Puffs 'n Stuff

With the deer and no antelope playing outside, the Bell County Quilters met November 9, at Joycelyn Miller's home in Saledo. 

Everyone enjoyed a yummy breakfast of monkey bread, pumpkin bread, banana nut bread, juice and coffee. 

SEW AND SHARE

Joycelyn shared her parents' fiftieth anniversary friendship quilt for those who had not seen it before.  It is truly a keepsake!

Sue share two beautiful quilts she has finished. 

They are both beautiful scrappy quilts. 

Karen shared a beautiful homespun quilt she has made for friends.

She also shared a quilt she started years ago for her granddaughter when she was young. (She is now at Texas A & M.)  The quilt is gorgeous, but Karen has a new owner in mind.  That sometimes happens when UFO's are finally complete.

Grace McDonald shared bottles of Mexican vanilla with everyone.  That will be just in time for holiday baking!  Thanks, Grace.  She also shared with us some of her fresh peanuts!  Yum!

Sara shared one of her Christmas trees from last month's project.

Sara has now completed seven bejeweled projects.  Each and every one of them is beautiful and unique.  (Although I just have to share my personal favorite, since it is the pumpkin hanging in my breakfast room. SS)

Later Marilyn shared some crocheted baby caps she has been making for hospital donations.  They are so cute that even the non-crocheters in the group wanted to make some.

Joycelyn shared the directions for the project of the month - puff jingle balls for babies.

 Everyone got to work - some sewing, some stuffing, some putting jingles in the balls, and some stitching the final stitches.  So cute!

Lunch time came and we had baked potatoes and baked sweet potatoes with all the trimmings.

 Delicious.  We also had some fruits and veggies and dip, and Joycelyn prepared her famous Strawberry Spinach Salad:

Spinach
Sliced strawberries
Sliced oranges
Chopped pecans
Razamatazz Dressing (from HEB)

Definitely a hit!  And for dessert, Joycelyn had made a delicious carrot cake.We always enjoy breaking bread together.

We also gathered donations of baby formula for Bundle of Joy.

Thanks, Joycelyn, for your hospitality and for coming up with this month's project.

IMPORTANT REMINDER:

December 7 is the Christmas party at Melva's house.  We will have our annual Christmas ornament swap.  We are also planning to bring donations of toiletries for helping hands (soap, shampoo, lotion, etc.)  And do not forget to wear your Christmas socks!!

Be thinking about what month you want to host next  year, since we will begin the new calendar when we meet at Melva's.  Also, think about new projects we can schedule for the year. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

SURPRISE! A FRIENDSHIP QUILT FOR SANDY!

Sandy Collins was the inspirational creator of the Bell County Quilters. With her encouragement, creativity, and sewing talent, she encouraged this group of ladies to start the group which grew to twelve members who meet monthly throughout the fall, winter and spring for sewing and fellowship. She has come up with the ideas for the projects to be done, and she has been our teacher for so many sewing skills, including machine stipple quilting. Moreover, she has encouraged each of us to grow and stretch in our quilting abilities, and has championed our successes. It is a great loss to our group that Sandy has moved to California. To thank her for all she has done for us, and to be sure that she remembers she always has a place in our hearts and in our sewing circle, we created a friendship quilt for her.

On the delivery day, Margaret Leigh went to her house to help her pack for the big move, and to be sure that she was there when everyone appeared. She was presented her memory box and her friendship quilt along with wishes for a happy future in California.



The quilt is a treasure. Everyone wanted to be sure she knew which block they had contributed.

The group was glad to share this work of love. We all wish Sandy and Charles well in there new venture, and we want Sandy to let us know when she is ready to host our first "destination quilt group meeting."

SHHHHHHH! IT'S A SECRET!

Margaret Leigh hosted the Bell County Quilters in her home on October 14, 2009, for a special quilting session. Don't tell Sandy, but a special project was in the making just for her. Since she will be leaving for California soon, the group got together a friendship quilt as a reminder of her Texas friends who will miss her so much.

Grace McDonald had already completed her block, so she worked on three baby quilt tops for
Bundle of Joy. Her donation total tops 100 baby quilts at this time.

Sara had made an explosion box for Sandy, which she bought for the group to sign.

It included pictures of Sandy, her husband and her quilting friends.

The rest of the group got busy finishing blocks and assembling the quilt.

Joycelyn worked on a needle-turned appliquee block of bluebonnets.

Sue and Karen worked on assembling the quilt top.

Grace and Karen pinned the pieces and ripped a few seams. Melva also pinned pieces. Sue and Karen manned the sewing machine. Sara ironed assembled pieces. Margaret cut sashings and borders.

The quilt top came together quickly with all the busy quilters working and keeping an eye out for Sandy who was to arrive for lunch.



SHOW AND TELL

Grace shared her quilt made up of blocks pieced by her grandmother. Margaret had encouraged her to finish this quilt, and it turned out beautiful.

Sue shared her pumpkin toppers of silk leaves and flowers on a felt base. She assembled these to sit on top of pumpkins for fall decor.

When Sandy arrived, the quilt disappeared into Margaret's bathroom. It was delivered to the quilter immediately after the sewing session ended that day for machine quilting and binding.

Kay Goldsmith also joined the group for a delicious salad luncheon.

Thanks, Margaret, for hosting the group. Thanks, Sue, for coordinating the secret quilt creation.

Pearls and Jewels

The Bell County Quilters met on September 14, 2009 at the home of Sandy Collins.

Present were Sandy, Sue Golden, Melva Hobbs, Joycelyn Miller, Karen Coats, Carol Stout, Grace Whitis, Sara Hector and a visitor: Kathy Moore. Everyone enjoyed a breakfast of cinnamon rolls and juice.

While Karen and Carol cross stitched

Sue mentored the making of bejeweled pictures using one of her projects in progress:

Melva, Sandy, Kathy, and Grace worked on crosses.

Joycelyn worked on a Christmas tree.

Sara worked on a monogram.

There was some "chasing of rolling pearls" and admiring of junk jewelry collections, which all made for some beautiful projects.

Show and Tell

Sue shared her bejeweled Christmas trees, a quilt, a painted picture, and a crocheted bag made from plastic bags.

Sue shared this beautiful example of a "finished" UFO, and all were impressed with her work.

Our resident artist also brought a painting she shared that she completed recently when she "dusted off her paintbrushes."

Sandy shared a quilt made from a collection of family reunion pictures.

Sara shared embroidered baby dresses.

The group had a delicious salad lunch.

Plans were discussed for a Thursday day-trip to the Houston International Quilt Show. Hope someone takes some pictures.

Thanks to Sandy for hosting the group for September! And thanks to Sue for sharing her expertise.

No feet pictures this month, since the recent rains caused so much mud between our toes!