.
The sewing room has been quiet these past few weeks. “There has been parties for hosting and marshmallows for toasting”..and trying to find gifts for teen age boys! But the Quilters at First–Machine group did find time for our annual holiday/end of year wrap up lunch/party.
For years we have had a baked potato bar with all the trimmings plus yummy desserts and great appetizers. The hostess, me, has it extremely easy. Just coat potatoes in olive oil and sea salt and throw them in the oven.
For our entertainment we exchange fat quarters (FQ) for there is nothing a quilter would rather do than exclaim over and pet fabric. Each of us that wants to participate, chooses and posts on the white board a theme, or color scheme of FQs we would like to receive. Some of us have a future project in mind. Some look at their stash and see what color or prints are missing.
I have as much fun shopping for the different fabrics as opening my gifts of FQs. Since I am on my “fabric diet” I don’t go into fabric shops much. The temptation is too great. So to “need” to peruse the entire shop for different fabrics is a treat!
The rule is one fat quarter per person since the prices keeps inching upwards but everyone usually adds another tiny something. Several of us add a few pieces of candy which is added to our “candy stash” in our sewing rooms. It is a proven fact that a piece of Christmas chocolate in March helps calms one after discovering the last seam sewn was without a bobbin thread!
Some add a sewing notion–little fold up shears, a notions bag made from selvages or gifts bags for the FQs. One quilter found quilt block ornaments at a garage sale in the summer and saved them to share with us in December.
Each quilter passes out her gifts, so we all open Peggy’s or Judy’s gifts at the same time. We love seeing all the different fabrics purchased given the requests. The room is filled with “oh, how pretty!” or “where did you find that?” or “this is perfect for the quilt I am making!”
Here are some of the collections. We had two members that couldn’t attend due to health issues.
Elaine wanted brights–plain or print.
Vicki requested pinks for a great granddaughter’s baby quilt. The clippers on the right side of the fabric are a wonderful gift for a quilter. You can never have too many.
Peggy ask for orange prints to fill out her stash. So many different shades and tones of orange.
Judy received bold solids. Nothing is a repeat.
Heather and Shirley wanted black on black prints. The print adds interest vs a solid black. This is Heather’s.
These are Shirley’s. I should have used the lighter background for both.
Diane is our resident creator of ETC’s–gift bags and envelopes, quiet books, small birthday banners, shopping bags. She needs lots of different interfacings and fusibles.
Can’t wait to see what she imagines for this coming year using these supplies!
I chose blue and white –not cream, prints, again this year! I have a star quilt pattern that I was going to make last year but….These are beautiful additions to my collections of prints for the quilt.
This is Janis’ fabrics!! And you may very well ask..What was her theme or request? Hmmm, nothing really goes together, does it? She surprised us with ” I really like this fabric” request. She wanted a FQ of something you liked but had no idea what to do with it. I would like to say each FQ reflected the quilters style, but no. I would never be able to match the quilter with the fabric. I choose the light blue with the butterfly–sorta my vibe.
We won’t gather in our room at Church until January 7 so no new projects until then. But I am positive most of us will sneak in a few hours in our home sewing space, if only for a little “Me Time”.
Again, thank you for all the support you gave the Quilters in 2025. You are appreciated more than I can express. I wish all of you the best Christmas and may your bobbins never run out!
Quilts, Etc. 