We met in person at a new location last Tuesday evening. The meeting was well attended, all things considered, both in person and via Zoom. After a business meeting, it was time for Kathy Wickham to present the program, “Need a Quick Quilt or Gift? Panels to the Rescue.” And, boy, she had samples galore showing various ways to turn your “what am I going to do with this?” panel into something beautiful. Some were simply adding a border, either plain or dynamic, some panels were cut into smaller pieces and rearranged, some had sashing of one sort or another added, etc.
Bright panel with colorful borders 
Playful animals with 2 added borders (the first narrow border is part of the panel) 
Panel to be used as baby blanket 
Polar Bear panel with added beautifully pieced borders. Kathy says this one is hers! 
A panel soft book waiting for ideas 
This panel had been cut into pieces, each piece made into a separate block, then all added together and borders attached 
This panel could be used in many different ways. How would you choose? 
A panel had been cut into separate pieces and made into small wall hangings 
Clever teacher panel waiting to be re-born 
This bird panel is made to sew the blocks together to make one tree with many birds but why stop there? 
A panel re-born with blocks of complimentary fabrics making it seem like one scene 
What would you do with this happy Santa panel? 
Another small wall hanging from a larger panel 
Simply adding sashing and a narrow border made this panel stand out 
The wording “Grateful, Thankful, Blessed” needs no further embellishment 
Kathy Wickham summarizing her very interesting talk on Panels.
After the program it was time for Show and Tell. Carol Zaleski showed a Quilts of Valor quilt that she did not make, and a quilt presentation case made from a “less than perfect” USA flag star field. Janice Taylor (who announced that November 20th will be her 50th wedding anniversary) showed some mini quilts and several grandkids outfits she had made. These included lab coats and scrubs, reflective construction-type vests, a red shirt she had cut horizontally and added reflective bias tape stripes, and a chef’s hat on which she had embroidered the child’s name. Cathy Henderson showed a rather unique quilt she had made and quilted using the pounce technique (see last month’s program write-up). Kitty Yates showed three quilts she had made. A photo was not taken of the first, but can be seen over the back of the chair; it was what I will call a very nice woven look quilt, then a beautiful One Block Wonder quilt in navy and pink, and a sweet quilt for her grandson. Loretta Twiford also showed her Walk On The Wild Side quilt made with animal skin prints and made with all half square triangles.
Cathy Henderson quilted this beauty using her pounce technique (see last month’s wirite-up) 
Carolyn Zaleski showing a Quilts of Valor quilt she did not make but will be awarded locally 
She is holding a quilt presentation bag made from slightly imperfect flag fabric 
Janice Taylor with some small quilted items 
Janice Taylor made these construction type vests for her grandchildren 
Janice also made a set of Lab Coat and Scrubs for a grandchild 
Oh, yes, there two grandchildren and so each gets a set of Lab Coat and scrubs 
Janice took a red shirt, made cuts in it and added reflective bias tape 
Janice does embroidery and she took a chef’s hat and embroidered a child’s name on it. 
Kitty Yates showed this beautiful navy and pink One Block Wonder quilt. 
And the back 
Kitty also showed this pretty quilt. The one on the back of the chair in the foregound is also Kitty’s but somehow did not get pictured. Good job, Kitty. 
Loretta Twiford showed her Walk On The Wild Side made up of all half square triangles using 4 charm packs of animal skin type fabrics and 4 charm packs of bone background fabric. 
And turn around for the benefit of those on the Zoom screen.
Then the meeting broke up, with word that next month’s Social will also be held in that same location. We are to bring finger food snacks. Rather than a fabric exchange this year, please make and bring as many youth-centered pillowcases in the Ryan’s Case For Smiles burrito style with french seams as you would like. Following is a link to the YouTube page featuring videos making this style pillowcase. You may have to copy it and paste into your browser.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ryan%27s+case+for+smiles+pillowcase+pattern
Remember the Roanoke Quilts of Valor Stitchers will meet on Thursday, November 18th at The Glebe, 10am to 2pm. Bring your sewing gear and a bag lunch. When you come in the main door, you can ask at the Desk where the meeting is being held.
Blue Ridge Quilters 