Trick or Treat!! Cabot Quilt Guild

The Cabot Quilt Guild program committee presented four Halloween projects at the October meeting. Here they are:

The mug rugs are quick and easy. Fusible web and stitching was used.

The table topper spider and web was cut out, fused and stitched to a background. The spider can also be hung in a window.

The triangles for the banner are sandwiched, stitched on two sides, turned to the front (left open at the top). Wide fold over bias tape is used to hold the triangles. The top of the triangles are put between the fold over tape and machine stitched. A knot was tied at the ends. Voila! Ready to hang. Put Christmas / Autumn fabric on one side so that the banner can be used for more than one occasion.

The pumpkins are so simple to make! All you need for the center is a roll of toilet paper and polyester stuffing to go around the toilet roll. A fat quarter can be used for the outside. Put the toilet roll / stuffing in the center of the fabric. Then start with the corners and bring them up over the inside. Stuff and tuck the end into the top of the toilet roll. Continue with the outer three corners. Next, bring the rest of the fabric sides up and tuck in too. For the stem, use a piece of a branch and stick into the toilet roll or roll some fabric and poke that in instead (roll around a length of cardboard to keep it stiff, tuck in one end). Curl some wire for the top and cut out leaves. Glue in place! Simple!  I like the ones with the glitzy fabrics.  After writing all this out, I found the tutorial.

Thanks, ladies for a great program!

Mug Rugs

Table Topper

Banner



Pumpkins

Guild Presentation - Voyage of Discovery

The Cabot Quilt Guild has a committee of talented ladies who look after the guild program for the year. They may introduce a new technique, have a slide show, a book talk, a guest presenter . . . the list goes on. This month, I was the 'program'! The committee felt it was time for me to do my 'stuff'. Since we have had quite a few new members over the last several years, it was decided that I should give a general talk about my art work.

I had no difficulty with a title as my first piece of original art was called "Voyage of Discovery" - very fitting, as it was completed the year I retired from teaching. Since then, I have been on my own voyage of discovery into all things related to textile art and embroidery. I love to experiment / play with new materials. However these days, I find it difficult to get much time to do that and I miss it. Note to self: make time!

I am not a quilter of quilts like most of the guild members. However, here's a couple I have done: Sheep at Stonehenge, and Quiltennium Dreams. Photos of some more of my work can be viewed HERE.

I decided to do a power point presentation of my art as well as have some actual pieces on hand. One thing I did discover while searching through my photographs to prepare for this presentation, was the importance of taking good photos! In the beginning, I was learning (still am really) and the images were not always taken in good light or were a bit fuzzy. I was told over and over to use the RAW mode on my camera as the images can sometimes be 'fixed'. You can't do much fixing if they are jpgs. I am now using the raw mode on my camera - live and learn. There are a few pieces of art that are sold and I wish I had better photos of them! Oh, well . . .

I do have to 'tag' all of my photos as it makes it easier to find certain ones. Some of them are done but not all.

The presentation went well and I was asked to do a workshop on some of the techniques I use. I am teaching Fantastic Fabrics (surface embellishment on fabric) next month. I have taught that one before and it tends to be lots of fun for participants as it is completely stress free! I also have to prepare a project for another workshop in the works, on making fabric clapboard. That was the topic for a presentation I did a few months ago for the Eastern Edge Quilt Guild ! Now, to get back to work!



Cod Fish - the fish are in 3-D. This is in a private collection.