Another Fan-tabulous Day

Yesterday was another QOVC Ottawa Sew-day, held at Confederation Education Centre. Ottawa Retired Educators Association generously allows us to use their meeting room in this former high school.

We started with “New Friends – International Style”. Erzsebet joined us for the first time. As Robbie started to introduce her to Liz, Liz and Erzsebet immediately started chatting in Hungarian! How cool is that?

We continued to work on the Homeward Path Block. Last month we built this block with white, black and full random scraps. This month, we controlled the palate to just blues and greens; I think the result is a little calmer and meditative.  Its always fun to watch the blocks go up on to the design wall, slowly growing into a beautiful quilt.  Rachelle had taken last month’s blocks and assembled the quilt top, which was quilted by Robbie and bound by June.  Robbie also brought in the Road to Oklahoma quilts that we worked on in July; it turned out really nicely.  We work with a lot of donated fabrics and it is sometimes a challenge to find the right combination of fabrics to create a quilt that declares pride rather than screaming utility.  The controlled patterns of Homeward Path, Road to Oklahoma and Log Cabin help to create calm even with a mix of fabrics. Having a limited colour palate helps. Having a quiet background colour either in the blocks or through sashing helps.

The Homeward Path quilt from September was the quilt that we presented to Cpl (Ret’d) Chris Cole who came by with his fiance Emma.  Chris was an aviation tech and he was sharing some stories of his time in Libya — chilling!

 

 

In the afternoon, WO (Ret’d) Steve Drover dropped by, bringing flowers and cookies for us! Steve was a radio operator for 22 years and spent time in Uganda, Cyprus, Golan Heights and multiple times in Afghanistan. He was happy to chat with the quilters about why we feel moved to make these quilts. Both Erzsebet and Sue and Annie shared their stories. Steve shared a little about why the quilts are so important to the recipients and why he is so honoured to receive one.  His quilt was made by our fellow-quilters in the Pembroke Log Cabin Guild and quilted by Robbie.

These are just a few of the highlights of a great day.  I am still glowing from the memory.

I hope you will join us at our Fall Quilt Bee on November 9 at Orleans United Church.  Do you know of someone who wants a sewing machine or serger? We have both in our garage sale!  If you do have items for the garage sale, please get them to Marian Rickey so that she can get the sorted and priced.

We would also love to see you at our next sew-day, on December 2 at Orleans United Church (9:30 – 3:30).

Winter weather may try to slow us down. If the weather looks truly awful, I will announce the cancellation of the sew-day on this platform and on facebook the night before.  We need you safe!

Upcoming Events:

• Nov 9 — Annual Quilt Bee at Orleans United Church (1111 Orleans Blvd)
• Nov 16 — Church Bazaar at Orleans United Church
• Dec 2 — Sew Day at Orleans United Church
• Jan 13 — Sew Day
• Feb 10 — Sew Day
• March 9 — Sew Day
• April 18 — Spring Bee
• May 11 — Sew Day

 

October 16 Sew Day

In September, we worked on the Homeward Path quilt block and created enough blocks to create almost two quilts.  A few people took home some extra fabric to get us closer to that second quilt. If you have extra blocks to return please bring them to our October sew-day.  We took the blocks that we did have and with the help of Rachelle, Robbie and June, completed that quilt which will find its forever home on October 16!  In October, we are going to continue with the same blocks, so if you want to bring some 2 1/2″ strips of whites or some 2 1/2″ square of prints, they will make their way into the next quilts.

  Homeward Path on the design wall.

Our October sew-day is on October 16, again at Confederation Education Centre.  Confed has lots of parking, but if the building is busy, sometimes we are sent to park behind the Nepean Sportsplex.  So, Robbie and I are going to set an earlier alarm clock so that we can start at 8:30!  That way, we will get the earlier parking spot selection closer to the building.  If you need help getting your machine to the room, you can try parking near Entrance C, which is beside our room. If there isn’t a spot, stop the car near the door, (call my cell 613-866-1348) and we will come help bring in your sewing machine.  You are welcome to come later, but you have been cautioned about the parking!  Finish time will be 3:00.  Remember to bring your lunch. We will have coffee and tea available and there is a refrigerator and microwave to look after your lunch.

Our Fall Bee is fast approaching: November 9 at Orleans United Church. Have you registered yet ( https://forms.gle/95EovQbG3wgUut1e7)?  We need to know how many tables to set up. Bring your sewing machine and your lunch.  We will have a table for hand-stitching of binding and labels, as well as kits to sign out for quilt tops and quilt sets ready for quilting.  Remember to contact Marian if you have items to include in the garage sale (rickeyem@rogers.com)

This year’s challenge will be to build as many “Bold and Brave” quilts as we can.  Robbie will have the directions for the CQA 2020 QOVC “Bold and Brave” Block for us all to complete. We will bring some fabric for this, but if you could bring along some 2 1/2″ strips of red and/or white that will help us build more quilts.

Hope you are enjoying the fall weather. Remember, as the temperature falls, it is just a signal to keep quilting!