2014 – Page 2 – Amherst Quilters Guild

October 16, 2014

seminar 2016

Hello all, Mary Ellen here. It’s now official. Nancy Mahoney will be our national teacher for the 2016 quilt seminar. She is in all the quilt publications, so I’m sure that even if you’re not familiar with her name you have certainly seen some of her work. Here’s a link to her blog. Go explore and get to know a bit about her. Please be thinking about what you’d like to see in the open years in between our seminars, instead of a seminar. I’ll be asking for ideas in the months ahead.

October 10, 2014

Eye on Elegance

Hello all, Mary Ellen here. I come from a family of folks who spend their days immersed in math and science. Except for one. I have a niece who loves history, in all of its forms. She is currently living in the Washington D.C. area, discovered this exhibit at the DAR museum, and sent me the link. Eye on Elegance is an exhibit of quilts from the Maryland and Virginia area. This “show” online is wonderful for those of us who will not be in Washington soon. There are video clips from the curator, and many photos of the quilts which you can explore. You are able to zoom in and look at the details of the quilts. If you are interested in the history of our art form, I think you’ll find this very interesting. So much to learn about the beginnings of quilting here in the US, and […]

October 8, 2014

quilting bucket list

Hello all, Mary Ellen here. Do you have a quilting bucket list? All those quilted projects that you want to accomplish before the end? I do. Lots of things on it, but here are a few… a totally red and white Irish chain, a white on white with feathers drafted and quilted by me, a very fun Halloween “redwork” quilt with 15 blocks so detailed that I can’t even get started!, … Well I just found another quilt project to add to the list. I love the fabric manipulations (origami, smocking, etc.) on this quilt. Definitely want to try this out. Check it out here. What’s a project on your quilting bucket list? Come on, share!

October 3, 2014

Wicked Quilts

Hello all, Mary Ellen here. How do you find inspiration for your next quilt project? Here’s a link to quilts made for a challenge from Cherrywood hand dyed fabrics was to use 3 “wicked” greens from their 2014 line and make a quilt inspired by “Wicked”. It’s the 11th anniversary of the show “Wicked” in NYC, so many chose their inspiration from there, but other worked from the meaning of the word itself. Good theme for Halloween season, isn’t it? click here (if you dare!) How are your seminar projects coming? I hope you enjoyed yourself and learned a least one new thing. Those are the goals of seminar. We’re working on getting our national teacher lined up for 2016, and hope to announce the name at the next guild meeting. Bring those completed (tongue in cheek) projects for show and tell in October.

October 1, 2014

Seminar – already two weeks ago?

Hi everyone, this can be yet another issue of my Wednesday wanderings but I have been thinking and meaning to post all my Seminar photos here only to realize just now – it has already been TWO WEEKS??? That’s just not possible…. You know how they say that time goes faster as you grow older? Well – I must be REALLY old then…it just flies by!!! Well, better two weeks after than never – wasn’t Seminar just a TON of fun?? I heard several times from Bonnie (and that’s just in two separate occasions) how well organized it is and how nice it is!! So I know you all will join me in saying a BIG BIG THANK YOU to Mary Ellen and Jan and everyone who worked on Seminar to make it yet another wonderful success!! I don’t know about you, but I haven’t seen a crowd that big […]

September 20, 2014

more fun with Bonnie

Hi everyone, Mary Ellen here. Check out more fun with Bonnie! Natalie, your featherweight is so photogenic! Click here

September 18, 2014

check out Bonnie and our quilters having fun

Hello all, Mary Ellen here. Check us out! Fun at seminar! click here.

September 16, 2014

furoshiki wrapping and a nice surprise

Hello all, Mary Ellen here. Got any spare fabric around? (LOL!) It could be used for gift wrapping instead of paper. In this video the demonstrator also suggests silk scarves. I don’t know about you, but I have many of those just sitting in a drawer from my working days. I often wore a basic T or light weight sweater and put a scarf on to jazz it up, or to make it match a particular skirt or slacks. Although scarves are coming back, they aren’t the same style as the ones in my drawer (of course not, that would be too easy). I think this fabric wrapping would be particularly nice on gifts for your fabric loving friends. Much better than paper that ends up discarded. See what you think. It looks quite easy to me. Click here. Here’s another gift wrap idea for using up smaller pieces from […]

September 12, 2014

Bonnie in Ketchickan

Hello all, Mary Ellen here. Spent some time at the BNHV yesterday getting folders stuffed for our seminar attendees. I spoke on the phone with Bonnie Hunter while I was there. We thought we had a book order missing, but it was found after we heard from Bonnie who had signed for it. It had gotten tucked away into an unused office for safe keeping. Bonnie’s in Alaska right now, doing her schtick for the guild in Ketchikan. As she always does, pictures are posted on her daily blog. (Make sure you do your hair and put on lipstick if you’re coming to our seminar. You may get a moment of fame on her blog if you’re in a class of hers) Yesterday Bonnie explored the town and spent time in a brand new library. Check out the cool art work in the library and be sure to go all […]

September 9, 2014

newborn and preemie quilt

Hello all, Mary Ellen here. Perhaps you have a new little one on the way in your family, or perhaps you make toppers as charity quilts for newborns and preemies. This technique shown in the video (click here) would be perfect. My only suggestion to those of you making this sort of quilt to give to a hospital NICU is to find out the size restrictions if any. Some hospitals put them on top of the isolette and some put them inside. Some hospitals are particular about the sizes they will accept. Just check so your efforts can be used and appreciated. I recently signed up for the free subscription to the group making the video above (along with others). I’ve watched just a few so far. To date I’ve recognized the names of all the featured quilters as belonging to the staffs of Quiltmaker magazine, and both McCall’s quilting […]