This month's ASG Quilters gathering was quiet. Bad weather and holiday obligations kept some members away, and we missed them--but lunch was good, anyway!
Barbara Coonce finished her paper-pieced pillow that she has been working on, and we really admire her color choices and the precision of the design that the paper-pieceing made possible.

Carol did some stippling on the photo quilt that she learned how to make from Janet, and Rosalie used her Accuquilt-Go to cut tumbler blocks for a quilt she is making for a son. Rosalie wondered if mixing flannel and non-flannel fabrics would be a good idea, and the consensus was "No." Although I thought the difference in textures would be interesting, everyone else pointed out that the difference in shrinkage potential could be disastrous.
Our guest Zia is almost through with the Nativity quilt she is making for her church.

She got the embroidery designs from San Bernardino Sew and Vac, and the help and encouragment from all the friendly people that hang around. She also shared ice cream, but--honestly--we would have been helpful and encouraging anyway.
Several of us worked on non-quilting projects because that is the way we do things at ASG Quilters--free form, all are welcome.
We also made the decision to forego a meeting in December. I am sure you understand. Just the same, if you have any pictures of completed projects that you want to show off, send it to my email address, and I will try to post it. (You can find the address on our asgie.org website under board members: use the one for the secretary.)

The regular meeting of the San Bernardino Neighborhood group was conducted in its usual sedate, lady-like manner on Thursday evening. Primly and properly, we listened to Beloved Leader's description of the General Meeting and calmly discussed our own plans for our group's future and our participation in the Chapter. Among the politely phrased requests was that I help publicize our refined and delicate group's exquisitely formal get-togethers on the ASGIE Blog. Then they demanded that I not use real names and reminded me of our motto, "What happens at Ray's, stays at Ray's."
That is why you won't know that:  X flew the coop early, there was a needle fight at table one, and that some people find it hysterically funny that disposable enemas were hidden under the table.
We have a great Show-and-Tell in our group, because our ladies are so creative. We were honored to meet Shyron's cousin Sandy, who is the designer of the lovely purse that Shyron carries. We were not at all surprised that Kristie made the iron caddy designed by Barbara Coonce and also a great-looking purse from a thrift shop pattern and some free fabric. Those who had not been to the Fashion Show were awed by Marilyn's jacket, and admired Jacquina's purse that she made THAT DAY, including free motion quilting as an accent. Rosalie shared the finally-finished monkey quilt and has apparently been channeling her inner Margaret because her entry in the scrap challenge was a jeans purse. Barbara Baker and Carolyn had some machine embroidered cuties to share because sewing on a Baby Lock Ellissimo is too much fun.
All that, and we did a project, too!

This little ornament--made by Carolyn--was taught by Marilyn, and was sewn by hand--because ladies love hand-work.

Our next meeting will be December 5, and following our long-standing tradition will include the sharing of food and making glorious plans for even greater sewing achievements in 2014. You are invited to attend.
I understand that some people have trouble leaving comments on the blog, but if you really want to say something, send me an email and I will post it for you. My address is the same as Barbara Baker's, and you can find it in the newsletter.

Okay, this is really a Yikes! My calendar tells me that it is time to send a reminder email to the ASG Quilters, and I haven't even updated our blog from last month's meeting. Fortunately, I have have some photos to share, which will jog my memory about what happened. I know that actually taking notes while events are occuring is a better way to remember things, but if I were any good at taking notes I would be the Chapter Secretary, right?
The first picture is of Margaret Grider's quilt, which is a very colorful Wonky Nine-Patch--that is a technical quilter's term for "I don't do squares". The colors are exciting, and the irregular patches just make the whole quilt look like fun.

The next picture is Margaret's No-Sew Sewing Apron--made from jeans! Margaret also turned some old jeans into a couple of handy little purses. Where some people see denim headed for the rag-bin, Margaret sees creative opportunities.

Note how the pockets from the jeans are now helpfully storing sewing tools. You may think this picture is upside down because I don't know how to flip photos, but this is the orientation a apron has when it is in your lap, so I think it works well.
By now you are thinking that last month's meeting was the Margaret Grider show, but I have memories of :
cutting out Christmas fabrics, Phyllis working on a wall hanging, Earline sewing a quilt for her grandson, and Barbara Coonce doing some exquisite paper piecing as she worked on a gift for her friend. Actually, I may remember that last bit from the previous month, but it really is exquisite.
What we can take away from all this is: never get rid of jeans, it's never  too early to start sewing for Christmas, babies are the best reason for making quilts, and it's nice to sing while sewing.