I promised myself–No more fabric buying! Even if it is on sale, a great sale. Well, except white background fabric needed for the scrappy pink pinwheel baby quilt I am making on consignment and the baby quilt for my husband’s niece. And, I did need more of the particular colors requested for the niece’s quilt—but after those, no more fabric shopping, for real!! I had found forgotten fat quarter bundles and yardage when straightening up my sewing room after the sale. (I can’t really say “cleaning” up my sewing room—) Not only is buying more fabric financially irresponsible but I was adding to the ecological problems of textile production. So I sincerely pledged to myself to use what I had for at least this quilt sale year –October ’22 to October ’23. I am not going to keep track of the number of yards I have used from my stash as I have seen others do; probably couldn’t. But I am going to keep track of projects that came from my storage closet. What will I do with all that money I save???

But then I remembered—it is less than a month to our Quilter’s Christmas Party! Years ago, we decided to not celebrate birthdays with gifts or give notepads and funny coffee cups to each other at Christmas. We would acknowledge our friendships with FAT QUARTERS! Each participating quilter requests a particular style or color, resulting in approximately 20 usable fat quarters.

So folks, I had to go shopping for fabric! I love this tradition and look forward to it every year. Fun to look at all the new fabrics on the shelves. Fun to buy the requested color without worrying if it will go with my other fabrics of that color in a particular project. Fun to go to a shop others might not, so my choices will be unique. Questions do come up–is that a “true” green? is a small enough print? is that cream or light beige? But for me, it is one of the best holiday activities.

Today, my husband and I explored a near by town about an hour a way with a quilt shop and a great deli–that was an added bonus. I do support the quilt shops in my town, but today was a multi-purpose day–outing and shopping.

I bought light blues, indigo blues with small prints, grunge, floral with little, bitty flowers, white on white, brights, fall colors and Christmas prints—-and that should conclude my fabric shopping for the year!!

We have some new items for sale—maybe some are perfect Christmas gifts!

Reversible dinner napkins are a “green” or ecological gift. Measuring 16″ x 16″, they would work for either lunch or dinner well. Each set of four is $30.

This table runner is larger than most and would work in any season of the year. It. measures 18.5 ” x 52″. The traditional colors and blocks helped name it “Prairie”. It is $50.

Know someone who will be expecting several visits from the Tooth Fairy this coming year?

I look forward to sharing what we received and made from our fat quarter exchange. And I promise to be accountable to you on my “Use My Stash” campaign.

Wedding rings are sign to the world of our marriage status. How many novels have you read where the heroine checks out the left hand of the handsome stranger? And if the actual ring missing, is there an indention for paler skin indicating a ring is usually worn? Wedding rings or bands have an ancient history.

A wedding band/ring is usually worn on the left hand on the fourth finger due to a ancient belief that a vein ran from the left finger to the heart. But some groups associate “left” with evil and wear their rings on the right hand. Members of religious groups that believe in a simple lifestyle often do not wear rings. Gold is the preferred metal but today there are so many choices….tungsten, titanium, platinum, silver, rose gold and redwood and meteorite!! With gems or semi-precious stones or without..design your own or buy a “ready made” ring. With all these decision, you will understand why we opted for the tradition gold band and our personal sentiment engraved on the inside!

These quilts were made by mothers and grandmothers for their children and given as gifts on their wedding day or anniversary. Old folklore suggests that the union would be blessed if the couple sent their first night together under a Double Wedding Ring Quilt. Given the sentimental value and the complexity of the quilt, most were keep for “good” and certainly not put on a child’s bed!

The son of an elderly church member brought us quilts found in a closet of his father’s house. His father had moved to a care home and the son ask if we would be interested. Oh, we were interested! One of the quilts was this treasure.

This Double Wedding Ring quilt is unique. Most Double Wedding Ring Quilts are created using a white or pastel background–going with the wedding theme and white fabric was readily available. The background on the quilt is “cheddar”. Cheddar dye was developed in the late 1800’s and became so popular for a period that it was considered a neutral–but not in this traditional pattern. I did find vintage Double Wedding Ring Quilts that used yellow but not such a strong color such as cheddar.

Many of the pieces are feed sack fabric. In fact, I found pieces in the quilt exactly like a feed sack from the 30’s that was gifted to me.

The quilt measures 72″ x 88″. The photo of the quilt spread out on a queen size bed shows it would be a “full” size perfectly. (This photo is a truer representation of the color than the one previously taken in natural light outside.)

The quilting is a simple pattern but all by hand and very dense which adds to its stability. The binding is cut on a bias, necessary to go around curves and is hand stitched.

I had to try it on my dining table…..which was a mistake. It would make a perfect autumn table cloth/covering …the cheddar and deep blues are certainly giving off a Fall vibe.

This keepsake was not used a great deal. I found only one minor spot where the backing was coming away from the binding–maybe an inch in length. The backing is muslin. The quilt has been soak and washed and line dried.

When I was cleaning it, I wished the quilter and previous owners could set down with me to answer my questions. Did you choose the unusual background fabric because that was all you could get? Or because you really liked the strong color? Or were you a rebel and wanted to do it your way? Did friends or family help you quilt it—it took hours and hours to do all the dense hatch quilting. Was it a gift or was it made for your own use? Did you make another? Was it a quilt for “company”? Did you plan to pass it down through the family? I will never know the answers to these questions, but you can write the next chapter of this quilt’s history. This unique “cheddar” Double Wedding Ring Quilt is for sale for $200.

If you have questions, please leave a comment and I will get back to you.

So, you bought or was gifted a beautiful quilt. The first thing you will ask yourself is “What am I going to do with it?”. The obvious reply is to put it on a bed; isn’t that the reason for quilts. But that isn’t always the solution. Your bed may be too large or small for that quilt. It may be an art quilt that was never intended for a bed. Or that quilt doesn’t really fit the color scheme or theme of your decor. Your puppies may sleep on your bed or your partner may not want to sleep under a quilt–oh, the list goes on and on.

Best answer is to “think outside the box”–but put that quilt out there. Don’t hide it in a closet–all the time. Some of us might have a few quilts and we have to rotate our quilts between closet and display. But even vintage treasures at the International Quilt Museum are displayed once every ten years!

Racks are the most popular method of displaying quilts. I have limited floor space so I prefer quilts racks on the wall.

These are very simple..the quilts are just folded over the wooden rod to fit the space.

Curtain rods may be attached to the wall. The quilt can be hung by threading the rod through a hanging sleeve on the back or by drapery clip rings.

Triangles were sewn on the top corners before the binding was applied. A dowel rod is cut to fit. A dull, discarded sewing machine needle was stuck in the wall and the rod balances on the rod.

The machine needle makes a smaller hole than a nail–I use that spot on the wall most seasons for some sort of wall hanging so the needle stays in the wall.

The easiest way to display a quilt is over the back of a chair or sofa.

Depending on the season, this chair in my guest room often has a quilt for “show”.

Bannisters in doors or out doors are a super way to show off a quilt.

Baskets and ladders are another mobile way to display several quilts at once. (These images were borrowed from Google.)

The stand alone quilt stand is the most common. Many will be used at the Quilts etc. Sale to display the quilts we have for sale. But we have a very special one for sale. Marty G. is a master craftsman. He used two different woods–maple and poplar. The maple adds strength and the poplar has a lovely grain.

The Mission stye makes this one very unique. Marty did not use any nails in the construction, only dowels and glue.

Four coats of finish were applied. This study quilt stand would compliment any quilt or room. It is for sale for $125.SOLD

And just as a reminder the Quilt etc. Sale is next week!

First United Methodist Church, 330 N. Broadway, Wichita, KS. Parking is off Topeka. The hours are 10 am to 5 pm on Friday and 10 am to 3 pm on Saturday. A coffee shop is a new addition this year. Cash, checks or credit cards may be used.

Hope to see you–it would be a fun outing with family or friends, a chance to get a head start on holiday shopping and an opportunity to support two great ministries of the Church.

If sewing machine could speak, what would they say? Mine might know a few naughty words…or be defensive. “I’m tired of being blamed for something that was not my responsibility–It is never the machines fault the bobbin was empty and no seam was sewn! PAY ATENTION” . But I would also like to think my machine(s) would be proud of some “our” work or delighted it had a part in making a gifts that was loved by the receiptant.

I have had my Grandma Ella’s treadle sewing machine for years, hidden away in the garage under some ratty blankets for protection. I was not sure what to do with it.

I met my current machine as a result of teaching Family and Consumer Science for 32 years. The school district already had Bernina machines in the clothing lab–so I learned to teach sewing on a Bernina and it has been a love affair ever since. If all those machines from the sewing lab could talk, I am sure there would be hours and hours of stories –some about the abuse they endured and some very humorous stories!

I “might” have a few more machines–a small Janome I keep at the Church in our quilting room so I don’t have to take a machine every Wednesday. I am feeling guilty about the extra machines setting unused and have promised myself to find them good homes. Which if they could talk, I am sure they would ask be used rather than gathering dust on a shelf!

Every sewer has their favorite–and it depends a great deal how one is using their machine. Art quilts with lots of layers would require different strengths than sewing formal wear. I don’t embroidery or appliqué with my machine so I don’t need the added bells and whistles. After years in the classroom and talking with parents and students, I recommend buying a Plain Jane refurbished higher end machine when I am ask which sewing machine to buy for a beginner,. Most sewing machine dealers take trade-ins and sell used machines. I would shy away from the cheaper machines from big box stores. And a beginning sewer doesn’t need all the extras — the more gadgets there are, the more gadgets there are to confuse. Ask your favorite seamstress her recommendations.

All of our machines have been working very long hours getting ready for the Quilt etc. Sale.

Our machines have pieced quilt tops, quilted table runners and placemats, appliquéd wall hangings, sewn banners, topstitched trims–all for the Quilt etc. Sale! If our machines could talk, they would urge you to come see all the wonderful items for sale.

We are located at First United Methodist Church, 330 N. Broadway, Wichita, KS. The sale is in Wilke Life Center, located on the north of the block. Parking is off Topeka Street and 3rd St. There are no stairs to climb. We will be open from 10 am to 5 pm on the 21st and 10 am to 3 pm on the 22nd. Checks, cash and credit cards are welcome.

First Stop Coffee Shop will be open with homemade goodies, coffee and tea. The coffee shop is off the same lobby as the Quilt etc. Sale.

Take a break and come see for yourself what a sewing machine can do!

Happy First Day of Fall–I thought you would never come! And it is raining–not much but after this summer, any is welcome! A month from today-October 22-will be the second and last day of the annual Quilt Sale. Wow!

We have been busy sorting and pricing items for the sale…..and resisting purchasing for ourselves–but fellow quilters have brought in some really amazing projects. I look at the literally hundreds of items and laugh to myself. Every November after the sale, we meet and plan for next year. Every year we make a list of what sold well and what we need for the next year’s sale. And then we completely ignore those lists! Quilters are a creative group and they must make what their “muse” suggests. And like magic we have a wonderful diverse group of projects despite the lost lists.

Our diversity of projects is mainly due to our diversity of quilters. Some of us appliqué–others avoid appliqué as they would avoid COVID, some love to embroidery–others ask how we did that, some of us search Pinterest to see the latest trends-others don’t use computers at all! All this results in a wonderful mix of items for you.

Diane T is our newest member and she brought an entirely different skill set and projects to our group.

The bibs are just last week’s contribution. Most have flannel on one side. The smaller triangle ones are good for wearing out and about–they are $7 and the larger ones are $10.

So glad Diane joined our group–none of these items were on my “lists”. She is also working on adult size bibs–more later.

Peggy scours Pinterest and discovered “loveys”—those sooo soft mini blankies have a stuffed toy head and ribbon loops sewn in the edges of the body for fidgeting and loving.

She has gifted a lovey each to two sweet girls in our Church family. They give them a thumbs up! No two are alike. $25 each. Was this on our lists last November? Nope SOLD

No one mentioned 3-D Santa’s last year, but Vicki fell in love with these handcrafted Santas in two sizes. SOL

Vicki is known for her scrappy quilts—and this year, her Santas. The large Santas are $25 each and the smaller Santas are $20. SOLD

We are constant surprised by the generosity of friends and acquaintances. This year we have been given vintage quilts and brand new quilts. The striking peacock quilt is from a friend’s sister’s estate—-she wasn’t fond of it but hoped we would find a good home for it.

A bit of metallic thread adds to the exotic feel created by the rich purples and blues. This small lap quilt is for sale for $100. SOLD

Last November we had no idea what we would might find at an estate/garage sale in the coming year! Phyllis rescued these orphan blocks bought by a friend at an estate sale by designing a large twin or full size quilt top–the blocks were made with men’s shirt fabric. The blue “kite” shaped pinwheels add continuity and motion to this 77″ x 92″ size quilt.

Want a quilt for a guy…or do you like the muted vintage look. It is only $175. SOLD

Robert Burns, the Scottish poet, wrote the line “The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men.” ..our motto might be “the best laid plans of quilters …” But this tendency insures the Quilts Etc. Sale will never be “the same ol’ same ol” but have new and suprising offerings each year!

Don’t look now but somewhere very close to you a gnome watching you! Gnomes have escaped the garden and can be found everywhere—from pjs to Christmas decorations to our Quilt Etc. Sale.

This summer when we visited the Omaha Botanical Gardens, a gnome scavenger hunt was in progress. Thirty-six gnomes of all sizes were scattered about the gardens, some more hidden than others.

My husband was embarrassingly fascinated by the charts designed to help you pick a “gnome name”.

So, if I use my maiden name instead of my married name, I am “Juniper Raindrop of the Glen”. Each family member received a text with their “gnome name” from Juniper Toadflax of the Garden! Hats off to the marketing division of the Omaha Botanical Gardens–gnomes added degree of whimsey to the morning visit.

The Quilters at First have had some gnomes sneak into our October sale!

Janis professes to dislike gnomes, but two of the gnome projects are from her sewing room!

This table runner with the gnome tending his flowers is truly a “garden gnome”! He must have magical powers to be able to separate the flowers from the weeds with his hat covering his eyes. The background fabric is a print resembling a newspaper. The table runner is 14″ x 46″ and is for sale for $60.SOLD

This holiday pillows has three gnomes sporting long white furry beards, wooden bead noses and extraordinary hats. Expertly appliquéd wool felt gnome bodies are on a snow flake background. A Christmas holly print frames these characters.

The pillow measures 13″ x 14″ — and is for sale for $50. SOLD

Judy N embraced the gnome movement by choosing a flannel panel of two sleepy gnomes napping.

Soft blue and brown add to the high “cuddle factor” of this large baby quilt. In fact the 58″ x 64″ quilt is large enough to grown with the child and would make a perfect curl up on the couch quilt. Machine quilted, it can be laundered often. Both front and back are flannel. $150

One never knows where these mischievous little people will be next. Visit the Quilts Etc. Sale in October and do some gnome searching.