provide one donation quilt for the year, however if you wish to give more, you certainly may.  Some of us cannot do more than one a year and should not feel guilty because of that. This year we had an overabundance of donation quilts (thanks, everyone!) and the quilting fees depleted our treasury.  Donation quilts will be worked on at your home, not at the meetings.

3. This coming year we have decided not to bring fat quarters for birthdays.  Too often the birthday girl doesn't show up to get them for another couple of months, and Meg has had to keep track of what FQs belong to who. You are welcome to bring a birthday card to the meeting and hand it to the recipient privately.

4. The auction was extremely successful, netting $550 for the treasury; so we will continue having the auction each August.  Keep this in mind when you find any useful item you no longer want or need--stick it under the bed, etc. for next August.

5. This year the Christmas party will be scaled back.  We will meet at 11:00 at the Jim's Razorback Pizza in downtown Farmington (near Tooley's) for lunch.  We will not have any show-and-tell or skits, but we will have a "Dirty Santa" gift exchange.  The gift need not be handmade, or even be sewing related; but should be useful and something you would appreciate receiving yourself.  Cost limit is $15.  More info on this will be in the next newsletter.

6. Joyce announced that she is leaving the group. We are sorry to lose her, and we wish her well.

SHOW-and-TELL

Sharon showed her beautiful Nine Patch Quilt, and asked our opinion of backing color.  We liked the coral border color and thought it would make a great backing.

 

Cyndi showed a lovely Elongated Four Patch  in yellow, green, and brown.

Sharon also showed this pastel plaid quilt--her very first!

Sharon also showed this pretty quilt made of HSTs.

Cyndi showed a quilt top she made some time ago--soon to be completed.  We all loved the colors in this one.

Sheila showed her Braided Row Quilt.  Lots of work in this one!

Sheila also displayed these two quilts made from jelly rolls. These will make their lucky recipients very happy!

Estela showed this Split Nine Patch.  The orange and lime really makes it bright and cheery!

Joyce brought a casserole cover that Essie asked her to show.  We miss Essie, but were glad she still is interested in showing us her work.

Joyce also showed her own Irish Chain quilt, a very soft pink color. Nicely done!

Susan spread out this HST quilt set in a diamond pattern, to oohs and aahs from us all. Love the cheddar and blue borders!

Susan also brought a small coiled basket she made from clothesline.  It's an easy project with impressive results.

Susan wowed us all with her machine embroidered tapestries. made in small sections that join together to make the whole--and they are only half done!  These are gifts for her sisters, lucky ladies!

Sylvia only had a "tell"--that she and Joyce will both have booths at the Lincoln Apple Festival, Oct. 4, 5, and 6.  They will be next to each other, so be sure to stop by while you are there.

Marcia passed out the instructions for the next block of her "Mother's BOM." There will be a total of 12 blocks in this quilt.  If you have missed any of the instructions, she will try to have extra copies at each meeting through January.

PROGRAM

Estela demonstrated how to make a simple casserole carrier out of a kitchen towel and some cording.  She provided all the materials, and we all were able to quickly finish the project.  Look at the results!

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Our next meeting will be on October 10th.  See you then!

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August 8, 2013--AUCTION TIME!

The Sassies met at Meg's home amid a lot of buzz and excitement for that night's program--the annual auction! Present were Meg, Marcia, Sheila, Susan, Sylvia, Cyndi, Debbie and Estela. Also present were 8 guests. Marcia sported a snazzy eye patch due to her recent eye surgery. The patch was made by Iris; Iris, you may have hit upon a new craft item to offer for sale!

Sheila provided the snacks, and they were delicious, especially the pretzel-peanut butter-chocolate bites. Meg offered water and soft drinks for guests who did not bring their own. Estela brought some Lay's potato chips that were "chicken and waffles" flavored; they have a sweet and salty flavor. The general comment was that the sweetness had a taste reminiscent of maple syrup, which one could attribute to the "waffles" flavor, but the chips had no taste of chicken.

After everyone had snacks, Sylvia and Sheila got the auction underway. As Sylvia's assistant, Sheila did a good job of describing the items and suggesting possibilities for how they might be used. In the background you can see Meg, who served as cashier, and Susan, who helped hand items to Sylvia and Sheila.  Here's Sylvia getting her vocal cords--and her audience--warmed up!  

 

Meg's sitting room, hallway, and sewing room were piled high with boxes, bags, baskets and all manner of other containers holding both quilt and non-quilt related items.  Some of the more notable items included a brand new beautiful handmade rug that Sylvia donated, unquilted quilt tops and table runners made from orphan blocks donated to the group, homemade jam, and a "no melt" fabric snowman that sold for more than a sewing machine cabinet! The snowman was donated by Mozelle, who could not be present at the evening's festivities.

The quilt-related auction items included lots of books, fabrics (yardage, scraps, jelly rolls, grab bags), pieced quilt tops, notions, a sewing machine cabinet, and too many others to list. Then there were the non-quilt related items:  There was a box said to be intended to hold doggy treats. When that approach didn't get anyone's bid, Sylvia suggested it could be used to hold doggy ashes. That got a good laugh but no bidders. The box was set aside, but Cyndi bought it for the asking price after the auction was over.

Also offered was a lampshade, shown here being modeled by Sheila

When an item that was offered was bagged and its content not immediately visible, Sheila helped stir up interest by opening it up and displaying everything. This bag contained doll heads, doll hair, and a brand new unopened puzzle.

Our guests were active participants in the auction. One of the guests is shown here with a large bag that she bid on, and then proceeded to fill with other items that she bought.

The bidding was slow for certain items, at least until their uses were explained. Here's Sheila holding a cage-like device that drew no interest until Meg explained that it was a hanging 3-tiered shelf.

The bidding on other items was spirited and fast. Sheila and Sylvia were both bidding on a hanging quilt rack, and each would tug it toward herself when she outbid the other one! I believe Sylvia got this one.

There were so many items offered at the auction that everyone believed the meeting would last longer than usual, but Sylvia and Sheila kept the action moving and we were done a little after 9 p.m. Almost every item sold, and Meg's preliminary count is that the Sassies took in about $550 from auction proceeds! A formal tally will be presented at the September meeting.

The next meeting will be held on September 12 at Meg's house. Estela will be hostess and we will be working on a "make and take" project.  No need to bring anything; all supplies will be provided.

July 11, 2013 Meeting

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      Susan hosted the meeting this month, providing crackers, dill dip, crudites and cookies.  It was all delicious!  In attendance were Sylvia, Debbie, Susan, Sheila, Meg, Estela, Marcia, and Diane P.

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Business:
     The club has received a $500 donation in the memory of our dear friend Eva. This gave our treasury a much needed boost.
     Sharon had asked that we make donation quilts for the Mercy Hospital Volunteer Auxiliary.  After a short discussion it was decided to add this group to our list of donation recipients, which rotate on a periodic basis. A few donation quilts will be set aside for this effort.
     Meg held an informal "garage sale" in her spare bedroom and we all enjoyed shopping from the items she had for sale.
     Susan passed out handouts of helpful sewing tips and how to measure for setting squares.
     The auction is set for our next meeting, August 9th. Sylvia has agreed to be the auctioneer again this year, which elicited a round of applause, as she does such a good job. Round up your unwanted items, whether sewing related or not, and bring them to Meg's house that evening.  Bring money as well--cash or check accepted. All proceeds go to refill the club's coffers.
      Marcia passed out this month's BOM pattern, the easy Churn Dash.  If you are collecting these patterns and are missing any, please send Marcia an e-mail and she will get the missing patterns to you.

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Show and Tell:

Debbie showed this beautiful black and white Snail's Trail that will be in our auction.

Sylvia brought this lovely butterfly quilt.

And this gorgeous quilt made from orphan blocks. Great choice of border fabrics and sashings!

Susan showed this lovely little apple wall-hanging.

She also made an iPhone case for her sister.  Sorry we didn't get a better photo of it.

Debbie then showed this beautiful "Adam's Rib" quilt in blacks, whites, and grays.  Stunning!

Diane showed this lovely Pinwheel quilt she is donating.

She also donated this pretty patriotic quilt.

Estela showed her tablerunner to the oohs and aahs of everyone.

 

Estela showed one more donation quilt in pretty pastels.

Meg showed a donation quilt, too- this Zigzag quilt;

 and this one made of orphan blocks.

Another Zigzag quilt.

 This one made of orphan blocks really turned out pretty.

Yet another Zigzag quilt.  These are destined for Moore, OK tornado relief.

Marcia showed this Rail Fence donation quilt.

She also showed the Row of the Month quilt she completed for herself from instructions found at  http://www.flickr.com/groups/beeinmybonnetrowalong/
It has taken her several months to complete.

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Program:
 
      Susan showed us how to make Cool Ties from fabric strips and water-absorbing crystals. They take only a few minutes to make, but will be very useful during this hot weather when we are working outside.  We each completed one to take home with us. If you want the instructions, contact Susan for a copy of her handout.

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Remember, next month's meeting is the Auction on August 9th at Meg's house.   

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