Syd can sew!

Today when I came into the store, Sydney greeted me with, "Gamma....will you teach me to sew?" Everything I wanted to accomplish at work went right out the window. How could I resist that request? Sydney found some pieces in the scrap drawer and we got out her sewing machine. It's a white (slightly green) Singer 221 Featherweight. She wanted to make an apron for her doll. I'd say she did a good job. I had taped the foot pedal to a box and we patiently sewed the apron. Mostly she sewed a straight line. Good sewing for a 5 year-old.

Tonight was the last meeting for Redwood Empire Quilter's Guild for the "guild year." They don't meet in July or August, so in June there is a pot luck meeting. The theme was "Hawaiian." I didn't get the memo on the theme but obviously Ann & Carolyn did.Don't they look happy!A view of the room. My plate is empty...it's so nice to eat what others cook.

One of the best things at any guild meeting is Show & Tell. Here are 6 of the 8 ladies who joined together to make this quilt.
One gal had taken a photo of some pottery in a garden setting and divided the photo into 8 sections. She blew it up, created line drawings for each section and gave one to each of the quilters. They had a tiny photo (2" X 3") for true color of their section and the actual line drawing. Some sections were embellished, some were 3-dimensional, all were fantastic. Each section was quilted by the creator, then sewn together on the front and the back seams were covered with bias. They will be selling the quilt to raise $$ for a charitable organization (still to be determined). Well done, ladies.

Guild Party

My life has been full of holiday parties and events. Thursday night Liz and I attended the Redwood Empire Quilters Guild Holiday Party. We brought our goodies (Liz makes the most awesome fudge--rocky road this time), several doll quilts for the Salvation Army and a basket full of Fat Quarters for all the members. Each Christmas I load up a basket of a variety of Fat Quarters from our store and we give one to each member of the Guild. Just a little gift from us. No strings attached, just a Merry Christmas and thanks for helping to promote quilting.
When we got there our 2009 Opportunity Quilt was hanging. Oh, my it's beautiful! All batiks in several different NY Beauty-style blocks. Denise Witte of McKinleyville, CA did the quilting. Each block is quilted differently! I got my packet of tickets to sell. They are selling for $1 each or 6 for $5. If any of you want them let me know and I'll make arrangements. Just email me at ScottieDogQuilts@aol.com The drawing will be held at the guild's 2009 Quilt Show in July 2009. But watch out! I'm buying lots of tickets because I'd love to have this one!
It was fun to see Pat Durbin and Jen Duncan both very talented women. Pat is working on a new book for That Patchwork Place and be sure to check out Jen's Etsy Store! The food was unbelievable....Kenny Fleck showed up with Bridgett..."I always come at Christmas," he said, "This is the best potluck in town!"
As usual, show and tell was awesome...I was so interested I forgot to take pictures.

Community Quilts Day

I belong to several quilt guilds, among them The Redwood Empire Quilters Guild (www.reqg.com). We have a Community Quilts program which provides quilts for Dialysis patients, for teen parents graduating from high school, for premature babies, for fire victims and more. Last Saturday we hosted guild members here at Scottie Dog Quilts to help the cause. We filled the classroom for most of the day. Here is Sharon S. She's in charge of the program this year and she does a fabulous job. She's so organized and has lots and lots of kits all made up of the donated fabrics, pre-cut so as to quickly sew up a top. Here are Pat D. & Jen D. (with her awesome little aqua Janome sewing machine). It's fun to get together and sew for a good cause. Thanks to all those who gathered. God bless you for your giving hearts.