The Design Wall

Photos from Barbi McPhee's Trunk Show - April 5, 2010

Thanks so much to Karen Ashley for taking the photos below and sending them for posting on the blog.

    

Photos from Tony Munoz Program - March 1, 2010

Many thanks to Karen Ashley for kindly taking and forwarding the photos below.

 

   
 

Highlights from Barbara Engler's Trunk Show

Pieces 'N Patches was so lucky to have its own Barbara Engler present her beautiful trunk show on February 15.  Barbara is a native of Benton County and she has been quilting for 23 years.  She took her first quilt class at Patchwork Emporium and has since won many ribbons and awards for her quilting.  Barbara treated us to a look at quilts that were made by her grandmothers and a great-grandmother, as well as many quilts that she herself has made.  In addition, she brought along several wonderful quilts that she has collected over the years.  Here's a look at many of the treasures she shared with us (remember to click on any image to enlarge it)...

This pink and green quilt was made by Barbara's maternal grandmother and was on Barbara's bed when she was a child:

 

Her maternal great-grandmother made this log cabin quilt and it was the first quilt Barbara ever owned:

The two quilts in this photograph were made by Barbara's paternal grandmother.  The Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt on the left was the first quilt Barbara ever worked on -- she helped hand-stitch the binding down:

 

In 1991, Barbara started participating in the Q.U.I.L.T. guild quilt challenges.  The next six quilts are quilts she made for those contests:

This next pink and green miniature Dresden Plate quilt has been a very popular quilt of Barbara's.  It has been shown at both the Paducah and Houston quilt shows, it won 2nd place in the applique category in the Miniatures from the Heart Contest sponsored by Miniature Quilts Magaine, and it won 1st place in the miniatures category of the Q.U.I.L.T. show.  The back is pink and green feed sack:

 

Another very popular quilt of Barbara's is "Glow," shown below and made from all hand-dyed fabrics.  It won 3rd place in the miniature quilt category in the Miniatures from the Heart Contest.  It was also published on the front cover of the book, "A Few of My Favorite Miniature Quilts."

 

This next beautiful quilt is all hand-appliqued, hand-embroidered and hand-quilted by Barbara, and it was published in the book, "Quilting in the Morning Calm":

 

The darling miniature quilt below is one of Barbara's more recent creations.  All of the yo-yo's were handmade (before yo-yo makers came out!) and each one has a bead in the middle of it:

 

This wonderful Christmas tree quilt Barbara made using "channel" applique and the decorations on the tree are all antique buttons:

Back-basted applique was the method used to make this beautiful Fall Leaves quilt.  It is all hand-embroidered and hand-quilted by Barbara:

In 2006, Barbara took a class to make a Serendipity quilt, and in 2007 her version, quilted by our own Pam Goggans, was entered into the Great Arkansas Quilt Show in Little Rock where it won a blue ribbon and the "Best of Show" award.  Barbara took home $3,250 in prize money, but as it was a purchase award, Barbara felt the need to make a second Serendipity quilt.  Pictured below is a picture of her with her prize-winning quilt, as well as her second Serendipity quilt in progress called, "Fiesta de la Papoose":

 

This lovely poinsettia stained glass quilt top is a sample for a class Barbara will be teaching in Branson in November at a quilt retreat (see Barbara for details if you'd like to attend):

 

Finally, Barbara shared a few more quilts with us that she has collected over the years:

 

Thank you so much, Barbara, for sharing your time and talents with us.  It was a wonderful presentation that was enjoyed by all.

Highlights from Trunk Show by Carole Steitz - November 2

 
What a wonderful trunk show PNP member Carole Steitz treated us to at our last meeting!  Carole has been quilting since 1969 and she has made many, many beautiful quilts.  Not only is she a talented quilt piecer and appliquer, but she is an equally talented long arm quilter.  Pictures just don't do all her beautiful quilting justice.  Here is a sampling of what Carole brought to share with us.  Remember to click on any image to enlarge it.

 

In addition to all the quilts shown above that she herself made, Carole also brought some treasures that were made by her great-grandmothers and grandmothers.  The lovely Lonestar quilt shown below was made in 1890.  The next quilt, the Dresden Plate with yellow centers, was made in the 1930's.

Highlights from Loneta Blevins' Trunk Show - October 5, 2009

Pieces 'N Patches was so lucky to have member Loneta Blevins treat us to a look at some (approximately 60!) of the most wonderful quilt treasures she has made and/or collected over the years.  She also gave us a delightful look into her background, including the fact that she, born in 1928, is the oldest of 11 brothers and sisters.  Her great-granddaughter is the seventh generation of her family to reside in Benton County, and her great-grandfather fought at the Battle of Pea Ridge.  Loneta told us the log cabin is probably her favorite quilt pattern and the pattern she has made the most of.

The photos below represent just a sampling of what all Loneta brought to share with us.  Enjoy, and remember to click on any image to enlarge it.

Preparing Your Quilt for Long Arm Quilting - September 21, 2009 Presentation Highlights

At our last meeting we were lucky enough to have PNP members (and sisters) Darlene Szabo and Debby Bond give a great program on how to best prepare your quilts for long arm quilting.  Darlene and Debby have a long arm quilting business located in Rogers called "Sew Graceful Quilting", and they are pictured below with some of their recently completed quilts.  (The first picture shows Darlene on the left and Debby on the right, and the quilt pattern is called "Feathered Friends," which is one of their original patterns.)  Remember to click on any image to enlarge it.

A few "take home points" from their presentation are as follows:

• Make sure your quilt top and backing are completely "square," as they will be pinned onto rails that are perfectly parallel.  If your top and/or backing are not square, you may end up with tucks, puckers, waves, etc.

• As many loose threads as possible should be clipped.  These can be obstacles for the long arm machine needle.

• Borders should be properly applied.  Measure your quilt top carefully and then cut your border fabric accordingly to help keep your quilt square.

• If you have bias squares around the quilt top or small piecing along the edges, it is very helpful to run a stitch all the way around the quilt.  This will help prevent your quilt from being stretched or having those little pieces come unstitched when your quilt is put on the long arm frame.

• Be sure to always cut off the selvedge from your backing fabric.  Selvedges do not stretch or give and can distort the quilt in quilting or washing.

• Let your quilter know in advance if you prefer your pieced back to go in a certain direction or if you want it centered in a certain way.

• Remember that your backing and batting need to be at least six inches larger than your quilt top to go on the long arm machine frame. 

Many thanks to Darlene and Debby for this great information!

Trunk Show by Anita Johnson - August 3

How lucky Pieces 'N Patches was to be treated to a wonderful show of quilts made by four generations of member Anita Johnson's family.

The first photo shows a beautiful seven-point star quilt that was made by Anita's great-grandmother sometime between 1850 - 1875.

These next quilts were made by Anita's grandmother, who was born in 1891.  The first one (Dresden Plate pattern) is hand-quilted and was used between the mattress and the box springs.  The second one ("T" blocks) was made in 1952 as a wedding quilt for Anita's sister.   The embroidered quilt with birds and baskets was made in 1956.

Anita's mother was born in 1912, and in 1931 she and her mom (Anita's grandmother) made this beautiful pastel Lone Star quilt to be part of her wedding trousseau.  Anita's mom also made the four-patch quilt with the green border.

 

Anita took her first quilt class in 1974.  The first thing she made was this fabulous cross-stitch quilt.  She says it took her ten years to finish it!  It is hand-quilted by her mom.

 

Anita considers this next quilt her "first quilt" and she made it in 2001.  The block is called "Crown of Thorns," and this quilt won a blue ribbon at Anita's guild quilt show!

Since 2001, it looks to me like Anita has been a very busy quilter!  Pictured below are many of her wonderful creations (remember to click on any image to enlarge it):

   

Thank you so much Anita for a delightful trunk show!  I know we all thoroughly enjoyed it.

Aprons: Necessity to Novelty -- Diana Kay Harshbarger

Our first meeting in June featured our own Diana Kay Harshbarger (above), who brought FORTY-SEVEN wonderful aprons from her private collection to share with us.  AND she let everyone model her aprons and pose for the photos below.  Thanks so much for a delightful presentation, Diana Kay.  We enjoyed you and your aprons and we learned a lot, too!  (Remember to click on any image to enlarge it.)

Here's Grace Grame (left) and Grace Watt (right) modeling some fabulous embroidered aprons:

From left to right, here are Barb Hancock, Janet Noble, Dorothy Day, Carol Wahl, Linda Hancock, Sandy Merlin, Marguerite Steiner, Marily Teeter and Cheryl Mitchell:

Our next models are Becky Alsip, Kim Myers, Barb Hancock, Marge Hicks, Betty Workman and Francis Dillard (again from left to right).  Diana Kay is on the far right:

Looking adorable in their crocheted aprons are Jeanette Strickert, Rosie Davis and Kathy McCann:

How cute are Donna Thomas, Cheryl Bothwell, Connie Henry, Sue Goldman, Stella Day, Carol McCutcheon, Liz Ewing and Grace Grame!

Finally, look at all these ladies in their fancy entertaining-type aprons (from left to right): Joe Ann Reaves, Suzanne Doran, Doree Rice, Judy Heineman, Janet Rarey, Barbara Redwine, Nancianna Nott (Miss 100!), Anita Johnson, Rheba Ford and Karen Ashley.  The second picture is the same group, but includes our treasured Bonnie Simms on the far left.

Photo Highlights of Liz Ewing's Trunk Show - May 4

Oh my goodness!  If you missed Liz's trunk show yesterday, you missed a real treat.   I didn't count, but Liz must have brought about 40 of her quilts, and every single one of them was wonderful!  Liz has been quilting a long time, and she has done it all, including hand and machine quilting, hand and machine applique, exquisite machine piecing, and miniature quilting.  Enjoy the photos below of a sampling of the quilts she brought to share with us.  (Remember to click any image to enlarge it.)  Thanks Liz for a fantastic, inspiring trunk show.  I know everyone is looking forward to your "Mini Stars" workshop.

     

Grace Grame's Trunk Show - April 6

I love this picture of Grace that was taken at the beginning of her presentation on her "Blue Jean Junk Art" technique on April 6:

Here are three of her great quilts, as well as an "action shot" of Grace cutting up a pair of blue jeans:

Thanks Grace for a super trunk show!