Summer Fun - Workshops with Laura Wasilowski

 We thoroughly enjoyed two workshops with Laura Wasilowski on June 29 & 30, 2014 at Hankerd Inn in Pleasant Lake.  The workshops were "Tiny Houses" and "Garden of Eden".  We learned Laura's free style method of fusible applique and got to work with her amazing hand-dyed fabrics.  By the end of the afternoon, we had each earned a "degree" from the Chicago School of Fusing!

     This is Laura. (above)

These are examples of some of the flowers that we could make by cutting, layering, and fusing Laura's hand-dyed colorful fabric.

These are ways to "build" using bits and pieces of fused fabric.

Below see some example of "Garden of Eden" mini-quilts.

C

Janet, as usual, created something a little "outside the box" !

Below, Cheryl shows her version of "Tiny Houses".

More "Tiny House" scenes from our playing around!

Here are the Tiny House Architects with our Head Master Laura.

Meet Bella the Inn Dog with her master, Janet, our gracious Innkeeper and fellow quilter.

Laura Wasilowski was a fantastic teacher !!!

May 19, 2014 Whistle Stop Demonstration of Our Favorite Techniques and Gadgets

Connie demonstrated adding crayon to fabric to enhance designs. 

Joy demonstrated using gelli plate printing on fabric.

Julia gave us helpful hints for hand quilting.

Vikki demonstrated using a mitering tool.

Pat gave everyone great ideas for adding labels to our quilts.

Debbie told us how she brought her idea for an original quilt to life.

Cheryl demonstrated using the "wing clipper" tool.

Marti told us how to make and use yoyos to enhance our quilting designs.

                   Elizabeth demonstrated how to make half-square triangles - the easy way.

Winners From Our Pieces and Patches Quilt Guild "Everything's Coming Up Quilts" Quilt Show May 17-18, 2014

First Place Quilt "Primitive Garden" by Pat Abersold

        Second Place Quilt "William Morris"    by Karen Penrod 

 

Third Place Quilt "Double Wedding Ring" by Dimple Miller

Fourth Place Quilt "Orbital View" by Mary Lou Hallenbeck

Fifth Place Quilt "Cactus Rose" by Denise Olson

Honorable Mention Quilt "Triple Irish Chain" by Cheryl Watson 

Honorable Mention "Mocha Stars" by Jan Lentine 

Honorable Mention "Grandma's Bunnies" by  Ruth Royer



 

April 2014 ** Round Robin Presentation & Challenge Projects

 

This month we had various quilting groups share about their experiences doing "Round Robin" projects with their friends.    Round Robins are collaborative, but usually secret projects, made with each member of a group doing a portion of each other's quilts .  The owner sets the tone of the project in their selection of fabric and the style in which they begin their first block or row.  Many interesting, inspiring and creative projects were shown, as well as information about how round robins are organized.

 

 

CHALLENGE PROJECTS

Each year at our quilt guild, we have a guild challenge that member may participate in.  This year the challenge was called "Everything's Coming Up Color".  The challenge was to "warm up" the season with some color.  To participate you brought in a fat quarter to the February meeting.  Those fat quarters were placed in a bag where they were paired randomly with a crayon.  All the participants took home a bag  and the challenge was to create a wall hanging or quilted object that used most of the fabric and the color of the crayon needed to be dominate in the project as well.

Take a look below at some of the finished challenge entries.

Here are the winners of the challenge project in two different categories (by votes of the members).

 

The Primary Group

Anyone who hadn't won before and wants to "mix it up".

Jan Lentine             Janice Stitt        Anita Stevens

3rd place               2nd place             1st place

 

The Color Wheel

Someone who has been a winner before but can now use "more shades" in this challenge. 

Ruth Royer                MaryLou Hallenbeck    Janet Rochefort  

3rd place                 2nd place                 1st place        

 

March 2014 ** Trunk Show with Quilter John Putnam

Rescheduled from January 2014, Lansing's John Putnam presented a trunk show of his wonderfully done quilts.  His presentation had us laughing as well as being amazed at his creativity and craftsmanship. 

 

 

 

Crazy Quilting - Both Old and New

Guild member Marj Hobe coordinated a wonderful and informative program "All About Crazy Quilting" for our February 24, 2014 program.  We learned about the history of crazy quilts as well as contemporary crazy quilt projects.  Beautiful quilts were on display and also smaller projects done using the same techniques.  As Marj learned - more is always better when it comes to crazy quilt embellishments - which would be one reason why people rarely sleep under a "crazy quilt"!