Sister's Choice Quilts

My interests are quilting, reading, cooking, family, decorating, and matters of style. I post regular quilting tutorials and book reviews of current fiction.

Sewing With Friends

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Long post today, but stick with me, and look at all the pictures.  You’ll be glad you did!

I spent Wednesday doing one of my favorite things.  I went to my sewing group called "Banish the UFO’s", which has been meeting for years at a local quilt shop, under the tutelage of our Leader and Quilt Guru, Bev Stookey.  The group meets two Wednesdays and one Sunday a month, and we regulars have gotten to be very close and supportive friends over the years.  Today was no exception, we spent approximately 75% of our time together chit-chatting and 25% actually doing any productive sewing.  In other words, we had a ball.

Since I haven’t done anything particularly productive myself lately, I decided to post on the projects my friends are working on or have recently completed.  Enjoy!

The quilt above was done by my friend Connie, who is a very prolific and talented quilter.  Go back up and click on it to enlarge it.  Her quilt was done in shades of green, gold, and light orange.  The background fabric is not black, but the darkest green.  It is so fall like in feeling, and so beautifully executed.  She does all her own quilting too.  When she displayed it, she said firmly, "This one is MINE".  She gives so many of her fabulous quilts away, we all applauded her decision to keep this beauty for herself.  Seriously, this woman is amazing.  Last summer she and her dachshund Maggie took a trip across the United States, visiting quilt shops in every state.  She toted her Featherweight along with her, and at night she would stitch up things she had bought along the way!

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The quilt above is one my friend Barbara just got back from being quilted.  It may look like a sweet and simple baby quilt, but please click on the photo to enlarge it so you can see the gorgeous quilting custom done by our Guru Bev.  She plans to give it to some lucky mom-to-be in the next couple of weeks.

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This is another quilt of Barbara’s, a pattern called "Mrs. No-Name".  She made it at a quilt camp led by Guru Bev a year or so ago.  Cool block, isn’t it?  Bev also did the quilting on this one.

The next quilts are quilts in progress, so you can just get a glimpse of the blocks made so far.  The next three pictures are of blocks Joyce has made for a fabulous heirloom quality pieced and appliqued quilt that will take her decades to complete.

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The blocks pictured below were whipped up in no time flat by my friend Bette.  Bette has been sewing for years, and is just the most inspiring and fun person to know.  Whenever we get together, we jabber so much, it is a wonder we ever get any sewing done.  Wish you all could meet her, you’d love her too.  Bette’s project was a kit she bought, which is comprised of vaguely 4th of July fabrics done up in a Friendship block with kind of a woven thing going on.  I loved the design so much I asked her if I could borrow the pattern.  She looked at me sheepishly for a count of ten, then reached into her tote bag and handed over a pattern.  Not looking me directly in the eye, she said, "Umm, I accidentally bought two of these patterns, so this one’s yours".  Love it when that happens!  Usually it’s me handing over a duplicate purchase, so this was a nice reversal!

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Last, but certainly not least is my vastly talented sister Kate, whom you have met before in previous posts.  She is currently working on a quilt for her daughter Maddi, using the April Cornell Sunshine fabric group by Moda.  I think you will agree with me, that this is one of the most appealing designs using that fabric line.  Isn’t it sweet and summery?

Having quilting friends is one of the greatest joys of my life, and I hope you enjoyed seeing some of my talented friends’ work.  I wish you dear blogging friends could have all been with us.  You would have had a blast.

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40 responses to “Sewing With Friends”

  1. thank you for letting us have alook at the fab quilts they are all so nice .I love to get togther with my quilty friends to chat and sew as well. I hope you have a fab day .Beth

  2. thank you for letting us have alook at the fab quilts they are all so nice .I love to get togther with my quilty friends to chat and sew as well. I hope you have a fab day .Beth

  5. Nicole you and your friends are sutch tallented people I wish I could quilt like you all do the quilts are all FAB. have a nice week quilting.mary just saw on our news about the bridge disaster hope everyone you know are all right.

  6. Nicole you and your friends are sutch tallented people I wish I could quilt like you all do the quilts are all FAB. have a nice week quilting.mary just saw on our news about the bridge disaster hope everyone you know are all right.

  11. What fun– I feel like I’ve just toured a workshop. Such talented people. I’m always amazed at the vision other people have in creating their “masterpieces”. Not an ugly quilt in the bunch…

  12. What fun– I feel like I’ve just toured a workshop. Such talented people. I’m always amazed at the vision other people have in creating their “masterpieces”. Not an ugly quilt in the bunch…

  13. Those quilts are great! Thanks for sharing all the pictures. I’ve been looking for something to do with my Moda Sunshines, and I agree, that is a great use of them.

  14. Those quilts are great! Thanks for sharing all the pictures. I’ve been looking for something to do with my Moda Sunshines, and I agree, that is a great use of them.

  15. what a wonderful group idea! How does the shop conduct the meetings? Are they basically just come and sew time? I have considered doing the same thing at my shop, maybe creating “prizes” for folks who finish ufo’s through the group or something! Your group intrigues me!
    I love pictures!! And LOVE the top quilt’s design!

  16. what a wonderful group idea! How does the shop conduct the meetings? Are they basically just come and sew time? I have considered doing the same thing at my shop, maybe creating “prizes” for folks who finish ufo’s through the group or something! Your group intrigues me!
    I love pictures!! And LOVE the top quilt’s design!

  17. What a fun and inspirational group. All of those quilts are masterpieces. I think my favorite, though, is Kate’s. I love the traditional design with those fabrics. Just beautiful.

  18. What a fun and inspirational group. All of those quilts are masterpieces. I think my favorite, though, is Kate’s. I love the traditional design with those fabrics. Just beautiful.

  19. So fantastic you have a group of such creative, fun & fabulous friends to be, craft & share with…Super photos of excellent work all around! :o)

  20. So fantastic you have a group of such creative, fun & fabulous friends to be, craft & share with…Super photos of excellent work all around! :o)

  23. You are lucky to have such a great group of friends. Especially quilter firends. I have a bunch of friends from work and we meet two Thursdays a month after work which ends at 4:30 pm and we call ourselves the 4:31 club! We just spend the time getting caught up on projects and girl talk. Fun!

  24. You are lucky to have such a great group of friends. Especially quilter firends. I have a bunch of friends from work and we meet two Thursdays a month after work which ends at 4:30 pm and we call ourselves the 4:31 club! We just spend the time getting caught up on projects and girl talk. Fun!

  27. What a great name for a group, says it all “banish the UFO’s”. The quilt show is fantastic, such inspiration from this group.
    Thanks for showing them all.

  28. What a great name for a group, says it all “banish the UFO’s”. The quilt show is fantastic, such inspiration from this group.
    Thanks for showing them all.

  31. I don’t know what to say – each quilt and block is gorgeous! Thank you for taking us along to your sewing group – I feel refreshed and ready to go a-quilting!

  32. I don’t know what to say – each quilt and block is gorgeous! Thank you for taking us along to your sewing group – I feel refreshed and ready to go a-quilting!

  37. I loved seeing all these quilts and blocks. But where’s yours??? =) I’ve been known to buy the same pattern or book a couple of times. Or three. I know I really like it then. =)

  38. I loved seeing all these quilts and blocks. But where’s yours??? =) I’ve been known to buy the same pattern or book a couple of times. Or three. I know I really like it then. =)

  39. I loved seeing all these quilts and blocks. But where’s yours??? =) I’ve been known to buy the same pattern or book a couple of times. Or three. I know I really like it then. =)

  40. I loved seeing all these quilts and blocks. But where’s yours??? =) I’ve been known to buy the same pattern or book a couple of times. Or three. I know I really like it then. =)