The February meeting of the Blue Ridge Quilters was a happy crowd of sewers and quilters who were just glad to be out and and about, and happy that it wasn’t snowing ! There was an excellent business meeting with a lot of participation and here are pictures of the gathering taken by Historian Gisela O, who did a great job.

You might notice, as I did, that some of these folks got into a picture twice, some are panning, others posing, but all seem to be pretty much aware that a “smile” was called for. What a great group of quilters! Upon a casual glance-about, there are actually two missing and since one is a Hospitality Committee person and the other is the illustrious president, they can probably be found in the refreshment room setting out yummy Valentine flavored treats.

Looking forward to our March 8th meeting when the folks from Fork Mountain Quilting will be giving a ruler demonstration and they will also have some goodies for sale, too. Always a treat. Hope to see you there !!

The February meeting of the Blue Ridge Quilters was a happy crowd of sewers and quilters who were just glad to be out and happy that it wasn’t snowing ! There was an excellent business meeting with a lot of participation and then the program got underway.

The program consisted of folks who brought a favorite quilting book/magazine and perhaps a product they stitched from that book/magazine. There was quite a variety and it started off with Susan V showing a paper piecing book and a block she had made from that book (she brought the beautiful quilt to an earlier meeting). Then she also had a Lap Quilting book and a lovely quilt she had made. Next was Gisela O with Sampler Quilts magazine she had purchased soon after moving from Brazil to the United States. She also showed her loved Churn Dash quilt. Vera B was next with a notebook of favorite patterns, a log cabin table runner, and a quilt she had made with used clothing. David Y was up next with his mom’s book, Book of Best Loved Quilt Patterns and a large quilt he had made using the airplane pattern. Then came Janice T with her Double Wedding Ring book. She then showed a double wedding ring quilt made (and gifted ahead) by her grandmother. Janice also showed a double wedding ring quilt which she had made and was planning to gift ahead. And she told the story of her adventures in making her double wedding ring quilt. Loretta T showed a small book called Guess Who’s On My Quilt? And the quilt she had made with a dog on it from the book. Carolyn Z showed two books that she has used and really likes; The Border Workbook and a paper piecing book. Cathy H was next with a photo of her Jelly Stars quilt which she had made for a young man. She also showed two books, Cut the Scraps! and Scraps Plus One! Kathy W showed the printouts of 3 e-books that her son had printed out for her; one was White House Quilts and another was Centennial Quilts. She then showed a book, 1000 Blocks by Quiltmaker, and proceeded to bring out quilt blocks she had won by entering the 100 Blocks contests. It gives hope that perhaps it is actually possible to be a contest winner . . . not just once, either !! She won so many I had to make 2 collages!

The next item on the agenda was Show & Tell. First up with Carolyn Z showing two quilts made by members for Quilts of Valor. PS – don’t forget the upcoming Roanoke Quilts of Valor Stitchers meeting on Thursday the 17th at Vinton Baptist Church. If you are interested in becoming a part of the Quilts of Valor effort contact Carolyn at vaquiltercz@comcast.net for information about meetings. Prior to each meeting, Carolyn emails the members advising of the date/time and any special requirements for the meeting. The quilt on the left was made by Kitty Y and on the right by Loretta T, both using Funky Star blocks contributed by the QOV group at Lake Quilters.

The next up on Show & Tell was Ann W who showed a really beautiful quilt she named Maple Leaves. Cynthia L showed a quilt for her fourth son’s high school graduation (which was a few years ago); after graduation, he had relocated to Alaska for a time and purchased the fabrics for the quilt, which is just amazing. Cathy H showed a lovely quilt she had made which she calls Fresh Grapes because of the green and purple colors. Kitty Y finished up Show & Tell with a hand sewn Cathedral Windows quilt which is awe inspiring.

The next item on the Show & Tell agenda featured Dawn W who has been busy making pillow cases for Ryan’s Cases for Smiles, Scent Babies and incubator blankets. Good job, Dawn! Also, Janice T had made four Fidget Quilts and showed them. Each is very unique.

Then it was time for some Valentine flavored refreshments (thank you Barbara F and Carolyn L), a lot of chatter and gathering everything up, giving the community service projects to Kathy W for distribution, for Cathy H to fold up the two quilts (Blue Hills and Happy Valleys quilt, and Tall Pines quilt), a which will both be Opportunity Quilts at the March 5th National Quilt Day celebration at Colonial Baptist Church just off of Mountain Pass Road in Blue Ridge.

Hope to be seeing everyone at the National Quilt Day celebration on March 5th (have you turned in your pre-registration form and entry fee yet?).