I spent last week in NOVA–Northern Virginia, visiting my daughter and son-in-law. Have you been there? It is an area of contrasts. There are many, many large buildings that house corporations and national headquarters of groups you would recognize.

A majority of the family housing are condos, large apartment complexes and row homes.

The population is very dense–approximately 1,000 more people per square mile than Wichita, KS., but there are “green spaces” built into most of the developments. One such park and storm water reservoir was very close to my daughter’s home.

Bandit, my grand-dog, enjoys walks in woods by their home where deer and fox have been seen.

The frogs sang to us, no matter the time of day–

We did our touristy things in western Maryland this time. Fredericks, MD, is an old city, used as a medical center during the Civil War. It also has the C & O Canal and a fun little quilt shop. So, in consideration of my fabric diet, I only bought four yards of “on sale” fabric to make placemats.

Another trip was to Cumberland, MD to ride the Western Maryland Excursion train up into the mountains. The round trip to Frostburg took about 4 hours and it had more great views of rural Maryland.

Someday I want to explore more of this part of Maryland.

What were my Quilty Friends up to while I was playing tourist? Finishing up new projects for the sale!

Kathy was thinking autumn also. This piece could be used on the back of a sofa or at the foot of a bed as well as on the table. The backing fabric is a fall print also. I will have the measurements next week..promise! The machine quilting is a floral pattern. $45

Although it almost reached 100 degrees yesterday, we know that fall and winter nights will be here in a few months. And what is better for those chilly evenings than a cozy flannel quilt?

If you look closely, the machine quilting pattern is an oak leaf. The quilt measures 60″ x 64″ –just right for your recliner or the sofa. $175. Do you have “a difficult to buy a present for” dad or husband–this would work!!!

And quickly following autumn is the Holidays. This little 23″ tree skirt would be so pretty under one of your small trees. $40

Scrappy but not “busy”. The quilt is large; 64″ x 80″. Check out the machine quilting. The backing would make a pretty cover in the summer. $200

This quilt pattern was designed for just three yards of fabric! The three yards made a very usable size quilt–64″ x 70″.

Did you see the star inside each of machine quilted swirls? The binding has the faux piping. $175

Are you in the market for new placemats? Pauline brought in four sets of four placemats.

There are two set of these “chefs with attitude” print The edges are serged. Four coasters are also included. 11″ x 16″. $40 per set of four.

This is the print used on all eight of the placemats.

This set of four placemats definitely has a southwestern theme. The fabric used on both sides could be straight from Arizona or New Mexico. The placemats measure 12″ x 18″. $40 for the set of four.

The other set of four placemats is in a darker color way of the same print. The backing is the same print on both sets. The coordinating binding is machine sewn.

Our cabinets and shelves are crammed full of finish projects. And we have three more months to sew! We would love to make room for all those new projects. Great prices for handmade quality items made right here for worthy causes.

What is the difference between “recycling” and “upcycling”? Both are good–but they are two very different methods of waste management. We are familiar with recycling–we automatically throw cereal boxes or soda cans in the recycle bin. . Recycled bottles, etc. are sorted and eventually broken down to their raw form for remanufacturing. I have tights made from recycled plastic bottles and our deck flooring is a composite of recycled wood and recycled plastic that required mass-processing. The aim of recycling is to keep the value by regenerating an old product.

So what is “Upcycling”? It is defined as the “reuse of discarded objects or materials in such a way as to create a product of higher quality or value than the original”. Usually upcycling is done by individuals with little processing and a lot of creativity. And by less processing, less energy is used. The aim of up cycling is to add value by repurposing an old product.

I have written quite a bit about using scraps to make quilts and that I am on a fabric diet. The quilters are planning on having a “galley” of quilts at the sale made entirely from our stash in our effort to keep fabric out of the landfill.

All these were made by from scraps or left overs. This is not new; most of the quilts made by our grandmothers and great grandmothers were from scraps.

But this week I worked on a different “up cycling” project. I cut or torn 2 or 1.5 inch strips from old sheets and out of style fabric; sewed them together and rolled them in to very tight balls.

I packed them into a “Chewy” box as close as I could and shipped them to San Antonio.

My brother uses a very thick crochet hook to make very sturdy and long lasting rugs. See the strip being used? I bought it when we had a vineyard (over 20 years ago) and I had some notion of making something wine related. Didn’t happen. This is a better use.

Sheets that were not candidates for re-sale in a thrift store were rescued by Elaine to be upcycled–their value has increased!

I have several of these rugs in my home.

One is outside the deck door. It has been left outside for several years and washed over and over. Still looks great and is heavy enough to stay put in the fierce winds we have been experiencing.

(This is not the composite deck floor!

We have “upcycled’ rugs for sale–you may purchase one now or wait for the October Sale.

What do we have new to offer this week–new or upcycled?

Of course, there are new tea towels! $9 each

Why should cardinals get all the glory? Blue jays add a beautiful flash of color to the outdoors. This table topper or wall hanging is 20″ x 20″. The quilting is a cross hatch. $30

You cannot prepare for the winter holidays too early– these two table runners would be a great addition to your Christmas decorations.

Appliquéd trees grace both ends of the 13″ x 30″ table runner. This is a good size for a coffee table as well as the dining table. It is machine quilted “in the ditch”. $40

Various holiday prints in red and green were made into half square triangles to create this pattern. The white background is white on white snowflakes. It is machine quilted and hand bound. The backing would serve as a cheerful scene setter also. 14″ x 30″ $40

The block is “Bow Tie”. The darker 30’s and 40’s reproduction fabric were used to form the bow ties.

The backing is also a depression era reproduction fabric. The table topper measures 21″ x 21″. Machine quilted and hand bound. Washable. $40

And we have two new quilts–

Coffee and teal? Chocolate and turquoise? Whatever, it is a winning combination in a multitude of prints. The quilt is machine quilted in a large swirling pattern. A good size for a child’s bed or for napping under-52″ x 62″. $125

I am fascinated how colors are combined; how various prints can be pulled together by adding just one focus fabric. The inner border stripe on this quilt is the focal point. The quilt is 62″ x 75″. The larger quilting pattern allows the quilt to drape well. The backing is a medium size floral print. $150

I will continue both to recycle and to upcycle–but in my opinion, it is much more interesting and creative to upcycle. I want to get into the habit of looking at something that has served its original purpose and come up with an entirely new reason for its being.

I used information from the EcoCation site.

Sometimes life gets in the way of quilting. Anniversary trips to Europe, graduations, family health and medical issues–we have had them all! And it is summer time-

Plus at times, quilts at the long arm quilters just have to wait their turn in the queue to be machine quilted. Not very many new finished projects to show you today. But I will be showing you behind the scenes of “soon to be finished” items.

We are “up cycling” bags–those you get if you send a donation or shop at certain stores. Perfectly great canvas bags–but with a logo or script on one side. How many bags does one person need? So Diane is creating “quilt” bags.

Pretty nifty! Strong enough to carry a load and they identify a quilt lover! $10 each.

Another tea towel–in red work. This very friendly snowman is $9…a great gift!

Can you ever have too many table runners? No! Changing the table runner is a quick way to decorate for the season.

Flying geese in sweet pastel colors give off a spring feel. The table runner is approximately 16″ x 40″(guess who forgot to make notes) and is $40. It is machine quilted, machine washable and hand bound.

Remember this quilt?

Well, if you really enjoy making the pumpkin and maple leaf blocks and end up with three extra–you make a table runner.

Great idea!! The runner is machine piece, machine quilted and machine washable. The binding is hand sewn. The backing is the same as the border. $40

Want to see “behind the scenes”? Projects before they are polished and ready for you to purchase? The following is what we were working on last Wednesday.

Elaine is working with half square triangles in bright complimentary colors. She needs to spend a lot of time at the ironing board with this pattern. A good iron is as important as a good sewing machine.

Quilters fall into two camps–they find hand binding an enjoyable task or they don’t like the time it takes and avoid it, finding other methods to finish the quilt edges. Susan is finishing a holiday quilt with a binding that matches the backing.

Vicki is using a design board to arrange all those 2.5″ squares for one block in the “huge” quilt she is making–36 blocks? Notice—piecing takes fuel. I took these photos during the afternoon coffee break.

Can you guess what this is going to be? Look closely at the pattern.

The blue and white combination is ageless–and works year round. Judy chose these fabrics from our stash. The seam ripper might give you a hint how things are going.

Janis — the appliqué expert–is making wall hanging for autumn. So much work to be done before the actual appliquéing. As you can tell, we have an assortment of paper napkins for our use…

My holiday table runner certainly needs pressing before it is quilted.

Another blue and white table runner–Shirley is still searching for “bird eyes”…tiny black buttons she will sew on after she machine quilts it.

And folks, none of this gets done without fuel! We share with visitors, so if you are ever in the building, stop by and see what we are working on and enjoy a cup of coffee and a treat!

Remember when I wrote about my friend telling me I couldn’t spend all my time just quilting when I retired? Actually, it sounds like fun, but all the quilters I know–well, in our group at Quilters at First, have a variety of interests. Today I will introduce you to the Prairie Quilt Guild(PQG) Charity Team . The team is comprised of seven women; two of the team are also members of Quilters at First! The Team and members of PQG were responsible for 500 children’s quilts being donated last year. That took a lot of cutting, piecing, quilting and binding!

How does work? Team members use donated fabric–usually from other Guild members, to cut out pieces that are “kitted”–put in a zip lock with instructions. Any member can select a kit at a monthly meeting to assemble at home and return the top at a monthly meeting. Another member may select the top to machine quilt using batting and backing provided by the Prairie Quilt Guild . That person may bind the quilt to finish it or bring it back to another meeting where yet another member would take the quilt home to bind. Some quilts are completed entirely by one member while others may have had five or six persons contributing to the finished quilt.

Members and friends of members contribute fabric to the Charity Team. Some of the fabric is resold to other members. The monies collected will used to buy batting and thread.

This beautiful appliquéd quilt is being raffled to raise money for the Charity team to buy supplies.

Shirley, a quilter with the Quilters at First and a team , makes a couple of trips north to the Kansas City area to buy a SUV full of batting on huge rolls which she hand cuts into the required sizes in her sewing studio.

Elaine, another member of Quilters at First, was recruited by Shirley to join the group after she had donated several completed quilts to the team. Both Elaine and Shirley machine quilt many of the quilts on their own machines, as well as coordinate the other steps in the process.

Like any charity, there is a lot that goes on behind the scenes. The tables with the kits, the supplies for quilting and fabric donation site must be in place before the first members arrive for the meeting.

See the stuffed animals wrapped in a quilt ready for distribution!

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Donated materials must be taken home to be made into kits. Also, Team members are responsible for distribution of the quilts.

Shirley often meets a Wichita City Policeman in the parking lot of the Church to deliver quilts. The police departments of Wichita and surrounding towns carry quilts in their patrol cars that are wrapped around a teddy bear to be given to children in crisis–a car wreck or domestic violence situation.

The Pediatric Cancer Groups and domestic violence shelters have also received quilts from the group.

I ask Shirley and Elaine independently why they were part of the PQG Charity Team. Why do they spent many hours each month on quilts that are given away. Both women answered simply “the satisfaction”. They may not be solving the crises that resulted in childhood traumas, but they are providing comfort to a child, one quilt at a time.

If you are interested in buying tickets for this lovely keepsake, they are $5 for 5. You do not need to be present to win when the winner is selected at the September meeting. Contact me or a member of the Prairie Quilt Guild; I can give you contact information.

New this week–

Blue on blue–A table runner made from various blue and white prints using the versatile half square block. It is machine quilted and bound. The backing is the blue and white polka dot fabric used for the binding. It is approximately 15″ x 30″ and is $40.

An another quilted bag with nifty mesh pockets on the inside. The zipper allows the bag to opened completely so that larger items may be placed inside. $40

I can’t stop embroidering tea towels–keeps my hands busy while watching “Clarkson’s Farm” or “Friends and Neighbors”

Lovely in lavender–this 50″ x 50″ quilt is the perfect lap or nap quilt. The background is my favorite pattern–polka dots! The quilt is machine quilted, machine washable and hand bound. $50

We received an assortment of pieced quilts that would make great play mats, sofa protectors, mats—I am sure you could fine many uses for these sturdy pieced pieces made from flannel odds and ends.

approximately 35″ x 50″. $30

not flannel

33″ x 48″. $30

Approximately 35″ x 35″. $25

$10

A flannel rag quilt with matching throw pillow–both for $30. The quilt is 35″ x 49″

This quote from the All People Quilt sums up the work of the PQG and Quilters at First!

My quilting hobby/passion/obsession is richer because I belong to a group. My group, Quilters at First, meets on Wednesday from 11ish to 4:30ish at First United Methodist Church on the third floor. I probably could get more quilting done if I stayed home in my dog walking clothes and sewed without distraction until 4 pm. But more important to me than the projects I would churn out, is sense of community I experience each week.

These women know more about me than my children! And we know more about each others’ children than those children would probably be comfortable sharing! We have a framed photo in our room that says “Sewing is Cheaper than Therapy-Mostly”. I am not sure we solve anyone’s problems, but we care about each other. I have people who will listen to my mostly first world problems. They know my foibles… repeatably searching for my glasses and phone in an afternoon or spilling my drink down the front of my blouse and they still care about me!

This group of women give me confidence to try a new pattern or help me choose the “just right” blue for a project. I am assured the mismatched seams I am zooming in on, isn’t that noticeable. When I am by myself, I am a champion “over-thinker”. No time for that when we a sharing our latest read or what we are watching on Netflix. We share fabric, patterns and skills. We have hand sewn bindings on each other’s quilts and machine quilted small projects for others.

Our stated mission is to raise money for the TV Ministry and for the Religious Nurture Center. Individually we contribute items for the annual three day sale in October. By combining our efforts, we have created an “event”. An event that is successful because of a community of people. This event would be much, much more difficult to pull off by an individual. Each person in our Quilters at First community pulls resources from their individual circles to make it happen.

To my list of “what I am Grateful for”, I have added community. I am lucky enough and have worked to have several communities in my life, which has made my life all the more richer.

One of the fun aspects of meeting together each Wednesday is to share our weekly finished projects. No one will appreciate your quilt/table runner/bag like we do!!! We acknowledge your points are sharp, your seams match and that it took hours to cut/sew/press flat 200 four square patches!

The best place to show off a new quilt when it is raining, is the stairwell in our Church! This flannel 61″ square quilt is tied with white yarn. The back is black flannel. The little geisha doll prints are my favorites. This cuddly quilt is washable and large enough for a toddler/child’s bed. $100.

Perfect fabric to describe the Fourth of July! This 13″ x 30″ piece could serve as a table runner or a wall hanging. The stars and letters are machine appliquéd. A smart shopper has already purchased this as a birthday present for a daughter born on the fourth.

This seasonal table runner is still available–

Really, you are getting two table runners so if you spill the ice cream sundae , just flip it over –and you are still celebrating the Fourth! I especially liked the white on white print used–it could be a quilting design. Machine quilted and hand bound. The piece measures 14″ x 36″. $40

Remember this table runner from last week?–that I only had a fuzzy photo to share. The summer yellow would be a “fit” for the next three months. The runner is 15″ x 46″, machine quilted and hand bound. $40

Who wants a plastic bag when you could bring home your shopping is this bag. The flowers are appliquéd on a canvas bag–super strong. $10

Skipping ahead to Fall, this square table topper almost appears to be 3-D.

There is a hint of gold metallic in the leave prints. The topper measures approximately 21″ square. Machine quilted in the ditch and hand bound. $40.

Want a very practical gift for a new baby? Paulette has made over 50 flannel burp cloths. They are double thickness and just the right width for throwing over a shoulder.

Each cloth is quilted and the edges serged, allowing them to be laundered over and over. They are $3 each or 4 for $10.

The variety of projects offered on-line for sale now and at the Quilt Etc. Sale in October is possible because of the variety of quilters in our community. I found this drawing on Facebook –believe it applies to our community.

The uniqueness of each member in our community is our strength.

Have you watched the new documentary on Netflix –The Quilters?

It is a 30 minute film about a group of men in a Missouri prison who make quilts to donate to foster children and special needs persons. These men certainly do not match the stereotype of quilters–“little old women”. These men are doing long or life sentences for serious crimes. They are tattooed with long hair, beards and some are lacking teeth. The men earn the right to spend 6-7 hours each day making quilts from donated fabric that they give away. The men, who will admit that they wasted much of their lives or made bad choices, now have found a purpose.

Their fabric is donated, so they use what they have. Most of the quilts do not follow a traditional pattern. The majority quilts are “free form” or “improvisational”. Most of the quilts are not from the same “design line” Most traditional quilters would never combine the prints and colors used here. But the quilts speak. The random collection of butterfly prints is a message. The colors and piecing create motion.

The film shows a couple of foster children receiving their quilts. In just the few seconds of video, one can see how important the quilts are to children in a less than “Instagram” perfect homes.

In addition to seeing how important this project is to the children and to the inmates, I was reminded again of the importance of using up or donating fabric.

The EPA estimates that 11.3 million tons of textile waste is sent to landfills each year. The dyes and chemicals used to manufacture fabric are polluting our world, especially the water we use. Using donated or scrap fabric may not have much of an impact, but it is a start.

The Quilters at First are on a crusade to “use up” fabric. Because we have had so much good fabric donated to us-and we gladly take it- we challenged each quilter to make something for the Quilts Etc Sale solely from fabric in our stash. We are planning on a “Stash Gallery” at the sale. Here are some of the quilts/projects already finished that are 100% stash!

For a quilter who donates several projects to the Quilters at First for our sale, it makes so much sense financially to use “free” fabric. According to Jittery Wings Quilt Co.based in Newberry, South Carolina, the material cost of a 60″ x 72″ quilt is —-

Fabric for Top (7 yds x $12.95): $90

Fabric for Back (5 yds x $12.95): $65

Fabric for Binding (.5 yds x $12.95): $7

Batting: $35

Thread: $18

TOTAL MATERIALS: $208

This does not include the cost of machine quilting – approximately two cents per square inch for side to side. For that 60″ x 72″ quilt, the professional quilting cost would be approximately $86.

Quilters love quilting–so the 20-35 hours spent creating a quilt doesn’t even go into the formula. So that 60″ x 72″ quilt donated to the sale, cost the quilter approximately $290, not counting their time. I am afraid if we had to pay out of pocket for all the fabric, most of use could not contribute many quilts.

Not only does using donated or scrap fabric save money and keeps textile wastes out of the landfill, but quilters have a long history of using what is at hand, it is in our blood. Our pioneer mothers used worn out clothing and scraps from making garments to create masterpieces and/or quilts to keep their families warm.

One outstanding and well known example is the Quilters of Gees Bend, Alabama who have become famous worldwide for their “improvisational” quilts made from feed sacks, worn clothing and scraps from a Sears Roebuck homeware factory. The women from what is called the “black belt of the South” lived in poverty and were isolated. But it did not stop them from making quilts to keep their families warm and to express their creativity.

The quilts of Gees Bend are seen “as some of the most significant artistic contributions to American art history”. Click on this site to learn more and to see quilts that have been exhibited all over the world. https://www.soulsgrowndeep.org/gees-bend-quiltmakers.

Not all quilts made from scraps are “folk” pieces. Current quilters are championing “zero waste” quilting that are very contemporary.

Ideas for “zero waste” or scrap quilting are everywhere…I could waste hours scrolling Instagram and Pinterest for ideas. So if you are not ready to “do your thing” and improvise–adapt or copy one of the zillion ideas out there.

This is one of those weeks most of the Quilters at First were in the middle of projects. We only had a couple of new items.

Elaine finished her set of tea towels. This kitchen theme set is on muslin which is the best for drying dishes or covering a cooling rack of cookies. Each towel is $9 but if you buy all 5, the price is $40.

Judy finished her holiday table runner in traditional colors. The feathers machine quilted in the white setting points add a festive touch. The backing is the same dark red fabric as the border. It is 16 inches by 49 inches. $45

There is so much amazing fabric — some lovely, some interesting–but fabric is meant to be used! This web site offers some great ideas- https://www.allpeoplequilt.com/how-to-quilt/organization/where-to-donate-unwanted-fabric or contact me if you have fabric to donate!