Our May meeting featured two of our own sharing their expertise with the group. Joan Dyer shared an original technique she calls 'streaming' while Jane Haworth taught us three ways to incorporate lettering in a quilt. All that, plus a new member share and Show and Tell. What a great day for quilters!

Our Presenters

Joan Dyer shared with us a technique she developed a few quilts ago -- she calls it 'streaming,' though it reminds me of string theory.

Joan begins by drawing her outer borders, then connecting the curves with straight lines spaced equidistant (or not!) apart. Once she has an idea of the design she wants to create, she stitches the borders on the quilt.

and then she hand sews the straight lines using perle cotton.    

Jane Haworth, our next presenter, has used lettering in her quilts in a variety of ways using a variety of methods.

Jane demonstrated the use of the Silhouette Cameo lettering machine she uses to print letters onto fabric.  

Jane also clued us in to the website Spoonflower she uses to create her own fabrics.  Shown here is a fabric she designed by placing stamps on a scanner.  Imagine the possibilities!

As a bonus, Jane shared a tote bag she created by stitching together recycled plastic bags.  Fun!

New Member

Our newest member, Shelly Fried, shared a quilt she made in a Melinda Bula class.  Shelly used Steam a Seam to create this colorful landscape from a treasured photo.

She also shared her quilt, "Sunset Squared."  Some of the squares in the quilt were pieced in while others were attached later in the process.

Show and Tell

Show and Tell this month was quite varied.  This quilt by Jackie Manley is entitled "Time is Messy."  The background is an out of sequence calendar and something that resembles a clock with backwards numbers.  Time, according to Jackie, is unpredictable.  It moves both backwards and forwards.  The numbers on the quilt background were stenciled on tulle so that they would be low contrast.  Jackie used a combination of piecing and appliqué. 

This quilt entitled "Isolated and Transparent" is based on Sig Simonds observations of people as they grow older and become more isolated (like houses with bars).  Older people become almost transparent, people hardly see them, a concept Sig suggested by the transparency of the fabrics and by letting the seams show.

Maria Billings was just back from nine weeks in Rome, but Maria had gone to Italy prepared.  She made her quilt sandwiches before she left home, then painted the scenes she saw outside her hotel window.  When she got home, Maria stapled the completed quilts onto stretcher frames.

These two quilts evolved when Maria asked herself the question, "What colors do seagulls see?"  

Mary Serpa created this quilt for the Pine Tree quilt challenge "Women: The Good, Bad and Beautiful."  The memorabilia Mary found from her mother's life took her on a unexpected journey, and she learned a lot about the person her mother had been.

Karle deProsse drew little wood bugs which she silk screened onto fabric, calling the fabric 'Swarming."   This baby gown was a gift for a friend and a bit of a joke.

Robin Hart's journal cover was created using a space background and a 'beaded' lizard.  She had it printed out at Real Graphic before thread painting the cover.  Robin was very happy with the printing results and recommends the company to others.

Trish Morris Plise brought a sewing envelope she created using Sue Spargo's pattern for a Firefly Needle Envelope.  Contrary to the name, this handy book holds a lot more than needles!

Lynda Lasich shared a tabard she made using a Heidi Emmett pattern and Elin Noble fabric.  The tabard features hand dyed lace . . . 

and a lining of embroidered fabric.