Friday, June 30, 2017

Fall Quilt Camp


This is the Fall Quilt Camp Opportunity Quilt.  You can buy tickets for a chance to win this beauty which was pieced by Ruth P and assisted by Lora R. and quilted by Penny. 
Colleen will begin collecting the ten dollar quilt spot reservation fee in July for the fall dates of October 19th to the 22nd (assuming we get the extra day on Thursday) and a fun time is always guaranteed. 
In addition to sewing and gabbing all we want, someone else does almost all the cooking and cleaning up and we can stroll the grounds or hike the mountain too.  Camp is a bit rustic but the food and company are good!  Emmanuel Pines is in Prescott.   
One of our favorite parts of the weekend is on Sunday morning...we hang all of our projects and quilts out and take pictures.  It is always so much fun to see all of the competed work that everyone has worked on all weekend (or all year and just finished at camp)!Cam

Wednesday, June 21, 2017

Last Night's Meeting Fun!

 Here are some of the many charity quilts shared at last night's meeting.  A special thank you went out to Gudrun for having a hand in making over 45 quilts this year and to Leslie for making over 100 bags!  Great job ladies!  A few other folks got prizes from the drawing for their participation as well.  Penny announced that over fifty percent of the members are participating in our charity work one way or another.  Join in, it is fun!
Our president Debbie also passed her presidency and gavel to her sister Crystal who is our new president.  Out thanks go out to Debbie for a job well done.  We do appreciate all of your hard work this year to make our guild what it is!  Debbie reminded us that "it takes all of us" to make this guild work so thanks to all of you have helped in anyway this past fiscal year!  If anyone wants to step up to be our new vice president, Crystal is in need of one--let us know!
Our ice cream social could not have been on a better hot Arizona night!  There was every kind of ice cream including gluten free!  Lots of toppings and we managed to eat it before it melted.  Thank you to everyone who brought stuff and for those who scooped too!


 For our meeting we shared the oldest quilts we had or ones we had a hand in.  Here are some of the more antique ones we saw. 

Remember our next date falls on the fourth of July so NO MEETING on the holiday.  See you July 18th for Jackie Kunkel's "Splash of Color" trunk show.  Bring your ten dollars if you want to reserve your fall spot for quilt camp with Colleen.



Sunday, June 18, 2017

Beat the Heat with Our Ice Cream Social!


Our meeting this Tuesday has us trying to beat the heat with an ice cream social!  This is our last meeting for the fiscal year and Debbi says we are going to PARTY!!!!!
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The ice cream is being provided and everyone is encouraged to bring their favorite topping. We are hoping everyone will be willing to share and then take home any leftovers.

To at least make it quilt themed, for show and tell you are welcome to bring finished projects and the oldest quilt in your collection. This could be something you did or something you were given or something you bought. Let’s see how far our hobby has come.

Membership – this will be the last meeting where existing members can sign up for the next year membership for 25.00 for AQG and 20.00 for Nimble Thimbles. 

Reminders:
NO Meeting on 7/4due to the holiday we will not be meeting.
Meeting on 7/18 will be Jackie Kunkel - https://cvquiltworks.com/
Meeting on 8/1 is PUPS-Poor Unfinished Project.  Bring the one you got done and bring 3 more to present for the challenge

Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Charity Shout Out!

Penny, our Outreach Coordinator, announced at our last meeting that to date the Nimble Thimbles guild has delivered 142 quilts to those in need!  36 have gone to vets, 67 to the Red Cross (along with 69 bags) and 39 have gone to the Pregnancy Care Center.  In addition, at our last charity sew in, fifty people came to work on quilts! 








 I was inspired to pick up a kit to whip up to add to these numbers.  Thank you to all those who do this charity work faithfully and to anyone just getting started on it too!  Thanks too to Judy and Penny for organizing and sharing all these quilts with us this past year--we could not do it without you guys!


Saturday, June 10, 2017

Row by Row--On the Go!

At our last meeting Debbie reminded us about the Row by Row which is just getting going around the country--June 21 through Labor Day.  Many shops participate giving out free patterns (and you can buy a kit).  The theme this year is "on the go."  The fastest quilter to get a quilt done and return to a store whose pattern is in /his quilt can win fat quarters (if I heard right!).  There is even a row by row junior experience if your children or grandchildren (ages 6 to 14) want to get involved.  If you want more info click above or if you want to see who is participating and what the rows look like for each store click here!
If you have made one in the past or do one this year, please email me a picture so we can share it on the blog!


Thursday, June 8, 2017

Member Spotlight--Berta!


Member Spotlight–Berta Knapp


I’m a retired physical therapist and a senior citizen. (still south of seventy).  I live with my husband of 43 years in Gilbert.  We have two sons, one granddaughter, and two grandsons.


Q:  When did you start quilting?



A:  About 17 years ago.  I sewed my own clothes through high school and college, but when polyester went out, so did my home made garments.  Anyway, we went back to the Midwest on vacation, and friends that we visited were quilters.  (very accomplished ones)  Three different ones during the one trip.  I was amazed, and quickly hooked.  I think that the unbelievable fabric colors and patterns that were so different from my grandmother’s quilting days grabbed me too.  





Q:  What would you tell a newbie that you wish you had known when you started?



A:  So many things.  I guess I would say to get a brightly colored reference book that might answer just about any questions you might have.  I learned the most from a Beginner book by Alex Anderson.  I recommended it often, and of course, gave mine away.  But get some fabric, and just go for it.  You learn as much by screwing up and seeing what you did wrong, (and perhaps more) than by being a perfectionist.  Take a look at the back in any quilt book that you find.  See if the instructions regarding layout, rotary cutting, sandwiching, and binding, make some sense to you.  The pull out pages in quilt magazines are often really good instruction manuals too. 



Q:  What kind of a quilter are you?



A:  I think I’d call myself traditional.  But I like primary colors and bright fabric.  I often buy multiple pieces from the same fabric line, just to keep things “safe”.  But I don’t mind kicking things up too.  I seem to be drawn to buying border prints.  Then can’t quite figure out how to use them.  ???



Q:  What’s your favorite sewing/quilting tip?



A:  Organize your stuff.  And have a cleaning PLAN.  I clean up my space COMPLETELY every time I complete a project.  (clean machine, wipe tops of tables, vacuum etc.)  All my tools, patterns, thread, etc. have a “home”, even if they don’t get to rest there very often.  I don’t bother putting everything away, and cleaning in the middle of my work, unless I’m expecting VIP folks or something.  (Sometimes, I clean everything up just because I have a project that needs to go into “time out” for awhile).  I’m not completely OCD, but need a sense of completion.  Believe me, I never have all my projects done.   



Q:  Do you have a favorite quilt block, pattern or designer?



A: I like Marti Michel's cutting techniques.  I love Jenny Beyer fabrics and have used them.  I like her patterns, although I haven’t completed any of them.  I can’t see myself totally doing things by hand.




Q:  Do you have a favorite notion or tool you can’t quilt without?



A:  I’m a tool junkie.  But I received a 6” X 12” QUILTER’S SELECT ruler from a friend recently.  I use it constantly. 






Q:  Do you quilt your own quilts?



A:  I do.  On a home machine.  I have two machines, a Brother 1500S and a Janome 9800 that have extra throat space.  I enjoy it, but at times think I’m more than a bit crazy, because those quilts get heavy!!




Q:  What’s your favorite part of the quilting process?



A:  The final trimming before the binding.  Ahhhhhh.  I don’t know.  I really enjoy the process.  The design, the progression, the choices that have to be made for sashing and borders, deciding what quilting patterns will enhance it, and watching the it EMERGE.



Q:  What part of the quilting process do you dislike or struggle with?



A:  I HATE the sandwiching part!!!!!  But my husband is willing to do it for me.  YAY.  





Q:  Do you design your own quilts?



A: I use elements and patterns from other folks, but put my own twists in it.  I don’t think I can really call myself a designer.   



Q:  What inspires you to create?



A:  Bright colors.  Florals.  Contrasts.  Bling.  I don’t know.  I swear the fabrics say, “pick me”.



Q:  Do you do any other crafts? Which ones?



A:I play the piano and the organ.  Does that count?  I also make sequined Christmas stockings from time to time.  I know how to knit and crochet, but both of those really hurt my hands.



Q:  How many quilts have you made?



A: I would guess more than a hundred.  Wish I had kept a journal.  I’m sure I made at least 20 quilts from Andover’s the Very Hungry Caterpillar fabric line.  





Q:  What are you working on now?
A:  Three baby quilts, a set of 4 Celtic Knot applique wall hangings, and I need to start on one more wall hanging to go in our bedroom.  (new quilt for the bed.)



Q:  What do you wish you knew how to do (quilt related) and hope to learn?
A:  My applique skills are bad.  I’d like to improve. I like learning more about stitching with Westalee rulers.   Fun stuff.





Q:  Do you have quilt related business that you want to share with us?

A:  Nope. Quilting is for fun.


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If you too want to be a member spotlight, please copy and paste these questions and answers to me along with some pictures!  It is SEW much fun getting to know you!
Member Spotlight–
Info about you:

Q:  When did you start quilting?
A:  

Q:  What would you tell a newbie that you wish you had known when you started?
A:  

Q:  What kind of a quilter are you?
A:  

Q:  What’s your favorite sewing/quilting tip?
A:  

Q:  Do you have a favorite quilt block, pattern or designer?
A: 

Q:  Do you have a favorite notion or tool you can’t quilt without?
A:  

Q:  Do you quilt your own quilts?
A:  

Q:  What’s your favorite part of the quilting process?
A:  

Q:  What part of the quilting process do you dislike or struggle with?
A:  

Q:  Do you design your own quilts?
A:  

Q:  What inspires you to create?
A:  

Q:  Do you do any other crafts? Which ones?
A:

Q:  How many quilts have you made?
A:  

Q:  What are you working on now?
A:  

Q:  What do you wish you knew how to do (quilt related) and hope to learn?
A:  

Q:  Do you have quilt related business that you want to share with us?
A:  

Tuesday, June 6, 2017

Organization for Quilters

A few months ago Barb, who is one of our members, shared a website with me that has helped me to organize my quilting life better so I wanted to share that with you too.
Taryn over at "from Pixels to Patchwork" blog has created "project at a glance" sheets and individual "project sheets" to help us get organized.

These sheets are free and downloadable (go to her page to download and print) and have helped me knock twenty UFO's off my list since January 1st!  I did not even realize how many WIPs I had until I had to write them all out.  I love that there is a box to check off each stage of the project (purchased materials, material cut, blocks pieced, quilt top pieced, back pieced, basted, quilted and bound) so each little bit makes me feel accomplished.  I am a list person. 
Do you have an organization system that helps you get your projects done?  Feel free to comment about it and share with us!  Thanks Barb for helping us get organized!

Sunday, June 4, 2017

Member Spotlight


I would love to start blogging some member spotlights so we can get to know each other better.  I will start with me for an example.  If you are interested in being featured, please cut and paste, then answer questions below and email them to me at nimblethimbles@gmail.com as soon as you can along with at least one picture of you and at least one picture of a quilt or your sewing area, family, etc. whatever you want to share.



Member Spotlight–Angela (or Andee)

Talkin' Turkey
I live in Chandler with my partner, five dogs and two cats.  I am a sign language instructor and interpreter.  I love books, reading, hiking and sewing!  I have three grown children--Coleman, Hannah and Mackenzie.  I am crossing my fingers for grandchildren in the next few years.


Mac with Scrappy Mountain Majesties, Hannah with My Blue Heaven in purple, and Coleman with Moth in the Window. 



Q:  When did you start quilting?

A:  I learned to sew when I was twenty and made a few quilts (sans rotary cutter and mat) then but since I didn’t know what I was doing, I used cheap thread and they fell apart quickly (I had been sewing crafts and had no idea!) so I didn’t sew another quilt for many years.  Then in 2003 or so I decided to make a baby quilt for my good friend’s first grandchild.  That quilt (a spider web) got me hooked and I have been quilting ever since!  This is also when I found Bonnie Hunter--searching for Spider Web examples.



Q:  What would you tell a newbie that you wish you had known when you started?

A:  HA!  Don’t use cheap thread!



Q:  What kind of a quilter are you?

A:  I started out sewing with a line of fabric where everything was matchy matchy most of the time.  I bought fabric for each pattern and did not have a stash.  I didn’t really like scrappy quilts.  Over time (mostly reading the Quiltville blog) my tastes changed!  I suddenly was inspired.  I reorganized my fabrics into Bonnie’s scrap system and found the joy of scrap quilting! I also love modern quilts, antique quilts and civil war fabrics.  I am not sure what category I would fit into.  I also quilt by check for the most part.



Q:  What’s your favorite sewing/quilting tip?

A:  You can do anything step by step.  I would never have attempted some of the quilts I have made if I had known how complicated that would be (I love mystery quilts) and now that I have done several complicated quilts one step at a time, I know any quilt can be done.



Q:  Do you have a favorite quilt block, pattern or designer?

A:  I am Bonnie Hunter's #1 fan (along with many other folks) and I love most anything she designs. 



Q:  Do you have a favorite notion or tool you can’t quilt without?

A:  My ruler that helps me set my needle for the perfect quarter inch no matter what machine I am on.



Q:  Do you quilt your own quilts?

A:  I do straight stitch quilt or tie some of the baby quilts or smaller quilts, I don’t really enjoy that part of the process so I mostly quilt by check.  My friends Ros Atwood and Barb Barrow quilt most of my quilts and they always look so much better than I expect!



Q:  What’s your favorite part of the quilting process?

A:   Picking up the quilt.  I love the piecing.



Q:  What part of the quilting process do you dislike or struggle with?

A:   Not crazy for binding but love seeing a project through to completion.  I have always said I have very few UFO’s because I am a finisher--however this year I was challenged to list out what UFO's I do have and realized there were far more than I expected.  I have been spending a lot of time this year seeing those to completion.  I have had several people gift me their UFO's and so those are seeing completion too!



Q:  Do you design your own quilts?

A:  My answer used to be No!  I always say I am a pattern follower.  I sometimes have an idea but just don’t have that creative mind to turn it into anything.  I am so thankful so many folks are talented beyond belief so I will always have lots of great patterns to choose from.  Recently I decided to try to do a modern quilt medallion--making up the rows as I go.  I have been stuck on this awhile but it got me out of my box.  I also took a class inspired by two gals at quilt camp to make my own cactus landscape quilt.  I am still at the beginning stages of that.



Q:  What inspires you to create?

A:  I have a hard time doing “nothing” so I keep pretty busy and I think that drives me to sew.



Q:  Do you do any other crafts? Which ones?

A:  I used to do counted cross stitch, I went through a basket weaving phase and a stamping phase, I made scrapbooks for each of my kids upon their high school graduations (I DO NOT recommend waiting til senior year!).  I also crochet some and love to knit.



Q:  How many quilts have you made?

A:  Around 300.



Q:  What are you working on now?
A:  Straits of Mackinac Rainbow BOM, Pat Sloan's Children's Library BOM, a UFO randomly drawn from All People Quilt each month, binding En Provence and finishing up UFO's!



Q:  What do you wish you knew how to do (quilt related) and hope to learn?
A:  I want to learn just about anything and everything.


Q:  Do you have quilt related business that you want to share with us?
A:  Nope but I do blog at The Modern Diary if you want to visit me there.
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Here is the cut and paste part if you want to do one too!


Member Spotlight–
Info about you:

Q:  When did you start quilting?

A:  



Q:  What would you tell a newbie that you wish you had known when you started?

A:  



Q:  What kind of a quilter are you?

A:  



Q:  What’s your favorite sewing/quilting tip?

A:  



Q:  Do you have a favorite quilt block, pattern or designer?

A: 



Q:  Do you have a favorite notion or tool you can’t quilt without?

A:  


Q:  Do you quilt your own quilts?

A:  



Q:  What’s your favorite part of the quilting process?

A:  



Q:  What part of the quilting process do you dislike or struggle with?

A:  



Q:  Do you design your own quilts?

A:  



Q:  What inspires you to create?

A:  



Q:  Do you do any other crafts? Which ones?

A:



Q:  How many quilts have you made?

A:  



Q:  What are you working on now?
A:  



Q:  What do you wish you knew how to do (quilt related) and hope to learn?
A:  


Q:  Do you have quilt related business that you want to share with us?
A: