END OF YEAR UPDATE

Hi everyone

This will probalby be my last blog update for 2008. Make sure you check the archives for old postings.

Well we had our first ever Faith Quilters Christmas dinner this past week. Everyone was in attendance including Elaine who cooks for us occasionally, Shannon (Bo's wife and my daughter), Anne who helps me with my fabric sometimes and Joed, Vickie's soon to be worse half (just kidding - we love him). This gave us a chance to sit and fellowship and enjoy each other's company. I think we had a delighful evening and can't imagine anyone went home hungry.

I eagerly await to see what Faith Quilters accomplishes for 2009. We have 2 comfort quilts in the closet ready to go and I am looking forward to many more. We are planning these to be dontated to the Senior Orphan program in Polk County for Christmas 2009.

Be blessed and I wish you all a Happy New Year and a blessed life.

Vickie's November Quilt

Here is Vickie's latest. She and Amy have been busy working on tablecloths and toppers for Amy's baby shower. They designed this quilt to decorate the table for Amy's shower. Shows how lovely just simplicity can be.

Bo - November

Here is Bo's November quilt. He's used a pattern called Turning Twenty. As always his selection of colors for this pattern look very nice. Gives the quilt a nice masculine look.

Kathy's November Quilts

Here are 2 new quilts from Kathy. The first is a comfort quilt she's been working on using a pattern called Scrappy Round the World. As you can see she picked a nice selection of colors so everything is bold and bright.

Her second is one is a braid with small grout lines between the rows. Vickie began one of these a few months back for a charity quilt and I think we liked it so well we're all planning one. Again as you can see Kathy's bold colors just really liven it up and give it that cheerful look.

November Thoughts

Well ladies and gentleman I want to issue you a challenge. As time goes by all quilters collect what becomes known as the infamous "scrap basket". I have one that has now gone from a little basket to a laundy basket. It could be larger but I draw the line on what size scraps I keep. If I cannot get at least 2.5 x 6 inches I discard. Wasteful - yes but my decision nonetheless.

You have all been with me 1 year now so I know you have those scraps stored away. I have committed to finishing 1 scrap quilt by the end of the year and in fact have already chosen the pattern. My challenge to Vickie, Kathy, Bo and Amy - finish 2 scrap quilts by the end of 2009. Make these ones you committ to work on in your free time or even time you would otherwise use for charity or volunteer work. Does 2 soud like a lot? I've committed to 6 in 2009.

This isn't mandatory - just a challenge. I know that I feel the urge often to do more volunteer work than I do now so look at this as your volunteer work as I would ask that you each donate the finished scrap quilts to the Senior Orphan program in December 2009. No need to spend money on fabrics - get those scraps and get using them. I know my basket will be much lighter this time next month. I'm already planning.

Be blessed, have great Thanksgiving and rember to pray for a solider so serves so that we may celebrate holidays as we choose and to give God thanks for the bounty we have.

October Comfort Quilts

Here are our last 2 comfort quilts I've been promising to post. The one on the left was started by Amy. She decided she didn't like the package look so donated it to the cause. I adopted it and added 2 borders that complimented her boxes and I think it came out quite nice especially with the 2 different quilting stitches.

The one on the right was a partial top someone donated to me. So I added a border that matched as close as I could get and it looks nice also. Both are quilted and in the closet ready for donation.

I also quilted a top for Kathy to be used as a comfort quilt so I'll add that photo once she's done.

UFO DAY - 9/20/08

Well we had our first ever Faithquilters - UFO day. I think it was exciting to see what all everyone had to work on.

We worked most of the day taking a break for lunch. We had lunch at Olive Garden to celebrate Kathy and Jean's birthday. Jean is another quilter that will be joining us on our monthly meetings rather than weekly. Amy and Vickie were able to get the quilts finished for Amy's co-workers children. Kathy and Jean worked on quilts in progress and I was able to quilt one of Kathy's tops and I actually finished to quilts in which were partially done. Both will go in the comfort quilt pile. Here are picture of the kids Vickie & Amy finished. Mine I'll post later and Kathy's when it's finished.