Last GT 2014 Meeting

Thursday evening, October 23, is our wrap up GT meeting for 2014. We will be making our plans for next year. The  Self Portrait Challenge is due, time is almost up. If you have not started yours yet....GET CRACKIN'!

Be sure to bring your challenge, basket technique, and show 'n tell.

See you at the Bernina shop,

Denise

Recap of September meeting

Fantastic September meeting of GreatFul Threads. Thanks to all who attended, the tables were full with current members and  visitors, Jane Indyke and Susan Asendorf, who we hope will come back. It was especially good to have Brenda Cregger back with us. We have missed her fearless, hold no embellishment back, just do it approach to art quilting!  Sandi also returned after a whirlwind year of AQS  and  Chattanooga Visitor Bureau business. The group expressed appreciation for her hard work, dedication to quilting and the city of Chattanooga.  Sandi wants everyone to know that deadline entry for 2015 AQS Chattanooga  is May 1. Get online to read  categories and size requirements. Karen Sperry’s quilt was videoed by AQS to be used in advertisement for the Albuquerque, New Mexico show. You just never know what good things will happen when you enter a show!

Jackie Cory is the new coordinator for the Heritage Quilt Trail. This is the organization that puts those lovely, painted quilt blocks on the side of small businesses, non-profit agencies and family farms. If you or someone you know might be interested, send her an email for more info.

Congrats to all our members and friends who had quilts in the show and hanging in the many venues around Chattanooga. What a thrill it was to see your work hanging in a new environment being oohed and aahed  by admirers who might never have seen it otherwise. 

There is a new business open in Ooltewah next to Chattanooga Quilts called Tinker Fairy Cottage. It is a vendor booth store similar to the E. Brainerd Merchants Warehouse. Be sure to check these stores out, you will appreciate the hand made merchandise.

Some of our members have rented booths.

October is the due date for our 2014 challenge, “Self Portrait”. It’s not too late to begin and finish. Rules are as follows:

1.50% must be pieced or appliquéd

2. sleeve on back

3. size 11” X 14”

4. can be interpretive, real or abstract

Karen Dewhirst, Science Manager from Childrens Discovery Museum came to inform us about the new “Make It Room”. Five new sewing machines plus a die cut machine have been purchased. They need volunteers to work one on one with a child at each machine. They also need fabric scraps and clean items that can be recycled into craft projects. Karen is looking for simple sewing project ideas that will be good for both boys and girls.

We have had such a good relationship with CDM this year, I would like it to continue  and make the museum our community outreach project. Each of us would like to see our craft continue into the next generation and this is an ideal outlet to accomplish that goal.

I would like everyone to come up with one simple sewing project and get it to me within 2 weeks. I will forward those to Karen. She needs to have her budget projections  for 2015 and will need to estimate cost of supplies. Get me that one idea on or before  October 13 and I will forward those to her.  Next I would like everyone to start saving your fabric scraps, notions, empty spools, buttons, 2 liter bottles, pine cones, seed pods, bottle caps, anything you look at and think…hmm, you could do something fun with this.

The official “Make It Day” program is scheduled for Saturday, February 14, 2015. Put that day on your calendar, and let’s spend Valentines’ Day doing something we love, sewing!  Once Karen gets our simple project recommendations we can work with her on setting a schedule for days we can  be there to volunteer throughout the year.

If the museum agrees, I would like us to make another quilt with the children that can be hung during AQS 2015. Be thinking about a simple block the children can make (maybe one using the die cut machine) We will need to schedule those workdays into the calendar also.

October is our last GT meeting for 2014. At that meeting we will finalize our 2015 program, challenge, officers, retreat, meeting location and time.

Denise

Linda Smith's circle floor covering

Jackie Cory used crayons to make the pear design

Linda's crazy quilt Christmas tree

Kim Callaway and her work from an AQS class

Those are Miriam Duncan's hands behind this beautiful paper piecing

Miriam, that really pops!

The pic does not do it justice, it was beautiful and the butterflies were so well made.

Miriam's compilation of techniques she drew from the basket this year

Fabric folding

It was a long drive from Dayton, thanks Jane Indyke for making the trip.
1 of 9 art quilts mounted on wood in a nine patch square.

Sandi Suggs and her Ruched pillow. 

Lovely on the sofa for Fall

Welcome back to GT Brenda. 1 of 3 aquarium quilts

Great use of Michael Miller MQG challenge fabric

Beautiful job on the jellies

Detail of thread play on Brenda's Aquarium otter quilt

Denise painted with Rit Dye using a glue resist to keep it from spreading

GreatFul Threads meet September 25

Art Quilters,

I hope you have had time to catch your breath after our world wind week of AQS. Can't wait to hear what your favorite quilt was. Mine was a SAQA quilt titled "Theatre" by Izabella Baykova from Saint Petersburg, Russia. It depicted opera viewers, each box seat had the most amazing characters. The hand work was absolutely phenomenal and it was made with designer fabrics. One of the most wonderful aspects of a quilt show is finding an artist and/or workmanship that inspires you to achieve greater quality in your own skills. That quilt was just stunning to me. If you would like to share your favorite with me, please do.

Next week, on Thursday evening the 25th, is our GreatFul Threads meeting for the month of September. Can you believe  we only have one two meetings left in 2014?  We need to begin planning for 2015. Vista has been inspired with a great program idea and thanks to AQS, I have a challenge idea. Before our meeting give programs and our yearly challenge  some thought. Come to the meeting with your ideas, we will throw them all out for discussion.

Do not forget to bring your current works of art for show 'n tell along with your basket technique. It's not too late to get started on it, if you have not already. I started mine this afternoon!

Looking forward to our meeting,

Denise

CDM reception

What fun we had on Thursday evening at the Creative Discovery Museum celebrating the children, their quilts and ours. The doors were open wide, as it was Free Family Night, children were everywhere and having fun as they always do at CDM. They were learning through play and munching on reception goodies. The walls in the open area were covered in our bright art quilts that appeal to both children and adults.

I would like to thank each of our members for their fabric, time and energy on this project. You were so very gracious and eager to take part in this, our first, community project. Next I would like to thank Liza Blair and the CDM for being so open minded to our ideas. You were a joy to work with and we thank you for the opportunity.  I would like to thank  Sandi Suggs for pairing GreatFul Threads with  CDM. Only Sandi would have known what a good pair the two organizations would make. Last but not least, thanks  to Maddie Kertay and Spool for providing the batting for the children's quilts.

What an amazing week this was for quilters and the city of Chattanooga. How lucky we are to live in a city that embraces our passion. As good as this is, I have a feeling it's only going to get better.  I hope you look forward to the future as much as I do.

Denise

Reception tonight at Children's Discovery Museum

Please do not forget the reception tonight from 6:00 to 7:30 at the Children's Discovery Museum. It is being given in our honor for the work GreatFul Threads did making the two quilts with the children. If you donated fabric, cut fabric, worked with the children, took blocks home, stitched, quilted, this is for you. Even if you did none of that, come and see the quilts displayed!  You can park in the CDM lot or street park for free after 4:30 p.m. downtown.

Bring a camera,

Denise

August 2014 Meeting

Jackie's fancy tie skirt, how artistic

A bell pull size future wall hanging

Modern Baby Quilt

Squedge, 15 degree ruller fun

Jackie's monthly technique, this month rusted owls

Miriam's foiling, she painted the red foil on the barn. Way to go Miriam

Vista's applique technique. Once a teacher, always a teacher!

Shashiko- Japanese Country Quilting

Miriam

Marion Burris and Denise

Flower Power

Modern example of asymmetry

Modern example of asymmetry

Re-cap of August meeting